Chapter 131: Xu Family’s Eldest Brother
After the college entrance exams ended, Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang sold their house in the county seat. News spread, and in less than two days it was bought, netting them a profit of a thousand yuan.
Mu Lantu also sold off another batch of supplies—this was his last local transaction.
Back in the Dongfanghong brigade, Xu Huazhang sold his work position to the brigade leader’s family for five hundred yuan.
Mu Lantu returned his work quota to the brigade as well, though he wasn’t sure how the brigade would reassign it.
Now, all that was left was to wait patiently for the admission letters.
Those confident they had passed the exam quit their jobs at the soy sauce factory. Those less sure held onto theirs—if they failed, they would have to take the exam again. There was no other way: the exam was the easiest and cheapest path for educated youths to return to the cities.
Especially for those from ordinary families—without connections or money—this was their only road. Everyone could imagine that competition in the next exam would be even fiercer.
The first snow of winter had not yet fallen.
With little to do, Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang spent most days lounging at home, eating and drinking, and when bored, they headed into the mountains to hunt!
Miao Jiaze, Du Xuewen, Zhang Guodong, Wang Guofu, and Yan Xuan were much the same—they couldn’t sit still at home. If they were lucky enough to catch something, they’d either stew it to eat or send it to the county to exchange for money and ration tickets—mostly tickets.
Home life was easy, but outside was always hard. Best to prepare now—otherwise, once they entered university, they might find themselves short of necessities, without money or ration coupons to buy them.
With no farm work in winter, the young brigade members often hunted together too. Before long, they had grown closer with the educated youths, sometimes even going into the mountains together. Surprisingly, they became friendlier than ever before.
It was only then that Miao Jiaze and Du Xuewen suddenly realized why, all these years, there had been a barrier between male educated youths and the unmarried young male brigade members.
The reason was simple.
Though the young village women seemed indifferent toward the educated youths, they were in fact paying attention to them. Because of this, the unmarried young men in the brigade secretly viewed the educated youths as rivals.
That was why almost none of the male educated youths had truly become friends with the local young men. Not even the most outstanding, Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang, were exceptions.
Since the educated youths were determined to return to the city, the brigade youths never made trouble for them, but the hidden knot in their hearts had always remained.
Now things were clear—the educated youths were really going back to the city. With that certainty, both sides relaxed, and friendships finally formed.
One day, Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang were at home preparing hotpot ingredients for lunch.
Winter was hotpot season.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps approached.
“Educated Youth Mu! The wild boar herd has come down the mountain! Didn’t you say I should call you if that happened? This time it’s a whole herd—a big one!”
It was Zhang Weiguo.
Mu Lantu dropped the cabbage in his hands and rushed out.
“Coming!”
Xu Huazhang gave a helpless glance, quickly wiped his hands dry, grabbed their coats and bows, and chased after him.
Zhang Weiguo led the way, too excited to speak clearly.
“Boar herds usually come down in late autumn or early spring, hardly ever in winter. This is so unexpected! There are over a dozen, big and small! Must be nothing left to eat on the mountain… Quite a few strong young men from the village have gone already, but it’s still not enough hands. The younger ones got so scared they just ran off. If we can catch them all—ha! This year will be the fattest year ever!”
Xu Huazhang was a master with the bow; Mu Lantu’s fists were fierce. One attacked from afar, the other up close. With their help, they easily brought down fifteen wild boars—the biggest weighed over 300 jin, the smallest 70 or 80!
The entire brigade—young and old—was overjoyed.
The brigade leader forgot about using the loudspeaker, banged the gong instead, and called everyone to the riverbank to help butcher the boars. One was slaughtered immediately for a feast; the rest would be divided up!
Since Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang contributed the most, the cadres decided on the spot to give them one whole boar, about 90 jin. The butcher dressed it for them, and even the intestines were washed clean by one of the careful aunties.
Over two days, Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang cooked all the meat: braised pork, jerky, sausages, roast pork…
Mu Lantu also bought extra pork from the mall to prepare more at once. In the capital, eating stewed meat every day wasn’t realistic, so better to stockpile while they could.
By January, the admission letters began to arrive.
As expected, both Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang were admitted to their chosen majors—Mu Lantu to psychology at Capital University, Xu Huazhang to economics. Staying low-key, they deliberately held back their scores, not aiming for the top spot.
The top scorer was Jiang Qiaohui!
Reporters came to interview her, and she received prize money and rewards from Danyang City, Lushan County, the commune, and the brigade—altogether more than four hundred yuan. For a time, she was the center of attention!
By chance—or coincidence—she and Zhang Jingxian both got into Capital University of Foreign Languages. Their relationship remained unclear, though Mu Lantu had heard they exchanged letters frequently over the years.
