In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

Chapter 231, Section 230: The Resumption of the College Entrance Examination, University Admissions, and Second Sister's Return to Shanghai
Time is like a rushing river, carrying the silt and pebbles of life, roaring forward without turning back.

In the torrent of time, the joys and sorrows of individuals are like waves, fleeting in an instant, yet leaving deep marks on their respective riverbeds.

Time flies, and happy days always slip away like sand through our fingers. It seems like only a few seasons have passed, and the calendar on the wall has unknowingly turned to 1977.

During these relatively peaceful years, Yang Guangming and Lin Jianyue's small family welcomed a new member, adding endless vitality and busyness.

In 1974, their first child, a daughter, was born. They named her Yang Jingshu, which was taken from the phrase "静女其姝" in the Book of Songs, expressing their parents' wish for her to be gentle, beautiful, healthy, and successful.

The arrival of Xiao Jingshu was like the brightest sunshine in spring, bringing endless joy and laughter to this little family.

In 1976, they welcomed their second child, a son, whom they named Yang Zhiyuan, meaning "without tranquility one cannot go far," hoping that he would have lofty aspirations, be down-to-earth, and be able to go far steadily.

At this time, their daughter Jing Shu was three years old, a lively and adorable age; their son Zhi Yuan had just turned one year old, taking his first steps and full of curiosity about everything around him.

Raising two children is certainly hard work. Feeding, changing diapers, dealing with crying at night, worrying about illnesses... Lin Jianyue put in a lot of effort, and Yang Guangming also tried his best to share the burden.

But watching their two children grow up healthily day by day like seedlings, showing their innocent smiles, and babbling "Dad" and "Mom," their hearts are filled with indescribable joy, satisfaction, and heavy responsibility as parents.

This simple happiness softened the hardships of life and made their lives more complete.

Over the past few years, the family structure of other members of the Yang family has also changed.

The second brother, Yang Guangyao, and Yue Xinlei had a harmonious relationship after marriage and had three children, all of whom were daughters.

Although some conservative neighbors or relatives gossiped privately about Yue Xinlei's failure to give birth to a son to "carry on the family line," Yang Guangyao and Yue Xinlei themselves were quite open-minded and doted on their three daughters, treating them as the apple of their eye. Yang Guangming also often comforted them, believing that daughters are just as capable and independent.

After their eldest son Zhuangzhuang, Yang Yongkang and Zhang Xiuying, the eldest brother Yang Guanghui and sister-in-law Li Guihua, had another son, which made them very happy.

My second sister, Yang Xiangmei, who lives far away in Northeast China, has only had one daughter since she got married. Her daughter is named Luo Xiaowen and is four years old this year.

Over the years, she seems to have no intention of having a second child.

Deep down, Yang Guangming had been looking forward to 1977 for a long time.

He knew perfectly well that the heavy gears of history would turn dramatically that year, and a momentous event that would affect the fate of countless people and even the future of the nation was about to occur—the college entrance examination, which had been suspended for ten years, was about to be reinstated.

This is not only an opportunity for countless educated young people whose lives were delayed by the times to change their fate, but also a clarion call for the country to bid farewell to the shadows and step into a new era.

Like a bolt of lightning piercing the darkness, it will illuminate the path for countless people!

Knowing all this, he naturally wouldn't let this historical opportunity slip by.

As early as a year ago, he began to make preparations, consciously or unconsciously, like a silkworm spinning silk.

This preparation was not carried out in a grand and ostentatious manner, but rather subtly and gradually permeated the process.

When chatting with close classmates, relatives, or friends, if he felt that the other person had potential or a solid foundation, he would always mention it casually, yet with a certain certainty:
"It's never a bad thing to learn more; knowledge will never go out of style. It's a treasure hidden in your mind that no one can take away."

"Don't think that knowledgeable people have no place to use their talents now. Times are changing, and policies may change one day. Opportunities are always reserved for those who are prepared."

He stops short of pressing matters, never forcing anything. His words are like sowing seeds, quietly planting a seed called "hope" in the other person's heart. Whether this seed can encounter suitable soil and rain, and eventually sprout, depends entirely on the individual's fate and perseverance.

Having done his best, he felt at ease.

After all, everyone has their own path to walk, and no one can walk it for them.

In addition, he had a more specific preparation.

He knew that once the news of the resumption of the college entrance examination was announced, the most important review material would be the "Self-Study Series of Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry", which was once very popular but had been listed as a "banned book" in the past.

