Chapter 84

Chapter 84

During the two days of He Yan's college entrance exam, the whole family was exceptionally quiet. Even Liu Liu, who was usually the noisiest, knew not to disturb her brother and spoke in hushed tones.

Jin Xiuzhu understood that this exam was equivalent to the imperial examinations of The Great Jing Dynasty, so she took it very seriously. She would wake up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her son—either homemade dumplings or chicken noodle soup, both filling and delicious.

Although there were vendors selling breakfast near the school, this was an important time, and Jin Xiuzhu worried about food hygiene. Getting sick now would be disastrous.

Even the younger children got to enjoy these delicious breakfasts.

Liu Liu remarked while eating, "Mom hasn't made breakfast for us in a long time."

Usually, they were sent to buy steamed buns at the gate or have their brother make noodles for them, which only had eggs, unlike the meat-filled meals now.

Jin Xiuzhu smiled, "When you take your college entrance exam, I'll make breakfast for you too."

Liu Liu wanted to say more but was stopped by her sister, Fu Yanyan, who gestured her to look at He Yan. Liu Liu turned and saw her brother reading a book while eating dumplings with a spoon.

She quickly covered her mouth and dared not speak again.

After finishing his dumplings, He Yan left with his books. Before he went out, Jin Xiuzhu packed water and biscuits for him, just in case he got hungry after the first exam and needed something to tide him over.

Jin Xiuzhu and her two daughters saw him off at the door, saying, "Do well, don't be nervous. If we don't succeed this year, we can try again next year."

He Yan was both amused and exasperated, "Mom, you sure know how to comfort people."

Jin Xiuzhu laughed and patted his shoulder, "Of course, it's better to pass on the first try. After you finish, I'll take you to play in the provincial capital next door. You haven't been there yet, right?"

"Really? That's great."

Standing nearby, Liu Liu quickly chimed in, "I want to go too."

"You all can go."

He Yan walked briskly to school. At the school gate, he bought two steamed buns, which Jin Xiuzhu noticed were for the girl. She didn't say anything.

Liu Liu also saw this and wondered aloud, "Didn't brother eat already? Why did he buy more buns? Wasn't he full?"

Fu Yanyan watched He Yan's back disappear into the school gates with a complex expression, "I wonder if they will last?"

It wasn't that she doubted her brother's feelings for the girl; it was just that couples who started dating early rarely stayed together. Especially with the girl, whose family situation seemed complicated.

Jin Xiuzhu was quite open-minded, "As long as they're happy now, we'll see what happens later. Not everything needs a definite outcome."

Fu Yanyan nodded.

For lunch, Jin Xiuzhu prepared a large table of dishes. He Yan returned first, but he waited for his sisters before eating.

During the meal, he listened quietly to his sisters recounting amusing stories from school, without holding a book.

However, after eating, he resumed studying and memorizing his notes.

Jin Xiuzhu knew she couldn't help him with his studies, so she focused on other areas, like cooking delicious meals and buying another electric fan for his room to help him concentrate at night.

After two days of exams, despite good food and rest, He Yan looked pale and tired. After the final exam, he came home and fell asleep immediately, not even waking up for dinner.

The next morning, he weakly got up to find food. Jin Xiuzhu had left some meals in the kitchen, and after eating a large bowl of food, he felt rejuvenated.

Jin Xiuzhu was painting in the living room, with the electric fan gently blowing and papers rustling.

He washed his dishes and walked to Jin Xiuzhu's side, leaning on the table and idly playing with a brush.

With the exams over, he suddenly felt lost, unsure of what to do next.

Jin Xiuzhu asked, "Nothing to do?"

He Yan shook his head, "There is, actually. I plan to write letters to Wei Ningqing and Yang Yingxiong to ask how they did. I've also arranged to go fishing with some classmates and read more books, but I'm not feeling very energetic right now."

Jin Xiuzhu nodded, "Then take a few days to rest. Your father mentioned sending you to the military camp for training when he returns, to get you used to military life."

He Yan perked up at this, "Really? Did Dad really say that?"

Jin Xiuzhu laughed, "Why, are you afraid of your father?"

He Yan pouted, "I'm not afraid of him; I'm just worried I won't be able to handle it."

Jin Xiuzhu laughed again, "Don't worry, your father won't be back for another ten days. In the meantime, I'll make sure you're well-rested."

