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At that moment, Mingcheng finally opened up about his feelings. Hearing this, Wang Xuan complained, “Brother, I thought you were upset with your classmates. Did you really make a fuss just because of this? You should have told me earlier, so you wouldn’t have to keep it all to yourself and feel so miserable. Can you eat now?”
Wang Xuan thought his reduced appetite was due to emotional stress. Now that she knew the reason, she and her sister quickly went to the kitchen to prepare a meal.
Wang Zhenhe patted his son, who was almost as tall as him, and said earnestly, “Mingcheng, in the future, share your thoughts with the family. Your dad and mom are here for you. Even if there are major issues, your dad will handle them for you. Even if you don’t go to college, we can still earn a living with our own hands. Don’t worry about what others think, okay?”
Feeling ashamed, Mingcheng lowered his head and admitted, “Dad, I was wrong. I always think about how hard you and Mom work to support us in our studies. If I fail, I feel like I’m letting down your hard work and expectations.”
Holding his son’s shoulder, Wang Zhenhe reassured him, “Silly child, even if you don’t get into college, I’m still proud of you. You are knowledgeable, sensible, and care for your siblings. Even if we return to farming, Mingcheng, you will still be a valuable member of our family. Don’t keep things to yourself. If you don’t want to talk to Mom and Dad, discuss it with your siblings, especially your sister. Her ideas are often better than yours. If you have any problems, ask her. I guarantee it will be better than figuring things out on your own.”
This heartfelt conversation between father and son dispelled all of Mingcheng’s worries, allowing him to refocus on his studies.
Soon, the siblings received their acceptance letters. All four children from the Wang family had been accepted into the county high school. The Wang siblings became the talk of the town, admired for their accomplishments—each one excelling and securing a spot in high school, a source of great pride for the family.
After the school year began, the two siblings walked into the county high school together, accompanied by Wang Zhenhe. Wang Xuan also started school, and the three children had quite a lot of luggage to carry.
The three siblings gathered together, and Wang Qian decided not to stay in the school dormitory due to the inferior conditions compared to home. Wang Zhenhe didn’t want the younger ones to endure hardships, so he readily agreed. He believed that even if they didn’t live on campus, they would still build good relationships with their classmates. He trusted that the younger siblings, who were assertive, would fare well.
This time, Wang Zhenhe stayed in the city to conduct business and didn’t return home. Everyone in the family knew he was discreetly selling goods in the city, understanding the situation without discussing it openly.
Before Mingcheng left, Wang Qian repeatedly advised him, “Brother, take your time and stay focused. Things will work out soon.”
Soon, news of the resumption of the national college entrance exams spread across the country, kindling hope for many young adults seeking to change their circumstances. It was seen as an opportunity to alter their destinies and potentially return to their hometowns.
Around this time, the elderly Chen received a notice of exoneration, personally delivered by Zhang Qiang. Overjoyed, tears streamed down his face as he read the contents, finally regaining his freedom and rightful status. Embracing his grandchild, Chen Xu, tears of relief mingled with sorrow. His wife was dearly missed; she would have been thrilled for him.
Wang Zhenhe walked over to embrace the elderly Chen tightly, sharing in his joy and shedding tears of both happiness and sadness. This belated exoneration was bittersweet, a delayed verdict that would have been better sooner. Wang Zhenhe comforted him, “Uncle, let’s not cry. Today is a day of joy. You will have great fortune in the future.”
Zhang Qiang handed the reinstatement order to Chen Minghai. “Uncle Chen, this is the reinstatement order for your job. As for the compensation and other details, they will be finalized after you return. Do you want to leave now or wait a bit longer?”
Knowing that the young man in front of him was the grandson of the elderly Chen, Zhang Qiang asked out of courtesy. If the elderly Chen wanted to leave immediately, Zhang Qiang would arrange transportation to the train station.
Chen Minghai shook his head. “Xiao Zhang, I don’t want to leave just yet. I’d like to wait until these children around here finish their exams before returning. But I must thank you for today. Without both of you, our lives wouldn’t have been as comfortable.”
The elderly Chen’s words were heartfelt, but Zhang Qiang felt a bit embarrassed. “Grandpa, please don’t thank me. As long as you don’t hold any grudges, that’s all that matters. I’ll go back now. If you need any help in the future, just let me know.”
