Xia Xiao Lan returned home quietly after finishing her exams on her own.

She was wearing new clothes while her family members were all in old ones, so she went to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some fabric to make clothes for them. In rural areas, everyone wore clothes made by tailors, and young women all possessed these skills – buying fabric and making clothes was the most economical option, and few people bought ready-made clothing. Previously, even fabric required purchase vouchers; without them, you couldn’t buy fabric no matter how much money you had… Even dual-income households couldn’t afford to make new clothes for the whole family frequently – the economy wouldn’t allow it, and they couldn’t save up enough fabric vouchers.

Things were better now, as various vouchers were being gradually abolished in Yunan Province. Even for items still requiring vouchers, the restrictions weren’t as strict. You could buy fabric without vouchers, though at a higher price. Xiao Lan didn’t buy any flashy silk fabrics, not because they were too luxurious, but because they weren’t practical for village life. Worker-peasant blue fabric costs only 1.9 yuan per meter, while ‘serge’ fabric mixed with wool costs 0.2 yuan more per meter. When Xiao Lan brought home a pile of fabric, no one asked about her exam; they just complained about her wasteful spending.

They didn’t dare ask about the exam, fearing they might discourage her enthusiasm.

Liu Yong had privately discussed with his sister Liu Fen: “If Xiao Lan wants to study, why not let her start from the first year of high school? Don’t worry about the tuition and fees – I’ll support her as her uncle!”

Liu Fen didn’t want to use her older brother’s money for her daughter’s education. “I’ve learned the business from Xiao Lan. Even if she goes to school, I can support her.”

Her business skills weren’t as good as Xiao Lan’s. The eel business – Liu Fen wouldn’t even know how to approach the Municipal Guest House even if her life depended on it. Given the same opportunities, personality determines fate. Even if Old Boss Hu from the eel noodle shop shared the connection, Liu Fen wouldn’t dare buy cigarettes to approach Hu Yongcai, the guest house’s purchasing manager.

But Liu Fen felt she could handle the oil residue business. She had learned to ride a bicycle these past few days, despite getting bruised all over. Being stronger than Xiao Lan, she could easily carry 100 jin at once. This oil residue business alone could guarantee their livelihood and save enough for Xiao Lan’s tuition and living expenses.

Liu Fen was glowing with enthusiasm.

Whether in the old society or now, regardless of social changes, even the most shortsighted farmers knew that education was the right path. The poorer you were, the more important education became. Education could lift you out of poverty, and transform you from a peasant to an urban resident – this was an eternal truth.

Xiao Lan stopped caring about fancy clothes and appearances. Though she kept herself clean and tidy every day, she no longer paid special attention to her looks.

She had matured overnight, understanding the importance of self-improvement. If she didn’t pass this time, starting from the first year would be fine… Xiao Lan was only 18; three years of high school would make her just 21. Those who tried for several years without success, those who worked for years before taking the college entrance exam again, those who had their education delayed and were now trying for university while supporting families – they were all older than 21.

Xia Zi Yu was 20 when she got into university, and her boyfriend, the educated youth Jian Hua Wang, was 25 when he entered university.

It wouldn’t be too late at all for Xiao Lan to complete high school normally and then take the college entrance exam.

The siblings wouldn’t say these things to Xiao Lan, fearing it would add pressure. Liu Yong had met with Wang Da Chen several times privately. Things happened to align on the same day – Liu Yong would leave at four in the morning to deliver eels to Shangdu City for Xiao Lan. He’d return in the morning and then go to Da He Village with Wang Da Chen.

With help from county officials, Chen arranged to transfer Xiao Lan and Liu Fen’s household registration from Da He Village, re-registering them in Qi Jing Village. Old Lady Xia was bound to make trouble, but Da Jun Xia unexpectedly supported transferring the mother and daughter’s registration. The divorce had destroyed Da Jun’s face, and he was determined to sever all ties with them.

Xiao Lan finished her exam at the county’s First Middle School at 2:30 PM. After buying fabric and walking back from An Qing County, she arrived home just after Liu Yong.

Liu Yong had already told Feng Mei Li about the successful household registration transfer, including the details. During the transfer, he hadn’t dared mention Xiao Lan’s plans for school, fearing the Xia family might cause problems.

In 1983, the household registration system encompassed many aspects of life. Wherever Xiao Lan’s registration was, she needed an introduction letter from that village committee to go out. Without this “introduction letter,” Xiao Lan couldn’t attend school, get married, or leave her hometown.

This system could practically strangle Xiao Lan’s future. Though not insurmountable, it was troublesome. Now that they were registered in Qi Jing Village, they were free from the Xia family’s control. This good news awaited Xiao Lan upon her return from the exam.

In return, Xiao Lan immediately shared her good news with the family: “I thought the exam wasn’t too difficult, and I think I did well.”

Her aunt took the fabric from her hands, complained about her wastefulness, and showed no faith in her optimistic exam prediction.

“Now that you’ve finished the exam, we can tell you the family’s plans. Your uncle and mother both support your education. We can start from first year and aim for university in three years… We’re not expecting you to get into a four-year program; even a vocational college would be wonderful! Your uncle is with Uncle Mo Da now. The old man’s connections are solid – when they went to Da He Village to transfer your registration, county officials went along, and the village chief didn’t dare make a peep.”

Only Old Lady Xia, relying on blood ties, shamelessly threw tantrums on the ground.

She kept calling Xiao Lan her granddaughter, saying that even if Liu Fen divorced, she couldn’t take away someone from the Xia family. She called Liu Yong a scoundrel who sold out his sister, saying he found Liu Fen a new match just days after she returned to her maiden home… Her words were so nasty that even hearing the retelling made Feng Mei Li imagine the scene.

Fortunately, Xiao Lan was at her exam, and Liu Fen was busy collecting goods from other villages.

Mother and daughter didn’t have to go to Da He Village; otherwise, they would surely have been furious. Old Lady Xia didn’t care about Xiao Lan – she had hated this granddaughter before. She was just angry about Liu Fen asking for a divorce, feeling it brought shame to the Xia family, and wanted to make everyone else miserable. How to deal with Liu Fen? Xiao Lan was Liu Fen’s weakness. Old Lady Xia rolled around on the ground, insisting Liu Yong agree to one condition, or she wouldn’t consent to the household registration transfer even with county officials present – even if Liu Fen remarried, Xiao Lan couldn’t change her surname!

She just wanted to irritate the mother and daughter, which thoroughly disgusted Liu Yong.

However, everyone advised Liu Yong to compromise, so he took it upon himself to agree to this condition.

He felt he had let his niece down, and Feng Mei Li was also uneasy about it, but Xiao Lan herself didn’t mind much: “The surname isn’t important, and I’m used to this name anyway.”

Though she carried the Xia surname, it wasn’t because of Da Jun Xia. The surname “Xia,” or rather the name “Xia Xiao Lan,” was a mark from her previous life, having nothing to do with the Xia family.

Xiao Lan didn’t take Old Lady Xia’s nasty intentions to heart, nor did she argue with Feng Mei Li. While the family wanted her to start from the first year, Xiao Lan thought it would be a waste of time. She believed she had scored well above 350 points, and when the notice from the county’s First Middle School arrived, her family would understand.

“Aunt, all the fabric is here. Make whatever clothes you want – I already have new clothes, these are all for you four.” At this, Feng Mei Li again clutched her chest, calling her wasteful, while Xiao Lan just chuckled.