This set of books is comprehensive and systematic, explaining complex concepts in a simple and easy-to-understand way, making it an indispensable tool for preparing for the college entrance examination. However, due to its ban for many years, its remaining copies are scarce, mostly destroyed or hidden away. Once the news is released, it will undoubtedly become extremely difficult to find, and its value will soar.

So, he took advantage of business trips or weekends to wander through old bookstores and scrap yards that were about to be forgotten by the times, like a patient gold prospector, rummaging through piles of old papers.

His actions were discreet, avoiding unnecessary attention.

After nearly a year, he miraculously managed to collect more than a dozen sets of "Self-Study Series on Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry" in relatively good condition, which he carefully stored away like treasures deep inside his heavy, aged rosewood wardrobe.

The dark wood of the wardrobe seemed to protect the knowledge contained in these books.

In his eyes, these books were not just yellowed paper and slightly blurred ink, but precious tickets to university and keys that could change the fate of his relatives and friends.

Perhaps inspired by Yang Guangming's extraordinary determination and persistent attitude towards learning, Lin Jianyue was the first to take action.

She was originally a high school student, so her foundation wasn't bad. However, the trivialities of married life gradually made her distance herself from books.

Encouraged by the bright sunshine, she dug out her long-forgotten junior and senior high school textbooks again, and used her spare time after get off work to pick up the forgotten knowledge little by little under the dim light.

Those familiar formulas and words felt like reuniting with old friends, both warm and somewhat unfamiliar.

Yang Guangming naturally took on the role of "tutor".

He patiently sorted out the complex knowledge points for her and answered those perplexing questions. His explanations were often clear and logical, grasping the key points, which often made Lin Jianyue feel enlightened.

In the small dormitory, after the children had fallen asleep, the two of them would sit facing each other under the lamp, one listening intently and the other telling the story in detail, with only the scratching of pens on paper and occasional whispers.

This quietly emerging trend of learning gradually spread to the Yang family's traditional Shikumen house, a place filled with the warmth of everyday life.

The second brother, Yang Guangyao, and his wife, Yue Xinlei, were both students from the "Old Three Classes" (referring to students who graduated from high school in 1966, 1967, and 1968). They were admitted to high school based on their own hard work and had a solid foundation. They were considered educated young people in the factory.

Hearing their younger brother Yang Guangming repeatedly emphasize the importance of studying, and seeing how seriously and attentively their sister-in-law Lin Jianyue was studying, the long-dormant heartstrings of the two of them were also touched.

Anyway, besides taking care of the children and doing housework, I have some free time. Instead of chatting to kill time or listening to the same old programs on the radio, I might as well learn something. It's better than wasting time.

Moreover, deep down, don't they also yearn for knowledge and hope to change their current situation? The regret of not being able to pursue further education back then is now faintly resurfacing.

So, with Yang Guangming's advice and help, Yang Guangyao and Yue Xinlei picked up their long-forgotten textbooks again.

All three had a good foundation and were willing to put in the effort. When they returned to their Shikumen (stone gate houses) to reunite, they would often gather together to study.

Whenever they had some free time, while the children played nearby, they would sit around the table, either reading silently or asking each other questions and discussing difficult issues.

Sometimes they argue heatedly over a math problem, and other times they rejoice at solving a difficult problem together.

This atmosphere of mutual encouragement and inspiration has made their learning quite effective, and they seem to have rediscovered some of the feeling of studying and reading in their younger days.

Yang Guangming did not forget his second sister, Yang Xiangmei, who was far away in the icy and snowy Northeast.

Yang Guangming knew that his second sister had excellent grades back then and had always regretted not being able to go to university.

He specially selected the best-preserved and most complete set of "Self-Study Series on Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry" from the books he had collected, carefully packed it together with some basic junior and senior high school textbooks, and sent it to the distant Northeast through the post office, along with a long letter.

In the letter, he earnestly urged his second sister to make time to study, no matter how busy she was with work or how tedious the housework was, even if she could only read a few pages or do one problem a day.

In his letter, he wrote: "Second sister, times are quietly changing. Learning more knowledge is always the foundation for one's life and a wealth that no one can take away from you."

Keep going, and who knows, one day the situation might change dramatically, the college entrance examination might be reinstated, and your once brilliant dream of becoming a college student might become a reality.

For your own sake, and for the future of the next generation, never give up.

When Yang Xiangmei received this heavy package and the letter full of earnest expectations in the hospital in that small county town in Northeast China, she felt a complex mix of emotions and deep emotion.

