Back to 1979: Sending the Educated Youth’s Wife Back to the City

Chapter 100 College Entrance Examination Results

A few days later, Fang Mingche returned from his tricycle, having packed up his stall. Working in the dog days of summer, sweating profusely! Only he knew what it felt like.

But there was no other way, he had to eat! And he had a daughter to support.

He had just gotten off the car at the gate of the small side courtyard when Teacher Gao came around from the large compound and said, "The college entrance examination results are out. Call back and ask."

Fang Mingche said, "I don't have a phone in my hometown, so I can't get anyone there when I call. I can wait until the post office opens and there's no need to queue too long. Or I can wait for my cousin to find out and call his boss. How did you do on the exam?"

He should have come out in the afternoon. A Yan didn't mention it when she brought him lunch at noon.

If his scores were released, his father and brother would go to the remedial class to get them, and then tell his cousin. Then his cousin would find a chance to call him and tell him.

Teacher Gao reported his own scores. “I compared them with last year’s admission score and I can get into the undergraduate program in the Department of Political Science at Capital Normal University.” There was some excitement in his voice.

However, if I could get into a university and study for four years, my future would definitely be better than just being a high school politics teacher.

Furthermore, the educational requirements for high school teachers will undoubtedly increase in the future. With his current education level, he is somewhat inadequate to teach high school students.

Fang Mingche relied heavily on Teacher Gao when he was taking the college entrance examination, mainly because Teacher Gao taught high school politics.

In the college entrance examination, Fang Mingche was actually most afraid of not failing. He was also worried that he would accidentally reveal some theories that would be concluded in the future. At present, those theories may not even be proposed. It may take a period of struggle before the final conclusion can be formed.

If he rashly answered the questions on the test paper, the consequences would be unpredictable. Although things are starting to get back on track, some of these ideas still exist. He's afraid of getting into trouble!
Fang Mingche listened to the radio carefully for many things, and confirmed with Teacher Gao when he had doubts. He was also very careful when doing the political science college entrance examination questions. He did not seek to make any achievements, but to avoid mistakes.

Hearing that Teacher Gao would be able to study at Capital Normal University, Fang Mingche hurriedly said "Congratulations" and then pushed the cart into the small side courtyard.

Teacher Gao looked at his back.

The few returned educated youth in the compound were still waiting for Xiao Fang's college entrance exam results. He had to pass the exam before he could live peacefully in the capital.

Otherwise, let alone changing to another business, Aunt Yuan must not pretend that she didn't know he was a migrant worker. Once the residence period on the letter of introduction expires, Xiao Fang will probably be deported.

Fang Mingche shouted as he entered: "Ayan, Ayan——"

Lin Yan poked her head out of the kitchen, knowing what he was going to ask, and said directly, "The teacher said that I might be able to get into a junior college, but it's a little risky."

Fang Mingche said, "But at least the technical secondary school is secure."

Lin Yan nodded. "Yes, I can go to school. My backup is probably the finance and trade school I applied to."

"That's okay."

It would be best for Yan to get in during the final year of high school, when academic requirements aren't as strict. Technical secondary school is fine, she can always take the next higher exam later.

"I've boiled some water for you to take a bath. Go take a bath first."

Fang Mingche nodded, "Yeah."

His grades really couldn't be rushed. If his cousin had time, he would have called him as soon as possible. He had to take care of his own job. He might still be driving at this moment.

After taking a shower, I feel much better.

Lin Yan took the bucket from Fang Mingche's hand, which contained the clothes he had taken off.

"You can eat the porridge when it cools down a bit. I'll go rub it and hang it to dry."

Summer clothes were easy to wash, and could be done in no time. She washed them directly and then went to the pressurized water well on the other side of the compound to clean them.

Tonight I cooked soybean milk porridge. The soybean milk I got from Lao Cui was made by his wife with a hand-cranked mill. It was 10 cents per teacup, and it was very rich! Now I can't make enough money for the Fang family's three meals a day. But I still can't let go of the small money. So when Lin Yan went to get soybean milk, Lao Cui's wife was quite nice.

Lin Yan couldn't help but say that the service attitude of private owners was much better than that of state-owned restaurants.

She had already scooped out three bowls, two large and one small, and placed them on the table to cool. She arranged for Yanyan to sit there with a palm leaf fan to fan them. This would not only help dissipate the heat of the porridge, but also drive away the flies.

Fang Mingche smiled and said, "So well behaved today?"

Yanyan was usually quite well-behaved. But children are bound to be naughty and playful sometimes. It was not easy to get her to do the housework honestly.

Yanyan whispered, "Mom doesn't seem very satisfied with my grades." Although she was young, she knew how to read adults' faces.

Fang Mingche took the palm-leaf fan and continued her work, "You can take a rest."

If this grade is really hopeless, then that's fine. I'm really afraid of hanging on like this. Getting into a junior college is Yan's goal for herself this year. She's definitely studying really hard!

And back in BJ, the review materials and teachers are much better than in the countryside. She must have placed her hopes on it.

Even though she said that as long as she could study, that it didn't matter whether she passed the exam or not, it wouldn't separate the family anymore, deep down, she definitely still wanted to go to college.

As for himself, Fang Mingche was also feeling a bit uneasy at the moment. He was also eager to know his results.

Although I have a good idea that I should be able to go to junior college this year, I have no way to find out. I can only wait for my cousin to call me, which makes me feel uneasy.

When it was time for dinner, Fang Mingche only took a few mouthfuls of porridge and forgot to pick up any dishes.

Yanyan asked, "Dad, why are you eating white rice?"

"Mmm, this soy milk is delicious."

At this moment, a voice came from outside, "Fang Mingche, the phone is ringing—"

Fang Mingche quickly put down his bowl and chopsticks and ran out in two steps. After running a few steps, he turned back and got a pen and paper.

Everyone answers the phone pretty quickly, since it's charged by time. Some people even hang up quickly after seeing it's been over 50 seconds. But he was especially quick today!

As expected, the call was from my cousin. "Mingche, you did very well in the exam this year. Your dad said you scored several dozen points more than last year. I'm so happy."

"Hurry up and count."

My cousin reported that his scores in the five subjects included in the total score were all good.

But Fang Mingche had also secretly paid attention to the admission scores of the Chinese Department of Beijing Normal University in previous years. It felt a bit uncertain, but it shouldn't be much different.

He immediately understood Ah Yan's feelings. If things went wrong, he would be sent to Capital Normal College.

"You did really well in the English test. You scored 96 points!"

"This is not included in the total score, it is only for reference."

"Why did you score so high if it's not counted towards the total score? You should try to improve your politics and other subjects that are counted towards the total score. That score is not high."

"I don't know English, so it's hard for me to survive in the capital. There's no room for me to play politics there."

(End of this chapter)