Chapter 42

Now that Wei Huainong and Liu Lixiu were back, it was time to eat.

Since she had to cook for two tables by herself, Ye Wanqing once again chose hot pot—delicious and convenient.

On a hot summer day, eating a fragrant, spicy hot pot and then washing it down with a glass of ice-cold beer or soda felt incredibly refreshing. The coolness went straight from the throat down to the stomach. It was pure comfort.

This time the base she stir-fried was made with beef ribs. Chunks of beef rib were simmered until the broth turned rich and flavorful. She added fermented bean paste, bright red skyward chilies, a small handful of Sichuan peppercorns, a small cup of white liquor, and other seasonings. The fiery red hot-pot base was ready.

There was no refrigerator at home, so freezing the beef and lamb to shave into thin rolls was impossible. Ye Wanqing simply found a way to slice the meat into several plates of thin pieces herself.

The slices were about the thickness of a coin. She marinated them with soy sauce, white liquor, and salt until they became soft and tender. Dropped straight into the hot pot, they cooked up extremely tender. One bite released plenty of juice that spread through the mouth—fragrant and spicy. You almost wanted to swallow them in two or three bites.

Besides the essential beef and lamb for hot pot, Ye Wanqing also prepared some meatballs and fish balls. These had already been cooked when she made oden, so she quickly filled two large porcelain basins.

Whole chicken eggs were too big and not very pleasant to eat, but the small, neat quail eggs could be boiled and tossed into the pot. The pure white eggs bobbing up and down in the bright red broth looked beautiful.

Bean products and vegetables were also essential. Fresh white tofu, soaked tofu skin strips, potato slices, lettuce slices, baby bok choy, and kelp knots were all popular and arranged in a circle around the pot.

Because hot pot was heavily flavored, the side dishes Ye Wanqing made were lighter.

Pork bones had been simmered on low heat in a clay pot for one or two hours. She added winter melon chunks and continued stewing for another half hour until a chopstick could poke a hole in the firm melon. A proper amount of salt and a sprinkle of bright green chopped scallions finished the soup.

She also stir-fried a plate of water spinach with garlic. Cooked in lard, the greens were especially tender, and the garlic amplified the fresh taste of the vegetables to the extreme. The emerald-green water spinach was plated on a coarse porcelain dish and dotted with white and golden garlic bits—pretty to look at and fragrant to smell.

Hot pot could burn the mouth, so she also made a plate of smashed cucumber and a cold dish of wood ear with small millet chilies. After finishing the two cold dishes, she thought of Ge Yue’s taste and made a plate of candied apple as dessert. The table was complete.

The rooms weren’t big enough, so both tables were set up in the courtyard.

In the late afternoon the slanting sunlight was no longer so glaring. A gentle breeze scattered the heat in the air. Sitting in the courtyard didn’t feel stuffy at all—it was actually more comfortable than inside the rooms.

Ge Yuan pulled two electric cords out of the main room and hung two 100-watt bulbs on bamboo poles. The little courtyard instantly brightened. Since it wasn’t dark yet, there was no need to turn the lights on. After making sure the bulbs worked, he switched them off again.

He connected an extension board, turned on the electric fan, and dinner could begin.

“Aunt, Uncle, come out and eat,” Ye Wanqing called to Wei Huainong in the room, then called to Wei Hong and Wei Jun. “You two set out the dipping sauces and bring the candied apple from the kitchen.”

“Got it.” Wei Hong finished arranging the sauces and went to fetch the candied apple, only to find a little tail following behind her.

Ge Yue’s eyes were shining as she looked at the dish. Her soft little voice said, “This looks really delicious…”

She wanted to eat it. She wanted a huge bite right away!

Wei Hong burst out laughing. “Little Moon, if you say I’m pretty, I’ll give you a piece to taste first. How about it?”

Ge Yue thought seriously for a moment, then sighed with regret, shook her head, and turned to leave.

“Hey…” Wei Hong was dumbfounded and stamped her foot in frustration. “Am I really that ugly? I don’t think I look bad at all. I’m still the prettiest girl in our village! You little brat, get back here!”

