The most bustling and glorious place in the village now was the educated youth point.
There were four people who had received admission notices.
Adding Cheng You, that made five.
Five university students from Wujing Village alone – how could it not be glorious?
However, Cheng You hadn't taken out her notice. Except for a few close friends, no one else knew she had gotten in.
Cheng You and Qi Chengyan personally cooked, preparing enough food for two full tables, making it more elaborate than a New Year's Eve dinner.
“It’s such a happy occasion today, let’s have some drinks!”
Sun Xiaowan brought out a bottle of liquor from the house, bought at the supply and marketing cooperative.
Cheng You didn't have a high tolerance for alcohol, but she was genuinely happy today. Her face was flushed, and she said, “Alright, we won’t go home until we’re drunk tonight!”
Qi Chengyan looked at her with doting eyes, not stopping her.
Cheng You rarely drank. Seeing Sun Xiaowan pour her a full glass, she couldn't help but take a small sip.
The spiciness made her little face wrinkle.
“Hiss…”
Qi Chengyan placed a piece of food on her plate. “Eat.”
The strong aroma of alcohol rose, and Cheng You’s small face visibly became more rosy.
“Aren’t you drinking?”
Qi Chengyan said in a low voice, “If I drink, who will take you home?”
Cheng You felt he underestimated her. “I won’t get drunk.”
“Alright, you’re not drunk, I’m afraid of getting drunk, okay?”
That night, cups were exchanged, and joy was intertwined with a touch of melancholy.
The joy was that they were finally going home; the sorrow was that all banquets must end.
After this year, they would go their separate ways, and who knew when they would meet again.
Cheng You, however, didn't feel this wistfulness. The people she cared about were by her side.
Sun Xiaowan and Duan Liping would be studying in Yancheng, so they would see each other again.
Thus, Cheng You, who was especially happy tonight, drank several glasses of wine, more than she ever had, like a little drunkard, and Qi Chengyan carried her home.
Even though she was drunk, she was very well-behaved. She obediently let Qi Chengyan wash her face, hands, and feet, change her clothes, and then she nestled into the quilt and slept.
She slept through until the sun was out and didn't wake up.
Qi Chengyan tucked the quilt around her, kissed her rosy little face, and turned to get out of bed.
After putting on his clothes, he walked out.
Just woken up, her complexion wasn't very good.
As soon as he opened the door, he saw Pan Yu acting suspiciously.
Seeing him so suddenly, Pan Yu was also startled.
However, after a moment, her panic subsided, replaced by a shy hesitance.
She truly liked Qi Chengyan; she had fallen for him at first sight.
Unfortunately, he had married Cheng You.
Qi Chengyan ignored her and turned to go back inside.
Pan Yu couldn’t help but call out, “Educated Youth Qi!”
She took two steps forward, about to step inside, when she heard Qi Chengyan’s cold, hard voice: “Get out.”
Pan Yu, with one foot raised, froze and awkwardly retracted it.
Before she could speak, Cheng You walked out of the house.
“Pan Yu, what are you doing at my place?”
Pan Yu looked like she was stealing, extremely guilty.
“I heard you got into university, congratulations.”
She had brought Song Jingtang's notice home and only then realized she had swapped notices with Sun Xiaowan.
With a nervous heart, she waited at home for a day, but Cheng You didn't come to find her.
So, she decided to come over and test the waters.
Perhaps Cheng You never thought that she had claimed the notice?
Cheng You smiled and replied, “Yes, when I received my notice yesterday, they said there wasn't one for me. I only found out it was mine when I brought it home. It must have been a mistake by the post office.”
Pan Yu breathed a sigh of relief. So they hadn't noticed Song Jingtang's notice was missing?
This was too foolish; she had worried all night.
“I heard you also got in, congratulations.”
Pan Yu forced a stiff smile. “I heard several people from your educated youth point got in. Did that educated youth Sun also get in? What about her boyfriend?”
Cheng You pretended to sigh. “She got in, but her boyfriend's notice hasn't arrived yet. I don't know what's going on.”
Pan Yu felt satisfied and no longer probed. After exchanging pleasantries with Cheng You, she turned and left.
With the admission notice, she naturally had a way to go to Yancheng to study.
Once she was in university, she could escape this leech-like family that only knew how to suck her dry.
Cheng You watched her retreating back and sneered.
If Pan Yu didn't go to Yancheng, it would be fine. But if she did go, she would eventually reap what she sowed.
…
On the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, Elder Jiang himself came for a visit.
The Yangshu Brigade would give a certain reward to students who were admitted to university.
Given that Wujing Village had the most university students, there was also a banner.
Four from the educated youth point and Cheng You from the village made a total of five.
Each person would be rewarded ten yuan, and the banner would be placed in the village.
Cheng Tianhua found it strange no matter how he looked at it. Where did five people come from?
“Dad… no, Secretary Jiang, is there a mistake? Our village only had four educated youths get in.”
The elder chuckled. His own father was truly something.
“Your daughter got into university, and you, her father, don’t even know? Cheng Tianhua, you’ll just get by in this life, won’t you?”
The elder walked out with his hands behind his back, heading towards Cheng You’s house.
As he reached the doorway, he saw Cheng Tao standing at the entrance, mocking, “I heard the brigade is coming to reward those aspiring university students. Our village has five, and you haven't received your admission notice yet, so it looks like you have no chance.”
Just as the elder was about to speak, he heard Cheng You ask, “Five? Do you know who those five are?”
Cheng Tao’s lips curled up, and she said triumphantly, “It’s none other than…”
Before she could finish, her expression suddenly stiffened.
There were only four from the educated youth point, so who was the fifth?
Cheng You took her notice out of the house. “What a coincidence, the fifth one is me! I got into Traditional Chinese Medicine University!”
Cheng Tao's expression was naturally unpleasant. After all this effort, she had gotten her hopes up for nothing.
She turned around and met Elder Jiang’s face, startling her.
The elder snorted heavily.
“Youyou, Grandfather has brought your bonus for you.”
Cheng You quickly walked out.
Although it was only ten yuan, its significance was different.
This was a bonus, and only those admitted to university received it.
“Thank you, Grandfather. It’s so cold, why did you come in person?”
She helped the elder into the house.
“I was planning to visit before the New Year anyway. Your maternal uncle and aunt will also come later. We have many chickens at home, I’ll catch a few for you.”
Cheng You was going to Yancheng, and university would take at least a few years.
It was uncertain if she would return afterward. The elder feared that he wouldn't see her much.
Cheng You sat beside him and comforted him, “I'll still come back during winter and summer breaks. I’m not leaving forever, and I’m not going alone. Qi Chengyan will be with me, and he'll take good care of me.”
The elder’s expression was wistful, and he sighed deeply.
“I didn’t take good care of your mother. I wanted to protect you more, and selfishly, I wanted you to stay by my side. But Grandfather can’t be so selfish. You’re still young, and you should go out and explore.”
He was happy that Cheng You was successful.
On the other hand, he worried that she would be bullied in Yancheng, especially since the old Jiang family had no capable members to protect Cheng You.
Cheng You smiled, “No matter how much I explore, I’ll always come home. So, Grandfather, you have to urge Uncle to work hard, manage the general store well, make it bigger and stronger, so it can be my backing in the future.”