Courtyard House: Drunk and tipsy, the whole courtyard exposed at the start.

Xu Xiaoling successfully got a job at a company in the east of the city. To celebrate, she treated Zhang Dabiao, He Yushui, Qin Jingru, and Mu Wanqing to a meal. Yu Haitang didn't come because she felt it would be embarrassing.

Liu Guangfu graduated from junior high school and passed the high school entrance exam without much difficulty. However, his nightmare was about to begin because he knew that his second brother was unlikely to pass the exam and was not cut out for it.

On the day of the college entrance examination, everyone was up before dawn. He Yushui and Liu Guangtian went to take the exam, and Sha Zhu took the day off to take his sister to the exam, showing some brotherly responsibility. Liu Guangtian? No one took him; Fatty Liu only said one thing—"If you don't pass, come back and I'll break your legs!"

Liu Guangtian – [Am I really his biological son?]

Zhang Dabiao, Qin Jingru, and Mu Wanqing also went along to provide logistical support for the rain.

As Zhang Dabiao reached the courtyard gate, he glanced back—Jia Zhangshi was standing at the door of the west wing, her gaze cold and menacing, like a snake poised to pounce.

She just can't stand seeing others living better than the Jia family, and she's cursing something.

Unfortunately, Zhang Dabiao and Mu Wanqing's results have already been released, and they have received their admission notices. They can just wait to register in September.

It's too late for you to curse now.

As dawn broke, the figures of several young people gradually disappeared at the end of the alley. In the courtyard, Jia Zhangshi gritted her teeth, her fingernails digging a mark into the door frame.

"So what if you passed the exam?" she muttered under her breath, "None of you will have an easy time..."

Yi Zhonghai stood at his own doorstep, watching all this, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

He suddenly realized that the times had truly changed. Young people had found a way out, were no longer confined to this small place, and no longer listened to these old men. His retirement plans would likely have to change as well.

"Huai Ru..." he murmured to himself, his gaze drifting towards the direction of the Jia family.

There, Qin Huairu, her belly still not very noticeable, was busy at the stove. Her profile, in the morning light, appeared exceptionally soft, and also exceptionally—unfamiliar.

------------

He Yushui was admitted to the Sijiucheng Textile Engineering College, which was renamed Sijiucheng Chemical Fiber Engineering College in July 1961 due to adjustments in national industrial policies and was affiliated with the Ministry of Textile Industry.

School Objectives: To be a key institution focusing on higher education in chemical fibers, and to cultivate technical talents for the chemical fiber industry for the country;

The school is located at No. 10, Mianhuadi, Dongdaqiao, outside Chaoyangmen in Beijing. It is about 6 or 7 kilometers away from Nanluoguxiang, and it only takes about an hour by bus, so it is quite convenient to get there and back.

Zhang Dabiao – Sijiucheng Arts and Crafts School, located in Mashenmiao, Haidian District (west of Baiduizi outside Fuchengmen), is adjacent to the Central Academy of Arts and Crafts. It's about eight or nine kilometers from Nanluoguxiang, which takes about the same amount of time by bus.

Mu Wanqing – The Beijing Art Academy, recently located at No. 17 Qianhai West Street, Xicheng District (formerly No. 1 Li Guangqiao South Street), the current site of the Prince Gong's Mansion. It's about three or four miles from Nanluoguxiang, a 10-minute bike ride away.

Tian Liugen – Beijing Normal University, located at No. 19, Tieshizifen, Xinjiekouwai Street, is about five or six kilometers away, making it convenient to travel back and forth.

Liu Guangtian, unsurprisingly, failed the exam. He's in for a good beating when he gets back!

Liu Pangpang was furious, and no matter how Liu Guangtian explained, it was no use.

The admission rate was very high in 60, but only 44.6% in 61, with 37.9 applicants and 16.9 admitted.

During the three years of hardship, the country implemented the eight-character policy of "adjustment, consolidation, enrichment, and improvement" and strictly controlled the scale of college enrollment.

