The summer breeze, carrying the rich fragrance of ripening wheat, swept across the fields of the Hongqi Production Brigade, bringing joy to every household. The old locust tree at the village entrance, its branches lush and verdant, its dense shade like a giant umbrella shielding the village from the midday sun. Villagers usually gathered beneath its branches to cool off and chat. But today, this tranquility was broken by a sudden burst of activity. Several young, upright figures strode briskly along the dirt road at the village entrance, drawing the attention of the villagers who stopped to watch.
The girl at the head of the group wore a faded blue cotton shirt, the sleeves neatly rolled up to her forearms, revealing her slender yet strong wrists. She stood tall and straight, her eyes bright with a scholarly air, yet unable to conceal her eagerness and excitement to return home. This was none other than Chen Xiaoya, the girl who used to eavesdrop on classes through the school window, her eyes filled with longing. Now, she was no longer that thin, timid little girl. After years of diligent study, she had transformed into a graceful young woman, and moreover, she had become the first girl in the entire county to be admitted to a prestigious university in Beijing.
Behind her followed three equally young figures, all impoverished students whom Lin Wanqiu had sponsored years ago. Some carried simple bags, others held items wrapped in cloth, their faces beaming with pride at their academic success and a deep longing for their homeland. They hurried towards Lin Wanqiu's house, greeted warmly by villagers along the way.
"Hey, isn't this Xiaoya? You've really made something of yourself, getting into a university in Beijing!"
"Absolutely! She's the pride of our village! It's all thanks to Wanqiu's help back then, otherwise, how would Xiaoya be where she is today!"
"These children are all outstanding; they will become pillars of the nation in the future!"
The villagers' exclamations of praise rose and fell. Chen Xiaoya and her companions stopped and respectfully greeted their elders, their smiles growing even more humble. They knew that their achievements today were inseparable from Lin Wanqiu's selfless help. This kindness was like a guiding light, illuminating their path to education and engraved in their hearts, something they would never forget.
At this moment, Lin Wanqiu's courtyard was vibrant with life. The roses in the corner were in full bloom, their layers of petals tinged with a delicate color, attracting bees and butterflies. Under the grape trellis, emerald vines climbed the supports, bunches of plump green grapes hanging from the branches, emitting a faint fruity fragrance. Lin Wanqiu sat on a bamboo chair, picking vegetables she had just picked from her spatial storage, listening to Shen Tingzhou recount the recent situation at the city's food market. Nian An sat on a small stool nearby, intently working on math problems, her brow furrowing and relaxing intermittently, displaying an exceptional sensitivity to numbers. Nian Xi chased butterflies in the courtyard, her clear laughter echoing like silver bells.
"The branch in the city has been doing well lately, but the supply of raw materials needs to keep up. The quality of the strawberries and yams that Old Chen grows is getting better and better, but the yield still needs to be increased," Shen Tingzhou said calmly, holding a small notebook in his hand, which recorded the various accounts of the food workshop. In recent years, he had long since ended his classified mission. Although he did not return to the army, he used his abilities to help Lin Wanqiu manage the business, becoming her most reliable support.
Lin Wanqiu nodded and placed the selected vegetables in the bamboo basket: "I'll talk to Old Chen later. I have some improved seeds in my space. I'll send some to him and teach him some scientific planting methods. That should increase the yield. By the way, a few of the desks and chairs at the school in the next village are broken. I need to have them repaired as soon as possible so as not to delay the children's classes."
She always kept the children she sponsored in her heart. Even though some of them had gone on to middle school or university, she still frequently inquired about their studies and lives, sending them living expenses and school supplies from time to time. In her eyes, these children were like her younger relatives, and watching them grow and succeed was her greatest comfort.
"Mom, Dad, look who's here!" Nian'an's excited voice suddenly came from outside the door, interrupting their conversation.
Lin Wanqiu and Shen Tingzhou looked up at the same time and saw Chen Xiaoya and the others standing at the courtyard gate, their faces showing shy yet excited smiles. The sunlight shone on them, giving them a warm glow, and their clean clothes, though simple, could not hide the spiritedness in their eyes.
"Little girl? Why are you back?" Lin Wanqiu suddenly stood up, her eyes flashing with surprise, and quickly walked forward. Looking at the graceful young woman in front of her, she could hardly recognize her; the thin little girl from back then had grown up to be so beautiful.
Chen Xiaoya could no longer contain her excitement. She rushed forward and knelt down in front of Lin Wanqiu with a thud. Tears welled up in her eyes instantly, and she choked out, "Aunt Lin, I got into university! I got into a university in Beijing! I came here to thank you!"
This kneeling gesture was filled with her gratitude and respect accumulated over the years. If it weren't for Aunt Lin's helping hand back then, she might have already dropped out of school and stayed at home, living a life of toiling in the fields, never having the chance to leave the mountains and pursue her dreams. It was Aunt Lin who gave her hope and the opportunity to change her destiny.
Lin Wanqiu quickly helped her up. Seeing her reddened eyes, she felt a pang of sadness and relief. She gently patted her shoulder and said, "Silly child, get up! Getting into university is a good thing, you should be happy. Why are you crying? This is all thanks to your hard work. Auntie is so proud of you!"
The other three students also stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Lin Wanqiu: "Thank you, Aunt Lin! We've also been admitted to university!" They held up something wrapped in cloth and carefully handed it to Lin Wanqiu. "This is the grain and vegetables we grew ourselves. It's not worth much, but it's a small token of our appreciation."
Lin Wanqiu felt a surge of warmth as she looked at the simple yet heartfelt gifts in their hands. She knew that these children's families were still not well-off, and these grains and vegetables were the result of their hard work and frugality. This sentiment was more precious than any expensive gift. She didn't refuse and accepted them with a smile: "Okay, Auntie accepts them, thank you. Please come in and sit down. Nianxi, go and pour your older brother and sister a glass of water."
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