Before the child is born, the father begins his training.

“Second Sister-in-law has gone back to her parents’ home!? Isn’t that a bit improper?”

Cheng Xueming was taken aback by the news. Did the sisters-in-law have such a good relationship? His young sister-in-law had just registered her marriage, and now Second Sister-in-law was willingly vacating the room for her, heading back to her own family? That would be quite the gossip if word got out.

He truly had no intention of becoming a live-in son-in-law; he’d already made arrangements to look for a place, planning to rent and move out as soon as possible. But Second Sister-in-law’s sudden move caught Cheng Xueming completely off guard.

“What’s so improper about it? Second Sister-in-law couldn’t wait to go back to her parents’ place! Their government compound is much more comfortable, and she never got used to living in our rented house. Besides, Second Brother isn’t even home!”

Feng Jiayou pursed her lips and continued, “And anyway, she was sort of forced by my mom. She really couldn’t bear to stay here any longer!”

“Forced? What happened?”

Riding his bicycle, Cheng Xueming became curious about all the family drama. What could have happened to make his mother-in-law force her own daughter-in-law out?

“What else could it be? Last night, my mom triggered something in her!”

Feng Jiayou chattered on, explaining, “Look, my eldest brother and sister-in-law graduated from Yanjing University, my second brother graduated from Yanjing University, and now I’ve gotten into Yanjing University. In the future, you and Jiamo will definitely have to get into Yanjing University too!”

“But Second Sister-in-law was a member of the '68 cohort. When the college entrance exams resumed last year, she tried, but didn’t get in.”

“Our family advised her to give up, since Liqin and Liwen were already so big, and she had a formal job. So she didn’t try again.”

“But last night, my mom insisted that only those who got into Yanjing University could enter her household!”

“She probably didn’t mean it for Second Sister-in-law, but Second Sister-in-law took offense and felt she’d been singled out.”

“So after I went back to my room last night, Second Sister-in-law talked to me, saying she would return to her parents’ home to focus on studying. She wouldn’t come back until she got into Yanjing University.”

“Tell me, Cheng Xueming, isn’t it my mom’s fault? Why did she have to mention Yanjing University last night?”

Hearing the whole story, Cheng Xueming was both astonished and shocked.

So the whole Feng family was this impressive—all graduates of Yanjing University?

But honestly, it couldn’t really be blamed on his mother-in-law.

If Cheng Xueming remembered correctly, it was Feng Jiayou herself who first boasted about getting into Yanjing University this year, and next year she and Cheng Xueming would both sit for the entrance exam.

That’s what provoked her mother’s retort: “When the whole family gets into Yanjing University, then you can enter my household!”

It really was a case of words said in the heat of the moment, unintended but taken seriously. Second Sister-in-law ended up feeling slighted.

Everyone in the family went to Yanjing University—except Second Sister-in-law? Anyone would feel compelled to prove themselves, vowing not to enter the Feng household until they’d gotten in.

But next year’s Yanjing University entrance exam would be much harder.

The first round after the resumption of the college entrance exam was actually the easiest, with the least competition!

Back then, millions of young people were scattered across the vast countryside, tempered for years, having lost the heart for studying, and forgotten much of what they’d learned.

Everyone was more or less on the same level, and those who got into college were usually the ones who got the news early and had access to study materials.

But this July’s exam was already much more competitive!

The toughest competition would be the big entrance exam of 1979, since the great wave of returning to the cities had begun.

By next summer, half the educated youth would have returned to the cities, waiting for job assignments.

Attending university via the entrance exam was the best path, and urban study materials were much easier to access than in the countryside.

More than ten million returning youth across the country were preparing for the big 1979 exam.

So next year’s exam would be the hardest and most competitive for the new three cohorts!

Yanjing University was the top in the nation, and with over ten million returning youth sharpening their skills day and night, how could it not be hard?

Even Cheng Xueming, a graduate of the prestigious 985 university in his past life, couldn’t guarantee he’d get into Yanjing University next year.

And that’s considering he’d already brushed up on his old high school knowledge from his previous life.

If he hadn’t, not just Yanjing University—even getting into a technical college would be a struggle.

“So… Mom’s really letting Second Sister-in-law go back just like that?!”

