Reborn in 1977, I will no longer be my brother's blood bag.

After leaving the county middle school, Lin Xiuhe was supposed to go back to the supply and marketing cooperative—she had to go to work in the afternoon.

But she hadn't ridden far when those eyes kept popping into her mind.

Zhao Xiaomei stood in front of the bulletin board, her eyes burning with excitement as she looked at the supplementary notice. Then, in the next second, her gaze was abruptly silenced.

Lin Xiuhe was all too familiar with that feeling.

She had experienced it in her past life as well.

Thinking of this, she suddenly turned her bike around and rode towards Zhao Family Village.

Zhou Zhiyuan followed behind without asking why, as if he had already guessed that she would go.

The wind was strong all the way, making our faces sting.

Half an hour later, the two arrived at Zhao Family Village.

As soon as I entered the village, I heard people talking.

"The Zhao family is really lucky; the Li family is willing to offer 180 yuan as a bride price."

"That's a lot of money."

"Zhao Xiaomei is a valuable girl."

The group started talking and laughing.

Lin Xiuhe slowly stopped walking.

One hundred and eighty dollars. In 1977, that was quite a lot, even exceeding many people's annual income.

No wonder the Zhao family was reluctant to part with it.

The two walked along the road and soon found the Zhao family's house.

The courtyard gate was open, and arguing could be heard coming from inside.

"I won't marry him!" The voice was choked with sobs; it was Zhao Xiaomei.

"Who gave you the right to speak?" Zhao's father roared. "Have you gone stupid from studying? Going to university? Don't you even look in the mirror! The Li family is willing to give 180 yuan as a bride price, and you're still not satisfied?"

The courtyard was quiet for a moment.

Then, Zhao Xiaomei's voice rang out again, even more determined than before: "I want to go to university. If I get in, I can earn money and support myself."

Snapped!

A crisp slap rang out.

The courtyard was completely quiet.

Lin Xiuhe's face instantly darkened.

The next second, she pushed open the courtyard gate.

With a creak, everyone turned around at the same time.

In the center of the courtyard, Zhao Xiaomei covered her face, her eyes red and swollen. Opposite her stood a dark-faced middle-aged man, clearly Zhao's father.

Upon seeing the strangers enter, Zhao's father's expression changed: "Who are you?"

Lin Xiuhe didn't answer, but first looked at Zhao Xiaomei: "Does it hurt?"

Zhao Xiaomei was stunned, clearly not expecting her to come. After a long while, her eyes suddenly reddened even more, but she stubbornly shook her head: "It doesn't hurt."

Lin Xiuhe nodded.

Then she turned to Zhao's father: "Uncle, she's already an adult. The college entrance exam is allowed by the state, so why can't she register?"

Zhao's father laughed as if he'd heard a joke: "The country allows it? The country even allows farming, why doesn't she go farm? Is university so easy to get into? What if she doesn't pass? What if it delays her marriage?"

Several relatives in the courtyard nodded in agreement, clearly sharing the same thought.

Zhao Xiaomei stood there, her face growing paler and paler. She had heard these words far too many times.

But Lin Xiuhe remained calm: "What if I pass the exam?"

Mr. Zhao was taken aback: "What?"

"What if she gets accepted?" Lin Xiuhe repeated, "What if she gets into university, graduates and gets a job with a higher salary than the dowry, and a broader perspective than she would have after marriage—what then?"

Father Zhao opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word for a moment.

Because he never imagined that Zhao Xiaomei would pass the exam. In his eyes, girls studying was just fooling around, and going to university was a pipe dream.

But what if?

Thinking of this, Zhao's father's face grew even more grim: "There's no 'what if'! She must marry him!"

"Why?" Lin Xiuhe asked.

"Because I'm her father!" Zhao's father roared.

At this moment, the courtyard was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Lin Xiuhe suddenly smiled. It was a faint, cold smile.

Because we are too familiar with it.

Wang Xiulan said: I am your mother.

Lin Jianguo said: I am your father.

They always feel that by having a child, they have the child's life.

Thinking of this, she slowly said, "Uncle, you are her father, not her fate."

Time seemed to stand still.

Zhao Xiaomei suddenly looked up at Lin Xiuhe. Something seemed to light up again in her previously dim eyes.

On the other side, Zhou Zhiyuan remained silent, simply standing by the courtyard gate, watching quietly.

But just then, a shrill voice suddenly rang out.

"That's Lin Xiuhe!"

Outside the courtyard, a crowd of onlookers had gathered at some point. The one speaking was a distant relative of the Zhao family.

