The educated youth went completely crazy. They huddled together, laughing and dancing. After a while, they all started crying.

The village girls stared at them in amazement and shock.

How could they understand the pain and misery these educated young people went through when they left their homes and wandered around?

The enthusiasm they had when they first went to the countryside had long been worn away by the hard life and labor in the countryside. If you ask the educated youth what their biggest dream is, everyone will give the same answer: return to the city!

They originally thought that they would have to stay in the countryside for the rest of their lives, but fate suddenly changed the situation and gave them a way to heaven.

The college entrance examination is the ladder for them to change their destiny.

When the male educated youth heard the broadcast in the fields, they all went crazy, dropped their work and ran around the village to announce the news.

The team leader and the party secretary who came later looked at this group of crazy educated youth and just smiled and shook their heads: "You guys are running too fast!"

Cheng Yaoyao was held tightly by Zhang Xiaofeng and Han Yin, and she almost couldn't breathe. In this atmosphere, her nose was also a little sour.

Suddenly someone asked: "When is the college entrance examination?"

A young man shouted: "November 21st!"

"next year?"

“It’s this year!”

The atmosphere suddenly became quiet for a moment: "Today is already October 21st..."

"Doesn't that mean... we only have one month to review?!"

In an instant, a basin of cold water was poured down, extinguishing the joy just now. The educated youth looked at each other in bewilderment. They had already given up their studies for several years. How much could they review in one month?

But no one was willing to give up this great opportunity, and they all started to make their own plans.

Only Liu Minxia in the corner had a pale face. The little bit of spring in the corners of her eyes and eyebrows turned into disbelief.

College entrance examination? Why was the college entrance examination suddenly resumed?

Why didn't she notify him a day earlier, but right after she sent the betrothal gift from the man to her family...

Han Yin also cried with great emotion, hugging Cheng Yaoyao and wailing: "Why didn't I listen to you!"

Cheng Yaoyao patted her on the back, his ears aching from her howling. Zhang Xiaofeng also wiped away tears and said, "What's the point of crying now! After all, you reviewed early!"

Cheng Yaoyao struggled out and said, "I'll go back first. By the way, you guys should hide your books and notes."

After saying that, Cheng Yaoyao called out to Hunhun, turned around and left.

Before Zhang Xiaofeng understood what Cheng Yaoyao said, Han Yin hurriedly picked up the two books and stuffed them into her arms.

The other educated youths were all staring at the book with sharp eyes.

The female educated youth who usually laughed at them for being nerdy came up with a smile: "Xiaofeng, can you lend us this book?"

"Lend it to me!"

Han Yin smiled and said, "I'm sorry, we haven't even finished reading the book ourselves."

After she finished speaking, she took Zhang Xiaofeng and walked back. She still had a few books and exercises borrowed from Cheng Yaoyao at home, which were usually pressed under her pillow. Now they have become treasures!

Cheng Yaoyao ran all the way home. Guanyin, who always pays attention to her image, ran on the road, her black hair flying in the wind, and the puppy ran wildly at her feet.

At this time, the village was full of educated youth and young people running around and shouting wildly, so Cheng Yaoyao didn't seem out of place.

She hurried to the door of her home, and was greeted by a broad and warm chest.

"College...College Entrance Examination!" Cheng Yaoyao gasped and looked up into a pair of deep eyes that were shining with light.

Xie Zhao's handsome face was covered with sweat, and he had a bright smile like the sun shining through the clouds: "Yeah, I heard the broadcast!"

Xie Zhao's trousers and legs were still covered in mud, and it was obvious that he had run back from the fields after hearing the news. The two of them ran into the yard hand in hand, wanting to tell Grandma Xie the good news as soon as possible.

Grandma Xie had heard the news from the radio a long time ago and was waiting for them in the yard.

The family smiled at each other, all very happy. Grandma Xie suddenly wiped her eyes and said, "Thanks to our ancestors, we have finally waited for this day."

"Tsk." Cheng Yaoyao raised her index finger to her petal-like lips, "Grandma, you can't promote feudal ideas."

"Go away! You are trying to lecture me." Grandma Xie said angrily, "Quick, kill the chickens and cut the tofu, let's celebrate today! Call Xiaofeng and Hanyin as well!"

Grandma Xie excitedly tied on her apron and went back to the chicken coop.

