After finishing her exam, Xia Xiaolan quietly made her way home.

She was wearing new clothes, while everyone else at home was still in old ones. On the way back, she stopped by the supply and marketing cooperative and bought several bolts of fabric, planning to make clothes for the family.

In rural areas, people rarely bought ready-made clothing. Most women young or married, knew how to sew. Buying fabric and making clothes yourself was the norm.

Not long ago, even fabric required ration coupons. Without cloth coupons, money alone wasn’t enough. Even dual-income families couldn’t afford to make clothes often.

Now things were changing.

In Henan, ration tickets were gradually being phased out. Even when they still existed, enforcement was looser. At least you could buy fabric without coupons, just at a higher price.

Xia Xiaolan avoided flashy materials. Practicality mattered more in the countryside.

Plain indigo work cloth was cheap, while blended wool biji fabric cost a bit more. She carried everything home... only to be scolded for wasting money.

No one dared ask about her exam.

They were afraid of discouraging her.

Privately, Liu Yong discussed it with Liu Fen:

“If Xiaolan wants to study, maybe she should start from Senior Year One. Don’t worry about tuition! I’ll cover it!”

Liu Fen shook her head.

“I won’t rely on your money. I’ve learned some of Xiaolan’s business. Even if she studies, I can support her.”

She knew she wasn’t as capable as her daughter. Deals like supplying eels to a municipal guesthouse?

She wouldn’t even know where to start. Even if someone showed her the way, she wouldn’t dare approach a buyer like Hu Yongcai.

But reselling oil dregs?

That she could do. She’d even learned to ride a bicycle, bruises and all. Stronger than Xiaolan, she could haul an extra hundred jin each trip.

That alone could sustain them, and save for Xiaolan’s tuition.

Liu Fen practically glowed.

No matter the era, even the most unworldly farmer knew education was the right path. The poorer you were, the more you needed it.

To rise,

To leave the fields behind,

To become a city person.

Xia Xiaolan had changed too. Still neat and tidy, but no longer obsessed with appearances.

Overnight, she seemed to have grown up.

Even if she failed this time, starting over from Senior Year One wasn’t too late. She was only eighteen. Three more years meant she’d be twenty-one.

Still younger than many repeat candidates or those returning to the gaokao after years of work.

Xia Ziyu got into college at twenty. Wang Jianhua, a zhīqīng, was twenty-five when he did.

Taking the steady route wouldn’t be late at all.

But none of this was said to Xia Xiaolan. They didn’t want to pressure her.

Meanwhile, Liu Yong had been busy.

With Chen Wangda’s help, and some county-level connections.... he successfully transferred the hukou - household registration of Xia Xiaolan and Liu Fen out of Dahe Village and into Qijing Village.

The Xia family tried to interfere.

Old Madam Xia made a scene, rolling on the ground and shouting abuse. But Xia Dajun, unexpectedly, supported the transfer.

The divorce had cost him face. He wanted a clean break.

In 1983, hukou controlled everything. Without it, Xia Xiaolan couldn’t travel, study, marry, or even leave her hometown without an official introduction letter.

It was a chokehold on her life.

Now, with her hukou moved, she was finally free from the Xia family’s control.

By the time she got home, this was the good news waiting for her. In return, she shared hers.

“I don’t think the test was that hard. I did pretty well.”

Her aunt took the fabric from her hands, still complaining about the expense, clearly not believing her optimism.

“Now that your exam’s done, we can tell you our plan. Your uncle and your mom both agreed.”

“You’ll start from Senior Year One. Study properly for three years, then take the gaokao. Even a junior college would be a huge achievement.”

She went on about how Liu Yong had leveraged connections to move her hukou, even bringing county officials along so the village cadres wouldn’t dare object.

Only Old Madam Xia had caused trouble.

Clinging to family ties, refusing to let go, hurling insults.

She didn’t care about Xia Xiaolan herself, she just wanted to make Liu Fen suffer.

In the end, Liu Yong compromised. Xia Xiaolan could leave, but she couldn’t change her surname.

He felt guilty about it.

Xia Xiaolan didn’t.

“The surname doesn’t matter. I’m used to this name.”

After all, “Xia Xiaolan” belonged to her past life.

It had nothing to do with the Xia family anyway.

She didn’t bother arguing.

Let them think she’d start over from Senior Year One. She believed she had already scored well above 350.

Once the results came out, they’d see.

“Aunt, the fabric’s all here. Make whatever you like. I already have new clothes. These are for the four of you.”

That only earned her another round of scolding for being wasteful.

Xia Xiaolan just grinned.

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