Chapter 266

Back home, Zhou Andong took out the printing factory share contract and handed it to Zhou Anqin: "I originally thought about handing it to you after you graduated from university. Later, I thought about it; you've grown up, you should keep your own things."

Zhou Anqin took it: "Diya Printing and Packaging Co., Ltd.!"

An Jing took it and looked at it, then said with a smile: "Oh my, Director Zhou, not bad, giving your sister a huge gift."

"This is the dowry I'm giving her." Zhou Andong smiled slightly, then said to Zhou Anqin, "I just want you to know that we aren't short of money; buy whatever you want, and if you don't have money, ask your brother for it."

"Next year, when you go to university and get a boyfriend, you must remember that you cannot spend your boyfriend's money. Because 'eating someone's food makes you soft, taking someone's things makes you short.' Not accepting rewards without merit is the basic principle, and it is also respect for yourself, and even more so to avoid being looked down upon by the other party."

"Of course, this isn't absolute. For example, buying a bottle of soda, eating a popsicle, or going out to eat occasionally—if it doesn't cost much, that's still okay."

"After all, men also have self-esteem. Sometimes, letting them spend a little money on the girl they like is also a very face-saving thing."

An Jing laughed out loud regardless of her image: "Why are you making getting a boyfriend so complicated?"

In this era, people's thinking wasn't that complicated yet, and most students were poor; there definitely weren't many times they went out to eat when dating. But Zhou Andong had to instill this concept in his younger sister to avoid her suffering in this regard when she entered society.

Zhou Anqin blushed and said: "I won't get a boyfriend when I'm at school."

Zhou Andong said: "I don't oppose getting a boyfriend, but you must let me know."

An Jing put the equity contract into Zhou Anqin's hand: "Take it; your brother is really willing to give such a dowry. However, you have to pray that this printing factory doesn't go bankrupt, otherwise, your dowry will be gone."

At this time, no one could have imagined that these two pieces of paper were worth two or three billion. And with Zhou Andong's existence, the value of these two pieces of paper would be even higher, even several times or more than ten times higher.

July 25, 1992, Saturday.

Zhou Andong had just arrived at the office when the phone on his desk rang urgently.

He picked up the phone, and Gu Qing's voice came through the receiver: "Director, today is the day to check college entrance exam scores; you said to let me remind you."

Zhou Andong's spirit was lifted: "Where are you now?"

Gu Qing said: "I'm already at the entrance of the District Education Bureau, and I've seen several of our factory's children."

Zhou Andong said: "I'm coming over now." After speaking, he put down the phone and stood up to walk out.

In the early 1990s, the college entrance exam was basically in a state of thousands of troops crossing a single-plank bridge. There were about ten students in a class, but the total number of those who could get into undergraduate or junior college was only about ten.

And at this time, there were no computers, and scores couldn't be checked by phone; one could only go to the Education Bureau to inquire. Initially, the Education Bureau would post the students' names and scores at the entrance, and later they would write them on small slips of paper; when a name was called, that person would go to get it.

Gao Yue'e got off the bus wearing blue work clothes that were already washed white, printed with the words "Jiangzhou Electronics Factory," and were a bit too big.

It was just past 8:00 AM, and the entrance of the Education Bureau was already crowded. Looking at the dark crowd, Gao Yue'e suddenly felt very nervous.

"What's going on? Why hasn't the door opened yet?" someone in the crowd shouted anxiously.

"Exactly, it's already past 8:00." someone else said.

The sun came out, the temperature rose, the crowd was so dense, and the mood was nervous, so emotions were naturally a bit irritable. Of course, these people were parents, and they had some status. Otherwise, ordinary common people wouldn't dare to make trouble.

At this time, the door of the Education Bureau opened, and several people who looked like teachers came out. Everyone's eyes looked over in unison, as if the answer was on their faces.

Gao Yue'e, standing in the crowd, clenched her fists tightly. Sweat flowed down her temples, but she felt a bit cold, and her face turned a bit pale.

She was too nervous, constantly looking around, wanting to find her classmates, but there were too many people, a sea of heads, and she couldn't tell who was who.

Anxious waiting always makes people feel that time flows too slowly.

They had already started calling names in the front, when suddenly an excited roar came. A boy was seen running away, crying and laughing. Most others left silently.

Everyone knew that learning was important, but not everyone could get on the single-plank bridge. Getting in could change the destiny of a lifetime, and if not, there was no other way.

Those with good family conditions and connections would let their children repeat a year, while those with nothing could only make other plans and find their own way out.

In the hearts of parents in this era, they all believed that Heaven would not starve a blind sparrow, and they could always find a way to eat. But this simple thought was mixed with the coldness of resigning to fate.

Because there were too many people, Zhou Andong didn't see Gu Qing, and couldn't find her, so he could only stand behind the crowd and watch this lively scene.

"What's going on?" Gu Bing wiped the sweat on his forehead, "Why are there so many people?"

Zhou Andong glanced at him sideways: "Do you know what taking the college entrance exam means to ordinary common people?"

Gu Bing snorted and ignored Zhou Andong.

Zhou Andong took out a cigarette and lit it, muttering: "I wonder how many of our factory's children can get in."

At this time, a little girl wearing electronics factory work clothes walked past him, looking a bit trance-like, with tears streaming down her face.

Zhou Andong frowned and chased after her: "Little girl!"

It seemed she didn't hear, so Zhou Andong shouted again: "Little girl!"

The little girl finally woke up, wiped the tears on her face with her sleeve, and looked at Zhou Andong in surprise: "Are you calling me?"

"Hmm?" Zhou Andong was stunned. This little girl's tears were streaming down, so why didn't she look sad at all?

"You... didn't do well?"

The little girl shook her head, not understanding: "No, I did very well."

Now it was Zhou Andong's turn not to understand: "You did well, so why are you crying?"

The little girl sighed: "Because my family has no money. I got into university, but life will be even harder. I was thinking about whether to give up."

Zhou Andong said: "Can you let me see your score?"

"Here!" The little girl handed the slip of paper she was holding tightly to Zhou Andong, "Take a look."

Zhou Andong took it and widened his eyes: "Such a high score, Tsinghua or Peking University wouldn't be a problem."

The little girl lifted her head proudly, with tear stains still on her face: "The wish I filled out was Tsinghua."

But thinking of her family's situation, her face darkened.

Zhou Andong asked: "What's your name?"

The little girl suddenly became vigilant: "What for?"

"Exactly!" Gu Bing walked over, "You don't look like a good person at first glance; why are you asking a little girl's name?"