Chapter 361: The College Entrance Exam Results Are Out

Since Lu Cheng started riding the train on duty, he has been deeply moved by the train's speed.

In summary, it's one word—slow.

The passenger trains currently in use still rely on old‑fashioned steam locomotives, averaging forty to fifty kilometers per hour.

If you travel a long distance, the round trip takes more than half a month, and delays add a few more days.

To increase the train's speed, developing internal‑combustion engines is absolutely necessary.

Internal‑combustion engines do exist; they entered the development stage long ago. As early as 1958, the municipal Vehicle Factory successfully developed the first internal‑combustion locomotive, named Giant Dragon.

After multiple improvements, a batch of East Wind internal‑combustion locomotives was produced.

Until the 1970s it remained in the improvement and development phase, but technical limitations—such as flaws in mechanical transmission and diesel‑engine auxiliary oil pumps not working—caused problems.

At present it cannot be widely applied to passenger lines; it is mainly used on freight lines.

Because problems occur frequently, the machines often face scrapping after three years, and vehicle factories across the country are piled with machines awaiting repair.

Moreover, the development of internal‑combustion passenger trains has remained stagnant.

Therefore, vigorously developing internal‑combustion engines is essential; it will greatly improve efficiency for both passenger and freight transport nationwide.

Lu Cheng's current idea is to intentionally promote reform of internal‑combustion engines.

If all the technical challenges facing internal‑combustion engines can be solved, the nation's railway construction will enter a rapid development phase ahead of schedule.

Of course, he alone cannot achieve it; even before he never dared to imagine it.

But now things are different; the national situation is gradually improving, the college entrance exam has been reinstated, and the research institute Lu Cheng set up earlier can now play its role.

In the winter of December 1977, more than five million examinees nationwide entered the exam halls full of hope.

The exam subjects are divided into two major categories: liberal arts and sciences.

Politics, language, and mathematics are mandatory; liberal arts add history and geography, while sciences add physics and chemistry.

As for English, it is not a required subject and does not count toward the total score; only the Foreign Language Institute offers a special extra test.

Most provinces and cities have a total score of 400; this year Capital City's admission line was 260 for liberal arts and 240 for sciences.

Of course, the admission line varies according to the examinee's status.

These statuses fall into three categories: current on‑campus graduates, whose admission line is relatively higher; then employed workers; and the Knowledgeable Youth who queue from the countryside.

After the admission line was released, a sharp crying sound, ranging from a whimper to a wail, suddenly came from Wu Guiwen's family.

Zhao Daye stood in the courtyard and, out of curiosity, asked a question.

"Huh, whose water kettle just opened?"

Chen Xianglan sensed something off: "It's not a water kettle; it sounds like Gui Yun is crying. Isn't today the day the college‑entrance results should be released?"

Zhao Daye thought that was true; he had just heard people in Hu Tong Li discussing that the number of admitted candidates was very small and competition was fierce.

"So did Gui Yun pass or not?"

Chen Xianglan replied, "She definitely didn't pass; otherwise she wouldn't be crying."

Zhao Daye waved his hand: "That's not certain. There's a phrase—'joyful tears.' Gui Yun might have been bottling it up and just released it now; after all, wasn't there the story of Fan Jin passing the imperial exam?"

These two months, the people of Da Za Yuan have been watching.

Except for bathroom breaks, Gui Yun spends all her time cooped up in the room reviewing; even stepping out for a stroll is forbidden.

Because Wu Guiwen is extremely strict: you don't have to wash clothes or cook meals; you only need to devote all your time to studying.

He even sealed the household television so as not to disturb his daughter's studies; only after these two months are over will the big guys be allowed to come over to watch TV.

Wu Guiwen also said that if his daughter successfully gets into university, the big guys may watch TV continuously for seven days and nights, never turning it off, until dawn.

Since Wu Guiwen is also a teacher, two months of nonstop day‑and‑night review under such arduous effort makes Chen Xianglan think she should be able to pass.

Even if she doesn't get into top schools like Tsinghua or Peking University, getting into a normal university should be no problem.

