Chapter 158

Su Weimin has been poking his spine for so many years, always believing that one day he will resume the college entrance examination and his daughter will definitely become a college student. When his daughter jumped into a well for the sake of educated youth, he deeply blamed himself. He once doubted whether it was a mistake to let his daughter read such a book. If his daughter, like other rural girls who did not graduate from junior high school or even read a book, were to marry and have children with an ordinary and honest person at the age of 18 and live an ordinary life in the countryside, he would not have to bear so much gossip, nor would he be unable to bear it.

But his daughter was naturally suited for academics. She had been a top student since she started school. Why wouldn’t he let her pursue education? It wasn’t her fault that others lacked knowledge. It’s just that he hadn’t anticipated that this day would take a full ten years to arrive.

Su Weimin dared not imagine what kind of life his daughter would be living now if it weren’t for Han Cheng. Only people like Han Cheng, who valued the power of knowledge, would believe in her and accompany his daughter in her studies.

During the days of waiting for the admission notice, Su Weimin kept a close eye on the newspapers. He listened to the radio attentively, fearing he might miss even the slightest piece of news related to the college entrance examination. Every day, whenever he had a moment to spare, he would squat by the telephone in the commune office, afraid of missing his daughter’s call.

Today, when Su Weimin saw the words Su Xiaoxiao, the top scorer in liberal arts in Z Province,” in the newspaper, his hands trembled incessantly. He wanted to call Han Cheng for confirmation, but he worried that it might just be someone with the same name. Since Han Cheng had promised to inform him upon receiving the admission notice, he spent the whole day waiting by the phone, and finally, his wait paid off.

After three years of struggle and enduring ten years of turmoil, the head of the family, who had never shed a tear, couldn’t help but shed tears of joy when he heard his daughter’s words.

Su Weimin wiped away his tears. “Great, great, the heavens have eyes. My daughter got into university! My daughter got into the best university!”

………

Han Cheng hung up the phone, hugged his sobbing wife, and kissed her repeatedly, feeling distressed. “Why are you still crying? It’s time to be happy.”

Su Xiaoxiao really didn’t want to cry. It was so difficult for a woman of this era to change her fate. If it weren’t for Han Cheng, if she hadn’t decided to marry Han Cheng on the spot, she wouldn’t even dare to imagine what kind of life she would be living now, or if she would have the courage to survive in this era.

Su Xiaoxiao kept crying. “Han, Han Cheng…”

Han Cheng’s heart ached with every sob. He held his wife tightly, gently patting her back. “I’m here; I know; I know everything.”

Han Cheng had never known what love at first sight was. There were couples like Zhou Yuhua and Zhao Xianfeng who had become a couple since they met at school, but it wasn’t mainstream in this era. Most couples were arranged by the organization or introduced by matchmakers, and they stayed together if their conditions were similar, like revolutionary comrades.

Looking back now, he was actually attracted to Su Xiaoxiao’s gentle nature at first sight. Their interactions later on were as if they were meant to be. Su Xiaoxiao gradually became an indispensable part of his life, and he couldn’t bear to see her sad or upset.

Han Cheng stopped talking and silently comforted his wife while his heart continued to ache with the sound of her sobs.

Su Xiaoxiao’s emotions eventually settled down, but she looked particularly delicate. Her tears and snot stained Han Cheng’s clothes.

Han Cheng didn’t mind it. He took out a handkerchief and wiped away the tears on Su Xiaoxiao’s face. He kissed her lips, feeling the faint, salty taste of her tears. He furrowed his brows and said, “Stop crying. Your eyes are swollen. The kids will worry if they see you cry.” If she continues to cry, I might develop a heart disease. ^[1]T/N; Han Cheng, that’s too much of exaggeration. 

Su Xiaoxiao pursed her lips and smiled, shaking her head. “No more crying. I’m happy.”

Han Cheng breathed a sigh of relief when he saw her smile. He put the handkerchief in his back pocket, hugged her again, and held her hand. “Let’s go home and cook for the kids.”

