It's easy to imagine that with reform and opening up, all industries were waiting to be developed. The current model has led to slow development of national productivity. In many places, people can't even afford to eat and dress warmly, let alone science and education, which were severely suppressed during the Cultural Revolution.

If a country wants to develop, it cannot remain stagnant. The planned economy era will eventually be reformed, and that will be the time for it to make its efforts.

Just by looking at the money I made from dealings with Sister Wang and others in previous years, you can see how much money a self-employed person can make. You don't have to go to work at a fixed time every day, and you don't have to take time off for family matters. A stable job has its advantages, but it also has many limitations.

Jiang Hui knew that his sister was very opinionated. Once she made up her mind, it was hard for anyone to persuade her. In the past, with their grandmother around, they could offer some advice, but now, he guessed only his brother-in-law could say a few words.

He planned to talk to his brother-in-law when he got back.

When Zheng Yang returned from his long-distance trip, his brother-in-law Jiang Hui pulled him aside and said a lot of things, all of which were to persuade them to take the college entrance examination. Zheng Yang smiled and didn't say anything. He had no intention of taking the college entrance examination; he wasn't destined to be a college student.

However, he would still support his wife if she wanted to go: "I'll go back and ask your sister what she says. If she's determined not to go, there's nothing I can do."

That's true.

After dinner, Jiang Ruyu bathed her two daughters, changed their clothes, and watched them fall asleep. They were now sleeping in her sister-in-law's old room. The room had been tidied up a bit, painted white, and the curtains and floor tiles had been replaced. The beds had also been remade. The two sisters used their own things and had been sleeping alone since they started kindergarten.

Back in the room, her youngest son, Zheng Yang, had already been fed formula and put to sleep. Having been pregnant twice and given birth to three children, Jiang Ruyu's milk supply was never very high. This time, one child was enough to feed him, but for work reasons, her youngest son was fed both formula and breast milk. She would breastfeed at home and give him formula at work. He also drank formula at night. After getting into this habit, the child didn't wake up at night to drink milk, making him very easy to take care of.

Zheng Yang took a towel to dry his wife's hair and asked her casually, "Now that you can take the college entrance exam, you can register too, why don't you register?"

Jiang Ruyu closed her eyes and said without thinking, "I can't be a student. It was so uncomfortable sitting at school back then. If my grandma hadn't insisted that I get a diploma, I probably would have dropped out long ago. Now, I'm a mother of three. Can I really go back to being a student?"

"Won't you regret it?" Zheng Yang didn't know about the policy. He just wanted his wife to think it through so she wouldn't regret it later. "You don't need to worry about the family. I don't drive long distances much anymore, unless it's a very long distance with very bad road conditions. I can take good care of the family."

Jiang Ruyu laughed and leaned into Zheng Yang's arms: "Aren't you afraid that I'm too outstanding and will be pursued by other men at school?"

Zheng Yang narrowed his eyes: "Can you?"

"Haha, of course not, where else would I find a man like you?"

Zheng Yang smiled with satisfaction: "I hope you can do what you think is right and not worry about your family."

“I know that not taking the college entrance exam is my truest thought. Actually, Zheng Yang, have you ever thought about this? The college entrance exam, which was suspended for ten years, has been reinstated. How long can this planned economy, where you need ration coupons to buy vegetables, last?”

Zheng Yang frowned: "You mean, will the government allow private individuals to do business?"

“I think so. The country needs development, and the people need progress. The current model is definitely not a long-term solution. The era of not having enough to eat or wear, and needing ration coupons for everything, will eventually come to an end.” Jiang Ruyu’s eyes revealed expectation and ambition.

"Do you want to wait until the day you quit your job as warehouse team leader?" Zheng Yang knew his wife well; if she brought this up, she must have her own reasons.

"More or less, we'll see how it goes."

"Then you should think it through yourself. I support you."

The couple had already discussed it, and Jiang Hui couldn't say anything. His sister had her own ideas, and he couldn't force her to do something she didn't want to do.

Zheng Xiaoyue also called to say she wanted to take the college entrance examination. Jiang Ruyu supported her, even though she was still pregnant. She was expected to give birth around the Chinese New Year, so it wouldn't delay her from going to school next year if she passed the exam. Anyway, Jiang Tao was of a high enough rank and had a high salary, so she didn't mind renting a house and hiring a nanny when she went to school.

Time flies. During this period, Jiang Hui and Han Ling also made the most of every available moment to study hard. They got up early in the morning to memorize texts and did exercises late into the night. Jiang Ruyu's two daughters helped take care of their two children.

It was said that the college entrance examination would be held in a month, but in fact, the resumption of the college entrance examination was sudden. Many university teachers had just returned from the places where they had been sent down to the countryside. Therefore, the time of the college entrance examination in each place was different. Some places started the exam as early as November 28, while others did not start until December 23.

Moreover, this year's college entrance examination was divided into two parts. The first part was a preliminary examination, which only tested the two main subjects of Chinese and Mathematics. Those who did not perform well in the preliminary examination were eliminated, and only those who passed could continue to participate in the unified examination.

Fortunately, both Jiang Hui and Han Ling passed the preliminary exam, which greatly boosted their confidence.

In Yanjing, the college entrance examination schedule was announced door-to-door by the street committees. The exam dates were December 7th, 8th, and 9th, giving them more time to prepare, but the waiting period was also very difficult.

The day finally arrived. Jiang Hui and Han Ling went to the nearby No. 2 Middle School examination site according to their assignments. Jiang Ruyu did not see them off, but let them ride bicycles to the examination site.

Jiang Ruyu had confidence in her younger brother and sister-in-law. They had almost a year more time to study than others, and they had never put down their books over the years. If they still couldn't pass the exam, then it could only be said that it was their fate.

After three days of exams, Jiang Hui and Han Ling felt like they had come back to life after sleeping for two days at home. The past two months felt like a dream. They couldn't sleep peacefully without their books in their arms, as if sleeping for even a minute longer would affect their exam scores.

I'm more tired every day than I was during those two years working in the countryside. It's finally over. Anyway, I've finished the exam. Whether I pass or not is up to fate.

They didn't compare answers, or rather, they didn't dare to, fearing that if they did, they would find the answers were different and their mental state would collapse.

The people who took the college entrance examination that year were a mixed bag, the oldest being thirty years old and the youngest being only sixteen or seventeen years old, with the largest age range.

Some are still children, while others are already parents.

Meanwhile, educated youth sent to the countryside across the country, especially those who had married locals and had children, regardless of gender, argued with their spouses and even got into physical fights because of the college entrance examination.

Everyone wants to seize the opportunity of the college entrance examination, but what about the educated youth who are already married? They have spouses and children. If they get into university and change their fate, how many of them will return to the rural areas where they suffer?