bookrandom Chapter 457 Resume the College Entrance Examination
Chapter 457 Resume the College Entrance Examination
As night deepened, the guests gradually took their leave.
Li Xiangyang and Li Xiaoyun stood in the courtyard to see off each guest and thank them for their blessings.
After seeing off the last guest, Li Xiangyang closed the courtyard gate and let out a long sigh.
The courtyard finally quieted down, with only the occasional bark of a dog coming from afar.
He returned to the room and saw Li Xiaoyun sitting by the bed, gently rocking the cradle, inside which Li Wangchen was sleeping soundly.
Li Xiangyang tiptoed over, sat down next to his wife, and put his arm around her shoulder: "Are you tired?"
Li Xiaoyun leaned on her husband's shoulder and whispered, "A little, but I'm very happy. Today was really lively."
"Go and rest," Li Xiangyang said softly. "There's still a lot to do tomorrow."
Li Xiaoyun nodded, took one last look at her sleeping child, and reluctantly went to bed to rest.
Li Xiangyang sat by the cradle for a while longer, making sure his son was sleeping soundly, before gently blowing out the oil lamp and lying down next to his wife.
In the darkness, he reached out and grasped Li Xiaoyun's hand, their hearts drawing very close together.
Moonlight streamed through the window, bathing this cozy little home.
The courtyard was quiet, with only the occasional cry of a night bird in the distance.
……
In the blink of an eye, time flies, and several years have quietly passed.
In October 1977, Li Xiangyang stood in his own yard, watching the children chasing and playing in the yard, a gratified smile on his face.
His son, Li Wangchen, is three years old and is chasing after Wang Ergou's son, Wang Yaozong, all over the yard.
"You can't catch me!" Li Wangchen laughed loudly, nimbly dodging Wang Yaozong's pursuit.
"I will definitely catch you!" Although Wang Yaozong was a few months younger than Li Wangchen, he was strong and his robust appearance was exactly like his father, Wang Ergou.
The two children chased each other in the yard, their laughter filling the entire courtyard.
"Run slowly, don't fall." Li Xiaoyun came out of the house, carrying freshly steamed cornbread in her hands, and looked at the children with concern.
Li Xiaoyun is more mature now than she was back then, with a touch more gentleness and composure in her eyes.
"Mom, I'm hungry!" Upon hearing his mother's voice, Li Wangchen immediately stopped and ran towards Li Xiaoyun.
“Me too! Auntie, I’m hungry too!” Wang Yaozong also came over, his eyes shining as he looked at the fragrant cornbread in Li Xiaoyun’s hand.
Li Xiaoyun smiled and divided the pancakes among the two children, saying, "Be careful, they're hot. Eat slowly."
At this moment, Wang Ergou and Ma Hongxia walked in from outside.
Seeing her son wolfing down his cornbread, Ma Hongxia quickly said, "Yaozong, eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you."
"Mmm," Wang Yaozong mumbled, his mouth full of food.
“This child is just like his father, all he knows is eating.” Ma Hongxia shook her head helplessly, but her face was full of affection.
"Let's go inside and talk," Li Xiangyang said, gesturing for everyone to enter the house.
Inside the house, Li's mother, who had returned home for the holidays, was sitting on the kang (a heated brick bed) sewing a new dress for Li Xiaohua.
Li Xiaohua is now eighteen years old and has grown into a graceful young woman, no longer the thin little girl she once was.
"Uncle Er Gou is here!" Li Xiaohua greeted him sweetly when she saw him.
"Xiaohua has grown taller again," Wang Ergou said with a smile. "I heard you're taking the college entrance exam this year?"
Li Xiaohua nodded, her eyes sparkling with anticipation: "Yes, I must get into university!"
"You'll pass the exam," Li Xiangyang said firmly. "I believe in you."
"Brother, don't try to comfort me. I'm really bad at math," Li Xiaohua sighed. "If the college entrance exam hadn't been reinstated so suddenly, I could have prepared more."
"Take your time, there's no rush," Li's mother comforted her gently. "Your brother said that if you don't pass, you can try again next year."
Li Xiaoyun walked over and sat down next to Li Xiaohua: "Let me take another look at your Chinese and English. I can even tutor you in those two subjects."
"Sister-in-law, thank you so much!" Li Xiaohua said gratefully.
Just then, another commotion came from the courtyard. Li Daqiang and his wife Xiaofang arrived with their one-year-old daughter.
"Wow, it's so lively here!" Li Daqiang walked in with a smile. "Everyone's here!"
"Daqiang's here, come and sit down," Li's mother greeted him with a smile.
As soon as Li Xiaohua saw her little niece in Xiaofang's arms, she immediately went over to tease her: "Xiaoxue, come here, let Auntie give you a hug."
The little girl giggled and reached out her little hands, wanting Li Xiaohua to hug her.
Li Xiaohua carefully took the child, kissing her repeatedly with affection: "This little girl is getting more and more beautiful."
“Yes, she’s a spitting image of her mother,” Li Daqiang said proudly, not forgetting to put his arm around his wife’s shoulder.
Xiaofang blushed and gently pushed her husband's hand away: "Don't make a scene in front of so many people."
The courtyard was filled with laughter and chatter, as several children played together while the adults sat inside chatting.
"By the way, I heard they're reinstating the college entrance exam this year?" Li Daqiang suddenly brought up the topic, his eyes lighting up. "That's a great opportunity!"
"Yes, there hasn't been a college entrance exam for ten years, and now it's finally back," Ma Hongxia chimed in. "Many people at the educated youth settlement are eagerly preparing."
Li Xiaohua bit her lip nervously: "Brother, do you think I can really pass the exam?"
Li Xiangyang patted his sister's shoulder with a smile: "Of course you can! You're so smart, you'll definitely have no problem."
Li Xiaoyun coughed softly and looked at Li Xiangyang: "Xiangyang, why don't you try taking the test too?"
As soon as he said that, the room fell silent, and everyone's eyes were on Li Xiangyang.
Li Xiangyang was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter: "Me? Forget it! At my age, what's the point of taking the college entrance exam?"
"What do you mean 'age'? You're only in your early twenties, the perfect time to study!" Li Xiaoyun persisted. "Besides, with your broad knowledge, you'll definitely pass the exam."
Li Xiangyang shook his head: "I'm doing quite well now. I hunt, raise livestock, farm, and my family is safe and sound. What more could I ask for?"
"Xiangyang, stop being modest," Wang Ergou interjected. "Everyone knows how knowledgeable you are. I think if you took the exam, you'd definitely get into a top university!"
Li Xiangyang smiled bitterly to himself. He did know a lot of things, but they were all experiences and knowledge accumulated in his previous life, not the result of systematic learning.
Moreover, his life got better and better after his rebirth, so he didn't really care too much about whether or not he went to university.
Li Xiaohua said excitedly, "Brother, if you take the exam too, we can study together!"
With everyone chiming in, Li Xiangyang was getting a headache.
"Alright, alright, I'll think about it. But let me make this clear first, I'm mainly here to help Xiaohua with her studies, so don't have too high expectations of me." Li Xiangyang reluctantly agreed, thinking he could just take a look at the material casually and consider it as keeping his sister company while she studied.
Li Xiaoyun nodded happily, her eyes sparkling with anticipation: "Then it's settled. Starting tomorrow, you two will study together, and I'll tutor you when I have time."