Su Xiaotian was clear about this.
Her brothers were all very self-disciplined people, and they had indeed studied diligently at home over the past two years.
It could be said that their knowledge mastery far surpassed that of others their age.
However, while studying at home provided a vast scope of knowledge, it lacked systematic learning.
Some subjects required systematic instruction at school!
"Eldest Brother, you take Second Brother and Third Brother to study at home first. After some time, once the news spreads, the schools should be much better."
For how many years, countless people had dreamed of returning to school.
Now that there was an opportunity, she believed no one would be willing to give up a readily available future to continue causing trouble.
After all, after the resumption of the college entrance examination, so many educated youths had been willing to abandon their spouses and children to return to the city!
Wasn't it all for the dream of a university education and a return to urban life?
At that time, the learning atmosphere in schools would improve.
From after the Chinese New Year, Su Xiaotian had been preparing for this matter.
According to her memories from her previous life, Su Xiaotian had started preparing long ago.
Recently, she had visited the county several times, and each time she returned, she brought back books.
She had specifically asked her uncle-in-law, Chen Zi'an, to help her find a way to purchase three sets of textbooks from the Xinhua Bookstore.
She also bought some review materials and practice papers from a scrap recycling station, all carefully selected by her, containing targeted exercises.
Why did Su Xiaotian know this?
Of course, the system told her.
She used to think that the books she could find in the system were random, but later she realized that was not the case.
The books she found in the system's library were definitely those that would be useful in the near future.
For example, when she had planned to develop a chicken farm, she had found several books on poultry farming consecutively.
Later, when developing the pig farm, she had read many books on pig farming intensively for days.
And recently, she had found many books related to this year's college entrance examination.
What she regretted most was that she couldn't take those books out of the system's library, otherwise, she wouldn't have to go through so much trouble to find them.
That's right, Su Xiaotian had selected them based on the books she had seen, and she had reason to believe that the content was knowledge that would be used in the college entrance examination a few months later.
This time, only the eldest, second, and third brothers in the family were eligible to take the exam, and Su Xiaotian had prepared enough for the three brothers.
Su Xiaotian remembered that the exam that year was at the end of the year, around winter, and it was now June.
She had planned that when the final exams were held at the end of June, she would have her brothers participate in the first-year high school exams.
This way, by September, her brothers could directly enroll in the second year of high school.
Su Xiaotian's proposal received unanimous approval from the rest of the family.
Grandpa Su sat under the big tree in the yard, spitting out the dry tobacco from his pipe, and said, "If our children are to study, it's best to send them to the city. I heard that the teachers in the city are better!"
Eldest Brother Su disagreed, shaking his head and saying, "When I went to the city, I heard that the children in the city bullied the teachers terribly. Some teachers were forced to clean toilets, and some, unable to bear the bullying, refused to go to school anymore!"
Su Xiaotian said, "Uncle, what you said is true, but the current atmosphere has changed. Perhaps in another two months, everything will be better!"
By August or September, those with well-informed sources should be able to hear the news, and then schools would inevitably resume classes.
At that time, teachers would also surely regain their due treatment.
"It's possible, but it's still worrying to send the children so far away!" Grandma Su said worriedly.
Grandma Su didn't really care about whether the children studied well or not; she was just worried that the children wouldn't eat or sleep well in the city.
"They can live at Third Brother's place. It won't be for long, just half a year. Are you afraid Third Brother and his wife won't agree?" Grandpa Su said confidently.
Although the sons now kept their earnings separate, their good relationship was the envy of everyone in the production team.
After the matter was settled, Eldest Brother Su and his wife, and Second Brother Su went about their own business, while the Su brothers went to the river to bathe. Only Su Xiaotian remained with the two elders.
"Xiaotian, do you think it's okay for your brothers to live at your place to study?" Grandma Su asked with a smile.
Although the old man was full of confidence, Grandma Su was still worried that if Third Brother and his wife were unwilling, it might cause conflict.
Su Xiaotian said, "Grandma, don't worry. Don't you know what kind of people my father and mother are?"
Grandma Su thought about it and realized she was overthinking. She couldn't help but chuckle. Why was she thinking more and more as she got older?
"You're right!" Grandma Su also laughed at herself for thinking too much, feeling like she was worse than a child.
Grandpa Su gave Grandma Su a displeased glare. "You old woman, what are you always worrying about?"
Su Xiaotian stood behind Grandpa Su, massaging his shoulders and back, and said, "Grandpa, you're right. Grandma worries too much. Don't my parents know that the middle school in our commune isn't good? As long as we say we want our brothers to study, my parents will definitely take the initiative to suggest it!"
"Our precious girl is so thoughtful. Sit down and rest, dear. Grandpa doesn't need you to massage his shoulders."
"Grandpa's shoulders are strong, and our precious girl's hands will get sore!" Grandpa Su said cheerfully.
