The old Gu family fell silent for a while, with only the dim kerosene lamp flickering.
Gu Mingdong raised his eyebrows, separated the wild boar, and then looked at the three siblings and asked: "What, do you really want the eldest brother to raise him for the rest of his life?"
It is possible to raise younger siblings, but it is impossible to raise them for a lifetime.
Gu Erdi quickly shook his head: "Of course not, I will work to support myself."
"Then what's your expression?" Gu Mingdong asked with a smile.
Gu Sanmei pursed her lips and muttered: "Brother, do you not want us anymore?"
Gu Simei also lowered her head and said nothing, feeling uneasy in her heart. Although Gu's second brother was usually very clingy to his eldest brother, in fact, among the three siblings, she was the one who relied on him the most.
People in the production team often say that they are the eldest brother's losers, and the three brothers and sisters also feel the same in their hearts. If the eldest brother did not have three underage siblings, the eldest brother would not have to work so hard.
So more or less, the brother and sister feel that they have lost money to their brother.
Gu Simei even thought that her eldest sister-in-law would pass away because she also worked hard for the family. She always felt guilty in her heart, so she was especially kind to the twins.
When Li Lijuan came in, Gu Simei was younger, had the most care, and had the best relationship with her.
She still remembers that when her sister-in-law was about to die of illness, she held her hand firmly and asked her to take good care of her two nephews.
The impression that day was so profound that when Matchmaker Wang came to propose marriage, Gu's second brother Gu Sanmei thought that his brother could remarry, but Gu's fourth sister was a little confused.
After hearing that her brother did not plan to marry again, Gu Simei secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but felt that she should not be like this.
Gu Mingdong realized that his words had misunderstood them. He reached out and patted the foreheads of the three of them, and scolded them with a smile: "What are you talking about? I've been raising them for so many years. It's a shame if I don't raise them now."
"Besides, I'm still waiting for you to grow up and be successful in repaying me."
As soon as these words were said, the three brothers and sisters immediately regained their energy and stopped hanging their heads.
The second brother Gu held his head high and said, "Brother, don't worry. I will work hard to support you in the future. Not only will I support you, but I will also support my two nephews."
Gu Mingdong laughed and asked: "Oh, just with the little work you do farming, you don't even have enough to eat. When you get a wife in the future, you will have to support her and her children. I don't know if the leftovers will be enough for me to eat." "
Gu Erdi thought about it, but still said: "When I get older, I won't be able to earn more than this point of work, and besides, I won't marry a wife."
Gu Mingdong couldn't help but give him a chestnut: "Then you have sacrificed a lot."
Without waiting for Gu Mingnan to speak again, he said: "You only want to make a living, and your eyes are only on the one-third of an acre of the production team. Don't you want to focus on other things?"
These words made Gu Erdi stunned. In the past, he only thought about eating enough, but now that he was full, he also thought about learning the skills of his elder brother. He really didn't think much about other things.
He hesitated for a moment: "I want to learn from my elder brother."
Gu Mingdong touched his chin: "It's not impossible, but the prey on the mountain is limited, and they are all owned by the public. This road will become narrower and narrower."
Brother Gu opened his mouth, feeling a little troubled.
"People have to do something in this life. I like farming. I feel at ease in the land. This is also a way. But I see that you don't like it very much. Since you don't like farming, you must like something else. ?"
Gu Mingdong's family knows what his family is capable of, and he can do a lot of good things in farming. If he can have his own hilltop in ten years, that will be the best choice for him and his abilities.
But the younger brothers and sisters are different. They are ordinary people. It is not easy for ordinary people to get ahead by farming. If they really like them, Gu Mingdong thinks there is no problem and they can farm together.
But Gu Mingdong was keenly aware that from Gu Mingnan to Gu Mingbei, none of the three children really liked farming, and even the second and third children did not have a law-abiding character at all, so they brought up this matter today.
