Without the business of exchanging chicken feathers for sugar, life in Chenjiacun would naturally be very difficult. Those with more fields were fine, but those with less land really had trouble eating.
Poverty has become the mainstream in China in this era. Except for a few places, most other places are very poor.
At the dinner table, Chen Jinshui and his wife were hungry after a busy day, so they ate with big mouthfuls. They ate most of it in a few minutes, and then slowed down.
Chen Jinshui took out his dry cigarette and smoked it. Amid the smoke, he looked at Zhou Chen.
"Xiao Chen, you will be eighteen years old next year and can go out to work. If we hadn't severely cracked down on speculation now, I would really like to pass on the art of exchanging chicken feathers for sugar to you."
He has only had a daughter in his life. Although he is not so patriarchal, there is still a difference between boys and girls in his heart.
You can count on boys to inherit the family, but don't count on girls to inherit the family, unless you recruit a son-in-law.
Zhou Chen is his nephew. Although he does not expect Zhou Chen to provide for him in his old age, he also hopes that Zhou Chen will be successful. After all, this is his biological sister's child.
"What kind of work do you want to do? If you want to farm, I can find a way to get you a few acres of land. You won't make a fortune farming, but as long as you work hard, you won't starve to death. But if you want to do something else, you can also follow
Let me tell you, my uncle doesn't have much ability, but he can still give you some advice."
If Zhou Chen's parents were still alive, he wouldn't have to worry about it as an uncle, but now that Zhou Chen's parents were gone and he was kicked out by his eldest brother and sister-in-law, as an uncle, he naturally couldn't just sit idly by.
He could even pick up an orphan like Chen Jianghe from the snow and raise him, let alone a nephew like Zhou Chen who was related by blood.
Zhou Chen didn't think anything about it and directly expressed his thoughts.
"Uncle, I want to get into college."
"ah?"
Chen Jinshui's family of three were all stunned, and Chen Qiaogu even shouted in disbelief: "Brother, what did you say, get into college?"
Chen Jinshui and his wife looked at each other in shock.
"Xiaochen, why do you have such an idea? Aren't you unable to enter college now?"
Chen Jinshui also found it unbelievable, but after all, he had some knowledge and knew that he could not enter college now.
Zhou Chen said: "I heard the news before that the college entrance examination may be resumed at the end of this year. There are still three months left. I want to give it a try."
Chen Jinshui's wife Chen Erli asked doubtfully: "Where did you hear the news? Even if you can pass the college entrance examination, haven't you just graduated from junior high school? Can you pass the college entrance examination?"
"If the college entrance examination is resumed, the first college entrance examination will definitely not be difficult. Although I graduated from junior high school, I have read high school books. If I study now, I may not be able to get into college." Zhou Chen said calmly.
Chen Jinshui pondered for a moment, then asked: "If the college entrance examination is resumed, are you really sure?"
Zhou Chen said confidently: "I dare not say 100%, but give me a few months to study. As long as the college entrance examination resumes, I will still be 70% or 80% sure."
Chen Jinshui gritted his teeth and said: "Then study. If you can get into college, you will be a proud ancestor and have a bright future. It is much better than living in the countryside farming all your life. Xiaochen, I support you. From now on, until the college entrance examination resumes,
You just study hard at home, and you don’t need to do anything else.”
Zhou Chen waited with awe, this cheap uncle is very courageous.
When he didn't know the specific situation of the college entrance examination, he actually made this decision based on just a few words he said. Most people really don't have the courage like him.
Chen Erli had no objection at all. In this family, Chen Jinshui was the head of the family, and she kept her word. No matter what happened, Chen Jinshui would do whatever she said. All she had to do was follow orders.
"Thank you, uncle. Don't worry, I will definitely be able to get into university when the college entrance examination resumes."
With Chen Jinshui's support, Zhou Chen didn't say anything else, just a solemn assurance.
Chen Jinshui said: "If you can get into college, our family will be dependent on you in the future."
Zhou Chen said: "I will definitely do it, uncle."
Chen Jinshui showed a happy smile. Their Chenjia Village was very remote and not well-informed. He didn't know if what Zhou Chen said was true, but he felt that Zhou Chen wanted to go to college because he had ideals and ambitions, so he was sure
Will support.
If Zhou Chen can really get into college, it will be great news to Chenjia Village. If others don't tell them, their family will definitely take advantage of it in the future.
Chen Qiaogu even raised her hand and said sweetly: "Brother, I also believe in you. You will definitely be able to get into college. Then I will have a college student brother."
Feeling this family affection, the smile on Zhou Chen's face became even brighter. From this brief contact, he could feel that this family of three really cared about him, at least countless times more than his eldest brother.
Ever since Chen Jinshui agreed to let Zhou Chen study, he didn't let Zhou Chen do anything in the days that followed. Zhou Chen looked at the books he brought here, which were all junior high school books. In fact, he was just pretending.
.
It was not until more than a month later, almost November, that the news of the resumption of the college entrance examination finally reached them.
Chen Jinshui was shocked when he heard the news. It seemed that what his nephew Zhou Chen said was indeed right. The college entrance examination was really going to resume.
