Chapter 410: Not even pretending

The boys and girls of the Lin family were the same, quietly starting their review.

Among them, Lin Zheng had the most drive, becoming the leader.

She formulated a detailed study plan, and Da Dan, Er Dan, Xibao, and others followed her plan to arrange study tasks, reviewing in an orderly manner.

Lin Si, that is, Da Dan, copied a study plan and sent it to the military region for Yu Yu, Gu Hangbao, and others to refer to.

Learning from the letter that the plan was made by Zheng Zheng, Lin Zhao raised an eyebrow.

"I couldn't tell Zheng Zheng actually had such initiative."

Gu Hangbao leaned over to look, "Mom, is it useful?"

"Can't you tell if it's useful or not?" Lin Zhao swept a light glance at him, asking a question she knew the answer to—the stinky kid who loved to be lazy.

The teenager smiled, "It's useful. Mom, can my brother and I study according to this plan?"

He and Yu Yu were currently in high school; following this study plan wouldn't be much pressure for them.

"You can, as long as your academic performance doesn't slip," Lin Zhao agreed.

Before Gu Hangbao could express his joy, she added, "If you don't do well on the exam, you'll have to be punished, okay?"

"Won't happen," Gu Hangbao said, full of confidence.

Lin Zhao didn't say anything. The twins had talent in their studies; they didn't need her and Gu Chenghuai to manage them, which was truly worry-free.

With the two older ones leading, the twins were also very self-disciplined. Play was play, and trouble was trouble, but it wouldn't delay their studies.

From then on, Lin Zhao began systematic review.

For so many years, she hadn't given up on reading, but she would only flip through books when she thought of it, mainly focusing on what needed to be memorized. Now, she was learning subject by subject.

Lin Zhao never felt she was the smartest person in the world, capable of getting good grades without reading. She believed more in the saying that heaven rewards diligence; only what is gained through effort makes one feel secure.

Seeing his wife studying seriously, Gu Chenghuai specifically sought out Yaobao and had a talk with his daughter, asking her to be a little supervisor and not let her brothers disturb their mother's studies.

He didn't mention the possibility of the college entrance examination being restored, just casually finding an excuse, saying Lin Zhao was preparing a new, very important promotional report and had to participate in a competition, so she needed to create in peace and quiet. If they wanted to make noise, go outside; if they wanted to play, go outside...

Yaobao patted her chest, her chubby face full of seriousness, "I know now. I'll supervise my brothers well. Whoever doesn't listen, I'll come and tell Dad."

The little girl hadn't grown tall yet, her face still had baby fat, her eyes were big and bright, very much like her mother's, a child who made people feel fond of her at first glance.

"Good girl." Gu Chenghuai rubbed the top of his little cotton-padded jacket's head, took his daughter's hand, and walked into the house with a relaxed gait.

Through the window, he saw Lin Zhao rubbing her eyes.

He said, "Come out for a spin; your waist will hurt if you sit too long."

Lin Zhao stood up, stretched, moved her stiff body, and walked out of the room.

A cool breeze blew, making her chaotic brain clear.

"Comfortable."

She walked to the corner of the wall to look at the flowers. The fiery red camellias were blooming brilliantly, making the flower lover feel very comfortable.

"Mom, looking at your flowers again." Yu Yu and Gu Hangbao, who had returned from playing ball, were covered in sweat. Gu Hangbao walked over and joined in the fun with a smile, his body hot and smelling of sweat.

Lin Zhao covered her nose, feigning disgust, "Go take a bath, you're covered in the smell of sweat. Who are you trying to suffocate?"

The second one didn't leave, even walking a few steps forward.

"Mom, are you disgusted with your son?" he said.

"Right, I'm even disgusted with your dad, so what if I'm disgusted with you?" Lin Zhao couldn't help but laugh at her son's expression.

"Nothing, do whatever you want. Nothing I say works anyway," Gu Hangbao sighed helplessly.

