Siheyuan: Fighting against the beasts under the pressure of the system

Wednesday, January 1967, 6.

9 am

Zhang Minghui and Cheng Xuewen each carried two packages. Cheng Siyu and Zhang Weihong carried sacks of bedding. As soon as they walked out of the house, they were seen by the second aunt.

Seeing several people carrying large and small bags, the second aunt asked in surprise.

"Minghui, where are you guys going? Why are you carrying so many bags?"

Zhang Minghui smiled and began to speak.

"Second Aunt, that's right! It's hard to find jobs in the city right now, and schools are closed. I want to let them go to the countryside to train for a few years and let them experience the hardships of the countryside."

"Otherwise they won't understand. Don't you think so?"

When the second aunt heard this, a warm smile appeared on her face, but she despised Zhang Minghui in her heart.

"Humph, I thought you were a powerful figure, but you are just a pig with a green onion stuck in its nose - pretending to be a big shot. Unlike our head of the family, he arranged for both of his sons to work as temporary workers in the factory."

I think so, but I can't say it that way. Second Aunt said in a gentle tone.

"Hey, Minghui, you are very good at doing things. You even thought of letting your sister and brother-in-law cut in line."

"Guangtian and Guangfu in our family are no longer able to make it. They can only work hard in the factory and see if they can become regular employees."

Zhang Weihong was about to say something to the second aunt when she heard her words, but Zhang Minghui stopped her with a look. Zhang Minghui smiled meaningfully and spoke happily.

"Hey, I don't have the connections of Second Uncle. He has worked in the factory all his life. He can talk his way out of trouble, but I can't."

"Okay, Second Aunt, I won't chat with you for now. I have to take a bus soon. I'm leaving now."

When they went out of the Moon Gate, they saw the second aunt following them. She ran to the pond in the middle courtyard to spread the word.

Soon, the aunties in the middle courtyard began to chatter, their words full of contempt and disdain for Zhang Minghui.

After leaving the hospital, Zhang Weihong said with an unhappy look on her face.

"Brother, why don't you let me say a few words to Second Auntie? Look at what he is like. Liu Haizhong found two temporary workers for his two children, and this guy was so flattered by her that he wanted to spread the news all over the street."

“What a show-off.”

Cheng Xuewen threw the package onto his shoulder and carried it. When he heard what Zhang Weihong said, he quickly tried to smooth things over.

"Wei Hong, you are too impatient. This won't do. You haven't learned your brother-in-law's maturity and steadiness at all. You always want to lose your temper on the spot, which will easily lead to losses."

"Brother-in-law, Wei Hong deserves to be punished. You must teach her a lesson!"

Zhang Weihong glared at Cheng Xuewen and was about to hit him twice.

She was particularly annoyed by Cheng Xuewen's preaching, which was always telling Zhang Weihong some great principles. Zhang Weihong, who was good at doing things, was too lazy to listen to it.

He even dared to tell her about her bad deeds. Zhang Weihong's pretty face was tense. She wanted to teach this black-hearted guy a lesson later.

Cheng Siyu heard what her brother said, but she did not indulge him and scolded Cheng Xuewen.

"Xuewen, you are itching to complain. I will let Doudou fight with you in a while. Let's see if you dare to talk nonsense again."

Zhang Minghui was used to their quarrels, so he didn't bother to pay attention to them. Continuing with what he had just said, Zhang Minghui smiled and said.

"Alright, stop arguing. Doudou, you need to change your temper. Don't always think about fighting. There is always someone better than you. You will know it when you suffer a great loss."

Zhang Minghui looked back at the yard and explained to them.

"Hey, why didn't I let you talk back just now? Because there was no need. Don't fight for the moment. By this time next year, they will naturally cry."

Zhang Weihong became interested when he heard this. He knew that his brother had a large number of people, so he must have received some information. He asked in a high-pitched voice.

"Brother, tell me quickly, what is going on."

Cheng Siyu and her brother also turned their attention to Zhang Minghui, and they both became interested.

Seeing his wife's eager expression, Zhang Minghui did not hide it. He looked around and saw that no one noticed their conversation, so he spoke in a low voice.

"After you have heard this, don't tell anyone. I heard Aunt Wang mention this when we were chatting. There is a rumor going around that all unemployed young people of working age should be driven back to the countryside."

"Temporary workers are not allowed to work. As long as they are not regular workers, they must be dismissed. This should be implemented in every household."

The three of them were shocked when they heard this. They didn't expect it to be so strict.

Zhang Weihong asked in surprise.

"Brother, what you mean is that they will be sent to all parts of the country and can't come back."

Zhang Minghui was silent for a while and then replied.

"Who knows!"

"Whether you can come back or not depends on the notification from above. You two are still young. Even if we find you formal jobs now, you can't go to work. You have to wait at home for another two years."

"The city is in such a mess right now, you might get reported by someone with bad intentions. If something goes wrong, it will be hard to handle."

"That's why I let you hide in the countryside for two years until you turn 16. Then I'll let you go back to the city to work. Remember, don't mention this to anyone."

"Did you hear that?"

Seeing Zhang Minghui's serious expression, several people knew that this matter was not a joke and nodded in response.

After getting on the bus, they arrived at Zhengjia Village with a bumpy ride.

Not far from the village entrance, a few young boys suddenly jumped out from the bushes on the roadside, holding long tasseled spears and shouting loudly.

"Yours, what work."

Zhang Minghui was chatting with his wife in the back, who hadn't seen her parents for a long time. She was very excited and was startled when she heard the scolding in front.

He took two steps back.

Zhang Minghui looked up and saw the boy in the lead. He recognized him as Mr. Zheng's eldest grandson and immediately laughed and scolded him.

"Shi Tou, have you skipped class again? I'll tell your grandfather and let him spank you."

The boy named Shitou was about twelve or thirteen years old, dark and thin. His full name was Zheng Jiefang and his nickname was Shitou.

Shitou is a mischievous boy who doesn't like to go to class. He always thinks about catching fish and shrimps with his friends. As long as no one is paying attention, he will sneak away from the class.

Because of this incident, he was beaten a lot. Shitou looked back and saw that it was Zhang Minghui. He quickly called his friends.

"The enemy is coming fiercely. Let's retreat quickly and find a large force to deal with them later."

He ran away screaming with a few friends.

Zhang Weihong and Cheng Siyu were laughing so hard that they were shaking with laughter. They didn't expect that their brother (a man) had such a strong deterrent power and could scare away those troublemakers with just one sentence.