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

Inside the room, Lin Weidong sat at the kang table.

A college application reference booklet was spread out on the table.

He has already filled out his first choice: a key university in the provincial capital, majoring in mechanical engineering.

This major was recommended by Professor Wang; it's stable, respectable, and offers good job prospects.

But his gaze never fell on the application form.

The sounds of conversation drifted in from the courtyard—Lin Xiuhe, top scorer in mock exams, Tsinghua University—these words were like tiny grains of sand stuck in my ears, irritating me.

He closed the booklet and took out his estimated score sheet from the drawer.

The numbers above were written heavily, and each subject was calculated twice: Chinese, Mathematics, Politics, Physics and Chemistry. The total was high enough, even higher than the mock exam.

He stared at the string of numbers, and after a moment, he pulled out the math error notebook.

The last page had four words written on it: "Number One in the County." I wrote that before the mock exam. I didn't achieve it that time.

This time, we cannot afford to lose again.

In the afternoon, the red paper at the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative became even more lively.

Someone put a fruit candy in Lin Weidong's direction, and someone else put two peanuts in Lin Xiuhe's direction.

A few young people even found some chalk and drew two lines on the ground, writing "Weidong" on the left and "Xiuhe" on the right.

Zhao Xiaomei immediately became anxious: "What kind of mess is this!" She slung her schoolbag over her shoulder, "I'm going to apprehend Sister Xiuhe."

Li Hongmei peeked out from behind the counter: "What are you using as collateral?"

Zhao Xiaomei searched her pockets and finally pulled out a hard candy—a gift from a child in Zhao Family Village. She clutched the candy and ran out, slapping it down on Lin Xiuhe's side.

"I'm betting on Sister Xiuhe."

Immediately, people around started to clamor: "Zhao Xiaomei, you and Xiuhe are close, of course you should bet on her."

Zhao Xiaomei, hands on her hips, retorted, "So what if we have a good relationship? I bet on her grades. She got first place in the mock exam, her essay was praised by the county teacher, and she even dared to apply to Tsinghua University. Why can't she win?"

Someone joked, "You can't just apply to Tsinghua University and get in."

Zhao Xiaomei immediately replied, "Those who dare not fill it out will never be able to apply."

This remark made the young people next to her laugh, and even Li Hongmei was doubled over with laughter behind the counter.

Just as the excitement was at its peak, Lin Jianguo returned.

He was carrying a hoe, his clothes covered in dirt.

As soon as he reached the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative, he saw the two chalk lines on the ground and then the red paper, and he paused.

Someone deliberately asked, "Jianguo, who are you betting on?"

Laughter immediately erupted from the crowd.

Everyone wanted to hear his answer.

Lin Jianguo put the hoe down from his shoulder, the iron hoe hitting the ground, the muddy blade scraping a shallow mark: "They're all my kids, it doesn't matter who does well on the exam."

That's a smooth way of putting it, but few people actually believe it.

Someone pressed on, asking, "What if you could only choose one?"

Lin Jianguo bent down and picked up the hoe again: "We'll talk about it when the results come out."

After saying that, he started walking home. But he had only taken a few steps when he heard Aunt Liu's voice behind him: "Xiulan said that if Weidong loses to Xiuhe, she will cut down the old locust tree."

Another burst of laughter erupted around them.

Lin Jianguo paused for a moment, shifting the hoe handle on his shoulder. He continued walking, his pace quickening slightly.

In the evening, Zhou Zhiyuan returned from the county machinery factory. Blueprints were still strapped to the back of his bicycle, and the wheels were covered in dust.

As soon as he entered the supply and marketing cooperative's courtyard, he saw the lively scene at the entrance—red paper, chalk lines, melon seed shells, and the hard candy that Zhao Xiaomei had pressed.

"What are you doing?"

Li Hongmei explained it with a smile.

After listening, Zhou Zhiyuan parked his bicycle against the wall and locked it. Then he took something out of his pocket and placed it on Lin Xiuhe's side.

It's an aluminum button. Taken from an old military uniform, it's worthless, but it's been polished to a shine.

Zhao Xiaomei's eyes lit up: "Comrade Zhou is also betting on Sister Xiuhe?"

Zhou Zhiyuan put the keys into his pocket: "Bet on the facts."

"What facts?"

"Report cards speak for themselves."

These words, though spoken softly, were heard by everyone around. Someone laughed and teased, "Comrade Zhou, you've got a sure bet! What if you lose?"

Zhou Zhiyuan straightened the handlebars: "Then take the buttons away."

The crowd laughed even harder.

In the warehouse, Lin Xiuhe was putting draft volunteer forms into envelopes.

The curtain was lifted, and Zhou Zhiyuan walked in.

"It's very lively outside."

"I heard you."

"Aren't you going out to take a look?"

"No need." Lin Xiuhe sealed the envelope and took out a new notebook. After the college entrance examination, she planned to re-categorize the materials she had compiled during this period, which might come in handy later.

Zhou Zhiyuan placed the blueprints on the corner of the table, making sure not to cover her documents: "The county is also circulating them today."

"What are you spreading?"

"Two high-scoring candidates came from Hongqi Commune."

"The results weren't released yet, so they were already circulating?"

"News travels faster than people."

Lin Xiuhe turned to the first page of her notebook and wrote down four words: Data Organization.

"How's the machine factory?"

Zhou Zhiyuan rolled up his sleeves, revealing a faint oil stain on his wrist, as if he had just come from the equipment room: "The machines have been shut down for forty-eight hours."

"Is it fixed?"

"Still under investigation."

Is it difficult?

Zhou Zhiyuan pulled out a sheet of drawings, which was covered with pipes and part numbers: "Difficult."

Lin Xiuhe looked at the diagram; the densely packed lines intertwined, enough to give any ordinary person a headache. Yet, he had drawn red circles around several of the intersections.

"Have you found the problem?"

"It still needs verification." Zhou Zhiyuan folded the blueprints neatly. "I'm going back to the county tomorrow. Will I be back before the results are announced?"

"As much as possible."

Just as she finished speaking those two words, a series of hurried footsteps suddenly came from the counter. Li Hongmei lifted the curtain and ran in, holding a notice in her hand.

"Xiuhe! The commune just received a call from the county! The date for the results announcement has been set!"

The people in the warehouse all looked over at the same time. Zhao Xiaomei also rushed in from the door, still holding the half-eaten cornbread in her hand.

Li Hongmei spread the notice out on the table. The paper was stamped with the seal of the county education bureau, and the bottom line clearly stated: College entrance examination results will be announced uniformly in three days.

Zhao Xiaomei's steamed bun fell onto the table, rolled half a circle, and stopped next to the aluminum button.

Outside the window, the red paper at the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative rustled in the wind.

three days later.

Every bet will have a result.