After steadying his emotions, Ji Xiu finally found the headspace to deal with everyone else.
He turned around, glanced at the crowd behind him, and said in a careless, offhand tone, “Bad timing today. Let’s skip the celebratory feast and candies. We’ll celebrate once Lin Ying is out of danger.”
He had ranked first, and the villagers had followed the Ji family to his house to join in the excitement, to bask in the good fortune—and to eat at the banquet.
Ji Xiu didn’t want to bother with them, but Huang Taohua was extremely enthusiastic. To her, this was a joyous occasion, and she agreed without hesitation.
She even complained that Ji Xiu’s courtyard was too small. So the whole group moved to the Ji family home, which had more space and could accommodate more people.
It was thanks to this suggestion that Ji Xiu and the others passed by the Lin house, heard Captain Lin’s furious roar, and went in to take a look—only then discovering Lin Ying’s condition.
No one knew why Lin Ying had collapsed and was bleeding, nor whether she and the child could survive. But with Lin Ying already in such a state, continuing to celebrate would have been unbearably cold-hearted.
After all, she was Captain Lin’s daughter.
And everyone still had to make a living under Captain Lin’s authority.
Reluctantly, the crowd glanced at Guan Jia’an, who had been abandoned by the Lin family, exchanged a few whispered comments, and dispersed with visible reluctance.
Only Guan Jia’an remained, watching helplessly as Captain Lin carried Lin Ying away. His face grew paler by the second, his hands slowly clenching into fists, trembling with tension.
Ji Xiu could tell at a glance that Lin Ying’s accident had something to do with him.
But this was something Captain Lin would handle himself. There was no need for Ji Xiu to intervene, so he left along with everyone else.
Early the next morning, Captain Lin returned from outside, eyes bloodshot, stubble covering his face.
The villagers who loved a good spectacle, of course, didn’t miss this chance. They quietly followed him.
Captain Lin didn’t notice. Once home, he shoved the door open, grabbed Guan Jia’an out of bed, and threw a punch—then followed with a storm of blows, venting the rage in his heart.
Guan Jia’an hadn’t even woken up yet. All he could do was curl up, clutching his head as he screamed in misery.
But how could he possibly stand up to Captain Lin in the prime of his life? He dodged one punch, only for another to land immediately after.
After more than ten minutes, Guan Jia’an lay sprawled on the floor, barely alive.
Captain Lin sneered. “Didn’t you want a divorce? Fine. Let’s divorce. My daughter doesn’t need trash like you!”
The news spread through the village in an instant.
A few days later, Captain Lin personally escorted Guan Jia’an to complete the divorce procedures.
From the rumors outside, Ji Xiu learned the whole story.
Guan Jia’an had missed the college entrance exam and was determined to divorce Lin Ying.
At that time, a letter arrived from his family, saying their situation was worsening rapidly and they might soon collapse.
Fortunately, someone had introduced him to a young woman from a powerful family, one that could help them weather this crisis. As long as he returned home in time and pursued her, the family would receive assistance.
After reading the letter, Guan Jia’an sat alone in the room, staring blankly.
But Lin Ying no longer trusted him. Seeing him acting suspiciously, she quietly stood behind him while he wasn’t paying attention and glanced at the letter.
The moment she saw the key words, she flew into a rage, snatched the letter away, and demanded to know what he meant by this.
Guan Jia’an stood up, grabbed the letter back, and the two erupted into a fierce argument. He said bluntly that there was no other meaning—just what the letter said. He wanted a divorce.
It was true that Lin Ying was already sick of Guan Jia’an, but she was still carrying his child.
In the 1970s, Lin Ying knew better than anyone—as a teacher—what kind of discrimination a child without a father would face.
For the sake of the child, she had never once thought of divorcing him. She only wanted to keep Guan Jia’an tied here, making him a lifelong tool.
Their argument escalated, emotions flaring. Lin Ying blurted out her thoughts.
When Guan Jia’an heard that, his anger surged. He “accidentally” shoved her.
Lin Ying hit the doorstep, slipped, and went into premature labor.
After his initial panic, Guan Jia’an quickly calmed down. He said nothing, only watched coldly as Lin Ying struggled.
She hadn’t lost consciousness yet. At that moment, the last trace of love in her heart snapped.
Fortunately, Lin Ying’s fate had not run out. Her family discovered her condition, Captain Lin rushed back in time, and they also happened to receive Ji Xiu’s warning.
The Lin family didn’t cling to superstition or outdated ideas. They immediately sent Lin Ying to the township clinic. The child couldn’t be saved, but Lin Ying survived.
