August 21, 1977.

Qilian, Team Six.

Today is a big day for Xu Huayun.

Early in the morning, Xu Huayun got up, prepared warm water, shaved his beard, and put on a neat Zhongshan suit.

"Xiuer, how is it?"

"Good! Good! Old Xu, you look several years younger. You're cleaner and more energetic."

"Old Xu, it's over, it's all over."

Lu Xiuxiu stood in front of her husband, straightening his clothes.

"Um!"

Xu Huayun responded heavily, his eyes slightly red, and he reached out to hug his lover tightly.

"Daddy, Daddy, where are you going?"

"Dad has to go to the farm headquarters to do something very important. You and your mother wait at home."

Xu Huayun squatted down and patted her son's head.

"Old Xu? Old Xu? What are you dawdling for? Hurry up and come out."

Outside the courtyard, Uncle Guo stood in front of the carriage, shouting loudly.

"They're here, they're here."

Xu Huayun glanced at Xiuxiu and her son, then turned and strode out.

On the way to the farm headquarters, Uncle Guo beamed with joy, "Old Xu, I heard from the farm headquarters cadres that the higher-ups are going to pay you back wages. Things will be much better from now on..."

Xu Huayun stared blankly at the distant grassland, lost in thought.

After a long while, the carriage drove into the farm headquarters.

"Whoa~"

Uncle Guo grabbed the carriage.

Xu Huayun jumped off the carriage and walked to the door of the farm headquarters office.

"Old Xu, come in, come in quickly."

Uncle Guo waved his hand hurriedly.

Xu Huayun glanced back at Uncle Guo, took a deep breath, and walked into the office.

"Comrade Xu Huayun has arrived, please have a seat."

"Comrade Xu Huayun, according to instructions from higher authorities..."

Xu Huayun's head buzzed, and suddenly tears streamed down her face. She couldn't hear what was said after that.

All he knew was that from now on, he was the same as everyone else, a normal person.

...

Xu Huayun was still somewhat dazed when she returned from the farm headquarters.

“Xiuer, I’ve taken off my hat. From now on, I’m no longer an old rightist, no longer an old rightist…”

He threw himself into his lover's arms, tears welling in his eyes.

Lu Xiuxiu hugged him tightly and gently patted his back.

Having lived together for six or seven years, she understood her husband's inner turmoil better than anyone else. Fortunately, it was all finally over.

"Old Xu, let's go to the city in a few days and thank your brother-in-law properly."

"Yes, yes, we should thank Comrade Zhuang properly."

Xu Huayun wiped away her tears and nodded quickly.

If it weren't for the help of his brother-in-law, the deputy division commander, he wouldn't have been able to get rid of his "rightist" label so quickly.

"Go back to the team and invite Uncle Guo and the others over. Today is a good day, we should celebrate properly."

After comforting Lao Xu, Lu Xiuxiu then planned to kill chickens and geese to prepare the afternoon's dishes.

Xu Huayun looked at Xiuxiu and her cheering son, and a happy smile finally appeared on her face.

From then on, he was no longer an old rightist, Xiuxiu was no longer an old rightist's wife, and their son was no longer a little old rightist.

As he thought about it, tears welled up in his eyes again.

"Ugh~"

"What's wrong?"

Xu Huayun wiped her face with her sleeve, then quickly ran to her lover's side.

Seeing his lover dry heaving, he felt a surge of anxiety.

"Stop doing this, give me the housework."

"It's okay, I'm fine."

Lu Xiuxiu gagged for a while before looking up at her husband.

Her face flushed slightly, and she said shyly, "Old Xu, I...I think I'm pregnant again..."

"Got it?"

"real?"

"Um."

Xu Huayun was taken aback, then her face lit up with delight.

Today I took off my hat, and now I have a wife—it's like double happiness!

He quickly helped his lover sit down and then busied himself with the tasks.

That night, Xu Huayun got drunk for the first time.

He laughed and cried at the same time, making a fool of himself in front of Uncle Guo and the others, but no one laughed at him.

During his years with the sixth team, everyone had witnessed Lao Xu's hardships.

After seeing everyone off, Lu Xiuxiu quickly helped Xu Huayun lie down.

Sitting on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), she held a hot towel and applied it to her husband's skin.

"Old Xu, would you like some hot water?"

"Need not."

Xu Huayun waved her hand, feeling a bit better now.

Looking at his lover, he suddenly remembered something, "Xiuer, you're pregnant now, what about the college entrance exam that your sister mentioned?"

"Maybe we should just forget about it. I'm already so old, why would I want to go back to being a student? Besides, I still have Liangliang at home."

Lu Xiuxiu hesitated; she wasn't very confident in herself.

Rumors about the resumption of the college entrance examination have been circulating, but since the higher authorities haven't made an official announcement, it's unclear whether the news is reliable or not.

“Xiuer, my job has been reinstated. I can teach and take care of our son at the same time. Don’t worry about us, think about yourself.”

Xu Huayun held her lover's hand, unwilling to give up so easily.

He still remembers the way his lover asked him questions when they first met.

"I...I'll think about it some more."

...

On October 21, the People's Daily announced the resumption of the college entrance examination on its front page.

Lu Xiuxiu's belly was slightly swollen at this moment. Looking at the letter her sister had written to her, she was still undecided.

Two days later, Xu Huayun returned home with a letter in her hand and a serious expression.

"What's wrong?"

Lu Xiuxiu looked at him with great confusion.

"My dad's letter."

Xu Huayun originally didn't want to accept it, but after hearing from her superiors that it wouldn't have any impact, she tore it open and looked at it in front of outsiders.

The letter contained nothing major; the father briefly described his recent situation and said he missed him, urging him to write back.

Xu Huayun no longer harbored resentment about what had happened before; she simply didn't want it to affect her life.

"Old Xu, how's your dad doing now?"

Lu Xiuxiu was still somewhat curious about her father-in-law, whom she had never met.

"That's great. He's now a professor at the University of Hong Kong and he also runs a company."

Xu Huayun shook her head, unwilling to say anything more.

"professor?"

Lu Xiuxiu muttered to herself.

She understood the value of a professor; they were truly cultured people.

Touching her belly, she suddenly made up her mind, "Old Xu, I want to take the college entrance examination."

"Okay! I'll make sure you get tutoring these next two months!"

Xu Huayun didn't ask her lover the reason and continued to support her as always.

"Then I'll have to trouble you for the next two months, Teacher Xu."

Lu Xiuxiu smiled and stepped forward to hug Xu Huayun.

"Don't talk nonsense, call me Lao Xu."

Xu Huayun held her lover tightly, not even noticing the letter falling from her hand.