Siheyuan: I just want to live

After hearing Chen Feng's words, Jin Ling and her brother's expressions instantly became extremely serious, as if they were shrouded by a thick dark cloud.

They sat aside with solemn expressions, motionless like sculptures, listening quietly to what Chen Feng was going to say next.

Seeing this, Chen Feng took a deep breath and continued in a heavy tone: "Jin Ming, you may not be able to go to school anymore..."

When they heard Chen Feng say this, Jin Ling and her brother's eyes were filled with astonishment and disbelief.

They opened their eyes wide and stared at Chen Feng, as if trying to find a hint of joking on his face, but they only saw a solemn and serious expression.

Jin Ming couldn't believe his ears. He stood up suddenly, his body trembling slightly, and asked Chen Feng in a crying voice.

"Brother-in-law, why do you say that? Didn't you say I still have a chance to go to school? What's going on?"

Although Jin Ling was also shocked, she did not impulsively question Chen Feng like her brother did. She just sat there quietly, waiting for Chen Feng to continue explaining.

After hearing what Jin Ming said, Chen Feng looked at Jin Ming firmly and said seriously: "Yes, I said you still have a chance to go to school! And until now, this statement has not changed, you still have a chance!"

When Jin Ming first heard Chen Feng's words, she couldn't help but feel happy, but then she became confused again and asked quickly: "Brother-in-law, since there is a chance, why did you say that I might not be able to go to school?"

Seeing Jin Ming so anxious, Chen Feng sighed softly, then waved his hand at Jin Ming and said calmly: "Jin Ming, don't get excited, sit down and listen to me first!"

When Jin Ling heard what Chen Feng said, she quickly agreed and said, "Yes, Jin Ming, sit down and listen to what your brother-in-law has to say!"

Seeing that his brother-in-law and sister had said so, Jin Ming nodded, although he was a little reluctant, and sat down obediently, and then said to Chen Feng: "Okay, brother-in-law, go ahead!"

After seeing him sitting down, Chen Feng smiled slightly, and then said in a very confident tone: "When I told you earlier that you can go to school, that was not just a casual remark, you can really go to school!"

Jin Ming stared at Chen Feng with eyes wide open, his face full of disbelief, but he still suppressed his inner excitement and said nothing.

Chen Feng smiled and continued, "I will have dinner with Director Hou and your Uncle Li later. By then, your schooling will be basically settled. There will be no changes!"

After saying this, Chen Feng deliberately paused for a moment, his eyes falling on Jin Ming, wanting to see if he would be unable to resist asking.

Sure enough, although Jin Ming was very anxious this time, he still held back and didn't speak. Seeing this scene, Chen Feng nodded slightly, expressing his satisfaction with Jin Ming's performance, and felt that he had learned to be calm and patient.

Then, Chen Feng said again: "However, the situation has changed a little bit now..."

Jin Ming's eyes, which were originally full of expectation, suddenly became nervous, and Jin Ling beside him couldn't wait to ask: "Honey, what exactly has changed?"

Chen Feng replied calmly: "Didn't you attend the whole institute meeting today? You should also know the two things Zhao Jun mentioned, right?"

Jin Ling and her brother looked at each other and nodded to show that they understood.

Seeing them nod, Chen Feng said again, "Today's meeting, the first thing has almost nothing to do with us, but the second thing is related to whether Jin Ming can go to school!"

Hearing Chen Feng say this, Jin Ling asked in confusion, "Honey, are you talking about Secretary Zhao's mobilization of people to go to the countryside?"

Seeing Jin Ling asking this, Chen Feng nodded and said, "Yes! That's it!"

After receiving Chen Feng's affirmative answer, Jin Ling was even more puzzled, so she said, "It was Secretary Zhao who mobilized him. What does this have to do with Jin Ming's schooling?"

Seeing Jin Ling say this, Chen Feng explained, "This is a big deal!"

"Jin Ming is 14 years old now. If she finishes high school, she will be or years old. At that time, she will be eligible for the "Re-education through Rural Areas" program. Should she go then?"

After hearing what Chen Feng said, Jin Ling asked again, "Hubby, didn't Secretary Zhao Jun say that going to the countryside is voluntary? Isn't it okay for us not to go then?"

Hearing Jin Ling's naive thoughts, Chen Feng sighed and said, "Wife, it's not as simple as you think!"

Chen Feng's words confused Jin Ling again. She asked in confusion, "Isn't that so?"

Chen Feng glanced at the innocent Jin Ling without saying anything. He then looked at Jin Ming and found that he also had a confused look on his face.

Chen Feng sighed heavily again, as if a huge stone was pressing on his heart. He slowly asked, "Wife, why do you think the subdistrict office should encourage educated youth to go to the countryside?"

Chen Feng's tone was very solemn, and revealed a deep sense of helplessness.

