At the end of June, when Xiao Lan finished her last exam and walked out of the classroom, her freshman year officially ended.

The Civil Engineering Department’s exam schedule differed from the Architecture Department’s. Yang Yong Hong had finished her exams yesterday and had already packed her luggage, just waiting to buy her train ticket back to her hometown in Ji Bei Province.

Yang Yong Hong teased Xiao Lan, “Are you going to visit Instructor Zhou? I remember you said he’s taking advanced courses at the academy. If you want to go, I’ll wait for you.”

If they couldn’t meet during the semester, how could they not meet during summer break?

But Xiao Lan shook her head, “Not going there for now, but when I visit Ji Bei Province, I’ll definitely visit your home, Big Sis!”

Yang Yong Hong didn’t think much of it, everyone had their plans, and she was just asking casually.

“Yang Yong Hong from Room 307, you have a letter!”

Just then, someone from the girls’ dormitory went to the reception room to get mail and brought back Yang Yong Hong’s letter: “It was stuck in the desk crack, probably for about half a month.”

It was a letter from Yang Yong Hong’s family. With finals approaching, the reception room staff found the letter while cleaning.

Xiao Lan didn’t want to disturb her, “Quick, check if there’s anything urgent from home, don’t delay.”

Yang Yong Hong’s family rarely wrote letters – stamps cost money, and knowing summer break was coming, they wouldn’t waste money on postage.

Besides, her parents barely knew how to write, so her younger siblings usually wrote letters for them.

Yang Yong Hong was anxious too – what if something had happened at home? If she’d missed the letter and delayed something, wouldn’t that be a lifelong regret? She hastily opened the letter, her face showing joy at first, then worry.

“Big Sis, what’s wrong? Did something happen at home?”

Yang Yong Hong sighed, “My brother is 20 this year, and the family wants to arrange his engagement. The girl is a middle school teacher in town. I met her during New Year’s, she seemed fine and didn’t mind our family’s poverty.”

Yang Yong Hong had spent three years retaking exams before getting into Hua Qing University. When school started, everyone had compared ages – she was 23 this year, three years older than her brother.

For a 20-year-old man in the countryside, it was time to discuss marriage.

Not all men become more desirable with age. In cities, one could say they’re focusing on their career first, but what was there to focus on in the countryside? An older unmarried man could only mean one thing: too poor to afford a wife!

What should have been happy news made Yang Yong Hong sigh. Xiao Lan guessed it was financial pressure.

“Big Sis, is money tight?”

Yang Yong Hong scratched her head:

“Of course! The girl’s family wants the four traditional gifts, plus 200 yuan for her brother’s wedding.”

Setting aside the money, the four traditional gifts weren’t unreasonable. While no rural family could afford these things in the 1970s, by 1985, the household responsibility system had improved life for some rural families. With no restrictions on raising chickens and pigs, some families had slowly built up savings.

But Yang Yong Hong’s family was different – they were especially poor.

In some urban areas, new “four must-haves” had emerged: black and white TV, refrigerator, quartz watch, and tape recorder.

Getting all these would cost at least 3,000 yuan.

Xiao Lan guessed that Yang Yong Hong’s future in-laws wanted the traditional four items.

Watch, sewing machine, bicycle, and radio.

These items together weren’t expensive, no more than 800 yuan. Of course, while Xiao Lan didn’t think it was expensive, what could be done if Yang Yong Hong’s family couldn’t afford it?

“Big Sis, how much are you short—”

Yang Yong Hong interrupted Xiao Lan, “Xiao Lan, I’m not asking to borrow money. I want to know if your store is still hiring clothing sales staff?”

University students were called heaven’s pride, especially those at Hua Qing University, admired by everyone in their hometown. Yang Yong Hong knew that if she hadn’t done well in her studies, the teacher from town wouldn’t have considered her brother, who had only finished high school and worked on the farm. Yang Yong Hong’s brother had qualified for vocational college last year and could have continued studying, but the Yang family needed labor. Compared to Yang Yong Hong’s Hua Qing University education, vocational college seemed insignificant, so her brother insisted on not retaking exams and returning to farming.

Yang Yong Hong had never mentioned these things in the dormitory. Though her family was poor, she had her pride and didn’t want to appear pitiful. Hearing Xiao Lan’s intention to lend money, Yang Yong Hong quickly refused.

She didn’t need to borrow money – if Xiao Lan’s clothing store was still hiring, Yang Yong Hong wanted to earn some wages herself.

Xiao Lan immediately understood:

“You’re staying in Beijing for the summer?”

Yang Yong Hong nodded firmly, “Going home would just mean helping with farm work. Right now, the most important thing is helping my older brother gather the betrothal gifts. Don’t worry, Xiao Lan, if your store doesn’t need people, I’ll find another way.”

She had strength to spare and would try her luck staying in Beijing, hoping to find two months of temporary work.

Sometimes a university student’s status was valuable, but in situations like this, it seemed to matter little. Yang Yong Hong didn’t think any work was beneath her!

Xiao Lan pondered for a moment.

“Big Sis, forget about the clothing store. You’d earn money there but waste two months. I know you never put down your books, even during breaks.”

Yang Yong Hong waited patiently, knowing Xiao Lan had more to say.

Sure enough, Xiao Lan asked:

“How’s your brother’s health? Can he handle physical work?”

Yang Yong Hong was puzzled, “He’s strong enough. You can tell from my build – everyone in our family is tall.”

Xiao Lan had made up her mind.

Having qualified for vocational college meant he wasn’t intellectually deficient. There was no reason he couldn’t learn labor union work, right?

“Send a telegram home and ask if he’s willing to work in Peng City for the summer – two months. If he does well, he could earn enough for the four traditional gifts. Big Sis, if you’re worried, come with me to Peng City – I have work for you too.”

Having someone from Hua Qing’s Civil Engineering Department work as a clothing store sales assistant would be a waste.

Though Yang Yong Hong learned “mute English,” getting into Hua Qing meant she was far better than average.

Studying civil engineering meant Yang Yong Hong was especially strong in mathematics… Xiao Lan had recruited Gong Yang to Yuan Hui for interior design work. From Xiao Lan’s practical perspective, art students were all show and no substance – starving to death before becoming famous artists would be pointless, so she felt no guilt about recruiting Gong Yang to change careers.

It was mutually beneficial – Gong Yang wanted to earn money, and Xiao Lan was training a designer for her uncle.

With Yang Yong Hong, Xiao Lan didn’t dare interfere with her future career. While interior design could be taught, what the Civil Engineering Department taught, Xiao Lan didn’t even understand!

But having an occasional practical venue for Yang Yong Hong to do part-time work couldn’t hurt, right?

Yang Yong Hong trusted Xiao Lan completely. If Xiao Lan said she’d find work for her brother, she wouldn’t deceive them.

Yang Yong Hong hugged Xiao Lan tightly: “Xiao Lan, thank you! I’ll send a telegram home right away!”

What was there to consider about working in Peng City? The family was so poor, and her older brother was very sensible – for his marriage, how could he not be willing!