Li Yunlan and Zhou Zhennan hurried toward the bus as it came to a stop. Zhou Zhennan helped Zhou Huai'an with the luggage, while Li Yunlan linked her arm through Lin Xiaoxiao's. "Was the baby well-behaved these days?"

Lin Xiaoxiao grinned. "No troubles at all! We tried our best, but we couldn't even finish all the food you packed for us—we had to bring some back."

Li Yunlan fretted immediately. "Why didn't you finish it? Were you not eating properly? You look like you've lost weight."

Lin Xiaoxiao couldn't help but laugh. How could Li Yunlan even tell she'd lost weight in the pitch dark?

All the way home, Zhou Zhennan and Li Yunlan didn't ask once about her exam results. Instead, they focused on whether she'd eaten well and if she was tired.

Li Yunlan had prepared chicken soup that afternoon. As soon as they stepped inside, she busied herself cooking a pot of thin dragon whisker noodles served in the rich, fragrant broth. It was delicious.

Lin Xiaoxiao knew they were avoiding the topic of the exam to keep the pressure off her. But she was feeling confident and secretly wished they'd ask, just so she could boast a little.

In the end, she brought it up herself. "The test was pretty easy—a lot of the questions were straight from my review materials. Especially the politics section! Dad helped me nail several of the essay questions."

Zhou Zhennan was pleasantly surprised when he heard how well she thought she'd done. "Are you sure?" he asked after hearing her estimated score.

"Absolutely," Lin Xiaoxiao replied. "I checked my answers several times. I'm not worried about my performance—I'm worried about someone stealing my spot."

She said it partly to hint to Zhou Zhennan—back then, it was still far too easy for someone to take another's place in college admissions.

Zhou Zhennan understood exactly what she was implying. "Don't worry," he said with a smile. "I'll keep an eye on it. But if you really scored as high as you think, no one would dare try anything."

That put Lin Xiaoxiao at ease.

This year's college entrance process was different from future years—applicants had to list their university choices before the exam, not after. Because of that, many students played it safe, avoiding top schools like Peking University and Tsinghua for fear of ending up with no acceptance at all.

But not Lin Xiaoxiao. She applied only to one university in Beijing. She was set on going there—and if she didn't get in, she was prepared to try again next year.

When filling out her application, she had already considered that if she were accepted, she might have to defer her admission by half a year due to the baby's birth. Spring enrollment might not work, but the Class of 1978 began in the fall—so it would all work out.

After the exam, Lin Xiaoxiao spent her days relaxing and focusing on her pregnancy. She occasionally took on translation work under the radar, earning a little extra cash. Free of worries, she gradually put on weight—especially around her belly.

Her stomach had grown so large that she was starting to feel a little concerned. Her skin was stretched taut, as if it might burst at any moment. "Mom," she said to Li Yunlan one day, "I think I'll stop drinking the milk formula. The baby might be getting too big—it could make delivery difficult."

Medical care wasn't advanced in those days. Many women still gave birth at home, and the thought made her nervous.

Li Yunlan tried to reassure her. "Don't worry, my belly was just as big when I was carrying twins. But you're right to be cautious—you have grown quite quickly recently. Try to walk a bit more."

She thought back to her own pregnancy—it was during turbulent times. Good nutrition was hard to come by; some days, they barely had enough to eat. Maybe that was why her belly seemed smaller.

Lately, Lin Xiaoxiao hadn't felt much like going outside for walks. The temperature often dropped below -10°C during the day, and bundling up in layer after layer made her already awkward movements even clumsier. She could barely walk properly, so she opted to pace around indoors after meals instead.

Looking at Lin Xiaoxiao's belly, Li Yunlan had another concern. "Xiaoxiao, what if you come back to Beijing with us after the New Year? Have the baby there. The conditions here are poor, and we're worried we might not make it to the city in time if anything happens."

Zhou Zhennan agreed. "Yes, Beijing would be better. Besides, you'll be studying there eventually. Traveling later with a newborn would be difficult—trains are crowded and full of germs. It's not ideal for a newborn. Plus, our place here is too small."

Lin Xiaoxiao knew they were right, but she couldn't bear the thought of being separated from Zhou Huai'an so soon. What if he missed the birth of his child?

Noticing her hesitation, Zhou Zhennan added, "I've been thinking about this for a while. Your score should be more than enough for Peking University. You'll need to handle the deferment process in person. If you give birth here, things could get complicated."

No one knew when the acceptance letters would arrive, but it was better to be prepared.

That evening, when Zhou Huai'an returned home, the family discussed it again. He didn't hesitate—he supported the idea completely. It pained him to see Lin Xiaoxiao struggling to turn over in bed at night. He was also worried about the local medical facilities. What if something went wrong during delivery? Going to Beijing was the safest option.

"But if I go," Lin Xiaoxiao said sadly, "you won't be there when the baby is born. You'll miss it."

Zhou Huai'an comforted her, "It's alright. I'll take you back after New Year's. When the baby comes in April, I'll take leave—I can get up to sixty days off to be with you."

Zhou Zhennan nodded in agreement. "Yes, Huai'an can request leave. We must prioritize safety.

Besides, the weather in Beijing is much warmer."

Lin Xiaoxiao was still torn, but she didn't say anything else.

That night, as she lay in bed, she asked Zhou Huai'an to massage her legs. "I don't want to be away from you," she mumbled. "Who's going to rub my legs at night in Beijing? What if I get cramps later in the pregnancy? What will I do then?"

Zhou Huai'an worked patiently at her muscles. "Mom will be there. This is for your safety and the baby's."

Lin Xiaoxiao knew he was right. If she didn't go now, they'd still have to separate when she started university. She pouted. "Will you miss me when I'm gone?"

Without hesitation, Zhou Huai'an said, "Yes."

That made Lin Xiaoxiao smile. "Okay," she said. "Let's go to Beijing."

Now that Lin Xiaoxiao had agreed, Li Yunlan had another idea. "Instead of waiting until after New Year, why not go right after New Year's Day? You'll still be mobile enough to travel safely.

Besides, Huai'an hasn't spent New Year's at home in a long time. You can celebrate together, and he can return after the holiday. Then he can join you again around your due date."

Lin Xiaoxiao thought it over and nodded in agreement.

But when Zhou Xiaoling found out two days later that the whole family was going to Beijing without her, she protested loudly: "Mom, Dad, how could you be so cruel? You're going to leave me here all by myself for New Year's?"

Li Yunlan replied calmly, "Lin Zihao will be here with you."