Chapter 122

The new house was completed before the New Year. Once it was confirmed to be livable, Granny Li picked a day with good weather and led the whole family in moving in.

An An finally had a room of his own. He skipped and hopped all the way there, leading the group with excitement.

During the days they waited, Elder Brother Li and Grandpa Li hadn’t been idle—they made some furniture, just in time for the new house.

On top of that, when Shitou’s Factory Manager heard that they had built a house, he told Shitou to take home some of the factory’s defective products.

Though labeled as “defective,” they were perfectly usable. A little chipped paint or uneven coating meant they couldn’t be sold, so they were usually given to workers to take home.

Everyone was in high spirits. On the first night in the new house, they lay in bed too excited to sleep.

There was a large tree at the entrance of the house. Elder Brother Li made a swing for An An and hung it there.

The next day, An An was dozing off on the swing when a few village aunties walked by, carrying washbasins back from the river.

An An had sharp ears. He caught snippets of their conversation—something about “returning to the city” and “fake news”—and his curiosity was instantly piqued. Sleepiness vanished in a flash.

He ran back home on his little legs to find Granny and ask what was going on.

Not long after, Sister-in-law Li came back with a basin and mentioned the news while hanging laundry.

It turned out the news about the Educated Youth being allowed to return to the city was fake. The Production Team Leader had gone to the county to confirm—there was no such notice at all!

Those Educated Youth who had started filing for divorce the moment they heard the rumor were now dumbfounded. They hadn’t thought about what to do if they couldn’t go back.

Word had it that several of them had been harshly dealt with by their spouses or in-laws. The villagers took the opportunity to see their true colors, and a few families even dragged them off to finalize their divorces.

Xiao Hua, who was helping peel peanuts nearby, lowered her head even more when she heard this.

She never believed that a nest of bad eggs could produce a good one. She preferred to trust her mother’s judgment—that none of them were any good. No wonder her mother had been so furious when she first heard the news.

The divorce drama in the village didn’t settle down until New Year’s Day.

The Li family celebrated their first New Year in the new house.

The Furniture Factory really did offer great benefits. At year-end, they handed out supplies, and Shitou brought everything home—even a bottle of liquor, which they opened for the holiday.

This year, Shitou had also saved some money for himself. He even prepared red envelopes for his younger siblings, sealing them with red paper and stuffing them into their coat pockets.

After the New Year’s Eve dinner, they gathered around the fire. Li Dazhuang kept staring at An An.

It felt like just yesterday that the little guy was toddling behind him, barely able to walk. Now, he was growing up so fast.

In another couple of years, he’d probably be up to his shoulder.

An An had eaten his fill at dinner, but Granny Li still roasted sweet potatoes for the three kids. The crackling of the fire in the snowy night brought a unique sense of warmth and peace.

After eating his sweet potato, An An tugged his father into the main room, pulled the red envelope from his pocket, and shoved it into his dad’s hand.

“Stop staring. I’ll give you one too.”

Li Dazhuang looked at the little rascal and sighed. All those sentimental thoughts he’d had earlier suddenly felt unnecessary. He bent down and gave An An’s chubby cheek a gentle pinch.

“Well then, thank you, An An.”

“No need~”

An An waved his hand grandly, looking like a little boss. With that done, he ran back to the fire, and Li Dazhuang followed behind.

In the blink of an eye, another year had passed.

No one knew who had started the rumor about the Educated Youth returning to the city, but those who had stirred up divorce drama had mostly moved back to the Educated Youth Point.

The place had never been spacious, and now with more people crammed in, it was even more crowded and noisy—no peace to be found.

Before the Furniture Factory reopened after the New Year, Shitou, under the Factory Manager’s arrangement, met with a relative of his wife’s family. Both sides were quite satisfied with each other.

They were both of age, and after meeting each other’s parents and confirming there were no issues, they registered and held a wedding.

In a way, Shitou was now considered part of the Factory Manager’s family. The manager trusted him more and had plans to promote him.

As Xiao Hua and An An grew older, Granny Li naturally began thinking about their futures.

Given the current situation, the path for village children seemed all too predictable—earn Work Points, get married, have kids, and repeat their parents’ lives.

Fortunately, they had Shitou to rely on.

