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

In Kaoshantun, far away in the Northeast, several educated youths were sitting around a kang (a heated brick bed) chatting.

The college entrance exam is in three days.

"I think we'll definitely do well on this test."

"Yes, we will definitely do well on the exam."

Li Hongmei answered, her voice not loud, but every word was forceful.

Song Laidi sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), without saying a word, her eyes reddening first.

"After staying here for so many years, I can finally go back openly and honestly."

As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes, and she quickly lowered her head to wipe them away with her sleeve.

"Yes, my family all gave up on me, but Xiao Jiang, the educated youth, didn't. When she first arrived, I was quite jealous of her."

She sniffed, her voice muffled.

"Her strengths made me feel even more inferior and timid. At first, I listened to those petty people and ostracized her..."

Zhao Jing patted her on the shoulder.

"Don't say anymore. Back then, everyone around us was just an ordinary person. Suddenly, someone we could only look up to appeared, someone in the same position as us. It was inevitable to feel a sense of loss. Jealousy was normal. The important thing is what you did afterwards."

Song Laidi nodded, tears still falling, but the corners of her mouth had turned up.

Zhao Jing pulled the notebook out from under her pillow, opened it, and looked at it, her eyes growing brighter and brighter.

"Look at the contents of this notebook. I think it's probably unique in the whole country. It's so comprehensive. It even organizes more than three approaches to solving math problems, and there's this kind of inductive method I've never seen before. I reckon we'll all do well on the math test this time."

Li Hongmei took the notebook and touched it repeatedly.

"She must have spoken to the team leader beforehand, which is why we haven't worked a single day in the past two months, and the team leader has never come to urge us to come back."

"Definitely. I received a letter from my childhood friend. He's probably in the south, and they have to work every day, so they don't have time to study at all. They can only squeeze in a little time at night. These days, they don't even have enough kerosene for studying at night, so how are they supposed to study?"

Zhao Jing carefully closed the notebook and pressed the cover with her palm.

"If we do well on the exam this time, it's all thanks to Xiao Jiang, the educated youth. Look at the gloves and socks she bought; she really thought of everything we shouldn't have."

Li Hongmei clenched her fists.

"This time, we must prove ourselves. Not for others, but for ourselves, to fight for a bright future."

"Okay, let's do our best together."

...

For the next three days, they barely dared to waste any time, not even for meals.

Fortunately, Jiang Zhiyu had sent them some malted milk powder, so they basically ate steamed buns soaked in malted milk powder for all three meals. As soon as boiling water was poured in, a sweet aroma wafted out, and the group squatted around the enamel mug on the kang (a heated brick bed), munching on steamed buns while flipping through their notes.

Every afternoon, the brigade leader would personally deliver meals to them. Sometimes it was a bowl of stew, and sometimes it was a few cornbread buns with a dish of pickled vegetables. When delivering meals, he would also bring two young men from the village who were preparing for the college entrance examination, so that they could study with the educated youth.

There were no girls in the village who could go to high school; they were all married off early and never got to finish. When the brigade leader brought the two young men over, Zhang Chong glanced at them and understood the brigade leader's intention.

The girls in the village can't go to school, but if these two boys can pass the exams and leave, the village will at least have hope.

If they could also get into good universities, the atmosphere in this village would be different. Girls would be able to go to school and wouldn't be confined to these few acres of barren land anymore.

The day before the exam, the brigade leader specially drove the brigade's tractor over.

The truck bed was lined with a thick layer of soft straw, much more comfortable to sit on than the tractor's own metal frame. He then took out money from his pocket and handed it out to each person.

"Five yuan each, that's all the brigade can give you right now. It's not much, but it'll be enough for a few hot meals when you get to the county town."

He took another key out of his pocket and handed it to Zhang Chong.

"This is a small courtyard belonging to your aunt's relatives, not far from where you'll be taking the exam. There's a heated kang (traditional Chinese bed), so you can warm it up and move in. Boys will have one room, and girls will have another. A tractor will take you directly there. Heat up the kang tonight, and make sure you do well on the exam tomorrow."

He patted Zhang Chong on the shoulder and said in a low voice.

"Especially you, Zhang Chong, didn't you want to go see Xiao Jiang, the educated youth? She's in Kyoto now. If you do well on your exams, you can meet at the end of the year."

Zhang Chong's eyes immediately reddened, and he nodded vigorously.

"Thank you, Captain!"

The captain waved his hand and turned his back.

"Enough. You children, we can't keep you in this poor, remote place. Go forth and find your own path."

As he turned around, he wiped his face with his sleeve.

...

This year's college entrance examination is different for these educated youth from Kaoshantun.

They started reviewing six months in advance, with a complete set of materials readily available, two more sets of self-study books on math, physics, and chemistry sent later, and three rare math notebooks. They were given malted milk powder to nourish their bodies every day, and also received thick socks and gloves.

They are the lucky ones in this year's college entrance examination.

The tractor chugged along the dirt road, the straw in the trailer swaying wildly. Several educated youth clung tightly to the side of the tractor, their faces flushed red from the cold wind, but their eyes shone with an alarming intensity.

When they arrived in the county town, the tractor driver helped them carry their luggage into the small courtyard and then heated the kang (a traditional heated brick bed).

Once the kang (heated brick bed) is heated up, the whole room becomes warm and cozy.

The group sat on the kang (a heated brick bed), spread the notebook out on the kang, and flipped through it page by page, reviewing the important points one last time.

Zhang Chong sat by the window, watching the sky darken outside, his fingers unconsciously gripping the key to the yard.

She remembered what Jiang Zhiyu had said before she left.

"A chance to change your destiny—see you in Kyoto at the end of the year."

She clenched her fists.

I'll definitely do well on the exam tomorrow.

The next morning, several educated youths got up early, cleaned the ashes off the kang (a heated brick bed), tidied up the yard, and locked the door.

The tractor driver was already waiting outside, and the tractor was parked by the roadside, chugging along.

"Let's go, I'll take you to the exam venue."

Several educated youths climbed onto the tractor's trailer, and Zhang Chong glanced back in the direction of Kaoshantun.

The distant mountains were still shrouded in morning mist, and wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys.

She turned around and took a deep breath.

Several educated youths, filled with hope and confidence, entered the examination hall.