Accidentally entered a high gate

Wen Nianhe gave birth to a daughter for Zheng Xinhua in 1974, and then gave birth to a son for him in 1977.

My daughter's nickname is Da Bao, and her full name is Zheng Zhixia.

My son's nickname is Erbao, and his formal name is Zheng Zhisong.

Tian Erya wasn't one to fuss over her daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law, and she felt they were marrying above their station with the Wen family. So, after Wen Nianhe gave birth, she only breastfed and didn't have to worry about anything else.

Wen Nianhe secretly tugged at Zheng Xinhua's sleeve.

Just as Zheng Xinhua was about to plead for her, Tian Erya said, "Did your second sister tell you that she has finished learning high school material? Why would your second sister need to learn high school material? Your second sister has already given birth to three children for your second brother-in-law, and your second brother-in-law's family treats her very well."

Zheng Xinhua: "..." It seems there's no room for negotiation.

Wen Nianhe: "..." She was different from her second aunt. Her second aunt married up, while she married down.

Seeing that neither of them spoke, Zheng Jianhua said, "My second sister doesn't want to be too much worse off than my second sister's husband."

"Yes." Tian Erya gently patted Wen Nianhe's hand. "Grandma's telling you, a couple has to move forward together. If one of them makes it to the county town while the other is still wandering around in the village, problems will arise in the long run. Do you want Da Bao and Er Bao to struggle for a living under their stepmother's thumb?"

Wen Nianhe: "..." How did this get to the stepmother?

Zheng Xinhua: "..." Grandma, aren't you setting me up? "Grandma, even if I run all the way to Beijing, I won't divorce Nianhe."

Tian Erya glanced at her eldest grandson. "Don't think that just because you're my grandson, you're different from all the other men in the world. When Yang San's father went to war, he told his mother that even if he died, his soul would return to them, the four of them, and watch over them. And what happened?"

Zheng Xinhua: "..." Grandma, whose grandma are you anyway? "My second brother-in-law didn't abandon my sister when he returned to Beijing."

"How many men in the world can be like your second sister's husband? Nianhe, let me tell you, once we women get married, we usually don't have any other thoughts. But men are different. Even if a man has a house full of children and grandchildren, he still won't behave himself."

Zheng Xinhua: "..." I wonder what his grandfather would think if he heard his grandmother say that? "Grandma, I'm urging her to study."

"Stop interrupting. Nianhe, let me tell you, if Xinhua finds a stepmother for Dabao and Erbao, and the stepmother doesn't let Dabao go hungry, then Erbao will be considered lucky... Hey! Hey! Don't pull Nianhe away, I haven't finished yet."

If he doesn't leave soon, his wife might not let him onto the bed. "We're going to study. Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on her and make sure she studies hard."

As Zheng Xinhua spoke, he pulled Wen Nianhe back to their room.

As soon as they got back inside, Zheng Xinhua hugged Wen Nianhe and said, "Wife, believe me, even if I become incredibly successful, I will never divorce you."

"Grandma has eaten more salt than I have eaten rice."

Zheng Xinhua: "..." His grandmother really screwed him over. "Wife, I've always looked up to my second brother-in-law."

"Hmph! Go read your book. I need to write a letter to my mother."

"Honey, you're not going to tell your mother, are you? Honey, I'm innocent!"

"Hmph! Go read your book, I'm still waiting to enjoy life with you." One of the main reasons she fell for her husband was his love of learning.

"Wife, my second brother-in-law is truly my role model."

"Okay. Go read your book."

"Wife, you have to believe me."

"Believe, believe."

"Then don't write to your mother-in-law."

"I won't tell my mom. I'll ask her to send me some cake vouchers. Grandma's cake is all gone."

Zheng Xinhua breathed a sigh of relief. "What about your studies?"

"I'll learn. I don't want to take care of the kids." Besides, what if her husband is like Yang San's father? Where can she find someone as good as her mother-in-law and great-grandmother? Although her mother-in-law is not as smart as her great-grandmother, she is both diligent and honest.

Zheng Xinhua was relieved. "I'm going to study now. Say hello to my parents for me."

"Um."