Ge Yue swung her sheep-horn braids, turned around, saw Wei Hong fuming, and first made a face. Then she covered her mouth with her chubby little hands and giggled mischievously and triumphantly.

“You little brat!” Wei Hong was so angry she laughed.

—

This meal included the Ge family, the Wei family, and familiar neighbors like Fatty Wang’s mother and Aunt Plum Blossom. The little courtyard was full of laughter and conversation.

Everyone ate and drank from the slanting afternoon light until night fell. They turned on the electric bulbs and kept eating for a while longer.

After the meal they cleared the tables, brewed a cup of ginger-salt tea, lit a coil of mosquito incense in the corner, and let the fan keep blowing. It was extremely pleasant and comfortable.

The lively gathering lasted until nearly ten o’clock. Only after the guests went home did the courtyard quiet down, leaving just the close family members sitting together to enjoy the cool evening air.

Liu Lixiu asked curiously, “Wanqing, now that the exams are over, have you thought about where you want to study?”

The moment she asked, everyone’s eyes focused on Ye Wanqing.

Especially Ge Yuan. His deep black eyes stayed fixed on her—he clearly cared a great deal about the answer.

With scores as good as hers, she could basically go to any university in the country, including the top ones… It all depended on her own choice.

“Jie, you’re definitely going to Beijing, right?” Wei Hong’s clear voice asked. “Your scores are so good you could even get into Tsinghua or Peking University. Studying in the capital would be so glorious! I’ve never been there in my whole life, and I don’t know if I’ll ever get the chance. If you go watch the flag-raising at Tiananmen, you have to write and tell me about it!”

Wei Jun’s eyes were also bright with envy.

People these days yearned for the capital. They felt it was the most developed and prosperous place in the country, and also the place closest to the great leaders. Anyone who had the chance wanted to visit it at least once in their lifetime. For many students it was also a sacred place of learning.

But Ye Wanqing only smiled and shook her head. “I won’t go that far. I plan to stay in the province.”

“Just in the provincial capital?” Wei Hong felt it was a pity.

Although there were good universities in the provincial capital, they simply didn’t sound as impressive as the ones in the capital.

“Mm.” Ye Wanqing nodded. “Southerners are still used to the southern climate. I wouldn’t adapt to the weather in the capital, and I probably wouldn’t get used to the food either. I also don’t want to keep traveling back and forth on the road. In the future I plan to develop in the provincial capital, so studying there will also let me build some connections, which will be helpful later.”

More importantly, she had spent decades in the provincial capital in her previous life and was more familiar with its development. Although Ge Yuan’s company had wide-ranging business, the headquarters had always stayed in the provincial capital and never moved.

Once she laid out these reasons, Liu Lixiu immediately nodded without any principle. “Life is about food, clothing, shelter, and transportation. If the food and living conditions aren’t good, then you shouldn’t go to the capital.”

Old Zhong also smiled. “The provincial capital’s development won’t be bad. I think it’s fine.”

He glanced sideways at Ge Yuan… Most importantly, if Ye Wanqing studied in the provincial capital, this stinky kid wouldn’t need anyone to worry about him. After all, he had already built some achievements there, had acquaintances and connections, and could develop quickly.

The night grew deeper and it was time to sleep.

Ge Yuan first escorted Old Zhong and the Wei couple back to the Ge family’s little courtyard, then turned around and came back.

Ye Wanqing was heating water in the kitchen. Ge Yuan walked up behind her, gently circled her slender waist, and rested his chin on her shoulder. “Did you decide to stay in the provincial capital because of me?”

She could clearly go to better places, but he… was he limiting her?

“Of course not.” Ye Wanqing smiled and shook her head. She turned slightly and kissed him on the cheek. “Why would I stay in the provincial capital for you? Because I was bewitched by your good looks?”

“You already like me!” Ge Yuan hummed proudly, then said in a muffled voice, “If you want to go to the capital, then go. You don’t need to worry about me here. I will definitely keep up with your steps. I can carve out a piece of the sky here, and I can do the same in the capital. Believe me!”

At worst it would just take some time and effort. He could do it.

