When Hu Chunhua was seventeen, she was once promised in marriage.
At that time, however, three of her brothers were in school. The family relied entirely on her, Hu Jianguo, and her three sisters to work; where would the money come from to support the brothers' education?
Later, the second brother had such a fiery temper that he threatened suicide to get his own way in marriage, forcing her to compromise. Seeing that the household was short a laborer, Hu Chunhua had volunteered to stay behind.
And so she stayed, right up until this day.
Feng Yun recalled holding her newborn daughter and kissing her again and again, a wave of sorrow washing over her. She was her firstborn; how could she not love her? Her vision blurred with tears. She released Hu Chunhua, gently wiped the tear tracks from her face, and smiled. "Mother keeps her word. I won't let you marry Li Tiezhu and suffer. You must stand your ground, understand?"
Hu Chunhua kept her head lowered, tears splashing onto the ground one by one. Since she was a child, she had been the pillar of the household, helping to raise her younger siblings, working the fields, and earning work points. She had always told herself that once the family’s situation improved and her younger siblings grew up, she would finally think of herself.
But as she waited, the burden on her shoulders grew heavier, and she grew older. Her fourth brother’s words had pierced her heart like a dagger. She was "too old"—now, no man would want her. But she had done it all for this family; how could her fourth brother say such things to her?
Feng Yun placed her hand on her daughter’s shoulder. "Chunhua, whether we are being kind or making compromises, there must be a limit. The way of the world is simple: sincerity for sincerity. If you are good to others but get nothing in return—or worse, if they use your kindness to take advantage of you—you must withdraw your kindness immediately, even if that person is your own family. Do you understand? From now on, think more of yourself. Do not sacrifice everything for others blindly."
She gritted her teeth and added, "Especially your fourth brother. From now on, whatever he wants you to do, do the exact opposite. We’ve spoiled him into this selfish, greedy brat!"
In her previous life, the fourth brother had indeed finished his studies, but then he spent his time dating and buying a house for his marriage. He never contributed a single cent to the family, yet he was all too eager to subsidize his mother-in-law’s family, who were far better off than the Hu Family. The sixth child was lazy and refused to study, but the third and fifth were clearly intelligent; if not for the fourth brother, they might have managed to get an education too.
"Mother? What's wrong?" Hu Chunhua held Feng Yun’s hand, feeling uneasy. "Why are you saying this? The fourth brother may be a bit selfish, but he is the most promising child in our family. We should still help him. Once he succeeds in his exams, it will bring honor to the Hu Family."
"Enough." Feng Yun couldn't bear to hear it. "Chunhua, the fourth brother is currently willing to sell your life for his own future. Do you really think you can rely on someone like that? He is a pure ingrate. Before you think about basking in his glory, consider whether you have the life left to enjoy it. Just remember my words: from now on, look out for yourself. In this life, relying on others is never as good as relying on yourself."
Hu Chunhua stared blankly at her mother, her eyes filled with confusion, but she ultimately said nothing more.
"All right, Mother is going to make lunch. You rest for a while," Feng Yun said, turning toward the kitchen.
Hu Chunhua hurriedly grabbed her. "Mother, you just got back. Let me handle the cooking; you take a rest."
Feng Yun was indeed exhausted. Having just experienced her rebirth, she truly needed time to sort through her thoughts.
It was May of 1978. The college entrance exam would take place on July 20th. By the end of this year, the horn of the reform and opening-up policy would reach this village. When farmland was contracted to households, every family would be able to feed itself, provided they weren't lazy. But the real opportunities lay beyond the fields. The cities were full of ways to get rich.
***
After bolting out of the Hu Family home, Hu Guangjin ran straight to the "educated youth" compound.
The Lishu Village youth compound was located on the eastern ridge behind the village, not too far from the Hu Family home—about a ten-minute walk. It was a small courtyard enclosed by mud-brick walls, containing a few low-ceilinged rooms, each housing two or three people. In the center of the yard stood a large locust tree. In the scorching heat of summer, it was where they gathered to cool off.
At that moment, under the tree, a group of educated youth were huddled together looking over study materials. Xu Lijuan was in the center, clearly the star of the group.
"What’s wrong with you?" Xu Lijuan was called out. She looked Hu Guangjin up and down, her tone laced with disdain and confusion.
The moment Hu Guangjin saw Xu Lijuan, his pent-up grievances surged. His eyes reddened instantly, and tears welled up within them.