Ye Nian'an's lips curled into a cold smile.

She knew that woman's thoughts all too well—

They work themselves to the bone in the countryside, hoping to change their fate through the college entrance examination and return to the city.

If I don't pass the exam, I think I can just wait until next year.

But what if I pass the exam...?

Ye Nian'an picked up her teacup, the steam blurring her features.

Li Dahong's imprisonment would definitely have resulted in him failing the political background check.

When Zhang Qingqing receives her report card, only to be told that she cannot be admitted due to her family background, she'll probably faint from anger on the spot, right?

The despair of falling from the clouds into the mud is so exhilarating to think about.

Meanwhile, at the educated youth settlement in Hongxing Brigade, wisps of smoke were rising from the chimney.

Leng Zhaodi, wearing a faded blue apron, was squatting in front of the stove adding firewood.

The firelight shone on her face, warming her reddened nose.

Sweet potato porridge was simmering in the pot, bubbling and releasing a sweet aroma.

Now that it's winter, we don't have to work in the fields, making life much easier.

"Comrade Leng Zhaodi! Comrade Leng Zhaodi!!"

Suddenly, Shi Minghui's urgent shouts came from not far away.

"Come out quickly! The college entrance exam results are in!"

Leng Zhaodi's heart skipped a beat, and the firewood in her hand fell to the ground with a "thud".

She quickly wiped her hands, which were covered in wood ash, on her apron and hurried over to meet them.

Yang Lijuan also rushed out from the inner room, her hair messy from sleeping, her eyes shining with excitement, anticipation, and fear.

Leng Zhaodi gripped the corner of her apron tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force, her voice trembling: "Captain, how... are the results?"

Although there are rumors that the government intends to lift the policy of sending educated youth to the countryside and arrange for them to return home.

But they are still stuck in the countryside and still have to work.

The only hope of returning to the city is to pass the college entrance examination and get into university.

If it doesn't work out this year, we'll have to wait until next year...

Therefore, no matter how busy or difficult the work is for these educated youth, they will definitely participate in this year's college entrance examination and study hard!

Before leaving, Ye Nian'an told Leng Zhaodi that the college entrance examination would definitely be reinstated, and left her a lot of reference books and notes, telling her to study hard and try to return to the city through the college entrance examination.

And...that person.

Ye Nian'an's older brother—Ye Yao.

Thinking of Ye Yao, Leng Zhaodi's face flushed slightly.

When he came to Liangtian Township to spend the festival with Ye Nian'an, he learned that Leng Zhaodi planned to take the reinstated college entrance examination and gave her a lot of advice. He also gave Leng Zhaodi his treasured notes.

The handwriting, delicate and graceful, is written in his notebook, reflecting Ye Yao's gentle and refined character, just like his character in any difficult situation.

Leng Zhaodi seemed to hear the sound of her own heart fluttering.

She kept these feelings to herself, never telling anyone.

The Ye family was too outstanding. If it weren't for the slander that led to their demotion, someone like me would never have had any contact with them in my entire life.

At the very least, you have to get into university.

At the very least, you should strive to become a better version of yourself.

Only then can Ye Yao see him.

Consider it a tribute to the friendship between Ye Nian'an and Ye Yao...

If I don't pass the exam, it would be such a waste of all their hard work.

Shi Minghui shook the report card in his hand, exhaling white breath as he laughed, "Good news! Comrade Leng Zhaodi, listen up—Politics 60, Chinese 71, Math 72, Physics 60, Chemistry 75, Total 338!"

"Comrade Yang Lijuan, Politics 40, Chinese 52, Mathematics 51, Physics 34, Chemistry 57, Total score 234!"

338 points!

Upon hearing the score, Leng Zhaodi froze on the spot as if struck by lightning.

It took him a long time to come to his senses.

Is this really the score I got on the test?

Even Leng Zhaodi herself couldn't believe it!

This is well above the undergraduate admission line!

finally……

I can finally share the good news with my family.

Finally, Ye Yao and Ye Nian'an were not disappointed!

She can go back to the city! She can go back to them!

"Very good!"

When Yang Lijuan heard that she had scored 234 points, she couldn't help but jump up and down: "I passed! I passed!"

Although she knew that her score was not high enough for a bachelor's degree, and at most she could only get into a vocational college.

But among the educated youth in the surrounding villages, this was already a huge and joyous occasion.

She forcefully wiped away the frozen tears, her fingertips trembling slightly with emotion—

Finally, we can leave this dirt and grime!

No more getting up before dawn to harvest wheat, no more planting rice seedlings in muddy water, no more living a life that's not human, exposed to the wind and sun!

"Zhaodi, congratulations, and thank you so much! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to get into university! Thank you so much!"

Yang Lijuan grasped Leng Zhaodi's hand, her eyes welling with tears, and repeatedly expressed her gratitude.

In fact, Yang Lijuan had no confidence at all. She just followed Leng Zhaodi's lead and studied with her because she saw how hard Leng Zhaodi studied.

If you have any questions, just ask Leng Zhaodi, and she will answer them patiently.

In those days, the kerosene lamps at the educated youth settlement would always stay lit until the wee hours of the morning. Two girls would huddle together on a broken wooden table, using the dim light to study their books.

Gradually, Yang Lijuan began to develop a little bit of self-confidence.

Because they were both taking the college entrance exam together, Yang Lijuan gradually grew closer to Leng Zhaodi and stopped hanging out with Jiang Nuan and her group.

Although Jiang Nuan and her friends said they were going to take the college entrance examination, they said they were exhausted after finishing their work every day and had no interest in studying. They would go out to play whenever they had a holiday.

Seeing how hard Yang Lijuan and Leng Zhaodi worked, and sometimes even making sarcastic remarks when they met, Yang Lijuan was furious.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!