Chapter 574

Resuming the college entrance examination was undoubtedly a major event concerning the people of the whole country.

In a place like Beijing where rumors fly everywhere, the speed of information dissemination was naturally very fast. Even without rumors, people could clearly feel that things had changed.

Just like Wang Yan said earlier, the report on this year's recommended enrollment was rejected. Although there was a certain threshold to learn about this news, there were still many people who could pass the threshold. Even if they didn't know whether it had been rejected, it was no problem to know that no reply had been received. Because the work that started in previous years hadn't been carried out this year. After people guessed, only the possibility of resuming the college entrance examination remained.

After several rounds of meetings and discussions, the news had already spread everywhere, and people were nervously looking forward to the results. Because in this era, the college entrance examination was the only opportunity for millions of Chinese people to break through the restrictions of age, marital status, and family background, and reverse their destiny.

In fact, even forty years later, when material life is extremely abundant and people won't go hungry as long as they work, the college entrance examination, while representing the green years, is still a crucial opportunity to change destiny. One dare not say it's the only one, because destiny is something that cannot be clearly explained.

It's like a lucky person like Wang Yan, who was favored by the "Living Father" and defied the heavens to change his destiny. Although others didn't have such great opportunities, they didn't necessarily know when they would succeed. After all, there are 360 trades, and every trade has its master. But for most people, the college entrance examination is still crucial.

As mentioned before, Wang Yan graduated from a junior college, and his expected salary level was 4,000 to 5,000 in a second-tier city like Dalian, but in reality, his salary was only 3,000 to 4,000. And many people who graduated from good schools expected a salary of 6,000, 7,000, or 8,000, and their actual salary was 5,000 or 6,000. As for students who graduated from first-class universities, that goes without saying; there's no need to talk about their upper limit, but the bottom line for their starting point is mostly 7,000, 8,000, or 9,000. 3,000-4,000, 5,000-6,000, 7,000-8,000—this is the real gap, and it's a powerful negation of the idea that reading is useless. This is just material; we haven't even talked about the spiritual aspect.

In this era, there was also the "city household registration." At this time, life in the city was better than in the village, and much better. Once admitted to university, the household registration was directly moved to the school's collective household registration, and in one leap, one became a city person. Assigned good work, having good benefits, then marrying a good wife, and having a good life. It's different, really different.

Time had already reached mid-October. According to the normal trajectory, in a few days, the news of resuming the college entrance examination would spread throughout the country. At this time, the wind of resuming the college entrance examination had already blown across the land of Shenzhou, and people in countless places were overjoyed.

They had different ages, different identities, and were engaged in different work. They were workers, farmers, educated youth who went to the mountains and countryside or had already returned to the city, soldiers who had been demobilized and returned home, government cadres, fresh high school graduates, and perhaps some were people's teachers who taught and educated people.

They were doing the same thing. While cheering for this great news, they rummaged through boxes and cabinets to find books that might have become moldy, or borrowed them from others everywhere, lighting lamps and boiling oil day and night. Because the time available for review was very short, the suffocating urgency of changing destiny was truly too heavy.

Compared to the nervousness of those people, Su Meng was much more composed because she started reading and reviewing more than two months in advance. She also had Wang Yan, who even knew what would be tested and knew the standard answers, to make a review plan for her and circle the key points. Adding that Su Meng hadn't been idle all these years and had read plenty of messy books—after all, there were too few entertainment activities at this time, and reading had become a pastime—she still retained a certain learning ability. As long as she performed normally, Wang Yan could guarantee that she could enter Qinghua or Peking University easily.

Su Meng took leave to stay at home and focus on reviewing, and couldn't be disturbed by the child, so she basically didn't take care of the child as before. It was still Grandma Su and Su Mu who took care of him, and Wang Yan took care of him when he returned. Actually, if it weren't for the child being treated like an ancestor at home, and if Grandma Su and Su Mu were a little less doting, he wouldn't take care of the child himself. He just wanted to neutralize the bad habits that came from being doted on.

Actually, they all knew that it wasn't good to dote on the child too much, but there was no help for it; they couldn't control themselves. Whenever it was mentioned, they would say, "He's just a small child, he doesn't know anything; we can educate him later."

