Everyone looked over in surprise.
They saw a middle-aged woman dressed in a business suit with red-framed glasses, looking every bit the professional career woman.
She was wearing high heels and carrying some gifts that looked expensive at first glance.
She appeared to be paying a visit.
A white sedan was parked at the gate.
Everyone was astonished. Did the Lin family have such a wealthy relative?
They all looked curiously at Lin's mother.
Lin's mother was also bewildered. She hurried forward and asked, "Hello, are you looking for my Nian Nian?"
Her family definitely didn't have any rich relatives like this.
Besides, the woman had just asked if this was Si Nian's home.
So, she could only be someone connected to her daughter.
But Lin's mother was puzzled. The woman looked almost as old as herself, so she probably wasn't a friend. What could she want with her daughter?
"Yes, are you Si Nian's mother?" Sister Chen asked, looking at Lin's mother with surprise.
This person resembled Si Nian; she must be her birth mother.
Since the woman used such a respectful form of address, she probably wasn't here to cause trouble. Lin's mother relaxed and quickly invited her inside.
Seeing Sister Chen, Si Nian was also surprised. "Sister Chen? What brings you all the way here?"
Sister Chen immediately smiled. "I came to bring you some good news."
Si Nian was curious. "What news?"
"Do you remember last time you went to the city to give that speech on stage for Qianqian?" Sister Chen said. "The head of their school wants to invite you to work as an English teacher."
Si Nian was taken aback. "A teacher?"
The others were also shocked. "A teacher?"
Sister Chen nodded. "That's right. One of their teachers is going on maternity leave for six months. They urgently need an English teacher and would like you to take the position."
This news was sudden and represented a rare opportunity. After all, that school was one of the top foreign language schools in the city. If Si Nian hadn't given that impressive speech on stage, dazzling everyone, this chance wouldn't have come her way.
It was said that the teachers working there either had bachelor's degrees or were returnees from overseas.
Of course, Si Nian's speech that day had been exceptionally outstanding, and her spoken English was of a high standard.
Coupled with her excellent poise and good looks,
she was a perfect fit.
Si Nian hesitated for a moment.
Sister Chen added, "Don't worry about the terms. The head said the school can offer you a monthly salary of ninety yuan, the same treatment as other teachers, plus bonuses."
"Heavens, ninety yuan a month? What kind of teacher gets such a high salary?"
"Our village elementary school teachers only get thirty!"
Before Si Nian could even respond, the surroundings erupted in an uproar.
They only managed to save one or two hundred yuan a year!
For Si Nian to get ninety a month was simply unimaginable.
Envy was written all over their faces.
Sister Chen explained, "Well, it's in the city, and it's a foreign language elementary school. The benefits are much better than other schools."
Even their radio announcers only made forty or fifty yuan a month.
The school offering Si Nian ninety was a level usually reserved for those with many years of experience.
But then, Si Nian's spoken English was truly exceptional.
She deserved that rate.
That's why Sister Chen didn't mind the trouble of coming all this way to inform her, also as a way to repay the favor from last time when Si Nian helped by giving the speech.
Not just everyone else, even Si Nian was astonished.
Ninety yuan a month was a high salary for this era.
Although she didn't lack money, who would ever turn down more?
Besides, she was planning to take the college entrance exam next year.
These six months would be a perfect transition period.
A spark lit in Si Nian's eyes.
"With such a high salary, the workload isn't too heavy, is she?"
She wasn't foolish; after all, when does a pie ever fall from the sky?
Sister Chen said, "Don't worry, I asked about that. Although it's a foreign language school, they don't have classes all day. However, you would be responsible for three classes, teaching three periods a day."
"I mentioned your marital situation to the school. They said they wouldn't give you too many classes. You can go home after your lessons are done."
Si Nian's eyes brightened. She was about to agree but then remembered something. "Wait, I need to discuss this with my family first. I'm sorry, Sister Chen, I can't give you an answer right away."
"No rush," Sister Chen said understandingly. "School doesn't start for a while. Just let me know once you've decided. Here's my contact information."
Si Nian invited her to stay for a meal, but Sister Chen immediately declined. "Sorry, I have matters at the company. I need to hurry back. Let's have a meal together next time there's a chance."
Knowing Sister Chen was a career woman wholly dedicated to her work, Si Nian didn't press further.
She saw her to the gate.
Sister Chen opened the car door, then seemed to remember something. "Oh, I almost forgot. The head said if you go, your children or the children of your relatives will get priority for admission to their school, with discounted tuition. You might want to consider that."
Although they weren't her biological children, judging by Si Nian's attitude towards the child last time, Sister Chen figured she cared deeply.
She would probably be interested.
With that, Sister Chen drove off like the wind.
Leaving everyone stunned on the spot.
Priority admission to a city elementary school? That was incredible!
They'd heard that children from their village who went to the city couldn't find connections to get into school.
They all ended up having to come back.
With such a condition, who wouldn't want to send their child to a good school?
Hearing this, Lin Fang and her daughter-in-law, who had just been criticizing the Lin family, immediately changed their expressions.
"This is a fantastic opportunity! A city school! I hear they teach really well there."