True to her word, Jin Xiuzhu cooked various nourishing soups for He Yan every day. By the time Jiang Mingchuan returned, He Yan had grown taller and stronger.

On the second day of his return, Jiang Mingchuan took He Yan to the military camp. He stayed there for a whole month, only returning when the admission notice arrived.

The teacher personally delivered the notice to Jin Xiuzhu. When He Yan saw the bright red name of the school on the notice that evening, he jumped up excitedly, "I got in, Mom! I got in!"

His joy grew louder with each exclamation.

Jin Xiuzhu shared his happiness.

He Yan ran to tell Jiang Mingchuan, then picked up Liu Liu and tossed her in the air, making her laugh gleefully.

Fu Yanyan watched her brother's excitement and felt genuinely happy for him.

In his previous life, getting into a military academy was much harder for He Yan. He lacked the support and care he received now. It was unknown how much psychological pressure he overcame to transform from a poor student to a military academy student, only to have his hopes crushed soon after.

This time, things should be different.

He Yan carefully stored the admission notice, wrapping it in layers of oil paper to protect it from insects, and placed it in a box with camphor balls.

The next morning, he went out to call Wei Ningqing and Yang Yingxiong to ask how they did.

When they returned, it was already noon. Their faces were beaming with joy, indicating that everyone had performed well on the exams. Indeed, he said, "Wei Ningqing is going to the same school as me, and Yang Yingxiong is attending the industrial university in the same city."

Jin Xiuzhu nodded continuously. "Not bad, not bad. Everyone did very well."

He Yan grinned widely. "Right?"

Jin Xiuzhu said, "Your teacher told me that if you have time, you should go to the school to share some study experiences."

Without hesitation, He Yan replied, "Then I'll go tomorrow."

That evening, Jin Xiuzhu knew he was coming back and prepared many dishes. It had been a while since she last saw her son, and she could tell he had endured much hardship. She noticed that he had become noticeably thinner and darker, with new and old scars appearing on his face and hands.

Jiang Mingchuan didn't say much, only urging her son to eat more. However, when they lay in bed at night, she couldn't help but ask Jiang Mingchuan, "Why are there so many injuries on our son? Are you training him or beating him up?"

Jiang Mingchuan understood her concern but responded, "Soldiers are like this; how can they avoid getting hurt? Without injuries, how can they train properly? War means death."

Jin Xiuzhu spat twice. "Don't talk nonsense. Don't push him too hard; he's your son."

Jiang Mingchuan grunted in agreement, knowing that further discussion would lead to an argument.

Jin Xiuzhu still felt heartbroken. After all, he was the child she had raised from infancy. He Yan was better than a biological son. Wu Xiaojun, for instance, had been undisciplined as a child, but He Yan had always helped her with chores, took care of her during her pregnancy, and managed household affairs during her postpartum period. Sometimes Jin Xiuzhu even thought that a biological son might not be as good.

"I wonder if this path is the right one? Thinking about him not being home often makes my heart ache."

Jiang Mingchuan didn't know how to comfort her. Previously, she had told him that children grow up and need to be independent, and they can't be tied to their parents forever. Now, she was the one expressing reluctance.

Suddenly, Jin Xiuzhu said, "Forget it. To spend more time with our son, let's buy a house in the provincial capital. Then I can visit him frequently, or else we might rarely see him."

Jiang Mingchuan: "... If you visit him frequently, what about me?"

Jin Xiuzhu: "Aren't you busy?"

She then started contemplating the possibility of buying a house in the neighboring province. The more she thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. Houses in the provincial capital were cheap, and buying a few could be rented out later for extra income for the children.

Otherwise, relying solely on her salary wouldn't be enough to support the family. Her children had grown accustomed to good food and clothes, spending money freely. If she didn't prepare some assets for them, they might struggle in the future.

The next day, He Yan went to the school to share his experience with the next batch of students.

Although the school year hadn't started yet, many students came voluntarily to learn. Upon hearing about it, the teachers also joined in.

This year's college entrance exam results were quite good. Eleven students from the two classes in Grade 12 got into universities, and seven more got into junior colleges.

He Yan had the highest score. He spent an hour sharing his study experiences and problem-solving techniques with the younger students. Afterward, he went to the teachers' office to play. Not seeing Lin Zhaodi today, he wanted to ask about her exam performance. He remembered not seeing her when they filled out their applications.