Cheng Yaoyao smiled and said, "Don't bother, they definitely won't come. They are busy looking for books to review right now."

Cheng Yaoyao was right. The college entrance examination was only one month away. They only had one month to prepare, which was quite tight.

After a brief revelry, the educated youth calmed down and faced another problem - could they make up for the lessons they had missed in just one month?

Some people fell into self-doubt and anxiety, but more people rushed into learning.

At this time, whoever has a review material or reference book in hand is the most popular person. Everyone is vying to establish a good relationship with him, hoping that he will lend them a book to copy.

But there were too many people and too little porridge. Even if all the books in the village were collected, it would not be enough for them to learn. The educated youth tried every possible way, old books, newspapers, periodicals, and any materials with words in their hands, and they read and memorized them desperately.

The educated youth in Tianshui Village were all immersed in a frenzy of study. The Tianshui Village Brigade was quite sympathetic to the educated youth, but they still had to work every day.

In the past, I was so tired that I would fall asleep as soon as I got home every day, but now I work late into the night and go to work the next day with dark circles under my eyes. I work in the fields, soaking in the mud, reciting books in my mouth, and writing on the sand with branches dipped in water.

Only Han Yin and Zhang Xiaofeng were better off. At the strong request of Grandma Xie, they often went to Xie's house for meals to supplement their income. They were also allowed to look through the review materials on Cheng Yaoyao's desk. Naturally, their learning level was incomparable to that of other educated youth.

As soon as the news of the college entrance examination came out, paper became expensive in Luoyang. Some smart educated youth went to the city to buy books, paper and pens. Those who were slow to react found that the books in Xinhua Bookstore were sold out, and the old books in the waste recycling station were sold at a sky-high price of 80 cents per copy. The supply and marketing cooperatives were out of stock of paper and pens.

At this time, Cheng Yaoyao had to admire Xie Zhao's foresight, and his family stocked up several boxes of white paper and ballpoint pen refills.

Cheng Yaoyao fiddled with the papers and asked curiously, "Xie Zhao, are you going to resell these?"

She knew that the monkey was making a good profit selling old books, pens and paper.

Xie Zhao said, "Not for sale."

Cheng Yaoyao pulled out a bunch of pen refills and white paper and said, "Give these to Han Yin and Zhang Xiaofeng. They are running out of paper and pens."

Xie Zhao tapped the table with his knuckles: "Sister, start reviewing."

Cheng Yaoyao had no choice but to walk over slowly, sit next to Xie Zhao, and start reading obediently.

Compared to the enthusiasm that swept the whole village, the Xie family's courtyard was still calm. Cheng Yaoyao and Xie Zhao had already started reviewing, and now they were not impatient. They had learned everything they should learn, and now they just had to review and consolidate their knowledge.

But Cheng Yaoyao could no longer be lazy. Every time she was lazy, not only did Grandma Xie control her, but Xie Zhao also stopped accommodating her.

Cheng Yaoyao slumped down on the table and said depressedly, "I know everything, why do you still want me to memorize this?"

Xie Zhao said: "Every question here may be on the test. Your political knowledge is very weak, so you must memorize it well."

Cheng Yaoyao pursed his lips: "I have a headache."

Xie Zhao let her lean on his chest, and stretched out his hands to gently rub Cheng Yaoyao's temples. His rough and curled fingertips scratched Cheng Yaoyao's delicate skin, which was a little painful. His hands were quite gentle, and Cheng Yaoyao couldn't help but sigh in comfort. The headache had long since disappeared.

Cheng Yaoyao turned around and buried his head in Xie Zhao's arms: "My eyes hurt too, please read to me."

The little orange kitten Tuan was sitting on the desk, looking at the two of them with his head tilted.

Xie Zhao raised his lips and said in a serious voice, "Read it once, and you have to recite it."

"You have to read it three times." Cheng Yaoyao stated the condition.

Xie Zhao began to read in a low voice. It was as if he had a cello hidden in his chest, and he turned boring politics into a sonnet.

Xie Zhao read it three times, then asked Cheng Yaoyao if she had memorized it. But she hugged his neck and kissed him: "Xie Zhao, you should read to me every night from now on."

Cheng Yaoyao's peach blossom eyes sparkled as he invited Xie Zhao straightforwardly and innocently.

Xie Zhao held up the book in his hand to cover his rosy face: "Concentrate on studying."

