After some time, around the fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, universities began sending out acceptance letters.

Everyone eagerly anticipated their results.

On the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, Shuihuai Village received its letters:

Sun Qinghui was admitted to the mechanical engineering program at the provincial university, Wang Xiao got into a teachers’ college, and Liang Fang was accepted into an agricultural university.

Additionally, Tao Hongxing and two others were admitted to different colleges.

Suddenly, everyone noticed that Jiang Lin hadn’t received a letter.

When they compared answers, Jiang Lin’s scores were better than those of Sun Qinghui and the others.

It was unlikely that they got accepted while she didn’t, especially since she had applied to three schools.

That year, exam scores weren’t publicly announced, so no one knew their exact scores.

Generally, after the exams, everyone stayed home waiting for their letters.

If no letter came, it meant they hadn’t passed.

No one understood what had happened and suggested they go to the county to find out.

Maybe there was a mailing error or some other issue.

Some even speculated that someone might have maliciously taken her place.

Jiang Lin was confident she had done well.

She had prepared for over a year and found the exam questions manageable.

She believed she should have received an acceptance letter.

After waiting patiently for two more days, Sun Qinghui, Wang Xiao, Tao Hongxing, and a few other educated youths took a tractor to the county to ask Yu Guojian, who was in charge of education.

Yu Guojian was dismissive, “What are you dissatisfied about? If you didn’t get an acceptance letter, it means you didn’t pass. What’s there to check? If every person who didn’t pass came to check, it would be chaos.”

Sun Qinghui argued, “Jiang Lin passed the preliminary selection and the medical examination with us. How could she not be accepted?”

Yu Guojian responded, “I’m telling you, not everyone who passes the preliminary selection gets admitted. There are many factors involved.”

Wang Xiao added, “We compared answers, and Jiang Lin did better than us. It’s impossible for us to get accepted while she didn’t. Her background isn’t a problem either, so it couldn’t be a political issue.”

Yu Guojian rolled his eyes, “Did you all apply to the same school? Different schools have different cut-off scores.”

“Of course, we all applied to Provincial University!” they all exclaimed.

However, only Sun Qinghui was admitted there; the others were admitted to their second or third choice schools.

“Then you should go ask at Provincial University. If they haven’t sent an acceptance letter, there’s nothing we can do about it,” Yu Guojian said dismissively.

He didn’t believe any of their claims about being admitted without an official letter.

If they hadn’t received the letter, they hadn’t been admitted.

Wang Xiao was worried for Jiang Lin. “Linlin, what should we do?” She believed that if she had passed, Jiang Lin must have as well.

Sun Qinghui suggested, “Let’s send a telegram to our teachers and classmates in the provincial capital immediately. Ask them to use their connections to check Jiang Lin’s exam papers and scores and see what’s going on.”

“Right, let’s go now.”

They headed straight to the county post office and sent telegrams to several people, including their high school teachers and other acquaintances who they thought might be able to help.

Anyone who might have the capability and a flexible mind to handle this issue received a message from them.

Jiang Lin also sent a telegram to her family.

Her eldest brother had graduated from Provincial University and could ask his teachers and classmates to investigate.

By the time they returned to the educated youth point in Shuai Village in the evening, they found Wei Qiongfang and Ma Kaihua talking in the courtyard.

Seeing them return, they wore expressions of schadenfreude.

Ma Kaihua laughed heartily, “I told you, it’s fate, ha ha.”

Wei Qiongfang, however, was a bit fearful.

She was worried that Jiang Lin might take out her frustration on her and beat her up again, so she quickly moved to the other side to avoid her.

Wei Qiongfang had tried several times to return to the city but had failed, so she was still in Shuai Village.

She had signed up for the exam too and had studied separately from the other educated youths, using materials she had obtained from the city.

Afraid that the others might borrow them, she avoided studying with Jiang Lin and the others.

She spent most of her time studying at her relative Ma Kaihua’s house.

She didn’t pass the preliminary admission line and had been angry and upset about it.

But when she heard that Jiang Lin hadn’t passed either, she was overjoyed.

She shared the news of Jiang Lin’s failure with Ma Kaihua.

Ma Kaihua and Chang Jihong celebrated at home, burning incense and practically ready to beat drums and gongs to celebrate.

Previously, their family had lived comfortably due to their position as cadre members, doing little work while receiving many benefits.

Now that they had lost their status, the new team leader didn’t indulge them, and the other members watched them closely, ensuring they didn’t slack off.

