Reborn in a small village in the 1990s

Chapter 256

Because of his poverty in his previous life, Zhao Da'e had to be knowledgeable in a wide range of things. When you go out to work, it's not always about doing specific jobs; more often than not, you have to be a jack-of-all-trades to be hired.

Moreover, in daily life, one must know a little about everything. Once, when Zhao Da'e was sick, he was particularly weak, as if his vital energy had been depleted. Even after recovering from that illness, he always felt sickly and weak. Doing even a little physical work would make him sweat profusely and feel extremely tired.

She remembered that she used to raise a few pigs, and when the pigs got sick and contracted plague, the pig farm would feed them astragalus polysaccharides, the main ingredient of which is astragalus. So, Zhao Da'e, as a last resort, bought some astragalus and brewed it into tea, which worked very well.

After drinking it, you'll feel warm all over, have energy, and your body will gradually recover.

When Zhao Da'e looked at Zhang Yumei, her complexion was alright, but it was a bit ashen and dark, and her dark circles were quite pronounced. She must have been staying up late studying for a long time.

A good child is one who doesn't need much supervision. Some children, no matter how many times their parents nag them to study, just won't learn; they can't concentrate on reading or anything else.

Zhang Yumei is different; she takes the initiative.

Does Zhao Chunni, Zhao Da'e's aunt, also secretly hope that one day her second daughter will get into university and have a better life afterward?

It definitely will, but right now Zhao Chunni's mind is mostly focused on her son's illness. Zhao Chunni's eldest son, Zhang Yuzhuang, has been sick for over ten years since he was born. He has always been frail and sickly, and it's a serious illness.

Given this fragile constitution, coupled with congenital cerebral palsy, it's already incredibly difficult for him to survive to his teens.

To be honest, Zhao Da'e felt that the child was just born to suffer.

He has some cerebral palsy, but he can still feel pain. He fractures bones easily; it takes a hundred days to recover from a broken bone, but before one bone heals, another is fractured.

If it's an ordinary person, a fracture can be operated on, requiring a few days of rest and recovery. For example, Accountant Yao, who uses a cane, fractured his leg the other day and had surgery today. That's how it is for him; after surgery and a period of rest, he recovers.

But Zhang Yuzhuang couldn't do it at all. In the beginning, he went to the hospital and received treatment there countless times.

But it's been too long; it's neither curable nor affordable.

Any family would face immense hardship if someone suffered a fracture ten or eight times a year.

In recent years, Zhao Chunni and her husband have gotten used to this kind of life. Unless there are very special circumstances, they don't go to the hospital anymore and just rely on recuperation.

So Zhao Chunni hardly ever leaves the house, spending all her time watching over her eldest son. Especially during the autumn harvest, Zhang Yuzhuang fractured his bone again, but this time the fracture was in a very bad place. He didn't sleep well and hit his head on the windowsill, fracturing his skull.

If the brain is damaged, there's basically no chance of recovery.

After enduring more than a decade of hardship, one can become somewhat numb and lost. Zhao Chunni continued to serve Zhang Yuzhuang every day, but her mood was particularly bad, and she had no interest in caring about Zhang Yumei at all.

Zhang Yumei had to take care of herself. While other children went out to play, climbing mountains and swimming in rivers, she stayed home studying. Although she was well-fed and warmly dressed, her protein intake was clearly insufficient, which caused her health to deteriorate due to staying up late, making her prone to catching colds at the slightest disturbance.

However, girls are generally frail and prone to illness, so this wasn't unusual. No one bothered to ask why; she just took medicine when she caught a cold.

When Zhao Da'e told Zhang Yumei that drinking astragalus and other herbs could nourish the body, she asked, "Da'e, the book says that ginseng is the real tonic."

Zhao Da'e hesitated for a moment: "No way. Ginseng is too expensive, I can't afford it..."

In those days, although prices weren't high, a single ginseng root cost at least a hundred yuan. Of course, the ginseng from that era was wild, and its medicinal effects were better.

But no matter how you look at it, it's still expensive.

The principle of scarcity driving up value has remained largely unchanged throughout history. Furthermore, wild ginseng is extremely rare around Kashi County; it's not that it's completely absent, but it's practically negligible. It's all sold from the deep forests, so naturally, it can't be cheap.

Zhang Yumei thought for a moment, still not quite familiar with what astragalus was, but since it was a gift from Zhao Da'e, it might be useful. She'd look it up in a book later to see what astragalus was used for.