When Su Xiaotian massaged his back, his expression was indescribably proud, but he was still worried about his granddaughter's delicate hands.
Seeing the old man's proud and smug expression, Grandma Su couldn't help but glare at him.
He was so old, why was he acting like a child?
As they were talking under the big tree in the yard, Su Taohua came in.
Su Taohua's spirits had improved over the past two years, and she looked even younger than before.
"Gapa, Gashen, what are you talking about that makes you so happy?" Su Taohua asked curiously, seeing the smiles on the elders' faces.
"Aunt Taohua, you're here! Please sit down!" Su Xiaotian quickly brought a small stool.
Su Taohua stroked the little girl's hair and smiled as she sat down. "Xiaotian is getting more and more beautiful!"
The little girl looked more beautiful each year she grew. These words were not flattery.
In another two years, no one knew what she would look like. By then, perhaps all the young men in the surrounding villages would be attracted to this girl Xiaotian!
"Taohua, are you behaving yourself today?"
"It's just that I heard Shouwen is going to study, and Xiaomei is also clamoring to study. I came to see what's going on!"
Su Xiaomei was already nineteen by the Chinese New Year. Many people advised her to find a good husband for Xiaomei quickly, but Xiaomei herself was unwilling.
"Aunt Taohua, if Xiaomei sister wants to study, let her. Xiaomei sister has been studying very diligently these past two years, which shows she truly likes it."
She didn't know about anything else, but she knew how diligently Xiaomei had been studying these past few years. Especially now that Aunt Taohua's family was close to Uncle Shen, whenever Uncle Shen secretly tutored Third Brother, he would bring Sister Xiaomei along.
With such a good teacher, Sister Xiaomei would definitely be much better than others if she went to study now.
Su Taohua hadn't expected to hear the answer without asking anything.
She smiled and said, "Alright, then I'll let Xiaomei study. At the very least, she'll graduate from high school."
"Aunt Taohua, we were just talking. In a few days, the school will have exams. We'll go to register in advance and have them participate in the final exams."
Su Taohua hadn't thought of this. She frowned and said, "If they enroll now, they'll have to pay tuition for an extra semester."
"Some money cannot be saved!"
It was legitimate to be promoted to the second year of high school based on their own merits. No one could say anything.
Su Taohua thought about it and actually agreed.
Her ability to think so clearly was, in fact, due to Shen Zizhen's constant emphasis on the importance of education.
Since Shen Zizhen saved Su Taohua, Su Taohua, grateful for Shen Zizhen's kindness, took good care of him. Over time, the relationship between the two families gradually improved.
Seeing that there was potential between the two, but since they themselves did not reveal it, others could not say much.
Grandma Su was so anxious watching them.
"Then I'll go tell Sister Xiaomei!"
Before she finished speaking, Su Xiaotian happily ran out to deliver the good news, moving so quickly.
Su Taohua looked at Su Xiaotian's anxious appearance and shook her head helplessly. "She usually seems so steady."
"She's still a child. Her usual steady demeanor is all an act, and she can't maintain it for long! I don't know why this child runs so fast!" Grandma Su said with a smile, her tone full of pampering and affection.
"It's good to be lively!" Su Taohua smiled.
In fact, she genuinely liked Su Xiaotian, so she felt everything Su Xiaotian did was good.
After a brief chat about Su Xiaotian, Grandma Su spoke to Su Taohua seriously.
"Taohua, there's something Auntie needs to tell you."
"What is it? You say it, I'm listening!" Su Taohua didn't know what Grandma Su wanted to say, so she asked.
Grandpa Su knew what his old wife wanted to say. Thinking that this topic should not be left unaddressed, he found an excuse and left.
Only Grandma Su and Su Taohua were left in the yard. Grandma Su then said, "Taohua, what are your thoughts on your personal matters?"
"What personal matters?" Su Taohua was stunned, clearly not understanding the meaning of Grandma Su's words.
Grandma Su said, "In a few more months, Li Changming will be released. What are you thinking?"
Su Taohua's expression changed instantly. She had almost forgotten about this person. Why was this person about to be released?
Su Taohua wished such a person would stay in the remote mountains doing hard labor for his entire life and never come out again!
"Gashen, I don't want to mention this person again! He has nothing to do with me, and his release has nothing to do with me!"
Li Changming was simply a nightmare she never wanted to recall.
That man had given her the most profound painful memories.
"It's good that you don't plan to be with him. Taohua, I'm really afraid you won't be able to think it through." Grandma Su finally felt relieved, and her tone was no longer as solemn.
Li Changming was a scoundrel!
It was a loss for Taohua to marry him!
"Gashen, why would you think that? Why would I consider being with him after divorcing him?"
What was the point of divorce otherwise?
"Then what about Comrade Shen..."
