Chapter 522: Are University Graduates Worthless Now?

Han Han Chunmei returned from outside chores and saw her sister-in-law Li Li Mingyue at home; she quickly called her eldest daughter Li Juan into the kitchen to help cook.

Soon after, her husband Li Kaibian also stomped into the kitchen, fuming.

While working, Han Han Chunmei said: "You're just in time—I didn't know your sister was coming, so I only bought a pound of meat. Go buy a braised dish. I'll make red-braised pork and stir-fry two green vegetables."

Li Kaibian sat down on a nearby stool, grumbling: "What red-braised pork? Just stir-fry salted vegetables with tofu. People come begging with empty hands—should we feed them meat until they burst?"

Only then did Han Han Chunmei notice her husband's bad mood; she dropped her chores into Li Juan's hands and asked anxiously: "What's wrong? Did your sister upset you again?"

"Hmph."

Li Kaibian grunted twice: "She didn't upset me—my father did. That little brat isn't even human—he promised to get him transferred."

Li Li Mingyue's son had reported Li Ye's incident; Li Li Zhongfa suppressed it and forbade Li Kaibian from spreading it, but Li Kaibian had been seething inside.

Now, they'd merely gone through the motions—no bow, no apology—and yet his father Li Li Zhongfa had agreed to arrange it. Was Li Kaibian angry?

Besides, years ago he'd wanted a transfer to the Grain Bureau, but his father refused, sending him to the fertilizer plant instead. Only now, nearing deputy factory director, was he finally getting ahead—if not, his resentment would've been even greater.

"Don't be mad at Dad—it's not worth it."

Han Han Chunmei was speechless. Though her husband acted tough outside, before his father Li Li Zhongfa, he was nothing but a cowering target for scolding.

Argue with him? Then you're just suffering alone. Dare to say even half a word of protest? You can try.

Just then, Li Juan, busy cooking, pouted: "Auntie just upset Dad too—she said even as deputy factory director, Dad's still worse than others. I say we shouldn't have let them stay for dinner."

Han Han Chunmei froze, then snapped: "Who asked you to speak? Get back to cooking!"

Li Juan pouted, lips trembling, and slammed her knife down on the cutting board with loud "clangs."

"Why yell at the child?" Li Kaibian frowned. "Juan's been exhausted from exams these past few days—show some compassion. If you scare her sick, who'll cook for you?"

Han Han Chunmei's eyes dimmed; she muttered: "She'll only help me a few more days—once she gets into university, she'll fly away."

Li Juan's eyes instantly reddened with suppressed tears.

Over the years, she'd taken more than her share of her mother's beatings; she longed desperately to study far away, dreaming of the petty bourgeois life in Zaojunmiao.

But if she flew away… would she never return?

No. Never.

"Mom, after I finish school, I can still come back to work—Auntie's son came back to Qingshui, didn't he?"

"Just chop your vegetables!"

Han Han Chunmei turned away, wiped sweat from her face with her sleeve—and also brushed away tears from her eyes—then began heating oil to stir-fry.

Li Kaibian didn't want to sit inside chatting with his sister-in-law, so he loitered nearby, offering useless help.

He grabbed a spoon and dumped salt into the pot.

Han Han Chunmei cried out: "Hey! You put too much salt—it'll be inedible!"

Li Kaibian added another half-spoon without hesitation: "Better salty—it goes well with rice. Say it was my cooking. I always make food too salty."

Li Kaibian had real manly integrity—he'd never let his wife take the blame.

"Hahaha!"

All three laughed—even the sullen Li Juan smiled.

But before they finished laughing, they heard car tires outside—Li Li Mingxiang's family had arrived.

Hearing the laughter from the kitchen, Li Li Mingxiang stepped in.

"Brother, sister-in-law, what are you cooking? Cucumber with scrambled eggs?"

"No, not that."

Han Han Chunmei smiled awkwardly: "I'm making cucumber egg soup."

Add water if it's too salty—no harm done.

"Why so much soup today? It's sweltering—eating soup? Han Chunmei, what are you thinking? Don't you sweat enough already?"

Li Li Mingyue poked at the cucumber egg soup with her spoon, her face full of distaste.

The table wasn't all soup—several cold dishes sat before the men for drinking, but Li Li Mingyue and her son had nothing but soup before them.

Wu Wu Juying glared at Li Li Mingyue: "You know it's hot? Then why don't you go cook? Lazybones shouldn't complain about the food—just eat!"

Li Li Mingyue protested: "Mom, why say that? When I lived at home, I always cooked."

Wu Wu Juying sneered: "Then why don't you cook now? You think you're a guest now?"

Li Li Mingyue blinked, silenced by her mother's rebuke, but she still couldn't figure out what she'd done wrong today.