Although she was somewhat puzzled by her younger brother's serious, even prophetic, attitude in demanding that she study.

But she had always trusted her younger brother, who was opinionated, knowledgeable, and now the most successful in the family. In addition, although her work at the county hospital was busy, the environment was relatively stable and the dormitory was quiet, so she followed the advice and began to pick up books again in her spare time from work and taking care of her young daughter.

The nights in the north are long and cold, with the wind howling outside the window. Yang Xiangmei opens her books under the lamp, but the unfamiliar formulas and long-forgotten texts often make her feel powerless. The passage of time seems to have taken away her once quick thinking.

But thinking of her younger brother's letter, and that vague yet alluring "possibility," she persevered.

Sometimes, even after her daughter Xiaowen has fallen asleep, she is still working on calculations under the lamp. Her fingers are so cold that they become stiff, so she breathes warm air on them, rubs them, and continues.

The hardships and loneliness involved are something that Yang Guangming, far away in Shanghai, can never fully comprehend; he can only hope that his second sister will persevere and stay strong.

In those seemingly ordinary days, in the small family compound dormitory under the bright sun, and in the spacious cadre building of the Yue family, one could often see figures studying late into the night.

Under the warm orange light, one sees focused faces deep in thought, hears the soft rustling of pages turning, and hears the hushed whispers of people discussing issues.

This strong and self-motivated learning atmosphere is both precious and rare, and carries a hint of forward-thinking foresight, as it is like a seed quietly accumulating strength in the darkness, at the tail end of an era when knowledge was despised and reading was considered useless.

However, not everyone can keep up with this quietly emerging "learning craze".

Apart from Feng Xianghong, most of Yang Guangming's close friends seemed willing but unable to pick up textbooks again.

This is not because they disregarded Yang Guangming's advice, but rather due to limitations imposed by reality and their personal circumstances.

Chu Dahu is a straightforward and generous man. He is very strong and good at guarding the factory. But when it comes to calming down and studying those complicated formulas and theorems, or memorizing long passages of text, he is more exhausted than if he had to do high-intensity training for half a month.

He tried several times, but the dense symbols and characters were like reading gibberish, making his scalp tingle. In the end, he could only scratch his head helplessly and smile憨厚ly at Yang Guangming:
"Guangming, buddy, I'm really not cut out for this. These books are just not my style. They make me dizzy and lightheaded, and I can't keep going. I'd better stick to practicing my grappling and fighting skills and being a good bodyguard! That's the path I'll take!"

Yan Jun's situation is slightly better, but only "slightly better".

So many years after graduating from high school, his already meager cultural foundation had long been lost to his teachers through daily social interactions.

Picking it up again now feels incredibly difficult. Unfamiliar concepts and forgotten knowledge keep popping up. I didn't persist for long before the initial enthusiasm ignited by the sunshine gradually faded in the face of real difficulties.

Xie Feiyang persisted for a longer period of time than Chu Dahu and Yan Jun.

After all, he works in a government department, so he has a relatively broader perspective and is better able to understand the deeper meaning implied in Yang Guangming's words.

However, his foundation was indeed weak, making his learning inefficient, like a bear trying to break off corn cobs, forgetting what he learned earlier and learning the later parts.

In addition, he has a lot of social engagements, so the time he can concentrate on studying is already limited, and there are many external distractions.

Over time, faced with those insurmountable fortresses of knowledge, the initial enthusiasm that had been hard-won gradually faded, and in the end, one could only sigh at the sight of books.

Yang Guangming was fully aware of the actual situation of these friends, and saw it clearly.

He understands and respects their choices.

There are countless paths in life, and going to university is not the only single-plank bridge.

In this era of rebuilding from scratch, anyone can excel in any field as long as they are willing to work hard. His initial reminder was merely an act of friendship, sowing the seeds of possibility and planting a seed in their hearts. Whether it blossoms and bears fruit is beyond our control, nor should we force it.

The meaning of friendship lies in reminding and accompanying each other, not in choosing life for the other person.

The only thing that brought him comfort was Feng Xianghong.

Feng Xianghong was naturally intelligent and quick-witted, and her grades were good when she was in school. Although she has neglected her studies in recent years, her innate intelligence and comprehension are still there.

After experiencing the pain of her father's accident and breaking up with Xie Feiyang, she seemed to transfer some of her misplaced energy and emotions to her studies, as a spiritual sustenance and an escape from reality.