Shitou’s wife, introduced by the Factory Manager, had a great personality. At the right moment, she even offered to help Xiao Hua get a job at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

Though she was only a temporary worker, that was already a rare opportunity for a family like theirs. Sister-in-law Li, who had always liked her daughter-in-law, now doted on her like her own daughter.

As for An An, there was no need to worry. With Shitou around—now a mid-level supervisor—he planned to find the right time to get An An into the factory too.

Official worker slots were limited and not yet available to Shitou, but temporary positions were no problem.

If there were chances to become permanent later, those who performed well as temps would be considered first.

Xiao Hua’s job at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative was a good fit, but An An was still a bit too young, so for now, he stayed home to help out.

In the past two years, the political climate had shifted again. The crackdown on profiteering wasn’t as strict as before. Even in their village, some people were secretly doing business.

Except for Li Dazhuang, the rest of the Li family just wanted to live a steady life. They didn’t expect riches—just a peaceful, stable life where things kept getting better.

But Li Dazhuang was different. Seeing others make big money through shady deals made him envious and tempted.

So many people in the village were making money and hadn’t been caught. Their lives were clearly improving. It gave Li Dazhuang the illusion that he could do it too.

He was also genuinely tired of the grind—working all year for a meager amount of Work Points, barely enough to fill their stomachs.

He didn’t tell his parents because he knew they’d never agree.

He dug out all the red envelope money An An had handed over over the years. After counting it, he realized it was quite a sum—enough to get started.

Make a little first, then reinvest the profits—much safer that way.

His mother might agree to other things, but not this. After all, someone had once been arrested for profiteering, and the Production Team Leader had made a big show of it to warn the village.

So Li Dazhuang decided not to tell her anything. Instead, he pretended he was just tired of working and wanted to go out and blow off steam.

After years of hard work, Li Dazhuang only started slacking off this year, once Shitou and Xiao Hua had stable jobs. No one in the family thought it was unreasonable.

Sister-in-law Li used to be so stingy because they were poor. Now that the family was doing better and Granny Li had some savings, she didn’t mind her younger brother-in-law taking it easy.

Granny Li put on a stern face, scolding him for being irresponsible, but secretly slipped him some money and ration tickets.

Nowadays, you needed an introduction letter to go anywhere. Without it, traveling was difficult.

Li Dazhuang thought long and hard about this and wasn’t about to give up so easily. After getting the money and tickets from his mother, he secretly approached the Production Team Leader’s youngest son.

The Team Leader was known for being fair and upright, never bending the rules. But in his old age, his wife had given birth to a late-in-life son.

The whole family spoiled the boy rotten—especially the grandparents, who indulged him endlessly.

No matter how authoritative the Team Leader was outside, in front of his parents, he had to bow his head.

The youngest son, pampered beyond reason, had a personality much like the old Li Dazhuang. So when Li Dazhuang approached him, he took the bait immediately.

Once they got familiar, Li Dazhuang casually brought up the idea of selling goods.

Sure enough, the hot-blooded young man, eager to break free and explore the world, was hooked. He had money and tickets—what he lacked was an introduction letter.

Xiao Song was quick to agree to everything else, but even he knew that getting an intro letter wasn’t easy. If things went south, not even his grandparents could protect him.

Seeing his hesitation, Li Dazhuang shrugged it off casually.

“Forget it. It’s tough to get an intro letter anyway. Let’s just watch others make money. Who knows if we’ll still have the chance once the policies change.”

If Li Dazhuang had kept pushing, Xiao Song would’ve gotten suspicious.

But now that Li Dazhuang was backing off, Xiao Song got anxious.

He knew everyone in the village. Other than Li Dazhuang, no one would take him along—most were scared of his dad.

If they waited until the policies loosened, more people would jump in, and their chance to make money would disappear.

“Don’t say that, Brother Li. I’ll talk to my dad. I promise I’ll get you that letter.”

Xiao Song was scared, sure, but more than that, he was excited.

“Still, I don’t think your dad would agree. I know what kind of person he is.”

The more Li Dazhuang spoke like this, the more determined Xiao Song became to prove it wasn’t a big deal.

“Just wait. Within a week, I’ll get that letter. If I can’t, then you can say whatever you want, okay, Brother Li?”

