The news about the restoration of college entrance examinations appeared as headlines in all major newspapers on a Friday in October. As the factory loudspeakers repeatedly broadcast the news, Sister Liu noticed Fei Ni’s eyes were particularly dark and bright.

Fei Ni was especially generous at lunch, treating Sister Liu and her workgroup to one of only two meat dishes available in the cafeteria.

“Little Fei, why are you so happy today?”

“It’s because of the college entrance exams! Little Fei knows so much, I bet she’ll pass easily. The regulations say that with five years of work experience, you can study while keeping your salary. The factory will still pay you while you study, and after graduation, you’ll get a college graduate’s salary. Your wages increase after finishing school—it’s wonderful. If I didn’t have children, I’d want to take the exam too.”

Fei Ni said, “You can still take the exam even with children, it’s no problem.” Now that the opportunity had finally come, she couldn’t give it up just because she had a house.

The female worker giggled, “You know how little education I have. I stopped after elementary school and haven’t properly studied since. I’ve forgotten everything I learned in primary school. I’m not afraid of anything except exams.”

Sister Liu said to Fei Ni, “I can give you a couple of days off to study.”

Fei Ni thanked Sister Liu but replied, “No need, I won’t miss a single day of factory work.”

“Look at Little Fei’s consciousness,” Sister Liu praised her to the others, then turned to Fei Ni, “Let me know if you need any help.”

As soon as work ended, Fei Ni rushed to the cafeteria to get meatballs. Walking toward the main gate with her lunch box, she saw Fang Muyang before leaving the factory, waving a newspaper at her.

The headline was about the restoration of college entrance examinations.

A week ago, Fang Muyang had told Fei Ni that the examinations would be restored, and had even gathered a pile of books for her from Teacher Mu, telling her to study hard. Without seeing it in the newspaper, Fei Ni hadn’t quite believed it, but today, hearing it broadcast through the loudspeakers, every fiber of her being tingled with joy.

She quickly walked to Fang Muyang and jumped onto the back of his bicycle.

“I got you some meatballs,” she said, her voice full of happiness. She had waited so many years for this opportunity to prove herself. As long as her scores were good enough, she could go to university. She no longer envied the worker-peasant-soldier university students—they had college diplomas but hadn’t received much education. If Ling Yi Feng Lin’s daughter, the daughter of the Finance Department head, could go to university, so could she. And she wouldn’t need anyone’s help—just her abilities.

In the days before the restoration of the examinations, watching Fang Muyang’s life improve had made her happy for him, but thinking about her lack of career progress had only intensified her anxiety as his situation got better.

Now with the examinations restored, she finally had a chance to prove herself. She was tired of people saying how lucky she was to marry Fang Muyang. He was wonderful, of course, but she wasn’t unworthy of him.

“Doesn’t such good news deserve a restaurant meal?”

“Yes!” Fei Ni’s agreement was immediate. The autumn wind swept across her neck as she pulled at the sweater she had knitted for Fang Muyang.

They went to the same Russian restaurant, where Fei Ni ordered generously, though she stopped Fang Muyang when he tried to order wine.

“No drinking today, I need to study when we get back.” Fei Ni wasn’t so worried about herself; she was concerned about Fang Muyang passing.

“With your level, missing one day of study won’t matter.” Fang Muyang knew Fei Ni’s capabilities and wasn’t worried about her exam.

Fei Ni shook her head. “Let’s drink after the exams. Then we can drink as much as we want.”

“As much as we want?”

“Would I lie to you?”

“Remember when you told me that if you could leave the hat factory, you’d do anything I asked?”

“Did I?”

“Think about it.”

Fei Ni stayed silent; at the time, she’d thought he was joking.

“If you don’t want to hear it now, I’ll tell you when we get home.”

“How do you remember so clearly?”

“I remember everything you’ve said perfectly.”

“I don’t believe you.” He’d stood her up when they were supposed to see a movie; she’d waited all day.

“What have I ever forgotten that you’ve said?”

Fei Ni didn’t want to bring up old matters. Remembering such small things from so long ago seemed petty.