With her good friend Lin Jianyue by her side, who often discussed and encouraged each other, her learning progress was quite good. She didn't find it too difficult to review the knowledge from junior and senior high school. Instead, she found a long-lost sense of peace and fulfillment in the ocean of knowledge.

In October 1977, an exciting piece of news, like a thunderclap that had been gathering strength for too long, spread instantly to every corner of the land—the university admission system was restored! The college entrance examination, which had been suspended for ten years, was back!
The decision was officially announced by official media and disseminated to cities and villages as quickly as possible through radio and newspapers.

At this moment, countless intellectuals and students who had been suppressed for too long and yearned for too much were moved to tears, spreading the news to each other, as if a long-sealed gate had been suddenly opened, and a torrent of hope surged forth.

The entire country seemed to have been injected with a powerful stimulant, and the air was filled with an exciting atmosphere of yearning for change and looking forward to the future. A long-lost atmosphere of respect for knowledge began to return.

In Yang Guangming's home, everyone was in high spirits, and a feeling of "just as expected" filled their hearts.

Lin Jianyue, Yang Guangyao, and Yue Xinlei had prepared for nearly a year in advance, systematically reviewing junior and senior high school knowledge. Faced with this sudden yet long-awaited news, they inevitably felt some pre-exam nervousness, but more than anything, they were full of confidence, feeling "well-prepared."

They possessed a significant head start and accumulated time compared to those candidates who were caught off guard or even unprepared. The "Self-Study Series on Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry" provided by Yang Guangming played a crucial role at this moment.

Yang Guangming himself had no intention of participating in this highly anticipated college entrance examination.

His goal was more specific and long-term—to participate in the postgraduate entrance examination, which would resume in 1978.

His purpose in pursuing postgraduate studies was not merely to obtain a diploma, but to achieve a clearer goal: to gain the opportunity to study abroad as soon as possible!

He already had a clear plan for his future.

He knew clearly that his personality and ambitions were not suited for a career in politics, and that his heart was set on making achievements and developing in the business world in a broader arena.

However, he is also keenly aware that the domestic business environment and policies will remain immature and fraught with uncertainty for at least the next decade.

Therefore, he decided to take the shortcut of studying abroad, which was also the most formal and recognized path under the conditions at the time.

He has the advantage of having ample refrigerator space, and he also understands future development trends globally. Only in a more relaxed environment abroad can he have more room to maneuver.

Once he has accumulated a huge amount of wealth abroad, and the domestic environment becomes more relaxed, it won't be too late for him to return to China to invest.

During this period, going abroad was still an extremely difficult and high-threshold endeavor, requiring rigorous selection. A postgraduate degree and government-sponsored study abroad qualifications were undoubtedly the most legitimate "passports."

Yang Guangming has the ability to pass the postgraduate entrance examination, so he naturally chooses this bright path.

The enthusiasm for college entrance examination registration is unprecedented, spreading like wildfire.

Many people around Yang Ming, regardless of their level of preparation, signed up with high hopes. However, reality is often harsh; one's foundation and ability largely determine the final outcome.

In November, due to the overwhelming number of applicants in Shanghai, far exceeding expectations and the capacity of the examination venues, a preliminary screening test had to be conducted to control the number of candidates participating in the official college entrance examination.

This is tantamount to setting up the first obstacle on the road to one's dreams.

When the preliminary test results came out, naturally some were happy while others were sad.

Lin Jianyue, Yang Guangyao, Yue Xinlei, and Feng Xianghong, thanks to their solid review and existing foundation, successfully passed the preliminary exam and obtained their "tickets" to the official college entrance examination.

Xie Feiyang, thanks to his solid foundation and intensive pre-exam review, narrowly passed the preliminary exam and was able to continue his studies.

Chu Dahu, Yan Jun, Lin Shunan, and others were eliminated in this first round and missed the chance to take the actual exam.

Chu Dahu was quite open-minded about this, as if he had expected it. He patted Yang Guangming on the shoulder and said in a loud voice:

"I expected this! Being able to sit in the pre-exam room, smell the ink, and experience it for myself is enough to make up for all the hard work you put into persuading me to study!"
"From now on, I'll just focus on being a security guard. Earning a living through physical labor is more reassuring!"

Although Yan Jun and Lin Shunan were somewhat disappointed, they quickly accepted reality. After all, the fundamental gap was there and could not be bridged overnight.

The 1977 college entrance examination was held as scheduled in December amidst this tense, enthusiastic, hopeful yet somewhat cruel atmosphere.

It was a cold winter, but outside the examination hall, countless anxious, expectant, and burning hearts gathered.