Su Xiaoxiao rubbed Han Cheng’s hand and said, “Hmm, let’s go home.”

When the couple returned home, they heard the sound of children’s laughter. When they opened the courtyard gate, Zhou Yuhua and Yali were there. There was a big charcoal stove in the center of the yard, with various skewers arranged on top, indicating they were planning to barbecue.

The kids rushed over when they saw Su Xiaoxiao and Han Cheng returning. Fantuan counted, “One, two, three,” and the six kids all said in unison, “Welcome back, our province’s college entrance exam top scorer, Su Xiaoxiao!”

Su Xiaoxiao: “…” 

Whose idea was this?

Xiao Roubao and Xiao Tangyuan hugged their mother’s thighs.

Xiao Roubao: “Mommy! You’re really amazing to be the top scorer. Many people came to school today to congratulate us. They touched my head and said they wanted to share the joy and even gave me candy, but I’m a good boy, so I didn’t take any.”

The older brothers protected Xiao Tangyuan tightly, so no one dared to touch her; they all went to touch Xiao Roubao instead. Xiao Tangyuan raised her little head and said with a smile, “Mommy, the top scorer is as popular as Xiao Tangyuan.”

Han Cheng bent down to pick up his daughter. “Alright, stop embarrassing mom. Let’s do what we need to do.”

Su Xiaoxiao rubbed Xiao Rouba’s head. “Good boy, go play.”

Fantuan suddenly approached Su Xiaoxiao and stared into her eyes. “Mom, did you cry?”

Su Xiaoxiao always treated her children as friends and sighed, “Hey kid, if you had waited ten years to get into university, you would have cried tears of joy too. I called your grandpa, and as soon as I heard his voice, I couldn’t hold back. You don’t know how much pressure your grandma and grandpa faced to support me through school, how many people gossiped behind my back before I married your dad. Now, finally, I’ve made them proud and given them the chance to fight back.”

Fantuan hugged his mother and patted her back. “It’s all in the past, Mom. Don’t worry, I will definitely teach my younger siblings well, and we will definitely get into the best university in the future.”

Xiao Doubao also approached his mom, hugged her, and rubbed her waist. “Mom, don’t be sad. I’ll make you proud.”

Su Xiaoxiao rubbed the heads of her two kids. “Mom’s not sad, and I believe in you both. Alright, go take care of your younger siblings.”

Su Xiaoxiao walked to the barbecue stand and said, “Why do you suddenly feel like eating barbecue?”

Zhou Yuhua joked with Su Xiaoxiao, “Our military district has produced a top scorer, so we naturally need to celebrate and celebrate. So, have you chosen your school?”

The news of several top university officials coming to the military district to “snatch the top scorer” had already spread widely. Now, every examinee in the entire military district envies Su Xiaoxiao.

Su Xiaoxiao shook her head. “Stop teasing me. Peking University has always been my first choice. I have to go to the capital first before school starts and find a place to live.”
Yali said, “No need to find a place. Zhuzi’s grandfather’s courtyard can accommodate both of our families. He also likes the lively atmosphere and has been talking about Fantuan and the others every day. He’ll be very happy when so many kids accompany him every day.”

Grandpa Yang was supposed to come this summer, but something came up the at the last minute, so he couldn’t make it. Later, he said he’d come to see the children during the Chinese New Year. Now that she and Su Xiaoxiao had both been accepted to universities in the capital, it would be good to go early in the capital and adapt to the capital’s environment.

Zhou Yuhua looked at Yali with a puzzled expression. “Han Cheng is originally from the capital, and his family also owned a courtyard. It’s in the same alley as ours. Why would he live in our house if he can live in his own house?”

Yali exclaimed, looking at Su Xiaoxiao with wide eyes. “Why have I never heard you mention it before?”

Su Xiaoxiao was speechless. “I’m sorry. I just found out myself.”