Even more coincidentally, Xie Xiaojun, Zhao Chengxin, Cai Xiufen, and Bai Ningning all failed the exam.
Bai Mingliang didn’t score particularly well but still passed the cutoff, entering a teachers’ college in the neighboring city.
His parents gave gifts to Mu Lantu, Xu Huazhang, and others who had studied with him—the gifts for Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang were the most generous.
Miao Jiaze, Du Xuewen, and the others also gave gifts to Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang. This was something they had to do, and they did it gladly! Without their guidance, it would have been nearly impossible to succeed with such little review time.
Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang accepted. If they refused, Miao Jiaze and the others would feel indebted, so better to accept and close that chapter.
Once Miao Jiaze’s admission letter arrived, he left the Dongfanghong brigade with Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang, heading early to the capital. If not for waiting for him, the two would have gone sooner.
Zhang Guodong, Du Xuewen, and Yue Xiaoying had also been admitted to schools in the capital, but they planned to go home first, so their routes didn’t align.
Su Qianqian was the only one heading south—perhaps still unable to let go of the past, hoping to start anew in a different place.
Mu Lantu and Xu Huazhang were in high spirits. This would be their last trip dragging along the “tagalong” Miao Jiaze. Once in the capital, they would finally be free.
Miao Jiaze had been admitted to the Institute of Technology, a different school from theirs.
He had no idea that both his childhood friend and Brother Mu Lantu thought of him as a “tagalong.” Still, he acted responsibly—buying tickets, carrying luggage, always taking the lead.
None of them lacked money, so they bought three sleeper tickets and slept their way to the capital.
Miao Jiaze’s parents came with a borrowed car to pick him up.
He went home with them, promising Xu Huazhang they would meet again soon.
Since Xu Huazhang’s family home hadn’t been restored, he and Mu Lantu stayed in a guesthouse while looking for a place to buy.
Through an old friend, Xu Huazhang bought two courtyard houses for a total of 18,000 yuan—one large, one small. The larger one was built of fine blue bricks and excellent quality, so they chose to live there.
The reason for buying two was not just to “hoard property”—they needed two separate addresses for household registration.
Mu Lantu registered at the larger courtyard, Xu Huazhang at the smaller one.
The houses needed repairs, and the bathrooms and kitchens required renovation. By the time they could move in, it was nearly the start of the school year.
Though the first year required students to live on campus, as locals they applied for exemption, and the school agreed.
Once their studies settled, Mu Lantu began planning his “get-rich” mission. He now had over 200,000 yuan, but that was still far from true wealth.
At the end of the year, new policies would allow free trade. That would be his chance to shine, but first he needed to prepare.
Before he could act, Xu Huazhang’s elder brother, Xu Huawen, arrived.
Four years older than Xu Huazhang, Xu Huawen was only 28 but looked closer to 38. His clothes, however, were neat—his Zhongshan suit well pressed, his leather shoes polished bright.
After exchanging greetings with him, Mu Lantu excused himself and went to the study.
Xu Huazhang invited his brother to the living room, treating him with the courtesy of a guest. He poured hot tea and set out snacks—just sunflower seeds and peanuts.
The distant attitude made Xu Huawen slightly uncomfortable.
“Huazhang, you got admitted too? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Did you tell me when you did?” Xu Huazhang replied coolly, voice casual, indifferent.
Xu Huawen felt stifled. In the countryside these past years—even with his father-in-law’s family looking out for him—life had not been easy. Afraid his younger brother might ask him for money, tickets, or goods, he had only written once, when Huazhang first went down to the countryside. Since then, not a word.
“I knew you were good at studying, bound to get into a good university. So I went to Capital University to ask around—and sure enough, I found your address. I’m proud of you!”
“Thanks.” Xu Huazhang asked, “Which university are you at?”
“Capital Institute of Technology. Not as good as yours.” Though he said “not as good,” his proud, confident expression said otherwise.
To be fair, the Institute of Technology was also a top university, so his pride was not unwarranted.
Xu Huazhang stayed silent. He had little to say to his brother, waiting for him to reveal his true reason for coming.
Xu Huawen glanced around at the furnishings. Though nothing was expensive, the place showed refined taste. “This house, is it…?”
“What about it?” Xu Huazhang asked.
Xu Huawen realized his brother was pretending, so he pressed directly: “Is this house rented, or…?”
“Let’s say rented,” Xu Huazhang answered. “The owner—you met just now—we got to know each other back in Heiliao Province. We’re on very good terms.”
“What do you mean, let’s say rented?” Xu Huawen pressed.
Xu Huazhang replied, “I don’t pay rent here. I just help out with things I can manage.”
In the study, Mu Lantu’s cheeks suddenly burned. Things he can manage? Xu Huazhang’s tone was so serious, but he couldn’t help thinking of it the wrong way. Well, let it be—after all, they were legal!