"That's the girl who had a falling out with her family! Now she's even telling other girls not to get married!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the courtyard changed instantly.

Zhao's father's face grew increasingly grim, and his gaze toward Lin Xiuhe became hostile.

"So it was you! I've heard about it—you don't even recognize your own parents, and now you want to corrupt my daughter?"

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

Zhao Xiaomei's face turned pale, and she subconsciously took a step forward: "That's not how it is—"

Before he could finish speaking, Zhao's father slammed his fist on the table: "Get out! All of you, get out!"

Just then, Zhou Zhiyuan, who hadn't spoken until now, suddenly raised his head, his voice calm:

"Zhao Guofu, are you sure you want to kick us out?"

Mr. Zhao was taken aback: "Who are you?"

Zhou Zhiyuan took out his work ID from his pocket and unfolded it.

The sunlight fell on it, making the two characters "commune" exceptionally clear.

Zhao's father's expression changed instantly.

Zhou Zhiyuan simply looked at him and continued, "Perfect timing, I also have a few questions I'd like to ask you about college entrance exam registration."

The courtyard fell silent.

Zhao Guofu stared at the work permit in Zhou Zhiyuan's hand, his face turning pale and then flushed. His earlier imposing manner had suddenly weakened considerably.

"People from the commune?"

"Hmm." Zhou Zhiyuan put away his work ID, his voice still calm. "Resuming the college entrance examination is a national policy. The commune is currently compiling registration information, so I just stopped by to take a look."

On the way.

It was on the way again.

Lin Xiuhe stood to the side, her lips twitching slightly. She realized this person really liked going the same way.

But Zhao Guofu clearly believed it. Or rather, he dared not disbelieve it.

"Comrade Zhou, I haven't done anything illegal. I'm just taking care of my own daughter."

"Controlling your daughter?" Zhou Zhiyuan looked at him. "Not letting her register? Forcing her to get married?"

Zhao Guofu's face darkened: "What's the point of her studying so much as a young girl? Besides, her family has no money."

Now we've finally gotten to the point.

Several relatives in the courtyard immediately nodded in agreement.

"Exactly, registration is free? Travel expenses are free? If I don't pass the exam, won't it all be for nothing?"

"It would be better to get married sooner."

One sentence after another.

Zhao Xiaomei lowered her head, her fingers gripping the hem of her clothes tightly, her face growing paler and paler. She had heard these words countless times. Yet, each time, it still pained her.

Just then, Zhou Zhiyuan suddenly asked, "How much is the registration fee?"

Zhao Guofu was taken aback: "What?"

"How much is the registration fee?"

The air grew quiet.

Zhao Guofu opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything for a long time. Because he simply didn't know—or rather, he had never cared.

Someone nearby whispered, "Two yuan." "Two yuan and fifty cents." "About right."

Zhou Zhiyuan nodded: "A little over two yuan. So you're prepared to sell your daughter's future for just over two yuan?"

……

Zhao Guofu's face flushed red: "What do you mean, 'selling your future'! That's an extremely offensive thing to say!"

"Is it unpleasant to hear?" Zhou Zhiyuan retorted. "Then tell me—if she gets into university, gets a job, and earns twenty or thirty yuan a month, is it worth the two yuan registration fee?"

……

No one spoke. Because they understood it all too well—too clearly.

The more Zhao Guofu understood, the angrier he became. He realized he couldn't win an argument with him.

Just then, Zhao's mother suddenly spoke up: "That's easy for you to say. Who knows if you'll pass the exam? What if you don't?"

Finally, everyone's true feelings were spoken.

What if I don't pass the exam?

Lin Xiuhe looked at Zhao Xiaomei and noticed that the light in her eyes had dimmed slightly. Clearly, she herself wasn't confident. After all, the college entrance examination had only just begun, and no one knew how difficult it would be, or whether they even had a chance.

Thinking of this, Lin Xiuhe suddenly spoke up: "Then let's give it a try."

Everyone looked at her.

"If you fail the exam, you lose two dollars. If you pass, your life will be changed. Is it that hard to do the math?"

The courtyard was completely silent.

Zhao Xiaomei stared blankly at her, her eyes slowly reddening. This was the first time someone had stood by her side, earnestly calculating her future—not just calculating the bride price.

Zhao Guofu's face grew increasingly grim: "Easier said than done, you'll pay for it yourself!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the courtyard fell silent. Everyone looked at Lin Xiuhe, with a hint of anticipation.

After all, who would pay for someone else's money?