Han Cheng’s parents have long been away, and he has never heard him talk about his grandparents or relatives. Su Xiaoxiao always thought that Han Cheng was from the city; after all, Matchmaker Xu said so when he introduced him to her.

Su Xiaoxiao now recalls with a broad heart. She married Han Cheng without even figuring out where he was from, and she went straight to the military region with him.

But there’s a saying, “Time may have passed, but the feelings remain fresh.” Sometimes a woman’s intuition is quite accurate. Anyway, she took a liking to Han Cheng at first sight and felt he was a reliable person, and indeed, he proved to be so.

Zhou Yuhua looked incredulously at Su Xiaoxiao. “You didn’t find out about it just now, right?”

Then she looked at Yali and asked, “Old Zhang, Han Cheng, and Zhao Xianfeng have known each other for generations. They all went to the same school since elementary school. Although Zhao Xianfeng only got to know them in high school, Old Zhang and Han Cheng have known each other since childhood. Old Zhang didn’t mention this to you.”

Yali shook her head. “No.”

Zhou Yuhua didn’t want to ask anymore. “Alright, it seems like you need to dig deeper. You two are lucky you weren’t sold off by someone.”

Zhao Xianfeng and Zhang Hongtu had just finished discussing matters next door and walked in to hear their wives talking about their ancestors being sold for 18 generations. Zhao Xianfeng thought his wife was scolding someone again. “What generations are you talking about? Zhou Yuhua, why are you scolding people again?”

Zhou Yuhua wanted to roll her eyes. “Zhao Xianfeng, you might as well roast your ears. They’re of no use anyway.”

Zhao Xianfeng’s ears, which were almost twisted off by her last night, began to ache again. He cleared his throat nervously. “I won’t talk to you. I’m going to find Han Cheng.”

Zhou Yuhua said, “Go ahead, go ahead. Us women are talking. Stop interrupting us.”

Zhang Hongtu couldn’t help but laugh. This couple was really like enemies. Zhao Xianfeng had been bullied by Zhou Yuhua for so many years and never won.

Yali tapped Zhang Hongtu’s arm. “Old Zhang, why have you never mentioned growing up with Han Cheng? And his family lived in the same alley as ours?”

Zhang Hongtu subconsciously glanced at Su Xiaoxiao, then back at his wife. “Han Cheng’s family situation is a bit complicated. Let him tell Xiaoxiao himself. Let’s grill faster; the kids must be hungry.”

The children had already eaten several skewers to fill their stomachs. Xiao Roubao was already half full; otherwise, he would be squatting and waiting for the meat to cook instead of playing games with his brothers.

Su Xiaoxiao said, “It doesn’t matter. When it’s time to say it, Han Cheng will naturally tell me. If he doesn’t tell me, it means it’s not something important.”

Zhang Hongtu nodded. “Indeed, it’s not that important. If it weren’t for your family to go back to the capital, there’s no need to even mention it. Let’s forget about it. Let Han Cheng tell you himself.”

Su Xiaoxiao didn’t care at first, but being told that by Zhang Hongtu aroused her curiosity.

This Han Cheng… We were about to return to the capital, but he didn’t even mention it to her.

While grilling skewers, Su Xiaoxiao was a bit absent-minded, almost burning her hand several times.

Grilling skewers was Yali’s specialty; it seemed like border people were naturally good at it. She sprinkled some cumin powder on a plate of grilled skewers and handed it to Su Xiaoxiao. “Take it to Han Cheng, and while you’re at it, ask what you want to know. With Han Cheng’s personality, he definitely didn’t intentionally hide anything from you. Don’t get angry; just talk nicely.”

Su Xiaoxiao took it with a smile, finding Yali’s cautious demeanor somewhat amusing. “What? Afraid we’ll argue? Come to think of it, we haven’t argued since we met. Let me figure out how to start an argument.”

Yali stared at her back with widened eyes. Could this model couple really be about to argue?