Ye Wanqing kissed him again. “But I really don’t want to go. I just want to stay in the provincial capital. You have to believe me too.”

“…Anyway, you can’t wrong yourself.”

“Then is it okay if I wrong you instead?”

“Yes!”

“Fool…” Ye Wanqing finished preparing the water, carried the mixed basin toward the bathroom, and saw a certain someone still following behind her like a big wolf dog. She couldn’t help turning back to look at him, raising her eyebrows with a smile. “Are you planning to peek at me bathing, or do you want to bathe together? Comrade Ge Yuan, we haven’t even gotten married yet. Be a little more reserved!”

Ge Yuan: “You… you you…”

“What about me?” Ye Wanqing tilted her head and asked.

You’re the one who’s not reserved!

Ge Yuan couldn’t get the words out. He stared fiercely at the charmingly smiling person in front of him for two seconds, then fled in defeat.

Ye Wanqing couldn’t help laughing. “…Truly a fool.”

—

After a few relaxed days following the exams, Jiang Lili and the others arranged to meet Ye Wanqing at school to estimate their scores. There was also another task: filling out the university preference forms.

When the group arrived at school, Ye Wanqing was immediately called over by the math teacher.

“How did you do?” the math teacher asked while waving the answer key in his hand. “Come over and check the answers. Let’s see how well you performed.”

“Alright.” Ye Wanqing answered with a smile.

Quite a few people in the classroom were gathered together checking answers or discussing which universities to apply to.

Since the math teacher had grabbed Ye Wanqing, Jiang Lili and the others followed along to check answers as well. It went quickly.

After looking through the answers once, Ye Wanqing already had a clear idea in her heart.

“What score did you estimate?” Jiang Lili nudged Ye Wanqing with her elbow. “Full marks?”

“…” Ye Wanqing pressed her lips and smiled. “If nothing unexpected happens, it should be.”

“That’s great!” The math teacher slapped the desk, unable to hide his joy. “Another perfect score! You’re going to get into Tsinghua or Peking University!”

Jiang Lili let out a “wow” and asked again, “What about English? English?”

“Probably around eighty or ninety.”

After answering, Ye Wanqing picked up the politics, history, and geography papers. She was fairly confident about the main subjects; what she worried about most were these three that required rote memorization.

Only after checking the answers one by one did her heart finally settle.

She had estimated correctly. The college entrance exam had been her best performance. If nothing unexpected happened, her total score should be between 560 and 580.

It had only been a few years since the college entrance exam was restored. The admission cut-off scores were still not high—one could even say they were low. For the liberal arts it was around 350. With her score, getting into university was absolutely secure, and she even had room to choose.

However, at this time the usual method was still unified national examination, unified admission, and unified adjustment. So when filling out preferences, graduating students didn’t actually have much room for personal choice, and admissions weren’t always strictly based on scores either.

Sometimes high-scoring students could still end up being admitted to one of their later preferences. That also depended on luck.

Ye Wanqing had already thought it through before coming. She filled in five preferences, all universities within the province.

The first to third preferences were all Xiangnan University, just different majors.

The fourth preference was Yuannan University.

The fifth was Xiangnan Normal University.

Apart from the fifth preference, which ranked as a second- or even third-tier school, the Xiangnan University and Yuannan University she listed were both well-known within the country. Although they certainly weren’t as famous as Tsinghua, Peking University, or Fudan, they were still solid comprehensive universities.

With her preferences filled out this way, no matter how the adjustments went, she wouldn’t be sent outside the province.

When Jiang Lili saw her list she was stunned. “My god, why did you only fill in schools in our province? You scored so well—don’t you want to see big cities like Beijing and Shanghai?”

“Why go so far? I just want to stay close to home.”

“Ah…” Jiang Lili opened her mouth, thought for a moment, then decisively displayed her strong sisterly loyalty by filling in the same fifth preference as Ye Wanqing. “See how good I am to you and how much I like you!”

Ye Wanqing glanced at the preference she was writing: Xiangnan University.

She couldn’t help smiling and nodded. “I also hope you’ll come keep me company. That way my university life will be a bit richer.”

