Chapter 13

Looking at the textbooks she took out, Lin Yun recalled that high school now lasted only two years. Students would choose between liberal arts and science at the end of the first year. However, the original owner of her body had dropped out before that point, so now that she was starting her second year, she needed to confirm her academic track.

She was definitely going to choose the science stream. Aside from the liberal arts subjects being very era-specific, there was just too much memorization involved, and they were also too flexible. Even with all the study materials available in her past life, Lin Yun’s performance in liberal arts was only average. Now, in this setting, she’d be even worse at it.

Thinking about that, Lin Yun opened the original owner’s textbooks. She found that the textbooks from this time were actually even clearer than the ones in the future, and the content was a bit simpler. She tried answering some practice questions and discovered she hadn’t completely forgotten what she had learned in her past life—this was good news for her current self.

She flipped through the textbooks one by one. Today, Lin Yun mainly just wanted to get a general idea of the materials. After reading the science textbooks, she felt they were manageable. The content was about the same as what was taught in her previous life’s high school, just a little more basic.

Of course, Lin Yun also skimmed the liberal arts textbooks, and as expected, she realized her previous assessment was right—she really wasn’t good at liberal arts.

The college entrance exam at this time didn’t include English, but Lin Yun still felt she should pick it up again. After all, English became a required subject in the future, and who knows when it might regain its importance.

Having decided on her direction, Lin Yun created a summer study plan for herself. Of course, her plan left a lot of room for flexibility, mainly because she still had a lot of farm work to do. Studying was limited to the daytime since it was too dark at night—her home didn’t have electricity yet—and she wanted to protect her eyesight.

Maybe the money they earned before the Dragon Boat Festival really did give Zhao Lanxiu some confidence, because the lunch they had that afternoon was surprisingly hearty.

After the meal, Lin Yonggang quietly slipped over to Lin Yun and Lin Yumei. “Sis, the brigade is showing a movie tonight. Everyone’s going to watch. Let’s go together!”

“I didn’t know there was a movie showing. When did this happen?”

“The announcement was just made over the loudspeaker. Didn’t you hear it?”

Lin Yun had been studying at the time and hadn’t really paid attention to the broadcast.

“We have to go quickly! Gangzi and the others said they’d go early to save us seats. But if we’re too late, there won’t be any left!”

“Is it far?” After a full day, Lin Yun didn’t feel like walking anymore—that was all she cared about now.

“It’s not far, just a short walk. The broadcast said the movie starts around 7 or 8 tonight, and they’re playing two films. Sis, wouldn’t it be great if every day were like this? I had pork cracklings today, even got to eat some meat, and now I can watch a movie! If I had a new pair of shoes too, this would be better than New Year’s!”

“All the things you want, you’ll have them someday. Maybe even better,” Lin Yun said, not really sure how to explain the future to him, so she could only comfort him like this.

“So are you going or not? If we’re going, we have to head out now. A bunch of people are already waiting outside.”

In the end, Lin Yun and Lin Yumei followed Lin Yonggang out. Not long after they started walking, he ran ahead. Lin Yun looked at the large crowd heading in the same direction and didn’t mind him running off.

There really were a lot of people going. Lin Yun even saw a few aunties she had previously seen at the village entrance.

“Er Ya, I haven’t seen you these past few days,” said one auntie walking beside Lin Yun with a small stool in hand.

“I’ve been at home, didn’t go out much.”

“It’s good for girls to stay at home. You and your sister are so well-raised by your mother—obedient and sensible. Not like my little monkeys; can’t even find them most days.” Although she complained about her sons, her face was full of smiles, clearly just making small talk.

Lin Yun didn’t know how to respond when Aunt Wang, who had previously taken some mugwort from her, came over.

“Er Ya, you’re 16 this year, right? Already a young lady.”

“Mm, I’m fifteen now, but I’m already eating like I’m sixteen,” Lin Yun replied with a smile.

“You should come out more often. Otherwise, in a few years, we aunties might not even recognize you if we run into you on the road.”

“Mm-hmm,” Lin Yun could only nod.

Maybe realizing Lin Yun was being a bit perfunctory, the aunties turned their attention to Lin Yumei.

“Yumei must be at the age to start thinking about finding a match, right?”

“Da Ya’s already grown up in the blink of an eye. I even held her when she was a baby.”

“This girl even nursed from me when she was little. Times were hard back then, nothing to eat. Your mom brought you to me…”

Just as the conversation was clearly about to turn toward herself, Lin Yumei quickly interjected, “Aunties, do you know what movie is playing tonight? It’s always been shown in other brigades before, didn’t expect we’d get one in our village this time!”

As soon as she brought up the movie, the aunties’ attention immediately shifted.

“Isn’t that right? I never thought they’d show a movie in our brigade this Dragon Boat Festival.”

“Exactly! The movies are great, but walking two or three hours every time is too much.”

“Did you hear? That girl from Zhao Defa’s family is said to be dating the projectionist. If she really marries him, her family’s life will get a lot better.”

“Who told you that? There are several projectionists. Which one are you talking about?”

“I was at Zhao Defa’s place during lunch, and his wife was showing off. I overheard her. Who else could it be from?”

“But she didn’t say which one specifically?”

“Nope, didn’t say. I didn’t ask either. It’d be embarrassing to pry too much—what if she was just bragging? You know what she’s like.”

The auntie next to her clearly didn’t buy it. Soon, more aunties gathered around to gossip. Lin Yun didn’t really know them, and seeing that their attention was all on the gossip, she didn’t greet them either.

She quietly walked over to Lin Yumei’s side. The two of them shared a knowing smile and followed behind the gossiping crowd, listening in.

Seeing that more people were joining in, Aunt Wang seemed even more pleased.

“I’m only telling this to you all here. Don’t go spreading it, okay? And definitely don’t say it was me who told you.”

Aunt Wang began her story with a little “disclaimer.”