Wang Wenchuan still passed the exam and was successfully admitted to the Mechanical Design and Manufacturing major at Bincheng Industrial University.
When they received the notice, it was already the end of February 1978. School was starting on March 1st, so time was really tight. The Wang family started to get busy, searching the market for all sorts of things they could use. They also exchanged for nationally valid grain coupons and various other receipts, just in case there were any places they hadn't prepared for, so they could buy them locally.
Especially in Bincheng, where Wang Wenchuan lives, the temperature is low, requiring thick cotton clothes and quilts. In Haicheng, even the thickest clothes are not enough to meet the temperature there, so Fang Li can only prepare more cotton and cloth coupons for him so that he can prepare them himself when he arrives.
Zhan Chunlan had prepared a full load of bags and packages. Originally, she was thinking of putting the heavy items in her personal space and only showing the surface items to outsiders. However, Wang Wenfeng took half a month off to personally deliver the two of them.
What surprised Zhan Chunlan the most was that she actually received a letter from Zhan Chunyun.
She wrote this letter after learning that Zhan Chunlan was going to take the college entrance examination. Perhaps having experienced the ups and downs of life for a long time, she had become more worldly-wise. In the letter, she said:
When you receive this letter, you'll probably have received your university acceptance letter as well. I learned by chance that you're going to take the college entrance exam. Your second sister knows that once you've made up your mind to do something, you'll definitely succeed, so your second sister believes you'll pass the exam.
My second sister only realized after leaving home that relying on others is never as good as relying on yourself. My parents and eldest sister all thought that I was able to return to the city because of Yang Yonghua. In fact, only I know that I have always relied on myself all this way. If I hadn't worked hard, no matter how much he helped me, he would never have been able to help me get a place at the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University.
Originally, I wanted to tell you these so-called "grand principles" as someone who's been through it all. But when I heard that you chose to take the college entrance exam even though you're married, I knew that you understand things much better than I do.
Indeed, you were able to move from Jiangcheng to Haicheng step by step on your own, which can't be explained by just good luck. It's your unwavering determination to achieve your goals and your hard work towards them that I, your second sister, should learn from.
My second sister is lucky; she's graduating this year. Below is a list of things I need to bring to university. Take a look and prepare accordingly.
Zhan Chunlan looked at the letter without feeling either sadness or joy.
For Zhan Chunyun, she was her third sister. Although she didn't take good care of Zhan Chunlan, she didn't mistreat her either. She just shirked her responsibilities and did less housework, while Zhan Chunlan was clumsy and did more housework.
Now, everyone has matured. As she said in her letter, having experienced the harsh realities of society, she has become more sensible. So now she is writing a letter to her younger sister to take the initiative to mend their relationship that has been strained for many years.
But what does this have to do with Zhan Chunlan? She's not Zhan Chunyun's real third sister. Perhaps the original owner is still alive, because blood is thicker than water, and there will be a day when things will ease.
It's a pity that the real Zhan Chunlan is gone. Ever since Zhan Chunlan came to Haicheng, she has completely separated herself from the Zhan family here. She lives for herself, not for the Zhan Chunlan of the past.
She might succumb to societal ethics, so she won't completely sever ties with the Zhan family of Jiangcheng, but she also won't become close to them again. Let it be, just pretend this person never existed. Anyway, the real original owner is probably already several years old.
Nothing in the Zhan family mattered as much as Zhan Xiaoman in her heart.
As she left, looking at Zhan Xiaoman's bright eyes staring at her, she almost couldn't resist putting it in her space and taking it with her. Zhan Xiaoman is now 5 years old, and her four years of university study are almost half of its life. Although she would come back during winter and summer vacations, she was really worried about it after being separated for so long.
"Xiaoman, Mommy is going to school. I'll be back when it gets hot. You have to be a good girl at home, okay?"