Gu Mingdong didn't force them to talk now. He patted his second brother on the shoulder and stood up: "It's getting late. Go to bed first. You guys should think about what you like to do tonight."
After saying a few words, Gu Mingdong patted his butt and left, sleeping soundly and dreamlessly all night.
The three brothers and sisters next door were tossing and turning and couldn't sleep.
Gu Mingnan is fifteen years old at the turn of the new year, and he is considered half an adult in the countryside. He will be able to get married and have children at his age some time ago.
Because of this, Gu Mingnan has a greater sense of urgency than his two sisters.
When there was no food at home, Gu Mingnan racked his brains and even took risks to get food. Regardless of right or wrong, at least he had a sense of responsibility for this family.
After listening to Gu Mingdong's words tonight, the half-grown boy tossed and turned. There seemed to be countless years buzzing in his head, but he couldn't settle on any of them.
Suddenly, Gu Mingnan jumped up and pulled out the box Sun Shumei gave him.
Opening the box, he used the moonlight to assemble and piece together the shell casings accumulated inside, forming the shape of a tank.
Gu Mingnan reached out and caressed her lovingly, his eyes twinkling slightly in the dark night.
In the room separated by a wall, the two sisters were tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
A long while.
Gu Mingxi's voice sounded: "Xiaobei, what do you want to do in the future?"
Gu Mingbei didn't fall asleep either. He hesitated for a while before saying, "I can't think of it."
"I thought of it." Gu Mingxi said, lying on his back and looking at the dark roof.
"I don't want to stay in the countryside farming, and I hate farming. I work hard for a year and don't have much money at the end. I have a headache and fever at home and don't dare to go to the hospital. I want to go to the city."
Just like her mother and sister-in-law, if the family had money and took good care of themselves, they would not have died so early...
Gu Mingbei had known about his sister's idea for a long time, so he wasn't surprised. He just said, "It's very difficult."
It's so easy to get into the city. Recruiting jobs in the city is a mess. Her sister has no academic qualifications and no connections, so how can she get in?
As for marrying into the city, it is easier said than done. There are many snobs in the city. Unless the family is in poor condition and cannot find a wife, who will marry a wife from the countryside?
Back then, my aunt was able to marry into the city because her uncle really liked her and because she had a brother who was a soldier.
Gu Mingxi said: "Nothing is difficult in the world, only those who are willing can do it."
Seeing how determined she was, Gu Mingbei didn't know what to say for a moment and fell silent.
The next day, when Gu Mingdong got up and walked out of the room, he saw three pairs of dark circles under his eyes.
"Didn't you sleep well last night?" Gu Mingdong asked with a smile.
Gu Erdi took a sip of sweet potato porridge, nodded and said, "I didn't fall asleep."
The twins were drinking porridge by themselves. When they heard this, they asked, "Second uncle, why don't you sleep at night?"
"Second uncle, did you wet the bed?"
After eating well and nutritiously, the twins seem to have grown up all of a sudden. Now they can speak clearly, their brains are flexible, and they no longer stumble when they walk.
The second brother Gu hugged his nephew and pinched the flesh of his cheek: "Do you think I am you and wet the bed?"
"Ah, second uncle, don't pinch me." Gu Liangxing struggled.
Gu Mingdong reached out to save his son, and Gu Liangxing immediately put his arms around his neck and shouted: "Dad is the best."
"You're a heartless boy. Second uncle is not good. Then don't ask me to hump you around in the future." Gu Erdi said sourly.
Gu Liangchen called to the spoon and shouted: "Hello, dad, second uncle, third aunt and sister-in-law."
The second brother Gu was amused, rubbed his little head and said, "Our Ah Chen is really a clever little kid."
After a noisy breakfast, the three brothers and sisters circled around Gu Mingdong. You pushed me and I pushed you, but you refused to speak first.