He shouted toward the kitchen, "Aunt Qiao, is there hot water? I want to take a bath."

Qiao Hui came out of the kitchen and smiled, "Yes, plenty. I boiled a big pot."

"Thank you, Aunt Qiao, I'll go get my clothes," Gu Hangbao said.

Yu Yu hurriedly chased after him, "I'll wash after you finish."

Days passed noisily, and in the blink of an eye, it was New Year. The Lin family didn't return to their hometown, spending the New Year in the military region.

The couple took the children to pay New Year's calls to close families, took them ice skating, took them to watch movies, and joined in the local fun during the Lantern Festival, admiring lanterns and watching dragon and lion dances... spending a lively New Year.

After the New Year, they continued their review.

According to memory, the notice for the restoration of the college entrance examination would be issued in October this year, and the exam would be in early December. Time was very tight.

Lin Zhao didn't quit her job. The military region took good care of her, and the work wasn't difficult, so she could balance both.

The children went to school as usual. Influenced by Lin Zhao, Yu Yu and Gu Hangbao studied even more seriously, having the momentum of a sprint before the college entrance exam.

At night.

Gu Chenghuai brought hot water and called Lin Zhao to soak her feet.

"Soak your feet before sleeping; it's good for sleep."

Lin Zhao closed her book, put on her slippers, walked to the bed, sat down on the bed, and stretched her feet into the foot-soaking basin.

The basins for washing faces and feet in the house were separate; Gu Chenghuai remembered very clearly.

"Hot, hot, hot, hot, hot..." Lin Zhao spat out a string of 'hots', her feet dropping and then hovering, dropping and then hovering.

This temperature wasn't hot for Gu Chenghuai, but her skin was delicate, so naturally, it was hot. However, foot-soaking water was better when hot, so she didn't let the man help add cold water.

"It's only useful when it's hot," Gu Chenghuai said gently.

He sat beside Lin Zhao and chatted with his wife, "The thing you're worried about will have good news soon, in as short as two months, or as long as three to five months."

"Where did you get the news?" Lin Zhao was surprised.

"It came from the capital," Gu Chenghuai's voice was steady, "News from Old Yun, very reliable."

Zhaozhao was studying so hard; he hoped the college entrance exam would be restored soon, so he kept an eye on news in this regard.

"You asked?" Lin Zhao leaned on her husband's shoulder, looking at him with bright eyes.

"Mm," Gu Chenghuai said indifferently, "It's better if it's restored sooner and you take the exam sooner. You're studying so hard; my heart aches when I see it."

"I'm not doing anything else, it's not tiring." Lin Zhao reached out to pinch the man's face; he had prickly whiskers growing on his chin, pricking her hand.

"Your beard has grown out again."

Gu Chenghuai grasped Zhaozhao's hand, clutching it into his palm, gently stroking her fingertips, his tone gentle and patient, "I'll shave it in a bit."

"Zhaozhao, tell me, how would it be if I transferred to the capital?"

Lin Zhao was playing with her husband's bony fingers. Hearing this, she suddenly raised her head, "What?"

"How would it be if I transferred to the military region in the capital?" Gu Chenghuai repeated.

"Why?" Lin Zhao's brows furrowed.

Before the man could answer, she pursed her lips and said, "Because of me?"

"Yes and no," Gu Chenghuai's expression was serious, "I originally had such a plan. They are short of people there, and I am the most suitable candidate."

He couldn't say any more; it involved secrets.

The wind direction had changed; those who relied on trickery to get into power should be stepping down.

"I want to take the university entrance exam in the capital. If you transfer to the capital, that would be too great!" Lin Zhao's smile was bright, "That way our family won't be separated. But it can't have a bad influence on you. I don't want you to regret it."

Gu Chenghuai said, "It won't. I have it figured out."

Besides, he never regretted the decisions he made.