Yang Guangming took a special day off to personally escort Lin Jianyue to the examination hall.

He watched as Lin Jianyue, dressed in a thick cotton coat and scarf, carrying a pencil case, met up with her equally confident second brother and sister-in-law, and then, along with the surging crowd, entered the examination hall that could change the fate of countless people.

His heart was also filled with anticipation, not only for his family but also for the country that was about to be reborn. After the exams came a long and agonizing wait. Every day seemed exceptionally long, and every ring of the postman's bell sent a jolt through his heart.

After the Spring Festival, in February 1978, university admissions began one after another, and good news came like swallows in spring, immersing the Yang family in unprecedented joy.

Lin Jianyue received her admission letter from Fudan University! Her major is Chinese, which has always been her favorite subject.

The second brother, Yang Guangyao, and his wife, Yue Xinlei, both received admission notices from Shanghai Jiao Tong University! Yang Guangyao was admitted to the Mechanical Engineering major, while Yue Xinlei was admitted to the Electronic Engineering major.

The fact that three members of one family were admitted to top universities in China caused a huge sensation throughout the Shikumen alleyway, and even in the Hongxing Factory and Dongfang Machinery Factory, becoming the hottest topic of conversation on the streets.

Zhang Xiuying and Yang Yongkang were so happy they couldn't stop smiling, and they even walked with a spring in their step, as if they had become more than ten years younger.

Yang Yongkang even went out of his way to buy several long strings of firecrackers, which he set off at the entrance of the alley, expressing his ecstatic joy in the most traditional way. Neighbors came one after another to congratulate him, their words filled with heartfelt envy and admiration.

"Xiuying, your family is truly blessed! Three college students have come out of your family all at once! And they're from Fudan University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University! It's as if the God of Literature has descended to earth for your family!"

"Yongkang, how come your children are all so successful! You've really raised them well! Now you can just relax and enjoy your retirement!"

While cheerfully distributing candy and melon seeds to her neighbors, Zhang Xiuying tried her best to suppress her excitement and responded modestly:

"It's all thanks to the children's own hard work and dedication to learning. As parents, we didn't really help much, we just cooked them a few meals and didn't hold them back."

The wrinkles on Tian's face were filled with a smile.

Looking at the joyful smiles of his family and the excited tears glistening in the eyes of his wife and brother and sister-in-law, Yang Guangming felt a deep sense of relief.

His year-long planning, encouragement, and subtle, pervasive influence finally yielded fruitful results, changing the trajectory of his loved ones' lives.

The sense of accomplishment is indescribable.

However, while they were also waiting, the atmosphere on Xie Feiyang and Feng Xianghong's side was much more somber and dejected.

After the college entrance examination, Xie Feiyang estimated his score was not ideal and was already prepared to fail.

He took it in stride, and said to Yang Guangming and a few friends with a self-deprecating laugh, "I'm just not cut out for studying. It's already an extraordinary achievement that I managed to graduate from high school."

It seems I'm better suited to running around in an office, interacting with people. Books, it seems, are just not for me.

Even so, Yang Guangming still keenly caught the fleeting sense of loss and helplessness deep in his eyes.

Yang Guangming didn't say anything more, but just patted his shoulder hard, everything was understood without words.

Life's journey is long, and there isn't just one path.

Feng Xianghong, however, was different. She felt quite good about herself after the exam, had high hopes for admission, and had even begun to quietly plan her university life.

However, as the days went by, Lin Jianyue, Yang Guangyao, Yue Xinlei, and others around her received the acceptance letters they had been dreaming of, but her mailbox remained empty, with no good news coming in.

Hope, like a candle flickering in the wind, gradually weakens with each passing day of waiting and disappointment, until it is finally extinguished.

Finally, when all the acceptance letters seemed to have been sent out and the process was nearing its end, she had to accept the harsh reality—she had failed. The difference in score might have been slight, or other factors might have played a role, but the result was the result.

This result was a huge, even devastating, blow to Feng Xianghong.

She had already become sensitive and reserved due to family misfortunes. She had finally managed to rebuild some confidence and enthusiasm for life through learning and looking forward to the future, but now it was as if she had been pushed into an ice cellar, and all her efforts and hopes had vanished.

Overwhelmed by immense disappointment and self-doubt, she locked herself in her room, refusing to see anyone, lost her appetite, and rapidly became haggard.

Lin Jianyue and Yang Guangming were worried and went to see her together. They knocked on the door for a long time before Feng Xianghong finally opened it.

