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

The fourth day after the college entrance examination results were released.

The busiest place in Hongqi Commune was the supply and marketing cooperative.

There were quite a few people buying things, but even more people chatting.

There was only one topic: Lin Xiuhe. She was ranked first in the entire county and went to Tsinghua University.

These words have been circulating in the commune for several days. Some people are envious, some admire them, and of course, some are uncomfortable.

At noon, under the shade of a tree in front of the supply and marketing cooperative, several women were sewing shoe soles.

Wang Xiulan was also there.

"Beijing is so far away." She pulled the thread out of the sole of her shoe. "It's hard for a girl to come back after studying so far away."

Someone nearby didn't respond. She continued, "If you ask me, the provincial capital is fine. What's the point of girls studying so much?"

Aunt Liu frowned: "Xiulan, she got the highest score in the whole county."

"So what if I'm number one in the county?" Wang Xiulan put the sole of her shoe on her lap. "Even the number one person has to get married in the end."

The people nearby exchanged glances. Everyone felt that what she said was wrong, but no one wanted to argue with her.

Just then, a bicycle stopped in front of the supply and marketing cooperative.

The wheels kicked up a cloud of dust. Zhou Zhiyuan had arrived.

Several aunties saw him first: "Zhiyuan is back."

Wang Xiulan paused for a moment, then added, "I'm doing this for her own good. She's unfamiliar with Beijing; what if something really happens?"

Zhou Zhiyuan parked his bicycle and turned around to walk over.

"What happened?"

Suddenly, silence fell under the shade of the tree. Wang Xiulan hadn't expected him to hear her: "I was just saying."

"What did you say?"

"Girls don't need to travel that far."

Zhou Zhiyuan stood there, his face expressionless: "Why isn't it necessary?"

"I'll get married eventually," Wang Xiulan replied quickly.

"And what about after you get married?" Zhou Zhiyuan asked.

Wang Xiulan paused for a moment when asked, "What do you mean, 'later'?"

"Does getting married mean you don't have to work? Does getting married mean you don't have to support your family? Does getting married mean you don't have to manage daily life?"

Complete silence fell under the shade of the trees. Several women who were sewing shoe soles stopped what they were doing.

Wang Xiulan's face turned somewhat pale: "That's not what I meant."

"What does that mean?"

Zhou Zhiyuan looked at her, his voice low but relentless, "The resumption of the college entrance examination was decided by the state, and universities are run by the state. She earned her place through her own ability, so why can't she go?"

"I--"

"She's ranked first in the county, attending Tsinghua University—so many people dream of getting in but can't. Now that she's been accepted, some are advising her not to go. Are they really doing it for her own good, or just jealous of her success?"

When the last sentence was uttered, everyone under the shade of the tree changed their expressions.

Wang Xiulan immediately stood up: "Zhou Zhiyuan! What do you mean by this?!"

"Literal meaning. Her life is her own to decide. Nobody should make decisions for her."

The wind rustled through the leaves, and no one spoke. Everyone understood that this wasn't advice; it was the first time the truth had been laid bare. Wang Xiulan stood there, her face flushed, unable to utter a single word in rebuttal.

Just then, shouts suddenly came from afar.

"A telegram has been sent from Beijing!"

A bicycle sped into the commune, and before it had even come to a complete stop, a young man's voice rang out: "The county education bureau told me to come back immediately! Tsinghua University sent a telegram!"

At the entrance of the supply and marketing cooperative, under the shade of the trees, people who were sewing shoe soles, chatting, or buying things all stood up almost simultaneously.

"What telegram? Whose telegram is it?" The voices rose and fell.

The young man, drenched in sweat, waved between breaths, shouting, "Tsinghua University! From Beijing! The county told me to come back and tell Xiuhe to go tomorrow!"

Boom! The entire entrance to the supply and marketing cooperative exploded instantly.

If it was all speculation before, now it's official news. Tsinghua University has indeed appeared. And they even sent a telegram proactively.

Captain Wang had just come out of his office when he heard the news and rushed over: "Where's the telegram?"

"It's in the county. The Education Bureau is keeping it. The director told me to come back and inform Xiuhe to go over tomorrow."

Captain Wang snatched the bicycle from him: "Let's go! Let's go now!"

The young man was taken aback: "Now?"

"Nonsense! Why would a telegram from Beijing wait until tomorrow?"

A burst of laughter immediately erupted around them. But after the laughter subsided, everyone's faces were filled with excitement.

Everyone understands that for Tsinghua University to send a special telegram, it must be no small matter.

Under the shade of the tree, Wang Xiulan stood there, her face already somewhat pale.

She had just been rendered speechless by Zhou Zhiyuan's words when, in the next second, a telegram from Tsinghua University arrived.

It's like someone tearing apart the last bit of doubt in front of everyone.

Aunt Liu glanced at her, but ultimately said nothing. Because saying anything now was pointless; the facts were already there.

Inside the supply and marketing cooperative's warehouse, Li Hongmei rushed in: "Xiuhe! Come out quickly! A telegram has arrived from Beijing! Tsinghua University! The county wants you to go there!"

Zhao Xiaomei, who was moving boxes, nearly dropped one on her foot upon hearing this: "Really?"

"It's true! The whole commune knows!"

The warehouse suddenly buzzed with excitement. But unlike everyone else's enthusiasm, Lin Xiuhe simply stopped writing, remained silent for a few seconds, and then asked, "What's the contents of the telegram?"

Li Hongmei was immediately stumped by the question: "I haven't seen it yet. The county is keeping it. I'll find out when I go there tomorrow."

Lin Xiuhe nodded, capped the pen, and closed the ledger again. Her movements remained steady.

But only she knew that her heart was beating faster than usual.

In her past life, she lived far away from Beijing, as far as a lifetime apart. But now, that name has appeared before her on its own initiative.

Evening, County Education Bureau.

The director of the admissions office was sitting in his office, with the telegram on his desk, which had been read many times. Several staff members were gathered around him.

"Director, does this count as advance confirmation?"

The director shook his head: "Not quite. But it's close."

A young staff member couldn't help but ask, "How many years has it been since our county produced anyone who got into Tsinghua University?"

The office fell silent. The director thought for a long time, then finally gave a wry smile: "It's not a matter of years, it's that it's never happened."

The people in the room were stunned at the same time.

there has never been.

The weight of those four words immediately became apparent. In the first year after the resumption of the college entrance examination, they ranked first in the entire county and were admitted to Tsinghua University.

If this succeeds, the entire county will remember it.

The director picked up the telegram, his gaze falling on the last line. There was another sentence there, a sentence that shocked everyone the most.

"When Lin Xiuhe arrives tomorrow, show her this telegram. Also, notify the county broadcasting station to prepare for a report."

Several staff members nodded in unison. Outside the office, the sun was setting, and the sky was ablaze with red sunset clouds.

At the same time, in the Red Flag Commune.

Lin Xiuhe stood in the courtyard of the supply and marketing cooperative, looking up towards the west.

A gentle evening breeze rustled the leaves.

Zhao Xiaomei squatted down beside her, already imagining what Beijing would be like.

Li Hongmei was guessing the contents of the telegram. Only Lin Xiuhe remained silent, for she knew the answer would be revealed tomorrow.

Meanwhile, in the county education bureau office, the director of the admissions office unfolded another telegram.

The last sentence of the telegram clearly stated:

[If the applicant agrees, our university is willing to give them priority for admission to the key training program.]

The director looked at the line of text and slowly took a breath.

Key training program.

In the first year after the resumption of the college entrance examination, this was the first such case in the entire region.