Their family now had to do the hard, dirty work they had previously avoided.

Their work points were strictly regulated, and they could no longer take more than their share of food and firewood.

Their once comfortable life had abruptly turned into one of tightness and poverty, making it extremely hard to endure.

Ma Kaihua and Cheng Fuwan had been cursing behind closed doors all year, and by now, they had become so superstitious and eccentric that people generally avoided them.

When they heard that Jiang Lin hadn’t been accepted into university, they were overjoyed and didn’t know how to contain their excitement.

Ma Kaihua even went to see the commotion after hearing from Wei Qiongfang that Jiang Lin had gone to the county to inquire about her results.

Sun Qinghui and the others ignored Ma Kaihua and said to Jiang Lin, “Jiang Lin, don’t worry. If it comes to it, we’ll go to the provincial capital together and ask at the provincial university.”

Ma Kaihua sneered, “Go to the provincial university? You think it’s yours to command? If you didn’t get in, you didn’t get in! You think you’re a phoenix? Take a look in the mirror!”

Shuihuai Village hadn’t had a university student in years, and Ma Kaihua continued, “Do you really think you’re a celestial star? In the old days, you’d just be a concubine for some old landlord.”

Jiang Lin immediately sensed Ma Kaihua’s malice.

She glanced at her and said calmly, “Are you gloating?”

Ma Kaihua quickly retorted, “Don’t pick a fight with me; I didn’t say anything.”

But she was thrilled inside, though disappointed that Jiang Lin remained composed and didn’t show any signs of despair or anger.

Ma Kaihua wanted to see Jiang Lin break down, go mad in the village, but it wasn’t happening.

Jiang Lin gave her a cold look and then turned to Sun Qinghui and the others, saying they would discuss it again tomorrow.

When Jiang Lin returned home, Yan Runzhi, Cheng Yunzhi, Wensheng, Dabao, and Xiaobao were all there.

They were more cautious and concerned than before the exams, worried about her feeling upset or irritable.

Yan Runzhi whispered, “Bao’er’s mother, are you hungry? This afternoon, I got a piece of the best pork belly from the commune. I didn’t use it for cooking, I made a bowl of braised pork with fermented bean curd for you. Do you want some?”

They all believed that something must have gone wrong since Jiang Lin hadn’t received her acceptance letter.

Wensheng was angry and wanted to confront the bad people.

Yan Runzhi had to restrain him, reminding him not to cause more trouble for Jiang Lin.

They prayed for Dongsheng to return soon and help resolve the issue.

At times like this, they knew the best they could do was stay quiet, take care of themselves, and not add to Jiang Lin’s burden.

Jiang Lin saw how nervous they all were, more tense than she had been during the exam.

She laughed, “Eat, of course, I want to eat. I’ve been craving it in my dreams.”

Yan Runzhi was quite skilled, even though she had never had professional training.

Her cooking had a unique flavor, making even a simple egg drop soup taste especially delicious, let alone braised pork!

Seeing Jiang Lin still smiling so brightly, with no trace of gloom or burden, Yan Runzhi felt relieved.

She had been truly worried that Bao’er’s mother might take it badly.

Jiang Lin noticed Wen Sheng looking serious, Dabao with a tense little face, and Xiaobao, usually cheerful, looking aggrieved.

Their eyes were full of pity and concern when they looked at her.

She asked, smiling, “What’s wrong with you all?”

Xiaobao immediately threw himself into her arms, full of heartache. “Linlin, if you’re sad, you can cry. Whenever I’m unhappy, I cry a little, and I feel better.”

Dabao added, “Mom, you can cry. We won’t laugh at you.”

Wen Sheng said, “I’ll go with you to the provincial capital!” Ready to fight with his sword!

Cheng Yunzhi said, “Bao’er’s mom, where there’s a will, there’s a way. Don’t be sad.”

Jiang Lin laughed even more cheerfully, waving her hand, “I’m fine, really. There’s nothing to worry about.”

She was genuinely not anxious, frantic, or angry.

She had done her best.

If she hadn’t studied well, hadn’t reviewed diligently, or hadn’t prepared thoroughly, she would now believe she hadn’t passed and wouldn’t be bothering with anything.

But she had worked hard for a year, prepared thoroughly, and the exam process had gone smoothly.

So, it shouldn’t have turned out like this.

Moreover, it wasn’t just her; the whole family had put in effort for her.

