Time Travel: Conditional Wealth

In early August 1977, Deng Xiaoping convened a symposium on science and education in Beijing, inviting more than 30 famous scientists and educators to attend.

He retrieved the documents sent to the central government that insisted on recommending students to go to university during the Cultural Revolution, and advocated the immediate resumption of the college entrance examination.

In September of the same year, it was decided to resume the national college entrance examination which had been suspended for more than ten years.

It was officially resumed on October 21st, and it was decided that the college entrance examination will start one month later.

This national college admissions conference, which is a turning point, decided that the enrollment targets for the resumption of the college entrance examination are: workers and farmers, educated young people who have gone to the mountains and countryside or returned to their hometowns, demobilized soldiers, cadres and fresh high school graduates.

The meeting also decided that priority will be given to key colleges and universities when enrolling students. Medical colleges, normal colleges and agricultural colleges will pay attention to recruiting barefoot doctors, private teachers and agricultural science and technology activists with good performance respectively.

After graduation, students will be assigned jobs by the state.

When the news came, more educated youth who had gone to the countryside cried. They could finally escape from the quagmire that had trapped them, and return to the city with dignity and into the arms of their parents.

When He Xi went to deliver food, most of the educated youth who passed by lowered their heads and cried silently. There was no loudspeaker in the village, so the news reached them only through word of mouth.

Hong Wen's face was covered with a mixture of sweat and tears, and Li Zhi's hair was in clumps, setting off He Xi's refreshing and clean appearance, forming a strong contrast.

He Xi looked at her and said, "Your chance to change your fate has come now. Stop saying that fate is unfair and that others have taken something away from you. Just work hard."

"You guys are the first to get the moon because you are close to the water. We are from the previous year and have long forgotten all the knowledge. It's just that you are getting the advantage. Life is never fair."

"Since you know there is no fairness, why don't you work hard? There are so many people in the same situation as you. Have they given up? Are those who are older than you and have children going to give up? No, they won't."

The college entrance examination is the light of hope for them to change their current destiny. People are born to pursue light and yearn for a bright future. As long as you work hard, it is never too late. There is no early or late in life, and hard work will bring glory.

The temperature is very low now, and the leaves seem to have been hit by frost, losing their original vitality and drooping in a wrinkled state.

Corn stalks and bean stalks are treasures of farmers. They can be used to start fires for heating kangs, feed livestock, keep greenhouses warm, etc. One of the recent work focuses of the village is to harvest them, and the second is to pay public grain to the next higher level.

Lu Jinan and Xiao Yan continued to work hard in the team of male educated youth, as if such good news had nothing to do with them.

The workload has been quite heavy in recent days. The weather here is cold, and we often have to rush to harvest and plant throughout the year. God is kind to us, but once a snowstorm comes, everything is forced to pause.

The most difficult time is the early morning and late evening. It is hot when I put on clothes to work, and cold when I take off clothes. Even in such cold weather, sweat still keeps coming out from my forehead and neck, and large areas of clothes on the back are wet.

He Xi took small steps and was extremely careful. She accidentally scratched her foot while delivering food yesterday, which made Lu Jinan both distressed and angry.

He complained that He Xi was stupid and didn't look at his feet when walking. He Xi asked him to reflect on whether he had spoiled He Xi to the point that she lost the ability to live. Lu Jinan was speechless.

When He Xi arrived, Lu Jinan and Xiao Yan happened to be sitting together with other male educated youth to rest. Her appearance attracted their attention. He Xi took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from Lu Jinan's forehead, and handed Xiao Yan a clean handkerchief.

"You've heard the news, how do you feel? Let's interview you." He Xi took out lunch boxes for them, two dishes and a soup, two servings each.

Lu Jinan frowned slightly when he took off his gloves, and his movements slowed down. He Xi, who was holding a bottle of water and was about to pour them some water to wash their hands, saw his uncharacteristic behavior.

Lu Jinan was not going to endure it any longer. He steeled himself and took off his gloves all at once. His fair palms were rubbed red, and some of them were even blistered. Some of the blisters were even broken.

He Xi carefully took off his other glove and found that it was the same.

He Xi was heartbroken and glared at the male educated youth who were still sitting and resting behind him. Their food ration fields were separate, which meant that they grew and ate what they grew themselves. Even if Lu Jinan didn't work, he would still have food to eat. He was suffering for them.

He Xi purchased cotton swabs and iodine on the system through her consciousness, and pretended to take them out from her army green messenger bag to disinfect and apply medicine to Lu Jinan.

Xiao Yan's hands were also injured, just scratches but no blisters, and he could still eat normally. He raised his head and glanced at the delicate Lu Jinan. He could work normally before he saw He Xi, but when she came, it was over and he couldn't take care of himself.

After He Xi cleaned his wound and applied some medicine, she was feeding Lu Jinan mouthful by mouthful. He enjoyed the envious looks from others. Today's lunch was particularly delicious.

When He's father got off work in the afternoon, he found that Lu Jinan had returned home before him. After asking, he found out that He Xi felt sorry for him and brought him back when she delivered lunch at noon.

He's father felt a sour feeling in his heart. Well, everyone has been through that time. What's wrong with a man getting hurt? Why be so delicate?

Father He said in a dissatisfied tone, throwing his gloves on the table next to Lu Jinan, "Go back to work tomorrow. It's not the right way for a man to die over a blister."

He Xi couldn't help but glare at He's father.

Are you looking for trouble? You won't get any share of the boiled fish tonight.

No share for him? Can he eat it?

Don't be afraid, feed the dog.

Do we have a dog at home?

Arrange now.

He's father felt that He Xi was targeting him: "Just side with him. He doesn't even want his biological father anymore."

After being alone for a while, He's father suddenly asked, "Has the college entrance examination really been resumed?"

"Yes, it's spread all over the village. What's wrong, Dad?" He Fei was cooking in the outer room.

"Nothing, it just feels too unreal. It has been suspended for so many years, and no one has ever thought about when this kind of life will end. I'm afraid it's just a dream, and the dream will be shattered when I wake up."

He Xi was pouring hot oil on the boiled fish when she heard a sizzling sound. She turned her head away from the smoke and said, "Why are you still sentimental? Are you reluctant to let the turmoil end?"

"I think it's too slow. You don't know how itchy I feel watching you guys make money every day."

Lu Jinan glanced at him lightly and said in a light tone: "You are overthinking it. It is still too early to allow private economy. It will take another year or so for the overall environment to stabilize."

He's father became melancholy. "Well, my daydreaming this afternoon was in vain. You should also review well. If you don't want to do the work, then don't do it. The college entrance examination is the light of hope for you young people. Dad hopes that it can illuminate your life."