"That's great, our family will all go to the capital," Lin Zhao was full of anticipation.

"It won't be that fast; the earliest will be next year," Gu Chenghuai still had some matters to finish here.

Seeing his wife's happy appearance, he added, "Chief Ning will also transfer there."

This was something that had been made public before the New Year, so it wasn't a secret.

"That's good, otherwise Yu Yu and Gu Hangbao would be crying all over the military region again." Lin Zhao laughed at her two sons for being crybabies, emotional to the point of helplessness.

There was another point: if Gu Chenghuai went to the capital military region alone, everything would have to start over, and she wasn't very at ease. With Chief Ning together, at least there would be some support.

Learning that her husband was going to transfer to the capital military region, Lin Zhao's worries were completely gone, and she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.

Gu Chenghuai finished pouring out the foot-soaking water, returned to the room, and found Zhaozhao asleep. He smiled helplessly, took off his shoes, got into bed, hugged Lin Zhao, left a kiss on her brow, and then closed his eyes.

Going to the capital military region, opportunities and risks coexisted. He wasn't afraid; so many storms had passed, what could he not overcome?

After the notice for the restoration of the college entrance examination came down, the whole country boiled over. Young people were excited, ecstatic, weeping with joy... there were all kinds of emotions.

Educated youth who had been away from home for many years learned the news and wailed loudly.

"The college entrance exam is restored... we can go to university, we can go home! Finally, we can go home!!"

Educated youth sat on the ground crying miserably, as if they wanted to cry out all the grievances and pain that had been pent up for many years.

After crying, they immediately sobered up and asked for leave to go to the county to buy books.

All the educated youth wanted to buy them; there were only so many books in the county, how could they be enough for so many people to grab?!

They were empty.

The vast majority of educated youth had no books.

The clever ones hurriedly sent telegrams home, asking their families to send them.

The thoughtful parents had already sent the books out.

During this period, there were many people at the post office, and there were queues whenever they went.

Harvest Brigade.

The educated youth didn't find books and returned to the brigade one by one, dragging their exhausted bodies.

Seeing these young people with very red eyes, the brigade leader felt sorry for them leaving home at such a young age and said, "Alright, who are you showing your dejected faces to! There are so many high school students in the village; if you ask to borrow books from them, could they be stingy? Just read separately, study separately, isn't that fine? You can also consult each other; what a big deal."

These words gave the educated youth a suggestion.

Their eyes lit up, and they perked up.

"Thank you for the brigade leader's suggestion!"

"Brigade leader, you really are a good person!"

"When I get into university, I won't forget our brigade!!"

"Brigade leader, you really are our North Star."

One sweet word after another fell.

Brigade Leader Ye just felt he couldn't take it; these dolls from the city really were nauseating when they spoke.

He deliberately kept a straight face, looking very serious.

"Alright, stop the flattery. There's another matter. Educated Youth Nan sent a set of review materials back to the brigade. They are at the brigade headquarters. You can take them to read. There's only one set, so you have to use them together."

The person in charge of the educated youth point said, "Alright, thank you, Brigade Leader. Thank you for thinking of us. We've gained a lot in the Harvest Brigade these years. Thank you all for your tolerance and care. This will be one of the most precious memories on our life's journey."

"We are going to prepare for the exam next, the work in the fields...?" He smiled embarrassedly.

"..."

He knew that whenever these educated youth started saying nice things, nothing good would come of it.

Brigade Leader Ye said, "You study well. You don't need to worry about the work in the fields. If you can get into university, it's the brigade's glory, and even more so the country's glory."

He wished that each and every one of them could become pillars of talent.

The educated youth were very moved.

One bowed to the brigade leader, and the others all started bowing.

"Thank you, Brigade Leader."

"We will study hard and will never fail the brigade leader's expectations!"

The educated youth of the Harvest Brigade were full of spirit, and once they had the books, they started studying.