After hearing Chen Feng's question, Jin Ling blurted out, "What else could it be for? Of course, it's to allow young people to go to the countryside to train themselves!"

Her answer was full of affirmation, and she seemed to believe it without a doubt. After all, that was what the street office's document said, and she believed it.

However, Chen Feng shook his head with a bitter smile on his face. He did not respond directly to Jin Ling's words, but remained silent. Jin Ling looked at his reaction and couldn't help feeling a little confused.

She continued to ask: "Husband, am I wrong?"

Seeing Chen Feng's expression, it was obviously not the case, so Jin Ling's eyes showed a hint of doubt again, and she began to ask Chen Feng again, hoping to get an explanation from Chen Feng.

Chen Feng took a deep breath and finally said, "Wife, you can't say that you are wrong! But what you said is still not comprehensive."

There was a hint of helplessness in his voice, as if he had more ideas he wanted to express.

At this time, Jin Ling also continued to ask, "Husband, then tell me, besides this reason, what other reasons are there?"

After Jin Ling finished asking the question, she looked at Chen Feng with a curious look, waiting for Chen Feng to give her an answer. Although Jin Ming on the side did not speak, he looked at Chen Feng with the same look as Jin Ling.

Chen Feng looked at the expressions of the two siblings, and then said, "Wife! Although there are reasons for going to the countryside as you said, this is not the main reason."

Having said this, Chen Feng did not pause, and continued, "The main reason is that too many workers from rural areas moved to cities and factories in the past two years."

"The country is facing a food shortage right now. There is almost not enough food for so many people in the city. That's why we are calling on educated youth to go to the countryside!"

Seeing Chen Feng say this, Jin Ling subconsciously said, "Why do we have to send 16- and 17-year-old children to the countryside? They don't know anything! Can't we let those who went to the city and factories in the past two years go back?"

Hearing Jin Ling say this, Chen Feng couldn't help but admire her unique thinking. He really couldn't imagine what kind of mind could come up with such a wonderful idea.

However, from Jin Ling's sincere expression and tone, it seemed that she was not pretending to be stupid, but really did not understand the reason. Therefore, Chen Feng decided to explain it to her in detail.

"It is absolutely not feasible to ask those who went to the city and factories in the past two years to return to the countryside! These people have been trained and tempered in the factory for several years and have grown into qualified workers. The country and the factory construction need these people."

"If we let them return to the countryside now, wouldn't all the training the factory has given them over the past few years be wasted? The factory cannot afford such a huge loss."

"On the contrary, if we send educated youth to the countryside to participate in the Up to the Mountains and Down to the Countryside Movement, not only will there be no waste of resources, but it will give them the opportunity to receive re-education from poor and lower-middle peasants and gain opportunities for training."

"Most importantly, these educated youth are educated and young, and can bring vitality to the countryside and earn their own food through labor."

"Just like those people that Officer Zhao mentioned, they went to the Great Northern Wilderness to reclaim land last year. This year, they not only solved their own food problem, but also handed in a large amount of grain."

After hearing Chen Feng's long speech, Jin Ling and her brother finally understood what it meant to go to the countryside and why the street office encouraged everyone to do so.

Although she understood the reason, Jin Ling's doubts were not completely eliminated. She couldn't help but ask Chen Feng: "Husband, but Jin Ming is still young. Even if he wants to participate in the Up to the Countryside Movement, he should at least be sixteen or seventeen years old, right?"

"This doesn't prevent him from going to school normally. Why can't he even go to school now?"

Facing Jin Ling's question, Chen Feng patiently explained again: "Wife, although Jin Ming can go to school now, what should we do once we finish high school?"

"Wife, you see, right now the subdistrict office is only advocating that everyone go to the countryside to support construction. But I dare to assert that it won't be long before the subdistrict office will take compulsory measures to force all young people to join the torrent of going to the countryside!"

"By then, Jin Ming will not be able to escape this fate no matter what! You probably know how many people in the entire Sijiu City are in the same situation as Jin Ming."

Jin Ling couldn't help but feel a little surprised when she heard Chen Feng's words. She widened her eyes and asked in disbelief, "Are all these educated youth going to the countryside?"

She seemed very surprised by Chen Feng's guess.

Chen Feng frowned slightly, and his expression became more serious, as if he could feel the heavy pressure that was coming. He nodded gently.

He agreed with Jin Ling's guess and continued, "I estimate that by then, a large proportion of these young people will be arranged to go to the countryside to receive re-education from poor and lower-middle peasants. This is also a requirement of national policy."

There was a sense of helplessness and regret in his voice, as if he was worried about the hard life these young people were about to face.

Jin Ling listened to Chen Feng's words silently, with a trace of worry in her eyes. She realized that this decision would have a huge impact on many families, and Jin Ming would be one of them.

She couldn't help but worry about her brother's future fate, wondering whether he could adapt to the hard rural life.

At the same time, she began to think about how she should help Jin Ming cope with such changes.