By mid-September, the hottest time of the year had already passed.

University students, spared from taking part in the autumn harvest, continued to live in their ivory tower. Located along the West Third Ring Road, the Capital Teachers College was often mistaken for “Capital Normal University” because of its name.

Though a teachers college could not compare to a full-fledged university, it was still a key undergraduate institution under the city’s administration.

Given the educational standards and teaching resources of Anqing County, gaining admission required extraordinary effort.

Xia Ziyu from Dahe Village and the sent-down youth Wang Jianhua had both been admitted to this very college.

A couple being accepted into the same university made for a touching love story.

At least, that was how it seemed in Xia Ziyu’s dormitory. Every night after lights-out, as they lay in bed, her roommates would tease her endlessly about openly appearing everywhere with Wang Jianhua.

They jokingly referred to him as Old Wang of Xia Ziyu’s family. After all, Wang Jianhua was already twenty-five when he entered university, much older than most students.

Yet he was tall and handsome, and paired well with Xia Ziyu, whose oval face gave her a gentle charm. Her roommates couldn’t help but envy her.

Although she had brought quite a bit of money from home, Xia Ziyu lived a very frugal life. She firmly believed Wang Jianhua was a stock with great potential. And that investing in such a man naturally required sacrifice.

Wang Jianhua had once been sent down to the countryside, and his family situation was complicated.

There were many places where money was needed.

Plain in appearance, diligent in her studies, and poised in manner, Xia Ziyu quickly built a good reputation in class within just half a month of enrollment.

Even her teachers had begun to take notice of her. University life felt fresh and rewarding, every drop of sweat she had shed to get here now seemed worthwhile.

Her relationship with Wang Jianhua was progressing well… and it would have been even more comfortable if not for the troubles back home.

Not long after arriving at school, she had received a telegram: her cousin Xia Xiaolan, under pressure from rumors, had tried to kill herself by smashing her head against a wall... but had survived.

Half a month later, another telegram arrived. It contained only a dozen or so words, yet conveyed a great deal.

“Liu Fen is divorced. Mother and daughter moved away. Zhang Erlai arrested for theft.”

Telegram charges were calculated by the word. Xia Ziyu knew that even though her parents had begun earning some money, they would still be reluctant to spend it. The moment she read the message, her mood soured.

What kind of person was her second aunt?

Someone so meek she wouldn’t utter a word even if beaten. Completely submissive.

Just because she had failed to bear a son for her husband, she obeyed him unquestioningly. If he said go east, she would never dare go west.

And yet she had dared to file for divorce?

It certainly wasn’t her uncle who initiated it. Otherwise the telegram would not have named only “Liu Fen.” That emphasis made it clear who had taken the first step.

It seemed that Xia Xiaolan’s suicide attempt had triggered long-suppressed conflicts within the family.

Though Xia Ziyu disliked Xia Xiaolan, she had never wished her dead. Their lives had already diverged completely, and from her position as the successful one,she could afford to be magnanimous.

Still, she felt dissatisfied.... dissatisfied with her parents’ poor execution!

She had explained everything so clearly, yet things had still slipped out of control.

Zhang Erlai’s arrest for theft, Liu Fen’s divorce, and the mother and daughter moving out of the Xia household.

How was she supposed to keep Xia Xiaolan’s fate firmly in her grasp now?

They must have moved to Qijing Village.

Liu Fen’s natal family was small. Her married sister had little contact, but her only brother, Liu Yong, took considerable care of them.

Thinking of them associating with Liu Yong put Xia Ziyu somewhat at ease.

Liu Yong was a good-for-nothing, and Liu Fen had little chance of remarrying. Staying in the countryside, with Xia Xiaolan’s reputation already tarnished, they were unlikely to amount to anything.

A woman’s beauty might offer temporary advantage, but intelligence was what truly mattered.

Xia Ziyu tossed the telegram aside.

Remembering that Wang Jianhua had a full morning of classes, and that teachers in the Political science and Law department often ran overtime, she took two lunch boxes and headed to the cafeteria.

She didn’t have to wait long by the small flowerbed in the corridor before seeing him after class. Several of his classmates, familiar with him, were openly envious.

“Jianhua, your girlfriend’s brought you food again!”

“You two are really something!”

“Lucky guy. Where did you get such good fortune?”

Xia Ziyu greeted them generously, and after a few jokes, they left.

“We got out late. You didn’t have to wait... why not eat first?” Wang Jianhua said.

He had the typical look of a northerner. Tall, with strong brows and clear features. Handsome, but with a distant air that kept others at arm’s length.

Looking at him, Xia Ziyu’s eyes were soft with affection.

“I didn’t wait long. Besides, we’re a couple. If I don’t think of you, who would I think of?”

Wang Jianhua had no reply.

They sat by the flowerbed, and she handed him the lunch box. When he opened it, the contents were neatly divided.

Half was white rice, the other half glistening braised pork.

When Xia Ziyu opened her own box, it contained steamed buns with stir-fried cabbage.

One meal was of the cafeteria’s highest standard, something even teachers might hesitate to indulge in. While the other was the most basic fare.

Even Wang Jianhua, usually so reserved, felt his heart soften.

Their relationship had begun by accident.

He had never intended to be unfaithful. He simply felt obligated to take responsibility for Xia Ziyu.

At first, he had been reluctant. After all, the one he truly liked was Xia Xiaolan. But as time passed, Xia Ziyu’s warmth slowly melted his hardened heart.

Xia Xiaolan had been temperamental, often quarrelsome and needing to be coaxed. Xia Ziyu, by contrast, was gentle and understanding.

She took care of his daily needs and showed great concern for his family.

“You gave me all the meat again.” he said, pushing the braised pork toward her.

She dodged playfully, smiling.

“I like vegetables.”

In the 1980s, hardly anyone truly preferred vegetables. People were always looking for ways to get more meat.

Her devotion was genuine.

Moved, Wang Jianhua said, “If you don’t eat it, neither will I.”

They went back and forth until Xia Ziyu finally relented and ate two pieces.

Such was the everyday tenderness of a young couple.

She never mentioned the telegram. The affairs of Dahe Village would remain there.

This was the capital. She had finally escaped poverty!

Why would she ever go back?

Nor did she bring up Xia Xiaolan in front of him. Foolish women clung to such things.

The more you showed you cared, the harder it was for a man to forget. Now she was the one by his side every day.

Given time, she would occupy his entire heart.

Xia Xiaolan?

No longer worthy of being her rival.

After the meal, Wang Jianhua seemed to recall something.

“The money we sent to the farm... my parents received it. Ziyu, you’ve done our family a great kindness.”

Xia Ziyu lowered her gaze shyly.

“It’s not much, but it can help improve their living conditions.”

She had brought 500 yuan from the Xia family to the capital, yet lived frugally because she had sent all the money to Wang Jianhua’s family.

While he had been sent down to Dahe Village, his parents were in even harsher conditions at a farm. Though Wang Jianhua had entered college and left the village behind, there was still no sign of his family being allowed to return to the city.

But sooner or later, they would.

Xia Ziyu firmly believed that her sacrifices now would one day be repaid.

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