CHAPTER 455: CHAPTER 457

Sun Yuhua was envious of Xia Xiao’s freedom to play games, but she wasn’t close to Ning Hui, and since Xia Xiao was going to see Gao Jiaxing, it wasn’t appropriate for Sun Yuhua to tag along.

Upon returning, Xia Xiao counted the days, anticipating the resumption of the college entrance examination in a few months’ time. She even considered writing to her family in S City right away to ask them to buy study materials or perhaps she should make the trip to S City herself to purchase them.

It wasn’t a significant issue in itself, but from the beginning of the year, Xia Xiao was consumed by thoughts of the reinstated college entrance examination, eagerly awaiting the arrival of that day.

However, Xia Xiao hadn’t expected that she would be pregnant again.

At once, Zheng Xianghong and Gao Guoqiang were thrilled and hastily said they would write to Gao Jiaxing with the good news.

Xia Xiao and Gao Jiaxing had not used contraception, having always let nature take its course, but getting pregnant at this time, although Xia Xiao was very happy, she counted the months to the college entrance examination, knowing it was now May, the exams were set to resume in August, and the tests could be in winter—she should be able to make it.

However, there were two occasions, one this winter and another next spring. With this consideration, Xia Xiao breathed a sigh of relief.

At that moment, Xia Xiao gently stroked her belly and muttered, "This baby must certainly be a girl."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Xianghong laughed, "Boy or girl, both are fine, but having a girl is also good. No matter how many sons you have, none can compare to the closeness of a daughter."

Xia Xiao nodded in strong agreement with these words.

However, Sun Yuhua felt that Zheng Xianghong and Xia Xiao were speaking without understanding her pain, as she desperately longed for a child. Sun Yuhua had been hoping for a son for a very long time and seeing Xia Xiao pregnant again filled her with immense envy.

Without delay, Xia Xiao also sent word of the good news to her natal family and to Gao Jiaxing’s place. Over there, Gao Jiaxing couldn’t hide his pride, amazed at how formidable he was—his wife had only been with him for a few days, and now she was pregnant.

"What are you so happy about?" Yu Shijie asked, seeing Gao Jiaxing unable to conceal his joy.

"My wife is pregnant again," Gao Jiaxing said with delight.

Yu Shijie also broke into a smile, "Impressive, congratulations." After saying this, Yu Shijie started to envy Gao Jiaxing. Xia Xiao was expecting her fourth child after already having three sons—truly an enviable feat.

"Didn’t your family set you up with someone? You said your dad even wants to push you into getting married back home, what are you hesitating for? Drag it out any longer and you’ll end up a lifelong bachelor," Gao Jiaxing said.

"You don’t understand," Yu Shijie shook his head. Perhaps if he hadn’t met Yang Xuehua, he would have dragged his feet from year to year and might have agreed by now.

But after meeting Yang Xuehua, Yu Shijie found himself unable to let go, constantly preoccupied with thoughts of her.

Reality, however, was cruel. An invisible barrier lay between him and Yang Xuehua. Yu Shijie didn’t even need to bring it up with the army; just hinting at it to his family was enough to get him almost scolded to death by Mr. Yu, who even considered forcing his son to come home and get married.

Even though Yu Shijie had a grudge against his father, after all, he was still his father, and there were no lasting resentments between father and son.

Moreover, as Yu Shijie aged, he was no longer the young hothead who would storm out of the house in a huff. He had matured a lot now, yet when it came to the matter of marriage, he was unable to agree.

"What’s there not to understand?" Gao Jiaxing asked.

"I’ve taken a liking to Yang Xuehua. Can you help me?" Yu Shijie asked.

Gao Jiaxing frowned, "I can’t help, you know that." Saying this, Gao Jiaxing sighed and patted Yu Shijie on the shoulder, "Yang Xuehua and my wife are close friends, they have a great relationship. How could I not hope for you and Yang Xuehua to become a couple, to bring our families closer together? But you know, your status is different, and so is Yang Xuehua’s. If this would have been ten years earlier, your marriage would be a different story, but within these past ten years and today, it’s difficult to say."

Yu Shijie fell silent. If he were to give up everything he had now, he couldn’t do it. After all, he grew up in a military family, with dreams since childhood of becoming an excellent soldier. He had always strived for this, taking pride in the military uniform he wore. Now having become a lieutenant and attending the military academy, how could he be willing to give that up?

But if he didn’t give up, and his heart still held onto someone, what should he do?

Yu Shijie was troubled. After all, there are so many women in the world, it’s not like she was the only possible one.

Perhaps it was true what they say, what you can’t have always disturbs you the most because you can’t have it, you always think about it, and how can you be willing to let go?

Although Yang Xuehua was considered a mature single woman, she was brought up in a scholarly family, embodying the very essence of a person nourished by literature and poetry.

There were others in the production team who fancied Yang Xuehua, but she was unwilling to settle for just anyone.

Having been through so much, Yang Xuehua’s mindset had also become calmer, as tranquil as still water.

"What about waiting a bit longer, to see if the policy might change?" As Gao Jiaxing said this, he shook his head again, "But you both can’t really wait because of your ages."

At this, Gao Jiaxing felt helpless too, feeling pity for both Yu Shijie and Yang Xuehua. Yang Xuehua wouldn’t be single today if it hadn’t been for these circumstances; she would have married long ago.

Yu Shijie didn’t speak any further, and Gao Jiaxing said no more.

Xia Xiao and Yang Xuehua were unaware of this scene. As days passed, Xia Xiao’s pregnancy steadily grew more apparent.

By August, Xia Xiao was four months pregnant, and, simultaneously, news of the reinstatement of the college entrance examinations swept through the nation like a storm.

Xia Xiao didn’t know if the rest of the country was in an uproar, but the educated youths in the production team surely were, all of them overjoyed.

Even Yang Xuehua was ecstatic. Following her joy, she became worried, "I wonder if I will be able to take part?"

Xia Xiao was taken aback, as she had not considered this possibility but still said, "You should be able to."

Xia Xiao hoped it was possible and reassured Yang Xuehua, "Sister Xuehua, don’t worry, let’s go to the team’s headquarters to find out."

Yang Xuehua nodded and together with Xia Xiao, they went to the headquarters to gather information, where they found many people present. Xia Xiao and Yang Xuehua spoke to Secretary Cheng, who said that it had to be reflected upwards to see, but he believed Yang Xuehua was a good comrade and would advocate for her.

Hearing this, Xia Xiao and Yang Xuehua’s faces brightened; they thanked Secretary Cheng before leaving.

Back with the Red Star Production Team, even Wang Xueyong was reviewing for the college entrance exams. Gao Guihua was not pleased, feeling that if Wang Xueyong attended university, the distance between them would grow, yet she also hoped that Wang Xueyong would go to college, proud and boastful about having such an excellent and capable husband.

Feng Ying was also diligently studying for the college exams. Liu Haiguo was extremely dissatisfied, even more so when Feng Ying got study materials from Liu Yue and threw herself into learning.

Returning to the city was the dream of every educated youth, not just for high school students but also middle school students; they were all eager to try and learn alongside the high schoolers.

So, Feng Ying ignored Liu Haiguo’s complaints; she was determined to go to university and even urged Liu Haiguo to study with her, but he couldn’t grasp the material and was quite unwilling for Feng Ying to return to the city.

They were, after all, husband and wife, with a child in common. Liu Haiguo couldn’t say he liked Feng Ying, but she was his wife, and now this wife of his was thinking of going back to the city, possibly abandoning her husband and child. Liu Haiguo was not happy.