That was exactly what Li Dazhuang wanted to hear. But on the surface, he acted conflicted, hesitating for a long time before finally agreeing.

No one knew what Xiao Song did, but he actually managed to sweet-talk the Production Team Leader into issuing letters for both of them.

With the Team Leader’s son tagging along, Granny Li felt more at ease and even slipped her son more money and tickets behind the scenes.

Sister-in-law Li, even if she didn’t see it, could guess what was going on. She didn’t say anything and pretended not to know.

Before leaving, Li Dazhuang scooped An An into his arms and gave his head a good rub.

Say what you will, but Li Dazhuang had always believed in An An’s luck, even when he was little.

This was his first time going out to do something like this. Along with the thrill, he couldn’t help feeling a little nervous.

Even on the morning of his departure, he pulled the half-asleep An An out of bed just to hold him for a while.

It was still early, the sky barely lit. An An leaned against his father’s chest, vaguely remembering that today was the day he was leaving.

He forced his eyes open, wrapped his arms around his father’s neck, and gently rubbed his head against him.

“When I get back, I’ll bring you your favorite candy.”

“Mmm, okay.”

The weather was still a bit chilly. After the hug, An An quickly dove back under the covers, only one hand sticking out to wave goodbye.

After Li Dazhuang left, Granny Li remained constantly worried, often drifting off in thought. If it weren’t for the Team Leader’s son going along, she wouldn’t have been able to rest easy.

At his age, An An had already started working, though only doing light tasks.

Everyone in the village knew his brother worked at the county’s Furniture Factory, and his sister was at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative. The family didn’t rely solely on Work Points, and they all doted on An An. So even if he slacked off now and then, no one said a word.

Not long ago, Shitou had mentioned that the Furniture Factory might be hiring temporary workers, and he was in charge of the recruitment.

Even a temp job was enough to make the villagers envious. Wherever the Li family went, people fawned over them, hoping to curry favor with Shitou’s family in case they could get a leg up when hiring began.

The Production Team Leader had approved the intro letter, saying his son was going to visit relatives and that Li Dazhuang was just tagging along to see the world. No one in the village found it strange.

They all remembered how much of a troublemaker Li Dazhuang used to be. If he suddenly turned over a new leaf, that would’ve been more suspicious.

Now that the family was doing better, it was the perfect time for him to go out and “mix it up.”

Without his brother and sister around, An An didn’t dare venture too deep into the mountains. But even just wandering around the outskirts, he still managed to catch plenty of game.

Mr. Su and his wife had been living in the cowshed for so many years that even they had lost count. They’d watched An An grow from a tiny child into a young man.

Every now and then, An An would leave things he couldn’t bring home at their doorstep. The fact that Mrs. Su had recovered so quickly was in no small part thanks to him, and Mr. Su remembered every bit of that kindness.

An An, on the other hand, didn’t think much of it. He just figured his grandmother would get angry if he brought the stuff home, and it would be a waste to throw it away—so giving it to Mr. Su to eat was just right.

…

Li Dazhuang had been drifting around outside for a while. With his smooth-talking nature, he managed to befriend a truck driver from the transport team, calling him “Big Brother,” and soon he and Xiao Song started working under him.

Once things were settled, Li Dazhuang had someone write a letter home to ease his parents’ worries.

The transport team was a legitimate job, and quite a lucrative one at that—many people dreamed of getting in.

Unfortunately, they rarely recruited, and without the right connections, it was nearly impossible to join. Even if you got in, few were willing to teach you the ropes.

Li Dazhuang managing to convince that driver to take them along was mostly a stroke of luck.

The driver, Old Wang, was a loyal and righteous man. Since he’d accepted them as his little brothers, he taught them everything he knew and even brought them along on transport runs.

Even if you couldn’t touch the steering wheel and were just running errands for the team, that alone was something most people could only dream of.

When Granny Li received the letter, she finally relaxed. Hearing her son had made something of himself out there made her even happier.

But the Production Team Leader was different—he was more cautious, especially since it was his youngest son involved.

He used the return address from the letter to have someone check things out. Once he confirmed that the transport company was real and that Old Wang was indeed an employee there, he finally felt at ease.

