After returning for a month, she busily took back the admission notice, earned some money, and finally, it was time to report to school!
"Remember to call mom when you get to school! Make sure to eat and sleep on time. Studying is important, but your health is even more crucial!"
"Okay, mom, don't worry! I'll call you as soon as I get there!"
She patted Xiao Xu's head and reminded him, "After I leave, you must listen to mom. Remember, don't go out to play alone, understand?"
"Okay, I got it! When will you come back, sis?" Tian Xu asked, tilting his head.
"Hmm... start counting from tomorrow, and on the 31st day!"
"1, 2, 3... I can count to 100!" Xiao Xu started counting on his fingers.
"Next time, count to 100!" she said with a smile, opening her arms, "Come, give me a hug!"
How wonderful!
At this moment, nothing could surpass the warmth her family gave her.
"Then I'm leaving! Xiao Xu, say goodbye to your sister!"
"Goodbye, sister!"
Watching Xiao Xu's big head and waving little hand made her eyes red again. She dashed over, picked him up, and hugged him and mom together, choking up, "Mom, make sure to watch Xiao Xu and take care of yourself. I'll come back as soon as I have a holiday!"
"Okay! Don't worry, mom will keep a good eye on Xiao Xu! You focus on your studies! Don't worry about home!" Mom wiped her tears, tidied the strands of hair in front of her forehead, "Go on now! Don't delay!"
The person leaving home looked back every few steps, filled with reluctance. Walking far away, she turned around, and mom and Xiao Xu were still waving at her!
"Wait, Xinxin!"
"Don't rush off! Wait a moment!
She was almost out of the village, just had to cross the ditch to catch the car. She was about to go downhill when she suddenly heard someone calling her from behind.
Turning around, it was Aunt Zhang and Uncle Guo. Uncle Guo still drove his three-wheeler.
"Uncle, Aunt, why are you here?" She stepped forward and held Aunt Zhang's hand.
"Xinxin, you're going to college, and Aunt Zhang doesn't have much to give you. Here, take these few eggs!" Aunt Zhang stuffed a few boiled eggs into Tian Xin's hand and tidied her hair.
"Girl, you have helped Aunt a lot. Take good care of yourself at school, okay?"
"I will, thank you, Aunt Zhang!"
"Xinxin, I'm not at ease with you going to the county by yourself. I'll see you off,"
Uncle Guo was known for his enthusiasm in the village. Hearing her refuse, he directly said, "Eh. That won't do, you're now the village's pride, and I must see you to the station today!"
"What pride? It's just a little help, you're too formal!" she said with a smile.
Uncle Guo put Tian Xin's luggage on the vehicle, smiling, "It's not about being formal; it's why you must let me take you to the station!"
Alright then!
She turned around, jumped onto the vehicle, and shouted into the distance, "Aunt, come visit my house when you're free!"
"Alright!" Aunt Zhang waved her hand.
The three-wheeler rattled downhill towards the county.
"Wait a minute!"
"Xinxin, don't go yet! Hang on!"
"We came to see you off!"
"Wait a moment..."
...
Before crossing the ditch, she heard someone calling her again. Turning back—
What's with today? One wave after another!
This time, goodness! A throng of people rushed over!
"Uncle, stop the vehicle!" She shouted to Uncle Guo. Once the vehicle stopped, she quickly jumped off and ran up the slope.
So many people!
Neighbors, uncles, and aunts, Aunt Li and Uncle Li next door! Grandpa Liu from the east end of the village! Almost half the village was here, the ones who helped sell the Sichuan pepper.
"Uncles, aunts, why did you all come?" As soon as Tian Xin ran up, she was surrounded by the crowd, "We're here to see you off!"
"Here, Xinxin, these are peanuts grown at home. Bring some!"
"These are from my house, walnuts..."
"I don't have much, here's two yuan, take it!"
Aunt Li stuffed two yuan into her hand.
"I can't take this; Aunt, please take it back. It's not easy for you to earn money!" Tian Xin put the money back into Aunt Li's hand.
"Take it! Aunt doesn't have much to give, this bit of money is for you to buy something to eat on the road! You've helped us so much, we're all grateful to you!" The money was back in her hand.
"That's right, Xinxin, it's a small token from everyone, don't refuse it, just accept it!" Aunt Zhang came over to persuade.
"Thank you all, I am truly happy that you came to see me off. After I leave, I entrust you all to help look after my mom and Xiao Xu! Thank you..."
She gave everyone a deep bow! The villagers were indeed warm-hearted.
"Stand up, child, we're all from the same village, it's only right to help! Moreover, it's we who should thank you!"
"Yes, you are this year's only college student in the village! You're our pride!"
"Without you, this year's Sichuan pepper wouldn't have sold at such a good price!"
"Yes, Xinxin is indeed our pride!"
