The spring of '78 arrived exceptionally early.
On a crisp morning, as the ice and snow began to melt, Ji Xiaosong was hanging diapers to dry in the courtyard. Suddenly, she heard the mailman shout from beyond the gate, "A registered letter for the Xu Weidong household!"
The gilt words "Shangjing University" on the envelope glittered in the sunlight.
Ji Xiaosong's fingers trembled, and the diaper fell back into the water basin.
"Department of Physics…"
She murmured the name of her major, then abruptly crouched down and buried her face in her hands.
Her three children were sleeping soundly inside. Xu Weidong had left for the factory before dawn to oversee a new furnace of experimental steel. This piece of paper in her hand, she knew, would tear their family in two.
"Xiaosong, your lacrimal fluid pH is elevated."
Ji Dan appeared silently behind her, offering a square of coarse cloth. "Shall I calculate the optimal domestic solution?"
