Chapter 149
Feeling rejected by the children, Cheng Yuanyuan smiled awkwardly. Not wanting to bother the pretty and cute kids any longer, she turned to Gu Xi instead.
Gu Xi invited them to sit down. Xu Huaisheng took out two aluminum lunch boxes from his bag, opened them, and found washed and cut fruit inside. He then offered them the fruit.
The three children, one older and one younger, who were playing checkers, each took a piece and played while eating, carefree.
Xu Huaisheng sat aside to take care of them and play with them.
Gan Dongliang sat down and thanked him.
Cheng Yuanyuan sat next to Gu Xi. When she learned that Xu Yuansheng was resting, she lowered her voice, but she still couldn't hide the joy in her voice. She kept chattering, mostly about the college entrance examination.
"I never expected that the college entrance examination would be reinstated so suddenly, and that Dongliang and I would actually be able to return to the city." Cheng Yuanyuan said with a sigh, then held Gu Xi's hand and said, "Thanks to the textbooks you gave us back then, if it weren't for these textbooks, we wouldn't have been able to get into the provincial capital's university."
Since the news of the resumption of the college entrance examination came last year, it seems that the whole world has been changing again and again.
The return of educated youth to the cities, the resumption of the college entrance examination...
Regardless of the policy, it all felt like a dream to them, a painful self-reproach that felt so real. Back when they were sent to the countryside, who could have imagined they would actually return to the city and attend university?
When they heard the news of the resumption of the college entrance examination, the educated youth on the farm both cried and laughed, and then searched everywhere for study materials.
Nobody wanted to give up this opportunity.
That was their dream.
However, with so many people wanting to take the college entrance examination, all the study materials in the city had already been snapped up. Even though Cheng Yuanyuan and her friend had some study materials specially sent by their families, it was still not enough, and the materials were incomplete. In the end, Gu Xi learned about this and gave them a set of study materials.
With this information, all the educated youth in the farm benefited. Eighty percent of those who took the college entrance examination achieved their desired results and were finally able to leave the place that had confined their youth.
"Gu Xi, everyone is very grateful for the study materials you gave us," Cheng Yuanyuan said. "If it weren't inconvenient for them to go to the military base, they would have liked to thank you in person and give you gifts..."
Although the educated youth couldn't offer anything valuable, it was still a token of their goodwill.
They came here to bring the gifts that the educated youth had given to Gu Xi.
Cheng Yuanyuan took the bag from Gan Dongliang and said with a smile, "This is the little bicycle we pooled our money to buy for Zhuzhu. Don't look down on it."
The little rickshaw was a model car I bought in the city. It was a foreign product, small in size but quite expensive.
They didn't know how to thank Gu Xi, so they pooled their money to buy toys for the children as a token of their gratitude.
Gu Xi naturally didn't mind; on the contrary, she felt they were being too polite. She said, "We're friends, there's really no need to be so polite. When we visited your farm before, you always treated us warmly. The people at the farm are all very kind, and Aunt Awang's pickled fish was so delicious that we've never forgotten it."
"It's nothing, you're our guests, of course our farm will treat you well," Cheng Yuanyuan said. "The idea you gave the farm has brought us income. In recent years, our farm's persimmon cakes, persimmon jam, canned goods, and other products have become famous far and wide. Even the leaders at higher levels have praised our farm. Now, several roads have been built around the farm..."
To boost the economy, roads need to be built. The farm has been doing very well in recent years, and the educated youth have also benefited from it.
Gu Xi dared not take credit, and waved her hand, saying, "I only mentioned it briefly. It was the farm and you guys who actually did the work. You guys are the ones who worked hard."
Cheng Yuanyuan said, "Without your idea, the farm manager wouldn't have taken it to heart and made up his mind to do it. You deserve the most credit. Our farm built a processing plant, which provided many jobs for the nearby villagers. We educated youth also went to work in the factory and didn't have to work so hard in the fields."
Gan Dongliang nodded and said seriously, "Indeed, Comrade Gu has made great contributions. The farm manager has always wanted to thank you in person, but unfortunately he has not been able to meet you."
Last autumn, when the persimmons ripened, Gu Xi took her family on an autumn outing to the farm, but the farm owner happened to be out of town and they missed it.
The group talked about the farm, then the college entrance exam, and then about educated youth returning to the city... They had a lively discussion, full of youthful vigor.
Xu Yuansheng, who was in the upper bunk, had woken up at some point and was peeking out to listen.
She only climbed down and took the baby to breastfeed after the child in Xiang Changchuan's arms woke up and cried for his mother.
The child is almost a year and a half old and has not yet been weaned. Xu Yuansheng plans to find an opportunity to wean him after the New Year, so that it will be convenient for him to go to school.
Xu Huaisheng and Xiang Changchuan sat beside her, blocking her view of the surroundings and creating a private space. It wasn't convenient in the car, and they couldn't find a private space, so this was the only option.
After she finished feeding the baby, the child was full and energetic. He looked around and was happy to see familiar people all around him, and he would occasionally let out a cry.
Xiang Changchuan helplessly took a handkerchief to wipe his son's drool and pinched his chubby little face.
Cheng Yuanyuan said apologetically, "Yuansheng, did we wake you up?"
"No," Xu Yuansheng said with a smile. "I took a nap just now. I always have a very good sleep quality. I won't wake up even if there's thunder. You can't wake me up."
Cheng Yuanyuan leaned closer to look at the baby in Xu Yuansheng's arms, squeezed his little hand, and greeted him in a low voice: "Little Zhenzhen, I'm Aunt Yuanyuan, do you remember me?"