When He Yan arrived at the office, many teachers were chatting together. Seeing him, they warmly asked about his future plans and inquired about his sister's performance.

"My sister is much smarter than me. She has always been the top student in the school, and she hasn't changed over the years. She doesn't even seem to study much."

"That's impressive. She'll definitely get into a prestigious university."

He Yan smiled proudly. As the bell rang, the teachers left for their classes, and he asked about Lin Zhaodi.

His homeroom teacher sighed upon hearing his question. "That child is a pity. She overestimated her score by a bit and missed her first choice by just one point. Her second choice wasn't as good, otherwise, she could have gone to a better university. Still, it's not bad. She got into a teachers' college. Maybe we'll be colleagues someday."

He patted He Yan's shoulder. "I didn't misjudge you, kid. This school is good, and you'll be as successful as your father."

The homeroom teacher knew about He Yan's family background—his father was a leader, and his mother was an artist. They lived comfortably, evident from their lifestyle. He was aware of the subtle feelings between the two students but chose to overlook it due to their excellent grades. However, considering the differences in their backgrounds, he wasn't entirely optimistic.

"Which teachers' college?"

"The one in our city."

He Yan nodded and chatted a bit more before leaving.

Back home, He Yan told Jin Xiuzhu, "Mom, I want to visit a classmate's house."

Without thinking much, Jin Xiuzhu gave him five yuan. "Buy some fruit; don't show up empty-handed."

He Yan agreed, bought some lychees and grapes, and set off. Although he had never been to Lin Zhaodi's house, he had heard about its location.

Following his memory, he walked outside the city but couldn't find Lin Zhaodi's house. Instead, he found a classmate's house from another class. Fortunately, the classmate knew where Lin Zhaodi lived and led him there.

They crossed two mountains, arriving around one o'clock in the afternoon.

Lin Zhaodi was cooking at home after returning from work. Her mother couldn't move, and her siblings were young, so only her father worked. During her break, she helped at the Production Team, earning five points each day.

After a busy morning, covered in mud, she washed her hands and went straight to the kitchen to cook. She hadn't had time to collect her admission letter yesterday, so a classmate brought it for her.

Thinking about her admission letter, Lin Zhaodi felt sad. She regretted not choosing a university in the provincial capital as her second choice, which would have allowed her to be in the same city as He Yan.

However, there were only two key universities in the provincial capital, both with high scores. Other ordinary schools weren't much different from those in the city, making the trip seem wasteful.

Feeling bitter, she saw a familiar figure approaching in the distance and immediately recognized He Yan.

But soon, she realized something and hurriedly ran back inside.

The woman in the room noticed her daughter's panicked appearance and frowned. "What happened? Is something wrong?"

Lin Zhaodi shook her head and bit her lip, looking down. She saw herself covered in dirt and her eyes welled up.

Outside, a voice called, "Lin Zhaodi, are you home?"

The woman was about to speak, but Lin Zhaodi pleaded, "Mom, please say I'm not here."

The woman frowned, and Lin Zhaodi looked at her fearfully. "Please."

The woman silently watched her daughter and then said to the outside, "Zhaodi isn't home. What do you need?"

The classmates outside were about to speak again when He Yan, standing beside them, took the initiative and said, "We're her classmates. We came to congratulate her on getting into university. Since she's not home, we'll leave now."

As he spoke, He Yan put down the fruit in his hands. He saw the bubbling pot in the kitchen but pretended not to notice.

Seeing him say this, the classmate didn't say anything more, "Then we'll be on our way."

Voices could be heard from outside, "Are you going back now?"

"Mm, if I don't leave soon, it'll get dark."

"Alright."

The two walked further away. Once they left the courtyard, He Yan couldn't help but look back. The house was small, with its outer walls plastered with yellow mud. In some places, the mud had fallen off, leaving it pitted and uneven.

The classmate couldn't help but say, "I thought I saw Lin Zhaodi just now."

He Yan paused and replied, "It must have been your mistake. It didn't look like Lin Zhaodi."

"Okay."

Lin Zhaodi stayed in the room for a long time before coming out. Seeing the fruit on the ground by the door, her eyes welled up with tears. She suddenly found her initial thoughts rather laughable.

Although she and He Yan could study in the same class, there were some gaps that could never be bridged. Just like now, she didn't even have the courage to see him.