When she woke up, her heart was completely dead toward Guan Jia’an. She told Captain Lin everything truthfully.
That was why Captain Lin hated Guan Jia’an to the bone—why he beat him savagely the moment he got home, then dragged him off to get divorced.
However, even after the divorce, without Captain Lin’s letter of recommendation, Guan Jia’an still couldn’t take the college entrance exam. For at least the next few years, he would have to stay in Chunxi Village, undergoing Captain Lin’s “training,” until higher authorities issued documents recalling the educated youth to the cities—only then might he escape Captain Lin’s grasp.
This could be considered retribution for how, in his previous life, he had used Lin Ying to return to the city.
…
By the time Lin Ying recovered enough to return to the village, more than ten days had passed.
Though she was decisive and Captain Lin carried great authority, they still couldn’t stop the village gossips. People whispered that she was too strong-willed—otherwise things wouldn’t have ended up like this.
The Lin family was so angry that they passed by the educated youth compound every day just to make trouble for Guan Jia’an.
But soon, one admission notice after another arrived, drawing everyone’s attention and shifting the focus away from Lin Ying.
More than twenty people from Chunxi Village had taken the college entrance exam; six were admitted into universities.
That was four more than the neighboring village.
Among them, Ji Xiu and Li Shiyue were admitted to Huaqing University, becoming freshmen at this top-tier institution.
The others also received offers from other universities they had longed for.
Since it was the first college entrance exam in ten years, many people had already forgotten the knowledge they had learned, so although the exam was difficult, the admission threshold was not as daunting as expected.
As for those who failed, there was no rush—they would have another chance next year, and they would study even harder, awaiting the second exam.
They were full of confidence for the future.
Regarding Li Shiyue’s admission to Huaqing University, there was a story behind it.
It was said her scores were on the borderline—she could be admitted or not. The admissions officer at Huaqing University hesitated and planned to hold off, admitting the top student of the city first.
However, when they contacted the city office, they discovered that the first and eighth-ranked students were a married couple.
The admissions officer, being considerate, didn’t want to separate the couple by sending them to different schools, so Li Shiyue was admitted as well.
Because of this, Ji Xiu and Li Shiyue received admission letters with the same cover.
They themselves didn’t know this and were just relieved. After all, Huaqing University admitted only four people from their city, and among the top eight, the other four applied to Capital University. Li Shiyue barely made it as the last one.
The news spread through the village, naturally causing another wave of excitement.
Huang Taohua thought it over and decided to host a banquet for the villagers.
If only one person had been admitted, she might have hesitated, but now both Ji Xiu and Li Shiyue had been accepted to Huaqing University, one of the nation’s best.
Such good news was too wonderful not to show off!
Huang Taohua set up a grand feast, inviting everyone in the village, proudly telling all who came about her son and daughter-in-law’s achievement.
Everyone knew Ji Xiu and Li Shiyue were destined for success, and that the Lin family’s future would be different. They humored her, praising her no matter how many times she told the story.
Huang Taohua seemed ten years younger.
The eldest sister-in-law basked in the glory as well. Even her own family came to inquire about Ji Xiu, complaining that when her younger sister married, they couldn’t find a good family and she hadn’t introduced Ji Xiu.
The eldest sister-in-law was speechless. Back then, Ji Xiu was a rogue. If she had dared to recommend him, they would have torn her apart, accusing her of forgetting her family after marrying.
It was only now that Ji Xiu had become successful and handsome that they tried to claim credit.
She shook her head, marveling at how much a young man could change.
At the banquet, the educated youths also attended.
They had reconciled with Li Shiyue and were on good terms with Ji Xiu, so it made sense for them to come celebrate.
Each brought gifts, including Sun Yue.
However, Sun Yue felt embarrassed and didn’t dare to meet Ji Xiu and Li Shiyue directly. She delivered her gift quickly and slipped into the crowd, disappearing without a trace.
Li Shiyue didn’t flaunt anything at her either. She calmly withdrew her gaze, holding her daughter’s hand, smiling, and welcoming the guests with Ji Xiu.
If she were to compete with Sun Yue, she would only lower her own dignity.
Ji Xiu’s heart belonged to her, and she was forever unshakable.
.....
At the beginning of December, after finishing the banquet, Ji Xiu and Li Shiyue hurriedly packed up their home, and with their daughter and the admission notice in hand, they boarded the northbound train.
Before leaving, their wallets had grown a little heavier.
There were rewards sent from above, a subsidy from the Ji family, plus their savings—a total of three thousand yuan.
