On February 3rd, the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month, Friday, the postman arrived when Ding Weihuo and Li Hongying were at home with their grandchildren Baozi, Dumplings, and Tangyuan.

Since Xu Ancheng bought a house in Jing City, Ding Weihuo quit his job, first because the family was moving to Jing City, and second because there were too many kids at home for Li Hongying to manage alone.

With Ding Weihuo at home, he could help a lot, and the couple managing three kids was just right.

"Uncle Ding, Auntie, mail from Jing City, I think it’s acceptance letters. Your family is amazing, three letters—Yi Roujing, Ding Anguo, and Feng Lishu," the postman said with a smile.

Excited, Ding Weihuo and Li Hongying hurriedly invited the postman inside, poured him a cup of brown sugar water, and grabbed a handful of roasted sunflower seeds.

The postman wasn’t shy and took a sip from the enamel mug, familiar with them as he often delivered packages, knowing the couple was genuinely hospitable.

"Recently the post office is packed, eight out of ten people are asking about acceptance letters," he chatted. "Many take the college entrance exam, but few get accepted. Anyway, Uncle Ding, your family has the most mail, impressive."

After finishing the sweet water, the postman left with a smile, as there was still a lot to deliver.

Ding Weihuo and Li Hongying, thrilled with the three letters, wanted to call everyone immediately, as they couldn’t read and worried about whether Ding Anmin and Huang Xiaobao had received theirs too. Luckily, Xu Ancheng came back.

Xu Ancheng had been transferred from the County First Middle School, and would start at Jing University after the new year, but he was so busy he was barely seen, even busier than Yi Roujing and others who had jobs.

Upon reading the big envelopes, Xu Ancheng smiled and said, "Dad, Mom, rest assured, they’ve all been accepted into their dream schools, all first choices."

"Really? That’s great, that’s great. All their studying was worthwhile," Li Hongying said happily. "I wonder how Anmin and Xiaobao are doing, whether they..."

"Knock knock knock"

"Hongying, are you home?"

"Sounds like the in-law’s aunt’s voice." Li Hongying recognized it immediately and rushed to open the door, revealing none other than Mrs. Huang.

"Oh, Hongying, great news." Mrs. Huang was overjoyed. "Our Anmin and Xiaobao were both accepted to university."

Mrs. Huang wore a big smile; she and her husband were spending the New Year in Huaixi County, getting to babysit their great-grandchild Mantou, which was a daily joy. Today, while they were at home playing with the children, the acceptance letters arrived.

"Xiaobao got into Qing University, and Anmin got into Jing City Industrial University, both excellent schools." Mrs. Huang beamed. "I came to bring the good news right away, by the way, did Roujing and the others get their letters?"

"They just arrived as well." Li Hongying helped Mrs. Huang inside to sit. "Ancheng said they all got into their first-choice schools."

Knowing how to read, Mrs. Huang joyfully picked up the envelopes after taking a look. "Roujing got into Jing University, Anguo into Qing University, and Lishu into Jing City Normal College. Oh, Hongying, you really know how to teach kids. Our Xiaobao improved so much after meeting Anmin."

Then the two engaged in mutual humility and praise.

When Yi Roujing and the others returned from work, they each received their own acceptance letter. Li Hongying and the rest had left them unopened for them to experience the moment themselves. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Yi Roujing opened the envelope and took out the acceptance letter, just a piece of paper, with the words Jiang Province Huaixi County Food Factory Workers’ Hospital, Comrade Yi Roujing, all written in standard cursive with a fountain pen.

Accepted into the Jing University Medical Department, reporting on March 10th, with the Jing University’s red seal on the bottom right corner.

Seeing this from behind, Xu Ancheng smiled and said, "It’s still the handwriting of a Chinese literature professor."

Ding Anguo got into Qing University’s Management Department as he wished, and Huang Xiaobao was in the same department, both of them attending the same school and major.

Feng Lishu was accepted into the Normal College, having firmly decided to become a teacher after considering it seriously. Nursing required shift work and didn’t always allow time for family, while teaching was a good profession, especially since she was a mother of two.

Ding Anmin still aspired to be an accountant, knowing things would be different after attending university.

They all had to report in March, the dates only a few days apart. Xu Ancheng suggested that Yi Roujing and the others quit their jobs the next day to start packing and head to Jing City as soon as possible.

The Yi Family, proud of Yi Roujing’s acceptance to university, especially brought gifts to congratulate them. They knew Yi Roujing and the others were leaving for Jing City, and although they felt reluctant, they expressed support, understanding early on that they wouldn’t stay in the small Huaixi County forever since the Xu family was in Jing City.

The next day when Yi Roujing went to the hospital, she found a stunned but joyous Guo Xiangxiang.

"Your acceptance letter arrived." Yi Roujing confidently remarked, seeing Guo Xiangxiang.

"How did you know?" Guo Xiangxiang’s eyes shone as she spoke.

"It’s written all over your face." Yi Roujing laughed.

"I got accepted into my first choice, reporting on March 13th, East Province University for Nursing—that was my dream school and major. When I received the letter yesterday, my grandma cried with joy."

"Weren’t your parents upset?" Yi Roujing asked with concern.

Guo Xiangxiang snorted, "Who cares about them? They’re so proud knowing I got into university, as if they were the ones accepted. But when they learned about my major, they were so heartbroken, thinking I wasted my talent, wishing they could force me to change my major."

"Anyway, my grandma agreeing to go to the East Province with me is all that matters, not caring about the others," Guo Xiangxiang said, though her gaze at Yi Roujing was full of reluctance. "I just don’t know if we can meet again in the future."

"Come to Jing City when you have time, I’ll make sure to treat you well," Yi Roujing said with a smile.

"Okay, and Baozi too. He’s the first child I’ve seen that looks so nice, inheriting all the good qualities from you and Mr. Xu. You should have more kids, don’t let your beauty go to waste." Guo Xiangxiang clutched her chest, pretending to be overwhelmed.

"Here’s my contact information in Jing City; contact me anytime for anything urgent, I’ll do what I can to help," Yi Roujing handed her a prepared piece of paper.

Receiving it, Guo Xiangxiang’s eyes reddened with emotion. She nodded and then hugged Yi Roujing tightly, "If you were a guy, I’d marry you."

Yi Roujing burst out laughing, "Remember to tell me when you meet someone at university, I’ll use my experience to assess them for you."

"Okay, I’ll rely on you then." Guo Xiangxiang replied with a smile.

Yi Roujing and Guo Xiangxiang resigned at the same time. The staff at the workers’ hospital knew they had been accepted to university. Upon learning that Yi Roujing had gotten into Jing University’s Medical Department, their eyes widened with surprise.

Colleagues came to Congratulate Yi Roujing non-stop, with doctors exclaiming that they would soon be peers with Yi Roujing.

While Guo Xiangxiang got into such a great university but chose Nursing, some people gossiped behind her back, thinking her foolish. However, it was just a matter of personal ideals and beliefs, and openly they all offered congratulations.