So on an autumn morning, under the comfortable and lazy sunshine, Wang Yan sat on a stone by the outer wall of the courtyard, with a cigarette in his mouth, holding wood and a knife in his hand, carving. On the side was Han Chunming, who had no odd jobs and was rarely at home, holding a fan and playing with it. Further on the side, Old Guan was twisting prayer beads with one hand and playing with walnuts with the other.

In the open space not far away, Cai Xiaoli reached out to support the child in the walker, exercising the child to stand. The child made "ah-ah" sounds, reaching out to grab Wang Bin, who was squatting on the ground playing with dirt. In his hands were small wooden shovels, small trucks, small pushcarts, small houses, handguns, submachine guns, and all sorts of messy toys in the shapes of small animals made of wood.

These toys were of course made bit by bit by Wang Yan, the biological father. Occasionally, when reading was boring, he would get a piece of wood and make these things. After all, there weren't many fancy toys in this era. It just so happened that he had played with carving for a period of time and also had LV2 level skills. His craftsmanship wasn't very superb, but it was enough to coax the child. The walker used by Han Chunming's son was made by Wang Yan for his son before.

This kid was now nearly three months older and much more alert. Originally, he played by himself in the room. Ever since he got a toy before and saw other children envying his toys, he had to bring his belongings every time he went out and display them all outside.

So not only was he sitting there, but there were also other children of the same age, as well as children a few years older, all gathered there playing with toys.

This gave Wang Yan, a biological father with some craftsmanship, a job. After all, he couldn't let other children watch with envy; they were all pure, unpolluted, good children. So occasionally, he would make a few toys and give them to those little ones.

Many years later, when these children grew up, perhaps they would still remember that there was a very kind Uncle Wang in the large courtyard next door who could make good-looking wood carvings...

Although it had no practical significance for Wang Yan, and even wasted time and energy, even though he was very idle, time and energy weren't meant to be wasted like that. He would rather lie in a chair and bask in the sun, which would be more comfortable than that. It's just that there are always some things where it doesn't matter if you waste some time and energy. At this time, being idle is being idle, so it became a reason.

"Grandpa Wang, Taozi's wife is due to give birth in another month or so. I want you to help book a hospital bed at Peking Union Medical College Hospital first. This kid is too embarrassed to say it, so he asked me to ask you, old man, if you can handle it for him."

Wang Yan nodded: "What's the big deal about that? Isn't she only eight months pregnant? Wait another half a month, and I'll go handle it for him."

"Then I'll thank you on behalf of Taozi first, old man. When the time comes, I'll have Taozi invite you to drink again." Han Chunming said with a grin: "Speaking of Taozi, he's also useless. Ever since he got married, oh my, he's been strictly controlled by his wife. Except for earning money, he can't be called out at any other time; he guards his wife every day."

"That's him living his life. Who's like you, not staying home all day."

"Hey, Grandpa Wang, you're wrong about that. I go out to collect those old items. If I had a brother like Fatty, I'd be like you, old man, staying home with the child all day. There are only so many top-notch items. If I missed out on something I could have picked up because I went out less, wouldn't I regret it to death?"

The Fatty that Han Chunming mentioned was Liu Dahai, who was scalping tickets near Shichahai. He was the chubby one, a little brother under Wang Yan.

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Wang Yan smiled: "You don't even know what it is, where would you regret it?"

"It's because I don't know that I regret it. As long as I don't go out, when I close my eyes and think about it, I'm missing out on those top-notch items—Yuan blue and white porcelain, the five famous kilns of the Song Dynasty..." Han Chunming muttered with longing, looking at Cai Xiaoli with a bit of resentment because Cai Xiaoli wouldn't let him go out, saying he should accompany the child...

Actually, Han Chunming wasn't that heartless. On normal working days, he was still very good. When he had nothing to do, he would return early with Cai Xiaoli. It was just that when Sunday came, even if there was no work, he would mostly go out to look for items instead of staying home to accompany his wife and children. So this made him seem very irresponsible, but out of seven days a week, he only had one day to be himself, and that was when he wasn't earning extra money.

Wang Yan extinguished his cigarette butt on the ground, mixing it into the wood shavings on the ground: "Admiral, your apprentice has become obsessed."

