On Saturday evening, Fei Ni went to her parent’s house right after work to bring exam materials to her brother.

She didn’t find her brother at home, but her sister-in-law called her into the small room and closed the door before saying, “Please help me convince your brother to take the college entrance exam. His grades were so good back then—it would be such a waste not to try.”

“My brother doesn’t want to take the exam?”

“My pregnancy couldn’t have come at a worse time.”

“Sister-in-law, don’t say that.”

“It must be because of this. Your brother must think it would be too much burden on me if he goes to university. But even if it’s difficult, it’s just for two years, and your parents can help me. Please try to convince him.” Lin Mei glanced at the door and took out an envelope for Fei Ni. “This is from your brother for you and Little Fang.”

Fei Ni opened it to find thirty yuan inside.

“Sister-in-law, why are you giving me money?”

“You earned this.” Fei Ting had originally planned to wait until year-end to earn more money before giving it to Fei Ni all at once, but Lin Mei was too impatient and wanted to share the joy of earning money with her sister-in-law immediately.

“What do you mean?”

“Take it, don’t think it’s too little. Your brother had carpenters make furniture following Fang Muyang’s designs and sold it. After deducting material costs and labor, we earned enough for a television. Without Fang Muyang’s designs, we couldn’t have earned this money. Your brother said you’ll get a share every time we sell furniture.”

“Does anyone else know about this?” Having furniture made for sale was very different from making it for personal use. If her brother continued this, he’d become like a small business owner from the old society. Though the atmosphere had relaxed considerably if someone reported them, the least they’d face would be public criticism—she dared not think about worse consequences.

“Don’t worry, even Mom and Dad don’t know. We always tell the carpenter it’s for relatives, and we use different carpenters each time. Nobody will find out.”

“But what if they do? Forget everything else—the factory would punish him.” Fei Ni returned the envelope to her sister-in-law. “I can’t take this money. Please stop making furniture for now—what if someone reports us for speculation? I have some savings if you need money…”

“Your brother and I don’t need money for much, and you make sense. I’ll have him finish this set and then stop.”

Because Fei Ni came home, Mother Fei added an extra egg while cooking. Fei Ting made it home for dinner and immediately pulled out two review books for her—materials he’d managed to get from Xinhua Bookstore at noon before they sold out.

Fei Ni couldn’t help but smile seeing the review materials—she had gotten the same two books for him.

“Brother, are you planning to take arts or sciences?”

“At my age, by the time I graduate, I’ll be well over thirty. What’s the point of taking the exam?” Fei Ting still insisted on giving the review materials to Fei Ni. “Let Little Fang use these.”

“I already bought books for him. Brother, please apply. It’s such a rare opportunity, and Sister-in-law supports you. Even if there are difficulties, they’re temporary. Besides, our family has so many people—if we share the burden, it won’t be much at all. Don’t try to shoulder everything alone.”

Fei Ting meant to say he’d think about it, but what came out was “Okay.” He knew his sister—if he didn’t agree to take the exam, she would try every possible way to convince him until he did. Better to agree now and later say he failed if he couldn’t attend. He knew how important the exam was to Fei Ni, but he was different. Nearly thirty, with only one year of work experience, he couldn’t study while keeping his salary. During those four years of university, he couldn’t help with family finances at all. Most importantly, his wife was pregnant. Without a child, everything would be simpler—he couldn’t push all child-rearing responsibilities onto his wife. Of course, if they struggled, their parents and sister would help, but how could he, a grown man, burden others with supporting his family?

Seeing her brother agree, Fei Ni felt half relieved. She then quietly told Fei Ting, “Brother, don’t have the carpenter make any more furniture. If someone reports it as speculation, the consequences would be serious.”

Fei Ting agreed again, knowing his wife had spoken too soon. After all these years, Lin Mei still couldn’t keep things to herself. Back at the youth farm, Lin Mei couldn’t keep secrets either. When they first kissed by the river, his first words afterward were to beg her not to tell anyone—such things could damage a girl’s reputation much more than a boy’s in the countryside. But Lin Mei’s first response was, “I want everyone to know you kissed me, so if you kiss anyone else, everyone will call you Chen Shi Mei” [a famous unfaithful character]. Despite her words, this was the one thing she kept secret—no one ever knew about their frequent embraces and kisses in the riverside grove.

Fang Muyang had quit his restaurant job today, but before leaving completely, he worked one last night shift and turned in his final tips. He got two main dishes from the head chef, though it was too late to eat them. He also took home two cans of beef and two cans of abalone.

Fei Ni had told him early on that she’d be at her parent’s house after work, so after his shift, Fang Muyang cycled straight there.

Fang Muyang gave the two food containers to Mother Fei, telling her to heat them up tomorrow. The weather was cool, so overnight dishes wouldn’t spoil. Mother Fei opened them to find stir-fried shrimp in one and sweet and sour fish in the other.

