Chapter 004: Subterranean Lava (IV)

"Indeed," Li Xiaoyang said with the most affirmative tone

On the way, he had already heard the news of his admission. Upon seeing his father's expression, he immediately guessed what was on Li Laodie's mind. Without saying a word, he picked up the admission notice from the table to look at it. The notice was from G City University of Technology, and without needing to look, Li Xiaoyang already knew, as he had only applied to this one school. The main reason he chose this institution was because it offered a full scholarship, in addition to being a well-known university in the country, which led Li Xiaoyang to forgo Q University and B University to apply here.

The total of tuition fees and living expenses amounts to just over 10,000 yuan, and this is only for the first year. University lasts for three years, so it will cost at least 30,000 to 40,000 yuan to complete the program. For the Li family, whose annual income is only a few hundred yuan, this is an astronomical sum. Where could they possibly come up with that amount

After carefully reading it, Li Xiaoyang said to his father: "Dad, you don't need to worry about https://m.hetushu.com.com"

Old Li let out a long sigh and murmured, "It's really good, it's really good..." The remaining living expenses were also a considerable amount, which still gave Old Li a bit of a headache. However, with the major issue resolved, the rest would be much easier to handle

Old Li held the university admission notice in his hands, feeling both joy and sorrow. The joy came from the fact that a university student had emerged from the nine towns and eighteen villages surrounding Que'er Mountain; if this were one or two hundred years ago, he would have been considered a top scholar. And this person happened to be his own son. At this moment, Old Li felt an indescribable joy and pride in his heart. However, he was also troubled, troubled by how to come up with the tuition fees for his son to attend school.

Upon receiving the news, the mother immediately took out all of her dowry, which was originally intended for Li Xiaoyang's marriage. However, as she and the books say: "Since our son is already in university, why worry about finding a wife? Once he acquires the necessary skills, these things will surely return manifold." Although the mother is an illiterate peasant woman, her vision is indeed far-reaching. As she and the books say: "Since our son is already in university, why worry about finding a wife? Once he acquires the necessary skills, these things will surely return manifold." Although the mother is an illiterate peasant woman, her vision is indeed far-reaching.

What is there to worry about? Look here, "Li Xiaotiao pointed to a section on the paper and said: 'I have excellent grades, and the school will provide a full scholarship, which means Dad, you only need to give me a little living allowance; the school will cover my tuition!'"

Indeed, Old Man Li still found it hard to believe; there is no free lunch in this world, how could there be such a cheap deal

After being somewhat elevated by the villagers' praise, Old Li returned home, and his expression immediately turned sour. Although he had already made up his mind to sell everything he had to support his child’s education, the financial situation at home was such that even if he sold everything, he could not gather the more than 10,000 yuan needed. And what about the following two years? Selling himself would not be worth that amount. What to do? Having never encountered any major events in his life, Old Li was now feeling a bit at a loss. He calculated and recalculated in his mind but could not come up with a good idea.

"The school is helping you out?" Old Li was taken aback and exclaimed, "Is there such a cheap deal? Let me see it!" As he spoke, he took the notice from Li Xiaoyang's hand and examined it back and forth for a long time. He could understand it, but for their generation, growing up in such a difficult era, there were few opportunities to attend school, and he couldn't recognize a single character. The content of the notice was something the postman had read to him. He had no idea there was such a provision.

Can I not worry? I... I think about how I have worked hard for most of my life, and in the end, I can't even afford to pay for my child's education. The feeling of helplessness in my heart is overwhelming, and when I think about it, my voice chokes and I can no longer continue speaking

However, not allowing him to study is certainly unacceptable. It is not easy for a family from nine towns and eighteen villages to produce a college graduate, especially when it is their own son. This is a matter of great pride for the family. Moreover, after working hard for most of his life, Old Li does not want his son to end up like him, spending his entire life in this small valley, toiling in the fields. Education is a good way out; others cannot even hope for such an opportunity. His son has worked hard and managed to get into college on his own, so they cannot give up on this chance. Even if it means selling everything they have, they must support him in his studies.

With a resolute mind, Old Li steadied his heart, shaking the pristine notification letter in his hand as he hurried home. The villagers who rushed over surrounded Old Li like stars surrounding the moon, watching the uncontainable smile on his face, feeling a deep envy for how he had such an outstanding child. Despite their envy, the villagers were genuinely happy, as a university student had emerged from their own village, bringing them a sense of shared honor.

With the utmost effort of the entire family, we finally managed to gather a year's living expenses of 2,000 yuan. This amount could comfortably sustain us for several years in the Que'er Mountain area, but in the bustling metropolis of City G, it is merely enough to make ends meet

Whenever Old Li had something troubling him, he would smoke dry tobacco, and at this moment, he was puffing away incessantly. When Li Xiaoyang returned from the fields, the small hall at home was already filled with smoke as if it were on fire.

Of course it is true, it is written in black and white, surely you wouldn't deceive me! Before the college entrance examination, Li Xiaoyang had already thought everything through. He knew that his family's financial situation could not afford the tuition fee of over 10,000 yuan. The only solution was to obtain a scholarship, which would allow his family to barely cover the remaining living expenses. Once he arrived at school, everything would be manageable. In the cave, Li Xiaoyang collected many diamonds, which he could sell later to secure his future tuition fees. The only solution was to obtain a scholarship, which would allow his family to barely cover the remaining living expenses. Once he arrived at school, everything would be manageable. In the cave, Li Xiaoyang collected many diamonds, which he could sell later to secure his future tuition fees.

In September, Li Xiaoyang boarded a train to City G, carrying a large sack filled with clothes and local produce prepared by his mother.