"Woo~ woo~" Zhan Xiaoman nuzzled her head against its hand, not because she was stroking it, but because it was rubbing against her hand, trying to leave its scent on her for a long time.
"Xiaoman, you must stay home obediently, okay? Don't run around everywhere. If I come back and don't see you, Mommy will be sad." Zhan Chunlan knew it understood. She was worried that it would run outside to look for her, so she could only say this, hoping that it would stay obediently in the yard.
Zhan Xiaoman's face drooped, and she made whimpering sounds. Her eyes were fixed on it, unblinking, as if she wanted to memorize its face.
Looking at the reluctant "mother and daughter" pair, Ms. Fang Li stepped forward and patted Zhan Xiaoman, saying, "Don't worry, I'll take Xiaoman home for the next few days. When Wang Wenfeng comes back, we'll see if Xiaoman prefers this place or the Wang family. She can live wherever she wants then."
As she spoke, she turned to Zhan Xiaoman in a questioning tone and asked, "What do you think?"
Zhan Xiaoman grunted, it was unclear whether she agreed or disagreed.
The group boarded a train heading north, and their excitement overshadowed the boredom of the journey. Even when she stood at the dormitory door, she was still somewhat dazed.
Wang Wenfeng, carrying a large backpack and a small bag in each hand, gestured for Zhan Chunlan to knock on the door.
Zhan Chunlan knocked on the door, and a pleasant voice came from inside: "Come in!"
Zhan Chunlan first opened a narrow crack, revealing four bunk beds inside, making it an eight-person room. There were also several tables near the balcony.
Currently, there are already things on five beds. Zhan Chunlan looked at the girls inside and said, "Hello everyone, my name is Zhan Chunlan. Is this a convenient place for you? I have a lot of things, which my family brought over for me. Do you mind?"
Several girls shook their heads. The weather was quite cold, and everyone was dressed very warmly.
Hearing them say that, Zhan Chunlan then invited Wang Wenfeng in.
Zhan Chunlan's bed was an upper bunk, and the girl in the lower bunk also came.
She smiled and said to Zhan Chunlan, "My name is Wu Xue. I wiped the bed board for you when I made the bed. You can put the mattress on directly."
Zhan Chunlan quickly thanked him and introduced Wang Wenfeng to everyone. He greeted everyone and then went to the bed to help her make it.
The girls had already packed their things and were chatting idly. While tidying up her own things, Zhan Chunlan casually struck up a conversation with them, learning their names and thus getting to know them all.
After all, Wang Wenfeng was a gay man, and it wasn't appropriate for him to stay in the girls' dormitory all the time. So, he helped Zhan Chunlan pack her things a little and then took her out.
Wang Wenfeng had previously studied in Beijing for three years, so he was somewhat familiar with the area. He first went to a guesthouse near the school and booked a room before going out to find something to eat.
As someone who had never been to Beijing before, Zhan Chunlan was actually quite puzzled by one thing: "Is douzhi (fermented mung bean juice) still sold now?"
Wang Wenfeng recalled the scene when he was brought here to drink douzhi (fermented mung bean juice) and found it somewhat amusing: "Don't be so curious, you won't like it."
"I'm just so curious, what does it taste like? The more you say that, the more I want to know." Zhan Chunlan had long admired the famous douzhi (fermented mung bean juice) and wanted to know if she could successfully challenge herself to try it.
Wang Wenfeng tried to recall the taste from back then, wanting to describe it to dissuade her, but unfortunately, he failed.
It's likely that the taste was so unpleasant that his brain automatically deleted the memory of the taste, and he only remembered that he had only taken a small sip before he couldn't drink any more.
"Then you can take the challenge with your roommates. There are many roommates, so you can each take a sip and finish the whole bowl," Wang Wenfeng suggested. He couldn't go with her to eat anyway, and nowadays people value thrift. He figured she would only drink a small sip, and he would have to finish the rest of the bowl, which he couldn't handle.
"Okay, let's go eat authentic Peking duck then."
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