"Hmph!" Cheng Yaoyao dragged his chair away from Lao Yuan and started reading a book himself.

Xie Zhao's Adam's apple twitched, and he closed his eyes almost masochistically, waiting for the restlessness to subside before he buried his head in his study.

The cold war lasted for half an hour, and then Grandma Xie came in with two bowls of eggs brewed with sweet wine, and the two of them ate together again, head to head.

Grandma Xie wiped her hands on her apron and said, "Is it delicious? Eat more. Studying takes energy! Don't study too late, either of you. Isn't the light bulb too glaring?"

The village finally had electricity. Cheng Yaoyao hung a light bulb in his room, covered by a lampshade made of thin bamboo strips. The light was bright and soft. Although the voltage was unstable and flickered from time to time, it was still much more comfortable than reading under a kerosene lamp.

Cheng Yaoyao said, "Grandma, please go back to your room and sleep first. Don't keep waiting for us."

Grandma Xie was anxious, but she was afraid of putting pressure on them, so she said, "Then you two can study for a while and then take a break, okay?"

Xie Zhao also said: "Don't worry."

Grandma Xie then walked away, looking back every few steps, muttering, "Too fast, too fast, there's still more than half a month left..."

Xie Zhao corrected in a low voice: "Twenty-seven days."

"What?" Cheng Yaoyao didn't hear clearly.

"There are still 27 days left before the college entrance examination." Xie Zhao's deep eyes reflected the light, "After the college entrance examination, we..."

With her slender and slightly cool fingertips pressed against his lips, Cheng Yaoyao said angrily, "Why do you think about this every day?"

"Get married." Xie Zhao insisted on saying this.

Compared to the anxious educated youth, Xie Zhao felt like every day was a year.

When the time was shortened from 27 days to 23 days, they went into the city to register.

Xie Zhao drove a tractor, carrying Cheng Yaoyao and a group of educated youth to Lin'an City. The registration point for the college entrance examination was already crowded with people. There were workers, farmers, educated youth and recent graduates who came to register for the college entrance examination, as well as their family members who came with them, and most of them came to watch the excitement.

Cheng Yaoyao and Xie Zhao waited in line for a long time before they got to the front. Cheng Yaoyao received two forms and signed up with Xie Zhao.

Liu Minxia, ​​who was standing behind them, was surprised and said, "Xie Zhao is also going to take the college entrance examination?! Has he... has he ever been to school?!"

Liu Minxia spoke very loudly, and the educated youth from Tianshui Village who were all around her immediately looked at Xie Zhao with strange eyes.

The look may not have been malicious, but the meaning was clear: How could Xie Zhao take the college entrance examination when he had never been to school for a single day?

Cheng Yaoyao sneered, "Liu Minxia, ​​what are you yelling about? You're married, but you still came to register, right? Why can't Xie Zhao register?"

Liu Minxia's face turned pale. She now had some of Cheng Nuonuo's skills. She stammered, "That's not what I meant, but his background..."

"The Xie family's hat has been taken off a long time ago, and you..." Cheng Yaoyao frowned and was about to argue with her, but was stopped by Xie Zhao.

Cheng Yaoyao looked at him angrily and puzzled, while Xie Zhao said calmly: "Let's go."

Cheng Yaoyao was unconvinced and said, "Why don't you let me argue with her?"

Xie Zhao looked at her protective attitude towards him, and a happy smile spread across his eyes: "It doesn't matter. We'll see in a month."

"That's true..." Cheng Yaoyao snorted, "I hate those educated youths too. I won't lend them study materials anymore!"

Xie Zhao chuckled and did not answer.

In Tianshui Village, only Zhang Xiaofeng and Han Yin had review materials, which they borrowed from the Xie family.

Someone spread the news that the Xie family had a lot of review materials. Immediately, everyone's eyes were on the Xie family.

These educated youth had just offended Cheng Yaoyao at the college entrance examination registration office, so they were too embarrassed to go to Xie's house to borrow books. They couldn't help but scold Liu Minxia for starting the conversation, but their desire for the college entrance examination overwhelmed everything. After some discussion, they finally mustered up the courage to go to Xie's house.

The educated youth representative first sincerely apologized to Xie Zhao, and then hesitantly asked to borrow some books. Cheng Yaoyao said, "There are books, but there are only a few. How can you read with so many people?"