Seeing her friend's once bright face now filled with weariness and disappointment, her eyes dull and lifeless, Lin Jianyue felt a pang of heartache. She stepped forward, tightly grasped her cold hand, and softly comforted her:
"Sister Xiang Hong, don't lose heart, please don't lose heart. If it doesn't work this time, there's always next year!"

Your foundation is so strong, maybe you just didn't perform well on the day, or there was some other reason... One failure doesn't mean anything. Never let one setback negate all your hard work!

Yang Guangming stood to the side, encouraging her with a steady and powerful tone: "Xiang Hong, Jian Yue is right. The country's policies are getting better and better, changing with each passing day."

This year marks the first time the college entrance examination has been reinstated. Everything is in need of rebuilding, and there may still be some lingering issues affecting the selection process, which is not yet perfect.

But next year, things will definitely be fairer and more perfect!

We are aware of your abilities and have seen the hard work you have put in.

This is by no means the end! Cheer up, learn from your mistakes, and fight again next year! We will all support you!

Feng Xianghong raised her tearful eyes and looked at her good friend who genuinely cared about her and was eager for her to get back on her feet. A long-lost warmth welled up in her heart.

She was not a naturally weak woman; the hardships she had endured had unknowingly forged the resilience in her bones.

This time, however, expectations were too high, leading to a greater disappointment.

She remained silent for a long time, then forcefully wiped away her tears, took a deep breath as if to expel all the pent-up emotions in her chest, and her eyes regained their resolve. Although her eyes were still red-rimmed, they shone with new light.
"You're right! Guangming, Jianyue, thank you. I can't give up like this, I can't let one failure defeat me! Next year, I'll definitely take the exam again next year! I can do it!"

Seeing Feng Xianghong rekindle her fighting spirit, Yang Guangming and Lin Jianyue exchanged a smile, finally feeling half of the weight lifted from their hearts.

They knew that as long as their fighting spirit remained, hope remained.

As we enter early March, the chill in the north has not yet completely faded, and the earth is still struggling between freezing and reviving. Meanwhile, in Shanghai, the air is already faintly moist and warm with the arrival of spring, and tender green buds are beginning to sprout from the tips of the sycamore trees.

That day, Yang Guangming was engrossed in processing documents in the finance department office when the old-fashioned telephone on his desk suddenly rang.

He picked up the receiver casually and said habitually, "Hello, this is Yang Guangming from the Finance Department."

A familiar voice came from inside, tinged with excitement and trembling, even a little choked up. It was my second sister, Yang Xiangmei! It was a long-distance call from her in the far northeast!
"Little brother! Is that you, little brother?" Yang Xiangmei's voice was sharp and even distorted due to extreme excitement.

"Second sister? It's me! Why are you calling all of a sudden? What happened?" Yang Guangming's heart tightened, and he quickly sat up straight, asking with concern.

In this era, long-distance calls are expensive, and they are generally not used unless it is an urgent or important matter.

"Good thing! What a great thing!"

Yang Xiangmei's voice was trembling with tears, yet she couldn't help but laugh. She said incoherently, "I got in! I got into university! Fudan University! The same university as your wife, Jian Yue!"

Yang Guangming froze for a moment, his hand gripping the receiver tightening instinctively. Then, an immense, indescribable joy surged through him like a tidal wave, crashing against his chest.

"Really? Second Sister! That's wonderful! That's wonderful! Congratulations!"

He could hardly believe his ears, and his voice unconsciously rose eight octaves.

Despite the harsh learning conditions, lack of guidance, and the need to work and raise her daughter, the second sister, Yang Xiangmei, managed to gain admission to the prestigious Fudan University entirely through her astonishing perseverance and self-study!

The hardships, loneliness, and effort involved are unimaginable and far exceed what ordinary people can imagine!
"I just received the notification! I...I'm so happy! I don't even know what to say!"

Yang Xiangmei finally couldn't hold back her sobs on the other end of the phone, tears streaming down her face. "Little brother, thank you so much! If it weren't for your encouraging letters, sending me review materials, and repeatedly urging me to persevere, I... I never dared to imagine that I would be here today! I never dared to imagine it! You were the one who woke me up!"

Yang Guangming felt that his second sister was being a little too excited.

"Second sister, don't say that! This is the result of your own hard work! It's what you earned through countless nights of studying, through your own sweat and perseverance!" Yang Guangming said sincerely, feeling incredibly proud and admiring of his second sister.

