Chapter 691: Grand Finale

Chapter 691 The Final Chapter

In October, Beicheng took on the hues of autumn.

Jiang Yu made time to visit Nanhe Village.

Word of her resignation had spread long ago, but since no one could see her, even if people had things to say, she wasn't around to hear them.

He Youfu showed some concern with a few words, but seeing that Jiang Yu had her own plans, he didn’t pry further. Instead, he talked about what was happening in the village.

"The first batch of chickens and ducks have been sold. Since it’s the first year, we didn't raise many, but the profits are still quite good!"

Speaking of the village’s collective side business, He Youfu’s eyes sparkled as he envisioned the future.

"I plan to expand the scale next year—we can make even more money!"

Jiang Yu congratulated him with a smile, then asked about the cotton planting.

He Youfu’s smile faded slightly. He sighed, "It was a disaster. The land was divided, but the seedlings failed right from the start."

That Lai Zhijie turned out to be completely useless. He found someone from God-knows-where, claiming to be an expert.

Under his guidance, the cotton seedlings in the nursery stage all died.

The villagers who planted cotton were fooled three times—three rounds of seedlings, all failed completely.

If not for He Youfu stepping in, they would’ve lost their shirts.

"But in a way, it’s good. After this lesson, they’ve finally come to their senses."

Seeing that He Youfu was making money, they all came flocking to help.

He Youfu said, "Once we expand next year, at least we won’t have to worry about lacking helpers."

Gazing at the blue sky outside, his eyes crinkled with laughter—things were looking up every day.

"Oh, right, there’s also the matter with your brother."

Jiang Yu turned her head. "Jiang Hao?"

He Youfu chuckled awkwardly. "Yeah, Jiang Hao went off to be a live-in son-in-law. Did you know?"

Jiang Yu shook her head—she hadn’t been in touch with Wang Meili for a long time.

He Youfu gave her the rundown.

Wang Meili had pulled out all the stops to find him a wife, but no one was interested.

Jiang Hao couldn’t handle hard work, and with no money at home, they relied entirely on the small allowance Jiang Yu had provided.

So, he remembered the girl the matchmaker had introduced to him before.

"That girl is from the city. She used to be a soldier but retired later. Serving in the military delayed her marriage, so she couldn’t marry well and had to look to the countryside."

Her one condition was that the man had to marry into her family.

Not only would she provide a bride price, but she could also arrange a job for the groom.

Jiang Hao had looked down on her for being older than him, but now, finally facing facts, he eagerly jumped at the chance to marry into her family.

Jiang Yu got a kick out of hearing this, "As long as he's happy, his business is none of mine."

She can't even be bothered with Jiang Ting, so why would she care about Jiang Hao?

He Youfu sighed and knocked the ash from his pipe.

"But I heard he’s not doing well. He even came home crying once, beaten black-and-blue."

A grown man crying all the way home—that image stuck with him.

Jiang Yu perked up, asking, "Why was he beaten? Did his father-in-law hit him?"

He Youfu shook his head, finding it hard to say.

"It was his wife. She’s quite tall and sturdy, built like your husband, so I'll bet she’s strong too. She told Jiang Hao to wash the dishes, and when he refused, she slapped him twice so hard his teeth got knocked out."

Jiang Yu pictured the scene and couldn't help but laugh.

She couldn’t muster any sympathy at all—what goes around comes around.

With that, Jiang Yu stood up to leave.

He Youfu saw her to the door and shouted after her, "Jiang Yu, Uncle He believes in you. If you get into college, remember to let us know so the village can bask in your success."

Jiang Yu paused, then flashed him a bright smile.

"Don’t worry, Uncle He. If I get in, you’ll be the first to know. I’ll always be a daughter of Nanhe Village."

He Youfu smiled warmly, watching her walk away, his heart stirred for a long time.

In November, snow fell in Beicheng. Jiang Yu, who couldn't stand the cold, hardly ever went out, staying indoors to study.

Yao Xiangling sat in the main room knitting a sweater, sighing at the sight of the snowflakes drifting outside.

"It’s so cold—Can't even take Ning Ning outside now."

Aunt Lan sat beside her, sorting out the yarn.

"Exactly. It’s freezing. Next month will be even colder. By then, our hands will be too stiff to hold a pen, much less take a test."

Yao Xiangling had her own worries. Everyone was watching Jiang Yu now.

They all said she quit her job—if she didn’t get into college, she’d be the laughing stock.

She hoped Jiang Yu would succeed, but even if she didn’t, she wouldn't hold it against her.

It was just the gossip outside that got to her.

Before long, He Tingyue returned.

His boots crunched through the fresh snow, leaving deep prints.

"What did you bring for your wife this time?" Yao Xiangling teased with a smile.

Jiang Yu had quit her job, but He Tingyue hadn’t.

He still worked, and fearing Jiang Yu would get bored, he always found ways to bring her treats to cheer her up—even putting their daughter second.

He Tingyue produced a still-warm roasted sweet potato from inside his coat.

"Aunt, not just my wife gets one, everyone does."

Yao Xiangling shot him a playful glare. "You're so thoughtful, come on in."

Before He Tingyue even stepped through the door, Jiang Yu smelled the roasted sweet potatoes.

Her face lit up with delight. "That smells so good!"

With the cold weather, she got hungry easily, and she couldn't wait for He Tingyue to bring food home.

He Tingyue peeled back the crispy skin and let her take a bite.

"Is it good?"

Jiang Yu nodded vigorously, her cheeks puffed up like a hamster’s.

"So good! Here, you try."

He Tingyue took a bite as well—sweet and melt-in-your-mouth soft.

He handed the sweet potato to Jiang Yu for her to eat while he began massaging her shoulders.

"Sweetheart, what do you think about me starting my own business?"