The educated youth hurriedly said, "We will return it to you after we finish copying it!"

Xie Zhao, who had been silent the whole time, asked, "Do you have paper and pen?"

The youth representatives blushed, thinking that Xie Zhao would not lend them the money. But Xie Zhao brought out a box of paper, pens and review materials for them to take back and divide, apparently he had already prepared them.

These papers and pens may not be valuable in normal times, but at this time they are like timely help. The educated youth representative's eyes were red, and he bowed deeply to Xie Zhao while holding the box of valuable papers and pens and review materials.

Xie Zhao not only provided them with study materials and paper and pens, but also reminded everyone that there were two university teachers in the bullpen.

The former "stinky ninth" suddenly became a popular commodity. The two teachers did not hold grudges against each other. Although they refused to teach, the cowshed became a small classroom. The educated youths crowded into the small cowshed, sitting cross-legged on the hay, holding lambs, listening to the teachers attentively and vying with each other to ask questions.

Cheng Yaoyao and Xie Zhao also went to the cowshed. After all, Xie Zhao had never been to school before, and it would be too conspicuous if he took the college entrance examination. Who knew that as soon as he entered the cowshed, the educated youths rushed to greet Xie Zhao, and their attitude towards him was grateful and warm. Even the educated youths from other villages knew Xie Zhao's name.

It turned out that after the educated youths in Tianshui Village were given paper and pens, they copied the review materials day and night. Upon hearing the news, the educated youths from other villages also rushed to copy the review materials from them.

"I have a pretty good relationship with Liu Wei from our village. I borrowed this book from him to copy, and he showed me the cover. I took a look and saw that it said 'Books and wives are not allowed to be lent out'!" The educated youth from Taoan Village spoke in Beijing dialect, which made everyone laugh.

After laughing, I felt a wave of emotion in my heart.

Human nature is selfish. The college entrance examination is like a thousand troops crossing a single-plank bridge. If you squeeze others out, you will have more opportunities. Who hasn't been rejected and looked down upon when borrowing study materials these days? The more such times, the more they can deeply appreciate how precious and selfless Xie Zhao and Cheng Yaoyao's approach is.

The educated youth in Tianshui Village also passed on this selfless quality. They did not hide the review materials obtained from the Xie family. They provided assistance to the educated youth who came to copy the review materials, and did not forget to add: "These materials were borrowed from Xie Zhao, and the paper and pen were also provided by Xie Zhao!"

In response to the goodwill and gratitude shown by these educated youth, Xie Zhao remained calm and humble, which won him a lot of favor.

Cheng Yaoyao felt proud and a little jealous as he watched Xie Zhao gradually shine.

Cheng Yaoyao didn't like those educated youth, but she couldn't help but be moved by their enthusiasm and passion for learning. Moreover, if these people passed the exam, they would be pillars of various industries in the future. Who knows, they could also become Xie Zhao's network of contacts.

It was already dark, but the lights were still on in the cowshed, and the educated youth were still crowded inside, attending classes without eating or sleeping.

The two sneaked out of the cowshed. The wind was blowing outside. Cheng Yaoyao put on Xie Zhao's coat and lay on his back. He said unconvincedly: "Why are they only grateful to you and not to me?"

Xie Zhao lifted her onto his back and said, "Give that set of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry series to Zhang Xiaofeng and Han Yin tomorrow. They will be grateful to you."

"Humph." Cheng Yaoyao buried his face in Xie Zhao's shoulder. "Carry me to the village entrance and put me down."

Xie Zhao laughed. Before he took a few steps, Cheng Yaoyao had already fallen asleep sweetly.

Xie Zhao carried her on his back and walked back home along a deserted path. There was a huge moon in the sky. The cold, silvery moonlight illuminated the bluestone road, and the shadows on the ground merged into one.

The winter of that year was exceptionally cold. Frost formed on the window frames, and my ears were numb from the cold while I was brushing my teeth in the yard.

Cheng Yaoyao was awakened by the meowing of fighting kittens. Xie Zhao came in with hot water and squatted down to separate the balls of fur.

She stretched out her hand from under the quilt, but it was frozen and shrank back with a whoosh.

"It's too cold. I won't eat. I'll sleep for a while..."

"Be good." Xie Zhao held her warm hand: "Today is the college entrance examination."