As time progressed, people's lives began to improve, things hidden in the darkness began to stir, and a bright future awaited them.
The sky was pitch black, as if splashed with ink, with twinkling stars adding a touch of brightness. A bright moon hung high in the branches, radiating a soft yet mischievous glow. A gentle breeze stirred, casting deep shadows, and the incessant chirping of cicadas soothed the restlessness in people's hearts.
The Guangming Brigade, with its small courtyard made of blue brick and tile houses, stands quietly there, and its grandeur is immediately apparent.
Through the windows of the courtyard, one can see a faint, shimmering yellow light, like a lighthouse on a vast sea in the dark, which makes one feel calm and at ease.
A soft swishing sound came from inside the room. An Jin, wearing a light gray coat, sat upright at her desk, the pen in her hand making a swishing sound with each movement, creating a unique rhythm.
He looked at the book in his left hand while writing on the paper, his expression more serious and focused than ever before. The pages of the book were slightly yellowed, and the edges were slightly curled, showing that its owner had frequently read it and taken excellent care of it.
Wuyou leaned back on the bench next to him, holding a book in her left hand and reading it with great interest. The two did not exchange a word, yet there was an unspoken understanding between them.
Stretching, feeling refreshed, Wuyou put down her book, blinked her slightly sore eyes, turned to Anjing and said softly, "Xiaojin, why don't you rest for a bit? You can read these books tomorrow."
An Jin's eyes remained fixed on the book as she said, "Brother Yin, you should go and rest first. I'm not tired yet and I want to read a little longer."
He only completed a few grades in elementary school and never had the opportunity to attend school. He thought he would never have the chance in his life, but unexpectedly, he was given the opportunity to study again. How could he easily let go of such a hard-won opportunity? He wished he could devote all his free time to studying.
"Xiao Jin, it's good that you love learning, but you can't push yourself too hard." Wu You sighed, while also admiring An Jin's enthusiasm for learning.
Since their fake marriage, An Jin has shown considerable talent in medicine. After becoming familiar with herbs, he even learned a few tricks from Dr. Liu. He picked it up very quickly, and Dr. Liu even regarded him as his successor.
But Wuyou knew that medical knowledge was vast and complex, and Anjin still had much to learn. Despite the current crackdown on intellectuals and the abolition of the college entrance examination, reforms and liberation would eventually come, because science and technology are the primary productive forces.
As the resumption of the college entrance examination drew closer, he would sometimes hear rumors when he went to the town's black market. The crackdown on speculation was also gradually being relaxed. All these signs indicated the general direction of the situation.
“Brother Yan, I don’t want to hold you back.” An Jin looked up, her delicate face appearing even more gentle and radiant in the candlelight, her eyes sparkling with light.
"It's good that you have this intention. I heard some rumors in town recently that the college entrance examination might be reinstated in a year or two. Then you can go to university and fulfill your dream of going to school." Wuyou stroked Anjin's hair, her smile warm and gentle.
“Brother Yan, you can also leave here and develop in a big city through the college entrance examination. I believe that with your abilities, you will definitely achieve great things in the future.”
The two chatted for a while, then gradually felt sleepy. After tidying up, they went back to their rooms to rest, and the day passed.
The next morning, as dawn broke and the sky cleared, the Zhou family was busy preparing for the meal. The three of them sat together in the courtyard, eating in such quiet that only the clinking of bowls and chopsticks could be heard.
Zhou's mother sat there quietly eating her rice. Occasionally, Zhou Jiajun would put a few pieces of food on her plate. Although the mother and son did not speak, a warm and harmonious atmosphere surrounded them, making Sun Xiaoying seem like an outsider.
Sun Xiaoying couldn't stand the overly quiet atmosphere, so she put down her chopsticks and looked at Zhou Jiajun, speaking softly, "Brother Zhou, I'm going to town today. Is there anything I can bring you? Mom, your clothes are getting old, so I'll buy you some fabric to make you new clothes."
Since that incident, the mother and son's attitude towards him has changed a lot. Their usual enthusiasm and flattery are gone, leaving only the politeness they show to guests.
To prevent his mother from falling ill again due to negligence, Zhou Jiajun would personally take care of her no matter how busy he was. He would no longer let his mother eat alone in the room, but would take some time to bring her to the yard, to a place where everyone could see her.
This defensive attitude is not intentional, but rather a natural expression of resistance, which is even more hurtful.
Sun Xiaoying harbored resentment, but she had no choice but to grit her teeth and continue to appease the mother and son. She still wanted to stay in this family and become the wife of the richest man in the future. How could she possibly offend them to death?
"No need, we're not well-off anyway." Zhou's mother shook her head. She was a frugal person and didn't want to spend her son's hard-earned money and put him in a difficult position.
Although they paid off their debts a year ago, their family is not exactly wealthy. They live frugally and don't have much money to spare, so they try to save wherever they can.
"The food here is so expensive, let's forget about it." Zhou Jiajun shook his head and lowered his head to eat his rice.
Upon hearing this, Sun Xiaoying's face stiffened. He had taken the initiative to make amends, but the two of them completely ignored him. Wasn't this a slap in the face?
"Then I'll go by myself." Sun Xiaoying lowered her voice and tried her best to make her expression appear calm.
After quickly cleaning up, Sun Xiaoying left the Zhou family without looking back. She truly felt no sense of belonging to this family. If it weren't for her unwavering belief, she would have given up long ago.
In her past life, she was married to Zhou Jiajun for five years. During that time, she paid no attention to his life and only had eyes for Yan Wuyou. As soon as the college entrance examination was reinstated and Yan Wuyou was admitted to university, she left the small village with him and never came back.
Even back then, he didn't find it difficult to endure, but now he feels that every minute and every second is torture.
After arriving in town by oxcart, Sun Xiaoying stood on the bustling street, slowly closed her eyes, and felt the lively atmosphere and air, as if she had experienced an unprecedented sense of elevation.
After buying some pastries and fabrics at the department store, Sun Xiaoying turned and headed towards a sparsely populated area. If she remembered correctly, there was a small garbage dump there, where she was sure to find what she wanted.
Unbeknownst to him, a person was following him at a distance in the crowded throng, her captivating eyes fixed on his figure, as she accompanied him to the garbage station.
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