On October 21st, Jiang Ruyu finally felt relieved.

People's Daily and other newspapers and radio stations across the country announced the exciting news that the college entrance examination has been reinstated and will be held nationwide in a month.

Jiang Hui was at work when he heard the broadcast. He was carrying coal briquettes for someone when the briquettes fell from his hands, and tears suddenly streamed down his face.

He suppressed his emotions, asked his boss for leave, and rushed to his wife's workplace. Han Ling had already heard the news on the radio.

When Jiang Hui ran over, Han Ling was so excited that she was trying hard not to cry. When she saw Jiang Hui, Han Ling rushed over and said, "The college entrance examination has been reinstated! We can take the college entrance examination now! Jiang Hui, we can finally take the college entrance examination!"

Jiang Hui was also incredibly excited, his heart pounding as if it would burst out of his chest, but since his wife was crying, he had to stay calm: "Honey, quickly call Mom and ask if Dad is going to be exonerated? When can he come back?"

Han Ling then remembered that her father was a professor at their local university before he was sent to the countryside. Now that the college entrance examination was about to be reinstated, those teachers who had been sent to the countryside without any problems should definitely be exonerated.

"Yes, yes, how come I didn't think of that? I, I'll go ask for leave, I'll go make a call right now." Han Ling quickly went to ask the head chef for leave and ran to the street with Jiang Hui to call home. At this time, there were many young people running and jumping wildly to vent their frustration. They were all victims of the ten-year suspension of the college entrance examination.

After an anxious wait, Han Ling finally heard her older brother Han Tong's voice: "Hello, is this Lingling? It's your older brother."

With a trembling voice, Han Ling hurriedly asked, "Big brother, have you received the news? The college entrance exam has been reinstated. Will Dad be able to come back?"

Han Tong knew that her sister's call must be about this matter: "I know too. Actually, a few days ago, some of Dad's exes came to our house to hint at this matter, but we didn't dare to believe it. After the news spread, someone came to our house today to talk about this matter and also returned our house. Only then did we dare to believe it. Dad will be home in two days. Your sister-in-law is pregnant, and the pregnancy is not going well, so I didn't go to pick up Dad. Han Ye has already gone with those people to pick up Dad."

Tears welled up in Han Ling's eyes: "I want to go back and see."

Han Tong advised her, "Lingling, don't rush. There's no need to rush right now. You only have one month to prepare. Seize the time, take advantage of the opportunity, and work hard to get into university. Come back after you finish university, so you won't regret it."

Han Ling nodded through her tears: "I understand, big brother. Please take good care of Dad and Mom. I'll go back after I finish the college entrance exam."

Han Ling hung up the phone, laughing and crying at the same time, and looked at her husband: "Jiang Hui, my dad is coming back soon, he's coming back soon."

Jiang Hui was also happy: "Great, this is good news. Let's ask for leave from work and study hard for a month to try to get good grades. We also need to ask about the registration."

"Yeah, we've been studying all along. If we still can't pass the exam, it just means we're too stupid."

Such things happen everywhere in the country. When Zhao Sufeng, who was far away in the military family compound, heard the news, she didn't know whether to be happy or unhappy.

She looked at her son in the yard, and then thought about the two girls at school. She really hadn't expected the books Jiang Ruyu had sent her to have this effect. Should she take the exam?

There was a time when she dreamed of going to university, but life's experiences wore down all those dreams. She married her current husband. Is she doing well?

It wasn't perfect, but it wasn't bad either. She'd toned down her temper and become much gentler. Her husband was a rough, unrefined man; as long as she ensured he ate well, dressed cleanly, and the children didn't cause trouble, he'd do whatever she wanted. He handed over his entire salary, and besides sending ten yuan home every month, he also had a teaching job. Their two daughters, who weren't her biological children, weren't too naughty; on the contrary, they were somewhat afraid of her…

However, she always felt that something was missing from this kind of life. Her husband did not marry her because he loved her, but only because he lacked a wife. And she did not love him either, but only for the sake of making a living.

The college entrance exam? Maybe she should give it a try. If she passes, she can change her lifestyle and perhaps change the stagnant relationship between her and her husband. If she fails, then it's fate, and she'll accept it.

Fang Da, who was far away in Sichuan Province, laughed when he saw the news in the newspaper. His mouth was wide open. When he got home, he hugged his wife and spun her around several times: "Honey, let's prepare for the college entrance examination. You're so smart, you'll definitely pass. I'll work hard too, even if we only get into a junior college, it'll be fine. What do you say?"

Fang Da's wife, Dong Hui, is a nurse at the commune hospital. Her acquaintance with Fang Da began with a heroic rescue: "Okay, then you'd better work hard. If I pass the exam but you don't, be careful I don't leave you."

"You wouldn't, we still have Lele, you'll never leave me." Fang Da has been married for over two years, and after meeting Dong Hui, he gradually forgot his deep and pure feelings for Jiang Ruyu, treating her only as a very good friend, a close confidante.

The resumption of the college entrance examination was such a momentous event that it excited and thrilled countless young people, whether they were sent to the countryside, taking over from other families, or of good or bad social standing. The college entrance examination was an opportunity to change their destiny. This news was like a thunderclap, awakening the dormant dreams of millions of young men and women across the country.

In the alley where Jiang Ruyu lives, many young people who are taking over the job need to ask for leave to prepare for the college entrance examination. However, the production tasks of the unit cannot allow people to ask for leave casually. Production is the top priority now.

As a result, many people, whether at work or off work, will have a book in their hands whenever they have time. No matter how much they read, it seems that as long as they read, they feel at ease.

Jiang Hui and Han Ling originally wanted to ask for leave to come back and study, but they couldn't set a precedent; if one person asked for leave, countless others would follow.

So Jiang Ruyu took on the task again: "You two don't need to cook anymore. Just eat at my house after get off work. You can give me living expenses, and I'll also take care of Jiang Chen and Jiang Yu. Just focus on your studies."

Jiang Hui then remembered that his sister had also graduated from high school: "Sis, aren't you taking the college entrance exam?"

“I’m not participating. I’m already this age, and my job pays well enough. I’m not going. Besides, my son Anxu is still young. How can I leave him? You guys just leave me alone.”

Actually, that's not the case. Jiang Ruyu knew that with the resumption of the college entrance examination, a major reform of the century would soon be coming, and this reform would be her opportunity.

She doesn't consider herself a particularly hardworking or book-loving person, nor does she want to go into politics or be controlled. She simply doesn't have the patience or energy to study during her four years of university. She also has children and a family, and it's impossible for her to give up some things to go to school. But the reform and opening up was her opportunity.