Chapter 288 – A Swapped Life
When Shi Xue went to school with the admission letter, Captain Zhou and his wife locked up Zhou Yun, depriving her of food. In the end, it was Zhou Feng who took the fainting Zhou Yun to the Sun family.
The Sun family was the one they planned to marry Zhou Yun into. The Sun family were carpenters and relatively wealthy, which was why they could afford to find another wife for the eldest son of the family, who had become a widower the previous year.
However, this eldest son of the Sun family was already 36 years old and had three children.
His wife had died in childbirth the previous year, along with the baby she was carrying.
Zhou Yun was to become an immediate stepmother upon marrying him.
Although the eldest son of the Sun family was a good man, that wasn’t a reason for Zhou Yun to stay. Zhou Yun, being so intelligent, deserved a broader platform to showcase her intelligence and talents, not to be a stepmother in a remote rural area.
In fact, when Xu Jinning thought about Zhou Yun’s situation, he couldn’t help but consider a larger issue.
Zhou Yun wasn’t the only one whose admission letter was taken and whose spot at college was replaced.
What was swapped was not just an admission letter or a college spot but their lives.
Unlike in the 21st century, where college graduates were abundant and finding a job was difficult, in this era, getting into college could truly change one’s destiny. Upon graduation, jobs were assigned, and the better one’s grades, the more important the positions one could get.
This allowed them to stay in the city and significantly elevate their social status.
But because of some people’s selfishness, they took away others’ chances for education and cut off their originally bright futures, replacing them and thus leading them down different life paths.
Especially for some rural girls, they originally relied on their own abilities to get into college, which allowed them to study and have a broader future. They could be like eagles, having a sky of their own to soar freely.
Instead, they were forced to stay in the countryside, marry early, manage household chores, and raise children.
Xu Jinning wondered if there was a way to have schools across the country conduct an investigation and verify records, allowing those who originally got into college to reclaim their admission letters and their lives.
She needed to think it through carefully, discuss it with others, and see if there was a feasible way.
After all, carrying this out would not be an easy task.
Meanwhile, Cai Shumin, after hearing Xu Jinning’s thoughts, decided she couldn’t ignore it.
Even though she had confirmed that Shi Xue, who was in the same class as Fang Hua, was indeed the woman Zhou Yinsheng had feelings for, she initially had little reaction.
She didn’t want to deal with this person, as they were strangers from beginning to end.
But now, this woman had stolen someone else’s hard-earned college admission letter, using someone else’s efforts as her stepping stone to success.
This was something Cai Shumin couldn’t stand by and watch.
Especially when she put herself in Zhou Yun’s shoes.
If she were Zhou Yun and encountered such a situation, how desperate would she feel?
How much would she hope someone would help her at such a time?
After leaving the courtyard, Cai Shumin began thinking of ways to expose Shi Xue.
The only thing she could think of was to write a letter of complaint to the president of Beijing University.
She decided to expose everything Shi Xue had done.
She hoped the president of Beijing University would take it seriously and bring justice to Zhou Yun.
Having made up her mind, Cai Shumin didn’t delay. She immediately picked up pen and paper and began writing.
The next day, the letter was delivered to the president’s mailbox at Beijing University.
…
Xu Jinning and Cai Shumin were unaware that while they were contemplating how to seek justice for Zhou Yun and those whose college admission letters were stolen, Zhou Yun, at the Sun family’s home, was handed a bundle of money.
“Go, go to Beijing. Reclaim your college spot. Go study. You are a smart and wonderful girl. You shouldn’t be confined to a small rural area; you deserve a better future.”
The speaker was none other than Sun Jianguo, the eldest son of the Sun family.
At 36 years old, he was a tall, sturdy man with honest and simple features, and bright eyes.
He looked at Zhou Yun with a mix of reluctance and affection, but he concealed his feelings well.
Zhou Yun looked at the money in her hand and immediately noticed several large bills among them.
Had she bet correctly? Was Sun Jianguo truly a good man?
Yes, she had known he was a good man from the moment she was sent to the Sun family and met him.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have refrained from forcing her on their wedding night when she was unwilling.
Since then, he had protected her in every way at the Sun family.
And now, after she told him about her situation, he gave her money for travel expenses to go to Beijing, to reclaim what was rightfully hers, to study, and to seek a better future.
Seeing Zhou Yun’s silence, Sun Jianguo said, “Actually, you should have told me earlier. If you had told me sooner, you could have gone to Beijing earlier. I wouldn’t have forced you.”
“But still, I want to thank you. Over the past six months, you’ve been by my side, helping me take care of the three children and teaching them to read. You’re a wonderful girl. They all like you and say you’re amazing. They say they want to be as amazing as Aunt Zhou Yun in the future.” As he spoke, Sun Jianguo rubbed the back of his head and laughed awkwardly.
Listening to Sun Jianguo, Zhou Yun could only manage a bitter smile.
Tell him right from the start?
How could she have dared?
Even her own parents and brother could scheme against her like this, so how could she dare trust anyone else?
Even though her first impression of Sun Jianguo was good, she still observed him for six months before letting her guard down.
At first, Zhou Yun didn’t trust Sun Jianguo or anyone in the Sun family.
Her only plan was to lie low temporarily and then find a way to escape.
During this time, she tried hard to appear obedient and calm.
She treated Sun Jianguo and his three children well, but only she knew how much sincerity there was in it. She was merely trying to lull them into complacency while seeking an opportunity to escape.
After all, if her own family could deceive her so cruelly, how could she trust strangers with whom she had no emotional ties?
But now, this very person was giving her money and supporting her to reclaim what was rightfully hers and pursue her dreams.
In fact, she had already been planning her escape during this time.
However, over the past six months, she had seen Sun Jianguo’s kindness and honesty, so she decided to take another gamble.
She shared her situation with Sun Jianguo.
With his help, her departure would be smoother.
Now, looking at the money in her hand, Zhou Yun knew she had bet correctly!
“Pack your bags tonight. I’ve already prepared an introduction letter for you. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to the station,” Sun Jianguo continued.
“If I leave, what about you? After all…” After all, she was the wife he had paid for.
