LAVW – Chapter 108 Guaranteed Satisfaction (Era of the Cow)

October 21st.

The announcement about the reinstatement of the college entrance examination was officially released through the authorities, stirring up crashing waves in the hearts of millions of young people across the country.

In Shengli Village, the two educated youths who had always held a skeptical attitude were so overwhelmed when the news arrived that they hugged each other and burst into tears.

At the same moment, after hearing the confirmed news, Chen Niu headed toward the burial hill.

Soon after, the sound of “da-da” footsteps came from behind him. He turned around to see Shi Qian chasing after him.

Shi Qian: “Moo moo.”

Why didn’t you bring me along?

Chen Niu waved at him. “Come on, let’s go see Grandma and tell her this big news.”

After climbing the hill, Chen Niu sat on the grass to the side.

“Grandma, a new beginning has truly arrived. Did you see it?”

Shi Qian added, “Moo moo.”

Listening is still faster.

It felt as if on the burial hill, one could still hear the distant wails of those overwhelmed by joy.

Shi Qian could hear faint cries carried by the wind, coming from all directions before being blown apart.

Chen Niu didn’t stay long on the hill. He recalled the day the old lady had asked him why he wanted to study, then expressed her support for him to attend high school.

At a little over twenty years old, a man in the countryside was already considered an adult—at the age where one should think about starting a family.

Studying? That was something children did.

But in the old lady’s eyes, perhaps he would always just be a child.

She neither expected him to achieve great things nor hoped for him to repay her for raising him. She simply supported him quietly in doing what he wanted to do. Even on days when they seemed at odds, this remained true.

This time, he might not need to attend high school at all—he might be able to go straight to university.

If he really passed the exam, she—and the others—would surely be proud of him.

Chen Niu’s gaze paused on the three graves one by one. Then he turned his head, looking toward the village below.

He stood up, smacked Qian Niuhua (Shi Qian) on the rump, and then sprinted down the hill.

“Let’s go! We’re going home.”

Shi Qian: “Moo——!”

If you’ve got the guts, don’t run!

Chen Niu could even guess that line before it came. Hearing the furious bellow from Qian Niuhua, he ran while turning back with a grin. “I’m scared.”

He knew Qian Niuhua actually had a pretty good temper. Even if he got angry, it never lasted long. So: run first, talk later.

Once he coaxed him afterward, Qian Niuhua would forgive him.

That night, Chen Niu sighed as he held a needle and thread to mend his pants, staring gloomily at the innocent-looking Shi Qian.

“I was so wrong about you, Qian Niuhua.”

Such a petty little thing—he even tore his pants.

Shi Qian huffed righteously, “Moo moo.”

You should be grateful. I’ve spoiled you for so long that you’ve forgotten your place.

Then, afraid Chen Niu might not get the message, Shi Qian even wrote it down specially:

—Can’t spoil you.

Chen Niu reached out and seriously patted Qian Niuhua’s head. “You don’t have to spoil me. I should be the one spoiling you. You’re just a little calf.”

Shi Qian’s eyes widened. Then he glanced at the needle between Chen Niu’s thumb and forefinger.

Put your needle down first.

The slow-witted Chen Niu immediately withdrew his hand. “I really didn’t do it on purpose.”

Shi Qian nodded.

He believed Chen Niu.

He believed Chen Niu didn’t have such complicated thoughts.

Seeing Qian Niuhua nod so fast and sincerely, clearly buying it, Chen Niu felt happy… but faintly sensed something was off.

He thought about it. Couldn’t figure it out. Gave up.

And continued his great pants-mending project.

After the announcement went out, preparations for the reinstated college entrance exam began everywhere at lightning speed.

Soon, the registration forms arrived.

The young people of Shengli Village all had to collect the forms from Xu Youguang, fill them out, then get them stamped and hand in written materials to the organization.

Everyone’s forms went smoothly. The only one who got stuck was Xie Guoan—Xu Youguang’s son-in-law.

The older batch of educated youths in Shengli Village had all managed to return to the city or been transferred to other teams. The later arrivals were all quite young. So Xie Guoan was the only one who was married. That also meant he was the only one who had to face a difficult choice.

Xie Guoan didn’t argue or fight with Xu Youguang. He simply really wanted to take the exam.

He taught students; in terms of qualifications and mastery of knowledge, he believed he surpassed countless other youths.

It was university, after all. How could he not want it?

Xu Guozi happened to be away for work, and he had no one else to confide in. After thinking it over, he came to find Chen Niu.

He squatted beside Chen Niu’s grafting experiment field, staring at the strange plant combinations while looking like his soul had gone wandering.