“Then you’d better pray to the heavens to bless me, haha!” Jiang Lili laughed loudly, reached out to hug Ye Wanqing’s arm, and rubbed against her like an especially clingy little cat.

After the two of them finished filling out their forms, the other six members of the review group also finished theirs.

These students were usually the top performers at school and had done reasonably well on the exams. Their estimated scores were all quite good, so they had many schools they could choose from.

Unlike Ye Wanqing, however, most of them filled in universities outside the province. When people were young, they were usually full of spirit and wanted to go out and see how vast the world was. That seemed only natural.

Once the preference forms were done, the group still didn’t disperse.

Ye Wanqing asked them to wait a moment while she first went to the principal’s office. She asked the principal and the homeroom teacher for a small favor, then came out and took Jiang Lili toward Zhenwei, planning to have a proper meal at her own little shop.

Originally she had wanted to cook at home to show sincerity, but the moment Jiang Lili heard that Zhenwei was Ye Wanqing’s shop, she insisted on eating there.

Recently Zhenwei had become very popular in the county town. Many people went there specially to eat. Because of their tight study schedules, the group hadn’t had time to try it yet and wanted to experience the novelty.

Ye Wanqing readily agreed.

As for Ye Wanqing cooking with her own hands… Jiang Lili figured that if they ended up at the same university, there would be plenty of chances later.

Even if they didn’t go to the same school, there would still be winter and summer vacations!

She had no intention of being polite at all.

The young people chatted as they walked down the road, full of high spirits, attracting quite a few glances.

Because there were several of them, once they arrived at the shop they occupied two tables. Pushing the two long tables together made one big table. They ordered a full spread of steamed dishes and two plates of braised assortments. Everyone raised their thumbs in praise while eating.

After the meal, Jiang Lili dragged Ye Wanqing to a photo studio and took a picture, agreeing to pick it up in a few days.

Ye Wanqing smiled brilliantly in front of the camera, and her heart inevitably felt a little moved.

In her previous life she hadn’t left behind even a single photo of her youth. Even when she wanted to recall those years, her memories were somewhat blurred. In this life, however, her days were already so rich and colorful, and they would only become more brilliant later. Perhaps recording every period of time was a very meaningful thing.

—

After filling out the preference forms, Ye Wanqing felt completely free and unburdened.

What she didn’t know was that while she had relaxed, some people were left scrambling because of her choices.

“According to internal news, her estimated score is very high.”

“Then why did she only fill in schools within the province?”

“Qingshui County is only a few hours from the provincial capital. It’s so close that anyone can go to the school and ask around. If they make a fuss, the matter will blow up, and then it will be hard for us to do anything.”

“With scores this good, why didn’t she go to the capital? I want to go to the capital, Dad!”

“It’s hard to handle! With her score she might really become the county top scholar. If we really take her place, the matter will easily come to light, and once it does the impact will be too bad.”

“Even if we don’t take her spot, why didn’t we just destroy her exam papers at the time?!”

“You think the college entrance exam is a child’s game? Being able to buy off one or two invigilators to turn a blind eye to your cheating was already very difficult. Asking them to do tricks with the papers themselves… do you think other people aren’t afraid of taking responsibility?”

“…Then what do we do now?”

Ye Xiaomei sat sulkily on the sofa. Directly opposite her was the fat-bellied Ye Guoqiang. Father and daughter sat in identical postures, and even their expressions were somewhat similar.

“Anyway, making a move on Ye Wanqing is impossible now. We’d better think of another way,” Ye Guoqiang sighed, full of disappointment. “It’s just that this year’s batch of examinees is all disappointing. Among the people surnamed Ye, besides Ye Wanqing, not a single one scored well…”

When he said this, he didn’t consider that his own daughter was the most disappointing of them all—and not only disappointing, but rather shameless as well.

He was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Ye Xiaomei’s eyes rolled. “Then can we go find Ye Wanqing’s parents and get them to agree first, then force Ye Wanqing so she has no choice but to agree and can’t make a fuss? Anyway, Ye Wanqing is so capable—taking the exam again next year would be the same.”