1960年曾出现「111.4%」的超高录取率（招生32.3万人，高中毕业生仅29万人），1961年大幅回调；

Some universities have completely stopped enrolling students, while most universities have reduced their enrollment plans, with the most severe reductions in majors such as art, finance, and law.

Liu Guangtian's grades were already among the worst in the class, but Liu Pangpang insisted on forcing him to try taking the college entrance exam.

But he's better off dying young. Anyway, he's bound to get a beating, and after that, he'll graduate high school and find a job.

Guangqi is handling the job matters. Their Red Star Daily Necessities Manufacturing Factory is already full, but Liu Guangtian, as Zhang Dabiao's brother and Liu Guangqi's younger brother, is practically Zhang Dabiao's little brother, so getting into the factory shouldn't be a problem.

What the Liu family fears most right now is Liu Guangfu—the hope of the entire village!

He felt he would be beaten to death during his three years of high school!

He was even considering running away from home.

Yu Shui, Zhang Dabiao, and Mu Wanqing planned to treat everyone to a meal in the courtyard after they all received their admission notices at the end of July.

Now we can't open champagne halfway through the game; we should just go about our business.

------------

In early July, three assistants from the factory came to urge me again, saying, "We need to come up with something new, brother."

Zhang Dabiao was speechless, looking at his three assistants—

You can't live without me, right?

Huang Yan (female), 21 years old, graduated from Sijiu Iron and Steel Industry University, affiliated to the Ministry of Light Industry, Level 5 Clerk, Level 23 Administrative Officer;

Chen Puqing (female), 22 years old, graduated from the Senior Commercial Cadre School of the Ministry of Foreign Trade, affiliated to the Ministry of Foreign Trade, Level 4 Clerk, Level 22 Administrative Officer;

Wang Fushan (male), 25 years old, graduated from the Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University. He is a Level 3 Clerk and Level 21 Administrative Officer under the Food Hygiene Department.

Three young cadres stood neatly in Zhang Dabiao's courtyard, receiving criticism.

"Brothers and sisters, can't you all take a little initiative?"

"I've already given you the nail clipper set and the multi-functional folding tool, can't you come up with something new?"

Zhang Dabiao was also at a loss. It wasn't that these three were brainless, but all their novel ideas had been rejected when they were submitted, so they could only come back to Zhang Dabiao for help.

Thus, this scene unfolded: Zhang Dabiao, a soon-to-be vocational school student, sat on a bench, reprimanding three young cadres opposite him. The three of them didn't dare to raise their heads and obediently accepted the scolding. Of course, Zhang Dabiao's scolding wasn't too harsh.

Finally, having no other choice, Zhang Dabiao went back to his "little nest" and rummaged through it, managing to find two things.

One is a portable folding bamboo tableware set (three pieces: chopsticks + spoon + fork), and the other is a Chinese herbal mosquito repellent sachet (portable hanging type).

He came up with this idea after seeing that there were many laborers in Hong Kong who had difficulty getting meals.

He had several sets of medium-sized folding tableware in his "little nest," so he took them out and gave them to his three assistants to "liberate their minds."

"In recent years, the whole world has been developing. There are more and more dock and mine workers in Southeast Asia, and outdoor camping has become popular in Europe and America. You work in the ministry, so you should be able to find out about these things. It's not classified information."

"And if you don't try to understand, you won't know what foreigners really need."

"This bamboo three-piece set can be used whether you're using chopsticks in the East, a fork in the West, or a spoon for drinking soup."

"Our country has plenty of bamboo materials, so I don't need to elaborate further, right?"

"Bamboo carbonization, polishing, and mortise and tenon splicing technology. Only bamboo cutting knives, polishing machines, and simple mortise and tenon molds are needed. Mass production can be carried out with 5-8 workers. No large factory is required; even a small workshop on a street can do it."

The three assistants' eyes lit up!