The New Year's Eve dinner was lavish. Chen Yang had also brought some specialties from Hong Kong City: poultry, fish, seafood, and abalone. Even Shen Futang, who had once been the young master of a landlord's estate, had never eaten such fine food in his life.
The father-in-law and son-in-law drank heartily, almost to excess. Fortunately, Shen Xue and Shen Rong intervened, preventing them from getting too drunk.
After drinking, Liu Chunmei cleared the dishes, and Chen Yang chatted casually with Shen Futang and Shen Rong.
He hadn't communicated much with Shen Futang and the others since going to Shanghai, which had been over half a year. Even his brief returns home were too rushed for him to catch up on the family's affairs, the operation of the Stinky Fish Factory, or the changes among the villagers.
"Rongrong, how are things at school? Are you getting used to it?"
Chen Yang glanced at his sister-in-law, who had transformed significantly, and asked with concern.
The former Shen Rong was a simple village girl. Now, seeing her return, anyone who didn't know her would hardly believe she was from the countryside.
"Brother-in-law, there's so much to learn at school. I only realized how many amazing things exist in this world after I started university."
"My understanding was too shallow before. Now I know how little I know and how much I still need to learn."
Shen Rong looked at Chen Yang. After attending university, she realized how rich and colorful the world was. Some classmates knew Russian and English, while others could play the harmonica and the accordion.
Her university classmates were all knowledgeable. Some spoke of the glory of the Yellow River's ancient course, others of the desolation of the Gobi Desert in the Northwest. Some were born on the vast grasslands, and still others had followed their parents to sea fishing since childhood.
Unlike them, she had only lived in a small village with limited experience.
If it weren't for her brother-in-law's subsequent support and his arranging for Shen Pandi, a top student, to help her with her studies, she might not have been able to get into university. This made Shen Pandi deeply feel the need to broaden her horizons after seeing so many impressive classmates at university.
"Knowing your gap with others is a good thing. It's much better than being like a frog in a well."
"If you want to travel somewhere and experience new things, your brother-in-law can help you with that. When you have your summer vacation, if you want to visit Guangdong Province or even Hong Kong City to broaden your horizons, I can arrange it for you." Sudan Novel Network
Chen Yang looked at Shen Rong. It was not easy for a village girl to get into university in the first place, so it was normal to have a gap with city children.
If Chen Yang hadn't been confident before, now it was too easy for him to help Shen Rong build her confidence.
Let alone in this era, even in the twenty-first century, ninety percent of people in the country had never been to Hong Kong City. Sharing her experiences in Hong Kong would definitely allow Shen Rong to surpass ninety-nine percent of her classmates.
"Brother-in-law, you're so kind. Oh, can I bring Sister Pandi along? Sister Pandi is studying economics, so visiting Hong Kong and seeing the business models of Hong Kong merchants might be helpful for her in the future."
Shen Rong jumped up with joy upon hearing she could go to Hong Kong City. However, she hadn't forgotten her friend Shen Pandi. If it weren't for Shen Pandi helping her with her studies, she might not have gotten into university, let alone experienced this amazing world.
"No problem, you and Pandi can both go. I'll bring your sister along too, and we'll all go to Hong Kong City for a visit."
"By the way, how is Pandi doing now?"
Hearing Shen Rong's words, Chen Yang suddenly remembered Pandi. Last year, Pandi had spent the New Year with Shen Rong at his father-in-law's house.
Having cut ties with her parents, she must have felt lonely spending the New Year alone.
"Sister Pandi is doing very well. She went to her eldest sister's house with her younger sisters to celebrate the New Year."
"Her so-called mother, who isn't really her mother, gave birth to a son. Sister Pandi's younger sisters were either beaten or scolded at home. Before school started, Sister Pandi asked the village head to help her eldest sister and brother-in-law get jobs at the Stinky Fish Factory."
"Her eldest sister and brother-in-law earned money at the factory, and they had a comfortable New Year. So, Sister Pandi took her younger sisters and went to stay with them."
Shen Rong's voice grew more animated as she spoke of Shen Pandi.
"Would her so-called mother agree to that? She's probably counting on Shen Pandi's younger sisters for their dowry, isn't she?"
Chen Yang implicitly agreed with Shen Rong's description of her so-called mother. Hearing him, Shen Rong became even more animated.
"Of course, she wouldn't agree."
"But who is Sister Pandi? She's the top student in our village, a talent who got into Tsinghua University!"
"Sister Pandi used a trick, brother-in-law, guess what it was. It's related to you."
Chen Yang was full of questions. He hadn't even returned home, yet he could still deal with that wicked old woman.
"Erni, don't keep us in suspense. Just tell your brother-in-law, so he can be happy for Pandi too."
Just then, Shen Xue, who had finished washing the dishes, walked out, putting down her apron. Shen Rong then stuck out her tongue.
"Sister Pandi said, 'Either let me take my sisters away, or no one in your family will ever get a job at the Stinky Fish Factory.'"
Shen Rong imitated Shen Pandi's tone as she spoke.
Upon hearing this, Chen Yang clapped his hands with joy. He finally knew how to deal with that wicked woman.
"Hmph, how dare she think that! She even wants her husband and son to work at my Stinky Fish Factory. Dream on."
Chen Yang didn't want to say more. If it weren't for him, Shen Pandi's life in his previous life would have been so tragic, it was heartbreaking. Not only Shen Pandi, but none of her younger sisters had lived a good life.
"Yangzi, don't worry. As long as your father is alive, he won't let that woman succeed."
Shen Futang responded unexpectedly. He usually paid no mind to the affairs of other villagers, but he was angry seeing Shen Pandi's family situation from the outside.
There was no parent like that in this world. They didn't treat their daughters as human beings at all. Every child was born from their mother's flesh and blood; how could she be so heartless?
"Alright, alright. It's the New Year. Let's not talk about that unlucky person."
"Pandi is going to Beijing this time. Her future achievements are limitless. We should be happy for her!"
"Rongrong, you'll go to Hong Kong City together during the summer vacation. I'll take you to see the big companies in Hong Kong City and experience the outside world."
"If you want to study abroad after graduating from university in the future, your brother-in-law can also help. But you need to study English well, otherwise, you won't be able to go out."
In the 1980s, the country began its reform and opening up, and a wave of studying abroad would soon follow. It was from that time that many people began to worship foreign things.
It was unavoidable. Domestic production had only just recovered, and the huge difference in economic and living standards compared to the developed countries in Europe and America, which had centuries of development, was evident.
Chen Yang couldn't prevent all of this from happening, but he could guarantee that those he sent abroad to study would not abandon their motherland and would definitely return. He trusted Shen Rong and Shen Pandi!