Chapter 1389: Chapter 1390: The Little Widow of the Courtyard 117 Zhang Yu sat in the courtyard, watching Jianjian and the others play there, while Xiao Xi, now a grown girl, was inside doing her homework. As for Jianjian, Kang Kang (Xiao Yi’s son) and Ping’an, who was already a big kid, being the older brother, Ping’an was quite prestigious in the alley, considered a king among the kids. Xue Li walked into the central courtyard with a long face, seeing the large courtyard already bustling with many children. “So annoying, can’t you all go play outside?” The outside is so spacious, yet they don’t know to go out and play, insisting on staying here. I really don’t know what goes on in their heads. Ping’an shot her a look, “This is the courtyard, if you find it annoying, you can leave.” Xue Li stared at Ping’an’s face, the more she looked, the angrier she felt, really wanting to kick him, but she didn’t dare to. If she really did that, there would be no good outcome waiting for her, but if she simply walked away, she felt she’d lose face. Just as she was racking her brain for something to say to save face, she heard the radio announcing the restoration of the college entrance examination. Zhang Yu remembered there should have been a notice in October about the restoration. Actually, there had been proposals in August, but back then it was just a proposal, with no final announcement. There were already rumors spreading among the people, but no one was sure, after all, the college entrance exams had been interrupted for so long, could it really be so easy to restore them? Some were skeptical, some started scouring bookstores and waste stations for books, and others decided to prepare early just in case. Zhang Yu had previously collected many middle and high school textbooks, including a set of science books, which Zhang Yu surely didn’t miss out on. Even though the news was not confirmed, both Zhao Hong and her husband, as well as Xiao Yi and his wife, all began studying seriously. In these past years, although they’ve read some books, none of them studied high school textbooks, and they had forgotten some of the knowledge points. Now, with the confirmed news of the college exams being restored, more importantly, the exam was set for mid-December. “Isn’t it just two months later?” Everyone was stunned; the restoration of the exams was good news, and the eligibility to take them was quite broad. But no one expected the exam to be restored in December, and after their initial shock, they thought, “Books.” They had heard the rumor before, just discussed it without taking action. They thought acting on mere rumors was foolish; everyone believed that if the exam were to be restored, it would surely be announced well in advance. “Just two months.” Someone complained, why couldn’t they give everyone a bit more time to prepare. Some quick thinkers didn’t waste time complaining and were eager to get to the bookstores and waste stations. No matter when the exams were, the most important thing was to buy books. Without any middle and high school books, how could one take the exam? Even high school students, after years away from school, might have returned everything they learned to the teachers long ago. After a round of complaints, realization dawned, blaming neighbors for not informing them. Soon, the once lively courtyard quieted down. Xue Li was also dumbfounded, “The college exams are really being restored.” Looking around, she remembered how happy she was when the exams were initially canceled, thinking Zhao Hong would have no chance at university, and no one would compare them. With the exams canceled for so many years, everyone had gotten used to university admissions through recommendations; why make such a change? Xue Li knew both Zhao Hong and Xiao Yi had genuinely excellent grades, and now with such a good opportunity, they definitely wouldn’t miss it. The thought that they could change their destinies and live better lives left Xue Li in a foul mood. She glared viciously next door, if possible, she really didn’t want to see Zhao Hong and them taking the college exams. But she knew, without the exams being restored, anything was possible, but with the announcement now, they wouldn’t skip the exam. For origınal chapters go to 𝙣𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙡·𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖·𝔫𝔢𝔱 If they took the exam, the likelihood of them being admitted to university was high. Wang Xia saw Xue Li enter the house with a long face, and her body couldn’t help but tremble. If asked what she regretted most, she would definitely say she should have taken Xue Fan’s job back then, become a formal worker, and left that dead girl Xue Li to be a farmer in the countryside. If possible, let her find a man to marry there, live as a countrywoman for life, with no hope of returning to the city. Wang Xia had thought, after Xue Li returned to the city, she could at least help out a little at home, but she found that this daughter was truly ungrateful, intent on driving her to death. Xue Li knew Wang Xia was unhappy with her, but she really didn’t care. “I’ve decided I want to go to college.” Xue Li had a sudden idea, if she couldn’t stop Zhao Hong and them, she’d join the exam herself. Wang Xia had heard the news about the college exams being restored on the radio at home, she dismissed it, believing their family wasn’t cut out for academics. But unexpectedly, Xue Li planned to take the exam, which stunned Wang Xia. “Why can’t I take the exam? I had good grades when I was in school, if you hadn’t been biased and stopped me from continuing, I definitely would have graduated from high school.” Looking at the self-assured Xue Li, Wang Xia couldn’t be bothered to argue, “Do as you decide.” Everyone was shocked to hear Xue Li planned to take the exam, as the courtyard neighbors knew Xue family’s two kids weren’t top students. But since she decided, and Wang Xia didn’t object, it wasn’t for the neighbors to make noise. More importantly, they had no time for this, busy searching for study materials and finding out where they could get some tutoring. They thought of Zhao Hong and Xiao Yi, whose older siblings were pre-movement university students still working in research institutes, so their brains couldn’t be that dull. But Zhang Yu gave them a set of review materials to sort out among themselves. “There’s no shortcut, just practice lots of problems, there’s thought processes and solutions there.” Zhang Yu took these to the central courtyard and told them to distribute them, then she turned to take Zhao Hong and the others to the Xiao family house. The Xiao family had a single-door two-entrance courtyard home, preserved during the movement, and Zhang Yu occasionally went over to clean it up. Now this small courtyard was put to use, “You study hard, I’ll take care of the kids and handle logistics.” Except for Zhao Hong’s man, who had to work, Zhao Hong directly took leave, and although Xiao Yi didn’t take leave, he studied in the small room once at work. Xiao Yi and the others were thoroughly prepared for this exam that could change their destinies. They aimed to pass the entrance exam on the first try and already had their desired universities in mind.