Now that Li Dazhuang was at least with his son, the Production Team Leader also passed the news along to the rest of the Li family.

At first, Li Dazhuang had a very clear goal: to get a referral letter and dive into speculative trading. But he had no connections, no network, and after doing the math, he realized the risks far outweighed the potential gains.

Just when the two of them were feeling dejected, they happened to run into Old Wang and did him a small favor. That was how they got brought along.

When it came to speculative trading, no one was better suited than drivers. There was even a saying going around at the time: “Turn the steering wheel, and even a county chief wouldn’t trade places.”

They traveled far and wide, and most drivers would stash a few personal items in the truck to bring back and sell.

This kind of side hustle was an open secret among drivers. Once Old Wang realized the two were interested, he brought them in without hesitation.

After getting a taste of this new world, Li Dazhuang had no intention of going home. Xiao Song, still young and full of energy, felt the same—he wished he could live there forever.

The two of them didn’t want to go back, but during the New Year, many in the transport team wanted to return home and reunite with their families. When Old Wang found himself short-staffed, the two eagerly volunteered to help.

Seeing their dedication, Old Wang became even more invested in teaching them.

At first, they were just tagging along doing odd jobs, but after the New Year, Old Wang started looking into getting them into a driving class. Whether they passed or not would depend on their own abilities.

In most things, neither Xiao Song nor Li Dazhuang were particularly patient.

But after seeing firsthand how much money could be made, and realizing that being a driver was far more respectable than being a laborer, they threw themselves into studying with fierce determination.

Old Wang was no ordinary man—he was the team leader of the transport unit. He liked both Xiao Song and Li Dazhuang and figured if they could pass the test, he’d keep them by his side to train.

It was a blessing to have a mentor like that.

Once he made up his mind, Old Wang didn’t keep it a secret. He found an excuse to treat them to drinks and casually shared the news.

The moment Xiao Song and Li Dazhuang heard it, they couldn’t wait to rush back and continue their studies.

During this time, they even managed to write letters home. When both the Li family and the Production Team Leader’s household heard they might become drivers, they sent all the money and ration tickets they could spare, afraid the boys might be struggling.

At the time, being a driver was one of the most prestigious jobs around.

They received quite a bit from home, and Old Wang often chipped in as well, encouraging them to study hard and stay focused.

When An An turned sixteen, news of the reinstatement of the National College Entrance Examination reached their production team.

The previous false promises of returning to the city had left many Educated Youths scarred. So when word first spread that one could return to the city by passing the exam, no one took it seriously.

But soon, an official notice came down from the county. The Production Team Leader gathered everyone and announced that it was true—the National College Entrance Examination would be reinstated that year, and they had a few months to prepare.

Coming from the Production Team Leader himself, the news carried far more weight than any rumor.

Many Educated Youths had been in the production team for years. When they heard they might finally have a chance to return to the city, they were stunned, unable to process it.

Though the early autumn wind was chilly, their blood felt like it was boiling.

Since arriving in the countryside, most had put their books aside. The quick-witted ones rushed back to dig out the textbooks they had once used as table pads.

When An An and Xiao Hua were younger, the Production Team Leader had set up a small school in the village and had the Educated Youths teach. They’d attended for a few years and learned to read.

There was a middle school too, but most kids would return home to help with farm work after finishing it. Many of the Educated Youths hadn’t even completed high school.

Even those who had graduated high school but hadn’t been selected for Workers, Peasants, and Soldiers Universities had to return home.

That evening, Xiao Hua came home from her job at the county’s Supply and Marketing Cooperative, carrying a basket. After closing the door, she pulled out a stack of high school textbooks and called An An in from the yard, where he was feeding the chickens.

“An An, come here. Don’t go to work these next few months. Focus on studying these books.”

The first reinstated National College Entrance Examination was scheduled for winter. Everyone could guess that the test wouldn’t be too difficult. Xiao Hua didn’t want her younger brother to miss such a golden opportunity.

Though An An had been doted on growing up, by the time he turned ten, he was no longer the chubby, cuddly child he once was. He’d shot up like a young poplar tree.

Compared to the other village kids, he was a bit thinner. If he worked in the fields every day, he wouldn’t be able to handle it.

