Chapter 47

Chapter 47

"With your personality, you wouldn’t stay at the First Garment and Textile Factory for long. I know you’ll leave eventually."

"Taking the college entrance exam and going to university would change your life completely. You’d experience so much more, and having a college degree would be a huge advantage for you later."

Fu Xunian was certain that Jiang Yiwei wouldn't remain at the First Garment and Textile Factory forever.

It seemed like she was always waiting for her chance to spread her wings.

If Jiang Yiwei could take the college entrance exam and get into university, Fu Xunian believed it would be a huge advantage for her later.

Jiang Yiwei frowned, thinking over every word Fu Xunian had said. Truthfully, before she transmigrated into this story, she'd already been to college.

She’d already lived the full college experience.

But she hadn’t yet experienced what it was like to be a student in the '70s and '80s.

Then it hit her—back then, a college degree was a big deal.

At this point in time, she wouldn’t even turn eighteen until next year.

Jiang Yiwei propped her chin on her hand, considering the benefits of taking the exam.

"No rush—you’ve got time before registration ends."

Fu Xunian put some braised pork in her bowl.

"It’s been so long since I’ve studied. I’ve forgotten all of it."

Even if Jiang Yiwei wanted to take the exam, she still had to pass it. The original host was just average in school, and while her own grades had been decent, she’d have to relearn everything from high school now.

How could she possibly pass? She’d definitely fail.

Fu Xunian gave a soft laugh. "Don’t worry. I’ll help you. Anything you don’t understand, I’ll tutor you."

Hearing that, Jiang Yiwei leaned closer, narrowing her eyes. "Wait, are you some kind of genius?"

He sounded so confident—she had reason to suspect Fu Xunian was a straight-A student.

Thinking about it, it made sense. At such a young age, he’d been invited back from abroad by the leadership of the Third Automobile Manufacturing Plant to work as an engineer—he must’ve been brilliant.

Turns out he really was that smart.

"What’s a 'genius'?" Fu Xunian asked, confused.

"It means you’re crazy good at school—super smart and top of your class," Jiang Yiwei explained.

"Oh, I see. When I was studying abroad, I aced every test."

Every time he brought his report card home, his uncle would be thrilled, and his professors and teachers always praised him.

She knew it—no doubt about it. Fu Xunian was one of those top students.

"So, what’s your decision? Are you going to do it?"

Brushing up on high school stuff wouldn’t be a problem for Fu Xunian. What mattered now was what Jiang Yiwei wanted—whether to go for it or not.

"Can I think it over first?"

She could see Fu Xunian didn’t want her to pass up such a great chance—he hoped she would take the college entrance exam.

But Jiang Yiwei needed more time to weigh her options before making a decision.

"I hope you think it over. I’m not trying to push you. I just think this is a great opportunity for you. No pressure if you’d rather not."

He didn’t want her to feel obligated on his account.

Since the reinstatement of the college entrance exam, passing it and getting into university would be a great opportunity for Jiang Yiwei, so Fu Xunian hoped she would go for it. But he also didn’t want to force her to take the exam.

If she didn’t want to, it wouldn’t matter at all.

"Mm!" Jiang Yiwei nodded.

With the buzz about the exam’s return, on her way home, Jiang Yiwei caught snippets of everyone’s excited chatter about it.

That evening, Jiang Yiwei relaxed under the yard’s ginkgo tree.

Jiang Weilin, the eldest among the children, was playing hide-and-seek with Jiang Xiaohua, Jiang Kangmin, and the other younger nieces and nephews.

Swaying her fan, Jiang Yiwei watched them play with a faint smile before tilting her head to gaze at the night sky.

The stars were breathtaking.

Back then, with no pollution, the stars and moon blazed brilliantly. Even without the yard lights on, the moonlight and starlight alone illuminated the space.

Once she’d finished laundry with Huang Manjun, Jiang Lingxin noticed Jiang Yiwei sitting in the yard, staring at the sky. She wiped her hands clean and sat beside her.

"Something on your mind? You can tell your big sister. I won’t share your thoughts with anyone else."

Jiang Yiwei blinked, caught off guard. "Big sis, how did you know?"

Since Gao Zean was away, Jiang Lingxin had been staying at home these past few days.

"You’re my sister—I know you like the back of my hand."

Jiang Lingxin knew her sister inside out—she could read her like a book.

But Jiang Yiwei kept staring at Jiang Lingxin. "Sis, are you sure I haven’t changed at all in your eyes?"

She’d changed so much—how could Jiang Lingxin still act like she got her?

"Of course you’ve changed. But when something’s on your mind, you bottle things up and stew over them, zoning everyone else out."

Jiang Lingxin had seen Jiang Yiwei’s shift clearer than anyone.

