Chapter 163: Chapter 163

Third Sister stared fixedly at the college application form in front of her, rubbing her eyes in disbelief.

Provincial University was one thing—though with her younger sister's intelligence, getting into Jing University wasn't impossible. Their Provincial University was still quite prestigious nationwide, ranking among the top few. Plus, being closer to home had its advantages.

Seeing the beautifully written "Agriculture" on the form—more specifically, "Plant Breeding"—Third Sister was utterly stunned.

While agriculture was undoubtedly important these days, she knew exactly what kind of person her sister was. Over the years, she'd witnessed firsthand that while An Ning was clever and considerate, she was also the type who avoided exertion whenever possible. The concept of "hard work and plain living" couldn't be further from her nature.

Agriculture meant actually working in the fields later on!

Thinking of her sister's usual refined demeanor, Third Sister hesitated before finally speaking up: "Little Sister, maybe you should reconsider?"

An Ning shook her head without hesitation: "No need, Sister. My decision's made."

"Little Sister, you..."

Despite having the brains to live an easy life, her younger sister was choosing this difficult path... To think she'd once mistaken this self-sacrificing, hardworking socialist successor for being lazy!

If not for the inappropriate setting, Third Sister might have slapped herself right then.

An Ning, reading her thoughts perfectly: "......"

Really, that's unnecessary!

In the following days, An Ning quickly noticed that for some reason (probably due to some wild assumptions), Third Sister became extraordinarily attentive toward her.

Lying back in her recliner, accepting the flower tea Third Sister eagerly handed her, An Ning sighed and gently closed the book she'd borrowed from the library.

Truth be told, her choice of major wasn't the noble sacrifice Third Sister imagined. The main reason was...

Remembering the past few years, An Ning couldn't help but sigh deeply.

The desperation during the famine years—even though she'd read about such things in history books—experiencing it firsthand made her realize some things simply couldn't be captured by words alone.

Famine, and hunger especially, were truly terrifying.

Given the unpredictability of her missions, An Ning knew she couldn't always count on peaceful times. She might even end up in stranger worlds, and couldn't rely on being as lucky as this time...

Learning practical skills now could only help.

As for firearms, she'd considered them but quickly dismissed the idea. Besides this era's limitations, one wrong move with those could land her in some godforsaken place under a new identity for life.

While she respected those who sacrificed selflessly, she simply wasn't that virtuous herself...

Her kindness always came with the absolute precondition of not disrupting her own life.

Of course, to outsiders like Third Sister and occasionally visiting Captain Zhang, this created quite the misunderstanding.

"Ai!" Zhang Aiguo took a long drag from his pipe in front of his wife and son: "I used to think An Ning was smart but cold. Turns out she's not cold—just perceptive enough to know some people shouldn't be indulged."

The "some people" clearly referred to the entire Old Yang Family in the village.

Remembering their recent antics, Zhang Aiguo clicked his tongue and told his youngest son to always be straightforward with them—no trying to outsmart someone far cleverer.

Zhang Youcai, who'd finally become a formal coal mine worker after years of effort, nodded hurriedly.

By July, with college entrance exams approaching, while An Ning maintained her usual leisurely pace of reading books and newspapers, nearly all her senior classmates were burning the midnight oil.

Third Sister especially pushed herself to become An Ning's schoolmate, often studying past midnight—their household's lamp oil consumption skyrocketed.

Jing University had been beyond her wildest dreams, but Provincial University... well, though challenging, she believed she could make it with effort.

Similarly motivated was Chubby Boy—now more appropriately called Lu Ting—who lived a street away from An Ning's home.

Outside his room, seeing her son still studying late into the night, Mother Lu shook her head, quietly leaving some snacks before retreating to complain to her husband:

"Old Lu, look at your son! As a child, he couldn't sit still to read for five minutes—like there were nails under him. Now? For that girl, he's practically tying his hair to the ceiling beam and stabbing his thighs with awls!"

"Tch!" She huffed in bed.

As if anyone didn't know—even during famine years, their family never shorted their youngest. His older siblings constantly sent supplies, yet he kept losing weight.

Anyone who lived through those times could see right through it!

Folding his newspaper neatly, Father Lu chuckled: "This age is for striving. Our son having this drive is wonderful. Besides, that outstanding, beautiful girl might not even fancy him. Comrade Jiang, don't copy Secretary Wang next door..."

That couple was torn apart by parental disapproval over status differences, and now the Wang household was the neighborhood joke.

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?"

Director Jiang immediately protested: "Old Lu, when our son was obviously... back then, did I interfere?"

