Chapter 26: The Lazy Educated Youth (26)

Chapter 26: The Lazy Educated Youth (Part 26)

Luo Dasheng claimed that Luo Fang had no sense of purpose, that it didn't matter if she failed the exam, but these past few days he hadn't stopped making trips to the brigade office.

It had snowed not long ago, a thick layer of it, and he still trudged through the deep snow to get to the brigade.

Because letters and admission notices were both delivered to the brigade first.

In the first year of the restored college entrance examination, over five million people across Hua Guo took the exam, with the number of admitted students estimated at around three hundred thousand.

There was no way to check scores now—if you had an admission notice, you got in; if not, you didn't.

"Dad, it's fine. If I don't get in, I'll just stay home and help you with the work," Luo Fang said, sitting cross-legged on the kang.

The whole family was gathered in one room around the stove to save on coal.

Luo Dasheng took off his cotton coat, still carrying the chill of the cold. "Silly girl, of course it's better to get in."

He picked up the hot tea bowl from the kang table and only then started to feel warmer.

"Bro, aren't you worried He Yubin might not get in?" Luo Fang tossed a peanut into her mouth.

"What are you talking about?" Wang Fengxia tugged at Luo Fang, feigning reproach.

Luo Chengxing was just picking up coal with tongs from the bucket when he heard Luo Fang's question. He replied, "He Yubin's got this."

"When did I ever say that?" He Yubin shot him a glance.

Luo Fang couldn't help but snort with laughter.

Just then, someone shouted from outside the yard: "The notices have arrived!"

Luo Dasheng sprang to his feet, grabbed his coat, and hurried out, pulling it on.

There were only a few admission notices in total, so if you got one, everyone knew.

He Yubin had been admitted to his first choice, Haicheng University—one of the top universities in Hua Guo and the best result in the surrounding region.

In his memory, He Yubin hadn't gone to Haicheng University in the original timeline, but he had a solid foundation. Even after years without touching his books, once he heard about the restored exam and picked his books back up, he still managed to get in.

At this point, Luo Chengxing had him tutor Luo Fang, and he could review and explain as he went along, never letting his knowledge slip. He Yubin's grades had been excellent before going to the countryside, so it was natural he got into a good university.

Three others from the sent-down youth compound also got in. But what surprised the villagers the most was that Luo Dasheng's daughter, Luo Fang, had actually gotten in too!

This left the whole village shocked. Luo Fang had gotten into university?!

If the well-educated sent-down youth passed, that was one thing, but Luo Fang had only ever gone to school in the village and had stopped after finishing middle school. How could she possibly get in?

Not to mention others couldn't believe it—Luo Fang couldn't believe it herself!

Since it was the first year of the exam, the system was still being figured out, and one of the rules was filling in your preferences without knowing your scores. Back then, He Yubin had thought it over for a long time and helped Luo Fang fill in three choices.

It wasn't until Luo Dasheng went to the county to check Luo Fang's scores via radio that they learned she'd only scored two points above the minimum cutoff for Haicheng Normal University. She'd scraped in by the skin of her teeth.

Part of it was Luo Fang's own hard work and what she'd learned, and part was the luck of her choices. For programs with more applicants, the cutoff scores were higher, but Luo Fang's choices happened to land her right at the last one.

Luo Dasheng was overjoyed, saying his daughter was just destined for university.

Because of this, the Luo family had nothing but praise for He Yubin.

The villagers all said Old Luo had raised a fine daughter, and in private there were those who were envious and those who made sour remarks.

Luo Dasheng paid them no mind. He generously invited relatives and friends over, setting up a few tables for a celebration banquet that was lively and went on all afternoon.

"Fang, you're really going to Haicheng for university now. That's wonderful," Luo Fang's close friend Yang Xiu said, holding her hand with envy.

Luo Fang, wearing the new clothes her mother had made her, pulled Yang Xiu down onto a stool and whispered, "I still feel like I'm dreaming."

"Will you come back? Are you scared to go to Haicheng alone?" Yang Xiu asked, happy but then worried.

Luo Fang shook her head. "I'm not alone—my brother's coming with me."

The two friends who had grown up together hugged and talked. Yang Xiu was genuinely happy for Luo Fang. She knew some people in the village gossiped about Luo Fang, saying what was the point of studying when she might as well marry and have kids early, but Yang Xiu didn't think that way—she thought Fang was amazing.

Yang Xiu was getting married next spring, and she felt that whether she married in the village or went off to study, the two of them would always be good sisters.

"Fang, here's something for you two to eat." Luo Chengxing lifted the cloth curtain and came in, setting a plate on the kang table with melon seeds and fried dough sticks.

Yang Xiu grabbed a handful of seeds. "Big Head, I heard from Fang you're going to Haicheng?"

Luo Chengxing grunted in acknowledgment and said, "You two eat up. I'll go check on things outside."

With that, he went out.

Luo Fang said, "Xiu, talking to my brother is like talking to a brick wall—you won't get anything out of him."

Yang Xiu giggled. "You'll be staying in the dorms, but where will your brother stay?"

Everyone was saying university was great—you got a stipend and a place to live, the dorms. And after graduating, you'd have no worries.

"My brother's for sure staying at He Yubin's place," Luo Fang said quickly.