The thought flashed through his mind, but Cheng Xueming didn’t dare blame anyone—especially his young sister-in-law, who had insisted on bringing up Yanjing University.

He just felt uneasy about Second Sister-in-law going back to her parents’ home.

And more importantly!

The ultimatum was for him, the live-in son-in-law: get into Yanjing University next year or don’t enter the Feng household.

But instead, the daughter-in-law was forced out, running back to her parents’ home, and Cheng Xueming, as the son-in-law, would shamelessly occupy the room she vacated?

“What else could we do?”

“Don’t think we’re benefiting from Second Sister-in-law. You’ll see when we get home!”

Feng Jiayou said no more, and when they returned to the courtyard, Cheng Xueming finally understood the hidden schemes women played.

“Auntie, Auntie, I’m hungry!”

As soon as they walked in, Feng Jiayou was grabbed by a little boy, crying out for food.

Beside him was a little girl, her big eyes blinking curiously at Cheng Xueming.

“Oh my, Liwen’s hungry! Auntie will make you food right away!”

“And this is Uncle! Liqin, Liwen, call your uncle sweetly for him to hear!”

Feng Jiayou wanted to squat down and pick up her three-year-old nephew Feng Liwen, but remembering her own inconvenience, she simply crouched and hugged him, coaxing the siblings Feng Liwen and Feng Liqin to call Cheng Xueming “Uncle.”

“Uncle, I’m hungry!” Feng Liwen called out immediately.

“Are you going to be my big uncle from now on?” The older sister, Feng Liqin, still eyed Cheng Xueming curiously, her voice soft.

“Yes, from now on I’ll be your uncle!”

“Your names are Liqin and Liwen, right? Look, here’s the marriage certificate your aunt and I got; we’re legally married now, so you must call me uncle!”

Cheng Xueming reached out to pat her head, greeting the little girl, and showed off the bright red marriage certificate he and Feng Jiayou had just received.

“Hello, Uncle! Will you buy tasty food for me and my brother?”

A foodie, clearly!

“Of course I will!”

“Liqin, tell Uncle what you and your brother want to eat, and I’ll take you both to buy it.”

“My brother and I want roast duck! The roast duck from Grandpa Qian’s house in the front yard smells so good, we’re both drooling!”

Six-year-old Liqin even drooled as she spoke.

So they were eating roast duck in the front yard?

No wonder the aroma hit him as soon as he entered!

“Roast duck? Liqin, you really dare to ask! That’s not happening; Auntie will cook for you now.”

“But Uncle brought you big red dates—you and your brother can eat those first, okay?”

Hearing the request for roast duck, before Cheng Xueming could agree, Feng Jiayou quickly intervened.

“Roast duck! Roast duck! Uncle, I want roast duck, not red dates!”

Little Liwen shook Feng Jiayou’s hand, looking up at Cheng Xueming, pleading with a mischievous air.

“All right, all right! Liwen, Liqin, Uncle will take you to eat roast duck today!”

If kids wanted roast duck, let them have it.

As their uncle, surely he could afford a single roast duck?

He promptly picked up little Liwen, took Liqin by the hand, and asked Feng Jiayou, “Are Mom, Dad, Brother, and Sister-in-law home? Why don’t we all go for roast duck at noon?”

“You’re spoiling them! Roast duck on your first day—I’d like to see how you handle them later!” Feng Jiayou shot him a glare and continued, “Mom, Dad, Brother, and Sister-in-law are all at work! I’ve been looking after them these days.”

“Mom said this morning, Second Sister-in-law went back, and from now on, you’re responsible for these two little ones. I have to return to school for classes!”

Second Sister-in-law’s room wasn’t vacated for nothing!

She might have gone back to her parents’ house to study, but she left the two little ones with their paternal family.

But who would look after them?

Father and Mother Feng had jobs and no time to mind their grandchildren. Even if Eldest Brother and Sister-in-law weren’t working, it wasn’t their duty to help.

Previously, Second Sister-in-law took care of them, then Feng Jiayou covered for her while on leave.

Now Cheng Xueming, the son-in-law, had arrived, and Sun Juan, Second Sister-in-law, ran off faster than anyone—since someone else could take over childcare.

...