"Gui Yun, you mustn't get too worked up; we aren't like that Fan Jin who passed the exam…"

Chen Xianglan hurriedly ran to Dong'er Fang, and the others in the courtyard rushed over to see.

But what everyone thought was different—was this really a Fan Jin moment?

Gui Yun truly sobbed while lying on the table, yet Wu Guiwen, who should have been pleased, wore a pallid, iron‑blue face.

Zhao Daye tentatively asked, "Teacher Wu, how did Gui Yun do on the exam?"

Wu Guiwen let out a long sigh but said nothing; instead, Wu Dama replied, "She scored 82 points."

"82 points? That's pretty good."

"Yes, Teacher Wu, you must be setting the bar too high; the total is only one hundred points, how can anyone get every question right?"

"Exactly, Teacher Wu, this is the college entrance exam, the review time was short; this score can definitely get into a good university, so you shouldn't be so harsh."

Everyone kept commenting back and forth, and Wu Guiwen's complexion grew even greener.

"If she scored 82 in a single subject, I'd have already burned incense; it's a total of 82 points, all four subjects combined!"

Total 82 points? That left everyone stunned; for a moment they stared at each other, not knowing what to say.

Wu Guiwen felt utterly embarrassed, as if his shame had reached his grandmother's house; after all his effort, he had once sworn to the big guys that this time the old Wu family would produce a university student.

The boast had been spoken, yet his daughter ended up with such a result.

Wu Guiwen grew angrier as he thought, grabbed a feather duster and shouted, "How did you take the test, you pig brain? You sent everything into the eggplant field; you can't even guess your way to 82 points! I'm furious; today I'll beat you to death, I've never seen anyone so stupid…"

"Ouch, Teacher Wu, we dare not; you can't hit a child…"

"Yes, Teacher Wu, if this year you didn't do well, just take it again next year."

The big guys hurried up to intervene; this is typical—living in Da Za Yuan inevitably leads to minor frictions, but when any family truly needs help, everyone extends a hand to assist.

When the big guys blocked Wu Guiwen, Chen Xianglan quickly pulled Gui Yun back to her own home.

"Aunt Xianglan, I'm sorry to my father, and also sorry to you and Uncle Beitang…"

Gui Yun sobbed, tears streaming down her face; Chen Xianglan, who had watched the child grow up, felt an overwhelming pang of heartache.

Gui Yun was sobbing, tears covering her face, and Chen Xianglan, who had watched this child grow up, felt her heart ache terribly in that instant.

"Alright, alright Gui Yun, stop crying. No need to say sorry; you just have to do your best. Look, during this period you weren't just playing; we've been reviewing every day. If you didn't do well on the exam, there's nothing we can do. You need to cheer up a bit, and for that you should learn from your younger brother Lu Cheng."

Lu Cheng had just returned home when he saw the courtyard bustling with activity.

"Mom, what am I supposed to learn from you?"

"Learning from you is heartless and reckless!" Chen Xianglan replied.

Inside the house, Lu Cheng caught sight of Gui Yun, who was blowing her nose, and said, "Yo, Sister Gui Yun, what's wrong?"

Chen Xianglan gave a look, and Lu Cheng understood: the college entrance exam results must have come out today, and she definitely didn't do well.

"Mom, my sister Gui Yun is fine; she'll be okay after a few more experiences."

Chen Xianglan glared.

Lu Cheng kept saying, "Mom, go to the department store and buy me a coat."

"Why buy a coat? We already have some at home."

"Um, in a few days the university will set up a Student Committee, and I want to run for president, so I have to dress sharp."

The Student Committee is what later generations call the Student Union.

Isn't this just the reinstatement of the college entrance exam? To maintain campus order and strengthen political and ideological education, the school is preparing to establish a committee to serve as a link between students and the school.

Lu Cheng's bid for president this time is a sure thing, and it will give the Research Institute a huge advantage in recruiting talent.

Although there are a few potential rivals, Lu Cheng believes that with his popular base, his chances of winning remain very high.

But when Lu Cheng mentioned the university and his run for president, the kettle in the house started whistling again.

Woo— Lu Cheng is already in university, woo— Lu Cheng is about to run for president, woo—