Chapter 71 Enrollment
"Baby, it's okay. Grandma chased the bad guys away." Her voice was soft, with unquestionable soothing power. After the children fell asleep again to the soft humming of him and their mother Xu Qin, Gu Qiuyue returned to the desk.
Under the dim light of the desk lamp, she spread out the review material that was frayed at the edges. Her fingertips ran across the familiar formulas and theorems. The rustling sound of the pen tip hitting the paper was more steady and powerful than ever before. The harassment that night became the final fire that tempered her will.
Time slipped quietly into the day of the exam under the pens, amid the children's laughter and tears, and beside the hard-working figures of Wang Xiulan and Xu Qin.
When the thin piece of paper bearing the admission letter to the Chinese Department of Beijing University was delivered to Gu Qiuyue, the small family compound felt like a bomb of joy had been dropped. Director Zhao and Sun Juan came to congratulate her sincerely, their rough hands patting her shoulders, their smiles filled with the pride of "our office has finally made a name for itself."
Wu Cui from next door still didn't say much, but quietly brought over a basket of freshly steamed white flour buns, which were filled with steam and had a simple warmth.
As for Li Caifeng's sour words, "Oh, you're a college student now, so don't look down on us old neighbors in the future", they were drowned out by the sincere blessings without even making a splash.
This New Year was spent in the family compound again. Even Gu's father and Xie's father came along, but their family was still missing one person, Xie Shiyu, who was out on a mission.
The graduation ceremony for Beijing University was on March 1st, but Gu's parents were teachers at Beijing University, so they had to arrive at the school early. Therefore, they returned to Beijing in the second half of February.
Gu Qiuyue stayed with the child in the family compound for more than ten days, waiting for Wang Xiulan's nephew to send his sister over. After seeing the diligence of the girl named Xiaohe for a few days, she reluctantly boarded the train while Wang Xiulan's eyes were red and she kept muttering, "Don't be reluctant to eat when you get there", "Remember to put on more clothes if it's cold", and "Study hard and don't worry about home".
But what made Gu Qiuyue most worried before leaving was Huahua and Shuangshuang. The two little guys hugged their mother's legs tightly like little koalas, crying until their little faces were red, their faces were covered with snot and tears, and they shouted incoherently, "Mom won't leave."
Gu Qiuyue's heart ached. She squatted down and kissed her two darlings' little faces vigorously, suppressing her reluctance deep in her heart. Her voice was firm and unwavering: "Huahua, Shuangshuang, be good. Listen to Grandma and Sister Xiaohe. When Dad comes back, ask him to bring you to see Mom."
She took a deep breath, and boarded the train heading north, carrying with her mother-in-law's expectations and silent sacrifice, her children's passionate attachment, and her own dream tempered by malice.
The scenery outside the window rapidly receded, and the family compound gradually shrank into a blurry dot. She knew that a brand new life had just begun.
When she first entered Capital University, Gu Qiuyue felt like she had entered a world that was both familiar and unfamiliar. The ancient buildings stood majestically, and the young students walking on the tree-lined avenue had vigor and a thirst for knowledge on their faces. All of this made her heart surge, but also brought an indescribable sense of alienation.
She is several years older than her classmates and is a mother of two children. These identity labels make her feel a sense of loneliness and vague anxiety about the future occasionally in the dormitory.
Fortunately, her mother Xu Qin is by her side. She is not only a beacon of knowledge, but also a support in life. With her unique calmness and wisdom, she helps her daughter adapt to the rhythm of this ivory tower little by little. Since she has come to college, Gu Qiuyue still shows that she cherishes this lost and regained opportunity to study.
On a sunny weekend in spring, Gu Qiuyue just came out of the library with a pile of books when she saw a familiar tall figure standing under the ginkgo tree downstairs of the dormitory building. He looked dusty and his military uniform was neatly fixed. It was Xie Shiyu.
The joy of reunion after a long separation instantly dispelled the fatigue of the past few days. Gu Qiuyue trotted over with a bright smile on her face.
"Why are you here suddenly? Why didn't you tell me in advance? Is the mission over?" She scolded, but she couldn't hide the smile in her eyes.
"Well, it's over," Xie Shiyu's eyes seemed to be glued to Gu Qiuyue, "My boss gave me a few days off, so it's a good time for me to come and see my college student wife." He took the book from Gu Qiuyue's hand, his voice low and with a smile, his eyes carefully tracing his wife's face.
The two of them had a simple meal on campus and walked slowly along the shore of Weiming Lake. The lake reflected the azure sky and the lush green leaves and grass. It was a peaceful and beautiful scene. Xie Shiyu put his arm around his wife's shoulders, thought for a moment, and spoke with irrepressible excitement, "Qiuyue, I have two good news this time. The army has recommended me to study at the National Defense University in Beijing for a year and a half. This is a rare opportunity!"
He looked at his wife expectantly, waiting for her to jump for joy and cheer for his every progress as she had in the past.
"Further studies? National Defense University? Another year and a half?" she asked, her voice no longer cheerful.
Xie Shiyu noticed her strangeness and asked, "What's wrong? Are you unhappy?"
Gu Qiuyue stopped and looked up at him, her eyes full of struggle and worry: "Shi Yu, this is a good thing, really, I am happy for you.
But… how long has Mom been staying with us to support me through the Gaokao and my current schooling? We've been separated for so long, and now you're going to study for a year and a half. Mom's home alone, taking care of two young children. She's old, can she handle it? How… how can I concentrate on my studies here?"
Her voice trembled, even choking with sobs. "Sometimes I wonder if I'm too selfish. For my own schooling, I put such a heavy burden on my mother. Otherwise... otherwise, I should still..."
"Silly!" Xie Shiyu interrupted her and felt relieved. It turned out that this was what she was worried about.
He squeezed her hand tightly, a warm and resolute smile on his face. "I knew you couldn't let this go. Don't worry! The organization has taken it into consideration. I came here this time to tell you that the organization has approved it. Mom will soon be able to bring Huahua and Shuangshuang to Beijing to live with us."
The huge surprise instantly flooded Gu Qiuyue like a warm tide. She stared at her husband in a daze, tears bursting out without warning. It was relief, gratitude, and the relief of having lifted a heavy burden from her heart.
"Really? Mom and the kids can come?" She could hardly believe it.
"Of course it's true. The formalities are almost complete." Xie Shiyu smiled and wiped away her tears. "Now, you can finally be at ease and continue your life as a university student, right?"
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