When he was losing weight daily, sharing his rations during hardest times—she never said a word!

In fact, fearing her son might starve, she'd secretly given him extra supplies.

Punching her husband, Jiang Yuxiu turned away angrily.

Pretending not to know about his wife's earlier secret school visits, Father Lu coaxed her back with sweet talk.

Eventually, they reconciled: "That girl—I've seen her before. So smart and pretty! Honestly, our son..."

"At best, he's got childhood friendship going for him."

Thankfully, his looks took after her...

After a long silence, Mother Lu sighed deeply.

Unaware of his mother's complaints, when admission letters arrived after intense effort, both Lu Ting and Third Sister heaved sighs of relief.

To Third Sister and others, if An Ning wanted in, no school was beyond reach.

Plus, she ranked among the province's top scorers!

In ancient times, she might've been a "Tanhua" (third-ranked scholar).

But none of that mattered now:

"Wonderful, Little Sister! We won't be separated!"

Third Sister kissed her admission letter, nearly jumping for joy.

Then, suddenly suspicious, she eyed her sister's calm expression: "Little Sister... you didn't skip Jing University just to wait for me, did you?"

Setting down her letter to study some materials, An Ning: "......" Overactive imagination is a disease needing treatment.

Seeing her sister's serious face, An Ning facepalmed:

"Relax, really not. I just prefer staying closer to home."

Though the Cultural Revolution officially began in 1966-67, An Ning believed no event sprang up overnight—those years were merely the eruption of accumulated tensions.

Even now might not be entirely safe.

A young, pretty girl venturing out alone? She wasn't that arrogant...

Convinced her sister wasn't lying—and remembering what might come—Third Sister finally relaxed, happily dragging An Ning out shopping to "celebrate properly."

Besides An Ning getting into her desired major, Third Sister was admitted to her favorite Chinese Language and Literature program—both at their province's top university. Even Li Xiaocao was overjoyed, especially seeing her daughters' red-stamped admission letters—she stayed up all night, eyes red for days afterward.

The only dampener was the Old Yang Family wanting to throw a village celebration, which the sisters immediately refused.

"Glorious homecoming?" Pah! For a place that caused them so much pain, neither wanted anything to do with it.

Third Sister found the idea downright unlucky!

Their hard work wasn't for the Yang family's glory. Given their past grievances, she'd rather never return.

Come September, the trio—freshly outfitted—embarked for university. Thanks to Lu Ting's family connections, they secured coveted sleeper tickets, with him handling most of An Ning's luggage.

Yet the bumpy ride and various odors still left the sisters green-faced.

1960s green trains? Once experienced, never forgotten—guaranteed to shut anyone up.

Campus life then was nothing like later generations—classrooms were packed, morning study halls brightly lit. An Ning, known for frail health and top grades, occasionally slacked off without criticism. Professors even pitied "Comrade Yang"—so passionate about learning and serving the people, yet held back by poor health from working harder.

But after being consistently outperformed in exams...

Well, that "holdback" didn't seem so bad!

Nonsense, some classmates insisted—if healthier, she'd be even more outstanding!

Meanwhile, Third Sister, who'd thought university meant relaxation: "......"

Between cutthroat competition and nonstop studying, what truly crushed her came later.

One day, gaping at her sister's casual announcement, Third Sister nearly dropped her pork rib:

"Wait—what? Skipping grades?!"

"Little Sister, are you serious?! Is coursework too easy? Not challenging enough? Not everyone has your brains!"

Seeing An Ning's porcelain face radiating determination—basically saying "I'm doing this with or without you"—Third Sister, who'd hoped to work near her sister after graduation, inwardly cried rivers.

But under those pleading eyes...

Fine! Skipping grades works too.

As she knew, nationwide university closures would begin August 1966. It was now 1962—time was tight.

The closures would hit right after standard graduation. Any delay...

Suddenly suspicious, Third Sister studied her sister:

Had they not grown up together, with An Ning ignorant of modern things, she might've thought her sister was the time traveler!

Biting her lip, Third Sister finally swallowed her rib:

"Little Sister, you're still young with plenty of time. Why rush?"

An Ning merely gave her a puzzled look before leading her to her dorm, displaying stacks of books she'd finished over months—towering piles including sophomore and junior materials...

Third Sister had no doubt—if not waiting for her, An Ning would've skipped more than one grade.

Third Sister: "......"

Mystery solved—not time travel, just the impenetrable wall between geniuses and mortals!

Then, eyeing the books, she realized: "Wait—doesn't your major require practical results too?"