Even before she got married, Jiang Lingxin had hoped Jiang Yiwei would become more independent—or she’d just get walked all over.

At first, she wondered why Jiang Yiwei had suddenly changed, figuring Jiang Yuexin had been too hard on her.

And Jiang Ningning’s personality had also become quite different from before.

But Jiang Lingxin thought Jiang Yiwei’s current personality was a good change.

Only three families lived in this entire courtyard—all family, bound by blood. But just because they were relatives didn’t mean they were good—everyone lowkey rooted for each other’s downfall. Jiang Lingxin wasn’t fooled.

Too soft, and you’re a punching bag. But toughen up, and nobody’d dare cross her.

Just look at Jiang Yuexin—now she knows better than to mess with Jiang Yiwei.

The two sisters are like night and day.

"You're the best, sis," Jiang Yiwei said, hugging Jiang Lingxin's arm and playing cute.

She felt touched.

It felt so good to have Jiang Lingxin’s favor—really good.

Jiang Lingxin patted Jiang Yiwei's hand. "Tell me what's troubling you, and I’ll see if I can fix it."

Jiang Yiwei sat up straight and started explaining her current dilemma.

"Sis, you know about the news that the gaokao is back, right?"

"I know." News that big—Jiang Lingxin heard it the day it broke.

She wasn’t taking them, but most folks in her building had kids who were, and everyone was talking about it. Ignoring it was impossible.

"Why are you bringing this up?"

After a pause, she asked, "Do you want to take the exams? If you do, I support you. Don’t sweat the money—I’ve got you covered."

Gao Zean gave Jiang Lingxin every penny he made, salary and side gigs included. With no kids, they’d socked away a tidy sum over the years.

If Jiang Yiwei wanted to take the exams, she wouldn’t need to worry about tuition or other expenses—Jiang Lingxin could cover everything for her.

"I’ve got my own stash for that. You don’t need to pay."

She’d saved some herself, and if push came to shove, there was always the gold she’d quietly snagged from the scrapyard.

Even if she had no income during university, Jiang Yiwei wouldn’t have to worry about money.

"If it’s not that, then what’s the problem?"

Jiang Lingxin frowned, confused. She had thought Jiang Yiwei was hesitant because of money, but since that wasn’t the issue, what was?

"Big sis, the truth is, I never planned to take the exams at all. My friend talked me into it, saying college would be good for my future. That’s why I’m wondering whether I should go."

Fu Xunian had a point—being a college grad could pay off down the road.

Now she was on the fence about taking them.

"Of course you should go." Jiang Lingxin didn’t hesitate in supporting Jiang Yiwei’s decision.

"You can’t pass up a chance like this. I believe you’ll definitely make it."

After they stopped the exams, college grads became rare. Now that they’re back, wouldn’t college be a game-changer?

Why even hesitate? Of course she should take them.

"If you graduate college, you’ll land a state-assigned job later, and people will respect you more. When you’re ready to marry, you’ll have your pick of better catches."

If Jiang Yiwei became a college student, not only would she get a job in the future, but she’d marry way up too.

Jiang Lingxin knew Jiang Yiwei had shot down a setup recently.

Her mother had privately complained to her several times that the suitors Jiang Yiwei turned down had excellent prospects. Jiang Lingxin thought it was truly a pity to refuse such good matches, but since Jiang Yiwei didn’t want to go through with them, she respected her decision.

Jiang Yiwei teased Jiang Lingxin, “Elder sis, you could take the exam too! Once you graduate and get assigned a job, your mother-in-law and sister-in-law wouldn’t dare push you around as much.”

If Jiang Lingxin became a college graduate with an assigned job, her in-laws would surely think twice before acting so boldly.

Jiang Lingxin waved her hand dismissively, “Nah, not for me.”

“In our family, out of the five sisters, you're the only one who’s slightly better at studying than the rest of us. I’d definitely fail.”

Among the siblings, Jiang Yiwei was slightly better at schoolwork, but even her grades were just average. The others were even worse—might as well not embarrass themselves.

“Elder sis, if you really want to take the college entrance exam, I have a friend who said he could tutor me. He’s really good at academics, and he could definitely help both of us get into university together.”

They could ask Fu Xunian to tutor them both, and then the two sisters could go to college together.

“Not for me. Your sister’s not focused on that right now, and I have no plans for it anyway.”

As far as Jiang Lingxin was concerned, there was no point in taking the exam. What she wanted most now was to have a child, and she wasn’t as young anymore. Unlike Jiang Yiwei, whose mind could still be devoted to studying, Jiang Lingxin’s priorities had shifted.

“Yiwei, listen to your sister—go take the exam. You’re still young. Working at the factory is fine, but if there’s a better opportunity, you should grab it.”

Being a worker is fine, but if there’s a better opportunity, you should grab it. Don’t waste such a great chance.