Back to the Eighties: I'm Going to School

Xia Qiuju wasn't born to the Xia family. She was adopted so she could support her father in his old age.

For that reason, her father and grandmother never let her attend school, not even for a single day. They also arranged for her to marry a poor man who would live with her family.

Later, Xia Qiuju had three sons. She and her husband were both fairly hardworking, and their life was passable. She didn't feel that anything was missing.

Until one day, she went to visit her cousins in the capital. When they learned that their older cousin had never attended school, her cousins, who were about her age, were utterly shocked.

Their shock shocked Xia Qiuju.

For the first time, she realized that never having gone to school was something people found astonishing.

But by then, Xia Qiuju was already middle-aged. Her life had nearly run its course. What could she do about it?

Then Xia Qiuju was reborn.

A village friend told her, "Your dad and grandma won't let you go to school, so you can't come with us."

The reborn Xia Qiuju raised her eyes. "I'll go find Second Uncle."

Second Uncle was the father of her cousins. He was still alive at this point, living in a big city. Back home, his name was known far and wide.

Second Uncle Xia never expected to see this niece with no blood ties to him standing at his doorstep one day.

The girl's dark face tilted up. "Second Uncle, I want to go to school!"

Would going to school make her life any different? Xia Qiuju didn't know, but she wanted to try.

[Warning]: The author doesn't provide content warnings. Readers who need them, please don't read.

October 2, 2023

Theme: Seize the opportunities life offers