Little Xiang Zhen wrapped his arms around his mother's neck, his little legs resting on her knees. His bright, dark eyes looked at her, and he let out a friendly "Ah!" followed by a grin. Then he called out, "Mommy, Daddy, Auntie, Sister, Brother, Grandpa, Grandma~~"
Everyone was both amused and exasperated. Even Xiang Zhao and the other two, who were playing checkers, turned to look. The little guy thought they were playing with him, and became even more excited, shouting "Ah ah ah!" incessantly.
My toddler, who's just over a year old, has just learned to call out to people. He's making random noises at people, and I don't even know who he's calling.
Xu Yuansheng was both amused and exasperated. He hugged the restless child and scolded him with a laugh, "You silly child, who are you calling? I can't teach you."
Cheng Yuanyuan was charmed by the cute little boy, took him in her arms, and kissed his soft little face.
If you can't kiss another pretty little one, here's another little darling you can kiss.
After the kiss, she said to Xu Yuansheng, "Yuansheng, your Zhenzhen is such a beautiful baby, she's so good-looking. You sisters are so lucky, how come all your children are so beautiful? If I could have such a beautiful child in the future, I would have no regrets in this life."
Although she doesn't have a boyfriend yet, she has fantasized about having beautiful children in the future.
Xu Yuansheng laughed and said, "His appearance has nothing to do with me; it's all thanks to his father."
The child clearly inherited his father's handsome face; he'll probably grow up to be a handsome man who makes even dogs seem affectionate, the kind who attracts a lot of women.
However, Xiang Zhao and Xiang Yun, the siblings, doted on their younger brother. In their words, they could tell at a glance that they were brothers and sisters, and were family.
Cheng Yuanyuan and Gan Dongliang sat there for a long time, chatting with everyone, so they didn't feel bored.
They didn't get up and leave until after lunch, when the children needed to take a nap.
Cheng Yuanyuan said reluctantly, "Gu Xi, Yuansheng, Huaisheng, if you ever pass through the provincial capital, remember to come find me. I'll show you all around the province." Then, somewhat disappointed, she added, "Actually, we originally wanted to apply to universities in Beijing, but we haven't studied for many years and were afraid our grades wouldn't be good enough, so we had to switch to universities in the provincial capital..."
They were lucky to be admitted to a university in the provincial capital, thanks to their month of intensive review and the study materials provided by Gu Xi.
The three Gu sisters, on the other hand, all achieved excellent results. When filling out their college applications, they all chose universities in Beijing. Although the three sisters did not attend the same university, at least they were in the same city, making it convenient for them to meet.
“You can visit Beijing anytime you have time,” Gu Xi said. “Let us know when you come to Beijing, and we’ll show you around.”
"Then it's settled." Cheng Yuanyuan smiled brightly. "We'll keep in touch by writing to each other."
"Okay, let's communicate by letter."
After the two left, without Cheng Yuanyuan's voice, the carriage didn't seem as lively anymore.
However, after the children woke up from their afternoon nap, the children played together in the little rickshaws given to them by the educated youth on the farm, and it became lively again.
The children were playing, while the adults were chatting.
Xu Huaisheng asked curiously, "Big sister, what's Beijing like? Do people there all speak with a Beijing accent, like your husbands?"
Gu Xi smiled and nodded, briefly describing the streets and some attractions of the capital city. However, she didn't know much, as she was familiar with the capital city of later generations but not so much with the current one.
“…During those five years, I didn’t go anywhere special, just wandered around the neighborhood.” She smiled at her two younger sisters, “When we have time in the future, let’s go shopping in Beijing together.”
Xu Yuansheng and Xu Huaisheng nodded, both filled with anticipation for the future.
The two sisters still remember that when the news of the resumption of the college entrance examination came, their eldest sister remained calm and seemed unsurprised by the news.
Of course, it's also possible that the Shen family informed her beforehand.
To their surprise, their eldest sister actually asked them to take the college entrance examination together.
The eldest sister and Huaisheng were fine; they were both high school graduates, so taking the college entrance exam was a natural thing for them. But Xu Yuansheng herself was completely baffled and couldn't understand why she had to go too, since her eldest sister and younger sister were taking the exam.
She only graduated from junior high school and was already married with children, never thinking about going to university.
In the end, Gu Xi said to them, "Of course, I want the three of us sisters to go to university together, become university students, and continue to be together in the future."
She hopes her two younger sisters can go to university, experience university life, get impressive diplomas, and make a name for themselves in the future.
Even if it's only for four years, and everyone goes their separate ways after that, she still hopes her two younger sisters can spend more time with her.
Xu Yuansheng was thus persuaded.
She couldn't refuse the idea of the three sisters going to university together; they were sisters, so they should go to university together.
To prepare for the college entrance examination, Xu Yuansheng studied day and night for a whole month, working himself to the bone.
She knew she wasn't as smart or academically gifted as her older sister, nor did she have the foundation of a high school graduate like her younger sister. If she wanted to get into a university in Beijing with them, she would have to put in much more effort.
Fortunately, her family supported her taking the college entrance examination.
To allow her to focus on her studies, Xiang Changchuan, Xiang Zhao, and Xiang Yun all helped take care of the child and do housework. Apart from breastfeeding the baby, she didn't have to worry about anything else.
In addition, Gu Xi explained things to her and highlighted the key points for her...
In short, the whole family worked together to help her take the college entrance examination.
Fortunately, in recent years, every winter when she hibernates, her sister would still make her study and help her build a foundation, so even with such intense review, she didn't find it too difficult and just got through it.
To her even greater surprise, she actually received a university acceptance letter.
Looking back on those days, Xu Yuansheng felt as if he were in a dream.
She left Xujiatun, left her patriarchal family, and found the best sisters in the world, as well as other family members who wholeheartedly support her.
The only pity is that her grades are not as good as her older and younger sisters. Although it is a university in Beijing, it is just an ordinary university, and she studies fashion design.
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