Chapter 266

Margaret Johnson frowned slightly, her fingers tapping lightly on the table. "If she gets accepted, why would she need a temporary job?"

The room fell silent.

"What if..." Henry Johnson hesitated, "...neither of them gets in?"

"Does David's father have schooling too?" Henry suddenly remembered.

"High school graduate," Margaret replied calmly. "Same as Emily."

Henry's heart sank. Raising a high school graduate in the countryside was no easy feat.

"Let's wait and see," he finally said.

Margaret turned and headed to the Supply & Market. Since the family had split, their finances had improved. She bought two cans of malt extract and some extra groceries, mailing them out the same day.

The June sun blazed mercilessly.

Emily Johnson received the package on the day the brigade took its farming break. The post office was crowded with educated youths picking up letters. Clutching the heavy parcel, warmth spread through her chest.

The town's Supply & Market had just stocked bananas and peaches. She bought two pounds and discreetly took out a slab of pork belly from her hidden stash.

At lunch, Michael Stone suddenly set down his chopsticks.

"Dad, I'm taking the college entrance exams."

John Stone Sr. nearly dropped his bowl.

"You?" His eyes widened. "I thought it was Emily who was taking them?"

"We both registered," Michael said firmly.

The brigade leader's expression shifted several times. "Are you confident?"

"Emily has a better chance," Michael admitted honestly.

"What if..." John swallowed hard, "...what if she gets in and you don't?"

Lately, he'd heard too many stories of educated youths divorcing after one got into university.

"I'll go with her as a companion student," Michael stated resolutely.

John let out a heavy sigh. Glancing at his daughter-in-law quietly eating, he lowered his voice. "Actually... didn't your mother-in-law find you a temporary job?"

Michael nodded. "I turned it down."

John was stunned. His in-laws actually approved of this son-in-law? Jobs in the city were nearly impossible to come by these days!

Studying his son's determined profile, he suddenly found it unfamiliar.

When had his troublesome third son, who'd caused him so much worry, grown so decisive?

"If you've made up your mind..." John shoveled a mouthful of rice, "...your mother can help watch the children."

Outside, cicadas screamed relentlessly. The midsummer sunlight filtered through the window lattice, casting dappled shadows across the dining table.

Beneath it, Emily quietly reached for her husband's hand.