In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

Chapter 29. Every family has its own troubles.
Chu Dahu let out a loud burp, wiped his greasy mouth haphazardly with his sleeve, leaned back against the cold stone bench, and sighed contentedly.
"So good! So damn good! Mingming, your mom really put in the effort this time! I'll remember this meal for a year!"

He patted his firm belly, but his gaze drifted into the distance, with a hint of bewilderment. "In another half month, I'll be going to my hometown in northern Jiangsu to work in the countryside... I'm afraid it will be hard to find this kind of meat again."

When the topic shifted to reality, the atmosphere suddenly became somewhat somber.

Yan Jun put down the bone he had just finished gnawing on, carefully wiped his hands with a piece of toilet paper, lowered his head, and said in a muffled voice, "Tiger Head, you... are you really leaving? I heard the conditions in northern Jiangsu are really tough."

What's there to be afraid of in hardship?

Chu Dahu glared, his fierce aura returning, but then deflated, scratching his spiky short hair. "I have to go, even if it's tough! I'm the eldest in the family, and the three younger ones need to eat and go to school."

My father's salary alone isn't enough to support the whole family. If I go down there, at least I can earn some work points, and at the end of the year I can send some grain back home, which will save the family a portion of their food rations.

I'm physically strong and powerful; I won't starve!

He seemed to be encouraging himself, but his words were a mixture of anxiety about the unknown and a sense of responsibility to his family.

Yang Guangming listened silently, then asked, "Have you decided on the place to settle down?"

"Yes." Chu Dahu nodded. "Dad asked around and found out that he's staying in the production team in his hometown. The team leader is a distant cousin, so he can help out a bit. It's better than being completely clueless."

He paused, looked at Yan Jun, and grinned, "You're a lucky guy, taking over your mother's job. You're sheltered from the wind and rain, living a peaceful and stable life. That's what I envy about you."

When the topic of succession came up, Yan Jun's face instantly darkened, and his delicate eyebrows furrowed tightly.

He picked up a fried dough stick and tore at it unconsciously, his voice so low it was almost inaudible: "Good fortune? I... I'd rather my older sister take over this class."

Yang Guangming and Chu Dahu both looked at him. They had grown up together and naturally knew about Yan Jun's family situation.

"Your older sister..." Yang Guangming asked tentatively.

Yan Jun suddenly raised his head, his eyes slightly red, his voice filled with suppressed excitement and grievance:

"She graduated in the same year as me! Just because I'm a boy, my parents are biased and insist on giving me this job opportunity!"

My two sisters-in-law treat my older sister like a thief, saying things like "a married daughter is like water spilled from a cup," and how could such a good job be given to someone from another family?
Even my second brother jumped out to object!

He said if I gave it to my older sister, he would cause a huge scene in the house!

He became more and more agitated as he spoke, his thin body trembling slightly. "I argued with my parents. I said that my older sister is a young girl, and she is beautiful. It's too dangerous for her to go to the countryside!"
But they...they only say I'm immature! They say it's my right to take over! My older sister...

She didn't say anything, she just silently went to the neighborhood committee to register... I watched her silently pack her bags, and my heart felt like it was being torn apart!

He angrily threw the torn pieces of toilet paper on the ground, as if to throw away the pent-up frustration in his heart:

"I sat in the shop, looking at the meat and fish in the counter, but I had no appetite at all!"
My older sister has always been the best to me, and I always felt that this job was obtained at the expense of her future! I... I'm so sorry to her!

Tears finally streamed down his fair face, leaving two clear streaks.

Under the shade of the trees, only the chirping of cicadas and Yan Jun's suppressed sobs remained. Chu Dahu sighed heavily, reached out and patted Yan Jun's thin shoulder forcefully. He wanted to say something to comfort him, but only managed to utter, "You...you've had it tough too."

Yang Guangming felt a heavy weight in his heart.

Yan Jun's sensitivity, self-blame, and unbearable guilt seem so real and heavy in this era where the concept of male superiority is deeply rooted.

He handed her a clean piece of tissue paper: "Wipe yourself. Things are already like this, there's no use blaming yourself anymore. Focus on your work, save up some money, and help your sister more in the future, that's better than anything else."

Yan Jun took the toilet paper, wiped his face haphazardly, nodded vigorously, and didn't say anything more, but the gloom in his eyes hadn't completely dissipated.

To break the awkward silence and change the subject, Chu Dahu asked Yang Guangming, "Mingming, what about you? Any progress on your job search? Is the neighborhood committee still pressing you for help?"

He only knew that Yang Guangming's family was worried about finding a job, but he didn't know the specific progress. Yang Guangming's job was only finalized yesterday, and he hadn't had time to tell his childhood friend yet.

Looking at Yan Jun's pained and self-reproachful appearance, and then at Chu Dahu's forced pride in going to the countryside, Yang Guangming's initial elation at the refrigerator renovation was suppressed by a more genuine feeling.

He felt that sharing his turnaround and joy with his childhood friends, especially when they were each burdened with heavy realities, might bring a glimmer of light and dispel some of the gloom.

"Alright, Yan Jun." Yang Guangming's voice was calm and reassuring. "We understand your feelings. Things have already come to this, there's no use blaming yourself anymore. Focus on your work, save some money, and help your sister more in the future. That's more important than anything else."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over his two childhood friends, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "As for my job... I have news!"

These words are like pebbles thrown into calm water.

Yan Jun suddenly raised his head, his face still wet with tears, filled with astonishment.

Chu Dahu stopped chewing the last piece of roast goose in his mouth, staring wide-eyed at him: "What? News? What kind of job? Tell me quickly!"

Yang Guangming nodded, his tone carrying a hint of relief and barely perceptible excitement: "It's settled. Report to Hongxing State-owned Cotton Mill on Monday, which is tomorrow, and join the secretariat of the factory affairs office as a clerk."

"Factory Affairs Office? Secretariat?" Chu Dahu gasped, his voice rising, "Oh my, office workers! Cadre positions! Mingming, you've been quietly making a fortune!"

He excitedly slapped Yang Guangming on the back, so hard that Yang Guangming stumbled. "Great job! Really great! I knew you were quick-witted, you'd definitely come up with a solution! Now you're really getting a government job, congratulations!"

He was genuinely happy for his brother; the fierce look on his face transformed into pure joy.

Yan Jun was also completely stunned, and the grief he had just felt was temporarily suppressed by the huge shock.

He opened his mouth, his handsome face displaying a complex expression—a mixture of disbelief and genuine envy—which was quickly replaced by a bitter feeling.

"Factory Affairs Office... Clerk... Cadre Staffing..." He murmured these words repeatedly, his eyes somewhat unfocused.

He thought of his sister who was about to leave for another place, and of the endless accounts and customer complaints in the grocery store. The huge sense of disparity made his chest feel heavy.

(End of this chapter)