The fire in the stove burned brightly inside the room, giving off the occasional soft crackle.
Lu Huaiyuan pulled over a red-lacquered wooden chair as she had asked and sat down beside the bed in a broad, relaxed posture.
His long legs were casually spread apart, his hands resting on his knees.
His deep, dark eyes remained fixed on Shen Zhixia’s flushed face, carrying a hint of indulgent amusement.
“I’m sitting down. Go ahead.”
Shen Zhixia looked straight at Lu Huaiyuan, her expression more serious than it had ever been.
“I only have one New Year’s wish. I want to move my household registration out of the Shen family.”
At those words, the smile at the corners of Lu Huaiyuan’s lips faded slightly.
“Ever since we left after returning to your family last time, I haven’t been able to shake off what Zhao Meiyun said. It’s been bothering me.”
“As long as my household registration remains in the same record as hers, I’ll still be that little village girl whose fate can be controlled by her whenever she wants. Even after coming to the city, I still wouldn’t dare truly regard this place as my home.”
A dark look flashed through Lu Huaiyuan’s eyes.
“So that’s what this is about.” He deliberately kept his tone light. “I’ve been too busy lately and haven’t gotten around to it. Don’t worry about it. Once the New Year is over, I’ll make a trip to your commune and make sure it gets taken care of.”
When it came to someone like Zhao Meiyun, who bullied the weak and feared the strong, Lu Huaiyuan had plenty of ways to deal with her.
“What are you planning to do?” Shen Zhixia asked worriedly as she caught hold of his sleeve.
Lu Huaiyuan’s gaze fell on her fair fingers clutching his sleeve, and he raised an eyebrow.
“What? Are you afraid I’ll bully them and you’ll feel sorry for them?”
“I’m not!” Shen Zhixia shot him an annoyed look. “I’m worried you’ll get yourself into trouble!”
She released his sleeve and continued seriously, “Although I don’t know what you’re busy with outside all day, whatever it is, it probably isn’t exactly aboveboard, at least not under the current policies.”
Lu Huaiyuan’s expression turned serious as he stared steadily at Shen Zhixia.
Shen Zhixia simply decided to lay everything out in the open.
“Maybe what you’re doing doesn’t count as something bad. It might even develop into something good in the future. But as long as the policies don’t allow it, you won’t be able to do it openly or without fear of consequences.”
“Right now, we’re at a critical point when the political climate is beginning to change. If you offend someone just for the sake of getting my household registration transferred, and it leaves behind any kind of evidence that can be used against you, then you’ll be sacrificing something important over something trivial. There’s no need to take that risk.”
At some point, the sound of firecrackers outside had died down.
Yet Lu Huaiyuan felt as though all those firecrackers had somehow moved into his heart, crackling and exploding with deafening force.
She knew?
Of course. Ever since their wedding night, she must have already guessed something.
Yet she had never asked about it or interfered. From time to time, she even helped cover for him in front of his parents.
She wasn’t like those ignorant women who thought he spent all day doing nothing useful and simply fooling around.
Nor was she like his father, who rejected everything he did without distinguishing right from wrong.
She was even worried that he might get himself into trouble.
She…
Lu Huaiyuan swallowed, his voice turning slightly hoarse.
“Without using a few methods, I’m afraid moving your household registration won’t be that easy.”
“I’ve already made up my mind.” Shen Zhixia took a deep breath and said each word clearly, “I. Want. To. Go. To. College!”
“What?”
Lu Huaiyuan was genuinely surprised.
“I said I want to take the College Entrance Examination. As long as I can get into a university in the city and receive an admission notice, I’ll be able to transfer my household registration to the school openly, legitimately, and according to the law.”
“By then, even if my stepmother had the power to reach the heavens, she still wouldn’t be able to use a piece of paper to control me anymore.”
After saying all that in one breath, Shen Zhixia looked at Lu Huaiyuan with bright, expectant eyes, waiting for his reaction.
Although Lu Huaiyuan was quick-witted and intelligent, he simply had never liked studying.
Back when he had barely managed to graduate from high school at the school for the children of the state-run factory, Lu Zhenbang had originally planned to withstand the pressure and reserve one of the university recommendation spots available that year for his son.
But Lu Huaiyuan, that stubborn mule, had refused to go no matter what and had even run away from home.
It was during that very escape that he seized the opportunity to quietly embark on the path of becoming a private trader.
From then on, the father and son had begun to dislike each other.
Now that Shen Zhixia said she wanted to take the College Entrance Examination, Lu Huaiyuan didn’t know how he could help her. It was a road he knew nothing about.
“I’ve heard that the College Entrance Examination is very difficult, and there are only a few months left. If you choose this path, won’t it be too hard on you?”
“It’ll probably be a little difficult, but I believe I can do it. I studied some high school courses on my own before, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”
After all, in her previous life, Shen Zhixia had already crossed that single-plank bridge crowded with countless competitors and made her way through the College Entrance Examination. She had complete confidence in herself.
Lu Huaiyuan said nothing, as though he were seriously considering it.
Shen Zhixia’s heart began to pound. She thought he was going to object. After all, they were already married.
If Lu Huaiyuan opposed her, things would become much more difficult.
After a brief silence, Lu Huaiyuan spoke decisively.
“Good! Then that’s what we’ll do.”
Whether he had decided to support Shen Zhixia or had something else in mind, only Lu Huaiyuan himself knew.
He suddenly stood up and braced one hand against the edge of the bed. Looking at his seemingly delicate little wife, who nevertheless radiated confidence from head to toe, a smile appeared in his eyes.
“As expected of my wife, Lu Huaiyuan’s wife has ambition!”
“Keep it up, wife! I believe you’ll definitely get in.”
Hearing Lu Huaiyuan’s affirmation, Shen Zhixia’s anxious heart finally settled completely.
“But…” Once she relaxed, she couldn’t resist teasing him. “If I really get into a university in the city, I’ll have to stay there for a long time. Aren’t you afraid I’ll run away?”
Seeing the sly glint in her eyes, Lu Huaiyuan leaned forward and gently pinched her soft cheek.
“Run? Where could you run? Comrade Shen Zhixia, let me tell you, even if you ran to the ends of the earth, I’d still be able to bring you back!”
His deep voice carried a hint of dangerous warning.
Although he put on a threatening front, Lu Huaiyuan couldn’t help feeling a little worried.
His little wife was so lovable. What if she went out into the wider world and ended up being whisked away by some university student?
No. He needed to act faster.
The decision that had just occurred to him became even firmer.
“Are those the only tricks you have? You even said back then that you were going to cut out my tongue!”
Shen Zhixia was becoming less and less afraid of him.
“You’re underestimating me, aren’t you?”
“I have plenty of tricks!”
“Then try not to hide!”
Lu Huaiyuan began tickling her.
“Haha… Hahahaha…”
The two of them dissolved into a playful tussle.
“Haha… All right, all right… Haha… I was wrong…”
“Admit defeat?”
Lu Huaiyuan gentled his movements.
“Mhm, you win.”
Shen Zhixia answered perfunctorily.
“What do you mean, ‘you win’?” As he spoke, he reached out to tickle her again.
“All right, all right, you’re amazing. You’re the most amazing person in the entire world…”
“Whoosh, boom!”
Just then, the clock outside struck midnight, and the first wave of firecrackers of the New Year erupted into a lively chorus.
“Wife, Happy New Year! Your New Year’s wish will definitely come true.”
“Thank you, Lu Huaiyuan. Happy New Year!”
Wishes were always beautiful, and no one knew whether they would truly come true.
Yet at the beginning of every New Year, people were still willing to make those wishes with sincere hope.