After Qian Shulan talked with Kong Qiuyun, they decided to let nature take its course. If the two of them could really be together, that would of course be the best outcome. If not, there would be no regrets.
As for Zhuzi's obsession, Qian Shulan didn't think it was a big deal. From her understanding, no matter how sad Zhuzi was, he wouldn't do anything to hurt himself. Since he wouldn't do anything stupid, then what did she have to worry about
The next day, when she arrived at the food factory, Qian Shulan found that Zhuzi was a little absent-minded at work. Looking at his expression, she knew that he had a bad night.
During lunch, the others walked in front, while Qian Shulan and Zhuzi walked behind. She coughed lightly and said, "I heard from your second uncle that the higher-ups are discussing the matter of reinstating the college entrance examination."
Because the students of the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University had different educational levels, many school leaders had complaints. Although these people did not dare to oppose the opinions of the higher authorities, they complained a lot in private. Some people suggested reinstating the college entrance examination. However, the rumors were widely spread, and there was no definite news in the end. So her words were not very abrupt.
Zhuzi was slightly stunned. Resume the college entrance examination
It’s not that Zhuzi had never thought about going to college before, but it was just too chaotic outside and he didn’t want to go out at all.
Seeing that he was still in a daze, Qian Shulan explained more clearly, "Those educated youth also have this opportunity."
Zhuzi raised his eyebrows and instantly understood what his grandmother meant, "Are you saying that the educated youth can pass the college entrance examination and return to the city?"
"Yes!" Not only that, she also heard that the number of places to return to the city is very limited. She didn't know if Wangjia Village would have any more places to return to the city this year.
Qian Shulan thought for a moment and added, "If you want to go to college in the city with Kong Qiuyun, and spend more time together, maybe you two can be together. If in the end, she still doesn't care about you, it can only mean that you are not her type. If you have tried and worked hard, you will have no regrets in the future."
Zhuzi bit his lower lip. Should he take the gamble? If he won, he could marry the girl he loved. If he lost, he would just have to go through the bloody storm outside. As for staying in the city, Zhuzi didn't think it was a big problem. If he wanted to be a worker, it would be better to work in the city.
There was only one chance, but Zhuzi was unwilling to give up. "I'm going to try my best once!"
He is still young, and even if he really fails, he has a way out. He has a home in Wangjia Village, and his mother will definitely not abandon him.
Qian Shulan was very satisfied with his decision. In her opinion, one should be full of energy all the time and not be like a turtle, hiding in its shell all the time.
Qian Shulan patted him on the back and encouraged him with a smile, "Since you have made the decision, tell Kong Qiuyun the news. After all, she will remember your favor." Although the favor is not big, it can at least win her favor.
Zhuzi nodded.
When he went to work in the afternoon, he specifically asked a child from the village to help him go to the educated youth site to call for help.
Kong Qiuyun came out and found that it was him calling her. She was slightly startled. Thinking of what Director Qian said, she felt very uneasy.
Because what Director Qian said was ambiguous, she did not tell anyone about it after she came back.
Besides, it is useless to cram for this kind of thing at the last minute, because all members need to vote. It doesn't matter whether you know it earlier or later.
The two of them arrived at a secluded place. Zhuzi looked at Kong Qiuyun shyly and said, "My grandma told me about coming to see you. She asked me to tell you that the higher-ups are considering resuming the college entrance examination, and it will probably take two or three years for the documents to come down."
Reinstate the college entrance examination? Not the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University? "Really?" The college entrance examination has been suspended for six or seven years, how can it be restored
"My grandma said it very confidently. She has a wide network of connections and knows many people in high places. It should be true." Zhuzi never doubted that his grandma would lie to him. After all, his grandma knew many important people. For example, County Magistrate Jiang's family and Mr. Fang were all capable people. They could hear the news from Beijing. Unlike them, they were blind and could not even leave Liuguan County without a letter of introduction.
You know what, Kong Qiuyun actually believed it. After all, she had lived in this production team for more than five years. Although she didn't know everyone, she knew the key people. Director Qian was definitely the person with the most connections in Wangjia Village. If she said it was true, then it was probably true.
Zhuzi waved his hand and said, "But this is just a suggestion. It won't happen in a short time. You have to be patient."
