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

Inside the warehouse, the kerosene lamps were already lit.

The dim light fell on the table.

The paper lay there quietly.

Estimated Admission Scores for Key Universities in 1977

The very first line.

Tsinghua University.

Lin Xiuhe's gaze lingered for a few seconds.

Then continue reading.

Beijing University.

Renmin University of China.

Harbin Institute of Technology.

Fudan University.

One after another, they were the top schools of this era.

The edges of the paper were already curled up, indicating that it had been looked at many times.

There are also small words written in pencil in the upper right corner, for reference only.

Lin Xiuhe turned the list over to the back.

blank.

No signature.

There is no source either.

But she knew that ordinary people couldn't get their hands on something like that.

The warehouse curtain swayed slightly.

Zhou Zhiyuan walked in, carrying a thermos in his hand.

"Have you finished reviewing the materials?"

"What is this?"

Lin Xiuhe pushed the list over.

Upon seeing the title, Zhou Zhiyuan paused for a moment, but quickly resumed his normal actions.

He placed the thermos on the table.

"Internal organizing materials."

"Where did it come from?"

"Education Bureau".

The answer was natural.

But Lin Xiuhe remembered that at this time in her previous life, many teachers in the county might not have even seen such a thing, let alone compiled it in advance.

Zhou Zhiyuan poured himself a glass of water, and steam slowly rose from it.

"Just take a look."

"The admission cutoff scores change every year."

Ultimately, it all comes down to the results.

Lin Xiuhe nodded and didn't press the matter further, because she had already realized that Zhou Zhiyuan wouldn't answer some questions directly.

And some answers will appear on their own sooner or later.

She put the list back into the document.

My gaze lingered on the first line for a moment.

Tsinghua University.

past life.

She is far removed from that name.

So far away that I don't even dare to think about it.

And in this life.

For the first time, it became a real, existing target.

Just then, hurried footsteps came from outside the warehouse.

The next second, Zhao Xiaomei rushed in, her face flushed, almost out of breath.

"Sister Xiuhe! The results are in!"

"What was the result?"

"That whistleblower, Lin Weidong!"

She slammed a piece of paper on the table.

"The commune just posted this!"

Lin Xiuhe picked it up; the official seal was stamped on top.

Investigation Conclusions Regarding the Malicious Whistleblowing Incident

The following lines are written very clearly.

The allegations are untrue.

The whistleblower acted with malicious intent.

They were given criticism and education.

The special training qualification has been revoked.

The last line.

Lin Weidong.

Zhao Xiaomei's eyes crinkled with laughter.

"The whole commune is watching! Things are about to explode at the Lin family's place!"

Meanwhile, at the Lin family...

The sound of things being smashed came from the courtyard.

Snapped!

An enamel mug fell to the ground, and the shards rolled a long way.

Wang Xiulan stood at the doorway, her face ashen.

"On what grounds! On what grounds are you disqualifying me!"

The newly posted survey findings were on the table. They were clearly written in black and white.

Lin Weidong sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), unable to utter a single word.

Qualifications to be cultivated as a key talent.

Gone.

The halo brought by second place in the county also dimmed a bit.

But that wasn't what bothered him the most.

But after the investigation results were posted, everyone's gaze towards him changed.

Previously, people said:

"College student from the Lin family."

"Second in the whole county."

"He's promising."

Now, what everyone is saying is:

"The one who reports others."

"The one that was reported by the commune."

"Too petty."

Outside the window, the night grew deeper.

Lin Weidong was sitting there when he suddenly looked up.

"I will not lose."

Wang Xiulan immediately looked over.

"Right! The college entrance exam hasn't even started yet! What are mock exams? Just do well on the actual college entrance exam, then nobody will remember these things!"

The flame of the kerosene lamp flickered gently, casting a shadow that swayed back and forth on the wall.

Lin Weidong slowly opened a math textbook.

The first page.

Page 2.

Page 3.

But he couldn't absorb a single word because he discovered...

For the first time, I started to feel afraid—afraid of being at the top of the list after the college entrance exam results were released.

It's still not me.

Meanwhile, in the supply and marketing cooperative's warehouse, Lin Xiuhe had already put the estimated admission scores into a drawer.

