Xu Haoran returned to his dormitory and began rummaging through his belongings, searching for paper to write his report.
However, such items were usually kept in the office. His dormitory only contained personal necessities, and he couldn't even find a pen.
Although he could go to the office to write it tomorrow, he genuinely couldn't wait any longer!
So, he immediately left and hurried to the office building. After greeting the young soldier on duty, he entered the building.
Having found paper and a pen, Xu Haoran didn't leave. Under the office lights, he completed both reports. He had never felt such an outpouring of words.
Normally, it was difficult to get him to write a single character, but tonight he felt no such resistance. After finishing the report about his relationship, he even felt like writing the marriage report as well.
But he also knew that Lin Yan wouldn't agree. She still had to attend school, and they hadn't even met each other's parents yet. It was too early to talk about marriage.
Still, the thought that Lin Yan had agreed to be his girlfriend made him want to grin foolishly.
The next morning, Xu Haoran submitted the reports to his superiors.
"Oh, so you've finally confirmed your relationship," the leader said. He had known for some time that the youngest company commander in their military region had taken a liking to a researcher from the arsenal.
He would often visit the arsenal in his free time and had even taken leave a few days prior to accompany her to the college entrance examination.
It seemed he had finally won over the researcher, and they had confirmed their relationship.
"Yes. Leader, please approve it. I still need to deliver the report to my girlfriend later!" Xu Haoran's face was filled with undisguised pride.
"Deliver the report?"
"Yes, my girlfriend just finished her college entrance exams and needs to rest, so I helped her write her report too!"
"You! Alright, leave the report here with me. I'll approve it along with your girlfriend's report when it's submitted."
This Xu Haoran, who usually avoided studying like the plague, was so proactive when it came to writing reports.
"By the way, Xiao Xu, there's a spot at the Party School coming up in a while. Start preparing!" the leader said casually.
Xu Haoran understood what the leader meant. It seemed his promotion was now a certainty. A promotion would be good; with more allowances, he could better support his family. After all, he would soon be a man with a family to support.
When Xu Haoran handed the report to Lin Yan, she had just finished her work.
"You wrote this last night?" Lin Yan raised an eyebrow, looking at Xu Haoran with amusement.
"It didn't take long. I really didn't stay up late," Xu Haoran explained.
"Alright, whether you stayed up late or not, it's in the past now. Your training load is heavy, so you still need to pay attention to your rest."
"Okay, I'll definitely pay attention to my rest. I won't stay up late unless absolutely necessary!" Xu Haoran promised.
"Your body is your own. If you don't take care of it, what does it have to do with me!" Lin Yan shot him a look.
"How can it not have anything to do with you? I'm your boyfriend. I have to be managed by you!" Xu Haoran said shamelessly.
"You really want me to manage you?" Lin Yan seemed to develop some interest.
"Yes! Everything is up to you," Xu Haoran said with certainty.
"You said it yourself! I'll remember that!" Lin Yan smiled. But that smile sent a shiver down Xu Haoran's spine, though he paid it no mind.
Soon, it was time for the Chinese New Year. The research institute was closed for a few days, but Lin Yan chose not to go home for the holidays.
She had already received her admission notice. She had written to her parents, informing them of her future school and that she had started a relationship.
In her letter, she mentioned that due to her busy work schedule, she wouldn't be able to visit them for the New Year. In fact, her parents seemed very busy themselves; their research institute had an even higher level of secrecy than hers.
Besides letters, she hadn't seen her parents since. However, once she was officially employed, she should be able to visit them.
After sending gifts and letters to her paternal and maternal grandparents, she opened a letter from Zaolin Brigade.
Except for her second cousin's wife, everyone else in the Wu family who took the college entrance examination was accepted. Receiving their admission notices before the New Year made their celebrations even happier.
Of course, their schools were all different, but everyone had anticipated this and had chosen suitable majors.
Since it was uncertain if there would be another college entrance examination next year, everyone had chosen their majors very conservatively. Now, they had all received their admission notices.
This also had a lot to do with Lin Yan. Before they chose their majors, Lin Yan had sent a letter back, explaining in detail how to choose majors for a more secure outcome.
So, when everyone received their admission notices, the Wu family sent Lin Yan a large amount of food and daily necessities.
This letter explained the situation of the educated youth's college entrance examination and asked if Lin Yan would return for the New Year.
However, the letter arrived late. Even if Lin Yan wrote back now, by the time the letter arrived, the New Year would be over.
Seeing that the educated youth had performed well, Lin Yan felt very happy. Although she hadn't spent much time with them, she had a good impression of this group of educated youth.
Seeing that most of them had received their notices put her mind at ease. The first batch of university students after the resumption of the college entrance examination held significant value. She was very happy for their bright futures.
However, upon seeing that the letter from the Wu family only briefly mentioned the male protagonist, Lin Yan frowned slightly.
The male protagonist, Zhou Qi, had been reported for reselling goods and was subsequently taken away. Lin Yan knew he would likely escape unscathed.
After all, how could the male protagonist go to jail? As expected, he was released soon after and then moved to the county town.
What she hadn't expected was for the male protagonist to take the college entrance examination and apply to the same university as the original owner. Even if he applied to this university, after receiving his admission notice, he would return to Zaolin Brigade to inquire about her from the Wu family.
Was this a case of "the unattainable always stirs unrest"? The male protagonist was truly persistent! However, he was destined not to find her.
Lin Yan didn't want to waste any more thought on the male protagonist, as their paths would never cross again. However, this college entrance examination had brought about a significant change in the plot for Lin Yan.
After all, in the original novel, the male protagonist had not been admitted to university, and not many of the educated youth had been accepted.
Now, everything was different, especially with the brigade leader's enlightened approach. Even the educated youth who were already married successfully took the college entrance examination, and the relationships with the families they had married into also improved.
All these changes became Lin Yan's achievements. Everything was improving, and the future for everyone in Zaolin Brigade was now brighter.
They all attached great importance to learning now, especially knowing that university not only cost nothing but also provided subsidies. With guaranteed job assignments upon graduation, they were even more eager for their children to attend university!
If they were accepted, their children wouldn't have to toil in the fields. Instead, they could sit in bright offices, wear clean and neat clothes, and receive a salary every month.