Chapter 6: Did the sun rise from the west today?
Tang Feng wasn't having it. She glared at her old man.
"Eat, eat, is eating more important than my Yaobao's education?"
"If she gets into high school, she can have the third brother help her find a job in the county town later on."
She looked at Song Chu with doting eyes, feeling more and more satisfied. "My Yaobao looks like she’s meant to be a city dweller."
Song Youfu thought to himself, *Give it a rest.* With his daughter’s bossy and lazy temper, if she became a city dweller, he’d be thanking the heavens if she wasn't fired and sent back after a few days of work.
But he didn't dare say it out loud. He gave a dry laugh and said, "Fine, whatever you two say, we'll do."
In any case, he couldn't control his old woman or his youngest daughter.
As soon as Luo Qiuju heard her father-in-law, she feared the family would let the sister-in-law continue her studies. That would be a waste of money that should be saved for her own son.
So, she pinched Song the Eldest hard under the table, signaling him to speak up.
Song the Eldest looked at his wife, who was signaling him from the shadows, then looked up at his fierce mother, whom he couldn't afford to offend. Finally, he shrank his neck and chose to keep his head down like a quail, which made Luo Qiuju furious.
However, before she could figure out how to stir up trouble, Song Chu spoke first. "Mom, what’s so good about the county town? I’m going to take the university entrance exam and go straight to Kyoto in the future."
"When the time comes, I’ll bring you and Dad to Kyoto to retire," she added with a smile.
Tang Feng’s heart nearly melted. As expected, her daughter was the most filial. "My Yaobao is so smart, you’ll definitely get into university. Your father and I are counting on you."
"..." Song the Eldest and the others twitched their lips. What did she mean by "only counting on the youngest sister"? Did they not exist?
Song Youfu felt warmed by Song Chu’s words, thinking that he hadn't doted on his daughter in vain. Then, a thought struck him. "Isn't it true that no one can take university entrance exams anymore?"
"Isn't there the Worker-Peasant-Soldier University? I'll go ask my eldest brother tomorrow and see if he can help Yaobao get a spot." Tang Feng had a mysterious, blind confidence in her daughter; to her, her daughter deserved the best, and the Worker-Peasant-Soldier University was no exception.
The others were speechless. With the youngest sister’s personality, how could she possibly attend a Worker-Peasant-Soldier University? If their uncle dared to do that, he would definitely be reported.
"Mom, the Worker-Peasant-Soldier University is boring." Song Chu shifted the blame to Gu Yue. "I heard from educated youth Gu today that the college entrance exam will likely be restored in two years. So, I’m going to self-study the high school textbooks and take the exam when it’s restored."
She knew many pharmaceutical formulas and techniques, but if she just brought them out without having studied them, it would surely arouse suspicion.
Tang Feng knew Gu Yue was from Kyoto and didn't doubt the words. She smiled and said, "That’s even better. You just stay home and review your textbooks well, and you’ll get into university when the time comes."
There wasn't a single university student in their village. Her third son’s high school diploma was the highest level of education they had. If her precious daughter got into university, it would definitely make everyone in the village green with envy.
Luo Qiuju curled her lip. She didn't believe for a second that her sister-in-law could get into any university; it was just an excuse to avoid working.
"Who knows when the college entrance exam will be? Is the youngest sister just going to stay home and study the whole time?" she couldn't help but ask.
Song Chu knew what her sister-in-law was thinking. She didn't want to be like the original owner, doing nothing at home and relying on the family to support her.
"Mom, talk to Uncle tomorrow and have him arrange for me to start working."
As soon as Song Chu said this, everyone in the family, except for Tang Feng, looked at her with disbelief.
Their daughter/youngest sister/sister-in-law was actually volunteering to work? Did the sun rise from the west today?
Tang Feng felt a bit of heartache, but her daughter was grown up now and couldn't stay home every day; there was too much gossip outside.
"I'll talk to your uncle tonight and have him arrange for you to be a scorekeeper. That’s an easy job." She couldn't bear to see her daughter suffer.
Song the Second rolled his eyes. "Mom, the village already has a scorekeeper."
"Mom, how about I go raise pigs with Eldest Brother?" Song Chu had no interest in being a scorekeeper. Besides, her uncle might not agree; after all, such blatant favoritism would surely lead to people cursing him.
According to her memories, the work Gu Yue did was feeding the cows and cutting pig grass. She needed to have more contact with him, and starting from work was the most convenient way.
Moreover, she used to be in charge of infrastructure in the apocalypse, so she had quite a bit of experience in animal husbandry.
Hearing this, everyone understood instantly. So she was aiming for the educated youth Gu! That made sense; it had given them quite a scare.
Tang Feng was heartbroken. "How tiring is it to feed pigs?"
"Doesn't Eldest Brother do it too?" Song Chu knew how to sway her mother.
Her eldest brother was assigned to raise pigs in the village. Not only did he have to feed them, but he also had to clean up pig manure and fertilize the crops. It wasn't an easy job, but he could earn ten work points.
She certainly wouldn't do nothing if she went, but there was no need to explain that, as the family wouldn't believe her anyway.
The heartache in Tang Feng’s eyes faded, quickly replaced by a sense that this was acceptable. "Fine, then go raise pigs. You can go cut some pig grass, and leave the rest to your eldest brother. Our family isn't short of those few work points you'd earn anyway."
"Mom, I read books about pig farming in the county library before. I can provide technical guidance. I can raise the pigs to be big and fat. By the end of the year, our family will get more pork, and you can eat more." Song Chu laid the groundwork in advance.
Her words made Tang Feng beam with joy. "My Yaobao is truly capable."
Then she turned to Song the Eldest and ordered, "You have to look after your sister when the time comes. Don't let her do the heavy or tiring work."
"Got it." Song the Eldest didn't mind; he was used to being oppressed by his mother.
Luo Qiuju, however, was unhappy. Why should her sister-in-law go to work, and her husband have to do the heavy lifting? She didn't believe for a second that her sister-in-law could raise any pigs; she was clearly going for the educated youth Gu. It would be a miracle if the pigs didn't die.
Not just her—everyone present, except for Tang Feng, thought the same.
But they all accepted it silently. After all, even if Song Chu just went out to cut pig grass, it was better than staying at home.
Song Chu naturally saw her dissatisfaction. Just then, there was a sturdy stick on the ground. She picked it up and easily snapped it in two, raising an eyebrow as she asked, "Sister-in-law, do you have an opinion?"
She had always preferred action over empty talk. Reasoning with someone like this was useless, and even if she told the truth, they wouldn't believe her. She had to use a little intimidation.
Sure enough, Luo Qiuju, who had originally wanted to voice her opinion, instantly cowered at the sight of the stick snapped in two. If her sister-in-law really decided to get physical, no one could stop her, and with the old lady siding with her, her own foolish husband couldn't be relied upon.
She could only laugh awkwardly. "No, no opinion."
She could only comfort herself in her heart: if the sister-in-law went to cut pig grass and earned a few work points a day, it was still a tiny bit better than eating for free at home.
Dinner followed. On the table were stir-fried potatoes and greens, with only a bowl of steamed eggs in front of Song Chu.
Although everyone was dissatisfied with this favoritism and the fact that she was eating alone, they were used to it—the old lady was not to be trifled with.
Everyone was hungry, and they soon picked up their bowls and began to eat.
Song Chu noticed that the three little ones at the table were shoveling rice into their mouths while occasionally glancing at the steamed eggs in front of her, swallowing their saliva, their eyes full of envy and longing. She felt she couldn't eat this meal alone.
(End of chapter)