Most of the students in the valley successfully got into their dream schools.
Before the Chinese New Year, when they were preparing to leave the valley and return to Harbin, most of the students' parents approached Chen Lan. Out of their love for this land, they hoped Chen Lan would persuade their children. They all wished for their children to enroll in Northeast Agricultural University, or Heilongjiang Agricultural University, or even agricultural universities in other provinces.
For instance, Xu Mingxuan's comrades, Xu Hao and Qian Yingzi, approached Chen Lan, hoping she would persuade the brothers, Gang Dan and Tie Dan. They wished that at least one of the brothers would enroll in Northeast Agricultural University or Heilongjiang Agricultural University.
Xu Mingxuan's other comrade, Zhou Dashi, also hoped his son, Xiao Nangua, would enroll in Northeast Agricultural University. Zhou Sixi felt the same, wishing Xiao Tudou would enroll in Northeast Agricultural University or Heilongjiang Agricultural University.
Their purpose in seeking out Chen Lan was the same as Qian Yingzi's couple: to have Chen Lan persuade the children to enroll in Northeast Agricultural University.
They all said that the children in the valley listened to Aunt Chen Lan the most!
Chen Lan naturally could not agree to their request. When her own ten children were filling out their college applications, she hadn't interfered, so how could she interfere in the future of other people's children?
Therefore, Chen Lan instead advised, "Please relax! Let the children make their own decisions about their studies! Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes. You should go with the flow. This kind of thing cannot be forced. Only when they like something will they be passionate about their chosen career. Let the children choose their own paths for the future!
Now the admission letters have finally been sent out! Several children in the valley have been admitted to agricultural universities. This is truly a cause for great joy.
Since the admission letters have been received, Chen Lan naturally needs to start making preparations.
First, they need to tidy up the house at 106 Xida Zhijie, which is close to Harbin Institute of Technology. After all, Chunni and Tan Weidang, the young couple, along with their second daughter Chunhua and third daughter Chunfang, have all received admission letters from Harbin Institute of Technology, so they will move in as soon as school starts.
As soon as Tan Weidang received his admission letter, he rushed back to Qinhuangdao to transfer his household registration and grain ration status.
Chen Lan currently has too many things to do and also needs to return to the valley to make arrangements. Therefore, Chen Lan had to arrange for Jiahui to take her three older sisters to find Old Zhang Tou, still intending for him to arrange for someone to help tidy up the house on Xida Zhijie.
As Chen Lan had initially estimated, with the restoration of the college entrance examination, the teacher's family, who had been sheltering in the black market, was now safe. They had moved back to their own home before the Spring Festival. The teacher had resumed his work and was now returning to Harbin Normal University as a teacher.
Chen Lan left the triplets at home to keep her mother company and returned to the valley with her brothers Jiaxing and Jiahe.
After discussing with Zheng Sanpao, Qi Shengli, and Zhao Tie, Chen Lan convened a general assembly in the valley. Chen Lan announced her resignation as the head of the valley and decided to temporarily hand over the management of the valley to them.
When everyone heard Chen Lan's decision, they erupted in an uproar. They became restless and asked Chen Lan if she would no longer be in charge of them.
Chen Lan smiled and explained loudly, "Everyone, please don't worry, listen to me first. This decision is only temporary! The valley is also national land, so the valley will eventually be returned to the country!"
When the crowd heard Chen Lan's words, they became even more unsettled, shouting, "Then what do we do? Where will we live after the valley is handed over to the country? We've lived here for decades and are already used to life here!"
Chen Lan stood up and shouted, "Quiet, please be quiet, let me finish. Think about how difficult it was back then, and I, Chen Lan, never abandoned you all. So I hope you will trust me one more time. I promise you now that when the country's new policies are introduced, and when the country is peaceful, and private individuals can rent land! I will contract a large area of barren land with mountains and water from the country, build houses, build factories, build schools, build hospitals, and then lead everyone to live a good life together. Do you think this is acceptable?"
The crowd quieted down upon hearing Chen Lan's words. At this point, Qian Yingzi asked, "Xiao Lan, our whole family has lived in the valley for over twenty years and is already accustomed to life here. If we don't want to leave the valley and still want to live here, will the country not allow us to stay?"
Chen Lan smiled and explained, "Sister Yingzi, you worry too much. Don't worry, even if the valley is eventually returned to the country, the country will not mistreat the families of heroes! Even if the country reclaims the valley, won't there still be people to cultivate the land? Won't there be people to raise the pigs, sheep, chickens, and ducks? At that time, you can join hands with a few families who are unwilling to leave the valley, pool your money, and contract the valley yourselves. This way, the valley will belong to you!"
At this moment, Zhang Dani, Li Daqiang's wife, spoke up, "But Xiao Lan, after so many years, we've never left the valley. Where would we get the money to contract it?"
Chen Lan replied with a smile, "Sister Dani, Sister Yingzi, please relax! If the country's policies are introduced at that time, and private individuals are allowed to contract the valley, this contracting fee will be paid by our family. This will be considered a return for your contributions to the valley over the years. Do you think this is acceptable?"
As soon as Chen Lan finished speaking, there were immediate objections from the audience. They discussed amongst themselves, saying that the money should not be paid by Chen Lan, and that if they really did this, it would be rather ungracious and exploitative.
Xu Hao and Li Daqiang also strongly objected. They said loudly, "Xiao Lan, if that's the case, what would that make us? Wouldn't we be ungrateful wretches? Back then, your family took us in out of goodwill because of the Commissar, and you didn't mind that we were disabled and a burden, allowing us to live a life of warmth and sustenance. How can we still ask for your money now?"
Chen Lan was very satisfied with everyone's reaction. It showed that she wasn't truly being taken advantage of and that they knew how to be grateful!
With this thought in mind, Chen Lan said, with a mix of sincerity and playful exaggeration, "Don't refuse. When you first came to the valley, our family promised you that everyone who came to the valley would live a life of abundance. If you don't agree, it would mean our family has broken its promise, and then the heavens would take away our good luck!"