Chapter 73 Good News

After school started, Xin Tianyi was promoted to the liberal arts class.

The names of the students in each class were posted in front of the class, and Xin Tianyi found his name in Class 1. Before he even entered the classroom, Cheng Tianlan called him.

Xin Tianyi looked back at her and saw Cheng Tianlan looking at him with a reproachful look. Then she curled her lips and rushed over to hug Xin Tianyi.

Xin Tianyi quickly said, "I'm sorry, I had too many things to do this summer and couldn't come to see you."

"I know." Cheng Tianlan released his arm, looked into Xin Tianyi's eyes, and said, "But why didn't you tell me? I went to look for you during the summer vacation and met Yuan Dabao. He told me you went to the south."

"Yeah." Xin Tianyi said, "I went there for a month and came back just as school was about to start. After I came back, there were a lot of things going on at home, so I didn't have time to visit you."

Cheng Tianlan nodded. "I know, I know everything. It's over, so don't think about it anymore. After all, people come to this world to part ways."

Xin Tianyi paused for a moment, then immediately understood what Cheng Tianlan meant. Yuan Dabao must have told Cheng Tianlan about Xie Mei's death. But Xin Tianyi had never expected Cheng Tianlan to say such a thing. Cheng Tianlan had always been optimistic, open-minded. But he had never expected her to believe that people came into this world to part.

But if you think about it carefully, there is nothing wrong with her idea.

Cheng Tianlan pointed to a classroom not far away and said, "I'm in Class 4. It's just a few classrooms away. Come find me if you need anything."

"Okay." Xin Tianyi said.

Cheng Tianlan looked at Xin Tianyi and suddenly, like an adult, patted Xin Tianyi on the shoulder and said, "Everything will pass. Really."

Xin Tianyi nodded.

"Oh, right." Cheng Tianlan saw his head teacher heading towards the classroom and immediately waved to Xin Tianyi, saying, "Your hair has grown longer. Do you want to tie it up?"

Xin Tianyi nodded, "Yes, it's grown long, but I haven't had time to cut it yet."

Cheng Tianlan immediately crossed his arms and walked backwards towards his class, shaking his head at Xin Tianyi and saying, "Don't cut it, it looks better this way!"

Xin Tianyi smiled and made a twirl gesture, reminding her: "Turn around quickly, don't fall."

"It's okay." Cheng Tianlan shouted: "I'll come to you after class and tell you the secret!"

…

The wheel of time rolls forward, never giving anyone mercy or glances.

As it relentlessly crushed them, so many people's youth vanished in the blink of an eye. They sweated profusely at their desks, books piled so high that their youthful faces were no longer visible. Suddenly, looking up, they realized they had already passed the most arduous period of their senior year. The college entrance exam was like a horde of thousands vying for a single-plank bridge; a single point meant the difference between thousands and millions of students. That summer of 1993, Xin Tianyi finally received her acceptance letter. She had majored in English at a university in the provincial capital, less than an hour from her home.

Originally, it took Yuan Dabao and Wei Ran two hours to get to school by car. However, in recent years, the country has vigorously developed the transportation industry, and the highway from their home to the provincial capital now only takes a little over 40 minutes.

Yuan Dabao sighed that Xin Tianyi had arrived at a fortunate time; at least the ride wasn't so bumpy. Back when he was in school, the two-hour journey would often take drivers three hours longer, as they'd have to pick up passengers along the way, stopping and going in circles. It made him nauseous.

On the first day of school, Xin Tianyi was sent to school by Yuan Dabao and Wei Ran.

The two of them were familiar with the route and quickly found the English building. With Yuan Dabao's stern face, no one dared to help Xin Tianyi with his luggage. Yuan Dabao and Wei Ran, one on each side, escorted Xin Tianyi to the dormitory.

Yuan Dabao looked at the boys who were eager to greet their new classmate, Xin Tianyi, and grumbled softly, "Tianyi, ignore them. Most of these guys have girlfriends, but they want to help you with your luggage. Once you get to know them, they'll often come to chat with you, have dinner with you, and so on."

Wei Ran laughed at him: "It seems you are very experienced."

Yuan Dabao immediately said, "I don't have any experience. Our school is almost all boys. Who will carry their luggage? They have to carry their own luggage."

Xin Tianyi smiled and pointed upwards, saying, "It's the second floor."

Yuan Dabao had already been interning for a year, traveling extensively by train. Finding an internship was easy; Yuan Gaoyi had arranged one for him long beforehand. So, upon graduation, he was officially assigned to the same unit as Yuan Gaoyi.

Yuan Dabao was quite dissatisfied with this. He really didn't want to start his new life under Yuan Gaoyi's "surveillance". Fortunately, the two were not in the same department, and Yuan Gaoyi often traveled long distances, so the two had few opportunities to meet.

Wei Ran was assigned to teach Chinese at the Experimental Primary School in his hometown.

Wei Ran didn't expect that after studying at a normal school for three years, he would eventually return to his hometown.

But Du Lurui was still very happy, she was looking forward to Wei Ran's return so that the family could be together again.

It’s just Zhang Yang. In the past two years, I can only hear news about him occasionally.

Zhang Liangpeng sometimes comes to see Wang Yuxiu. From his place, Xin Tianyi knows that Zhang Mao has woken up, but he has to use a wheelchair. The treatment effect is not very optimistic, and he needs to continue rehabilitation treatment.

Xin Tianyi heard Zhang Liangpeng say, after getting drunk, that Pei Juanjuan and Zhang Yang were having a hard time there. With little money, they rented a basement apartment near the hospital. When it was too hot or too cold, they'd just sleep on a bench in the hospital...

Despite this, Zhang Yang never missed a class. Locals helped him find a high school, allowing him to continue his studies. However, Zhang Yang not only had to study, but also had to work to supplement his family income. He worked odd jobs at a Chinese restaurant at night, attended classes during the day, and after class, he would rush to help Pei Juanjuan take care of Zhang Mao...

Whenever Zhang Liangpeng talked about this, he would burst into tears. He said he was sorry for Zhang Yang. Zhang Mao's current situation was his own choice. He and Pei Juanjuan's hardship was also their own choice, but Zhang Yang's was not. Zhang Yang was dragged down by his family...

Only two years later, Zhang Liangpeng's hair was already full of white.

Besides the unexpected family changes that caught him off guard, in 1993, the government also began reforming state-owned enterprises. The cotton mill had been insolvent for two years, and Zhang Liangpeng was consumed by the task of overcoming the difficulties and moving forward. Overwhelmed by the burden, he fell seriously ill at the turn of spring and summer. By the time he returned from the hospital, he had become emaciated.

During those two years, whenever Xin Tianyi saw Zhang Liangpeng, he never saw him smile. Whenever he came to see Wang Yuxiu, Zhang Liangpeng would always burst into tears after drinking.

But that summer, although Zhang Liangpeng had lost a lot of weight, he smiled for the first time when he saw Wang Yuxiu and Xin Tianyi.

Xin Tianyi still remembers the scene that day. Zhang Liangpeng came home and, upon seeing Xin Tianyi, first congratulated her on getting into university. Then, he excitedly said to Wang Yuxiu and Xin Tianyi, "Zhang Mao is coming back! He and Pei Juanjuan have already bought their plane tickets and will be back soon!"

Then Zhang Liangpeng looked at Xin Tianyi and said, "Zhang Yang asked me to tell you that he has also been admitted to university. He will finish his university studies abroad and then come back. He said he must let me tell you this news."