Chapter 360: The People in One's Heart

"Teacher Wu has arrived; have a seat."

Chen Xianglan, busy fetching a stool, said, "San'er, quickly pour tea for Teacher Wu."

Wu Guiwen took the stool, held up his hands and said, "No trouble, no trouble. I'm here today just to talk about Gui Yun; after that I'll go back to the room."

"Oh, I haven't had a chance to ask Ying Ying lately; how's Gui Yun's work at the department store?"

These days, Chen Xianglan has been wholly occupied with arranging a marriage meeting for her son.

With Lu Ying's help, Gui Yun returned last month and has been working at the department store for almost a month.

Wu Guiwen replied, "The job is quite good, but I don't want her to keep it."

Chen Xianglan, puzzled, said, "If the work is good, why not let her keep it?"

Wu Guiwen hesitated briefly, but then resolved, "Now that the college entrance exam has been reinstated, I want Gui Yun to quit her job and stay home to study peacefully."

So that's the reason; reinstating the college entrance exam is a great boon for the nation and the people. Previously one could only get into the Workers, Peasants, and Soldiers University by recommendation, like Lu Cheng.

Now many children from ordinary families can take the exam and change their destiny.

Gui Yun taking the exam should be a cause for joy, but Chen Xianglan feels a bit uneasy.

Mainly because daughter Ying Ying worked so hard, finally secured a slot, transferred Gui Yun from the countryside, and now they're saying she shouldn't work.

Then their own daughter's efforts would be in vain; the key issue is how to report this to the higher‑ups.

This Teacher Wu really is something; he acts on impulse without considering anyone else's feelings.

Chen Xianglan and her son exchanged a glance; Lu Cheng said nothing.

She thought, Gui Yun is 26 this year; although the exam is reinstated and older Comrades can also participate, getting admitted isn't that easy.

According to Lu Cheng, this year's first reinstated exam saw over five million registrations nationwide, but only a little over two hundred thousand were admitted.

Chen Xianglan also thought Gui Yun wouldn't get in; previously her grades were average, she didn't even finish high school and kept shouting she wanted to go down to the countryside for labor service.

Back then, going to the countryside was seen as honorable, but after less than two years she regretted it, and regret was of no use.

"Teacher Wu, I advise you to think it over; Gui Yun just wants to take the exam, and she might not pass. If she fails and loses her job, wouldn't she have to make up for the loss?"

Although the department store is a collective unit, its wages aren't low; it's among the better‑paying collective units.

In fact, Wu Guiwen has also considered this issue and has already made up his mind.

Even if collective‑unit wages are high, they're still a rung below.

It would be better to have the daughter get into university, later work in a state‑owned factory; if not, becoming a People's teacher like him is still better than staying in a collective unit.

"Xianglan, I've already decided. You see, I'm a teacher; although I used to teach primary school, I understand high school textbooks. With me tutoring my daughter at home, there'll be no problem."

In truth, Wu Guiwen also has a selfish motive; since the nation reinstated the exam, university graduates will be more in demand.

However, in this Hu Tong Li, the only university graduate is Lu Cheng of the old Lu family; the Wu family, being educators, ought also to produce a university graduate.

That way his face could also share the glory.

Chen Xianglan still felt uneasy, mainly about Gui Yun; the kid is decent—within the first month of receiving a salary, she bought a lot for the old Lu family.

Unlike her father Wu Guiwen, who is stingy and scrupulous.

"Then there's no need to quit; she can work and study at the same time."

Wu Guiwen had thought that before, but in the end still wanted his daughter to quit.

"Let's drop it. There are only two months left until the exam, and the department store over there is busy; she comes home exhausted with no time to read. I still want her to focus on studying at home, so she can concentrate."

"Has Gui Yun agreed?" Chen Xianglan knew that Teacher Wu always ruled the household; every monthly expense and food had to follow his calculations down to the last cent.

"Agreed."

Hearing Wu Guiwen say that, Chen Xianglan was a bit skeptical, but since it's someone else's family matter, as a neighbor she said all she needed to say.

Knowing Wu Guiwen's temperament, Lu Cheng had something to say at this point.

"Teacher Wu, since you've decided, you must not backtrack later. Don't say that if Gui Yun doesn't get admitted you'll have my sister restore her job; the department store is a one‑hole‑one‑radish place—if Gui Yun quits, someone will definitely replace her, so you can't later fire someone else, right?"

Chen Xianglan glanced unexpectedly at her son; his words were a bit blunt, but absolutely reasonable.

This Teacher Wu indeed acted on impulse.

"Right, Teacher Wu. Although we're neighbors and it's awkward to speak harshly, some matters must be said bluntly up front."

If Wu Guiwen were to change his mind later, Chen Xianglan doesn't want her daughter to be put in a difficult spot.

Wu Guiwen was caught off guard; indeed that was his thought—if his daughter truly fails, she can simply return to the department store.

But now that everyone has spoken plainly, Wu Guiwen has to accept it.

"Alright, rest assured; I won't change my mind. If Gui Yun doesn't get in this year, she'll try again next year. She must get in for me."

To avoid looking weak, Wu Guiwen also said forcefully today.

After Wu Guiwen left, Lu Cheng shook his head, thinking that Teacher Wu had definitely made a wrong decision.

Getting into a factory is indeed lucrative now, but as the economy shifts to a market system, many workers will lose their posts.

If Gui Yun truly follows her sister, she could become very rich and noble.

But everyone has their own aspirations; Lu Cheng, too lazy to persuade further, said, "Mom, look at Teacher Wu; he'll regret it later…"

Chen Xianglan at this moment didn't want to meddle in others' affairs: "Whether he regrets or not is none of my business. As long as I can manage our own household, that's enough. Now tell me, what exactly are you looking for?"

Why does it keep circling back to this?

Lu Cheng sighed, "Before that I really didn't feel anything; you still haven't looked according to your own standards. You can't be impatient. Think about it—my mother's standards are one in ten thousand, and you've only found a few."

Chen Xianglan rolled her eyes, "You just know how to flatter me."

"Then, if it really doesn't work, I'll lower my requirements and look according to my sister's standards: smart, beautiful, gentle…"

Lu Ying came home from work, entered and said, "Stop flattering me; I don't need your flattery. It seems you deliberately don't want to look; if you don't want to, just tell Mom plainly, so you don't worry about this every day."

Seeing his older sister not buying it, Lu Cheng was a bit helpless: "It's not that I don't want to look; if that still doesn't work, I'll look according to my father's standards."

Chen Xianglan, angry, snapped, "You kid, how did you even change gender!"

Lu Cheng, dodging, said, "Mom, Mom, in that case, don't look for me; I'll look within the school."

"Looking in the school?"

"Yes, our prestigious university—just think, any girl there, even if you pick one at random, is extremely outstanding."

Chen Xianglan thought it was fine; graduates from that university can all get good positions in the future.

At last he temporarily kept his mother at bay; Lu Cheng actually has no interest in marriage at all—what fills his mind now is the people.

For instance… give the train a little speed boost.