An Ning and An Guoping’s study routine continued for half a month.

This half-month of studying was enough for An Guoping to make up his mind.

That evening, as the family was eating dinner, An Guoping finished his meal, set down his bowl and chopsticks, and cleared his throat with a touch of formality.

"Dad, Mom, I have something to say."

An Sancheng set down his bowl and chopsticks, and Lin Cuihua also looked at An Guoping.

"I want to continue studying with my sister for another year. I know getting into a vocational college is already great, but I have a better opportunity now. I want to study what I truly want to learn."

This was the first time An Guoping had ever expressed a true passion for something. An Sancheng spoke up, asking, "What do you want to study?"

"Medicine. I want to be a doctor—the best doctor."

After speaking, An Guoping rubbed the back of his neck, looking a bit sheepish.

"I just... really like it."

"If you like it, then go for it. There’s nothing to hesitate about. I support you."

An Ning was the first to voice her support. An Guoping gave a goofy nod.

"Sis, I’m counting on you."

"No problem."

An Ning didn’t feel any pressure. At their current pace, there was no way An Guoping could fail the exam.

"Yes, yes, good! Study! Learn well from your sister."

An Sancheng was happy—truly happy. Getting into a university was an event that brought honor to the whole family. And in a parent’s eyes, being a doctor was an unbelievably impressive profession.

With An Guoping’s path settled, everyone was overjoyed.

The An family was doing well. After making money from the backpacks, they had also sold the sewing machine for a decent sum, ensuring they didn’t take a loss.

An Sancheng distributed the earnings according to each person’s contribution, paying out a portion and keeping the rest for the family.

In any case, they didn’t lack for food or clothing. They worked in the fields every day, earned work points, had savings, and could even afford meat from time to time to treat themselves. In the village, a life like this was undoubtedly one of the best.

Life was going smoothly, the children were ambitious, and a new baby was on the way. A life like this was full of promise.

The next day, An Guoping continued studying the sciences with An Ning. As for Politics and Chinese Literature, he decided to study those on his own.

This was because after another week of looking into them, An Ning discovered those two subjects were her nemesis.

She simply couldn’t get the hang of the formulaic answers or grasp the central themes.

What’s more, she couldn’t understand how a single sentence could have so many meanings.

She even thought, ’If there are so many hidden meanings, why not just state them outright?’

’And everyone is different, so why should everyone’s interpretation be exactly the same?’

As for An Guoping, he initially thought An Ning had a sudden change of heart and was just being humble about her abilities in those subjects.

But then An Ning asked him, "How do you know that’s what the author was thinking? Isn’t he dead?"

An Guoping was completely stumped.

He had no idea!

In the end, after discussing it, they decided An Guoping would be on his own for those two subjects.

An Ning was in the middle of explaining a problem An Guoping had gotten wrong when someone shouted from the front gate.

"An Ning, there’s a phone call for you."

WOOF WOOF WOOF!

Da Huang barked a couple of times at the gate—truly an excellent guard dog for the An family.

"Oh, Da Huang’s here."

The person who’d called out also recognized Da Huang.

"Okay, thank you! I’ll be right there."

An Ning put down the workbook and said to An Guoping, "You keep working on the problems. I’ll explain more when I get back."

"Got it, Sis."

An Ning left and went to the brigade office to take the call. It was from Director Li.

"An Ning, you said you’d come by in a few days. How are things? Do you have time to visit soon?"

Director Li didn’t want to rush her, but those two from the machinery factory had been hounding him from his bedroom to the bathroom. He really couldn’t hold them off any longer.

On the phone, An Ning thought about her second brother An Guoming’s injury. His mobility wasn’t restricted, but he still couldn’t do any heavy lifting.

’But it wouldn’t hurt to go over and take a look first.’

"Director Li, I’ll go tell my family, and then I’ll head over either today or tomorrow. I’ll come find you at the textile factory."

"Good, good. No need to rush. Give me a call before you come, and I’ll have someone pick you up."

"No need, I know the way."

An Ning hung up the phone.

On the other end of the line, Director Li shook his head and chuckled. It wasn’t about whether she knew the way; it was a gesture to show how important she was to them.

But that was just like An Ning—a straightforward and clever young woman.

After the call, An Ning headed straight back home.

When she got back, she even had time to explain two more problems to An Guoping.

After those two problems, Lin Cuihua called everyone for dinner.

At the dinner table, An Ning didn’t start eating right away. Instead, she looked at An Guoming.

"What are you looking at me for, Little Sis?"

"Second Brother, are you able to travel to the county town right now?"

"Go to the county town for what? Little Sis, I don’t want to go into business right now. I’d rather find a steady job first."

"I found you a job in the county town."

An Ning calmly dropped the bombshell, completely unaware of the stir her news would cause.

"What kind of job?"

"Where’s the job?"

"Is he well enough for it?"

The three questions made An Ning, who was about to start eating, put her bowl down once more.

"It’s at the textile factory in the county town. A driver. You’ll start as an apprentice. That’s all I know."

"A driver? Little Sis... you—you’re incredible!"

For An Guoming, this job was a dream come true. He could get out and see the world, and earn money at the same time.

"I’ve always been incredible."

An Ning looked at An Guoming and asked again, "So, can you go? Even if you can’t do heavy lifting, you can start by learning the ropes."

"I can! I can go!"

"Then let’s finish dinner, pack a few things, and go."

The An family started eating again. An Guoming’s pace quickened considerably, and he was the first one to finish.

Once finished, An Guoming started packing his things.

Lin Cuihua went to help him, and An Sancheng followed, sitting on the edge of the bed-platform to offer some words of advice.

"Guoming, if they have a dormitory, stay there. If not, use your own money to rent a place. Don’t make your little sister worry about these things, you hear?"

"Dad, don’t worry, I understand."

The father and son were the two shrewdest people in the An family.

An Ning’s intelligence had brought so many changes to the An family, but one couldn’t just get used to it and take her for granted. One had to know to be grateful.

"That’s good. And when you’re out there, keep an eye on your little sister. She’s so blunt and straightforward. It’s a good thing she’s strong; otherwise, I’d be worried sick."

Lin Cuihua chimed in with a playful jab, "You can say that again. If everyone were built like you, we’d really be in trouble."

After her casual remark, Lin Cuihua nimbly finished packing An Guoming’s luggage. Once everything was ready, she looked at him.

"Guoming, Mom doesn’t expect you to earn a fortune. Just stay safe and sound, all right? You can’t get hurt again."

"Mom, I know."

An Guoming didn’t argue with Lin Cuihua. He knew he would be just as upset if anyone else in the family got hurt.

An Ning came out of her room with her things packed and handed An Guoping a workbook.

"Make sure you do these. I’ll check your work when I get back."

An Guoping looked at the freshly-written workbook, completely baffled. "Sis, when do you even find the time to write all this?"

"In my spare time."

An Guoping’s face looked strained, and all he could do was give An Ning a thumbs-up.

"Sis, you really are something else."

"Of course I am. Behave while I’m gone."

An Ning grabbed An Guoming’s luggage, slung it onto her back, said goodbye to everyone, and set off toward the county town with her brother.