Mother Fei said, “You should keep these for yourselves.”

“Fei Ni loves my cooking the most, right?”

Fei Ni smiled and nodded.

Sitting on the back of Fang Muyang’s bicycle, she told him about Fei Ting’s furniture business.

Fang Muyang had considered the same thing when they were short of money—providing materials, hiring carpenters to make furniture following his designs, and then selling it. The profits would have been enough to support him and Fei Ni. He knew before starting that Fei Ni wouldn’t agree, and fortunately, they had enough money later, so he never implemented the plan.

“Don’t worry too much. Things aren’t as strict as before. Your brother knows his limits—he wouldn’t do it if the risk was too high.” Fang Muyang added, “But better not to continue for now. I’ll help him sell the furniture he’s already made, saying we made too much and can’t fit it all.”

“Who will you sell it to?”

“Who wouldn’t want to buy furniture I designed?”

“Be careful.”

“I know.”

At home, Fei Ni asked Fang Muyang, “Have you eaten dinner?”

“No, I’ll make some noodles.”

“You go study, I’ll cook.” Fei Ni gave Fang Muyang the key points she’d marked yesterday, telling him to study carefully.

Her foundation was much better than his—she was confident she could pass even if she took the exam immediately, but Fang Muyang was different, his basics were too weak. To give him more time to study, she was willing to take on more household chores during this period.

Fei Ni made noodles with abalone for Fang Muyang, using an entire can, and brought it to the table. While eating, Fang Muyang looked at the key points Fei Ni had marked last night, with neat, small-character summaries written beside them, specifically written for him in case he didn’t understand.

Their levels were completely different—Fei Ni’s level was far beyond needing to review these basics. She worked during the day and still helped organize study points for him at night.

Fei Ni watched to make sure Fang Muyang finished all the abalone in his noodles, then made him a cup of milk powder.

Fang Muyang couldn’t tell Fei Ni he wasn’t interested in what she wanted him to study, so he forced himself to absorb every marked word in the book.

After reading ten pages, Fang Muyang stood up and told Fei Ni, “I’m going to the boiler room first, then I’ll continue studying.”

Fei Ni knew Fang Muyang was going to the boiler room to ensure she could have a hot bath.

“Don’t worry about it. I can just wipe down with some warm water today, and I’ll use the factory bathhouse from now on,” Fei Ni said, knowing that Fang Muyang was different from her—he could shower quickly and even take cold showers daily in winter.

“Your coworkers are too curious. If you suddenly start using the factory bathhouse, they might suspect…”

“Let them suspect.” For the first time, Fei Ni showed complete indifference to rumors. “It’s not important—nothing compared to your exam preparation. All you need to do now is focus on studying.”

Fei Ni stayed up with Fang Muyang studying until almost one in the morning before going to bed, falling asleep as soon as she lay down. Listening to her steady breathing, Fang Muyang kissed her forehead. With her level of knowledge, staying up late and helping him study would only hurt her exam preparation. Her knowledge was more than sufficient; all she needed was good rest.

After tucking her in, he returned to the studio. The black tea Old Fang had given him came in handy, helping him stay up until two. What kept him going until three wasn’t the tea, but his urge to paint. Once he started painting, he couldn’t stop.

He had urges while studying too—the urge to tear up the books. Not because he couldn’t understand—with enough repeated reading, he could grasp anything—but sitting there studying was torturous for him.

It was Fei Ni’s gaze that kept him anchored there. Having eaten the noodles she cooked and drunk the milk she prepared, he felt obligated to meet some of her expectations.

On Sunday, Old Fang knocked on his wayward son’s door using the address Fang Muyang had given him. Fang Muyang was out visiting his former art teacher, so Fei Ni answered the door.

Fang Muyang had specifically asked his father not to trouble Fei Ni about the manuscripts until after her exam, not wanting to burden her himself or through others.

Old Fang had agreed readily—organizing the manuscripts wasn’t urgent. This time, instead of manuscripts, he brought a box of books he’d read and thought Fei Ni might enjoy. His main concern was which major she would choose. Teacher Mu had suggested sciences, as she had advised her children, and her advice had proved crucial at critical moments. Old Fang worried Fei Ni might follow his wife’s suggestion, though he knew she would excel in sciences too. He’d heard from his wife that Fei Ni could understand most of the books she’d lent her. If Fei Ni could only study humanities, he wouldn’t worry. Being talented at everything wasn’t necessarily good—one had to choose, and choosing wrong could lead to lifelong regret. To help his daughter-in-law choose the right path, Old Fang felt he must visit and help clear her confusion.

He hoped these books would help Fei Ni find her true interests.

Seeing her father-in-law, Fei Ni immediately invited him in and made tea.

“Muyang’s out. Did you need to see him?”