Zhang Lan and Wang Zhenhe couldn’t let him leave just like that. “Brother, it’s been a long time since you visited. Today, you must have your meal here before leaving. Let the driver come in and have a meal together. Otherwise, you’ll be disrespecting your big brother.”
In a youth settlement in the southwest, Cui Zhen and Wu Lei felt fortunate they had followed their families’ advice. With the college entrance exam news out, they were prepared while those around them were anxious. Enjoying snacks sent by their families, they were now ready for the exams; their books were well-worn from studying.
Despite the worn-out condition of their books, everyone was scrambling to get their hands on them. It was impossible to find revision materials at this point, with everyone competing for the limited resources.
The children of the elderly men and women had started studying early as advised by their families. When the college entrance exam news arrived, they were ecstatic. Their preparations were precise, a testament to the accurate predictions made by their families.
Captain Liu Changlin also gave the green light to those participating in the exams, allowing them to focus on studying without much labor involvement.
At the end of December, Chen Minghai arrived in the county town with a group of people. This time they stayed in the Zuo family’s house, with Wang Qian and Wang Xuan responsible for their meals. Mingyuan helped out, while Wang Zhenhe went alone to sell his goods.
After seeing Mingcheng and Chen Xu off to the exam hall, the elderly Chen finally breathed a sigh of relief. He was eagerly awaiting the acceptance letters for his grandson and Mingcheng, preparing to leave with them.
Meanwhile, in the south, Zhang Weiguo also took part in the exams. Seeing the familiar question types on the paper, he couldn’t help but feel a mix of emotions. However, he quickly suppressed his excitement and focused on answering the questions carefully.
When the examinees returned at noon under Mingcheng’s guidance, Wang Qian observed them closely. Her brother and Chen Xu appeared relaxed, but the expressions of the others varied. Some were frustrated, while others seemed uncertain. As long as Mingcheng performed well, she was content. She couldn’t control the others, who hadn’t put in as much effort as Chen Xu and Mingcheng.
Upon their return, Wang Zhenhe and Mingyuan didn’t inquire about everyone’s performance but urged them to eat more. Song Yuanhao, swallowing a mouthful of food, said, “Uncle, we are lucky to stay here. You have no idea what I heard from others taking the exam. They are sleeping on the floor in packed rooms, unable to rest well. And you know what they’re eating? Dry steamed buns and flatbreads. We are much happier here. Good food and accommodation make us truly fortunate. If we don’t get into college, I’ll feel guilty for your kindness.”
Li Ziqiao gave him a stern look. “Don’t just talk. Focus on the exam, achieve real results to live up to Grandpa Chen and Uncle. Let’s stay alert in the afternoon. Be meticulous; the morning session is over, let’s excel in the next one.”
After a rest instructed by the elderly Chen, Wang Zhenhe and the others escorted Mingcheng to the exam hall. The examination crowd was no smaller than the present college entrance exam participants, with people of all ages, some even bringing children to the exam. Wang Qian and Wang Xuan couldn’t help but admire their spirit.
The sisters made a detour to check on Wang Minglin and Qu Kai at the repair shop. The shop was filled with bicycles waiting to be fixed, and the two were focused on their work. Wang Qian didn’t disturb them and instead took Wang Xuan to a department store to buy some snacks for Mingyuan and the others. She remembered her brother’s words from last time about enjoying cake, so this time she decided to be generous and bought a five-pound cake to ensure her brother could enjoy it to the fullest.
Seeing the amount of items her sister purchased, Wang Xuan expressed some disapproval, “Little sis, you bought too much. Good things shouldn’t be consumed so extravagantly.”
Although Wang Xuan was concerned about the money spent, Wang Qian was undeterred. “Sis, I used the pocket money Mom gave me. We have a big family, so let’s take some back home to share. Mom and Dad have never had a proper slice of cake. This time, I took the initiative to let everyone enjoy it.”
Carrying the cake back home, Mingyuan was helping tidy up. When he saw what the sisters were carrying, he exclaimed, “Sis, you truly understand me! How did you know I love this?”
Wang Xuan didn’t regret buying the cake this time. While her brother enjoyed eating, he rarely spent money in town, usually returning home for meals. She admired her sister’s thoughtfulness.
“Brother, this cake is for you. Little Sister said you should enjoy it. Hurry up and eat; otherwise, there might not be any left with all of us here.”
Taking just one piece, Mingyuan said, “Sis, keep the rest. Serve it to our brothers tonight, and save some for Mom and Dad. Let’s bring some home.”