Chapter 70
Xu Jiangyang was now convinced that Qiu Chi was just being shy. He smiled and nodded. “Right, you don’t need it, and you’re not being shy.”
That’s what he said, but it wasn’t what he thought.
Seeing the smile on his face, Qiu Chi just wanted to beat him up and show him his place.
Just as Qiu Chi clenched her fist, Xu Jiangyang quickly said, “I have to go do laundry, so I can’t stay with you. I’m leaving now.”
With that, Xu Jiangyang hurried away, successfully escaping a beating.
The rumors about the two of them didn’t last long before Qiu Chi personally put an end to them.
Hearing from Qiu Chi’s own mouth that she wasn’t dating Xu Jiangyang and that it was impossible between them was far more reliable than any rumor.
Since Qiu Chi had said so, no one discussed it openly anymore.
The matter was thus settled.
But when people asked Xu Jiangyang, he would say, “Comrade Erxi is still young, after all. Even if we were to date, we’d have to wait another two years.”
And so, they all understood that it was a one-sided crush on Xu Jiangyang’s part.
Although the matter didn’t spread widely, it still reached Qiu Chi’s ears.
While eating a rabbit Xu Jiangyang had roasted, Qiu Chi said, “Stop your wishful thinking. It’s destined to be impossible between us.”
Xu Jiangyang didn’t reply, instead saying, “I heard you’re very smart and have a photographic memory. My family sent over a few books. Do you want to take a look?”
“The current situation will change sooner or later. It’s good to read more. You’ve probably read most of the books here, so I had my family send some high school materials. If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can ask me.”
Qiu Chi didn’t refuse. “Bring them over,” she said directly.
Xu Jiangyang smiled and took a few books out of his satchel, handing them to Qiu Chi.
Although Qiu Chi took the books, she didn’t forget to warn him, “You’d better remember what I just said. It’s impossible between us.”
Xu Jiangyang looked down, flipping through a book, and simply didn’t answer her.
Qiu Chi didn’t bother with him. She had said what needed to be said. If he wanted to keep indulging in wishful thinking, there was nothing she could do.
Although Xu Jiangyang was always indulging in wishful thinking, his cooking skills were quite good. Coupled with his pleasant attitude, Qiu Chi didn’t find him too disagreeable.
The two coexisted peacefully until the autumn of 1977.
That autumn, a piece of news arrived that lifted everyone’s spirits and thrilled countless educated youths.
The college entrance exam was reinstated.
It was as if they could see their hope of returning to the city. One by one, they scrambled to find ways to buy books.
In comparison, Qiu Chi was very calm, while Xu Jiangyang was quite excited.
The two of them were looking down from a mountain. Xu Jiangyang’s voice was tinged with excitement. “I knew this day would come sooner or later. Erxi, are you confident you can get into university?”
No matter how she heard it, the name “Erxi” was grating to Qiu Chi’s ears.
Combined with Xu Jiangyang’s question, all Qiu Chi heard was, “Isn’t that obvious?”
She had always been extremely confident in herself.
Xu Jiangyang turned his head to look at Qiu Chi’s profile, the corners of his lips lifting slightly. “So where are you planning to apply? What do you think about a university in the capital? When the time comes, you’ll be a university student, and then we…”
Qiu Chi cut him off without hesitation. “And then it will still be impossible for us.”
Over the past year, he had grown accustomed to Qiu Chi’s rejections. Hearing her words now didn’t disappoint him. He just said, “Who can say what will happen then? You have to get married eventually, right? If you do, I’m definitely the best choice.”
Perhaps it was the news of the college entrance exam’s reinstatement that made the once relatively reserved Xu Jiangyang bold and passionate again.
Not only that, but he was also brimming with confidence.
Qiu Chi gave him a cold glance but didn’t bother to shatter his beautiful fantasy.
In reality, she knew perfectly well that she wouldn’t be staying here for much longer.
Marriage? Marry my ass.
The news of the college entrance exam gave countless educated youths hope of returning to the city, but at the same time, it also caused many families to be torn apart.
The case of Educated Youth Sun’s family was a prime example.
Educated Youth Sun wanted to take the exam, so he worked hard to buy and borrow books.
But he had a wife and children, and his wife didn’t want him to take it.
The two erupted into an unprecedented argument.
This time, even Zhang Maizi’s entire family couldn’t change his mind. Sun Zhiping was dead set on taking the exam. “Either you beat me to death right now, or as long as I have a breath left in me, I’ll crawl there if I have to.”
Zhang Maizi was a crying mess. “You’re already thirty, and we have two children! Why are you still thinking of abandoning me? You were the one who whispered sweet nothings, and now you’re the one who wants to abandon me. Sun Zhiping, are you even human?!”
Although she despised Sun Zhiping in her heart, they had spent several years together. Now, the thought of being abandoned was inevitably painful for Zhang Maizi.
It wasn’t just about being abandoned, but also about how the villagers would look at her afterward.
The other families in the village who had married educated youths were in no better a situation than Zhang Maizi’s.
After seeing this, Xu Jiangyang couldn’t help but say to Qiu Chi, “Actually, taking the college entrance exam doesn’t mean abandonment. There are still people willing to bring their wives to the city. At least, I am.”
He said the last sentence while looking at Qiu Chi.
Qiu Chi was completely speechless. “We’re in public. Don’t make me slap you.”
“Everything I said is true. Believe me.”
“Oh, I believe you. So what does that have to do with me?”
Xu Jiangyang pressed his lips together. “It will, eventually.”
Qiu Chi raised her fist. “Before that happens, you might have a close encounter with my fist.”
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