Yan Runzhi and others had put so much into her college aspirations, their expectations even surpassing her own. She couldn’t let them down.

Even if she didn’t get the result she wanted, she had done her best and wouldn’t regret or be angry about it.

Not everything in life goes as planned; unexpected events happen every day. When things go wrong, being angry, frantic, or sad is useless.

She needed to calmly work to fix it.

Success would be a joy, but failure wouldn’t be the end.

Life offers more than one path, and her future isn’t limited to just university.

In her heart, family is the most important. As long as they love her, everything else is secondary.

Education and career are means to a better life, and there are many ways to achieve a happy family life, not just through university.

With so many people who love her, she has even more motivation to realize her personal value.

As long as they are there, her source of motivation will never dry up.

So, she won’t panic.

Yan Runzhi brought out a large plate of braised pork with fermented bean curd.

They had used their entire monthly ration to reward Jiang Lin, hoping that the delicious food would help her forget her worries.

“Wow!” Jiang Lin exclaimed as she saw the large, glossy, red plate of braised pork, emitting a fragrant and delicious aroma that made her mouth water.

It was indeed the best pork belly, with orange-red, shiny skin, tender but not greasy, and it smelled wonderfully sweet and savory.

Yan Runzhi saw her smiling genuinely and felt relieved, exchanging a glance with Cheng Yunzhi.

Jiang Lin helped set the table. Cheng Yunzhi told Dabao, “Get some purple garlic. Eating meat without garlic halves the flavor.”

“Haha, I want some too!” Xiaobao sat next to Jiang Lin, first picking a piece of braised pork with a bit of cartilage for her. “Mom, try it!”

Jiang Lin took a bite. “Wow, it’s so fragrant! So sweet! So savory!”

The pork was tender, melting in the mouth, with a burst of savory oil.

The pork skin was sweet and glutinous, the lean meat soft but not dry, and the fermented bean curd added a unique umami flavor.

It was the best braised pork she had ever eaten!

Besides the braised pork, there was also a bowl of green beans cooked with meat sauce and dried tofu.

The meal left Jiang Lin feeling incredibly happy, though she joked to herself that with her husband not home, she couldn’t fully enjoy the warmth and comfort.

Meanwhile, in the provincial capital at the Jiang household:

Upon receiving Jiang Lin’s telegram, Xu Aimei and Jiang Dongjian immediately became anxious.

They had expected a celebratory telegram if she had passed, but instead, this unexpected situation arose.

After work, in the evening, Lu Hang, Qian Bo, Ye Jing, Jiang Xinglei, and others gathered at the Jiang household for a meeting.

Jiang Dongjian said, “I’ll go to Provincial University to ask around.”

Xu Aimei added, “Where’s the eldest? Why isn’t he back yet? Let him go with you.”

Jiang Xinglei remarked, “Forget about my older brother. Although he seems a bit more spirited these days, he probably won’t put in any effort for something like this. He’ll just think everything is predetermined by fate and that human struggles are pointless.”

Lu Hang offered, “I’ll find the teacher who sold the review materials and ask him to help check Linlin’s exam papers and scores to see what’s really going on.”

He hadn’t been accepted into a bachelor’s program or even a diploma program.

His father had used his scores to get him into a technical school, and everyone believed he wouldn’t pass the exam next year either.

Qian Bo chimed in, “I’ll go ask at the Teachers’ College.”

Jiang Xinglei went out with him.

Ye Jing and some others went to check at the Agricultural University.

When the eldest and second eldest brothers of the Jiang family returned home and heard about the issue, the eldest brother immediately turned to leave.

Jiang Dongjian asked, “Eldest brother, where are you going?”

The eldest brother replied, “I’m going to ask Professor Chen.”

Professor Chen had valued him highly in the past and had once considered marrying his daughter to him.

Unfortunately, certain events had caused them to part ways.

Professor Chen had returned to teach at Provincial University a few years ago, and the eldest brother had visited him but hadn’t met him face-to-face due to certain issues.

Now that there was a problem with his sister’s college entrance exam, his first thought was to ask Professor Chen for help.

Seeing that the eldest brother was willing to help with his sister’s issue, Xu Aimei and her husband were relieved.

Though he was indifferent about his own affairs, he still cared about his family.

Lu Hang, unable to sit still, decided to accompany the eldest brother.

He drove their old jeep to speed things up.

Around ten o’clock, the eldest brother and Lu Hang returned to the Jiang family home.

Except for the children, the entire family was waiting.

“How did it go?” they asked.