Chen Niu had heard a bit of the news. He tossed a cauliflower at him. “Hey, Teacher Xie, what are you zoning out about? Thinking of taking the exam?”

“I want to. But my father-in-law won’t let me.” Xie Guoan sighed. He didn’t even catch the cauliflower or bother to dodge, letting it hit him.

“Why won’t Uncle Xu let you?”

“He says my family’s too far. If I run off, then what? Now I’m teaching— isn’t that good? A proper job.”

Xie Guoan said, “You know how much effort my father-in-law put into securing this job for me. I remember his kindness. I understand he’s worried I’ll leave Guozi behind.”

“And he was right—once the distance gets huge, even if my heart is here, if I am not, what kind of home is that?”

Chen Niu nodded as he listened.

He thought it all made sense.

If Xie Guoan took the exam, he was definitely capable of passing. Then the issues of him leaving, and of heart-here-body-there, would become real problems to face.

Xie Guoan thought Chen Niu came to help him figure things out. He didn’t expect that after hearing his troubles, the guy would just keep nodding vigorously.

Xie Guoan got so annoyed he picked up the cauliflower and threw it back.

It missed—and hit Shi Qian.

Shi Qian looked wronged. “Moo moo?”

I’m listening openly and honestly. Why are you hitting me?

Xie Guoan hurried to apologize. “Sorry, Qian Niuhua! My throw was crooked! I meant to hit Chen Niu.”

Shi Qian glanced at Chen Niu standing on the other side, not entirely convinced.

But Teacher Xie was a good man, and he often explained problems to Chen Niu, so Shi Qian forced himself to believe him.

Shi Qian nodded, granting him mercy.

Seeing this, Xie Guoan still felt amazed. He thought Lin Nanyin was right—Qian Niuhua really looked like he could understand. The way he nodded… looked just like a person.

Amused, Xie Guoan relaxed a little.

He said, “I’ll just stay put. My father-in-law’s right. Things are fine now; no need to stir up trouble.”

Chen Niu said, “I don’t think Guozi would agree.”

“If she knew, she’d definitely push you to take the exam.” Chen Niu had practically grown up with Xu Guozi—he knew that girl’s temperament and personality very well.

Xu Guozi would definitely not be happy to hold Xie Guoan back from improving himself. Unlike Xu Youguang and Xie Guoan, she wouldn’t react with the same rational fear of being separated.

“As long as Guozi doesn’t find out what I’m thinking.”

After settling his thoughts, Xie Guoan told Chen Niu, “Chen Niu, make sure you study hard. You’re basically my student. If you get into college, it’s like I got in.”

Chen Niu scratched his head. “Um, Teacher Xie—”

“Why don’t you apply to a university here in our province? After graduation, when you’re assigned a job, you can pick a place in the area.”

Ah.

Xu Youguang was worried Xie Guoan would go running back to Beijing.

That was the capital—so prosperous and lively. You couldn’t compare it to their countryside at all.

And honestly, once someone reached their hometown, would they still want to come back? Everyone yearns for their own roots.

By then, all of Xie Guoan’s current thoughts and promises might not matter.

Home—this one word could defeat so many things.

But if Xie Guoan was willing to attend a university within the province, then maybe it wasn’t impossible. It would be evidence of his commitment to staying in this land.

Though he would lose the chance to return to his own hometown, this way he could still attend university.

Xie Guoan listened and surprise lit up his face.

His mind turned quickly, and he immediately shouted, “Thanks, brother! I’ll bring you the materials later!”

With a solution in hand, he ran straight home in excitement.

If he didn’t hurry, he really wouldn’t make it in time for registration.

Regarding the reinstated college entrance exam, all he wanted was to attend university—to see more of the world and learn more.

As for his family back home, he knew he had been unfilial. But since he was already married and working here, both families tacitly accepted that he would be living here long-term.

His parents were still relatively young, and his older siblings, who had already been assigned jobs, could take care of them. That allowed Xie Guoan to feel at ease.

He had simply never considered something so simple—he didn’t have to attend a university in Beijing. He had truly been blinded by a single leaf.

Chen Niu, on the other hand, had first considered universities in their own province rather than Beijing, so he easily came up with a solution for Xie Guoan.

Seeing Xie Guoan so happy made Chen Niu happy as well. “Later I’ll join Teacher Xie for another round of review.”

Shi Qian: ?

He stared at Chen Niu in disbelief, shocked. Chen Niu has changed.

His mannerisms were still silly enough to damage his cool and handsome image, but now, beneath that silly exterior, he had clearly opened up a new path—one that benefited himself and others.

Studying really was a wonderful thing.

Chen Niu turned his head, feeling pleased with his own cleverness—only to see Qian Niuhua (Shi Qian) looking at him with pure gratification.

