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

After summer began, the days in Beijing grew longer. Even at six o'clock in the evening, the sun was still hanging in the west, casting a dense shade under the grape trellis in the courtyard. Jiang Zhiyu was sitting on the porch, braiding Song Zhiyao's hair. The little girl fidgeted, unable to sit still, clutching a blade of grass to tease her younger brother.

Song Zhizheng sat on a small stool, letting his sister rub grass against his face, and moved away expressionlessly. Song Zhiyao relentlessly moved closer and rubbed against him again, and Song Zhizheng moved away again. The two of them were like a tug-of-war, and Jiang Zhiyu's braids also got crooked.

There was a knock on the gate, and the guard went to open it. A cheerful female voice came from outside.

"You understand me!"

Jiang Zhiyu paused in her grip on the rubber band and looked up.

It was Zhang Chong and his group, carrying large and small bags, their faces displaying a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Zhang Chong's short hair was neatly tucked behind his ears, and his skin was a bit paler than it had been three years ago, but the fiery spirit in his eyes remained unchanged.

"Zhang Chong?" Jiang Zhiyu stood up, somewhat surprised. "What brings you all here?"

"We're on summer vacation! Come see you!" Zhang Chong strode in, put his bag on the stone table, turned around and gave Jiang Zhiyu a big hug. "I'll graduate in six months, so I came to mooch a meal at your house before I get assigned a job."

The other three followed in. Zhao Jing was taller and thinner than before, with a braid, standing quietly to the side smiling. Li Hongmei and Song Laidi held hands, both with tears in their eyes. More than three years of university life had transformed them from girls from Kaoshantun into capable, knowledgeable women, but they still retained that simple and honest air when they spoke.

"Please sit down, please sit down." Jiang Zhiyu busied herself pouring tea for them. "Why didn't you write a letter beforehand so I could have sent someone to pick you up?"

"We wanted to give you a surprise." Li Hongmei opened the cloth bag in her hand, revealing several children's clothes inside: a floral jacket, tiger-head shoes, and a little bib, all with neat and tight stitches. "We didn't know what age the child was or what they should wear, so Lai Di and I just made them based on what we saw on the street. Please don't mind them."

Song Laidi also opened her bag, inside were two padded jackets and several pairs of pants. "I made them in cotton, so they can wear them in winter."

There was also a set of colorful building blocks, which Zhao Jing brought. He opened the package and said to Jiang Zhiyu, "I don't know how to sew, so I bought this. I heard it's the latest release from Shanghai."

Zhang Chong was the most direct. She pulled an envelope from her pocket and slammed it on the table. "I don't have their skills. This is my savings from my allowance and scholarship. You can use it to buy things for the kids. Here, the rest are some local specialties my mom sent." As she spoke, she opened the package, which was full of food.

Jiang Zhiyu picked up the envelope and squeezed it; it was quite thick. She then stuffed it back into her hand. "I'll keep the things, but you can take the money back. You four are still students; save it for when you graduate and register for school."

"That won't do." Zhang Chong pushed the envelope back. "This is for the child, not for you."

"Not even for the kids. Do you think I need food from a child?" Jiang Zhiyu stuffed the envelope into Zhang Chong's shirt pocket. "I'm just glad you guys came."

The four of them argued for a bit, but seeing her resolute attitude, they had no choice but to give up.

......

Song Zhiyao had long been drawn to this group of unfamiliar aunties. She hid behind Jiang Zhiyu's legs, peeking out to observe them. Song Zhizheng didn't say anything, but his eyes scanned each of the four people.

"These must be Yao Yao and Zheng Zheng, right?" Li Hongmei squatted down and said with a smile, "They've grown so much, they look like dolls in a painting."

Jiang Zhiyu patted her daughter's head, "Yaoyao, call her Auntie."

Song Zhiyao sweetly greeted, "Hello, Auntie," then looked at Zhang Chong and said, "Hello, Uncle."

Zhang Chong paused for a moment, then burst into laughter, "I'm an auntie! An auntie with short hair!"

Song Zhiyao tilted her head, looked at her, then at Jiang Zhiyu, her face full of confusion. Song Zhizheng muttered quietly beside her, "Short hair doesn't make you an auntie."

Everyone laughed.

......

Hearing the commotion, Su Wanqing came out of the house. Seeing the four educated youths, she was overjoyed, grabbing their hands and asking them all sorts of questions. She then went to the kitchen to add more food. Zhang Chong quickly said, "Auntie, I'm so craving your cooking! Thank you so much!"

Jiang Zhiyu poured them tea and sat down at the stone table.

"Graduation is almost here, has there been any progress on job assignments?"

Zhang Chong leaned back in his chair, crossed his legs, and said, "My department talked to me. I'll most likely be assigned to a heavy machinery factory in Northeast China as a technician. It's a long-established partner of our school, specializing in large forging and pressing equipment."

Jiang Zhiyu was somewhat surprised, "The Northeast? That's so far away, don't you want to stay in Beijing?"

"There's no place for me in Beijing," Zhang Chong waved his hand. "The units in Beijing are overcrowded, and with seniority-based promotions, it'll be a never-ending wait. It's different in the Northeast. The factories are big, there are many projects, and they're short-staffed. I can start working right away. My advisor said that someone like me, who can endure hardship and isn't fussy, is much better off on the front lines than stuck in an office."