"I definitely have the patience." She hasn't touched a book for five years, and even if she takes the exam next year, she may not pass.
Two or three years would actually be more beneficial to her. She curled her lips and showed a sincere smile, "Thank you!"
Zhuzi was a little flattered. When she had a cold face, she seemed to be able to keep people at a distance. When she smiled, it was like a warm sun in winter, which warmed people's hearts. "I just told you the news. As for whether you can pass the exam, I'm afraid you still have to work hard on your own."
Kong Qiuyun was stunned. He didn't even take credit for it. She thought for a moment and then smiled. "No matter what, I owe you this favor, and I will definitely pay you back in the future."
Seeing that she insisted, Zhuzi had no choice but to nod. The two talked for a while and then parted.
Kong Qiuyun did not hide this news from others. After all, everyone had a chance to pass the exam, which was a good thing. However, she only heard it from others, so everyone was skeptical.
Those who were interested wrote home to ask. Of course, there was no answer. Everyone thought Kong Qiuyun must have been fooled.
Seeing that no one believed her, Kong Qiuyun did not make any excuses. She couldn't just give Director Qian away to make everyone believe her! If it was true, the higher-ups might blame Director Qian for leaking the news, and she would be held accountable if she was held accountable. That would be too unfair to them.
Kong Qiuyun took some money and went to the production team to buy old books from those people who had attended junior high school and high school.
The villagers have all heard these rumors to some extent.
Liu Yueqin was a little surprised. Her husband was a primary school principal and often dealt with the Education Bureau, but there was no policy from above. She smiled and asked, "Kong Zhiqing, do you really believe that news?"
Kong Qiuyun shrugged indifferently, "As long as there is a chance, I will always try. I haven't been back for five years. I miss my family so much."
Liu Yueqin sighed heavily and looked at her with a bit of sympathy.
She found her daughter's old books and said, "My daughter is married anyway. Even if she can take the college entrance examination, she won't go. If you want to read it, I'll give it to you."
Kong Qiuyun naturally didn't take it seriously as a free gift. She quickly stuffed the money into the other person's hand and said, "Auntie, that won't do. I can't take your things for free. Besides, you paid for them in the first place. And you took the trouble to pick them out for me from so many books. I can't thank you enough."
These words made people feel comfortable. After Liu Yueqin took the money, she personally saw her out of the house.
In October, the quota that Kong Qiuyun had been waiting for to return to the city was gone. There were only ten quotas in the whole county this time. The last time it was given to Wangjia Village, it was naturally impossible to give it again this time.
Kong Qiuyun now had a target, so when she heard the news, she was just slightly stunned and didn't take it to heart.
Compared to Kong Qiuyun who borrowed books everywhere, Zhuzi had it much easier.
All the books he had from childhood to adulthood were left behind, and Li Chunhua would not carry the books to the county town to sell for a penny per pound. In addition, Zhuzi was a person who loved to study, so his books were always piled up at home.
He rummaged through the boxes and drawers, picked out the books he needed, and then made a schedule for himself.
Since time is not very tight, there is no need for him to push himself too hard.
Because he hadn't read the book for a year or two, he had forgotten a lot. When he encountered something he didn't know, he would go to Xiao Min for help.
Xiao Min is now in the second grade of junior high school. When asked about the content she knows, she can handle it with ease. However, she cannot answer the content beyond the syllabus.
But she had a teacher after all, so she wrote down the questions that Zhuzi didn't know how to answer, and she went to Yuan Zeyang to help her answer them. The excuse was naturally to ask the school teacher. Zhuzi didn't think much about it.
Yuan Zeyang heard from Xiaomin that the college entrance examination might be resumed in the future, and said to Xiaomin with a smile, "Then you must work hard, because you can't get into the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University through recommendation."
Xiao Min's eyes curved as she leaned close to Yuan Zeyang's ear and whispered, "My grandma said that you will be rehabilitated soon. Many scientists have been rehabilitated a few days ago."
The rehabilitation process did not all start in 1976. For example, scientists and painters were rehabilitated earlier than others because they were not involved in politics.
Yuan Zeyang's hands trembled, his eyes widened, and he locked onto Xiao Min's eyes tightly, his voice trembling a little, "Really?"
Xiao Min patted her chest and said, "Of course it's true. My grandma specifically told me that. Who knows, it might even be faster than the resumption of the college entrance examination."
