The 1970s: Married First, Fell in Love Later-Chapter 120 - 119: Do You Want to Go to College?

In June, He Lang was out on the road again.

Xue Xingzhou came over in the evening after work. First, he went to the "cowshed" to see Zheng Guofeng, then he went to Xue Yue’s place for dinner.

"Uncle."

The moment Ruanruan saw Xue Xingzhou, she stretched out her hands and ran toward him. Xue Xingzhou bent down, caught her, and lifted her into his arms.

"Did you miss your uncle?"

Ruanruan nodded. "So, so much! Uncle, why did it take you so long to come see me? Where’s Auntie Zhang Qian?"

Xue Xingzhou gently pinched Ruanruan’s little nose and said with a smile, "Uncle’s been busy with work. See? I came to see you as soon as I had a free moment. Your Auntie Zhang Qian is at work too. But Uncle brought you something yummy. Take a look."

Ruanruan cheered, "Wow, bananas!"

Bananas were Ruanruan’s favorite. The first time she had them was when He Lang had gone to the provincial capital and brought back about ten. The little girl fell in love at first bite. After that, whenever He Lang went out on a trip, he would always bring some back for Ruanruan.

Xue Xingzhou put Ruanruan down, took the basket hanging from his bicycle, and broke off a banana. He peeled it and handed it to her.

"Go on, your favorite."

Xue Yue asked him, "Where did you get these? The supply and marketing cooperative doesn’t sell them, right?"

"They were a gift."

They were indeed a gift from someone else—Wang Hai. His uncle, Vice Director Fan of the Public Security Bureau, was about to retire. Wang Hai ran the black market, and finding a new patron wouldn’t have been difficult. But compared to others, Wang Hai trusted Xue Xingzhou more. He’d met with Xue Xingzhou several times and found him very reliable. There was also the matter of Xue Xingzhou’s relationship with He Lang.

It wasn’t exactly a difficult request. Wang Hai offered Xue Xingzhou a ten-percent cut of the annual profits, and Xue Xingzhou agreed.

Xue Xingzhou knew the course of history. To him, the black market was just a product of the era; it would cease to exist in another two or three years.

Enforcement had become less strict in the past two years anyway. It was an easy way to do someone a favor.

But speaking of this, Xue Xingzhou suddenly remembered something else.

He asked Xue Yue, "I remember you loved to read when you were little, but our family couldn’t afford it back then. You still like reading now, don’t you? Have you ever thought about going to college?"

Hearing this, Xue Yue looked at Xue Xingzhou in confusion. "What nonsense are you talking about? The college entrance exams have been canceled for so many years. What college could I possibly go to? Besides, I didn’t even finish middle school. Me, take the college exams? Are you insane?"

Xue Yue’s response made Xue Xingzhou laugh. "Hahahaha."

After calming down, he pressed on, "Just tell me, do you want to or not?"

Xue Yue rolled her eyes. "Of course I do. Who wouldn’t?" ’That’s college we’re talking about,’ she thought, ’the dream of a lifetime for so many young people.’

Xue Xingzhou said to her seriously, "If you trust me, your brother, then start studying tomorrow. I’ll see if I can find you a set of middle and high school textbooks. If the college entrance exams are reinstated, you won’t be caught unprepared."

Xue Yue leaned over and touched Xue Xingzhou’s forehead. "You don’t have a fever," she said, puzzled. "Why are you talking such nonsense?"

Xue Xingzhou sighed helplessly. "I’m serious. Do you want to study or not? Opportunity favors the prepared, you know."

Xue Yue shrugged and threw up her hands. "Brother, I didn’t even finish middle school. Even if the exams were reinstated tomorrow, I wouldn’t be eligible to take them."

"You will be. If you start studying now, you’ll definitely have enough time."

Xue Xingzhou remembered that the college entrance exams had been reinstated in the winter of ’77. He didn’t know the exact date, only that the requirements for that year’s exam had been very relaxed. ’Workers, farmers, educated youth, soldiers, and cadres were all allowed to participate,’ he thought. ’Things went back to normal the following year.’

Xue Yue’s expression turned serious. "Brother, are you being for real? Did you hear something somewhere?"

Xue Xingzhou shook his head. "No. I just feel that things haven’t been as tense these last couple of years as they were before. It’s very possible they’ll reinstate the exams. I’m just not sure when. Your academic foundation is weak, so if you want to take them, you need to start studying early. Otherwise, you’ll be giving birth in the latter half of the year, and next year you’ll have to take care of two kids. Time will be tight."

’I can’t just tell her directly that the exams will be back in two years,’ Xue Xingzhou thought. ’It would be such a shame to miss this opportunity. It’s a good path forward, one that would open up more choices.’

Xue Yue thought about it and decided it was feasible. "Okay. Studying is always a good thing. Even if I never get the chance to go to college in this lifetime, the knowledge I gain will still be mine."

Xue Xingzhou nodded. "Alright. Since you’ve decided to study, I’ll try to dig up a set of textbooks for you."

"Oh, you don’t have to do that. Xiao Xia should have some. I can just borrow them from her."

"Don’t borrow them. If Xiao Xia asks you about it, what will you say? Are you going to tell her you’re studying to prepare for the college entrance exams? That would cause a stir. And what would you say if they aren’t reinstated after all?"

Xue Yue realized he was right. ’If Xiao Xia asks, I can’t just refuse to tell her. She’s about to give birth, and it would be bad if she got too excited and something happened. Besides, if the exams aren’t reinstated, how would I explain it to her?’

"Okay, I’ll listen to you."

The brother and sister were so absorbed in their conversation that they didn’t notice Ruanruan, who was being unusually quiet off to the side.

But when they finally snapped out of it, Xue Yue looked over and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Not only had Ruanruan eaten three bananas herself, but she had also peeled all the remaining ones.

Xue Xingzhou burst out laughing. "Well, this is great. No need to make dinner now. Looks like we’re all eating bananas tonight. Once they’re peeled, they won’t last until tomorrow."

Xue Yue looked at them, distressed. "We’re supposed to eat this many bananas for dinner?"

Xue Xingzhou’s smile froze. He looked at Ruanruan. "Ruanruan ate three bananas. She won’t get diarrhea tonight, will she?"

Xue Yue was startled too. "You can get diarrhea from eating too many bananas?"

It was no wonder Xue Yue didn’t know. In this era, who could afford to eat bananas like a meal? Many people in the countryside had never even seen a banana, let alone eaten one.

"Yes, they have a... laxative effect. But it’s not a guarantee."

Xue Yue looked at Ruanruan with some concern. Meeting those big, blinking eyes, her heart melted completely.

They couldn’t really eat all the peeled bananas for dinner. Xue Yue and Xue Xingzhou each ate two and gave up.

"I’ll take them to the old family house," Xue Yue said. "The two of us can’t finish them tonight anyway. Let the other kids have a taste of something new."

"Good idea."

Xue Yue had her brother stay home to watch Ruanruan while she carried the basin of peeled bananas over to the old family house.

When she arrived, the family was in the courtyard having dinner.

"Mom, Dad, Big Brother, you’re eating?"

He Nan put down his chopsticks and stood up. "Third Sister-in-law, have you eaten yet?"

Xue Yue smiled and said, "I have, Big Brother."

She held up the basin in her hands. "My brother came by today and brought a big bunch of bananas. While we weren’t looking, Ruanruan peeled them all. My brother said they won’t keep till tomorrow once they’re peeled, so I brought them over for everyone to share."