Chapter 73 College Entrance Exam

Chapter 73: The Gaokao

Newborns change daily. The day the baby opened both eyes, Xie Xinyi’s mother arrived at the Gu family home, bringing her pickled cowpeas and younger sister.

She took the baby from Wen Shuhua, her eyes crinkling with a smile. "She’s the spitting image of Xie Xinyi when she was little."

Xie Xinyi’s mother thought the baby resembled Xie Xinyi, and Grandma Gu concurred. "It’s good she looks like Xinyi, not like her father—he was a little monkey when he was young."

Xie Xinyi glanced at the "little monkey" standing nearby, finding it hard to reconcile him with Grandma Gu’s description.

After the lighthearted banter, Xie Xinyi’s mother presented a gift for the baby: an exquisitely crafted longevity lock.

"Mom, this is too valuable."

Xie Xinyi tried to decline, but Gu Yu gently intervened. "It’s Mom’s heartfelt gift. Let’s accept it for Yue’er."

No one in Xie Xinyi's family was employed; Xie Xinyi’s mother and younger sister relied solely on their father’s meager subsidies.

A few dozen yuan had to cover daily expenses, provide some for Grandma Xie, and save for the younger sister’s future job prospects.

Xie Xinyi knew her mother had little savings. Although she regularly sent money home, her mother had returned it all on a bankbook during her last visit.

Her mother had advised that as a newly married couple, they would have many expenses, urging her not to be extravagant. Yet now, her mother had spent so much on a gift for the baby.

Xie Xinyi didn’t want her mother to overspend, but Gu Yu believed it was a grandmother’s genuine affection for her granddaughter. Refusing it would only make the elderly woman feel slighted.

He nodded reassuringly at Xie Xinyi, and Xie Xinhuan chimed in, "Sis, just take it. If you don’t, you can’t return it anyway. Wouldn’t that be a waste?"

Xie Xinhuan spoke plainly, knowing exactly how to sway Xie Xinyi.

Thinking there would be ample opportunities to repay her mother in the future, Xie Xinyi stopped resisting. She took the longevity lock and placed it on the baby, then inquired about her younger sister’s studies.

"I’ve been reviewing, but I’m not sure if it will be useful."

Since Xie Xinyi had urged her to review high school material, Xie Xinhuan had remained diligent. Even though she didn’t know when the "knowledge changes destiny" her sister spoke of would materialize, she continued to study faithfully.

She studied day and night, even bringing her study materials with her on this trip to Beijing.

In front of the Gu family, Xie Xinyi didn’t elaborate on the Gaokao. She simply encouraged Xie Xinhuan never to abandon her studies, emphasizing that the more uncertain the future seemed, the more she should persevere.

As for when the exam would resume, Xie Xinyi quietly shared her insights with Xie Xinhuan after the Gu family had retired for the night.

"Soon, by the end of this year at the earliest, or early next year at the latest."

She couldn’t recall the precise date, but it was within that general timeframe. She explained to Xie Xinhuan that her estimate was based on changes she observed at the factory, which made the timing uncertain. Xie Xinhuan didn’t doubt her.

"Second Sister, do you really think things are going to change?"

Xie Xinhuan had lived with tension for so long, ever since she could remember. Would things truly change?

Confined at home, unlike Xie Xinyi, who had contact with the outside world—especially as someone working in a state-owned unit with an influential father-in-law—Xie Xinhuan trusted her sister’s words implicitly.

Yet, the prolonged wait without clear direction left her feeling somewhat unsettled.

And even if things did change, could the Gaokao truly alter her destiny?

Xie Xinhuan was lost in thought, but Xie Xinyi reassured her with unwavering certainty, "It’s coming soon. Just be patient a little longer."

She told her younger sister not to worry and to wait calmly at the Gu family for news. Just two days after this conversation, Gu Ying’s newspaper office received the official notice about the resumption of the Gaokao.

When Gu Ying brought the news home, Xie Xinyi’s mother was still discussing with Aunt Wang how to prepare confinement meals for Xie Xinyi that would rival those from a state-run restaurant.

"Everyone, everyone!" Gu Ying burst into the living room, shouting before she even saw anyone. "Good news, fantastic news!"

Wen Shuhua emerged from the room, holding the baby. "What’s all this shouting? Yue’er just fell asleep."

Despite the scolding, Gu Ying was too excited to argue. She immediately began searching the house for Xie Xinhuan.

"Little Sister, little sister! Quick, fantastic news!"

Xie Xinhuan was in her room, discussing her aspirations with Xie Xinyi. Hearing Gu Ying’s shouts from downstairs, she rushed down without fully grasping what was said.