He could imagine his second sister studying diligently under the lamp on those cold winter nights in Northeast China. Without her past hard work and perseverance, she wouldn't be where she is today, having been admitted to university!
After calming her overwhelming excitement, Yang Xiangmei continued on the other end of the phone, her voice still slightly nasal: "I've already... I've already asked someone to help me book a train ticket back to Shanghai. It will arrive at 4 PM on the 13th."

I...I'm taking Xiaowen back with me. We might have a lot of stuff, so someone from my family will need to pick us up at the station.

"No problem! Don't worry, Second Sister, Second Brother and I will pick you up the day after tomorrow!" Yang Guangming agreed without hesitation, his heart filled with excitement at the prospect of reuniting with his second sister. "Be careful on the road, take care of yourself and Xiaowen! We'll wait for you at the exit!"

After hanging up the phone, Yang Guangming's mood remained unsettled for a long time, and his heart was still pounding.

He immediately shared this incredibly exciting news with his second brother, Yang Guangyao, who also worked at the factory, and his mother, Zhang Xiuying.

When the whole family found out, they were overjoyed again! Their happiness was like a volcanic eruption!

Zhang Xiuying was so moved that she kept wiping away tears, her voice trembling: "Xiangmei, this child... this child has really had such a hard life!"
Alone in Northeast China, with no relatives or friends, working and raising a child, and yet... she still managed to get into such a good university! Fudan University, no less! She must have endured so much hardship! She's truly brought honor to our Yang family! She's such a good daughter of mine!

As she spoke, she both cried and laughed.

Yang Yongkang was so excited that he paced back and forth in the room, clutching a cigarette but forgetting to light it, repeatedly saying:
"Great! Great! Great! Our Yang family has produced four college students! Four! Our ancestral graves must be emitting auspicious smoke! This is truly bringing glory to our ancestors!"

The wrinkles on his face smoothed out, and he radiated an unprecedented glow.

The eldest brother, Yang Guanghui, and his wife, Li Guihua, were also genuinely happy. Their younger siblings were so successful, and they felt proud of them. The whole family was truly immersed in a great joy and anticipation of sharing glory.

After five years, my second sister, who lives far away in Northeast China, is finally bringing her child home! And in such a glorious and triumphant way!

The elderly couple were so excited about seeing their second daughter that they couldn't sleep at night.

On the afternoon of the 13th, Yang Guangming and his second brother Yang Guangyao took leave and arrived at Shanghai Railway Station early.

The platform was bustling with people and incredibly noisy.

The two brothers were both excited and eager, craning their necks to look northwards where the train was coming from, calculating the time.

Finally, amidst eager anticipation, the familiar, dusty green train, accompanied by a long and hoarse whistle, slowly and heavily pulled into the platform, its wheels rubbing against the rails with a loud noise.

After the train came to a complete stop, the carriage doors opened one after another, and passengers poured out of the carriages like a flood, instantly making the platform extremely crowded.

Yang Guangming and Yang Guangyao tiptoed through the dense and chaotic crowd, carefully searching for that familiar figure.

"There! Xiangmei! Look, Xiangmei is over there!" Yang Guangyao, with his sharp eyes, spotted the target first and excitedly shouted, pointing to the door of a carriage not far away.

Following the direction his second brother pointed, Yang Guangming saw his second sister, Yang Xiangmei, carrying a rather heavy-looking travel bag with some effort as she stepped down the carriage steps.

Beside her followed a little girl wearing a red cotton-padded jacket, with two slightly crooked pigtails, looking a bit timid, and clinging tightly to her mother's clothes. This was Luo Xiaowen, the daughter of her second sister Yang Xiangmei and the niece of Yang Guangming.

Five years later, Yang Xiangmei still looked as thin as I remembered, even thinner due to long-term hard work, and her face showed obvious fatigue and haggardness after a long journey.

But those eyes were exceptionally bright at that moment, gleaming with an unprecedented light called hope and confidence, like stars in the dark night.

The light illuminated her slightly tired face, and also revealed the transformative change in her heart.

She wore a slightly faded, dark blue cotton-padded jacket, its simple and even outdated style standing out from the increasingly diverse attire of the tourists around her in Shanghai, carrying a distinct air of a small northeastern town and the marks of time.

"Second sister!"

Yang Guangming quickly pushed through the crowd and hurried to greet him, his voice filled with joy.

When Yang Xiangmei saw her two relatives, her face instantly lit up with an incredibly bright and unreserved smile, and her eyes quickly welled up with tears. Her voice choked with emotion as she said, "Little brother! Second brother!" The simple address contained a thousand words.

