Reborn in 1977, I will no longer be my brother's blood bag.

The notebook is opened.

The first page reads: Mediation record regarding the dispute over Lin Xiuhe's college entrance examination registration.

The Women's Federation director looked up: "We have already learned about the situation. Now, please have both sides give their statements. Comrade Lin Jianguo, you may go first."

All eyes in the conference room turned to them.

Lin Jianguo sat there, his hands pressed against his knees. After a few seconds, he spoke.

"Our family has limited resources, so we can only concentrate our efforts on this. Weidong has always had good grades and has a better chance of getting into university. Xiuhe already has a job, so I think it's more appropriate to give the opportunity to Weidong."

After he finished speaking, the sound of papers turning filled the meeting room. A commune cadre lowered his head and made a note.

The Women's Federation director continued, "Are there limited spots available for college entrance exams?"

"no."

"Will her registration affect Lin Weidong's registration?"

"Won't."

"Will her taking the exam affect Lin Weidong's exam?"

"Won't."

Three questions in a row, three answers in a row.

The atmosphere in the meeting room began to change.

Because everyone realized that Lin Jianguo couldn't give a real reason.

He had only one reason—his son.

The Women's Federation director put down her pen: "Let me rephrase the question. If Lin Weidong were the one registering today, and Lin Xiuhe wanted him to withdraw from the college entrance examination, would you agree?"

Birds were chirping outside the wooden window, and leaves were rustling. But no one spoke.

Everyone is waiting for an answer.

Lin Jianguo did not answer.

The Women's Federation director continued, "Do you agree?"

Lin Jianguo's lips moved, but in the end, he said the same thing: "Weidong is a boy."

Some people in the meeting room shook their heads, while others sighed.

Zhao Xiaomei hugged her workbook and lowered her head. She suddenly remembered her father and his words: "Why do girls need to read so many books?"

It turns out that many places are the same.

Just then, the conference room door suddenly opened. A young staff member strode in, carrying several photocopied documents.

"Director, it was just delivered from the county high school."

The director of the Women's Federation took it and turned to the first page, then the second, then the third. The more she turned the pages, the more her brows furrowed.

Wang Xiulan started to get restless: "What is it?"

No one answered her.

The Women's Federation director placed the materials on the table and pushed them in front of Lin Jianguo: "Explain this."

Lin Jianguo looked down.

Page 1, Cancel Application.

Page 2, Explanation of the Situation.

Page 3, Record of Inquiries Regarding Collection of Examination Admission Tickets.

Page 4, Registration for Reporting Identity Fraud.

All copies, all signed with his name.

A collective gasp filled the conference room. Even Zhao Xiaomei's eyes widened.

It turns out that what everyone knows is only a part of it.

Lin Jianguo looked at the materials, page after page, as if someone had laid out everything that had been done during this period on the table.

The Women's Federation director tapped the table: "Now, I'll ask you one more time. Why did you do this?"

In the conference room, everyone's eyes were once again on Lin Jianguo.

This time, however, he had nowhere to retreat to.

******

The fan in the conference room was turning slowly, its blades humming softly.

Four documents were laid out on the table: a cancellation application, an explanation of the situation, a record of collecting the examination admission ticket on behalf of someone else, and a report of identity fraud.

The same name was signed at the bottom of each document.

Lin Jianguo!

The director of the Women's Federation pushed the materials forward a bit.

Explain.

All eyes were on Lin Jianguo, and the sound of a tractor passing by could be heard outside the window.

The rumbling sound faded into the distance.

Lin Jianguo stared at the table for a long time before finally speaking.

"I didn't mean to hurt her."

The director of the Women's Federation took notes.

"Go on."

"I just think..."

"Wei Dong is more suited to go to university."

Xiuhe already has a job.

There always has to be some arrangement at home.

The voice just fell.

The commune cadres frowned immediately.

"arrange?"

"The National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao) is how the country selects talent."

"It's not your family dividing up the things."

Lin Jianguo held the enamel mug tightly; the tea had gone cold, but he still didn't let go.

"But that's just how our family is."