When Grandma Su asked about Shen Zizhen, Su Taohua had a moment of panic.
"Gashen, he and I have no relationship, it's just, it's just..."
What kind of relationship they had, Su Taohua couldn't explain clearly for a moment, but there was obvious sadness on her face.
"Are you afraid of being implicated because he's considered a 'black five-category'?" Grandma Su asked tentatively.
The two of them seemed like they could be together, but after so long, those who acted quickly would already have children. These two, however, were still not together, which made her old lady anxious!
Su Taohua smiled and said, "What am I afraid of being implicated for?"
Her tone carried a hint of self-mockery.
Grandma Su then said, "Taohua, do you think you and Comrade Shen can make it?"
Su Taohua lowered her head and said, "Gashen, my mother is gone, and you are almost like my mother. I'll tell you something from the heart. What kind of person is Comrade Shen? Would he fancy a country girl like me?"
"What's wrong with being a country girl? Country girls are honest!" Grandma Su did not like to hear this.
However, despite her objection, Grandma Su felt that Su Taohua's reasoning was not without merit.
Although Comrade Shen had been sent here and was living in the cowshed, he was, after all, a city dweller. He was accustomed to city women and naturally wouldn't fancy country women!
Su Taohua actually liked Shen Zizhen very much in her heart. He was completely different from Li Changming; he was gentle and refined, a truly cultured person, and made one feel very comfortable.
However, such a man was not someone like her who could be worthy of him. Otherwise...
"Auntie, think about it. For so long, he hasn't shown any signs. I can't just go and throw myself at him, can I? This shows that in his heart, he still dislikes me as an uneducated country girl!"
As soon as Su Taohua finished speaking, she saw Grandma Su looking towards the main entrance.
She turned her head and was surprised to find Shen Zizhen standing at the entrance.
When did he come in? Why was there no sound when he entered?
How much of what she just said did he hear? Would he think she was an shameless woman?
Thinking of this, Su Taohua's face turned red, burning hot.
What was this? She said something, and the person concerned actually heard it?
She quickly stood up and was about to rush out, but Shen Zizhen stopped her.
"Taohua, wait. I have something to tell you!"
Shen Zizhen finally managed to say this sentence, his face also red, but his tone was firm and unquestionable.
"What is it? Teacher Shen, I just remembered I have some matters at home and need to go back urgently..." Su Taohua's voice was flustered as she spoke.
"Taohua, I heard just now. I don't mean to dislike you. I wouldn't dare. I'm afraid you'll dislike me, and I'm also afraid of implicating you!"
Although Shen Zizhen's face was red, he still said what he wanted to say.
Su Taohua did not expect Shen Zizhen to have such concerns.
Little did she know that before Shen Zizhen came to Hongxin Brigade, he had almost given up on living due to his wife and children's abandonment.
Fortunately, the people of Hongxin Brigade were kind, and they did not discriminate against those in the cowshed.
But his past experiences made him hesitant to easily consider being with anyone.
Grandma Su, standing beside them, had a face full of joy. These two, really, didn't they know what they were thinking? Why couldn't they just say it clearly?
This incident today was good. Now that they had cleared things up, good things were just around the corner, right!
When the news of Shen Zizhen and Su Taohua getting married spread throughout the brigade.
The people of Hongxin Brigade had different opinions.
Some people thought that Su Taohua was attracted to Teacher Shen because he was from the city and had great abilities.
But some people also thought that Su Taohua was a fool. A person living in a cowshed, if she married him, wouldn't she have to live in the cowshed too?
Su Changjiu was so troubled that his hair was almost white.
He complained, why couldn't they care about his hair? It was already turning gray, and they wouldn't be satisfied until it turned completely white!
He had never heard of such a thing before. What was going on?
How should this be handled?
There were cases of educated youths marrying young people in the brigade, and also cases of male educated youths marrying young women from the brigade.
But for someone labeled a "black five-category" and living in a cowshed to marry a woman from the brigade, how could he report this to the commune?
If nothing else, they probably couldn't even get a marriage certificate!
"Changjiu, there's nothing to be so troubled about. At most, Taohua will live in the cowshed with Teacher Shen. As long as Taohua herself doesn't mind, what can others say?" Grandpa Su saw Su Changjiu pulling his hair on the edge of the field and couldn't help but offer advice.
"I'm just worried about the marriage certificate!"
Grandpa Su smiled and said, "This is not difficult either. Just exaggerate it a bit. Say that Taohua is doing it out of gratitude or something. Anyway, the incident back then caused such a stir!" Grandpa Su's words enlightened him.
Yes, wasn't it all up to what people said?
Su Changjiu could only nod, but then he couldn't help but sigh again, "Taohua is really an honest person. Why did she fall for Teacher Shen? Someone with such a status, others would avoid him."