The two brothers immediately stepped forward.

Yang Guangyao took the heavy luggage from her hands.

Yang Guangming bent down, his gaze meeting that of the little girl hiding behind her mother, her large, dark eyes filled with curiosity, shyness, and wariness as she looked them over.

He smiled the gentlest and kindest smile of his: "This must be Xiaowen, right? You've grown so much! You're so beautiful! Come here, don't be afraid, let your uncle give you a hug, okay?"

He reached out his hands and carefully and gently picked up his well-behaved and adorable niece.

The little girl didn't seem very shy, perhaps due to the closeness of blood ties. She simply blinked her big eyes, her long eyelashes like little fans, and tentatively called out softly, "Uncle."

Her voice was soft, sweet, and melodious, like heavenly music. Hearing it, Yang Guangming felt a surge of warmth in his heart, as if something had filled him up.

"Oh! So good! Xiaowen is so good!" Yang Guangming responded with a loud laugh, and couldn't help but kiss her rosy, tender little face, which made the little girl shrink her neck slightly.

Yang Guangyao picked up the largest travel bag, weighed it in his hand, and laughed, "Xiangmei, did you practically bring the whole of Northeast China back with you? It's so heavy! What treasures are inside?"

Yang Xiangmei smiled somewhat shyly and smoothed the stray hairs from her forehead with her hand:

"I brought some local specialties from Northeast China, such as black fungus, mushrooms, and hazelnuts, for my parents, brother and sister-in-law, and the children to try."

I also bought some fur mats for my parents, they'll need them in winter, and some little toys for the kids... Before I knew it, I'd packed so much.

Her tone carried a simple and sincere sentiment.

Yang Guangming said, "It's good that you're back. It's better than anything else to be back safe and sound."

Yang Guangming carried Xiaowen, Yang Guangyao carried the heaviest luggage, and Yang Xiangmei followed beside them, carrying a net bag filled with miscellaneous items.

The four of them slowly walked towards the exit with the bustling crowd.

"Was the journey smooth? Was Xiaowen well-behaved? Did she cause any trouble?" Yang Guangyao asked with concern about the details of the journey as they walked.

"It went quite smoothly, but the car was too slow, and it took almost three days of bumpy travel. Xiaowen is very well-behaved, but the journey was too long, and the child couldn't sit still and kept wanting to get out and run around." Yang Xiangmei looked at her daughter, her eyes filled with maternal tenderness.

Stepping out of the crowded and noisy station, bicycles surged like a tide on the road, their bells ringing incessantly. Some of the buildings on both sides of the street had been renovated, revealing a gradually revitalized atmosphere that was different from what it had been a few years ago.

The bustling and vibrant cityscape contrasts sharply with the tranquil and monotonous atmosphere of the small northeastern town.

Yang Xiangmei took a deep breath of the humid and familiar air of her hometown, carrying the faint moisture of the Huangpu River. Her eyes revealed boundless emotion, warmth, and a touch of unfamiliarity that was hard to get used to.

Having been away for nearly ten years, my hometown seems to have changed a lot. There are more high-rise buildings, and people's clothing colors have become a bit more colorful; yet it also seems that nothing has changed. The unique, busy, and sophisticated urban pulse of Shanghai is still beating strongly.

"Come on, Xiangmei, let's take the bus home." Yang Guangyao carried the luggage and led the way, his voice loud and excited.

The four of them boarded the bus home.

The carriage was somewhat crowded and swaying, and the street scene outside the window rushed past as the vehicle moved.

Familiar street names, familiar shop signs, familiar street corner parks... all these scenes came into Yang Xiangmei's view.

She looked out the window, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

When she left, she was still an educated youth whose future was uncertain, full of confusion, and even with a touch of tragic heroism, not knowing where she would end up.

Returning now, she is a college student who has been admitted to Fudan University through her own efforts. With the conviction that knowledge can change her destiny and with expectations for her daughter's future, she is about to embark on a brand new chapter in her life.

Over the past decade, the changes in her identity and the turning points in her fate have felt like a dream, leaving her with a dizzying sense of unreality, yet they are also so real and tangible in her hands.

Her hand instinctively reached into her pocket and touched the neatly folded, stiff Fudan University admission letter.

The feel of the paper made her truly realize that this was not a dream, but a brand new future that she had created with her own hard work.

Her gaze went beyond the car window, towards the distance.

There, the afterglow of the setting sun is painting the sky red, foreshadowing a brand new beginning tomorrow.

(End of this chapter)