With three superpowers at his fingertips, he could dominate the 1970s.

After several days of refining nuclear radiation, Jiang Zhiyu felt as if she had been washed clean by a spiritual spring, a tingling and numb sensation that was incredibly comfortable.

The leaden heaviness in his bones was gone, replaced by a clear, light feeling; even breathing felt much smoother than before. Seventeen had done a round of tests, and his ability level had steadily increased.

She fiddled with herself in front of the mirror for a while, and after more than ten minutes, a completely unfamiliar face appeared in the mirror. The features were softer, the brow bone was lower, and the chin was rounder, making it unrecognizable from Jiang Zhiyu's original appearance.

"Host, you look so different now that even your own mother wouldn't recognize you."

"That's not necessarily true."

She changed into clean, ordinary clothes, tied her hair into two braids, and came out of the house while Su Wanqing was hanging clothes to dry in the yard.

"Mom, the weather's nice today, come with me for a walk."

Su Wanqing glanced back and almost dropped the clothes hanger in her hand.

"You...you know me?"

"Um."

"My goodness." Su Wanqing looked her up and down for a while, then shook her head and laughed. "You look like this, even your dad wouldn't recognize you. Come on, come on, I was just thinking of going out to buy something."

……

In late October, the autumn sun shone warmly on the streets of Beijing. The leaves of the plane trees along the roadside had turned mostly yellow, swirling and falling in the wind. The streets were bustling with people, bicycle bells jingling incessantly, and a cart selling roasted chestnuts stood at the intersection, its sweet aroma mingling with the smell of coal smoke wafting far and wide.

Su Wanqing walked along the sidewalk, arm in arm with her daughter, looking around like an old country lady visiting the city for the first time. She had taught in Shanghai her whole life, and after returning to Beijing, she spent most of her time holed up in her small courtyard, rarely having the opportunity to go out for a stroll.

Jiang Zhiyu led her toward the bustling street to the east. When they passed a newsstand, she suddenly stopped.

A long line had formed in front of the newsstand, with people jostling and pushing their way in. The old man selling newspapers shouted at the top of his lungs, "Today's paper! Big news on the front page! Come and buy, come and buy, there are only a few copies left!"

"Give me one!"

"Me too! Me too! Don't push! Don't push!"

"Is there any more? Is there any more?"

"That's all! That's all we printed today, sold out!"

Jiang Zhiyu raised an eyebrow and leaned over to take a look. A man wearing a blue cloth hat behind her immediately held the newspaper above his head, muttering as he backed away, "Stop pushing! Stop pushing! You're going to crush my old bones!"

"Brother, what are you selling that's so popular?"

The man glared at her: "Don't you go to work or read the newspaper? It's on the front page today, big news!"

A young man next to him who had grabbed a newspaper had already unfolded it on the spot, and after reading a few lines, his hands began to tremble.

"The National College Entrance Examination (NCEE)...the NCEE has been reinstated!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a pebble thrown into a pot of boiling oil.

"What did you say? Say it again?"

"The National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao) has been reinstated! It's been suspended for eleven years! It's written in black and white in the newspapers!"

The crowd erupted in chaos.

"Impossible, right? Wasn't the college entrance exam abolished?"

"Look, look! It's written here: 'Major reforms to college admissions, abolishing the recommendation system and implementing selection through examinations! Approved by the State Council!'"

"Really? Really, really, really?"

"Absolutely true! Look at the date, October 21st, today!"

The news spread like wildfire through the crowd; in less than ten minutes, half the street knew. A young man, his eyes red-rimmed, squeezed his way out of the crowd, clutching a newspaper, shouting as he ran, "I want to go to university! I want to go to university!"

An old man selling candied hawthorns nearby peeked out and asked, "What college entrance exam? What's going on?"

A middle-aged man wearing glasses was so excited he was almost incoherent: "The college entrance exam has been reinstated! It's been interrupted for eleven years! It was approved by the State Council! It's in the newspapers!"

An older woman tugged at the sleeve of the person next to her and asked, "What does 'resuming the college entrance examination' mean? Does it mean my son can take it too?"

"Yes! Anyone who can register can take the exam!"