"Sister-in-law, your child is still young, only in second grade. You don't really need this school spot, right? How about letting my Qiangzi have it? My Xiao Qiang will be in fifth grade next year," Lin Fang said eagerly.
Before Lin's mother could even process it, her face darkened at these words.
"Auntie, what are you saying? That spot is for Nian Nian's children. How could it possibly go to you?" Lin's mother retorted.
Lin Fang's expression instantly soured. "Sister-in-law, what kind of talk is that? Those two children of Si Nian's aren't even her own. Why give it to them? Wouldn't it be better to keep it for our own family?"
"Auntie!" Lin's mother scolded before she could finish. "Don't say such things again, or I'll have to ask you to leave."
"You!"
Lin's mother ignored her further. Every one of these Lin relatives was selfish and greedy.
To even think of claiming such a thing was beyond her.
"Think you're so great!" Lin Fang fumed, stamped her foot, and stormed off.
In the past, her second brother would give in to her on everything. He wouldn't dare give her attitude like this.
Now, just because Si Nian married a rich man, they thought they could look down on her, didn't they!
Such a great opportunity, and they wouldn't keep it for their own family, but give it to adopted sons instead. They must be out of their minds.
Si Nian turned and went back inside. Several children were playing with the dog in the yard. Seeing her return, they immediately rushed over, looking at her with admiration.
"Mom, are you going to be a teacher?"
"Mom, are you tired? Let me get you a stool."
"Sis, you're so amazing!"
"Big sister, I want to learn English too."
The little ones chimed in one after another. Si Nian listened, her heart softening.
He stroked the heads of several kids and said, "Go and play first. I'll tell you when we get home."
After a busy day, the Lin family set up two large tables and finally saw off all these people.
Si Nian informed Zhou Yueshen of this matter.
Lin's mother was worried that it would be difficult for him, especially since Yaoyao was still young and there was no one to take care of her.
"Xiao Zhou, although this is a great opportunity, you don't have to force yourself," she said.
Zhou Yueshen had helped the Lin family so much.
If this opportunity damaged the relationship between the two of them, it was also something Lin's mother didn't want to see.
"Mom, don't misunderstand," Zhou Yueshen shook his head. "I don't have any other thoughts. On the contrary, I strongly support Niannian to become a teacher."
Becoming a teacher was such a noble and respected job in this era.
Moreover, one could get a monthly salary of ninety yuan.
He would be stupid not to let Si Nian take this opportunity.
Seeing that Si Nian had been looking like she wanted to say something but hesitated, Zhou Yueshen knew that she must have some ideas.
He looked at Si Nian and said in a low voice, "I'm planning to move the factory to the city. Then we'll move there. Don't feel embarrassed."
Although it was nice to stay in the countryside, there were indeed limitations for doing business, mainly because of the long distance and the time it took.
It would be much more convenient to move to the city and avoid many troubles.
Moreover, the two children could also enter good schools to study.
This was an opportunity that many people dreamed of.
Si Nian peeled a banana and fed it to Yaoyao in her arms. After hearing what he said, she was a little surprised but soon understood.
In the novel, Zhou Yueshen didn't stay in the countryside all the time either.
"Then won't the eldest and the second be able to enter this school? According to what your supervisor said, this school seems to be very good," Lin's mother said excitedly.
Si Nian nodded slightly. "Yes, Mom. This school is one of the top ones in our city. I studied there when I was a child."
However, there were also many drawbacks.
For example, most of the children there came from wealthy and powerful families.
Of course, there were also many parents like Si's father and mother who sent their children there just for the sake of face.
Hearing this, Lin Feng and Lin Yu immediately looked at Si Nian.
So, was it because she had studied in such a primary school since childhood that their sister was so good at English?
Zhou Zedong also looked over.
Was it the school where his mother had once studied?
He pursed his lips.
"Although there are preferential enrollment spots, the requirements for academic performance are also high," Si Nian added.
Zhou Yueshen nodded slightly, understanding what she meant.
"Mom, can I get in? I also want to go to Mom's primary school," the second child, who didn't realize the topic was about him, said expectantly.
Si Nian smiled and stroked his head, saying of course he could. Although this school had both advantages and disadvantages, who wouldn't want to enter a good school?
The second child was still young. At this age, he might still have a chance.
...
After everything was decided, the group was ready to leave.
Seeing them go, Lin Feng and Lin Yu were extremely reluctant to part and kept waving their hands.
"Sister, Brother - in - law, come to our house again next time," they said.
"Sister, Brother - in - law, bring Yaoyao next time. They don't have to come (referring to Zhou Zedong and Zhou Zehan)."
This time when they parted, they were going to settle down in the city. The two little guys were especially reluctant. They secretly wiped their tears when they turned around.
In the past few days, these kids had become very close. They wanted to take back what they had said before. Zhou Zedong and Zhou Zehan were not only good - looking but also very nice.
They not only helped them with their homework but also gave them toys to play with.
They really didn't want them to leave. Lin Yu's lips trembled, and she looked at the family with teary eyes.
"I want to go with them. Why wasn't I born as Sister's child but as her younger brother?"
Lin's mother and Lin's father, who were feeling sad, both had dark faces. They hadn't even complained about him, but he was complaining about them.
The city - life chapter begins.
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