Pei Yicheng turned around and saw that she had stopped talking. He knew she was being considerate of his feelings. Such a filial and empathetic girl she was, no wonder his grandfather was so fond of her.
"You didn’t pass the exam this year, are you planning to take another year of senior high?" Pei Yicheng asked.
"Yes, my second brother and I will repeat the last year of high school together. Next year, we are sure to get into college," Xu Nianhua said with strong confidence shining in her eyes.
"Are you and your brother twins?" Pei Yicheng sized up Xu Nianhua, feeling that they didn’t look alike. Xu Nian’an was handsome, too, but on closer examination, the two didn’t look very similar.
"No, my brother is a year older than me. Originally, last year, when the college entrance exams were reinstated, he was going to take it, but because of..." Xu Nianhua paused, as family scandals shouldn’t be aired in public.
At that time, because Xu Zhihao was getting married, all the family’s money was spent. Even if Xu Nian’an had passed the exam, there was no money to support his education, so he didn’t even take part in the test last year.
"Because of some issues, he didn’t participate. So, he took the exam with me this year, but unfortunately..." Xu Nianhua sighed and said, "My second brother wanted to give his chance to study to me this year, so he deliberately left many questions unanswered. Otherwise, with his results, he would have definitely got in."
Pei Yicheng was about to offer comfort that money can always be earned, but Xu Nianhua, in the next moment, with bright and sparkling eyes, said, "However, we won’t be afraid next year, my second brother and I will both be able to go to college!"
Just from selling mung bean jelly alone, they had managed to save quite a bit of money for the household. In the future, by selling bean sprouts and finding other business opportunities, their lives would surely improve step by step.
When the time comes, not to mention going to college, but even if her elder brother wants to give a bride price to the Zhou Family sister and marry her, or even build a new house, they would have the money for it.
"Mung bean jelly is too seasonal," Pei Yicheng suddenly pointed out, gazing into her sparkling eyes, and wondered what they would do to earn money if they lost the business of mung bean jelly.
"I know, that’s why we plan to just save some seed money from selling mung bean jelly."
Xu Nianhua cheerfully answered, perhaps because Pei Yicheng’s reminder was so sincere, or maybe his own experiences evoked sympathy, but she now felt inclined to chat. She said, "Fortunes can change. The proverb goes, ’Thirty years in the east, thirty years in the west, don’t bully the poor young man.’
Although Xu Nianhua was petite and slender, and young, the moment she uttered this saying, her spirit soared, and it seemed as if her eyes were filled with light, sparkling and shining.
Pei Yicheng looked at Xu Nianhua anew; she was different from any other girl he had met.
He mused absentmindedly, with Xu Nianhua’s crisp and pleasant voice ringing in his ears.
"The days ahead for our family will surely get better and better."
Xu Nianhua’s gaze briefly swept over his leg, her lips curling into a smile. She said, "It’s said in the books, ’As long as the green mountains remain, one need not fear running out of firewood.’ As long as a person is alive, there is hope."
"As long as a person is alive, there is hope." Pei Yicheng softly repeated the phrase to himself, his heart clear as a mirror, knowing that Xu Nianhua was indirectly offering him comfort.
Pei Yicheng’s mouth curved into a faint smile and said, "To have survived is already a great fortune for me. Now, it’s just that my legs cannot walk..."
He lowered his head. From the accident to the present, there had been times when he couldn’t accept it, when his disposition changed drastically, and he resented everything.
Thankfully, his grandfather came and took him to Gaoliang County. Though the place was small, it allowed him to slowly come to terms with the reality of his legs not being able to walk.