The lowest education level among them was junior high school graduation; none of them were stupid, and they soon got on the right track.

Of course, it wasn't that they didn't encounter hardships. Some educated youth hadn't read books for years and couldn't adapt to the study rhythm for a while, getting anxious and self-loathing, their emotions falling into a slump.

Fortunately, there were brothers and sisters from all over the country by their side to pull them up, and only then did they catch up.

The atmosphere at the Harvest Brigade's educated youth point was considered good.

In many places, educated youth points had constant conflicts because of work, because of a lack of books, because of the college entrance exam and partners from the countryside... it was a mess, very chaotic.

The notice issued in mid-October, and the exam was in early December; the review time was less than two months in total.

Some people were still arguing when they discovered they had to take the exam.

There was no other way but to bite the bullet and enter the exam hall.

Lin Zhao had reviewed early, so she wasn't panicked.

At the entrance of the exam hall, she urged her two sons and Jingmo to carefully review the questions, answer the papers well, and check carefully...

Gu Chenghuai came to send his wife to the exam hall, "Don't be nervous. Answer what you know, make up what you don't. Everyone's level is about the same, maybe even not as good as yours. Calm your mind; I'll wait for you outside."

Yu Yu & Gu Hangbao & Jingmo: "..."

Such differential treatment. Saying so much to Mom (Aunt), and to them, it was just "take the exam well."

Not even pretending.

When Lin Zhao entered the exam hall, Gu Lan and the others also stepped into the exam hall.

The young people's eyes were like stars, their postures straight, walking into the familiar school confidently, stepping over an important watershed in life.

The two days of exams passed quickly.

After the last exam ended, the people who took the exam smiled at each other, the laughter seeming to be contagious, and laughter rose one after another.

Being able to control one's own life, it's truly great.

If it doesn't work out this year, there's still next year.

Lin Zhao returned home, took a bath, filled her stomach a little, and went to sleep as soon as she returned to the room.

The twins watched, dumbfounded.

"Is it that tiring?" Gu Hangbao muttered.

He still wanted to compare answers with Mom.

Qiao Hui said, "How could it not be tiring? How long has it been since your mother did something with such high intensity? Suddenly doing this, how could she not be tired? Let her sleep, don't disturb her, she'll be fine when she wakes up."

"Mm, mm," Gu Hangbao responded.

He pulled Yu Yu back to the room, "Brother, let's compare answers."

Yu Yu refused, "No, it's meaningless. Knowing you're wrong and not being able to change it, and making yourself unhappy, why bother? Let's wait for the results."

Gu Hangbao said dully, "Alright."

If not, then not.

He went to find Mao Dan and Jingmo again, still wanting to compare answers, but unfortunately, neither of them would compare with him.

"..."

This made Gu Zhiheng, who was used to comparing answers, feel very uncomfortable.

Lin Zhao saw his irritable mood and couldn't help but laugh, "You have to be the master of your emotions, don't always be controlled by them. Such a small matter, pulling a long face, it's ugly."

Gu Hangbao: "..."

"Mom!!" he shouted.

"Why shout so loudly? If you don't believe me, go look in the mirror," Lin Zhao's tone didn't change.

Gu Hangbao: "..."

Heart-piercing.

"What if I don't pass?" he frowned.

"Didn't you review quite well? You have so little confidence in yourself?" Lin Zhao looked strange.

When did her son become so unconfident? Didn't he used to be confident to the point of bloating?

"I don't know, I can't say what it feels like," Gu Hangbao said, "I feel empty inside."

"..." You're thinking too much. I think you can do it," Lin Zhao's expression was certain.

She felt this guy was just idle, "Stop thinking about it, go play, watch a movie, play ball... don't keep thinking about it. When the cart reaches the mountain, there will be a road. If you don't pass, it's nothing; at worst, you can just continue next year."

Gu Hangbao's face darkened, and he curled his lips, "How embarrassing." ===== CHAPTER 411 =====