Gu Mingdong pointed to the table, motioned for them to sit down, and made everyone a glass of sugar water. The twins didn't take it, but let them drink from the small bowls next to them.
The sugar water was warm and sweet, and the sweet taste made Gu, the second brother and the three of them feel much calmer.
Gu Mingdong then asked: "Do you have anything to say to me?"
The three brothers and sisters looked at each other, and the second brother Gu patted his head: "Then let me talk first."
The second brother Gu said, "Brother, I want to be a soldier. There are subsidies for being a soldier."
Gu Mingdong was not surprised and just asked him: "Do you want to be a soldier because you like it, or because there are subsidies for soldiers?"
Brother Gu was stunned for a moment, his face looked a little strange, as if he was asking what was different about this.
Gu Mingdong continued: "Each production team has a quota for soldiers. Although there are not many, you can find ways to get it. But you have to think clearly whether you want to be a soldier, whether you really like it, or for other reasons."
As expected, Gu Erdi said hesitantly: "Those who serve in the military will receive a monthly subsidy. I heard that people who have just joined the army also receive a monthly subsidy of six yuan, which is much better than working at home to earn work points."
Gu Mingdong secretly thought that this was indeed the case, and sighed: "If you are just doing it for the subsidy of six yuan a month, then I don't agree."
"Why?" Gu Erdi asked.
Gu Mingdong glared at him: "Being a soldier is not as simple as you think. Not to mention the hard work, you have to go to the front line in case of a war. You must be prepared to sacrifice for the country at any time. If you only go there for that little subsidy, you won't last long. You have to demobilize and come back, why not just find other ways to avoid wasting the number of soldiers in the brigade."
The second brother Gu said unconvinced: "Everyone wants to be a soldier because of the subsidy, and I'm not the only one."
"It won't work here." Gu Mingdong interrupted him forcefully.
He knows better than others the hardships and difficulties of being a soldier. Moreover, when the war breaks out in a few years, he does not want his brother to die for a few yuan of subsidies.
If serving as a soldier was Gu's second brother's dream, he wouldn't object, but not for money.
The second brother Gu was rejected and suddenly became depressed.
Gu Sanmei glanced at him and plucked up the courage to say, "Brother, I don't want to be a soldier, I want to go to the city."
"Going into town?"
Gu Sanmei nodded: "Yes, no matter what method I use, I want to go to the city and live a good life. I hate farming."
Before she finished speaking, Gu Erdi scolded her: "You just dislike poverty and love wealth."
Gu Sanmei's face turned red and she snorted coldly: "What's wrong with me that I don't like living a hard life? Am I wrong? Besides, only when I live a good life can I promote my parents' family. Otherwise, how can I take care of others if I can't live well myself?" "
"What a crooked talk, who wants you to be promoted?" Gu Erdi yelled unconvinced.
Seeing that the two brothers and sisters were about to quarrel again, Gu Mingdong quickly stopped him: "Let the third sister finish, how do you want to enter the city?"
He didn't think that his sister wanted to live a good life because she disliked the poor and loved the rich. If she could eat meat, who would want to eat cabbage every day, and if she could be lazy, she would have to work in the fields. This is human nature, and it is against the law to force others to endure hardships and live a hard life. human nature.
Besides, Gu Sanmei thought so in her heart. She was never lazy when working in the fields. It could be seen from the fact that she, a minor girl, was assigned a lot of work points at the end of the year.
His own sister was in pain, but Gu Mingdong protected her and didn't think there was anything wrong with her third sister at all.
Gu Sanmei bit her lip and lowered her head: "I haven't thought about it yet... maybe I can find a good man to marry like my aunt."
Gu Mingdong sighed in his heart, shook his head and said, "Xiaoxi, it's okay if you don't want to live a hard life and want to go to the city, but there is a big problem if you entrust this practical process to a man who doesn't know where he is."
"Why? Didn't aunt find uncle?" Gu Sanmei didn't feel that she was worse than her aunt.
