Lu Zhenbang had no idea that Shen Zhixia’s original reason for wanting to attend college was to move her household registration. He simply assumed that the girl was genuinely eager to study and improve herself.
“It couldn’t have been transferred before. The factory’s quota for converting a family member’s agricultural household registration to a non-agricultural one was already decided last year.”
“But at the beginning of this year, my driver, Old Zhang, had a daughter who married a border-defense soldier and followed him to his post, so one quota became available.”
“There was already a quota at the beginning of the year, so why didn’t you tell us sooner?” Lu Huaiyuan couldn’t help complaining to his old man again.
“Can you let me finish what I’m saying? If you’re this impatient, how are you going to shoulder responsibility in the future?”
After being interrupted several times in a row, Lu Zhenbang lost his temper as well.
After all, father and son had barely spoken properly over the past few years, so it was impossible for them to suddenly become a model of fatherly affection and filial devotion.
“All right, all right, go ahead. I won’t say another word.”
Lu Huaiyuan obediently shut his mouth.
“I had originally planned to save this quota for Zhixia. But later, when I heard that you wanted to take the College Entrance Examination, I figured that if you passed, your household registration would naturally follow your student status, so I didn’t mention it for the time being.”
“But I also had to prepare for the possibility that you might not pass, so I kept the quota open all this time. Now, it happens to be useful.”
Having finally finished everything he wanted to say in one breath, Lu Zhenbang leisurely began sipping his tea.
Hearing this, Shen Zhixia’s already swollen eyes grew even more swollen with emotion.
After going around in circles, the thing she had wanted from the very beginning had actually been resolved in the safest possible way.
Her father-in-law had not only shielded her from the storms of the times, but had also paved a smooth road for her future.
At that moment, Lu Zhenbang’s place in Shen Zhixia’s heart changed. He was no longer merely her father-in-law, but a true father.
Beside them, Lu Huaiyuan remained quiet, but his heart was surging with emotion as well.
This was the old man’s way of handling things and shouldering responsibility.
Even when everything was going well, he still prepared for the worst.
Only by making two preparations could one always have something to fall back on when it mattered most, especially when it came to protecting one’s family.
At that moment, Lu Huaiyuan was completely convinced of his old man’s abilities.
What he had learned today would benefit him immensely in the years to come.
While the two younger ones were still overwhelmed with emotion, Lu Zhenbang put down his teacup and continued.
“Moving your household registration is only the first step. The Night University has its own requirements as well.”
“When the time comes, the school will hold its own cultural examination and admit students based on merit. So, Zhixia, you cannot let your studies slip.”
“Mhm, I definitely won’t disappoint you, Dad.”
Lu Zhenbang laughed heartily, his eyes filled with satisfaction.
“Good! That’s the spirit a child of our Lu family should have.”
He glanced at his own son and originally wanted to offer him a few more words of advice, but after thinking it over, he decided against it.
Never mind. Teaching by example was better than teaching by words. Let him figure it out himself.
The sound of the jeep’s engine gradually faded into the distance.
With the heavy weight in her heart finally lifted, Shen Zhixia naturally nestled into Lu Huaiyuan’s open arms.
In this unfamiliar era, in this unfamiliar world, she finally felt as though she was no longer alone.
That afternoon, Shen Zhixia stayed home to rest while Lu Huaiyuan went out.
Inside an abandoned warehouse outside the city, Monkey and several of the brothers were sitting around wooden crates playing cards. When Lu Huaiyuan walked in, they immediately tossed aside their cards and came over to greet him.
“Brother Lu, what happened with Sister-in-law’s college entrance exam? Is there anything the brothers need to do?”
Monkey asked with concern.
“The old man stepped in, so it’s settled. After a while, she’ll go to the city for Night University.”
Lu Huaiyuan pulled over a stool and sat down. He took a cigarette from his pack, placed it between his lips, and lit it with a sharp click.
Through the swirling smoke, his narrow eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a sharp ambition and decisive resolve.
“We’ll stick to the original plan. Clear out the remaining goods in the county as quickly as possible, then shift our focus toward the city.”
“Got it. The brothers will get a foothold in the city as quickly as possible so we can protect Sister-in-law.”
Lu Huaiyuan rested the hand holding his cigarette on his knee, his fingertips tapping lightly against it.
“That’s not the only reason. The times are changing, and so is the direction of things. The waters in this county are too shallow, and sooner or later they’ll dry up. We need to take advantage of the fact that everyone else still hasn’t caught on and establish our territory in the city first.”
Lu Huaiyuan rarely explained his thoughts to them, but they had been brothers for so many years, and he didn’t want them to misunderstand him.
Although he did have his own selfish reasons, he could never completely disregard his brothers’ livelihoods.
They had trusted him unconditionally for all these years, and he could not betray that trust.
Lu Huaiyuan raised his eyes and swept his gaze over the brothers before him.
“Monkey, you and Da Qiang go to the city again tomorrow and find out what the market is like right now.”
“Also, rent a decent place near the university.”
“What do we need to rent a place for?” Da Qiang, who had been nodding along without a word, finally voiced his confusion.
“You idiot, are you seriously expecting Sister-in-law to sleep in the warehouse with us?” Monkey was always the one who understood Lu Huaiyuan best.
Lu Huaiyuan walked out of the warehouse and looked up at the glaring sunlight, narrowing his eyes.
The sun was getting more scorching by the day.
Judging by the calendar, the start of Summer is almost here.
Summer…
Lu Huaiyuan was just about to take out a match when his hand suddenly stopped. Shen Zhixia’s household registration details from yesterday flashed through his mind.
[Shen Zhixia, Date of Birth: April 10, 1960.]
In the countryside, people had traditionally registered their household information according to the lunar calendar.
That April 10 should therefore mean the tenth day of the fourth month in the lunar calendar.
Lu Huaiyuan immediately pulled the unlit cigarette from his mouth and stuffed it back into his pocket.
Then he turned toward the warehouse and called out, “Monkey, come out for a moment.”
Monkey and Da Qiang had just received their assignments and were discussing the details when they heard Lu Huaiyuan’s voice, so they hurried outside.
“What’s wrong, Brother Lu?”
“What’s today’s date?”
“Today’s the fourth! It’s Youth Day too! They’ve been talking about it on the radio all day. It’s an important day.”
“I’m asking about the lunar calendar.”
It was rare for Monkey to fail to keep up with Lu Huaiyuan’s train of thought, so he could only turn around and call for Da Qiang to find the traditional almanac.
“Brother Lu, today is the ninth day of the fourth lunar month.”
“Got it. You two carry on. I’m leaving first.”
Lu Huaiyuan didn’t stay any longer. He swung onto the 28-inch Bicycle parked beside the wall and sped toward the city like the wind.
Tomorrow was his wife’s nineteenth birthday!
Lu Huaiyuan’s heartbeat suddenly quickened, and an uncontrollable warmth surged into his eyes.
For the past few months, she had buried herself in studying for the College Entrance Examination. Yesterday, that cold official document had nearly shattered her.
Although the old man had stepped in to take care of everything and the little girl had finally stopped crying, the sight of her swollen eyes had still broken his heart.
At a time like this, there was nothing more appropriate than celebrating her birthday properly.
It would also be a way to drive away the bad luck and welcome a fresh beginning.
More importantly, this would be her first birthday since marrying into the Lu family, and the first birthday he, Lu Huaiyuan, would spend with her.
There was absolutely no way he could treat it casually.
This birthday had to be celebrated properly.
With that thought, Lu Huaiyuan tightened both hands around the handlebars and began rapidly planning everything in his mind.