"If I get into high school, I'll remember your contribution, Da'e," Zhang Yumei said with a smile.

"No need for that. Just remember to buy a bottle of soy sauce and some vinegar later. It would be even better if you also had a couple of heads of pickled garlic."

“We have some at home,” Zhang Yumei said. “Let’s go back, or…”

Zhang Yumei felt that since she wasn't going to visit her maternal grandfather Zhao Tingxu, she should just go home, so that Zhao Chunni wouldn't worry if she got back late.

"Row."

Zhao Da'e and Zhang Yumei then headed home.

When they arrived at Zhao Chunni's house, there was no dog this time, and Zhao Da'e was much more lively. After entering the house, Zhao Chunni had already roasted more than 30 catties of peanuts, which she then packed up and placed on the kang (a heated brick bed).

“Big Goose, I’ll fry some peanuts too. I need to bring some back home, so I can’t be biased. Your dad and his two brothers each got ten jin, and I gave your grandparents twenty jin.” Zhao Chunni said, “I’ll give you another thirty jin raw, and you can ask your dad to fry them for you later.”

"Okay," Zhao Da'e said with a smile.

"Auntie, aren't you going back this time?"

Zhao Chunni sighed, "Next time, I won't go back this time. Someone has to stay home. I'll have your uncle drive, and your dad and your third uncle load the bricks. They're young and capable; they can finish those tens of thousands of bricks in a few days. As for hauling sand, it's better to wait until spring. Anyway, I'll try to get your uncle to go as soon as possible. Da'e, I heard from your third uncle that your family is planning to get a grain grinder?"

Zhao Da'e nodded: "That's what I was thinking. It was just a coincidence that the shredder at the repair shop in our town was no longer needed, and we got it for a few hundred yuan. I was thinking that if we did it ourselves, we wouldn't lose money anyway."

Zhao Chunni said, "If you need to connect the electricity, ask your second aunt. Her brother-in-law is an electrician. Don't try to do it yourself; three-phase electricity is quite dangerous. Also, remind your dad. He always thinks he can do everything, but when installing, make sure you get more people involved. Don't think you can do everything yourself."

And your third uncle, if he's going to be working, make sure he doesn't drink too much. He never stops drinking; sooner or later, he'll drink himself to death. Sigh…

Zhao Chunni, the eldest sister in her family, sighed as she thought about the current situation of her two brothers, and her mood couldn't help but feel bad.

"It's alright, my third uncle won't drink himself to death..."

"Hmph, it was bound to happen sooner or later. What decent person drinks like that? He's not even thirty yet and he's already drinking himself to death, not doing anything productive all day long." Zhao Chunni sighed.

As for her family's affairs, Zhao Chunni couldn't really interfere. She was already in a terrible state herself, and with her son's condition... she genuinely had no energy to care about her family. However, Zhao Chunni also knew that her family was in a bad situation. Her eldest brother's words carried no weight; everything depended on Ji Ruxue's mood, and to make matters worse, Ji Ruxue was clueless... As for her second and third brothers... well, never mind, thinking about it too much would give her a headache.

Most importantly, there are her two younger sisters. Zhao Chunni can't go back to her parents' home because of her son's health, but Zhao Chunfang's situation isn't due to her son. Zhao Chunfang is the second oldest in the Zhao family, and she's had a falling out with her family and hasn't been back for several years. As for Zhao Chunqin, whenever you ask her, she's always busy... and you never know when she'll ever finish her busy schedule.

As Zhao Chunni was thinking, she suddenly heard the sputtering sound of a tractor outside.

Zhao Chunni looked outside and saw Zhang Ruifeng returning in a tractor.

As soon as he entered the yard and stopped the tractor, Zhao Tingxu jumped off, cursing under his breath: "That bastard, next time I see him, I'll beat him up."

Zhang Ruifeng was an honest and simple man, not very talkative, but he advised, "Dad, come inside, it's cold outside."

But Zhang Ruifeng's response was only his father-in-law continuing to curse and swear...

"That bastard, he infuriated me! If I hadn't stopped him today, I would have beaten him to death. And on top of that, he tried to swindle my money... Doesn't he even know who I am? My third son is a big shot in the county..."

Zhao Da'e listened from the side, and the more he listened, the more impressed he became: "Tsk tsk tsk, all that's left is to say, 'You're blind as a dog.'"

"He's blind as a bat!" Zhao Tingxu continued cursing. "He even tried to screw me over. I'll have Chunqin teach him a lesson another day."

