Once she was fully awake, all the grogginess vanished, and her energy came back in full.

With her backpack slung over one shoulder, she first ran to the post office, bought some envelopes and stamps, sealed up the letter she’d written, wrote the address, stuck on the stamp, and dropped it in the mailbox.

After that, she headed to the state-run store, browsed the counters, and bought two packs of toilet paper, a bar of soap, a tube of toothpaste, and a bottle of snow cream.

She wasn’t sure when she’d be able to come back to town again. Some things couldn’t be bought at the commune, and daily essentials were used up fast—so she stocked up while she had the chance.

As for salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, those could still be bought at the rural supply shop, so she didn’t bother.

She didn’t buy snacks either—she still had some malted milk powder and honey she’d brought from home, and there was even a can of braised beef waiting to be eaten.

She’d just had a bowl of three-delicacy noodles at noon, which satisfied her craving for the moment.

But the real reason she didn’t buy more was because she simply didn’t have the money to spend however she wanted.

Although she’d brought a decent amount of money when she came to the countryside, a good portion of it had already been spent on Han Ting. Now that she’d bought these fairly pricey daily necessities, there wasn’t much left.

With the remaining money in hand, Chu Xia made another trip to the Xinhua Bookstore.

She browsed the shelves but didn’t pick out any novels or entertainment reads. Instead, she bought a few study guides and workbooks for middle school math, physics, and chemistry.

After finishing her shopping, she jogged back to where the donkey cart was parked.

Stopping beside the cart, she tossed the two packs of toilet paper onto it and, still catching her breath, said to Lin Xiaohan, “Let’s go, I’ve finished everything I needed. Let’s hurry home.”

Before she returned, Lin Xiaohan had been sitting on the cart leafing through a primary school textbook. When he saw her come back, he closed the book, stood up, brought the donkey over and hitched it to the cart, then climbed aboard.

Chu Xia followed and climbed up as well.

After sitting down and catching her breath, she watched the cart start moving and turned to Lin Xiaohan. “So… I don’t have much money left right now. Can I give you my half of the milk candy cost after I get my wages?”

Sixty students had signed up for school, so Lin Xiaohan had handed out sixty milk candies.

He only had sixty candies in total—about two jin (roughly a kilogram), which would cost around three yuan. Split evenly, Chu Xia owed him a yuan and a half.

Since the candy had been part of their student recruitment effort anyway, Lin Xiaohan didn’t push it. He responded mildly, “Alright.”

Chu Xia let out a sigh of relief, and the quick breathing from her jog finally eased.

With nothing more to say to Lin Xiaohan, she reached into her backpack, took out the books she had just bought at the Xinhua Bookstore, and began flipping through them.

The content of those materials and exercises was a bit challenging for her.

But she wasn’t starting from zero—after all, they had just graduated from middle school earlier this year, and she had actually paid attention and studied properly back in school.

She bought these materials so she could keep learning in preparation for the college entrance exam when it resumed.

According to the timeline in the novel, it would be about two years before the college entrance exam was reinstated.

If she wasted these two years, her chances of getting into university would definitely drop.
But if she kept up her studies and prepared in advance, she wouldn’t be caught off guard when the notice came.

As Chu Xia was reading and planning her next steps, Lin Xiaohan suddenly asked, “Why’d you buy middle school study materials? We’re only teaching elementary school.”

Chu Xia looked up at him. “I need to study too.”

Lin Xiaohan scoffed and gave her a glance. “Didn’t think you were the studious type.”

Chu Xia ignored his tone and expression.

She replied, not the least bit modest, “Of course I am. You’re never too old to learn, right?”

Lin Xiaohan let out another scoff, turned his gaze back to the road, and kept driving the cart without saying more.

But a little while later, he suddenly asked, “Did you hear some inside info?”

Still looking at her book, Chu Xia responded casually, “What inside info?”

“About the college entrance exam coming back. What else would I be talking about?” he said as he steered the donkey.

Chu Xia froze for a second, surprised.

She glanced at Lin Xiaohan and thought—Geez, is this guy sharp or what? I only mentioned it once, and everyone else just treated it like some dream talk. But he actually remembered?

Of course, she didn’t let any of that show. Speaking in a normal tone, she discussed the topic with him: “The exam’s been suspended for nearly a decade now. Our country is seriously short on talent in a lot of areas. I think it’s only a matter of time before it comes back. Don’t you think so?”

Lin Xiaohan had already answered this once before. He agreed that it was possible.

Looking at her, he said, “I just want to know if you actually heard something.”

Chu Xia shrugged. “Nope. That’s just my own guess.”

He looked forward again. “You’re buying books and studying just based on a guess?”

Chu Xia said, “Why not? I genuinely like studying. And it’s not a bad thing. Studying makes you better. You know what they say—‘Master math, physics, and chemistry, and you’ll fear nothing wherever you go.’”

Of course, saying she “genuinely liked studying” was a bit of a stretch. The only thing she’d ever genuinely loved before was Han Ting.

Back in school, she was just a quiet, well-behaved kid who followed the rules, which is why she studied hard.

This time, Lin Xiaohan didn’t respond with another sarcastic laugh. He said nothing more.

Chu Xia didn’t keep reading either. She put the books away and turned to enjoy the scenery.

After a while, she glanced at Lin Xiaohan and said, “Hey, why don’t you review too? Just in case the exam does come back one day—you won’t be caught off guard. I can lend you my books.”

