The New Year is here, but the city feels much more subdued than the village; everything is still chaotic, and people are anxious.
Li Huai Ren sits at the kitchen table, looking at the newspapers that Qin Xi brought back a few days ago, as well as a letter from his old buddy Lan Xinmin.
The old buddy has gone to the Jinan Military Region, with his eldest son there, who took his grandson with him last October, perhaps out of concern that his father would be in danger due to the unstable situation.
After reading the letter, Mr. Li’s face was smiling. At this mont, Li Xianglu was packing dumplings, Qin Xi was rolling out the dough, and Qin Zhen was stoking the fire at the cookstove.
Today is already the first day of the Lunar New Year, and just like last year, Grandpa Li gave each of the three children a big red envelope, hoping for new hopes for each child this year. But unexpectedly, hope ca so quickly.
It was Qin Zhen who first noticed that Grandpa Li’s laughter was a bit off and curiously asked, "Grandpa, what are you laughing about? The dumplings aren’t ready yet." No matter how many years have passed, Qin Zhen’s ntality hasn’t grown much. In his eyes, the best thing is to eat delicious food.
Mr. Li smiled and shook his head: "Ah, you child, you really are lucky."
Hearing this, Qin Zhen quickly put down the fire poker and scrambled over; Li Xianglu and Qin Xi also stopped their tasks and turned to look.
Grandpa Li said with a smile, "Old Man Lan sent a letter, saying that his son heard from higher-ups, it seems that universities might start to recruit students again this year."
Upon hearing this, Qin Zhen’s eyes widened in disbelief: "How is that good news? I thought there would be sothing delicious."
Li Xianglu walked over and smacked Qin Zhen, saying angrily, "Go, stoke the fire. You’ll just stoke fires for a lifeti, no university for you."
Hearing this, Qin Zhen obediently went to sit down but felt dissatisfied again. How could he, who is unbeaten in fights throughout the county’s middle schools, be destined just to stoke fires?
Li Xianglu closely read the letter, her eyes bursting with surprise, then handed it to Qin Xi and said, "Quick, look, it says they are discussing the issue of university recruitnt, but exact details on the form it will take are not yet clear."
Seeing Qin Zhen staring and not convinced, Li Xianglu comforted him, "Qin Zhen, I know you want to be a little thug, but do you know what kind of little thug is the most terrifying?"
Qin Zhen was a bit angry when Chou Xiang told him he was a thug, but hearing about what makes a powerful thug, he said, "Well, isn’t it obvious? A thug who can fight is a good one."
Li Xianglu listened and shook her head, a look of ’you are so naive’ on her face: "No, what’s fighting when you can win with numbers?," then pointing at her head, she continued, "It’s about this, so a thug with culture is the most terrifying!"
Qin Zhen couldn’t help but laugh, a cultured thug? How could a thug be cultured? But Li Xianglu seriously said: "With culture and education, when you pick a fight, can’t you exploit loopholes, can’t you be a thug legally?"
Hearing this, Qin Zhen thought about the concept of legally being a thug and realized, maybe he should get an education.
Qin Xi, seeing his younger brother taking the idea seriously, suddenly felt the sky was darkening. Should he go back to sleep?
In fact, over the past year, he had been trying to guide his brother to take the high school entrance exams seriously when they restarted and to apply for a good university, but the stubborn fool ******** insisted on joining the army and carrying guns, infuriating him so much that he almost got violent several tis. But the fool was stubborn and when you confronted him, he would see himself as a martyred hero of Zha Zidong who wouldn’t give in even if killed!
Now, sohow, the girl’s incoherent words had persuaded him, and it just defies reason.
With this news, everyone was very happy about the New Year; Grandpa had already started planning to buy a house in the city where Li Xianglu would go to university so he could accompany his granddaughter during her studies.
Li Xianglu then sent letters to Aunt Qi in the province and Uncle Xie. Although they worked in governnt offices, news about high-level matters like this was not likely to reach them for a while.
University recruitnt would likely take one of two forms: either recomndations or the previous exams. Although Li Xianglu was clear that it was likely to be the restoration of the college entrance exam, she didn’t spell it out in the letter, only advising to be prepared for both possibilities.
Qu Yeyu only had a junior middle school education but had always wanted to continue studying. Li Xianglu shared the news with her, telling her to co to the county if she wanted to continue her studies and to copy the exercises from the workbooks.
Li Xianglu had a complete set of practice exercise books, which she got as soon as she had heard the news. She mailed these, along with a letter, to Li Jianqing.
Li Jianqing, stationed in the Central Guan Military Region, wasn’t too far away. After moving on from the new soldiers’ camp, his good performance had already made him a deputy squad leader.
Li Xianglu also occasionally sent so food items through the mail, while Li Jianqing sent her so money several tis, along with military supply food and cloth tickets, even suggesting she make Mr. Li so clothes out of the cloth.
Grandpa Li was extrely happy, saying the boy has a good heart.
Mr. Li felt the county town was still a place of disputes, unlike the peaceful and appropriate learning environnt of Li Family Village. He planned to return there during the April spring farming, while Qin Xi and Qin Zhen’s household registrations still remained in the village, requiring them to earn work points for farming, or else food and drink would be a problem.
However, as Qin Zhen needed to study in the county, the living accommodations were too poor, so Grandpa Li made him a key for the family’s larger house and notified the neighboring Chen Family.
During this ti, Li Xianglu, wearing a mask and hat, visited the black market several tis, bartering food for various items.
The black market is indeed a good place. Li Xianglu counted the more than twenty gold bars she had exchanged, adding to her already sizable collection, along with so jade bracelets, including a pair with an especially fine texture, dripping with lushness, her absolute favorite.
However, Li Xianglu was infuriated when Qin Xi brought her a complete set of jade jewelry, all carved from the sa piece of jade, all of the glass variety, that green dazzling the eyes. She already had so of the glass variety in the jewelry box Grandpa Li had given her, but none were complete sets.
This set of jewelry included a teardrop pendant, a beaded necklace, a pair of bracelets, as well as a gold and jade ring and earrings.
After so consideration, Li Xianglu shalessly accepted it, after all, it was a gift for her.
In early April, Mr. Li sent a ssage to Li Dafu, who sent two mule carts to bring them back to the village.
Li Family Village remained as peaceful and serene as ever, but upon Li Xianglu’s return, Ge Sani caused a scene that soured everyone’s mood.
This ti Ge Sani complained that her son, who was in the military service, had not mailed her even ten cents and wondered if he had given it all to Li Xianglu instead.
Li Xianglu didn’t say a word and simply closed the main gate. Who brought about this alienation from kin, it certainly wasn’t forced by anyone.
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