Lin Xiaoxiao suddenly realized she had been a bit too conspicuous. In the examination hall, she had heard many frustrated sighs—while the test had felt simple to her, for those who had left school long ago, it was undoubtedly challenging.

Her earlier boastful remarks could easily have drawn collective resentment. Quickly covering her mouth, she tugged at Zhou Huai'an's sleeve and hurried away. Only after they had walked some distance did she cheerfully say, "Did I tell you? The exam questions these past two days were so easy, especially today's chemistry. I think I aced it."

She puffed out her chest proudly, like a gleeful grade-schooler.

A faint smile flickered in Zhou Huai'an's eyes. He nodded. "Mm, I'm sure you did great."

Feeling reassured, Lin Xiaoxiao patted her stomach. "I'm kind of hungry. Let's go eat. We'll head back tomorrow—Mom and Dad must be eager to hear how it went."

Zhou Huai'an led the excited Lin Xiaoxiao to a state-run diner nearby.

After glancing at the menu on the little blackboard, she decided on braised pig's trotters, lamb soup, and a serving of dumplings.

There's an old saying that cravings for sour mean a boy, and spicy a girl—but it didn't apply to her at all. She ate everything. Throughout her pregnancy, she never had morning sickness or spots. In fact, her complexion had improved.

Some envious folks remarked that carrying a girl makes the mother prettier, while a boy makes her plainer. Lin Xiaoxiao paid no mind. As long as the food was good, she was happy.

While waiting for the meal, she chattered again about how easy the exams were, repeating what she'd said the day before: "Dad is amazing! Several of the politics questions he went over with me showed up on the test. I'm sure I did well. I'll probably get perfect scores in math, physics, and chemistry. With politics and Chinese, my total should easily pass 400!"

She grinned, resting her chin on her hand. It was all so simple—compared to the math and physics competitions she'd done in the past, this was child's play.

Barring any surprises, she was certain she'd succeed. The only thing that worried her was the possibility of someone stealing her score—a not-uncommon occurrence in those days.

Zhou Huai'an listened gently. When the food arrived, he busied himself serving her pig's trotters and preparing dipping sauce with vinegar and chili for the dumplings.

Between bites, Lin Xiaoxiao suggested, "Let's go to the department store later and buy Mom and Dad some new clothes. Did you see Mom's sweater? It's faded, and the cuffs are patched with fabric."

Li Yunlan was always generous with the children, especially Lin Xiaoxiao, never stinting on food or clothes. But she and Zhou Zhennan were frugal with themselves, hardly ever buying anything new.

Zhou Zhennan's clothes were mostly old military issue, the collars frayed with wear.

Zhou Huai'an agreed. "Alright, we'll go after we eat."

As they ate, two young women entered the diner. From their conversation, it was clear they were also examinees. They complained about how hard the test was—none of what they'd studied had come up.

One asked the other, "Chunhong, how many points do you think you'll get? I'm guessing around 200. But I hear the cutoff might be 250 or higher."

Wang Chunhong shook her head. "Hard to say. Maybe around 200. I didn't do well in math, physics, or chemistry."

"Same here. Those three were really tough. I just hope we make it this year. Who knows if there'll be another chance next time? Hey, you're from Xiaoyaoyao Village, right?"

Wang Chunhong nodded. "Yes."

Lin Xiaoxiao perked up when she heard "Xiaoyaoyao Village." Munching on her dumplings, she eavesdropped.

The other woman continued, "Was it hard to get a college recommendation from your village? Do you know Xiao Yan? Why didn't she take the exam? She used to be a top student."

Wang Chunhong sounded surprised. "You know her?"

"Of course. Our families lived in the same alley. But her background... it's not good. Her mother was a concubine of some KMT officer who fled to Taiwan. Left her and her brother behind. Life was hard after that. Later, her mom married a blacksmith in our town."

"The blacksmith was okay when sober, but a monster when drunk. He beat them. And her mother had an affair—got paraded through the streets. After that, Xiao Yan and her brother were sent down to the countryside. Her mother's kept a low profile since."

Lin Xiaoxiao listened, wide-eyed. So Xiao Yan's family was such a mess? In those days, a clean political record was everything. No wonder Xiao Yan was the way she was—problems started at home.

Wang Chunhong's surprise was equally evident. She was well aware that Xiao Yan was the sole person who had never once taken home leave. While her own path to recommendation was not without its compromises, it stood in stark contrast to the alternative Xiao Yan faced: a marriage to the village head's simple-minded son. Once Xiao Yan departed, the truth of her own situation would vanish with her.

But Xiao Yan? She'd probably be stuck in that village forever. The thought filled Wang Chunhong with grim satisfaction. She'd always disliked Xiao Yan.

The other woman went on, "I remember she wrote home asking for books. Thought she was going to take the exam. Guess she couldn't leave after all. Probably because of her family background. Her mother's always been trouble."

Wang Chunhong asked, "What about her brother? Did he take the exam?"

"Not sure. If she didn't, he probably couldn't either. I'm from Qingyang, next to the provincial capital. I'm testing here because my husband's local. I married after being sent down."

Lin Xiaoxiao ate with renewed pleasure. She'd stumbled on quite the gossip goldmine—it made the meal even tastier.

On the way back to the guesthouse, she asked Zhou Huai'an, "With a background like Xiao Yan's, wouldn't she fail the political screening?"

Zhou Huai'an had overheard too, though it didn't concern him. Still, he patiently explained: "She could still take the exam. But job assignments afterward would be tricky. Policies are looser now. Since her stepfather is a blacksmith, it might help. But her brother—no chance. Their biological father was a KMT officer who fled to Taiwan. That's an insurmountable stain."

Lin Xiaoxiao didn't fully understand, but she nodded emphatically. "Good. Someone like her is rotten to the core. Wherever she goes, she'll cause harm."

Petty and vindictive, she wished nothing but a lifetime of obscurity for Xiao Yan.

Unbeknownst to her, Zhou Huai'an knew that Zhong Zhiguo had used that very excuse to forbid Xiao Yan from leaving the village.

After returning to the guesthouse to drop off their exam drafts and pens, they strolled to the department store to shop for Zhou Zhennan and Li Yunlan.

To their surprise, they ran into Cheng Mingyue and Lin Hongyan there.