Then take out a new workbook, open to the first page, and write down today's date.

The National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao) is approaching.

There are 28 days left.

*******

Twenty-eight days passed in the blink of an eye.

June has arrived.

On the last day before the college entrance examination, the entire Hongqi Commune became different.

The production team's loudspeaker blared from morning till night, repeatedly announcing the exam time and reminding candidates to bring their documents, not to be late, and not to forget their stationery.

The supply and marketing cooperative also set aside a special area, filled with fountain pens, ink, and draft paper. These items have been selling the fastest in the last two weeks.

Inside the warehouse, Zhao Xiaomei was checking her schoolbag.

Exam admission ticket, pen, pencil, eraser—she laid them out one by one, then put them back one by one. On the third time, Li Hongmei finally couldn't hold back anymore.

"If you keep checking, your exam admission ticket will be worn thin from all the touching."

Laughter erupted from the warehouse. Zhao Xiaomei's ears turned slightly red: "I'm afraid I'll forget."

"I won't forget it." Li Hongmei shoved the schoolbag back into her arms. "Go back to sleep now, don't blame me if you don't do well on the test tomorrow."

Zhao Xiaomei, carrying her schoolbag, walked to the door, then turned back: "Sister Xiuhe."

"Um?"

Do you think I can pass the exam?

In the warehouse, the evening breeze rustled the old newspapers by the window.

Lin Xiuhe put the last booklet back on the bookshelf: "Whether I pass or not, we'll know after the exam tomorrow."

"But I'm still a little scared."

"Then treat the test paper as an exercise book."

Zhao Xiaomei blinked, then smiled and said, "Okay, I'm leaving now."

She ran out of the supply and marketing cooperative with her schoolbag in her arms, her footsteps getting farther and farther away.

The warehouse is empty again.

The countdown sheet was still stuck there on the bookshelf.

One day until the college entrance examination.

Lin Xiuhe walked over, gently took the paper off, folded it, and put it into the notebook.

In her past life, she never had the chance to enter the examination hall. In this life, she has finally arrived here.

In the evening, Zhou Zhiyuan arrived, carrying a paper bag.

"What is it?"

"For exams."

The paper bag was opened, revealing a new fountain pen and a bottle of ink.

"Bought in the county town, just in case."

Lin Xiuhe took the pen. The pen was ordinary, but it felt heavy in her hand.

"Thanks."

Zhou Zhiyuan nodded, his gaze falling on the bookshelf. It was empty; the countdown paper was gone.

"Ready?"

"Ready."

"Then go take the test."

There were no more words. They both understood—at this point, neither could help the other; they had to walk their own path.

The next day, before dawn, the entrance to the county's No. 1 Middle School was already packed with people.

Candidates from various communes pushed their bicycles, carried their schoolbags, and held their admission tickets. Their faces were full of tension and anticipation.

The school gate slowly opened, and the crowd began to walk in.

The first examination room was the same classroom, and I was in the first row.

Lin Xiuhe found a seat, sat down, put her pen away, and placed her examination admission ticket on the corner of the table.

Outside the window, the morning light gradually brightened.

Footsteps echoed down the corridor as more and more candidates entered the examination hall.

Lin Weidong also arrived and sat next to her. This time, he didn't speak to anyone, but simply took out his exam admission ticket, placed it on the table, and looked ahead.

The bell rang.

The proctor entered the classroom, holding sealed exam papers.

Throughout the exam hall, everyone sat up straight. No one flipped through their books anymore, and no one discussed the questions.

The proctor checked the seal, signed it, and then opened it. The exam papers were distributed one by one, the rustling sound of paper scraping filling the air.

Lin Xiuhe took the test paper, placed it on the table, and did not open it immediately.

She first looked out the window.

The June sunlight fell on the playground, bright and clean, completely different from my previous life.

After two lifetimes, she finally sat here, finally waiting for this day.

The proctor glanced at the clock on the wall and then spoke:

"The exam begins."

Lin Xiuhe opened the exam paper, picked up her pen, and wrote her name.

The three words were written on the paper, neat and clear, belonging to her alone.