Thinking of Zhou Chen who was about to take the college entrance examination, Chen Jinshui was full of expectations and went out of his way to find connections to borrow books.
Although Zhou Chen felt that he could get into college even if he didn't review or read, he didn't stop Chen Jinshui from doing so.
On this day, Chen Jinshui came back happily and said to Zhou Chen: "Xiao Chen, I have used our relationship with the production team to recommend you to take the college entrance examination. Time is limited. You will be responsible for studying now. You are not required to do anything else.
Tube."
"Thank you, uncle."
"Thank you for nothing. As long as you can go to college, I will be satisfied and I will be able to live up to your dead parents."
Reviewing became Zhou Chen's next main task, and Qiaogu served Zhou Chen around the clock, not even going out to play with Chen Daguang.
…………
In the blink of an eye, it was December of 1977. All provinces across the country had begun the college entrance examination one after another, and Zhejiang Province, where Zhou Chen was located, was about to begin the college entrance examination.
On the day of the college entrance examination, Chen Jinshui drove himself and, together with Chen Jintu from the same village, sent Zhou Chen to the examination room early.
"Uncle, Uncle Jintu, you go back, don't wait for me, I will go back by myself after the exam is over."
Outside the examination room, Zhou Chen said to Chen Jinshui and Chen Jintu who had sent him here.
Chen Jinshui waved his hand and said: "No, you go to take the exam first. We will wait for you to finish the exam before we go back together."
Chen Jintu also said: "Yeah, running back and forth is too troublesome, we'd better wait for you to go back together."
Chen Jintu is Chen Daguang's father and Chen Jinshui's loyal follower.
Zhou Chen tried to persuade them a few more times, but when the persuasion failed, he gave up. Seeing that the time was coming, he said goodbye to them and walked into the examination room.
"Xiaochen, don't be nervous, take the exam well."
As soon as Zhou Chen left, Chen Jintu couldn't help but ask: "Brother Jinshui, I don't know what you think, how can you let him take the college entrance examination? Can he pass it?"
Chen Jinshui glared at him angrily: "If you don't let Zhou Chen take the exam, why don't you let your son Da Guang take the exam? Is he the right one?"
He can still look forward to Zhou Chen taking the exam, but doesn't he know about the other qualified young people in the village? Each one of them is useless.
Especially Chen Daguang, he has always disliked him, because this kid always drives Qiaogu crazy and has evil intentions. How could he have no objection?
Chen Jintu, who was scolded, pursed his lips and did not dare to say anything. Chen Jinshui was not only the village chief of Chenjia Village, but also the leader of their generation of brothers.
It is no exaggeration to say that Chen Jinshui's words will be echoed by all the young and old in Chenjia Village. He is the village chief and is similar to the clan leader.
"Brother Jinshui, I just asked casually, why are you so anxious?" Chen Jintu shrank his neck.
Chen Jinshui snorted coldly: "Let's go to the county town and have a look."
The college entrance examination is really a very simple matter for Zhou Chen. Although he has never participated in the college entrance examination in Zhejiang Province in 1977, with the knowledge he has mastered, it is really easy to cope with the college entrance examination.
A few days passed quickly. After the college entrance examination, the results would not come out for at least half a month, so Zhou Chen was not in a hurry. Anyway, he had filled out his application form and passed the exam. All he had to do next was to wait for the news.
He was not in a hurry, but Chen Jinshui's family of three were very anxious. Even though Zhou Chen assured them that the test paper this time was very easy and they would definitely be able to get into college, they were still uneasy until the dust settled.
Finally, the day came when the college entrance examination results came out. When Chen Jinshui learned that Zhou Chen was admitted to Peking University as the top scorer in the province, everyone was dumbfounded.
On the day when the results came out, Zhou Chen's name resounded throughout Zhejiang Province, especially in Yiwu, which caused an uproar.
What followed was countless city leaders, county leaders, reporters, etc., looking for Zhou Chen everywhere.
When they found Zhou Chen's eldest brother's house, his eldest brother Zhou Yong and his sister-in-law were dumbfounded when they learned that they were looking for Zhou Chen and that Zhou Chen was admitted to Peking University as the top scorer in the college entrance examination.
At this moment, they regretted driving Zhou Chen away. If they knew that Zhou Chen still had this ability, how could they have driven Zhou Chen away.
When they thought that Zhou Chen had been admitted to Peking University and would definitely become a national cadre after graduation, they felt regretful that such a good opportunity to rise to prominence had slipped away from their hands.
However, these two people were also thick-skinned, and when they saw the benefits, they immediately thought of repairing their relationship with Zhou Chen, and headed to Chenjiacun with the leading reporters who came to find Zhou Chen.
The remote and backward Chenjia Village was extremely lively on this day. Everyone knew that the nephew of the village chief Chen Jinshui's family had become the top scorer in the college entrance examination and was admitted to the best university in the country.
A college student, let alone the top scorer in the province, there has never been such a talent not only in the surrounding areas, but also in the entire Yiwu.
Although Zhou Chen's surname is not Chen, at this moment, he has become the most handsome boy in Chenjia Village.
Chapter completed!