Courtyard House: Starting by inheriting the tradition and suppressing the barbarians.

Early spring, 1978.

Although the snow hasn't completely melted yet.

But the air in Beijing was already filled with a restless, joyful atmosphere.

Because those were the first batch of admission notices issued after the resumption of the college entrance examination!

These past few days, the main gate of Hongxing Courtyard has become the intelligence center for the entire alley.

Although Yan Bugui lost his job, he also lost his scheming spirit.

But his habit of joining in the fun remains.

Every day, he would sit on a broken stool by the door, staring longingly at the postman's green bicycle.

"They're here! They're here!"

With a crisp ringing of a bell, postman Xiao Zhao rode his bicycle into the alley with a cheerful expression.

"Red Star Courtyard! The Li Family! What a joyous occasion!"

Before Xiao Zhao even got out of the car, his voice rang out, "Comrade Li Xiaoyu!"

"Admission letter from Peking University's School of Medicine!"

"He's the top science student in our district!"

boom!

That shout was like a depth charge dropped on a calm lake.

The entire courtyard instantly erupted in excitement.

"What? Top scorer? From Peking University?"

"My goodness! The Li family's ancestral graves are emitting auspicious smoke!"

"First it was Li Xuan, now even Li Xiaoyu has become the top scholar."

"The Li family is truly amazing."

"Quick, quick! Go check it out!"

The neighbors flooded into the backyard like a tide.

......

The backyard, the main house of the Li family.

Li Xiaoyu held the heavy kraft paper envelope, her hands trembling slightly.

Her bright, expressive eyes were brimming with tears of emotion.

"Brother...brother!"

"I got in... I really got into university!"

Xiaoyu suddenly threw herself into Li Xuan's arms, crying like a child, "I didn't embarrass you!"

"I haven't disgraced the Li family!"

Li Xuan gently patted his sister's back, his eyes also feeling a little hot.

He knew how much effort Xiaoyu had put in over the past few years.

While others are busy exercising or even giving up their studies.

Only she was there, under the dim light, endlessly working through practice problems and memorizing those tedious formulas.

Otherwise, how could he have become the top scholar!

Although she had the help of the system, it was mostly due to Li Xiaoyu's own efforts!

"Well done! You really made me proud!"

Li Xuan took the admission notice and looked at the bright red characters on it—[Peking University School of Medicine].

"That's great!"

"From now on, our Li family will be a family of doctors!"

Beside her, Su Yun, the mother, was already in tears.

But he was mostly proud!

"Honey, if you were still here, you would definitely be proud of Xiaoyu... and of our Li family!"

On the other side, He Yushui was also wiping away tears: "Xiaoyu is a smart and hardworking girl."

"She truly deserves to be the top scholar!"

Even the usually composed Hua Youlin smiled and took out the candies and melon seeds she had prepared beforehand.

"We're having a great time today, and everyone who sees this should share in the joy! Let's all share in the happiness!"

The entire backyard was filled with laughter and joy, as lively as during the Chinese New Year.

......

That evening, the Li family hosted a banquet with three tables.

Although Li Xuan has always been low-key, this is a momentous event that brings honor to his ancestors and must be celebrated!

There weren't many guests, but the portions were extremely large.

There were leaders from the Ministry of Health and Hua Youlin's colleagues from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

There was also a representative sent by Li Tian from the military.

Although Li Tian did not go to university, he chose to join the army.

He was currently on a mission at the border and was already a regimental-level officer!

The scale of this banquet was shockingly high.

They were carrying cases of Moutai liquor, and on the table were braised pork and steamed fish.

There are even fresh vegetables and fruits that are extremely rare for this season.

The rich aroma of wine and meat wafted through the air, filling the entire courtyard and making the neighbors in the front and middle courtyards salivate.

"Tsk tsk tsk, look at the life they live."

Yan Bugui huddled at his doorstep, sniffing the air and sighing.

"The eldest son is a legendary doctor, the second son is a military officer, the third son is a top scholar, and his wife is a diplomat..."

"Even my god-sister is a teacher."

"This family is full of extraordinary people! The feng shui of the Li family is absolutely amazing!"

The third auntie chimed in sourly, "Of course."

"Especially that Li Xuan, he's simply defying the heavens."

"Who could have imagined that the poor boy who lost his father would become what he is today?"

......

In a corner of the Intermediate Court.

Qin Huairu was squatting at her doorstep, holding half a cold cornbread in her hand.

Listening to the sounds of drinking games and laughter coming from the backyard, and smelling the tempting aroma of braised pork.

She felt that the cornbread in her hand was more bitter than bitter melon and more choking than sand.

She looked up and peered through the tattered window paper at the brightly lit windows of the Li family's house.

That place is paradise.

For her, this place was hell.

Qin Huairu looked down at herself.

A dirty sanitation worker's uniform, hands covered in chilblains and cracks, and a back hunched over from long hours of labor.

Her face was full of wrinkles and white hair, making her look like an old woman in her sixties or seventies.

"Top scorer... Peking University..."

Qin Huairu muttered to herself, tears mingling with the dust on her face as they streamed down, leaving two muddy ditch-like streaks.

She remembered the stick.

That precious son she doted on since childhood, even going so far as to sell her body and harm Sha Zhu for him.

At this moment.

Banggeng is digging for stones in the Gobi Desert of Northwest China, dragging a broken leg.

Forget about going to university; whether I can even come back alive in this lifetime is a question.

"Why...why did it turn out like this..."

Qin Huairu felt as if her heart was being gripped tightly by a large hand, the pain making it hard for her to breathe.

If only back then...

If she hadn't been a snob and hadn't married Jia Dongxu for a few dozen kilograms of cornmeal...

If Li Xuangang had succeeded later, she could have genuinely tried to repair their relationship.

Instead of thinking about scheming...

If she could properly educate Bang Geng instead of teaching him to steal and cheat...

Even if any one of those "ifs" comes true.

Is Qin Huairu able to sit in that warm house today, drinking Moutai and eating braised pork?

Enjoying the envious glances of others?

But life doesn't offer "what ifs".

Only cold reality and endless regret remain.

"Mom! I'm hungry!"

Inside the house, Xiao Dang and Huaihua's timid voices interrupted her thoughts.

The two girls have grown up, but they look pale and thin due to malnutrition.

Qin Huairu wiped her face, stood up, her movements as slow as an old woman nearing the end of her life.

"Eat, eat..."

She broke the remaining half of the cornbread in her hand and gave it to her two daughters.

He turned around, walked to the water tank, scooped up a ladle of cold water, and gulped it down.

Cool water enters the stomach, refreshingly cool to the core.

Just like her life right now, a desolate scene with no end in sight.

The laughter in the backyard continued, as if it were the greatest mockery of her life.

The Li family enjoyed great honor and achieved great success.

The Jia family was destroyed, its members perished, and its lineage ended.

At this moment, Qin Huairu finally understood what it meant to be—

One step wrong, step by step wrong.

The whole game is lost.

......