"Hmph, you're just talking nonsense." Old Guan sat there swaying, as if in rhythm with the opera in his heart: "The things you've picked up in these few years are far more than what our family has saved in three generations. If Chunming had as many items as you, he wouldn't go out either."

"You're truly master and apprentice, protecting your own."

"Stop talking nonsense, little thief. It's been two years, it's time to let your Nine-Gate Admiral grandfather have a look, right?"

"It's not the time yet, just wait a few more years. Don't worry, with your health, you'll definitely see it."

Old Guan didn't speak. Han Chunming on the side opened his mouth: "Grandpa Wang, you must have over ten thousand pieces in your hands, right?"

Wang Yan fiddled with the thing in his hand—it was a small rabbit to be given to a three-year-old girl: "About that, there are too many things, I'm too lazy to count. Sooner or later, there will be a day when you see them. Don't worry about my things, just study where you can find those top-notch items of yours."

Just then, Cheng Army Supervisor walked out of the courtyard, smiling and greeting Wang Yan and Old Guan, and then called out: "Chunming, come here, I have something to tell you."

Except for a few small, unclear scars on his face, his attitude was the same as before the classmate reunion, as if nothing had happened. This was him learning from Goujian sleeping on brushwood and tasting gall, holding his breath and waiting for a chance to retaliate, just like Goujian forcing Fuchai to commit suicide and destroying Wu to become hegemon.

Seeing him smiling, although Han Chunming still felt disgusted, he frowned and replied: "What is it? Does it have to be said quietly?"

Cheng Army Supervisor clicked his tongue, looking at him unhappily: "Could I lie to you? It's a good thing. Come over here and I'll tell you."

Han Chunming glanced at Cai Xiaoli, who was also glaring at Cheng Army Supervisor on the side, let out a long breath, and tapped his thigh with his fan: "Really interesting, could there be a good thing when you look for me?"

Although he said so, he still stood up and returned to the courtyard with him.

They were all in the same circle. Cai Xiaoli was both a classmate and had been sent to the countryside in Fangshan together; they had a common social circle. The matter of Han Chunming calling Cheng Army Supervisor "Grandpa" was something that others would use to tease Cai Xiaoli even if Han Chunming didn't say it. Just like that Mao Ditu, his wife would definitely know that he wet the bed when he was sent to the countryside. So as Han Chunming's wife, it would be strange if she could have a good face for Cheng Army Supervisor, who made her man lose face.

Stopping at the moon gate connecting the front and back yards, Han Chunming leaned against the wall, playing with his fan, not looking at Cheng Army Supervisor, just impatiently saying: "What is it, speak."

"Look at you, why are you so petty? Isn't it just a joke? Do you have to be so serious? What? We all live in the same courtyard, are you really planning to never have any contact with me again? The job you have now was found by me, right? Before, you liked that incense burner; although I was reluctant, didn't I sell it to you? Besides, look at me, am I not smiling at Grandpa Wang?"

"Hmph, you wouldn't dare not smile at Grandpa Wang." Han Chunming pushed away Cheng Army Supervisor's hand: "Hurry up, if you have something to say, say it; if not, get lost. I don't have time to grind with you."

"Hey, hey, hey, look at you, really..." Cheng Army Supervisor hurriedly grabbed him: "I'll tell you, it's really a good thing. My dad got another job quota for a hardware company. This isn't because of the matter of you calling me 'Grandpa' at the classmate reunion. You said I was reckless and made you lose so much face. I'm showing my style and giving this quota to you as compensation. Tell me, isn't this a good thing?"

Seeing him looking at himself suspiciously, Cheng Army Supervisor continued: "Could I lie to you? Is there any need? I'm just simply compensating you. A hardware company is much better than a food factory; you earn more, and the benefits are higher. Just tell me if you want it or not! Don't want it? Fine, consider I didn't say anything, I'm going back."

"Consider you did a human thing." Han Chunming asked: "When can it be handled?"

"Anytime is fine. When the time comes, just run a few errands yourself. If there's anything, just come to me directly. I'll definitely handle it for you. Not holding a grudge anymore, right?"