Those involved are blind; outsiders see clearly. She believed her son was the smartest in the world, and anyone who criticized him was wrong—yet others' sons, who'd spent decades as workshop foremen, were just fools?

Li Li Mingxiang sensed the tension and quickly moved the plate of cold braised pig's head meat toward her sister: "Sister, try this—just opened a braised dish stall east of town. Says it's Chef Lang's cooking from the Food Company—tastes great."

"No, no—Zhao Yuanchao needs this for his liquor."

After refusing politely, Li Li Mingyue sighed: "It's not that I'm hungry—I just have no appetite. These days, I've worn myself out worrying about Aiguo's job assignment."

"How did university graduates become so worthless in just a few years?"

"A few years ago, junior college grads got government posts right after graduation—two years to deputy section chief was slow. Now look at Aiguo—he barely got a desk job."

Li Li Mingyue suddenly turned to Zhao Zhao Meiwen and Li Juan: "When Xiao Wen and Xiao Juan graduate, will they have to work in the workshop like factory workers?"

Li Li Mingxiang nearly snatched the pig's head meat back.

Her elder sister never changed—always taking more than her share of household goods, and always needing the last word.

What do you mean "university graduates aren't valuable"? Are you cursing the monk while pointing at the bald head?

So your son gets an office job this year, but my daughter will be stuck in the workshop years from now?

But before Li Li Mingxiang could retort, Li Li Mingyue pointed at Li Ye: "I didn't say that—Li Ye did."

"Just now, Li Ye told us that as government vacancies shrink, future graduates will struggle to get jobs—and the college entrance exam keeps getting harder. Miss one year, miss them all."

Li Ye watched his aunt grow more animated, and felt like he'd met a distant relative from his past life.

That relative's son had never graduated college; when Li Ye got into a second-tier university, the first thing he said was: "You wear glasses? Employers might not take you."

Seriously? That's what you say? There are so many nearsighted people—you just hate me?

There was worse.

After Li Ye graduated and did his factory internship—dirty, exhausting work—the same man sneered: "What's a university grad? Worse than my son. He's saved tens of thousands already. The most worthless people these days? University grads."

He always poked exactly where it hurt—like hitting a voodoo doll in a game, each strike bringing him more joy.

"University graduates will only keep increasing,"

Li Ye glanced at his aunt and said coolly: "But not all graduates are the same. Even from the same school, some master their teachers' knowledge; others just coast, learning only how to date."

"Schools differ too. Graduates from national key universities won't do poorly unless they're lazy—no matter how they fumble."

"I know two classmates from '81—they both stayed in Beijing—one at the Ministry of Machinery Industry, one at the Capital Iron and Steel Plant."

"So job assignments depend on overall ability. If you don't get a good post, it's either because your grades are bad, your school isn't good, or your luck's bad."

Both sisters stared at Li Ye. His aunt's eyes widened; his cousin's lips twitched in a suppressed smile.

Li Ye's tongue was sharper than Aunt Li Li Mingyue's—dark, barbed, and yet impossible to refute.

"Slap!"

His aunt smacked her thigh angrily: "Exactly! Our luck's been rotten these years—Aiguo was dating a provincial cadre's daughter, but just before graduation, some pretty boy stole her. Otherwise, he'd never have ended up back in this backwater county."

"Hahaha!"

Li Li Mingxiang finally burst out laughing.

For other things, Li Li Mingyue wouldn't dare contradict her sister.

But when it came to dating, her son had zero advantage.

Strange thing: all Li family members were handsome—but Li Li Mingyue was the exception. Her husband, Cui Zhi, looked perpetually miserable, and his son inherited the misfortune.

"Li Mingxiang, what are you laughing at?"

Li Li Mingyue frowned and asked: "What university did Zhao Meiwen apply to? Will she get in?"

Li Li Mingxiang held back her laughter and replied carefully: "Zhao Meiwen applied to Beijing Medical University. Whether she gets in depends on luck."

"You're counting on luck again? Beijing Medical University is a national key university—hahaha!"

Li Li Mingyue laughed uproariously—then realized no one else was laughing.

She whirled to Li Juan: "Xiao Juan, what university did you apply to?"

Li Juan kept her head down, stirring her vegetables: "Same as my brother."

Li Li Mingyue blinked, then pressed urgently: "How much did you score? I remember you both barely hit five hundred last year."

Because she'd been out of favor these past two years, she'd had little contact with the family and was behind on the kids' grades.

"Ahem."

Li Kaibian, holding back for ages, finally raised his head: "Juan's last mock exam was 556—slightly better than last year."

Li Li Mingxiang added: "Zhao Meiwen's not far behind—over 520!"

Li Li Mingyue suddenly felt her throat tighten, as if something had lodged there.

(End of Chapter)