As for her brother’s suggestion that An An go work in the factory, Xiao Hua wasn’t in favor. She’d seen where her brother worked—it was exhausting.

Her brother was strong enough to manage, but An An wasn’t.

Xiao Hua believed this reinstated exam was her brother’s chance. If he could pass, he could find a lighter job in the future, and with her and their brother looking after him, everything would be fine.

The rest of the family gathered inside. After hearing what Xiao Hua said, they all nodded in agreement.

An An hugged the books to his chest and asked curiously, “Sister, why aren’t you studying too? Is it because you can’t take time off from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative?”

Xiao Hua had gotten these books specifically for her brother. She hadn’t even considered taking the exam herself.

But An An’s question suddenly made her realize—she could take the exam too. So could her brother.

Granny Li clapped her hands and broke into a smile full of wrinkles.

“Xiao Hua should study too. Later, we’ll ask Shitou—if he wants to go, then the whole family will go!”

If someone in their family became a college student, it would be a huge honor in their village. Compared to that, farm work was nothing.

Xiao Hua clearly wanted to, but she still hesitated.

“Mom, my sister-in-law told me recently to do well at work. They’re about to decide who gets made permanent…”

If she asked for leave now, she’d likely miss the chance to be officially hired.

The room fell silent. Compared to a college exam she might not pass, the chance for a permanent job was more tangible.

From her mother’s expression, Xiao Hua could already guess the answer. She clenched her sleeves and forced a smile, telling herself that if she could get a permanent job, it wouldn’t be any worse than taking the exam.

She hadn’t touched a textbook in ages. Even if she did take the test, who could guarantee she’d pass?

With that thought, her heart slowly settled, though her eyes still held a trace of unwillingness.

“Sister, will there be another chance to get hired later?”

An An remembered what his sister had once told him. He knew what she truly longed for.

With just one sentence, he stirred that buried yearning in Xiao Hua’s heart.

There would be more chances to get hired. But the chance to be part of the first class after the exam’s reinstatement? That would never come again.

Sister-in-law Li, who had raised them herself, could see what Xiao Hua was thinking. With a sigh, she relented.

“I’ll ask your sister-in-law. See if taking time off to study and take the exam would affect anything. As for the permanent job, there’ll be other chances.”

“Okay, thank you, Mom!”

Xiao Hua’s eyes lit up instantly. She hugged her mother’s arm and promised that if she didn’t pass the exam, she’d work twice as hard afterward.

Seeing her so happy, even though such a good opportunity might be lost, Sister-in-law Li wasn’t too upset.

When Shitou and his wife came home, Sister-in-law Li went to ask their opinion.

The couple was older, not as quick-thinking as the young ones. They felt they were doing fine and didn’t think they could get back into studying, so they decided not to take the exam.

But when Shitou’s wife heard that Xiao Hua and An An were planning to take it, she even helped them gather materials, hoping they’d do well.

After the news spread, the Educated Youths stopped working altogether and spent all day at the Educated Youth Point studying. The Production Team Leader let them be.

He only sent someone to remind them that if they didn’t work, they wouldn’t earn enough Work Points, and the team wouldn’t help them if they didn’t have enough food come winter.

The Educated Youths were resolute. They said if they didn’t pass, they’d rather starve than ask for extra rations.

Last time, when the fake policy came out, most of the marriages had already ended. Those who hadn’t divorced weren’t going to stop the Educated Youths from taking the exam this time, so there wasn’t much fuss.

That year’s winter was colder than usual. Granny Li dug out all the fabric coupons she’d saved over the years.

She took her eldest daughter-in-law to the county’s Supply and Marketing Cooperative to buy cotton and make new clothes for the kids.

The exam was in winter—without warm clothes, they’d freeze.

When they arrived, Shitou’s wife wasn’t there. Another sales clerk was on duty.

Once the clerk learned who they were, her previously indifferent attitude turned warm. She even brought out some flawed fabric and gave them a good discount.

Later, when Shitou’s wife heard about it, she explained that the clerk was a temporary worker. Between her and Xiao Hua, they were the top candidates for the upcoming permanent positions.

Now that Xiao Hua had taken leave to prepare for the exam, the job was practically guaranteed to go to her.

When Sister-in-law Li heard this, she still felt a bit regretful. It had been such a good opportunity.