Jiang Yu paused and looked up at him.

"What do you mean?"

He Tingyue said, "The transport team I’ve been working with Xiao Qi’s group is doing well. I feel like the country’s policies might shift, so I want to quit my job and focus on this."

But this kind of thing wasn’t something you could talk about openly yet.

After all, it was black-market dealing—shady, even illegal.

Jiang Yu licked her lips. "Why?"

He Tingyue replied, "I’ve been thinking about this for some time, but now I’m even more certain. With you not at the factory anymore, the job just doesn’t mean as much."

His serious words sent a shiver through her, electrifying her whole body and making her blood surge.

Her cheeks flushed, and she gave him a flustered glare.

"Don’t say things like that in front of Factory Director Zheng, or he’ll scold me for being a temptress."

He Tingyue held her hand, his gaze deepening, his voice laced with a tenderness that made her pulse race.

"You *are* trouble."

Luckily, she was his.

Jiang Yu avoided his burning gaze, her heart hammered so hard it felt like it might leap out of her throat, her ears burning.

"If you want to do it, then go for it. You know I’ve got your back."

He Tingyue squeezed her palm. "People might talk if they find out."

Jiang Yu rolled her eyes and countered, "If I flunk my exams, would you be ashamed of me?"

The answer was obvious—never.

He Tingyue leaned down and kissed her rosy lips, her lips sweet like roasted sweet potato.

Although he had mentioned his plans to Jiang Yu, he wasn’t rushing things. He wanted to wait until after her college entrance exams.

Before they knew it, December had come. Braving the bitter cold, thousands of students stepped into the exam rooms to take the long-awaited college entrance exams.

On the day the exams ended, Jiang Yu walked out of the exam room dazed, like she was dreaming.

Was it really over just like that?

Tan Lizhu, Cai Xiaole, and many other familiar faces came out of the exam rooms one after another.

Their expressions varied, but overall, no one seemed too upset.

However, it was freezing outside, so everyone hurried home without even stopping to talk.

Jiang Yu met them again when it was time to guess their scores and submit college choices.

Cai Xiaole calculated her score and looked a little worried.

"I've checked the minimum score for the Broadcasting Institute—I might not make it."

Tan Lizhu asked, "So will you pick a different school?"

Cai Xiaole shook her head. She was set on the Broadcasting Institute. If she didn’t make it this year, she could always try again next year.

Jiang Yu was just as determined. Her goal was Beijing Foreign Studies University.

If she didn’t get in this year, she would try again next year.

When she saw Tan Lizhu’s choices, she asked in surprise, "Nanjing University? You’re leaving Beicheng?"

Tan Lizhu lowered her gaze. "I want to see more of the world while I’m young."

The Tan family drama was too distracting; she couldn’t even write.

Not a single story came together.

She wanted to leave Beicheng and get away for a while.

Jiang Yu took her hand, her gaze firm.

"Li Zhu, good luck out there."

Tan Lizhu smiled. "Same to you."

After Minor New Year, acceptance letters started rolling in one after another in the residential compound.

Both Cai Xiaole and Tan Lizhu received theirs—from the universities they had dreamed of.

Jiang Yu silently hoped for her own notice as well.

But as time passed, her hopes grew dimmer.

On New Year’s Eve, every household was busy putting up spring couplets and preparing the reunion dinner.

Everyone tactfully avoided mentioning admission notices in front of Jiang Yu.

Jiang Yu had to laugh at how careful they were being.

"I didn't make it this year, but I'll try again next year. There's nothing to be upset about."

At the New Year's Eve dinner, she raised her glass.

"Cheers to me!"

She wore a red sweater, her pale face looking even more delicate against the crimson backdrop.

He Tingyue lifted his glass, their glasses clinking crisply.

Suddenly—

"Jiang Yu! Is Jiang Yu in this household? Miss Jiang Yu, your admission letter has arrived!"

Jiang Yu jerked her head up, her movement freezing mid-air, her hand trembling as wine spilled.

She hurriedly stood and dashed outside, almost slipping.

"So sorry. It was supposed to arrive two days ago, but we’ve been buried in deliveries. Congratulations!"

Jiang Yu held the letter like it was made of gold, her eyes welling up as she read her name on it, her heart pounding with emotion.

Yao Xiangling quickly said, "Comrade, come inside for some tea—it’s the New Year!"

"Auntie, I can’t stay. I’ve got many more letters to deliver, and the students must be anxious! Only after I finish can they celebrate properly."

Yao Xiangling hastily grabbed a handful of candies and handed them to him. "Take these, for the road."

"Thank you, Auntie. Happy New Year! Gotta run!"

He Tingyue pulled Jiang Yu inside, even more impatient than she was.

"Honey, open it now!"

Jiang Yu had only applied to one school—Beijing Foreign Studies University—so this was expected.

She couldn’t hold back her smile, her eyes glistening.

"He Tingyue, I got in!" Her eyes shone like a kid expecting praise, eager to share her triumph.

He embraced her, touching his forehead to hers.

"You made it. That’s my girl!"

Yao Xiangling, bursting with impatience, urged, "Hurry up and open it—quit stalling!"

Jiang Yu smiled through her tears, her face glowing with excitement.

Carefully, she unfolded the envelope and pulled out the thin sheet of paper, reading it word by word.

"University Admission Notice. Comrade Jiang Yu, you are hereby admitted by the Admissions Committee to enroll in... [school]... [major]. Please report to the school on..."

Her slow, measured voice filled the room, washing over them like a gentle stream into everyone’s hearts.

This one piece of paper carried her efforts and dreams.

From now on, she’d begin a new chapter, moving forward with unwavering determination.

It meant hope. It meant dreams.

In the warm glow of lanterns and candles, the house overflowed with happiness.

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