Everyone was showering her with praise, causing her tears to nearly fall!
As the three-wheeler moved uphill, she saw that throng of people still standing there waving at her...
Her hands were filled with the goodwill gifts from everyone!
She carried this heavy goodwill through her four-year university journey!
It was from this moment that she finally confirmed the meaning of her life in this world.
In her heart, she vowed: she would do her utmost to change this poor little mountain village, so that everyone could lead a good life!
She knew, she definitely could!
At the end of 2002, when she was just a sophomore, a pneumonia epidemic swept through the southern cities, and a nationwide effort began to combat the outbreak.
Disinfectant, Banlangen, masks, thermometers were all out of stock, causing many people to panic, and Xinxin's village was no exception. Most people working in the south hurried back home.
She was locked down at the school.
"Mom, hand over the batch of masks and thermometers I bought earlier to Uncle Tian."
"Don't ask, just give it to him!"
She knew that this pandemic would last more than half a year, and currently all major pharmacies were sold out of anti-epidemic supplies, making it impossible to buy them. These items could solve the urgent needs of the village.
Uncle Tian, whose full name is Tian Fushun, was the village committee director.
His parents died during the great famine, and it was Xinxin's grandparents who raised him in the early years. He took great care of their family, especially after Xinxin's father passed away. Only by entrusting him could Xinxin feel at ease.
Soon, she received a call from Tian Fushun.
This call became the turning point of her life.
"Xinxin, uncle has something to tell you!"
"Please, go ahead, uncle."
Over the phone, Xinxin found Uncle Tian's voice particularly affectionate.
"The country is now supporting university students to become village officials and build rural areas. Our village also plans to introduce talents. Last time, you donated supplies to everyone and made a special contribution to the village. Would you like to give it a try?"
"Do you think I'm capable?"
"Xinxin, you've donated supplies to the village and helped villagers sell Sichuan peppercorns, solving many problems. This quality is a must-have to become a village official!"
"Our village is very poor and needs someone like you to build it up!"
Xinxin thought of the day she went to university, when half the villagers came to see her off.
They said she was the pride of the village.
"Uncle Tian, I've made up my mind, I want to be this village official."
From the moment she decided to become a village official, Xinxin prepared herself in every way.
Becoming a village official required passing a rigorous selection process and interview, meeting the conditions to take office.
During university, she actively participated in various evaluations and activities, all to prepare for becoming a village official.
As graduation approached, she passed all the evaluations.
Uncle Tian called to tell her that she could report directly to the village committee as soon as she graduated.
Today was the first day of the holiday, and Xinxin took a car home early in the morning. If there were no surprises, the appointment letter for the village official would arrive in the next few days.
"You're back, Xinxin!"
"Xinxin's back!"
As soon as she entered the village, she encountered several villagers on the road who warmly greeted her.
"I heard you became the village official, is it true?"
"Will you help everyone sell Sichuan peppercorns again this year?"
"How's university life, Xinxin?"
Xinxin walked along, responding to everyone. People were really enthusiastic. Passing through the threshing floor, a group waved her over to chat and catch up.
It was lunchtime, and the threshing floor was cool. The simple folks from the Northwest squatted in the shade, holding big bowls of noodles.
She greeted everyone as she walked past!
"Xinxin, I heard you're going to be a village official, is it true?" Uncle Guo asked.
"Yes, the appointment letter hasn't arrived yet! It's almost certainly true!" Xinxin said.
"As a village official, what do you plan to do for everyone?" Uncle Li asked with a smile.
"What would you like me to do?"
"Of course, it's to help everyone make money, right, everyone?" Uncle Li shouted to the crowd.
"Yeah!"
"Yeah!"
"Exactly, Xinxin, use your university knowledge, come up with ideas to make money for everyone! Just selling Sichuan peppercorns isn't enough, haha!" Uncle Guo cheerfully said!
"Alright! As long as I can become the village official, I'll definitely think of ways to help everyone make money! Not only you, but the aunts and ladies can also earn their living with their hands! As long as everyone needs it! I'll do my best to help everyone live a good life!" Xinxin emphatically said, putting her luggage down, and bowed deeply to everyone.
"Support! Definitely support! You helped sell Sichuan peppercorns without asking for anything in return, willing to work for everyone, and we all support you!"
"Yeah!"
"Go all out, Xinxin!"
Xinxin was very moved! Everyone saying that truly considered her as the village official. Before even starting, they already had such high hopes, she couldn't let them down!
"I will!" Xinxin shouted: "I'll do my best!"
"Xinxin, why did you just get back? Hurry, the village committee called for you! Go quickly!" Her mom hurriedly ran over, took her luggage, and urged her to report to the village committee.
This fast!
Xinxin bowed to everyone, and quickly ran towards the village committee!