Han Chunming patted his arm: "That's it, I'm going back."

"Hey, this guy, you don't even express thanks after I helped you so much?"

Watching Han Chunming disappear from his field of vision, Cheng Army Supervisor snorted coldly, turned around, and returned to the room...

Out of the courtyard, seeing Cai Xiaoli come up, Han Chunming waved his hand, sat back in his original seat, teased his own son, and asked: "Grandpa Wang, can you guess what he wanted with me?"

"It should be that he gave you some benefit."

"How did you know?"

Wang Yan smiled and asked back: "A few days after our classmate reunion, what did I tell you?"

"Said that the college entrance examination might be resumed?" Han Chunming frowned and thought: "Speaking of this, you are truly amazing, old man. You knew so early. This has spread everywhere recently. Not to mention anything else, just the people in the food factory are all excited. They flip through books whenever they have time. No, Grandpa Wang, what does this have to do with Cheng Army Supervisor?"

"Cheng Army Supervisor is petty and likes to compare. I was already recommended to study at Peking University, and now the college entrance examination is about to be resumed. Tell me, will he take it?"

Cai Xiaoli said: "He definitely will. Although I know I can't pass, if the child wasn't so young, I would definitely review and try to take the exam. What if I pass? Chunming is just stupid, saying that holding Buddha's feet at the last minute is useless. He has had poor grades since he was a child. You told us this news so early, but he just wouldn't read the books."

Wang Yan raised his eyebrows: "So do I need to say it again?"

Han Chunming and Cai Xiaoli looked at each other, not yet reacting.

"The two of you combined don't have as much brain as this kid." Old Guan on the side spoke: "It's so clear. Cheng Army Supervisor is afraid that you will also take the college entrance examination, so he gave you some benefits to make you content with the status quo and not think about taking the college entrance examination to compete with him. That grandson has many tricks; he must be studying to death. When the time comes, he will pass the college entrance examination, and you won't. Wouldn't that mean he's pressing you down?"

"I can think of the reasons Cheng Army Supervisor said—playing the emotional card with you, and then talking about how he helped you before. Then he said the benefits he gave you this time were to compensate for you calling him 'Grandpa' at the classmate reunion, telling you not to haggle with him." Wang Yan turned his head to look at Old Guan: "Admiral, you are still the one who sees clearly. Chunming hasn't learned enough yet."

"It's just being too honest, can't stand others being good to him, a cheap skin."

"Master, isn't this what you value in your apprentice?" Han Chunming giggled and shook his head with emotion: "This Cheng Army Supervisor really has many tricks. He said his dad got him a job quota at a hardware company. Just like you said, Grandpa Wang, I was quite happy just now, but after you said that, I also pondered it. This is playing me again. But he calculated everything, except that I never thought about taking the college entrance examination at all. I picked up such a bargain for nothing."

Wang Yan shook his head and smiled: "When the time comes, Cheng Army Supervisor passes, just see if you can stand him showing off in front of you and belittling you behind your back."

Cai Xiaoli let out a long breath: "Forget it, it's fine if you don't go to university. It's also quite good to have a job at a hardware company. When can it be handled? You have to hurry up. What if Cheng Army Supervisor goes back on his word?"

"He said anytime. I'll go take a look tomorrow. When I get to the hardware company and earn more, we'll live a little better."

"Just pull it, I've understood it in these two years. Even if you earn more, it's all to buy those jars and cans of yours." Cai Xiaoli rolled her eyes, but her tone didn't have any blame.

Wang Yan patted Han Chunming on the shoulder: "You just found a wife as good as Xiaoli. It's because she dotes on you like this. If it were another woman, see if she wouldn't lift the roof off. Where would you have the heart to think about those top-notch items of yours?"

"Hey, buddy just has this good fate." Han Chunming took a punch from Cai Xiaoli and shook his head: "Actually, this is also the reason why I don't risk my life to take the college entrance examination. You tell me, if I went to university, I'd only have a few yuan of subsidy left after food money every month. How would I collect items then? And if I don't earn money, the family relies on Xiaoli to earn money. She has to subsidize me, and the child is getting older bit by bit, and the expenses are increasing day by day. University lasts four years, how can I endure that? Asking my brother and sister, it's okay once or twice, but it's not a way to always be like that. My mother is even worse; she scolds me every day..."