Yuan Zeyang was delighted, "That's great. That's great."
Xiao Min was happy for him when she saw him smiling so beautifully. She couldn't help but say, "Brother Xiaoyang, you should study hard too. Maybe you can take the college entrance examination."
Yuan Zeyang was slightly stunned, shook his head and smiled bitterly, "That's not necessarily true."
Xiao Min asked stupidly, "Why?"
Yuan Zeyang patiently explained to her, "I haven't even been to elementary school, how can I be qualified to sign up for the college entrance examination? Only high school students should be eligible, right?"
Xiao Min tilted her head and thought for a while, "Don't mention it, it's true!" In the end, she felt a little regretful, "So what do you decide to do?"
Yuan Zeyang had actually thought about this a long time ago, so he replied without thinking, "I might join the army."
"Why are you joining the army again?" Xiao Min was a little disappointed. One by one, everyone joined the army, and she didn't know what was good about the army. Of course, this was not the point. The point was that since Ma Yunhao joined the army, he only wrote her one letter at the beginning, and never wrote again. What kind of good friend is this? He doesn't want to play with her at all.
After sending letters three times without receiving a reply, she gave up. Whatever happens, since you don’t care about me as a friend, then I don’t care about you either. So the two of them never contacted each other again.
Xiao Min has complained about this countless times in front of Yuan Zeyang.
Yuan Zeyang wanted to reach out and touch her head to comfort her, but suddenly he remembered that she was old and it would be inappropriate for him to do so. He could only retract his hand and comfort her, "I will never forget you when I become a soldier." At last, he said awkwardly, "Maybe Ma Yunhao was delayed by something, or the army was strict and he couldn't send the letter."
Xiao Min lowered her head and thought for a while, then asked him, "What if you become a soldier and the army is strict, how can you send me a letter?"
This? Yuan Zeyang was a little confused. Was he shooting himself in the foot
Seeing that he was stumped by her question, Xiao Min covered her mouth and laughed, "I was just kidding. It's better for you to obey the arrangements when you arrive at the army. You can also write to me when you are on leave. We will be good friends for life."
Yuan Zeyang pursed his lips and wanted to say something, but felt that he was a little too impatient. Xiao Min obviously hadn't figured it out yet, so it was a bit early for him to say these things now. What's more, he was still a member of the "five black categories" and there was nothing he could do to make her happy.
Of course Xiao Min had no idea what he was thinking. After talking to him for a while, she took the paper with the answers written on it and returned to the old house.
Zhuzi gave her a handful of candy that he had bought specially and thanked her again and again.
Xiao Min put the candy away and would give it to Brother Xiao Yang later. Seeing him lower his head to continue studying, she said, "Fourth Brother, do you really miss that educated youth?"
How did Xiao Min know this? Because Xiao Min and Yuan Zeyang always met in secluded places. Once, Yuan Zeyang and Kong Qiuyun chose the same place to communicate and study, and they almost bumped into each other. If Yuan Zeyang hadn't been smart and pulled Xiao Min to hide, it's possible that the two would have met face to face.
Before Zhuzi could answer, Li Chunhua, who was carrying some fruit in her hand, heard what he said, pulled Xiaomin away, and stared at Zhuzi intently, "What educated youth?"
Damn it! Zhuzi stroked his forehead and looked at Xiaomin with resentment. Xiaomin rolled her eyes, feeling a little guilty. She smiled at him in a flattering way.
Zhuzi quickly regained his composure and took the bowl from his mother. "Isn't this the news about the college entrance examination from the educated youth center? Xiaomin asked me if I believed what the educated youth said because I studied so hard. Before I could reply, you came in."
Li Chunhua wanted to confirm with Xiao Min, but the child disappeared in a flash.
She looked back at him, "Really? You didn't lie to me?"
"No!"
"Then why don't you want to find someone?" Li Chunhua asked persistently.
Zhuzi pointed at his book and said, "I'm still preparing for the college entrance examination. I want to go to the city to work as a worker."
Li Chunhua thought of Yun Ping and gave him some advice, "Why don't you ask your grandma to help you find a way to get into the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University?"
Zhuzi refused without thinking, "No need, I can do what I can do myself."
Li Chunhua didn't know what to say since he insisted.