“No need,” Lin Xiaohan shot her down without hesitation.

Fine, no need then. Chu Xia pouted inwardly and turned back to watching the scenery.

To be fair, he really didn’t need to. In the novel, he did manage to get into college.

But Chu Xia hadn’t signed up for the exam in the novel. She had no idea if she’d actually be able to get in, so she had to prepare in advance.

In the story, after she gave up the chance to return to the city to Su Yun, Su Yun went back early, while Chu Xia stayed behind in the countryside for Han Ting.

Not long after that, the college entrance exam was restored.

Someone like Han Ting, who never studied in school, had no interest in the exam at all. And since Chu Xia wanted to stay by his side, she didn’t sign up either.

Looking back on it now—what a fool she had been.

It wasn’t too late by the time Chu Xia and Lin Xiaohan returned to the countryside on the donkey cart.

When they got back to the Tanxii Brigade, the sky had only just darkened.

First, they went to the school to lock the textbooks and teaching supplies in the office. Then they headed to the brigade compound to unhitch the donkey from the cart and tie it back up in the stable, feeding it hay and water.

Once the donkey was taken care of, their day’s work was finally done.

Even though the donkey did most of the walking, the day’s running around still left them both exhausted. Right now, all Chu Xia wanted was to eat, wash up, and crawl into bed for a good sleep.

When they arrived back at the educated youth quarters, the place was dark and empty.

At this hour, Han Ting and the others had probably already eaten. Where they’d gone afterward was anyone’s guess.

Of course, neither Chu Xia nor Lin Xiaohan cared.

They each went to their dorms to drop off their bags and then headed to the kitchen to make dinner.

When the food was ready, Chu Xia still carried her bowl over and sat at the same table with Lin Xiaohan to eat.

Lin Xiaohan glanced up at her, clearly a bit bothered by her behavior, but said nothing.

He looked indifferent and laid-back, like someone who had no interest in talking, so Chu Xia didn’t bother trying to strike up a conversation. She quietly ate her steamed bun and pickled vegetables.

In the middle of their meal, a sudden commotion broke out outside.

Laughter and playful chatter grew louder as it neared the kitchen doorway.

The curtain over the door was pushed aside, and the voices became clearer—Han Ting and the others had returned.

They paused briefly when they saw Chu Xia and Lin Xiaohan inside but quickly acted as if they hadn’t seen them, going about their business as usual.

They had come back from the brigade’s mill.

With so many people and little sense of saving, the flour they had last time was already gone.

So, after dinner, they’d gone to grind more flour and were now back to steam a fresh batch of buns.

They occupied the other two tables in the kitchen.

The girls kneaded and shaped the buns while the boys sat nearby chatting and resting.

Their chatter and occasional play-fighting filled the kitchen with a warm, lively energy.

Naturally, Chu Xia and Lin Xiaohan were left out of all of this.

After they finished eating and cleaned their dishes, they returned to their dorms.

Once they left, the atmosphere in the kitchen relaxed even more, and the conversations grew livelier.

Gu Yuzhu, shaping buns in her hands, asked Li Qiao beside her, “What was Tang Chu Xia eating just now?”

It seemed like no one had paid attention to Chu Xia and Lin Xiaohan earlier.

But once Gu Yuzhu asked, it turned out all ten of them had noticed.

Before Li Qiao could answer, Hu Yang said, “Pickled cucumbers, I think.”

Chen Sisi chimed in, “Yeah, I smelled it. Definitely pickled cucumbers.”

Gu Yuzhu muttered, “Where are they getting all these pickles from? I’ve seen Tang Chu Xia switch between several kinds already.”

Sure, they had enough buns to eat now thanks to the mill, but eating plain buns every day while watching Chu Xia and Lin Xiaohan eat pickled sides—varied pickled sides—was frustrating.

Li Qiao responded, “Maybe they got them from the local villagers.”

Gu Yuzhu scoffed quietly. “Why would the villagers give them anything?”

Li Qiao shrugged, “Maybe because they get along with them.”

That line of conversation was clearly headed toward gossip, and since they all knew Han Ting didn’t like hearing anyone talk badly about Chu Xia, no one added more.

Chen Sisi pulled the topic back, “Why don’t we ask the villagers too?”

Before anyone else could respond, Han Ting spoke up first: “I’ll ask.”

Everyone was used to relying on Han Ting, so they had no objections. They just followed his lead.

Of course, it was already too late to go knocking on villagers’ doors now.

They’d wait until tomorrow, when it was more appropriate.

After saying this, Han Ting felt the kitchen was getting stuffy and stepped outside.

He glanced over at the west wing, where the girls’ dorm was, before walking further out into the yard.

He found a spot to sit outside.

He was out of cigarettes, so he could only tilt his head back and gaze at the stars.

Before long, Su Yun came looking for him.

She sat down next to him, quietly stargazing for a moment, then turned to say, “I heard the brigade is holding a school opening ceremony tomorrow.”

Han Ting looked at her and asked, “You don’t blame me, do you?”

Su Yun shook her head with a faint, bitter smile. “I was never meant to be a teacher. Why would I blame you?”

Han Ting took her hand in his. “Don’t overthink it. As long as I’m around, I won’t let you suffer or feel wronged. Whether you’re a teacher or not doesn’t matter.”

Su Yun felt a deep sense of reassurance in his grasp.

She pressed her lips together, the cloudiness in her eyes fading, and nodded with a small smile. “Okay.”