“The Art Academy applicants will take the same exam as us. You should quit your restaurant job and focus on studying at home.”

Fang Muyang smiled. “You have too much faith in me.” He didn’t believe he could pass the cultural subjects test.

“Your specialty subjects won’t be a problem, it’s just the cultural subjects that might be tricky. I can tutor you. Even if you don’t pass this year, you can try again next year. We have savings; we can manage without your restaurant salary.”

“What if I never pass?”

“Impossible. You’re not that stupid.” Fei Ni’s eyes fixed on Fang Muyang. “Listen to me, quit your job and prepare for the exam, okay?”

Even without Fei Ni saying so, Fang Muyang had been planning to quit. The restaurant management was planning to promote him, but he didn’t consider himself leadership material—he didn’t want to lead anyone except himself. Besides, after working at the restaurant for so long, his enthusiasm had worn thin. He’d rather spend most of his time painting.

Fang Muyang said to Fei Ni, “Okay.”

Fei Ni wished they had wine now, but they didn’t—though sometimes even borscht could make one drunk.

“Once you quit, study hard at home. Tomorrow I’ll go to the bookstore to see if there are any new books.”

“You focus on your studies, don’t worry about me. Don’t let me hold you back.” For Fang Muyang, getting into the Art Academy would be nice, but it wasn’t essential—one didn’t need to attend the Academy to learn art.

Fei Ni thought this response was too distant. “When I help you study, it’s like reviewing the knowledge again myself. There’s no question of holding anyone back.”

On the way home, Fei Ni held Fang Muyang tightly, her face pressed against his back. “Tomorrow I’ll go to the Xinhua Bookstore to see if they’ve released the exam syllabus. Tonight let’s start with mathematics.” Fei Ni was confident in herself. She guessed the first year’s exam wouldn’t be too difficult. She still had her older brother Fei Ting’s high school textbooks from before the examinations were canceled. She had studied them herself, and that knowledge would be enough for the exam. She planned to review the key points with Fang Muyang before returning the books to her brother.

Fei Ni hoped her brother would take the examination too. He had received formal secondary education before the exams were canceled and had been a good student at a key middle school—university wouldn’t be a problem for him. Fei Ting’s issue wasn’t whether he could pass, but whether he would take the exam at all. Youth sent to the countryside couldn’t count their work experience, and her brother had only worked for a year, so he couldn’t study while keeping his salary as she could. His wife was pregnant, and they needed money for everything. Fortunately, she and Fang Muyang had some savings they could lend to them. Once her brother graduated and got a higher salary, things would improve.

On the way, Fang Muyang asked Fei Ni, “Remember our bet? You said if you lost, you’d do what I said. You can’t go back on it.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Will you do whatever I want?”

Seeing Fei Ni’s silence, Fang Muyang added, “Don’t worry, this will be easy for you.”

Fei Ni didn’t believe him. “What is it?”

“Apply to a local university. I want to see you every day.”

Fei Ni hadn’t expected this from Fang Muyang—not because it was simple, but because she’d been thinking the same thing.

She wanted to attend university with him, preferably at neighboring schools where they could see each other daily.

“Alright, we’ll both apply to local schools.”

Fei Ni’s excitement carried into the bedroom, making this her most passionate time while sober. Usually, once was never enough.

But after this time, lying on Fang Muyang’s arm, her shyness had disappeared. The flush on her face wasn’t just from Fang Muyang but from the newspaper’s headline.

Fei Ni mimicked Fang Muyang’s habit of occasional quick kisses, but between kisses, she talked only about the examination—what might be on the math test, which parts of literature to review. Getting excited, she put on clothes and sat up, going to the desk to organize what she thought would be tested.

The current Fei Ni became Fang Muyang’s artistic subject again.

While Fei Ni flipped through books and organized key points at the desk, Fang Muyang drew her doing so.

“Can’t the drawing wait until after the exam? Right now, the exam is most important. If you don’t want to study today, you can sleep first.”

“But I can’t decide when inspiration comes. When it arrives, I can’t just refuse it.”