He had heard that Shen Zizhen's wife and children had divorced him precisely because Shen Zizhen was labeled a "black five-category" and was to be sent down.
Heard that to sever ties, they even published it in the newspaper.
Why wasn't Taohua afraid of being implicated?
"I think Teacher Shen is quite good, much better than that Li Changming."
Grandpa Su was the one who interacted the most with people from the cowshed and the brigade.
He knew that the people in the cowshed were different from what others said. At the very least, these few people in their brigade's cowshed, whether old or young, had excellent personalities.
The marriage of middle-aged people, if it's fast, it's really fast. The two quickly set a date to get their marriage certificate.
On the appointed day, Su Changjiu took the two to the commune to get their marriage certificate.
Su Changjiu, following Grandpa Su's instructions, lied to the people at the commune who handled marriage certificates.
He claimed that when Li Zhiguo had malicious intentions, Shen Zizhen was injured while saving someone and was now unable to take care of himself, and Su Taohua was doing it out of gratitude.
The people at the commune naturally knew about the Li Zhiguo incident.
After all, this was the most heinous incident that had occurred in the county in many years.
Li Zhiguo's crimes were unforgivable. Every meeting would begin with a criticism of Li Zhiguo before the official meeting started.
Because of Li Zhiguo, the entire Li family declined. Old Master Li eventually took his few grandsons back to their rural hometown.
It was heard that even back in their hometown, they did not live well, but no one sympathized with them.
Li Zhiguo was publicly tried and executed in the spring of this year.
After his death, the people in the county celebrated with drums and gongs for several days.
They also sighed for a long time in their conversations, lamenting the children who were harmed by Li Zhiguo.
Some people also said that if Li Zhiguo had been sent to Hongxin Brigade earlier, perhaps those children could have been spared.
"Even if Shen Zizhen saved someone, he shouldn't take advantage of the favor. This is not acceptable!" Comrade Xiao Wu said indignantly.
A good woman couldn't possibly sacrifice her entire life for such a favor, could she?
Su Changjiu knew he had said the wrong thing and quickly said, "It's not like that, Comrade Xiao Wu. Shen Zizhen refused, but Comrade Su Taohua from our brigade has a grateful nature and said that if she didn't take care of Comrade Shen Zizhen during his final period, she wouldn't feel at ease!"
Hearing "final period," Comrade Xiao Wu couldn't say anything more and even suspected that Li Zhiguo had been too harsh and Shen Zizhen was close to death!
"Forget it, he's also a pitiable person. It's just that Shen Zizhen has a bad background. If it were someone else, Li Zhiguo's sins would be even heavier!" Comrade Xiao Wu sighed.
It was precisely because of his status that Shen Zizhen was beaten like this by Li Zhiguo and had to swallow his anger.
Thinking about it, it was truly unfair.
"Comrade Xiao Wu, you don't know, although Shen Zizhen made mistakes before, his performance in our Hongxin Brigade was truly good."
"He was not afraid of sacrifice to save people, and he clung tightly to Shen Zizhen at critical moments. His arms and legs were broken, and he stayed in the county hospital for a month."
"If he weren't a 'black five-category' element, I would have thought of reporting him to the commune for commendation!"
"It's a good thing that the doctors at our county hospital are skilled, otherwise, he might not have survived!"
Su Changjiu deliberately exaggerated a bit, promoting Shen Zizhen's great achievements.
While talking, Su Changjiu also quietly slipped a pack of cigarettes into Comrade Xiao Wu's hand.
Comrade Xiao Wu put the cigarettes in his pocket and said no more.
The two soon received their marriage certificates.
Su Taohua and Shen Zizhen stood outside the commune gate, each holding a marriage certificate similar to an award certificate, still disbelieving that they were remarried.
Two years ago, let alone thinking about remarrying, they had almost lost the courage to live.
At this moment, the hearts of these two people who had suffered so much were closely connected.
"Brigade Leader, thank you very much!" Shen Zizhen said politely to Su Changjiu.
He was very clear about his identity. If it weren't for Su Changjiu's help, they wouldn't have been able to get the marriage certificate.
"You're welcome. Taohua is my sister. You just treat her well from now on." Su Changjiu looked at Taohua, then at Shen Zizhen, and said earnestly, "Taohua had a hard life in the past few years. You must not let her suffer anymore!"
Shen Zizhen looked at Su Taohua's blushing face and nodded solemnly, "I am grateful enough that Taohua stayed with me during my most difficult times. How could I not treat her well? It's just that I'm incompetent and still have to implicate her by having her live in the cowshed."
That's right, Su Taohua and Shen Zizhen got married, and she could only move into the cowshed with Shen Zizhen.
Since they were both remarried, and Shen Zizhen had such a status, it was impossible to hold a proper wedding.
But there were people who did not forget.
[Author's Note]
The updates yesterday and the day before were short. Today, I will update an extra thousand words!