"We can't afford to support two."

"Who told you we can't afford to support two?"

The director of the Women's Federation suddenly asked, and Lin Jianguo looked up.

"What?"

Who paid the registration fee?

"..."

Who bought the review materials?

"..."

Who passed the exam to work at the supply and marketing cooperative?

"..."

The clock on the wall was still ticking, the second hand moving forward one tick at a time, and everyone was waiting.

The director of the Women's Federation opened her notebook.

"According to the investigation."

"Comrade Lin Xiuhe shall pay her own registration fee."

"I got most of my study materials myself."

"The job was obtained through a public examination."

"Judging from the current situation..."

"She did not ask her family for any additional resources."

Lin Jianguo was speechless, because all of this was true.

Just then, Wang Xiulan suddenly slammed her hand on the table.

"Then she was also raised by the Lin family!"

"There is no Lin family."

"She's nothing like she is today!"

Many people in the meeting room frowned, and the director of the Women's Federation turned to look at them.

"Raising children is the responsibility of parents."

"It's not a condition for exchange."

Wang Xiulan was momentarily stunned. She was used to reasoning at home, but this was not the Lin family compound; this was the commune.

The director of the Women's Federation continued flipping through the documents and took out another record.

Last winter.

"Lin Xiuhe fell into the river."

"We'll continue working the next day."

"The autumn harvest the year before last."

"I worked for twelve consecutive days."

"The year before last."

"His work points record is the highest in the entire production team."

Many people know about these things, but no one has ever specifically brought them up before. Today, we're laying them out one by one.

The weight suddenly increased.

Zhao Xiaomei sat in the back row, clutching her workbook, her eyes slightly red. She suddenly realized that Lin Xiuhe's success today wasn't due to luck at all, but rather to hard work and perseverance.

The director of the Women's Federation put down the materials and looked at Lin Xiuhe.

"Is there anything you'd like to say?"

All eyes in the conference room turned to her. Lin Xiuhe stood up and gently moved her wooden chair back half an inch.

The sunlight streaming through the window shone onto her shoulders.

She didn't look at Wang Xiulan or Lin Jianguo; her gaze was fixed on the center of the conference table, where her registration confirmation slip lay.

That piece of paper wasn't thick, but it was something that took two lifetimes to acquire.

I have a question.

She spoke, her voice not loud, but it could be heard clearly in the conference room.

"From the time I can remember."

"I'm the one who does the laundry."

"I was the one who cooked."

"I'm the one who took care of Lin Weidong."

"I'm the one earning work points."

"I got the job through my own exams."

"The college entrance exam is now."

"I'll sign up myself."

She picked up the registration confirmation and gently placed it in the center of the table.

"These years."

"I've been doing what you want me to do."

"Now then."

"I want to do something I want to do."

No one interrupted in the conference room; even the sound of the fan seemed distant.

Lin Xiuhe turned her head and looked directly at Lin Jianguo for the first time.

"Why not?"

Lin Jianguo opened his mouth and then closed it again. The tea on the table had gone cold, and he couldn't say a word.

Because all the reasons have already been given. And those reasons, once laid out here, are no longer tenable even to himself.

Lin Xiuhe continued:

I'm eighteen years old.

"My name was on the employment notice from the supply and marketing cooperative."

"My name is written on the college entrance examination registration form."

"University admission notices in the future."

"It will also write my name."

She carefully put the registration confirmation into her cloth bag, her movements steady, as if she were putting away something that belonged to her.

"So starting today."

"My life."

"I'll make the decision myself."

There was silence at first, then someone started clapping.

A soft snap. Immediately afterwards...

the second.

The third.

the fourth.

The applause grew louder and louder, and even the onlookers outside the conference room joined in.

Wang Xiulan sat there, her face pale.

Lin Jianguo kept his head down and remained silent.

The director of the Women's Federation turned to the last page of the record, wrote down the conclusion, and left a clear line of words as the pen scribbled across the paper.

Mediation Opinions Regarding the Dispute over Lin Xiuhe's College Entrance Examination Registration