Chapter 43

Seeing Song Jinping standing in front of Bai Xinmei, Wang Shuisheng clenched his fists.
It was clearly because Song had used his job to threaten him that he’d been forced to give up Xinmei.
The accounts he’d done for the factory… had problems. Even though the Party secretary had pressured him into it, no matter how he argued, he’d already been involved.
How exactly had this man surnamed Song found out?
At that thought, Wang Shuisheng slowly loosened his grip. What was done was done, arguing was pointless. Since Song Jinping had gotten hold of this leverage, others could too. He’d better worry about himself, or he really might end up inside.
As for Xinmei… he thought that if he truly went in, this marriage probably wouldn’t have happened anyway.
Wang Shuisheng left with an unwilling expression. A flash of satisfaction crossed Song Jinping’s eyes, though what followed was deeper contemplation.
He’d dealt with Wang Shuisheng.
But what if Meimei still didn’t accept him? Should he deal with a second Wang Shuisheng too?
Seeing Comrade Song appear at the scene of her broken engagement, Xinmei felt something was off, though she couldn’t say exactly what. Was Wang Shuisheng’s withdrawal related to Song Jinping being here?
The thought made her ponder. But was Song Jinping really the kind of person who schemed behind the scenes? Maybe she did have a bit of beauty, but she wasn’t so narcissistic as to believe he’d sabotage an already settled marriage just for her.
“Looks like I won’t be drinking your wedding wine after all.”
Song Jinping stated the fact calmly, his refined, handsome features revealing neither joy nor anger.
“Did you come to laugh at me?” Xinmei asked. “Just a few days ago I rejected you, and today I get dumped.”
She scrunched her small, pert nose, pouting as she mocked herself.
“I just came to tell you that I’m still where I was. You can take back what you said that day.”
After saying that, he left, as if he still had things to deal with.
Xinmei’s head started to ache, more than that, she was angry. Wang Shuisheng had dared to toy with her. Men really were all the same.
They broke promises whenever they pleased. To them, promises were nothing more than a fart.
When the Qin family learned the news, they were all indignant. From the beginning, when Wang Shuisheng talked about the engagement, they’d felt there was a big gap between the two, unlikely to work, but once things were settled, they’d said nothing.
Now he was backing out again, wasn’t that just playing with her?
The most unexpected reaction came from Li Zhaodi.
She was unusually furious, even shouting that she’d go to Shizi Gou to teach Wang Shuisheng a lesson. Xinmei hadn’t expected her to be so loyal and protective.
In the end, Xinmei stopped her. After all, she hadn’t liked Wang Shuisheng that much to begin with.
As news of the reinstated college entrance exam and returning to the cities spread, a study craze swept through the sent-down youth. Taking advantage of the farming off-season, they squeezed in every spare moment to review.
They scoured everywhere for review materials, all determined to pass.
After all, for sent-down educated youths who wanted to return to the city, there were only two paths: family connections, or getting into university.
College students were extremely rare in this era. Getting accepted was practically a change of fate.
Bai Xinmei had never associated herself with going to university. All her memories of studying and classrooms had gone up in smoke with the great fire at the Bai family’s little Western-style house, scattered into dust and lost in the river of time.
Whenever she thought of the past, she forced herself to forget. There was no going back. Now she was just a village woman, a widow.
Until Song Jinping brought her several guidebooks and asked whether she wanted to go to university.
He could provide help, materials, textbooks, tutoring…
During their conversation, she questioned him. “What is it, just because you tutor me, I’m guaranteed to get into university? I never even went to high school.”
How had Song Jinping answered again?
He’d looked at her seriously. “You didn’t attend high school, but your family hired private tutors for you. Meimei, you’re very smart. You can do it. I know you can.”
Those obsidian-dark eyes carried a bewitching pull.
Xinmei froze.
The first time, he’d tempted her with a better life. This time, he tempted her with the self she had lost.
Once upon a time, she too had wanted to study abroad, to choose a field she loved, to build something of her own, just like her father.
She fell silent, not answering Song Jinping right away. But it was obvious, he’d succeeded in tempting her.
After all, between a widowed village woman and a university student with a brilliant future ahead, anyone knew how to choose.
It was just that accepting his gifts meant paying the corresponding price.
She knew her heart was stirred, and Song Jinping was indeed a handsome, outstanding man. Refusing him earlier hadn’t been a loss, at first, this man’s obvious disdain had hurt her pride.
In the end, she approached Song Jinping awkwardly, telling him she wanted to take the college entrance exam and hoping he could tutor her.