The couple finished speaking and then got busy.

On the other side, Zheng Jianhua leaned close to Tian Erya and whispered, "Grandma, when Yang San's father went to war, did he really tell his mother that even if he sacrificed himself, his soul would come back to watch over the four of them?"

"Grandma made that up."

Sure enough. "Grandma, you're really cunning and shrewd."

"Are you asking for a beating? Go read your books. Your second sister not only wrote two letters this time, but also sent a bunch of books. She probably wants you to make the most of your time to study."

"hey-hey……"

Zheng Jianhua chuckled twice and then went to study. He was in for a beating if he didn't go soon.

The next morning, as soon as Zheng Xinhua stepped out, he saw his grandmother waving at him.

Zheng Xinhua: "..." Did his grandmother remember he was her grandson after sleeping all night?

Zheng Xinhua walked over. "Grandma, what do you want?"

Tian Erya asked in a low voice, "Is your wife willing to learn?"

"I agree."

"That's good. Grandma wants to tell you that although Grandma hopes your wife will move forward with you, if she really doesn't want to, don't force her. You are the pillar of your little family. You understand what Grandma means, right?"

"I understand. How well our little family lives depends mainly on me, so I can't focus too much on persuading my wife to study."

"Yes. Also, when I said that if she doesn't study, you might find a stepmother for Da Bao and Er Bao, I was just bluffing her. If you dare to find a stepmother for Da Bao and Er Bao, Grandma will break your legs."

"Okay, Grandma, why are you treating my daughter-in-law better than me?"

"Even if Grandma isn't good to you, you're still her grandson. If Grandma weren't good to your wife, who knows whose granddaughter-in-law she'd be?"

Zheng Xinhua: "..." His grandmother was truly kind and wise. "Grandma, you deserve half the credit for how good my relationship with Nianhe is."

"Stop flattering Grandma. Alright, go ahead and get busy. Da Bao and Er Bao will be awake soon too." With that, Tian Er Ya went back inside.

Five days later, when Wen Qiyuan came home from get off work, he saw Su Wanqiu staring blankly into the distance. Wen Qiyuan and Su Wanqiu were Wen Nianhe's parents.

As Wen Qiyuan took off his coat, he asked, "What are you thinking about?"

Su Wanqiu picked up a few sheets of paper from the table and handed them to him. "Nianhe wrote. Nianhe complained that her second aunt had sent them a bunch of books, but also said she wanted to send her second aunt more mountain produce. She said that her great-grandmother didn't want to take care of her children anymore, but also said that her great-grandmother treated her better than her husband."

After reading it, Wen Qiyuan thought for a moment. "It seems that the college entrance examination really needs to be reinstated."

Su Wanqiu: "..." How did this turn into the college entrance exam? "Where did you get that idea? I didn't see it coming from you!"

"Her second aunt not only sent them books, but also encouraged them to study whenever they had free time. Her second aunt's father-in-law and her two brothers-in-law are all capable people. Her second aunt must have gotten the definite information from her father-in-law, her two brothers-in-law."

Su Wanqiu: "..." If the college entrance examination were to be reinstated, wouldn't those who are good at studying but can't get a recommendation quota be laughing in their sleep? "Who exactly is her second aunt's father-in-law and eldest brother-in-law?"

"Don't ask about that. You should ask for leave and go talk to the eldest child. Be careful what you say. I'll talk to the other kids."

"Okay. So the college entrance exam is really going to be reinstated?"

"Even if it's not possible, there's no harm in learning more. If it were possible, our child would have an advantage over those who only start learning after the government officially announces it."

That's true. "I'll ask for leave from work tomorrow."

Time flies, and half a year has passed in the blink of an eye.

Wen Qiyuan had just finished washing his face and was about to shave when Su Wanqiu suddenly walked in from the doorway, her face beaming with excitement. "Old Wen, the college entrance exam has really been reinstated! Old Wen, what kind of family did Nianhe's second aunt marry into? Also, will Nianhe's second aunt be taking the college entrance exam? I remember Nianhe saying that her second aunt went to junior high school after getting married. I heard from them that junior high students can also take the exam."