Ye Guoqiang narrowed his eyes. “That might be worth a try.”

If Ye Wanqing’s parents agreed, once their side received the admission notice they could simply change the name and age on the household registration booklet and let Ye Xiaomei go study… As for the Ye family’s internal affairs, they could leave them to settle themselves.

Parents were greater than heaven. With the parents suppressing her, what waves could Ye Wanqing still stir up?

Mother Ye spoke up at this moment as well. “I heard Ye Wanqing’s family is at the bus station. Her parents should be bus-station workers—ordinary laborers. People like that will probably agree if you give them a bit more benefit.”

“Mm.” Ye Guoqiang made the decision. “Then we’ll try it!”

—

“Take care, take care!”

Liu Lizhen sent the visitors off with a fawning smile. The moment she turned around, a look of dissatisfaction appeared on her face.

She truly couldn’t understand it!

“Old Ye, why didn’t you agree just now? That was five thousand yuan—a full five thousand! Do you know how many years of hard work it would take us to save up five thousand yuan? That dead girl Ye Wanqing doesn’t know what’s good for her, but how can you be so stubborn too?!”

Even though she usually respected and even feared Ye Xiangdang, at this moment Liu Lizhen couldn’t help wanting to crack open his head and see what exactly he was thinking.

Five thousand yuan!

Just give up one university admission slot and five thousand yuan would be in hand. Where else could you find such a good deal?

As for Ye Wanqing… it was only delaying her by one year. What was the big deal?

Just like Ye Guoqiang had said earlier, let Ye Wanqing take the exam again next year. She might even get into a better university. Trading one year for five thousand yuan wasn’t a loss at all—it was an extremely good bargain!

It was equivalent to earning five thousand yuan in one year!

Ye Xiangdang didn’t want to get angry, but he still found Liu Lizhen’s naivety ridiculous. “Even if you agreed, do you think the eldest girl would agree? Do you have any idea how much money her shop earns every day? Is she the kind of person who would be moved by five thousand yuan?”

Besides, Liu Lizhen had no intention of giving any of that five thousand to Ye Wanqing. If Ye Wanqing got no benefit at all, would she be easily controlled?

If it had been before, Ye Xiangdang might have considered it. But after everything that had happened, he already understood that Ye Wanqing was no longer as filial and obedient as before. She now had her own ideas.

Calculating against her at this point would only be futile. It would further damage their relationship with her and also ruin the Ye family’s reputation!

“Just forget about this matter! When the eldest girl’s admission notice arrives, you go contact a restaurant. We’ll properly set out a few tables of food for her—first to celebrate for her, and second to take the chance to ease the relationship a little. At that time I’ll invite my old comrades. You just put your heart into it!”

After speaking, Ye Xiangdang put his hands behind his back and walked out of the house, leaving Liu Lizhen alone at home to sulk.

Why?

That dead girl Ye Wanqing wasn’t filial to them as parents, yet they still had to coax a teenage girl and even hold a promotion banquet for her? It was simply the greatest joke under heaven!

Did Ye Wanqing have that much face?

After fuming for a while, Liu Lizhen grabbed the bag on the table and also went out.

She was going to find that Ye Guoqiang from earlier. She was determined to get her hands on that five thousand yuan!

After raising Ye Wanqing for more than ten years, she no longer planned to rely on her for old age. She would just use these five thousand yuan to buy out those more than ten years of feelings.

In the days when the admission notices were about to arrive, she would go to the school every day to ask and make sure she got the notice in her hands at the earliest moment. Once the matter was settled, even if Ye Wanqing disagreed she would have to agree.

—

Time quickly reached August 10th. By then admission notices had begun arriving one after another.

Postal service was still not very developed. The notices that came first were mostly from nearby schools. Because they spent less time on the road, they naturally arrived faster.

Ye Wanqing thought that since all the universities she had applied to were within the province, her notice should arrive in these few days. She planned to go to the school and take a look.

Just as she was pushing her bicycle and about to leave, someone knocked on the courtyard gate.

“Wanqing, are you home?”

“Hurry out—there’s good news to tell you!”