Jiang Zhiyu nodded. "Your advisor is right. The heavy machinery factory is a good place, the core of the country's industrialization. Go there and do your best."

"Of course." Zhang Chong raised an eyebrow at her. "I, Zhang Chong, will never embarrass you, no matter where I go."

After Zhang Chong finished speaking, Zhao Jing softly said, "I might have to go south."

"South?"

"Yes, Bei'an County." Zhao Jing's voice wasn't loud, but it was very confident. "It's been designated as a special economic zone, and there's construction going on everywhere. They're short of people in the construction engineering field. I submitted a report to the department, applying to be assigned there, and the department leaders have verbally agreed. We're just waiting for the official approval."

Li Hongmei was taken aback. "Beian County? Isn't that practically the countryside? You, a graduate of a top university, going to a place like that?"

"That's precisely why people need to build it," Zhao Jing smiled. "I've done some research. They need to build roads, factories, and skyscrapers over there; the whole city is starting from scratch. Isn't that what architecture students do? If I stayed in a design institute in Beijing drawing blueprints, I probably wouldn't be able to design a city that truly belongs to me in my entire life."

Jiang Zhiyu looked at Zhao Jing and secretly admired her. This girl, who usually didn't talk much, was more resourceful than anyone else.

"Conditions in Bei'an will be very tough. Have you thought it through?"

"I've thought it through." Zhao Jing nodded. "I've come from hard times myself, I'm not afraid."

......

When it was Li Hongmei and Song Laidi's turn, the two looked at each other.

Li Hongmei said first, "I might stay in Beijing. People from Beijing No. 4 High School have already come to see my internship teaching demonstration and said they want me. I'm just waiting for the official assignment notice."

"Fourth High School? That's a good school." Jiang Zhiyu was pleasantly surprised. Fourth High School is a key high school in Beijing, and countless people would fight tooth and nail to get in.

Li Hongmei smiled sheepishly, "When I was doing my internship, I spent two months at the Fourth Middle School. The principal there thought my teaching was decent, so he asked the department to hire me. I thought staying in Beijing would be good too, teaching and nurturing students, a stable and peaceful life."

"You were born to be a teacher," Jiang Zhiyu said. "Back in Kaoshantun, you loved teaching children to read, and I knew then that this was your natural profession."

Li Hongmei's eyes reddened, but she didn't say anything.

Song Laidi spoke last, taking a deep breath as if she had made a great decision, "The department recommended that I try my luck at the ministry level. I went for the interview, and they seemed quite satisfied with me, so it shouldn't be a problem."

"Which department?" Zhang Chong pressed.

"Ministry of Education."

Even Zhang Chong was stunned. "The Ministry of Education? How did you get in?"

"My department head recommended me, saying I have some ideas about education policy and suggested I give it a try." Song Laidi's voice was a little nervous, but her eyes were firm. "I don't want to just teach on the podium. Those of us who come from rural areas know best what rural children lack and what they fear. If I can say a word on policy, it might be more effective than a lifetime of teaching."

"Laidi, the path you've chosen won't be easy," Jiang Zhiyu said earnestly. "Working in a government office is different from school; you have to be careful what you say and do. But remember, no matter what happens, don't lose heart."

Song Laidi nodded emphatically. "I've got it."

......

After the four of them finished explaining where they were going, there was a moment of silence at the stone table. Zhang Chong picked up his teacup, took a sip, and suddenly said, "Jiang Zhiyu, the four of us are where we are today because of you."

"Don't say that."

"Let me finish," Zhang Chong said, putting down his teacup and looking into her eyes. "Back in Kaoshantun, if you hadn't uncovered the college entrance exam fraud, I wouldn't even have been able to get into the exam hall. You also provided our study materials. None of the four of us are without your debt."

Li Hongmei took over, her voice trembling slightly, "My parents said back then that it was useless for girls to study so much; they'd be better off getting married early. It was you who told them that knowledge changes destiny."

Zhao Jing didn't speak, but her eyes were full of gratitude as she looked at Jiang Zhiyu.

Song Laidi lowered her head and whispered, "I will never forget you in my life."

Jiang Zhiyu waved her hand, "You're the ones who have to walk this path yourselves. I've only handed you a brick. If the four of you don't study hard, even if I pave the way for you, you might not go far."

She stood up, took four fountain pens from the room, and placed them on the table; the pens were jet black and shiny.

"I don't have much to give you, just a fountain pen for each of you. Wherever you go, don't forget to study, and don't forget where you came from."

The four men silently accepted the pens. Zhang Chong gripped the pen tightly in his hand, his Adam's apple bobbing, but he didn't utter a word.

Su Wanqing called out from the kitchen, "Dinner's ready!"

Jiang Zhiyu stood up and clapped her hands. "Come on, let's eat. My mom made pork ribs today, so don't be shy. Once you officially report for duty next year, you won't have this much freedom."

Zhang Chong was the first to stand up, tucked his pen into his pocket, and strode towards the kitchen. "Then I won't be polite! I haven't had Auntie's cooking in over three years!"

Song Zhiyao was picked up by Li Hongmei. The little girl was not shy at all and reached out to touch the pen on Li Hongmei's chest.

The setting sun bathed the courtyard in a warm glow, casting long shadows of several people under the grape trellis.