"That makes sense," Yang Xiu said while cracking sunflower seeds. "Big Head has helped He Yubin a lot. Staying there for a while is no problem. Once you two are settled in Haicheng..."

She didn't finish before Luo Fang pinched her cheek: "Ouch, you're not even married yet and you're already talking like an old lady."

"Fang, I really envy you. Big Head treats you so well."

The two put their heads together and chatted.

Time flew by. The first batch of college students after the restored exam started classes in March, and Luo Fang was due to report to university. He Yubin also packed up to return to the city. The three of them went to the county together first, then from the county to the train station, taking a green train to Haicheng.

It was Luo Chengxing and Luo Fang's first time on a green train and their first time going so far. The train was packed full—people standing and sitting, all sorts of people crammed in.

Luckily, Luo Chengxing had brought enough in his bag, so the two days on the train passed by comfortably enough.

After arriving in Haicheng, Luo Chengxing first took Luo Fang to report at Haicheng Normal University, then went with He Yubin back to the He family home, where He Yubin's father had sent someone to pick them up.

Both of He Yubin's parents had now been reinstated in their positions, and the house had been returned to the He family.

His father and mother knew their son's personality—sending him to the countryside back then had been a last resort. The three of them embraced, crying and laughing at the same time.

His parents hadn't expected their son to come back looking healthier than before, not thinner.

His mother's words "You've suffered" got stuck in her throat and wouldn't come out for a long time.

"Dad, Mom, this is Luo Chengxing. I lived with him in Shanbao Village," He Yubin said, pulling Luo Chengxing forward once they'd calmed down. "He took care of me."

His father wiped the corner of his eye with a handkerchief, wondering what kind of luck his son had stumbled upon to meet such a good person. Back then, he couldn't even take care of himself—who would have had the heart to care for someone else?

He's parents were worried sick every day, but they couldn't write letters, and had no idea how He Yubin was doing in Shanbao Village.

"Good, good..." Mr. He said repeatedly, "Glad you're all here."

The family went to a restaurant together for a meal. He Yubin wanted to bring up their relationship, but Luo Chengxing stopped him, figuring they'd wait a couple of years.

The He family was now living in a small building downtown in Haicheng. His parents hadn't been back long, and the house was still being tidied up. They'd cleaned out He Yubin's old room, and a room next to it was prepared for Luo Chengxing.

Late that night, Luo Chengxing snuck into He Yubin's room and felt his way to the bed.

He Yubin was awake; the second Luo Chengxing came in, he lifted the blanket and scooted over.

"What took you so long?" He Yubin complained softly.

Luo Chengxing lay down and pulled him into his arms, and said flat-out, "I didn't have the guts."

Everything here was so different from Shanbao Village—towering buildings, clean streets, all kinds of shops, and the hustle and bustle you could see right from the window of Luo Chengxing's room.

It all made Luo Chengxing's head spin, like he was stepping into He Yubin's world for the first time.

"Since when is there anything you, Luo Datou, don't dare do?" He Yubin scoffed.

Luo Chengxing didn't say a word, just pulled him in tight.

They sank into the soft mattress—totally different from the kang back in Shanbao Village. This bed was clean and soft.

Luo Chengxing buried his face in the crook of He Yubin's neck, breathing him in. Everything had changed, but He Yubin's scent was the one thing that still put him at ease.

"You'll get used to it," He Yubin said. "After living in Shanbao Village so long, I'm not used to this either. Feels like I'm all tied up, like I'm dreaming."

Luo Chengxing whispered, "I didn't make you look bad today, did I?"

"It's just my folks, you, and me—what's there to be embarrassed about?" He Yubin pushed Luo Chengxing away from his shoulder; it was too ticklish.

He sat up and took a good look at the man in front of him. The big, sturdy guy was wearing a brand-new blue work uniform, with deep, handsome features—looked pretty sharp.

"Why are you still dressed when you're about to sleep?" He Yubin pushed him. "Take them off now!"

It was just the same blue work uniform everyone wore these days, but on this guy, it showed off his waist and made his legs look long—it threw He Yubin off!

Luo Chengxing gave a little "mm" and did what he was told.

"In a few days, I'll have my dad find you a job," He Yubin said. "I'm going to school too, just like Luo Fang, but mine's close to home. Dad set me up as a day student, so we can see each other every afternoon."

Luo Chengxing and He Yubin seemed to spend most of their alone time at night, doing all kinds of things in the pitch dark.

But tonight, they just held each other tightly.

"Since coming back to Haicheng, I've been happy, but not as happy as I thought I'd be," He Yubin said. "Leaving Shanbao Village made me a little sad."

"Originally, I would rather die than stay in Shanbao Village, but if I hadn't met you..."

It was late, and He Yubin's words were starting to trail off into nothing. Luo Chengxing gently held him until he fell asleep.

On the first night in Haicheng, Luo Chengxing stared at the white ceiling, with the soft sound of breathing in his arms, and his thoughts became clearer and clearer.

Getting a job first was the priority; he needed to understand and learn everything here... He Yubin trusted him, and Luo Chengxing wouldn't let him down.

Also, for some reason, since arriving in Haicheng, Luo Chengxing felt a lightness in his mind, as if some long-standing burden had been lifted. The "memories" that had been so vividly etched in his mind were slowly beginning to fade...