"I'm going to get married anyway, so what's wrong with me wanting to marry someone from the city?"
Gu Mingdong asked back: "There's nothing wrong, but think about it, even if you find such a man to marry, will you be a head shorter than him first? Then you can speak upright at home? Can you be the master of the house? Can you live a happy life? ?"
"Third sister, do you want to go to the city or get married?"
Gu Mingdong felt that his younger brothers and sisters had confused the relationship between priorities and regarded the means to achieve their goals as their own dreams.
"If you want to live a good life, you don't have to rely on others. It's too risky to place your hopes on others."
After asking three times, Gu Sanmei fell into deep thought.
She actually knew that such an idea was unreliable and that she would be easily wronged if she got married, but she just wasn't willing to stay in the countryside till her whole life, with her face facing the loess and her back turned to the sky.
"Of course I want to rely on myself, but...what else can I do besides getting married?"
Gu Mingdong added: "There is more than one way to enter the city."
"But other methods are more difficult." Gu Erdi muttered.
Gu Sanmei lowered her head: "I have heard from Shumei that our Xiyuan Town is fine. Other places are calling for people to go to the mountains and countryside. In fact, there are not enough jobs in the city, so they are asked to support the frontier."
"Shumei only graduated from junior high school, but she couldn't find a job more than a year after graduation. My eldest cousin still took my uncle's job. I want to be educated but I don't have a degree. How can I get into a factory?"
"I can't even think about temporary work, let alone other good jobs."
These words surprised Gu Mingdong. He thought Gu Sanmei only wanted to get married. It turned out that she had other plans in her heart, but she couldn't find a better way.
Gu Mingdong raised his eyebrows and said with a smile: "Since you know that you have no advantages, then develop advantages for yourself. If you don't have a degree, go to school. If you don't have a way, look for a way. As long as you are good enough, you are afraid of not finding one. post?"
Gu Sanmei didn't expect him to say that, so she pursed her lips and said, "But..."
"There are no buts." Gu Mingdong continued, "After the New Year, you go to school and take the exams all the way. If the junior high school is not enough, then take the high school exam. If the high school is not enough, then take the university exam. Talents are welcome everywhere."
Gu Sanmei was happy at first, and then said: "But studying is expensive..."
When their parents were still alive, all the children in the Gu family actually went to school. Gu Mingdong attended the most and only dropped out of school after graduating from junior high school.
The younger siblings were unlucky. When their parents left, their family fortune plummeted, so they had to drop out of school. Gu Simei, in particular, only attended elementary school for a few years before returning home.
A child's tuition and miscellaneous fees for one semester only cost three yuan. You must know that a strong laborer can get less than thirty yuan for one year's work. For the four children of the Gu family, the tuition fees are really not a small amount.
So when Gu Sanmei was happy when her brother asked her to go to school, she became worried.
If she goes to school, there will be one less person in the family to work, and the money will be much more. How can it be done with only two brothers?
Gu Mingdong said: "So I will make an account book and write down how much money you spent on studying. When you make money in the future, you will return it to me. This way, it will be treated as if you spent your own money to study."
Gu Sanmei was really moved when she heard this.
Gu Mingdong looked at Gu Simei again.
Gu Simei was the youngest and dropped out of elementary school after only two years. She was so nervous that she didn't dare to raise her head.
Facing his younger sister, who is the timidest and usually has the lowest sense of presence, Gu Mingdong's voice became softer: "Xiaobei, what about you?"
Gu Simei hesitated for a long time and was speechless.
Gu Mingdong comforted him: "You are still young, so it doesn't matter if you can't think of it for the time being. Why don't you go to school with Xiao Xi first? After a few years of studying, you will know."
Unexpectedly, these words made Gu Simei excited. She stood up suddenly and shouted: "I don't want to study, I will stay at home."
After saying that, he turned around and ran away, leaving the three siblings at a loss.