“No, I came to see you.” Old Fang asked, “Are you planning to study arts or sciences?”

“Arts.” Fei Ni had initially leaned toward Teacher Mu’s suggestion, but after reading the series of professional books Teacher Mu had given her, her preference changed. She could understand Teacher Mu’s books but only understand them. She discovered she preferred reading Old Fang’s manuscripts and related books. Even during her exam preparation, she would make time to read these, not for knowledge, but for relaxation. This knowledge helped her relax.

Old Fang hadn’t expected such a definitive answer from his daughter-in-law and immediately exclaimed, “Excellent! You must stick to your ideas. Others’ opinions are just for reference—you must follow your heart’s interests.”

Led by his daughter-in-law, Old Fang toured his wayward son’s new home with her, thinking to himself that his son knew how to enjoy life.

He particularly liked the studio’s floor-to-ceiling windows and the living room’s sliding doors. Even the crude wooden door his son had made was interesting. This small house had much more character than living in an apartment.

But it wasn’t necessarily good for a young person to be too focused on enjoying life.

Fei Ni told her father-in-law that Fang Muyang was also preparing for the college entrance exam.

“He’s preparing for the exam?” In Old Fang’s impression, his son had never shown much interest in university. Even if interested, cramming these few days would hardly help him pass. Old Fang thought to himself, no wonder his son wasn’t home—he must have escaped to avoid studying.

Old Fang tactfully told Fei Ni, “Muyang doesn’t seem very interested in university”—using lack of interest to cover for future failure.

“Muyang wants to go to university. He studied until dawn last night, and started reading again this morning without even eating breakfast.”

Fang Muyang had been studying mathematics in the bedroom all morning. Old Fang had never imagined his wayward son could be so studious, not moving from his spot since breakfast.

Fang Muyang had no choice but to love studying—Fei Ni kept testing him with questions. He’d told Fei Ni that if he answered correctly, she would kiss him once, and if he got it wrong, he would kiss her.

He hadn’t expected Fei Ni to immediately agree to this arrangement. At first, she would only kiss his cheek, but when he suggested she kiss his lips, she agreed to that too, though only briefly. When he got answers wrong, he kissed her fiercely, claiming it was a serious error that couldn’t be taken lightly. After he kissed her intensely twice, Fei Ni broke free from his embrace, fixed her hair, and stopped testing him, telling him to study properly and try not to make mistakes next time.

Fei Ni omitted this part when telling Old Fang, which left him puzzled.

Had his son changed so much that he could sit still for so long doing something besides painting?

Seeing both his son and daughter-in-law studying so diligently, Old Fang felt awkward about disturbing them and took his leave early.

Fang Muyang didn’t return until dinnertime. When Fei Ni saw him, she went to make noodles.

Since Fei Ni’s level was far above Fang Muyang’s, she had taken on most household tasks so he could focus more time on studying.

Fang Muyang said, “I’ve decided not to take the college entrance exam.”

“But you agreed so readily yesterday?” Fei Ni’s tone was notably higher, each word rushed.

“I’m planning to take the graduate school entrance exam. They’re restoring graduate admissions along with undergraduate, though not this year—it’ll be next year.”

“Graduate school? You want to take the graduate exam?” Fei Ni suppressed her tone on the second question, trying not to let Fang Muyang sense her surprise, afraid of hurting his pride. But if he could not even handle the undergraduate exam, how could he take the graduate exam?

“There’s no strict educational requirement. I can take it too.”

Being eligible to take it and being able to pass were two different things.

“Ni, do you believe I can pass?”

Fei Ni slowly lowered her eyes, bit her lip, and forced a smile at Fang Muyang: “I believe you. But since the graduate exam isn’t until next year, why not try the college entrance exam this year?”

“The college entrance exam and graduate exam are different. Graduate school, especially for art academies, focuses more on specialty subjects—cultural courses aren’t as important. Studying these would be a waste of time.”

“But what if you don’t pass?”

“Then I’ll keep trying.” Fang Muyang smiled, saying, “The graduate exam is still far off. Right now, your college entrance exam is most important. From today on, you just focus on work and studying—I’ll handle everything else. After your exam, if you want to take care of me, I won’t stop you.” Far from stopping her, he would eagerly welcome it.

Fang Muyang stood behind Fei Ni, massaging her shoulders. “How’s the pressure?”

Fang Muyang didn’t believe he would pass the graduate exam, but his chances weren’t worse than with the college entrance exam. Moreover, if he prepared for the college entrance exam, Fei Ni would be busy helping him. With time so tight, he preferred Fei Ni focus her energy on her exam rather than his.

For dinner, he made noodles with canned abalone, ate the noodles himself, and gave the abalone to Fei Ni.

“Study however you want to study, don’t worry about me.” Their levels were completely different—Fei Ni’s painstaking work marking key points for him was of no help to her at all.