As for Third Brother Gu Yunzhou, his fate was even more tragic.
He had already passed the college entrance exam and was full of hope, but because of her pleading, his admission letter was given to Wen Zhuqing.
She had personally broken her third brother’s ladder to success.
Instead, she had propelled that scumbag Wen Zhuqing upward, which later led to his rise in influence and, ultimately, the tragedies that befell her own family and her maternal relatives.
“Fortunately, everything is different now.”
Gu Jianing believed the future would only get better.
Meanwhile, Wen Zhuqing—now renamed Zhang Yutang—whom Gu Jianing occasionally thought of, was also waiting for his college admission letter.
However…
Even by late February, Zhang Yutang still hadn’t received his admission letter.
Although the admissions process wasn’t yet over, the further it dragged on, the slimmer the hope became.
“It’s alright. The next college entrance exam is in six months. You can try again—I believe in you,” Qin Honghua, her belly slightly rounded from pregnancy, comforted Zhang Yutang.
Perhaps because of marriage, or because of the child, or perhaps because Zhang Yutang was skilled at sweet-talking, Qin Honghua had lost some of her former sharpness and developed a bit of a “love-struck” mentality.
Now, she often indulged Zhang Yutang’s requests.
Like now, she could console him for failing the exam.
On the surface, Zhang Yutang appeared moved by her comfort, but deep down, he was disdainful.
In truth, Zhang Yutang knew his own capabilities.
His academic performance had always been mediocre.
Moreover, since being sent to the countryside, he hadn’t had the chance to touch a textbook. When the college entrance exams resumed, he’d only had a little over a month to prepare.
How could that possibly be enough?
During the exam, there were many questions he couldn’t answer.
Zhang Yutang knew that even if he took the exam again—or even a third time—he would never pass.
Even if he did, it certainly wouldn’t be for a prestigious school.
But what could he do?
Zhang Yutang didn’t want to waste his life here, nor did he want to be tied to Qin Honghua forever.
He desperately needed a way out.
Zhang Yutang knew that as long as he had this one opportunity, he could leap over the dragon gate and completely sever ties with his wretched past.
After some thought, Zhang Yutang grasped Qin Honghua’s hand, his eyes filled with deep affection.
“Honghua, actually, we don’t have to wait for the next exam. There’s another way.”
“What way?”
“Replacement!”
“What?”
Zhang Yutang quickly explained his idea.
Simply put, it meant taking someone else’s spot at college.
He believed that with the right maneuvering, this was entirely feasible.
“Will… will this work?” Qin Honghua wasn’t so sure. “Actually, my love, you’re so capable—you can just wait for the next exam.”
Perhaps because Zhang Yutang had previously built himself up so impressively, Qin Honghua now had full confidence in him.
“No, Honghua, I can wait, but I don’t want to make you wait,” Zhang Yutang said, gripping her hand. “If I can go to the city sooner, I can bring you, our child, and Dad there sooner to enjoy a better life.”
“Honghua, this plan is completely doable.”
“Go ask Dad—he’ll definitely have a way.”
“This…”
In the end, Qin Honghua was moved by Zhang Yutang’s affection and convinced by his words.
“Alright, I’ll go ask Dad.”
Zhang Yutang watched Qin Honghua’s retreating figure, his fists clenching slightly, his eyes filled with ruthless determination.
…
Candidates across the country have been receiving their college admission notices one after another.
The same goes for the candidates on Huansha Island.
Today, Zhang Qiumei received her admission notice.
However, it wasn’t from her dream school, Beijing Medical University, but from Lucheng Medical University.
Though the names differ by just one word, the gap between the two schools is enormous.
Beijing Medical University is a prestigious national key university, while Lucheng Medical University is an obscure, mediocre institution.
Back when she was filling out her college applications, Zhang Qiumei had initially planned to list only Beijing Medical University. But to play it safe, she added Lucheng Medical University as her last choice.
As expected, she wasn’t admitted to Beijing Medical University.
Instead, she got into Lucheng Medical University.
Zhang Qiumei thought to herself—if she hadn’t included Lucheng Medical University as a backup, she would have completely missed out this time.
So, despite her disappointment, she also felt a sense of relief.
However, while Zhang Qiumei was somewhat disdainful, the rest of her family was overjoyed.
Especially her mother, Niu Cui, and her older brother, Zhang Jianjun.
The two of them, who had been gloomy ever since Chun Xing’s divorce threats, were now in high spirits.
After all, in Niu Cui and Zhang Jianjun’s eyes, getting into any college at all was already a remarkable achievement.
“My daughter is so outstanding—she’s been smart since she was little, unlike some people who’ve always been dull-witted.”
“What’s the use of reading so many books for someone like that?”
As she spoke, Niu Cui shot a sharp glare at the little girl standing not far away, clinging to Chun Xing’s side.
Niu Cui had initially thought that her son’s second wife, Chun Xing, would be a good match.
At the very least, she should have been obedient.
But who would’ve guessed she’d be so defiant?
Not only had she failed to bear a single child for her son in two years of marriage, but she also stubbornly doted on her own daughter.
Earlier, to secure schooling for that girl, she had even threatened Jianjun with divorce.
The whole mess had blown up so badly that it drew the attention of their superiors, who reprimanded Jianjun.
The incident had infuriated Niu Cui.
But with the higher-ups involved, there was nothing she could do.
Still, her dislike for Chun Xing and her daughter only grew stronger.
If she had known earlier, she would never have allowed her son to marry this Chun Xing.
With her son’s status, even as a divorced man, he could’ve easily married a young, untouched girl.
Chun Xing probably thought her divorce threats would scare them.
Well, Niu Cui wasn’t afraid.
For Chun Xing and her daughter to even enter the Zhang family was a stroke of luck.
If Chun Xing dared to divorce, Niu Cui swore she’d find Jianjun a fresh, untouched bride within a month.
Hmph!
Meanwhile, Chun Xing, who had been busy preparing dinner, abruptly set down the pot with a bang the moment she heard her mother-in-law’s snide remarks.
She grabbed her daughter, Zhizhi, and strode out.
“Come on, Xiao Zhi. Let’s go. Mom’s taking you to the state-run restaurant for dinner.”
Without a backward glance, she left.
Niu Cui was livid.
“What’s her problem? She just ditched cooking to take that useless girl out to eat at a state-run restaurant?”
“Just because she has a job now, she thinks she’s something special, huh?”
“She only got that job because of my son, and she doesn’t even hand over a single cent of her salary!”
“What kind of daughter-in-law is this? She acts more high-and-mighty than her own mother-in-law!”
“Heavens, what sin did our Zhang family commit to end up with such a daughter-in-law? Why doesn’t lightning strike this unfilial woman dead?”
“Alright, Mom, stop it. Everything was fine just now—it’s because of your unnecessary comments that things got like this,” Zhang Jianjun said, rubbing his temples in frustration.
He knew very well that Chun Xing’s job had nothing to do with him.
And he knew even better that divorcing Chun Xing was absolutely not an option!
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