Chapter 86

May 25th, the last day for filling out volunteer applications.

In the small warehouse of the Second Grain Store, Li Dayong and the others had solemn expressions as they filled out their college application preferences.

Li Ye said: "I'll ask one last time, are you all sure?"

Hu Man and Jiang Xiaoyan nodded affirmatively, while Han Xue said carelessly: "Don't worry, if we don't get in, we guarantee we won't blame you, Li Ye."

"That's not right," Yan Jinbu said gloomily. "Whether we get in or not, we should all thank Li Ye."

"Fine, fine, fine, you're the one with the clever tongue, can't say three sentences all day long. If I had known, I wouldn't have applied with you..."

Han Xia retorted to Yan Jinbu with disdain and gave him a white-eyed look.

For this application, Li Ye's original intention was for them to apply for their own, but the group of eight split into four groups for "courage."

Han Xia and Yan Jinbu applied for the Capital University of Chemical Technology, Fu Yingjie and Li Dayong applied for the Capital University of Technology, and Hu Man and Jiang Xiaoyan both applied for the Capital University of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

To be honest, the ambition of these people was higher than Li Ye had expected.

The Capital University of Technology is the future Beijing Institute of Technology, and the Capital University of Aeronautics and Astronautics is the future Beihang University!

These are solid, heavy-duty, double-first-class universities.

To be honest, it's a little bit risky.

But things have reached this point, and Li Ye didn't want to persuade them anymore; what should have been said before had been said, and saying more now would be useless.

The group of eight, right at the deadline, submitted their application preferences.

Then, it spread throughout County No. 2 Middle School.

"Li Ye actually applied for Capital University? Is he crazy?"

"Capital University Economics Department, World Economy... there really is... what is this major for?"

The popular majors in '82 were basic disciplines like literature, philosophy, history, physics, and chemistry. Economics was a fresh thing, and ordinary people didn't know what it was.

When choosing a school, Li Ye had considered Tsinghua Computer Science, but Tsinghua's management these years is very strict; you might even have to line up and march in step to eat in the cafeteria!

For Li Ye, who planned to go to school, make money, and develop with little Xiaoyu, this would certainly be an obstacle.

Plus, Watching Wen Leyu liked Capital University, so Li Ye chose Capital University, which was relatively freer, together with Watching Wen Leyu.

As for why study economics?

Hmm, when capital big shots want to act cool, they still need some professional knowledge.

Anyway, Li Ye doesn't plan to engage in frontline work in the future, so whether it's professional or not doesn't matter. Just learn enough; Capital University produces talent every year, and there are plenty of people who go straight to the center. If you can rub off on them, you've earned it.

"I guess he wants to go to Beijing with Watching Wen Leyu. Look, Watching Wen Leyu applied for the Capital University English Department..."

Someone saw Watching Wen Leyu's preferences and felt a bit sour. You ignored Watching Wen Leyu before, but now you can't climb high enough!

Li Ye and the others didn't stay at school and left after submitting their preferences.

But what they didn't know was that after they left, Xia Yue wrote the name of the Capital Foreign Studies University on her application.

She finally made up her mind not to step on the brakes.

For high school students in '82, once the preferences are filled out, nothing can be changed; they can only strive forward.

Li Ye increased the review intensity of the group of eight and began to "smuggle private goods."

He wasn't particularly clear about the content of the '82 college entrance exam, but he did know some very interesting content.

For example, the math test where Ma Ali only scored 1 point in the first battle, and also...

After entering June, the weather gradually became hot. Li Ye had Hao Jian find a way to get two fans, which made Hu Man and the others feel very comfortable.

Having a fan in '82 was much more luxurious than an air-conditioned room forty years later. Never mind how much money it cost to buy a fan; many people these days were even stingy about the electricity cost for lighting at night!

Spending a whole summer with a cattail fan was the most normal way of life.

Under the blessing of various favorable conditions, the study progress of the group of eight was very smooth, and Li Ye's political shortcomings were also slowly being made up.

However, by mid-June, Li Ye found that Yan Jinbu was a bit off, always distracted for several days in a row.

Is the pressure on them too great?

Li Ye was somewhat worried. Now the group of eight had to study for more than 14 hours every day, and even Li Ye felt tired.

"Jinbu, are you too tired?"

"Oh, no, it's fine, not tired."

Li Ye sensitively detected the abnormality; Yan Jinbu's eyes were clearly dodging.

Li Ye said sternly: "If there's something, say it out; don't hide it in your heart, especially things related to our college entrance exam."

"........."

Hu Man and the others heard Li Ye's implication and raised their heads in surprise, looking at Yan Jinbu.

Things related to everyone's college entrance exam, aren't they just the practice questions everyone does? Is someone pulling strings and reaching Yan Jinbu?

