After finishing the meal, Li Xuemei had long since cleared the dishes and sat on the kang, beginning to sew clothes for the children. Over the years, the family had no income, and the harvest from the fields was always insufficient for expenses.
It was barely enough to make ends meet, not to mention buying some daily necessities.
Fortunately, the three children were healthy and rarely fell ill, otherwise, they wouldn't know where to get the money for medical treatment.
It had been years since the children got new clothes.
The clothes they wore were handed down from the eldest to the youngest, patched upon patches, especially now that Xiao Ying was of an age to care about appearances, yet she was still in patched clothes. Clearly a girl at the age of a blooming flower, but dressed no better than a beggar by the roadside.
Li Xuemei sighed.
She glanced at Gu Ruhai, who was skillfully rolling coarse tobacco in a piece of straw paper, quickly forming a cigarette with practiced hands.
He was always subsidizing his second and third brothers, while their own family lived like this.
Gu Ruhai lit a match, ignited the cigarette, took a deep drag, and slowly exhaled a smoke ring before his furrowed brow relaxed.
He heard Li Xuemei's sigh, knowing it was meant for him; he looked over at Xiao Ying, who was shelling peanuts from a bowl, and Xiao Jie, who was squatting next to the peanuts, helping out. Gu Xiaoqing was standing near the eaves, avoiding the rain, emptying basins of water, and placing the empty basins properly.
All three children were good kids.
He recalled the conversation with his parents at the field today, and his heart ached. They were all his children, and having to make such choices really felt bad.
He coughed, and Gu Xiaoqing looked up at her father; this was Gu Ruhai's signature move before making any major announcements.
Sure enough, Li Xuemei and the three Gu Xiaoqing siblings all looked at Gu Ruhai.
Gu Ruhai looked at Gu Xiaoqing with difficulty, pointed to the bench in front of him, and said, "Xiaoqing, sit down. Dad has something to say to you."
Gu Xiaoqing was startled but soon understood. Given the time, she had graduated from primary school, and junior high was about to start.
It was exactly like last lifetime, after her grandparents persuaded Gu Ruhai, he wouldn't let her continue school.
Gu Xiaoqing walked over and sat down.
She thought to herself that her father had run into her grandparents today.
He was about to speak.
"Dad, I have something to say as well."
Gu Xiaoqing took the initiative.
Gu Ruhai was an honest man, not a ruthless one, and the prospect of not letting his daughter attend school was already hard to speak of. Hearing this, he immediately changed his mind: "Then you go first."
Gu Xiaoqing sighed. Like in the previous life, Gu Ruhai always conceded—whether to his brothers, parents, or even his children. But why didn't she go to school in the past life?
Wasn't it because she was of the same temperament?
To spare the family hardship, she had been persuaded by a few of dad's words.
But this time was different.
"Dad, the new school term is starting soon, and I want to go to junior high school."
Gu Ruhai was taken aback, not expecting Xiaoqing to say that, and suddenly didn't know what to say.
He opened his mouth but couldn't say a word. They were all his children. How could he say that to save up for Xiao Jie's schooling, Xiaoqing had to forgo hers?
He couldn't bring himself to say it.
"Well, well......"
After quite some time, Gu Ruhai still couldn't utter a complete sentence.
"Second sister, you're amazing, always getting first! When I go to school, I want to be like you. No, I want to be even better than you."
Gu Xiaojie had no clue what Gu Ruhai was thinking and happily leaned closer to Gu Xiaoqing, as the second sister was his idol.
Gu Xiaoqing held Xiao Jie's small body, patted his head, and said, "Alright, in the future, your second sister will start with giving Xiao Jie some preschool education every day, to lay a solid foundation so you can also be top of your class. In the future, you get into university, and bring pride to mom and dad, okay?"
These words were meant to instill the notion that studying was honorable.
Sure enough, Gu Xiaojie nodded in agreement, saying, "Second sister, don't worry. You go to college first, and I'll follow to college too. Our family will have two college students, and let mom and dad live a good life in the city."
His little chest puffed with pride, making the whole family laugh.
Li Xuemei laughed until her belly hurt, "Great, our family will have two college students. Then mom will work hard to earn money to support both of you."
Seeing their children succeed is a parent's pride.
Li Xuemei also longed for her child to become a college student. Didn't she notice that Uncle's son, Gu Xiaocheng, was a college student, and Uncle's tail was already sticking up to the sky in pride?
And Aunt Jiang Xiulan, with that smug demeanor all day long.
Nearly wanting to tell everyone around how successful her Gu Xiaocheng was.
Always bragging about Gu Xiaocheng's bright prospects post-graduation, at least as an office worker, paid cadre.
Even their cousin, a college graduate, stayed in town as an accountant at the supply and marketing cooperatives, earning forty-two yuan a month, which is indeed a good iron-credit job.
This kind of salary isn't something ordinary rural families can match.
Just look at Third Uncle Gu Ruhe's kids, Gu Xiaofeng and Gu Xiaomin; they always wore new clothes, tall and robust, and full of vigor, and they never wanted to come back home, always looking disdainful and dismissive of old acquaintances.
Unlike her own three kids, with their sallow complexions.
Thus, Li Xuemei vowed, even if she had to tighten her belt, she'd ensure at least two of her kids got educated, regardless of Gu Ruhai's thoughts.
"Alright, we'll be waiting to enjoy the good life you two bring us."
Gu Ruhai could only swallow his words; their children being so promising, with such ambition, how could a father stifle their drive, and what kind of a person would that make him?
But truly, this household, no matter how it's calculated, can't gather enough to support two kids through school.
It was just Xiaoqing attending school, costing two yuan in tuition, and yet Xiao Jie was about to start primary school soon.
This household's burden wasn't an ordinary one.
Gu Ruhai sighed, mustered his courage, and said, "Xiaoqing, I know you do well in school and have high aspirations, but, but our family's situation is really, truly......"
He couldn't continue. A father with no means, how else could he speak?
"It's my lack of ability as a father; maybe you should stop attending school. Your brother is about to start schooling soon, and it all costs money. Dad can only support one."
Finally, Gu Ruhai spoke his mind.