"Oh my god!" The woman slapped her thigh, tears welling up in her eyes. "That's great! This child won't have to stay home all day anymore!"

Jiang Zhiyu stood at the edge of the crowd, watching this scene unfold, and the corners of her mouth slowly turned up.

She had known this day would come. But seeing the excitement of the people around her, she still felt a surge of warmth in her heart.

Su Wanqing somehow managed to snatch a newspaper, and her eyes were red when she squeezed through the crowd.

"Zhiyu, look! Look!"

She unfolded the newspaper, her hands trembling violently. After reading a few lines, she couldn't continue, and tears streamed down her face.

"Mom, why are you crying?"

"I'm so happy...so happy!" Su Wanqing wiped away tears with her sleeve, but they kept flowing again. "I've been teaching for so many years, and this is the day I've been waiting for. These children, these children finally have a way out."

Jiang Zhiyu took the newspaper and glanced at it. The front page prominently featured the headline: Major Reforms to College Admissions.

She folded the newspaper and handed it back to her mother, patting her on the back.

"Mom. Now all the students have a way out."

Su Wanqing nodded vigorously, laughing and crying at the same time, repeatedly saying, "That's great, that's great."

……

The two continued walking, and the news spread throughout the entire street.

After walking a few steps, Su Wanqing stopped again, suddenly remembering something.

"By the way, I wonder if your friends in Kaoshantun, those educated youth, have received the news yet?"

Jiang Zhiyu looked around and saw a small shop at the entrance of the alley ahead, with a public telephone hanging on the wall.

"Mom, wait here for me a moment, I'm going to make a phone call."

She turned into the alley, tossed in a coin, and dialed the number for the Kaoshantun Brigade Headquarters.

I had to call several times before someone answered. The other end of the phone was incredibly noisy, like a pot of porridge.

"Feed? Is this the Kaoshantun Brigade Headquarters?"

"Yes, yes, yes, this is Captain Chen!" Chen's booming voice burst from the receiver, brimming with barely suppressed excitement. "Who are you?"

"Captain Chen, this is Jiang Zhiyu. Have you received the message yet?"

"We received it! The newspapers arrived first thing this morning, and the whole village is buzzing with excitement! The educated youth have been clamoring to sign up since this morning, they're all so excited!"

A faint cheer came from the other end of the phone; someone was shouting, "I want to go to university!" and others were clapping and cheering.

"Is Zhang Chong there? Let her answer the phone."

"Hey, wait a minute! Zhang Chong! Phone call! Jiang Zhiyu wants to see you!"

After a rustling sound, Zhang Chong's voice came over, still tinged with sobs.

"Zhiyu...you saw it? You saw the newspaper?"

"I saw it. The college entrance exam has been reinstated, and it's this winter."

"Waaah..." Zhang Chong burst into tears, "We just saw the newspaper; someone brought it back from the county town. The news has spread throughout the whole village, and several of the sisters at the educated youth settlement cried..."

"Don't cry." Jiang Zhiyu's lips curved into a smile. "Getting ready to review is the most important thing."

"Luckily, I've been reviewing the study materials you gave me, and neither of us gave up, but I'm still afraid I won't pass the exam."

"Don't worry, I'll send you another set of review materials in a couple of days."

"Really? When will you arrive?"

"Within three days."

"Zhiyu..." Zhang Chong's voice was hoarse, "Thank you... thank you for always remembering us."

"Don't be so polite with me. Please tell the others for me that I wish them all the best in their exams."

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, then Zhang Chong took a deep sniff.

"Okay, I understand. Thank you... thank you for understanding."

……

Jiang Zhiyu hung up the phone, left the convenience store, and returned to the street.

Su Wanqing was standing by the roadside chatting with an old man selling chestnuts.

Seeing her daughter come out, Su Wanqing went up to her: "Did you get through?"

"The tunnel was opened, all the educated youth knew about it, and the whole village was blown up."

"That's good, that's good." Su Wanqing breathed a sigh of relief, her smile never fading. "Those kids have been waiting for too long."

The two continued walking, passing a general store. Su Wanqing went in and bought a packet of cinnamon and star anise. When she came out, she said, "We have to cook a good meal to celebrate today."

Jiang Zhiyu watched her mother walk ahead, her steps much lighter than before.