But Shitou’s wife was more open-minded. She even comforted her mother-in-law.

As she said, there would never be another chance to be part of the first class after the exam’s reinstatement. It was important to weigh what mattered more.

With her around, if another opportunity for a permanent job came up, she’d keep an eye out for her sister-in-law.

Sister-in-law Li was only a little disappointed—she hadn’t planned to stop them. She chatted with Shitou’s wife for a while, then headed back to the village as night fell.

Su Xiansheng and his wife, who had once lived in the cowshed, were finally vindicated.

Officials from the county personally came to escort them back to the Capital City, but Su Xiansheng declined. He said he planned to stay in the village a while longer.

Only after confirming that their names had been fully cleared and that their case wouldn’t affect anyone else did Su Xiansheng begin going door to door in the village, looking for the child who used to secretly bring them food.

Back then, he had no way to repay the kindness and could only try not to drag the child down with them. Now that he had the means, he intended to return the favor, at least in part.

Led by the Production Team Leader, he arrived at the Li household. When he knocked on the door, it was An An who answered.

The moment An An saw Su Xiansheng, his first reaction was panic. Could it be that someone had found out about all the sneaky things he’d done before?

Surely it wasn’t serious enough for someone to come knocking at his door, right?

He was already this old—surely Grandma wouldn’t spank him anymore?

Su Xiansheng was now dressed in clean, tidy clothes, and his wife stood beside him. For the first time, they could openly and properly look at this child.

“You look a lot like my wife’s younger brother who went missing years ago. I heard you’re planning to take the National College Entrance Examination?”

Su Xiansheng had already prepared his excuse, and of course An An didn’t expose him. He simply nodded obediently.

“As it happens, my wife and I know a thing or two about these things. We plan to rest and recover for a while before leaving. While we’re staying in the village, would you be willing to let me tutor you?”

Before An An could even respond, Sister-in-law Li, who had been standing nearby, jumped in eagerly:

“Willing! Of course he’s willing!”

Su Xiansheng’s wife gave her a gentle nod, but still wanted to hear An An’s answer for herself.

“Then… could you also teach my sister? She’s planning to take the National College Entrance Examination this year too.”

Su Xiansheng vaguely remembered the little girl—she used to tag along with An An when they were younger.

Teaching one or two made little difference, so he smiled and agreed.

Since Shitou and his wife lived in the county town and Li Dazhuang still hadn’t returned, the Li family had spare rooms. After a bit of tidying up, Su Xiansheng and his wife moved in.

Whether it was the villagers or the Educated Youth at the Educated Youth Point, nearly everyone envied the Li family’s good fortune.

After Su Xiansheng was exonerated, his past accomplishments were gradually made public.

Only then did the village realize just how extraordinary the couple who had once been imprisoned in the cowshed truly were.

If not for that sudden downfall, they were people the villagers would never have had the chance to meet in their lifetimes.

To have their guidance right before the National College Entrance Examination was practically a sanctioned form of cheating—but no one could say a word against it.

Who could they blame? Blame themselves for not having a face that resembled Su Xiansheng’s long-lost brother!

Because Shitou and Xiaohua had both worked in the county town, the Li family was one of the few in the production team that placed great importance on the National College Entrance Examination.

Sister-in-law Li even went out of her way to do laundry farther down the river, just to avoid disturbing the two students studying at home.

An An had been washing his own clothes since he was ten, but now Granny Li had taken over. As soon as Xiaohua changed out of her clothes, Sister-in-law Li would whisk them away, not even giving her the chance to do it herself.

Granny Li even steeled her heart and slaughtered a chicken every few days. After they ran out of chickens, she bartered with neighbors for more.

At first, Su Xiansheng stayed with the Li family to repay the kindness of the two children. But the longer he stayed, the more he came to enjoy the warmth of their household.

If it weren’t for responsibilities awaiting them in the Capital City, he would’ve loved to remain there longer.

The family only had one set of high school textbooks and review materials, which the siblings shared. Studying together, they helped each other identify weak spots.

While tutoring the two, Su Xiansheng and his wife discovered that Xiaohua was quite bright for an average student.

With steady review and no surprises, she had a good chance of getting into a decent university.