With this money, they endured five days on the train and finally arrived in the capital.
The family was somewhat disheveled, and little Yingzi looked pale and weak, lacking any energy.
Ji Xiu didn’t care about anything else and immediately found a guesthouse for the family to stay in, resting for a few days.
Once they had recovered their strength, he began looking for a permanent residence and eventually found a suitable place near Huaqing University: a small building with two bedrooms and a living room, allocated to teachers by Huaqing University. The location was good, quiet, safe, and conveniently, there was a kindergarten in the neighborhood where Yingzi could be placed.
The owner of the house had been in prison ten years ago and had only recently returned. After a decade of suffering, his health had deteriorated, and he could no longer teach, so he rented out the house and moved in with his children.
The rent was twenty yuan a month.
Even without the skyrocketing prices of later years, housing in the capital was still unaffordable for many. Fortunately, Ji Xiu had taken risks and earned enough that living here didn’t feel like a burden.
After moving in, the family tidied the house and settled in properly.
At this point, they faced a difficult decision.
Should they report to the school first, or visit the Li family first?
Before returning to the city, Li Shiyue had constantly thought of her family, but upon reaching the capital, a sense of apprehension kept her from going home.
Ji Xiu asked for her decision. She hesitated for a long time and then said softly, “I don’t know… maybe we should report first.”
Ji Xiu didn’t mind either way; both options were fine.
But seeing Li Shiyue hesitate, his mischievous side came out, and he teased her.
“Before we came back, we specifically sent a letter to your father and mother-in-law. By now, they should have received it and are probably waiting for you,” Ji Xiu raised an eyebrow. “Are you really going to make them wait?”
Li Shiyue wasn’t sure, clenching her fists for a while before resolutely saying, “Then let’s go home first.”
Two days later, Ji Xiu and Li Shiyue, holding their daughter Yingzi’s hand, appeared outside the Li family residence.
In her previous life, the original owner had never visited the Li family until death, so she had no memories of their home. Ji Xiu was quite surprised to find that the Li family lived in a large compound.
This was a compound with guards at the entrance.
Li Shiyue was also a bit puzzled, holding a letter, and said with surprise, “They moved. This is the new address.”
Ji Xiu furrowed his brow, thinking for a long time, and approached a young man standing at the gate in a confident posture to inquire about the Li family.
The young man was not very old, and upon hearing Ji Xiu’s words, his expression changed slightly.
The next moment, a gun was pointed at Ji Xiu.
Then Ji Xiu realized he was surrounded.
The young man’s colleagues appeared from nowhere, all aiming guns at Ji Xiu.
Ji Xiu: “…”
Li Shiyue was stunned, and Yingzi’s expression mirrored her mother’s; both stared at Ji Xiu in shock.
Ji Xiu’s brow twitched. Controlling his temper, he asked politely what mistake he had made.
The young man remained aloof, ignoring him. He grabbed the walkie-talkie at his waist and spoke to someone. A while later, a team arrived to ask Ji Xiu who he was.
The aloof young man put away his gun and returned to his post, expression still cold.
His colleagues followed suit and quickly disappeared.
Ji Xiu almost laughed in disbelief.
Later, the arriving team, seeing his ignorance, explained the situation.
Everyone living in the compound held a special status. With the new country recently established, the foundation was unstable, and there were many outsiders—heightened vigilance was necessary.
Ji Xiu understood and nodded, no longer pursuing the matter, and revealed his identity and purpose.
The team quickly made a call through the internal line.
After hanging up, their expressions softened, and they politely said, “Someone will come out to receive you. Please wait a moment.”
A few minutes later, a small car stopped in front of Ji Xiu and Li Shiyue.
A young man jumped out, hugged Li Shiyue tightly, eyes red with excitement: “Little sister!”
Li Shiyue froze but soon recovered, crying out, “Third Brother!”
Back then, in the family, the older brothers were already working and supporting the household. Only she and the third brother were the youngest and unburdened, so she had gone to the countryside.
Due to the allocation, they hadn’t lived together and could only communicate by letters.
She hadn’t expected to see her third brother again.
The third brother, a grown man, remained relatively calm, regaining composure after a moment of excitement. He pulled Li Shiyue toward the car. “I’ve already called Dad, first and second brothers. They’re on their way. Let’s go home first, rest, and wait for them.”
Li Shiyue wiped her red nose, nodding, about to agree.
Ji Xiu cleared his throat.
She looked at Ji Xiu and Yingzi awkwardly: “Third Brother, wait, there’s someone else…”
“Who?” Third Brother followed her gaze and froze.