"It doesn't matter if you don't go to university. Through this resumption of the college entrance examination and some signals released from above, I think there will be big changes in these few years. If there are changes, there will be opportunities. With your ability, there will definitely be no problem in achieving a career in the future."

"Then I'll borrow your auspicious words..."

This time, although Su Meng wasn't in the middle, there was the matter of the previous classmate reunion. Cheng Army Supervisor naturally couldn't let it go. Now that there was an opportunity for the college entrance examination, Wang Yan himself was a university student, and from Peking University at that, so he couldn't suppress him. That wasn't just finding Han Chunming again.

His father had originally gotten him a quota for a hardware company, and the favor had already been used. Now that there was the college entrance examination, if he didn't take it, he had to give it to Han Chunming, letting him not take the college entrance examination. In addition, he said some nice words, trying his best to turn the page on the classmate reunion. He had to maintain a relationship with Han Chunming. Wang Yan didn't pay attention to him at all, so he could also probe some information about Wang Yan from Han Chunming. Otherwise, how could he wash away his shame in the future?

So he still did this, but he didn't expect that Wang Yan had already told Han Chunming the news of the resumption of the college entrance examination, and he didn't want to take it at all. He also didn't expect that Wang Yan would point out his petty thoughts to Han Chunming. It was really cheap for Han Chunming. Except for Han Chunming not participating in the college entrance examination as he wished, the rest was purely a waste of effort.

For this original quota, Han Chunming gave it to Taozi. But now the situation was different. Han Chunming didn't go to collect broken stuff happily, but married Cai Xiaoli and had a child. Like the reasons he said himself, of course, he had to go to the hardware company with better treatment...

Just like this, they stayed until noon. With the reluctant eyes of those children, he took his son's belongings home. It was still the same; originally it was only a few steps away, but with the little one's dawdling actions, it took more than ten minutes to go back.

He changed the little one's clothes, mixed warm water to wash his face, hands, and butt, and then took him to the backyard, mixed milk powder, and got some other food to give the kid lunch. The child was small and couldn't eat much at one meal, so he had to be served several times a day. Then he put him on the bed, and Grandma Su took him to crawl around for a while until sleepiness struck, and the little one started his afternoon nap...

Wang Yan searched in the kitchen for a while, ate three corn buns, and then left to return to the front courtyard to wash the clothes the little one had just changed. He raised the child in such a free-range way, and the child was raised quite well. The price was changing several sets of clothes every day and washing them every day.

After finishing this work, he returned to the room and brewed a pot of tea, and sat down next to Su Meng, who was studying: "Come, drink some tea to refresh your mind."

"It's too hot, let it cool before drinking."

"You're so well-prepared, with so much more review time than others, don't put so much pressure on yourself. And think about it, so many people have wasted so many years, how much knowledge can they learn by sharpening their spears at the last minute? The country must have considered this situation, so the questions for this college entrance examination definitely won't be too difficult. I know your level; as long as you ensure that your current level doesn't regress, it will be easy to get into Peking University."

"Easier said than done. Isn't it because I can't relax? This is a critical moment that determines destiny. Although it is said that as long as the college entrance examination is resumed, you can continue to take it next year, but if I don't pass this time, tell me how much face I'll lose? And my grandmother, my parents, are all people's teachers, and you were recommended to Peking University. With such an advantage, if I can go to university but don't go to a good university, it won't be much better than not passing. It's all so shameful."

"Fine, I won't say anything. Anyway, it's just for this period of time. You work hard, and your husband will fully support you."

Wang Yan stopped talking, picked up a book, and flipped through it while drinking tea.

After a while, Su Meng let out a long breath. It looked like she had been holding it for a long time before saying: "Can you not stay by my side? You read so fast, 'swish, swish, swish,' it's annoying to listen to."

"Understood. Now it's a problem even if I just breathe beside you, right? Fine, then the little one will go to the courtyard to make toys for your son. Goodbye."

Stretching out his hands to pinch Su Meng's cheeks, Wang Yan was driven out just like that.

"You're something else." Su Meng rolled her eyes and continued to study hard...