"Ying Sister," she called out, leaning over the staircase. "What’s the fantastic news?"

"Quick, quick, come down!" Gu Ying waved excitedly, but her words came out as, "Hurry, go back home with your mom!"

Wen Shuhua, overhearing from behind, thought her daughter was trying to send the mother and daughter away and tapped her on the head. "Go back where?"

Grandma Gu also looked displeased at Gu Ying’s unrestrained excitement.

"No, no, not like that," Gu Ying quickly clarified. "I mean, you and your mom need to go back."

Flustered and struggling to explain, she finally laid out that day’s proof copy from her newspaper on the table. After catching her breath, she announced, "This is our unit’s proof copy. It says the Gaokao is being reinstated!"

Xie Xinhuan stumbled, not even bothering with her shoes, and dashed down the stairs.

"The exam is really back?"

She rushed forward, and Grandma Gu and Wen Shuhua also gathered around.

"It’s really back?"

Everyone was in disbelief. Xie Xinhuan skimmed through the proof copy, confirmed its authenticity, and then sprinted back upstairs.

"Second Sister!" She burst into Xie Xinyi’s room, exclaiming excitedly, "Second Sister, the Gaokao is back!"

"Really? It’s back?"

Xie Xinyi’s face lit up with a smile. She sat up abruptly and began gathering things without waiting for Xie Xinhuan’s reply.

"Books, take them with you."

"Clothes, the new ones I bought for you, take them too."

"Did you call your brother-in-law? Tell him to come back quickly and take you and Mom home."

Xie Xinyi busied herself packing her sister’s belongings. After a while, noticing no response from behind her, she turned to ask—only to be met with a sudden, tight hug that nearly made her stumble.

"Second Sister."

The young girl’s voice trembled with emotion, her arms shaking slightly.

Before Xie Xinyi could react, she felt a warm wetness against her neck.

"Second sister, thank you."

If it weren't for Xie Xinyi's persistence, if it weren't for her reminders, Xie Xinhuan would never have seen this day.

She held Xie Xinyi tightly, choked up for a long while before she could speak.

"Silly goose."

Xie Xinyi gently patted her back. As the two sisters were caught in their emotional moment, Gu Yu, having received the news, rushed back from his army unit.

"Mom, where's little sister? The college entrance exam has been reinstated. Hurry and pack your things—I’ll take you home."

He explained everything clearly. After understanding, Mother Xie snapped out of her bewilderment and immediately went to her room to pack.

The college entrance exam, canceled for ten years, had been reinstated.

This news was like a thunderclap out of a clear sky, sending the entire compound into an uproar.

Families with children, those whose jobs were still unsettled, all rushed home in a frenzy, eager to share the news as quickly as possible.

Xie Xinyi stood in the living room, taking inventory of her younger sister’s belongings.

"Go back and register first. Keep up with your studies—don’t slack off."

She advised the red-eyed girl. Even though she had been prepared, Xie Xinyi still felt a surge of excitement upon hearing the news.

Having missed her own chance, Xie Xinyi had never planned to take the exam herself. But for the book's female lead—her younger sister, who had stood by her side no matter what in the original story despite all the foolish things she had done—Xie Xinyi hoped more than anyone that she would succeed in the exams.

Attending university was the female lead’s regret in the book. As her second sister, Xie Xinyi, knowing the future, was determined to help her fulfill this dream. Even if it meant going against the original book, she did so without hesitation.

The events in the book overlapped with reality. This was not just a world created by an author—it was where she truly lived, a place she experienced directly.

Although her younger sister and the others were characters from a book, in her world, they were irreplaceable family.

She didn’t know what consequences her actions might bring, but she knew that for the sake of her loved ones, she was willing to do anything—just as her younger sister had done for her in the original story.

Xie Xinyi tucked the money she had prepared in advance into her sister’s pocket and held her hand to prevent her from refusing. "Get yourself some nutritious food to eat."

"Yes, this time is really important. If you need anything, just let your second sister know."

Wen Shuhua urged Xie Xinhuan to accept the money. Turning around, she noticed Mother Xie looking worriedly at her second daughter, who was still in her confinement period, and tried to reassure her. "Mother-in-law, don’t worry—I’ll take good care of Xinyi."

Grandma Gu also offered reassurance based on her own experience and even gave Xie Xinhuan a red envelope with her wishes for success in the exams, encouraging her to focus on her studies.

Gu Ying, having gathered firsthand information and secured the latest review materials through connections, packed everything for Xie Xinhuan and sent it with her in the car. She promised to wait for her in Beijing and told her to keep her spirits up.

"Yes, I will."

Before getting into the car, the young girl bowed gratefully in thanks to the Gu family.