1985, the year of the great writer, began with Infernal Affairs!

Party Secretary Wang paused for a moment, then said, "I know that Li Hanwen made things difficult for you a few days ago. I talked to him, but he wouldn't listen. He's just relying on his brother-in-law's position in the Education Bureau, and there's nothing I can do about it. It's my fault for not handling this matter well."

He said this in a low voice, with a sense of guilt.

Seeing this, Xie Youshan quickly said, "Secretary Wang, you can't say that. We all know you've helped us."

Everyone knows what kind of person Secretary Wang is over the years. No one in the village dares to speak ill of him. He truly cares about the well-being of everyone in the village.

Party Secretary Wang shook his head and smiled bitterly: "What help can we offer? We couldn't help at all. In the end, Ritsuko still managed to find a solution on her own."

"Ritsuko, take this money. You'll need it for school—travel expenses, living expenses..."

We all know that things aren't easy for our family. The money that everyone in the village has chipped in isn't much, but it'll be enough to tide us over in an emergency.

Don't worry, as long as you study, the village will sell everything they own to support you!

These words warmed Xie Lu's heart.

Even though he had lived two lives, he still felt a warmth in his heart.

Xie Lu looked at Secretary Wang and saw the hopeful gaze of an elder for a younger generation in his eyes.

Xie Youshan's eyes were already red, and Wang Yufen had begun wiping away tears.

He felt a pang of sadness in his heart.

In his past life, he didn't want the money because he was young, proud, and ignorant.

Now he understands.

This is not charity, it is a gesture of goodwill.

"A promising child has emerged from our village; we should lend him a hand."

This is the most sincere sentiment from the villagers.

He reached out and took the red cloth bag from Secretary Wang's hand.

The cloth bag was heavy, not because of the money, but because of the heartfelt sentiments of everyone in the village.

"Secretary Wang, I'll accept this money. Thank you to all the uncles and aunts in the village. I'll remember this kindness."

Seeing that Xie Lu had finally accepted the money, Secretary Wang's face broke into a rare smile, and all the wrinkles on his face smoothed out: "That's right! Study hard, and when you become successful, don't forget about Shuangshui Village! As for any sentimentality, that's irrelevant. Everyone pooled their money so that you would repay us in the future."

Although the wages and living standards of people in the countryside in this era are not as good as those in the city, their simple and unpretentious sentiments are something that others can't match.

The villagers were willing to contribute money together, not so that Xie Lu would repay them in the future.

It stems from their expectations as elders for the younger generation to succeed.

In the simple and honest minds of these people, as long as they can get an education, they will do everything they can to support them, even if it means selling their possessions!

Secretary Wang gave Xie a few more instructions, telling him to be careful on the road and to study hard when school starts next month. Then he waved his hand, turned around, and left.

My back is still a little hunched, but my steps are much lighter.

The Xie family of three stood in the courtyard, watching Secretary Wang's figure disappear at the end of the dirt road.

Xie Lu didn't say anything; he opened the red cloth bag.

Inside was a stack of money: ten-yuan notes, five-yuan notes, two-yuan notes, one-yuan notes, and many small bills.

They were folded neatly and tied together with rubber bands. He counted them, and they were exactly two hundred.

Every bill carries a sense of warmth.

It was saved by the villagers from their own meager savings, squeezed out of their daily necessities.

Xie Lu carefully wrapped the money again and put it in his pocket.

"Mom and Dad, I'll take the money."

But don't worry, I won't accept it for nothing.

When I get to Wuhan, I will study hard.

When I'm able to, I will come back to repay the village and my fellow villagers.

Xie Youshan and Wang Yufen both nodded.

"It's good that you have the intention. For now, just focus on your studies, and we can talk about other things later."

Xie nodded.

He looked at the sky; the sun had already risen, and the sunlight was shining brightly in the courtyard.

"I have to hurry to the county, otherwise Liu Zhenyu will be getting impatient."

"Go ahead, and remember to come back soon."

Xie Lu pushed the bicycle out of the yard, got on, and glanced back.

His parents were still standing at the gate of the courtyard, waving to him.

He waved his hand, then turned around and pushed off the pedal hard.

The bicycle rode forward along the dirt road.

The wheels rolled over the road, raising a fine dust, and the cornfields beside the road rustled in the morning breeze, as if bidding farewell.

Xie Lu rode very fast.

The wind felt cool on my face.

But at this moment, his heart felt heavy yet warm.

Two hundred yuan is not much for him now.

But for him, it was a heavy burden.

This is the heartfelt sentiment of the villagers of Shuangshui Village.

He won't forget.

Never.

After riding for a while, he looked back.

Bathed in the warm yellow sun, Shuangshui Village had wisps of smoke rising from every household's chimney. The old locust tree at the village entrance, with its lush branches and leaves, resembled a large umbrella.

This is his root.

No matter how far he goes in the future, he will never forget.

An hour later.

The county town is getting closer.

There are fewer and fewer farmlands beside the dirt road, and more and more red brick houses. There are pedestrians and bicycles by the roadside, and occasionally a green jeep drives by, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Xie Lu wasn't riding fast. If he rode a little further and turned a corner, he would reach the steel factory's residential compound.

Today we'll go to Zhao Wanwan's house first.

Her home is on the outskirts of the county town, which is conveniently on the way, and we had agreed to have dinner together today, so we needed to meet up first before going to Liu Zhenyu's place.

Xie Lu turned into a familiar street, where there were still those red brick bungalows on both sides, and the courtyard walls were not high.

It's a little past nine in the morning, the sun is already up and shining brightly. Some people are hanging clothes out to dry in their yards, while others are picking vegetables at their doorsteps.

He rode to the entrance of the alley where Zhao Wanwan lived and slowed down.

From afar, he saw a figure standing at the gate of the courtyard.

It's Zhao Wanwan.

She changed her clothes today: a light green shirt with the sleeves rolled up to her forearms, dark blue trousers, and white canvas shoes.

With her hair tied in a ponytail, she stood there, glancing towards the alley entrance from time to time.

Xie Luqi drew closer, and her eyes lit up immediately when she saw him.

Before Xie Lu could even reach the gate, Zhao Wanwan had already turned around and entered the courtyard.

Soon, she came out pushing her bicycle.

She pushed the bike onto the road, pushed off with one foot, sat down steadily, and rode over, stopping in front of Xie Lu.

"Have you been waiting long?"

As Xie Lu turned into the alley, he saw Zhao Wanwan standing at the door, eagerly waiting.

"Not long," Zhao Wanwan pouted. Actually, she got up at seven o'clock and was waiting at the door at eight o'clock, but she didn't say it.

The two rode their bikes side by side, walking along the street.

"Go straight to Liu Zhenyu's house?"

Xie Lu nodded: "Okay, give him the book first, then go eat."

Zhao Wanwan glanced at the two bundles of books tied to Xie Lu's back seat: "What are these?"

"Yes, these are all textbooks, materials, and notes. He wants to take the exam again next year, so let him see these."

Zhao Wanwan didn't say anything.

She knew that Liu Zhenyu's grades weren't particularly good, but he worked very hard.

The fact that Xie Lu helped him like this shows that he genuinely considers him a friend.

After riding for a while, Zhao Wanwan suddenly remembered something: "Oh right, my dad has bought the train tickets. The train leaves at 3:30 pm on the 4th, two sleeper berths."