For some reason, she always felt like their interactions were akin to some secretive, shady business.
With just over a month to the exam, her foundation was too weak. This year was probably impossible; she’d have to try next year.
When discussing this, Song Jinping told her he also planned to take the exam next year, listing a slew of reasons why he needed to delay.
Bai Xinmei wondered, was it really because of her? How much pride did this man have?
If it really was because of her slow progress that Song Jinping would take the exam next year, she’d feel extremely guilty.
Just as she hesitated, planning to persuade him, she realized there was someone even less able to accept this, Wang Lanhua, who had almost become her little sister-in-law.
Apparently, after Song Jinping had said something to her that day, she had run out in a frenzy, and afterward her mind had calmed. She could now speak normally to Bai Xinmei.
Moreover, she seemed more grounded, much different from before.
The college entrance exam wasn’t just a concern for the sent-down youth at the station; many village youths who had attended middle school were eager to try again. Wang Lanhua, having a second chance, wouldn’t miss this opportunity.
She wanted more contact with Song Jinping but didn’t dare to approach him as she had last time. Instead, she mingled with other sent-down youth preparing for university.
At first, everyone ignored her, what did a village girl know about university? But over time, they noticed Wang Lanhua’s advanced and practical grasp of theory and formulas during discussions.
The only flaw was that she occasionally applied ideas not yet internationally verified, which wouldn’t earn points on the exam.
Aside from this minor imperfection, her abilities were impressive, and the sent-down educated youths were happy to engage with her.
Compared with Wang Lanhua, Song Jinping, well-prepared, excellent in high school, was even more popular.
When it didn’t touch his own interests, Song Jinping was always willing to help, answering questions and clarifying doubts for the sent-down youth comrades.
Through this connection, Wang Lanhua managed to strike up conversation with him again.
Once she investigated Wang Lanhua and found she was just an ordinary village girl, Song Jinping was no longer so wary of her, though her earlier behavior had truly seemed like that of a spy…
But if Fifth Uncle said it was fine, then it probably was.
Evenings were when the sent-down youth most frequently discussed exam problems, including what to bring, exam location, and timing.
Song Jinping didn’t join their discussion, after all, whether he went to university this year or next made little difference to him.
“Jinping, which university are you planning to take the exam for?”
“Probably Imperial Capital University in Jing City. After all, Jinping has the best foundation and most thorough preparation among us.”
Another sent-down youth sighed. He felt his own preparation was mediocre and that a good university was unlikely. The announcement of the open college entrance exam had come too fast, catching everyone off guard.
If he failed this year, he could try again next year. As long as the exam was open, there was hope.
Song Jinping lay on his bed, initially not intending to join their conversation. But since everyone mentioned his name, he couldn’t stay silent.
“Imperial Capital University. But not this year.”
“Ah? Jinping? Why?”
“Did something happen to you?”
The station erupted in chatter. Many felt regret, while a few felt relief, Song Jinping not taking the exam meant one less strong competitor.
Likewise, Wang Lanhua received the news.
For her, it was like a bolt from the blue. In her previous life, Song Jinping had taken the open exam in the first year, going to the best university in Jing City, ranking first in the city.
At that time, she had been forced to carry Hao Jianguo’s child and couldn’t take the exam. Yet the village was full of his legendary achievements.
She knew perfectly well that the child… had not survived, crying only twice before passing.
Wang Lanhua’s expression darkened, but she reminded herself it was a new beginning. No need to dwell on the past. Moreover, Hao Jianguo had received his due punishment.
Now, what she needed to do was find out why Jinping wasn’t taking the exam.
One day, as Song Jinping was heading to the Qin family home, Wang Lanhua stopped him. “Song Jinping, may I ask… why aren’t you taking the college entrance exam?”
This time, Song Jinping had no patience to answer each of her questions. He brushed past her, ignoring her entirely.
At that moment, Wang Lanhua realized that this Jinping after rebirth was no longer the Jinping she knew, perhaps he had already fallen for someone else.
This was a reality she had to face.
At the Qin family’s private plot, Song Jinping saw Bai Xinmei crouched, hoeing weeds. Wearing a small straw hat and gray-blue wide pants, her serious little face glistening with sweat at the ends of her hair, he paused for a moment.
Seeing her hoe so chaotically, he couldn’t help smiling, truly, it was just like her.
He squatted down beside her.
Seeing him come to help, Bai Xinmei no longer felt the earlier delight of taking advantage; she knew these things were all to be repaid.