An, my sweetheart, was not surprised when I told him of my decision. “I see. In our lifetime, we always cherish such an illusion,” he said. I was offended, but he only smiled. “I intend that I’ll work for some time, say one or two years. When we’re qualified enough, we’ll get married,” I said. “Ah, a member of the intelligentsia!,” aunt remarked sarcastically. “You are showing your scholar’s pride, are you?” She had reason to be bitter, because I had turned down her offer of help – work for a foreign firm with a good salary.