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

"Things from Beijing."

After those words were spoken, the supply and marketing cooperative's warehouse fell silent.

Old Xu stood at the door, finding it somewhat unbelievable even to himself.

Having worked as a postman for over a decade, he delivered money orders, college admission notices, and military enlistment notices.

Sending something from Beijing to the Red Flag Commune, especially to a young girl who had just finished the college entrance examination—this was the first time he had ever encountered such a thing.

"What is it?" Zhao Xiaomei couldn't help but ask first.

Old Xu shook his head: "I don't know. The post office didn't say anything, they just said to register it and deliver it as soon as it arrives."

Li Hongmei's mind started racing: "Could it be a notification letter?"

"No way, so fast?"

"What else could it be?"

The group chatted amongst themselves, making the warehouse increasingly lively.

Lin Xiuhe carefully put away the file folder: "We'll talk about it when we get there."

Old Xu nodded: "That's true. Anyway, I'll keep an eye on things for now."

After saying that, he added, "Now the whole commune is watching me."

The people inside laughed together.

That's the truth. These days, wherever Lao Xu goes, people ask him—do you have an acceptance letter? Do you have a letter from Beijing? Do you have any news about being admitted?

The postman became the most talked-about person in the commune.

As night fell, the people from the supply and marketing cooperative gradually dispersed.

As Zhao Xiaomei left, she kept turning back to say, "Sister Xiuhe, tell me when you come back tomorrow."

"it is good."

"At the first opportunity."

"it is good."

Only after receiving reassurance did she feel relieved enough to leave.

The courtyard quieted down again. Lin Xiuhe locked the warehouse door and went back to her dormitory to organize materials. She had to go to the county tomorrow.

Meanwhile, at the county machinery factory.

The workshop was brightly lit, with several machines operating simultaneously, the clanging of metal echoing throughout. Zhou Zhiyuan was recording data.

A young technician rushed in: "Engineer Zhou, the phone."

Zhou Zhiyuan looked up: "Whose?"

"Over at the Red Flag Commune."

Zhou Zhiyuan put down his pen and walked quickly to his office.

Before the call was even over, Captain Wang's loud voice could be heard even through the phone line.

"Zhiyuan! Good news!"

Zhou Zhiyuan gripped the receiver firmly: "What is it?"

"A telegram has arrived from Beijing!"

The office fell silent for a moment.

"Whose telegram is this?"

"Tsinghua University! Looking for Xiuhe!"

Captain Wang's laughter could be heard over the line; he had clearly been happy all night.

"It's caused quite a stir in the county. The director of the Education Bureau is personally making arrangements, and I'm going to the county again tomorrow."

Zhou Zhiyuan stood by the phone, listening to those words, his gaze fixed on the view outside the office window.

The night was deep, and the lights of the factory area in the distance stretched out in a continuous line.

In his previous life, he had never received this call or heard this news.

Because in her previous life, Lin Xiuhe had no chance to take the college entrance examination.

After a moment, Zhou Zhiyuan asked, "What time tomorrow?"

"Nine o'clock. Education Bureau."

"Okay. I understand."

The phone call ended, and the office returned to silence.

The deputy factory director happened to walk in and saw Zhou Zhiyuan standing there: "What happened?"

"The girl who was ranked first in the entire county in Hongqi Commune."

"Um?"

"A telegram has arrived from Beijing."

The deputy factory director paused for a moment, then smiled: "Tsinghua?"

Zhou Zhiyuan nodded.

The deputy factory director slapped the table: "Impressive. To achieve such results in the first year after the resumption of the college entrance examination is truly remarkable."

After saying that, she remembered something else: "Oh right, someone came to the factory looking for you this afternoon."

Zhou Zhiyuan turned his head: "Who?"

"She said she was from the Red Flag Commune, a middle-aged woman."

Zhou Zhiyuan frowned slightly: "What's your name?"

"They didn't say, but I think their surname is Wang."

The office suddenly fell silent.

Her surname is Wang. She's from the Red Flag Commune. She's a middle-aged woman. The answer is obvious—Wang Xiulan.

The deputy factory director continued, "She said she wanted to ask about the universities in the county, and even asked if you knew anyone in the admissions office. But the security department wouldn't let her in."

Zhou Zhiyuan closed the notebook on the table: "What else did she say?"

The deputy factory director recalled: "They said it wasn't safe for girls to go to Beijing, that it was too far from home, and that their families didn't agree."

At this point, the deputy factory director frowned: "Something doesn't sound right to me. She's taking the college entrance exam, what's she in such a hurry for?"

Zhou Zhiyuan remained silent in the office.

The machines roared outside the window, but the expression on his face had changed.

He knew Wang Xiulan too well.

She was capable of such a thing in her past life. Now that Lin Xiuhe is ranked first in the entire county and Tsinghua University has sent a telegram, she is even less likely to be content.

Thinking of this, Zhou Zhiyuan picked up his coat hanging on the back of the chair: "Deputy Factory Director, I'd like to ask for a day off tomorrow."

The deputy factory director waved his hand dismissively: "Approved. Go back and check on things quickly, just in case something really happens."

Meanwhile, in Hongqi Commune, at the Lin Family Courtyard.

Wang Xiulan sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), while the kerosene lamp on the table swayed precariously.

She had been sitting there for a long time.

Lin Jianguo sat on the other side smoking, and the room was filled with the smell of smoke.

Finally, Wang Xiulan spoke up: "Beijing is too far away."

Lin Jianguo ignored her.

"Why would a young woman travel so far?"

Lin Jianguo knocked the cigarette ash into the enamel mug: "If I pass the exam, I'll go."

"You make it sound so easy."

Wang Xiulan's voice suddenly rose, "What happens after you go? Will you come back? What will happen to your family? What will happen to your job? What will happen to your marriage?"

A series of questions came out, and the room fell silent again.

After a while, Lin Jianguo said, "That's her own business."

"It's her own business?" Wang Xiulan stood up. "Her surname is Lin! She's from the Lin family! I don't believe a girl can turn the world upside down!"

The kerosene lamp flickered, casting her face in alternating light and shadow.

Lin Weidong stood behind the door of the east room and heard everything. After a long while, he turned around, went back into the room, and closed the door.

In the courtyard, the wind rustled the locust tree leaves.

No one noticed that a bicycle was riding along the night road from the direction of the village entrance.

The car headlights pierced the darkness, getting closer and closer to the Red Flag Commune.

The person riding the bicycle was Zhou Zhiyuan.