Thinking about Meng Zhiqing attracting other women behind her back, she couldn't help but fume, "Then what's with the nonsense?"
Seeing Wang Pandi still listening, Wang Miaomiao continued to weave her tale. Ah, she really had a long road ahead of her...
To give her a heads-up, how much groundwork she had laid, how many things she had said!
"Second Sister, it's not that simple for the educated youths to return to the city." Wang Miaomiao put on a look that said, "You don't understand." "Meng Zhiqing was among the earliest batch to come here, right? It's already been five years, hasn't it? If his family had connections, he would have gone back long ago; why would he need to wait so many years?"
Indeed, we only see the educated youths come, but never see any who have been able to go back.
"Besides, people with connections wouldn't have been sent to the countryside in the first place. Finding an early spot in a factory and securing an iron rice bowl would have been much better, right? Who would willingly come to a place like this, facing the elements and unable to have enough to eat?" This was a bit one-sided, but Wang Miaomiao didn't care; she just had to present the worst case.
Wang Pandi's face grew darker as she listened.
Wang Miaomiao continued to embellish, "Moreover, even if Meng Zhiqing can go back, can he take Sister Xiao Hong with him? We need permits to leave the city; Sister Xiao Hong's residence registration certainly can't be moved there. Even if she could go to Meng Zhiqing's hometown, without proper registration, she could end up getting caught... Ugh, there are plenty of issues here; it's not as simple as he says."
Wang Miaomiao shook her head, completely unconvinced and unwilling to believe it could work.
"Also, what's so good about marrying far away from home? If something happens, there's no one from your family to back you up. By the time someone comes, it's too late. It's definitely better to stay close to your mom, right, Mom..." Wang Miaomiao saw Liu Yulan's skeptical look, hurriedly moving forward to refill her tea in a flattering manner.
"Miaomiao, how come I feel that your mind is especially sharp today?" Liu Yulan finished listening to the gossip, looking at her daughter who was eloquently speaking, a strange feeling surged in her heart.
Wang Miaomiao sighed, "Ah, I'm just worried for myself, overthinking things..."
Liu Yulan was alarmed upon hearing this, "What are you worried about? Tell Mom."
Wang Miaomiao seized the opportunity to sit down, dejectedly saying, "Aye, isn't it that the high school entrance exam is coming up soon? The pressure is too much, I'm really scared I won't be able to pass."
"What's the big deal with that? If you can't pass, then you can't. Why the pressure?" Wang Jia Bao dismissed casually.
"What do you know?!" Wang Miaomiao looked at him with exasperation, "If we don't get into high school, we'll have to come back and do farm work. What can you do with that frail body of yours..."
"Ah..." Wang Jia Bao immediately shook his head upon hearing this, "Then we must get into high school."
"Aye, the problem is, even if we get into high school, graduate, and don't have an inroad to find a good job, we'll still have to do farm work. But at least we can delay it for two years." Wang Miaomiao was still worried, helpless...
This wasn't made up by her, she was genuinely worried. It was only the year '72 now, still five or six years away from the reform and opening up, land contracts, and free trade... Even if she got into high school, there was still three to four years to go. What would she do in that time?
Ah, she worked diligently all her last life, only to end up dying of exhaustion. This kind of death was truly quite vexing for her...
She really wanted to ask the heavens, was it really fair to her? Was all her effort nothing more than a joke? Was her entire life just a tragedy!
And this time, her crossing over, she understood, was Heaven's compensation to her. Anyway, with the experiences from her past life, this life she absolutely intended to live like a salted fish, to leisurely enjoy life all her days. Don't expect her to try hard again, no, don't expect it!
In this life, her days, she'd live as comfortably as she wished. And the giant mountain pressing down on her now was farming; going to the fields was absolutely not her cup of tea, absolutely not!
Liu Yulan listened to her words, her gaze flickered and she was lost in thought.
"Ah... I don't want to, I don't want to..." Wang Jia Bao also sagged, sprawled on the table, playing the spoiled child.
"Haha, this kid is really mischievous." Zhou Fengjuan laughed at Jia Bao's antics.
After a few more jokes, night fell, and only then did Zhou Fengjuan, in high spirits, return home. Along the way, she reflected on the day's events, realizing that Liu Yulan was actually a very decent person; how come she hadn't noticed before? And those twins, both good kids.
Remembering Yang Zhigang's situation, she lamented that neither her own family nor her in-laws had daughters of the right age, what a pity. But who knows if Pandi, having heard so much earlier, felt any...
Ah, maybe in a few days, she'll probe again for their intentions. Should have just mentioned directly to Pandi back then. This roundabout way of telling the older sister first and then the younger one wasn't very appropriate; it was bound to create some resentment.
Wang Pandi indeed felt unsettled. Lying in bed, she looked up at the tent roof, thinking a lot.
Wang Miaomiao had already drifted off into a fuzzy dream, only to suddenly hear a voice from above, "Miaomiao, do you think Meng Zhiqing is really no good?"
After a moment's pause, another voice came through, "Is that Yang Zhigang really that good?"
Wang Miaomiao opened her eyes, her mind clearing, thought for a moment, and said, "Well, whether Yang Zhigang is good or not, it's a matter of perspective. Everyone feels differently, stands from different positions, and their viewpoints are bound to differ. But, I think he's quite good. After all, he's a soldier, has a sense of responsibility, is dependable, and gives a sense of security."
She had seen Yang Zhigang that day and felt his personality was quite nice. His ears even reddened while talking, which gave her a good impression.
"As for Meng Zhiqing, definitely not good." Without hesitation, she gave a negative opinion on Meng Zhiqing, not even wanting to give a reason.
"Really..." Wang Pandi trusted Wang Miaomiao, yet hesitated, "Well, I wonder how severe his limp is..."
Wang Miaomiao knew she couldn't further praise Yang Zhigang, as that would sway Wang Pandi's decision, which wasn't a good sign.
She wanted to help Wang Pandi move on from Meng Zhiqing but had no intention of matchmaking her with Yang Zhigang.
"I don't know; I haven't even met him..." Wang Miaomiao said leisurely, "Sigh... Each one's destiny is their own decision; whether shoes fit the feet can only be known by trying them on... Life, every stage comes with countless choices, and whatever choices we make are like endless gambles. If you win, everyone is happy. If you lose, don't be discouraged; cut your losses in time and wait for the next choice. As long as you persevere, there's always a way out... In this world, there are surely more solutions than problems, as long as we are willing to think..."
Wang Miaomiao spoke so leisurely until she drifted off to sleep. After spouting a lot of philosophical musings, she didn't even know what she actually said in the end, nor did it matter if Wang Pandi understood...
Unbeknownst to Wang Miaomiao, Wang Zhaodi on the diagonal opposite had also stayed awake, listening to her philosophical thoughts and reflecting throughout the night.
And in the eastern room, Liu Yulan tossed and turned, thinking about what Wang Miaomiao said today. Without help, her son and daughter might not find a good job and could likely have to go back to farming. With their pampered disposition, how could they possibly endure...
What should she do?