Chen Niu sighed helplessly. “Little ancestor, that’s enough.”

I only do one smart thing and you look at me like that—as if I used to be incredibly stupid.

But when he thought about the past, he swallowed the words obediently.

Because he had truly been stupid.

Frustrated, Chen Niu dove into studying and angrily solved ten physics problems in a row.

Among all subjects, physics was his worst. It was as if the course disliked his brain.

After finishing, he found one problem he still couldn’t solve even after reading the answer—there wasn’t even a detailed solution process.

So Chen Niu picked up his book and went to Shi Qian. “Qian Niuhua, how do you do this one? Where did I go wrong?”

“Teach me, and I’ll take you out for big meat buns later.”

Shi Qian: …Miscalculated.

He used to complain that Chen Niu explained things wrong, so he had corrected two of his physics questions. Now somehow their roles had reversed, and he had become the “teacher.”

And since they lived in the same room, he was naturally the most convenient target for Chen Niu to grab and consult at any time.

Shi Qian resigned himself, pointed out the mistake, and silently prayed for some kind of centralized study area where he could dump two teachers onto Chen Niu so he wouldn’t have to be dragged into this.

He definitely wasn’t craving big meat buns—he just pitied this “child” for not having a proper study environment.

Thanks to Chen Niu’s suggestion, Xie Guoan successfully registered.

When Xu Guozi came back and learned about the situation, she scolded Xie Guoan thoroughly, then directly helped him request leave from the school so he could focus entirely on studying.

Shi Qian’s wish came true—Chen Niu managed to squeeze into Teacher Xie’s “review class.”

It started with just the two of them, then Lin Nanyin joined, forming a three-person study group.

Among the three, two were obvious academic stars, and they were often asked questions by others.

When those two were too busy, Chen Niu would step in. He soon discovered he could solve quite a few people’s problems.

After he showed what he could do, everyone realized—this seemingly ordinary local guy had quietly become an academic achiever.

When asked why, Chen Niu replied honestly, “I had to teach Qian Niuhua, so I studied a bit myself.”

Everyone who knew Shi Qian could do math: …Respect.

But because Chen Niu was buried in studying, he even skipped work. The only reason he got to eat meat buns was because, after filling out their university preferences, he accompanied Xie Guoan to the county to mail letters home. Because of that—

Shi Qian had to forage for grass all on his own.

And while eating, he discovered the house didn’t have enough grass left.

But that was fine—Shi Qian didn’t want to bother anyone studying for exams, so he strolled to the cowshed on his own.

Xu Aigang was clearly still craving his body, but Shi Qian had been training diligently. He pretended to get angry, released a bit of his aura, and startled the whole cowshed into a restless mess.

Xu Aigang panicked and hurried to soothe his cows.

Among the herd, a large water buffalo seized a moment when Xu Aigang wasn’t looking and charged out, trying to fight Shi Qian.

Shi Qian shook his head, stepped forward, and knocked the massive buffalo over in one move.

What could he do? He was someone who ascended, could cultivate, and was basically overpowered.

Brother Buffalo, don’t do this to yourself.

Shi Qian picked up a mouthful of grass, attempting to communicate peaceful intentions to Water Buffalo Bro.

Water Buffalo Bro didn’t dare take a bite. With a loud “Moo—!” he turned around and ran back into his stall.

Seeing the cows had calmed down and that the fight hadn’t actually escalated, Xu Aigang breathed a sigh of relief and stuck up his thumb. “Qian Niuhua, you’re amazing.”

Shi Qian, busy chewing grass, replied blankly, “Moo moo.”

I am a cow, after all.

Once he was full, Shi Qian let out a satisfied “moo,” waved a hoof-like gesture at Xu Aigang, and prepared to head home.

Xu Aigang: ?

“Qian Niuhua, you’re just leaving after eating? You’re not staying here?”

Of course he wasn’t staying.

But Shi Qian thought for a moment—using Xu Aigang’s place as a free buffet and leaving without paying wasn’t very nice.

So he turned around and gave Xu Aigang a “hug” worth more than a thousand catties.

Was Xu Aigang touched?

Considering that the big water buffalo had been flattened by that exact same gesture just moments ago, he didn’t dare move.

Shi Qian assumed he wasn’t satisfied and pressed himself against him a couple more times, rubbing quite vigorously at the side of his neck.

Only when Xu Aigang bravely lifted a hand, patted his head, and said, “Qian Niuhua, that’s enough, that’s enough,” did Shi Qian leave contentedly.

He, Shi Qian, was not the type to freeload off cattle.

As for “hug services”—he was extremely experienced! Satisfaction guaranteed.