Sweat was visibly flowing down Yan Jinbu's forehead.

He wasn't good with words, and suddenly being stared at by so many people, he even stuttered when speaking.

"No, no... someone came to me to ask me to replace him..."

Yan Jinbu stuttered for a long time before he made it clear.

It turned out that a few days ago, someone came to Yan Jinbu's house and offered a price of 500 yuan, asking Yan Jinbu to give up his own exam and go for someone else.

Hu Man and the others looked at Yan Jinbu in shock.

Han Xia first questioned: "And you agreed? You sold your future for 500 yuan?"

"No, no," Yan Jinbu shook his head repeatedly and said: "I told them, I only scored 406 in this preliminary exam because I guessed the questions right; I usually only have a level of about 340. I pushed it away, I pushed it away."

Han Xia immediately said angrily: "Then why are you distracted? I saw you weren't right these past few days and thought you were tired!"

Yan Jinbu lowered his head and said in a low voice: "I... sometimes I think, if I had five hundred yuan... and repeat a year..."

Li Ye looked at the wavering Yan Jinbu and could guess how they had persuaded him at the time.

"The cost of repeating a year is over a hundred yuan. Five hundred yuan is equivalent to repeating with a salary.

If you repeat for another year, you'll get a better score next year and be able to get into a better university..."

Actually, what made Yan Jinbu waver might not be the five hundred yuan, but the application preferences of Li Ye, Watching Wen Leyu, and the others.

The Capital University of Chemical Technology, which Yan Jinbu applied for, is also a very good undergraduate college, but compared to Tsinghua, Peking, and Beihang, it is naturally weaker.

The reticent Yan Jinbu is actually very capable of enduring hardship and is also very strong-willed. It is estimated that for a moment, he was tempted.

Li Ye patted Yan Jinbu on the shoulder and asked: "You missed out on five hundred yuan! Why didn't you agree to them at the time?"

Yan Jinbu smiled and shook his head: "I figured it out later. If you all get into college and leave, and I'm the only one left, I don't know if I can persist. So I was just thinking, just thinking..."

Li Ye nodded, his face darkened, and he said sternly: "It's fortunate you didn't agree. If you had agreed and were caught on the spot, you would never be able to take the college entrance exam in your life."

".........."

"It won't happen, it won't happen, they are from the neighboring county..."

Yan Jinbu was sweating profusely from shame and hurriedly explained and defended himself.

Li Ye, however, remained relentless: "Better safe than sorry; there is no such thing as foolproof. If you are willing to bet your future on it, go ahead."

Yan Jinbu said anxiously: "I really refused, believe me."

Han Xia hurriedly chimed in: "We believe you, just study well, take the exam well, and don't think about those messy things all day long."

"Mm-hmm, I'm studying well!"

Yan Jinbu nodded repeatedly; the honest child was almost moved to tears.

Han Xia looked at Yan Jinbu's appearance and teased: "Sigh, why didn't anyone give me five hundred yuan? I'm not thinking about that, I just want to see five hundred yuan and be happy..."

Li Ye smiled and didn't say it directly.

Because in '82, an ordinary family wouldn't spend 500 yuan for a girl.

Ordinary girls aren't worth this price.

"Alright, let me say two practical things!"

Li Ye clapped his hands and said to everyone sternly: "Before, we only focused on studying, focused on school, but didn't discuss your future prospects.

I'm telling you now, the college students of this year and the college students of next year will be very different..."

"For example," Li Ye wrote the numbers 77 and 78 on the small blackboard.

"Undergraduates from '77 and '78, if they are lucky after graduation, can be assigned to the five national ministries, while our batch, it is estimated, can at most be assigned to the provincial and ministerial level, and next year it will be even harder..."

"..........."

Hu Man and the others looked at each other, all half-believing, both excited and regretful.

What's exciting is that they actually have a chance to stay in the province to work after graduation; what's regrettable is why did they take the exam a few years late? They missed out on a job in the five national ministries.

And at this time, Watching Wen Leyu affirmed at the right time: "Li Ye is right."

".........."

Everyone was shocked, and then overjoyed.

During the entire dinner, several students chatted endlessly, as if they could fly to the province to work tomorrow.

Only Jiang Xiaoyan was thoughtful.

In the evening, Jiang Xiaoyan suddenly grabbed Hu Man's arm and begged: "Hu Man, go to Old Huaiye's place with me!"

"What? It's so late... alright!"

The two girls, in the dark, sneaked to the old locust tree north of Qingshui County.

Jiang Xiaoyan put her hands together and prayed devoutly in a low voice.

"Old Huaiye, please bless... don't let anyone find my house... don't let my grandfather hear about the five hundred yuan... please..."

Hu Man: "............"