But An An was different. No matter what subject they taught him, he grasped it quickly and thoroughly. In Su Xiansheng’s eyes, this was an uncut gem of extraordinary potential.

He tested An An with biology topics that wouldn’t appear on the exam—and to his delight, the boy showed remarkable talent even in those areas.

Recently, a friend of Su Xiansheng’s had written from the Capital City, saying the university there wanted to hire him and his wife as professors.

With the reinstatement of the National College Entrance Examination, there was a shortage of qualified teachers. Even before their downfall, Su Xiansheng and his wife had occasionally lectured at the Capital City University.

Initially, he planned to decline. After all, he wasn’t young anymore, and though his wife had recovered, she still needed to take care of her health and couldn’t handle too much stress.

But after discovering An An’s talent, Su Xiansheng suddenly changed his mind.

He no longer worried about An An’s exam results. If the boy could get into Capital City University, perhaps he could take him on as a disciple—both to nurture his potential and to repay the debt of all those rabbits and wild chickens An An had once delivered.

During a meal, Su Xiansheng subtly hinted at this idea to the Li family.

An An caught his meaning and opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, Xiaohua tugged gently at his shirt under the table.

Her brother was smart, and if he got into university, and Su Xiansheng was willing to mentor him, that was his good fortune and talent.

Lately, she hadn’t understood a word of what Su Xiansheng and her brother were discussing.

She hadn’t realized it at the time, but now she guessed he had been testing An An’s aptitude.

An An was brilliant, but Xiaohua knew she was different. She couldn’t even follow the conversation, let alone respond fluently like her brother.

Getting into university and seeing a broader world would already be enough for her.

Given how much Su Xiansheng valued An An, if her brother pleaded on her behalf, he might actually agree—but that wasn’t something Xiaohua wanted.

Having grown up together, An An understood her without words. He said nothing more, quietly finished his meal, and later went for a walk with his sister before bringing it up again.

“Jiejie, why didn’t you let me ask…”

An An drooped his head, looking like a dejected little puppy that had just been kicked.

“I’m not gifted in biology, and I’m not interested in it either, An An.”

“Really?”

“Mm.”

Xiaohua understood how he felt. Just like when they were kids, he always wanted to give her the best of everything he had.

But they weren’t children anymore. When it came to their future, to their whole lives, they couldn’t afford to be childish.

“Jiejie… did I almost mess things up?”

“No. I know you care about me. That makes me very happy.”

Xiaohua stood on tiptoe and gently ruffled An An’s hair, just like she used to when they were little. Only now, An An was taller than her, and even such a simple gesture required her to stretch.

Su Xiansheng and his wife were both top scholars, and tutoring two students was just right. Soon, the day of the National College Entrance Examination arrived.

Xiaohua and An An put on new clothes and headed to the exam site with their supplies.

In the first year after the reinstatement of the National College Entrance Examination, the test questions weren’t too difficult. After the exam ended, they returned home.

At the time, the family had been considerate enough not to bring up the matter.

Su Xiansheng and his wife had already returned to the Capital City before the National College Entrance Examination, leaving behind only a letter for An An.

They had instructed Granny Li to tell him that if he got into a university in the Capital City, he should go to the address written in the letter to find them.

The other students in the village who had taken the National College Entrance Examination, as well as the Educated Youth at the Educated Youth Point, were all on edge after the exam, anxiously waiting for their scores.

An An and his sister, on the other hand, remained calm. They even went out to the fields to help the family with weeding, returning home drenched in sweat, carrying their hoes over their shoulders.

Xiao Hua had gone back to work at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative the very next day, missing the opportunity to be officially promoted. If she didn’t get into college this time, she’d have to come back and work even harder to make sure the next chance would be hers.

Finally, the day came when the National College Entrance Examination results were to be released. Even An An and Xiao Hua, who had been composed all this time, couldn’t help but feel anxious when they saw how nervous the rest of the family was.

In the courtyard, the big rooster let out a loud crow. Granny Li, already on edge, shot it a fierce glare, and the bird instantly fell silent, as if someone had grabbed it by the throat.

Just as the rooster quieted down, they heard the sound of a vehicle approaching. Everyone inside couldn’t help but jump to their feet and look toward the entrance.