Zhao Da'e pouted inside the house and retorted to Zhang Yumei, "Cousin, look at your grandpa, isn't he sick?"

“Ah…” Zhang Yumei was stunned. “I think my maternal grandfather is fine, it’s your paternal grandfather who is sick.”

Zhao Da'e shook his head: "Your grandpa is the one who's sick."

“No… Big Goose, I have the same idea as you,” Zhang Yumei explained.

Zhao Da'e then understood: "Yes, your maternal grandfather is sick. And he's quite sick. Look at him, he's usually normal, but as soon as something happens, he starts bragging about your third aunt."

Zhang Yumei nodded: "But what can your aunt do? Help your grandfather catch that water vat seller? I don't think it's very likely. I remember your aunt is just a clerk... and she hasn't been promoted in more than three years, so it's probably even more difficult for her."

Zhang Yumei is actually right; Zhao Chunqin has been working for three or four years. In terms of education, Zhao Chunqin has a very high level of education in her workplace; she is a university graduate.

In this era, the number of university graduates in the entire Kashi County is not to say that they are few and far between, but in reality, they are very small.

Kashi County places great importance on education, but in reality, only a pitifully small number of students are admitted to university each year—only a dozen or twenty. However, the vast majority of these students leave and never return.

The number of college graduates who are able to return to work is ridiculously small.

The key issue is this: theoretically, Zhao Chunqin is almost the most highly educated and youngest person in her current workplace. A promotion should be a certainty. Generally, someone with Zhao Chunqin's high level of education would be a key person the unit is grooming for advancement…

However, in reality, Zhao Chunqin worked for three or four years and only became a permanent employee; she did not receive any other promotions.

You see, she might get promoted in the future, but with reform and opening up and the expansion of university enrollment, there will be more and more college graduates in society. In three to five years, Zhao Chunqin won't be the only college graduate in her unit anymore. At that time, it might be even more difficult.

Moreover, it's obvious that even Zhang Yumei doesn't know whether the problem lies with Zhao Chunqin's superiors or with Zhao Chunqin herself.

It's unreasonable for a college student to be a staff member.

There were fewer college students in that era than doctoral students in later generations, so Zhang Yumei genuinely didn't know what was going on. However, although Zhang Yumei was young, she often heard her mother nagging, and Zhang Yumei felt that it was becoming increasingly difficult for Zhao Chunqin to get promoted.

Besides, what can Zhao Chunqin do?

Help your family?

Zhang Yumei didn't quite believe it.

Zhao Da'e was even less convinced: "Heh. She'll never get promoted in her lifetime."

Zhao Da'e said coldly, and Zhao Da'e was very certain... After all, Zhao Da'e knew Zhao Chunqin's character. She was petty about small things, knew nothing about big things, was cunning and sly in her work, and had no bottom line.

Which leader likes this kind of person?

This is a ticking time bomb!

He's a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any moment; any leader who comes along will keep their distance. Promotion?

Don't even dream about it.

The thing Zhao Da'e knew best was actually Zhao Chunqin's apartment purchase. Theoretically, the apartments allocated by the work unit were allocated in order of priority, because there was never enough housing. Naturally, whoever started working first and whoever waited the longest would be allocated an apartment.

This is the most reasonable explanation.

However, Zhao Chunqin caused a huge uproar at her workplace, arguing that because she was highly educated, she should be allocated housing first.

Zhao Chunqin's attitude offended everyone in her workplace. Although she eventually got the apartment she wanted, it essentially blocked her future career path.

Moreover, the houses they were allocated were particularly bad.

Although Zhao Chunqin had her own difficulties—she had just started working and got married before starting her job—it was understandable that she wanted to be allocated a house.

However, regardless of the reason, there should be a proper order of arrival. But Zhao Chunqin made a huge scene, making everyone unhappy. Even Zhao Chunqin's son-in-law felt that she had gone too far.

In Zhao Da'e's eyes, Zhao Chunqin is the kind of person you give a complete set of invincible gear to take out, only to have her get one-shotted by an NPC...

"Your third aunt's promotion is impossible. Besides, would your third aunt help your grandfather? You're kidding, your grandfather is always delusional and unrealistic." Zhao Da'e also scoffed at Zhao Tingxu: "Your grandfather's biggest flaw is that even though we're family, he insists on creating a hierarchy, making it seem like he's obsessed with vanity. It's really ridiculous. The problem is, your third aunt is a real tightwad; she's the first to run away when trouble arises."