The summer of '63 was no different from any other summer.

On this ordinary day, people of all ages went to work and school as usual.

But for junior high school graduates, this is a time to make life choices.

Those who did well on the exam went to vocational school or high school, while those who didn't do well either went out to find a job or stayed at home waiting for job assignments.

Wang Shouren entered the examination room full of confidence. There were only three subjects in total: Chinese in the morning and mathematics and politics in the afternoon.

I skimmed through the Chinese section; it's quite different from my previous life. I have to write two essays, one 600 words and the other 1000 words. High-scoring formulas exist in every era, but they're not encouraged in this one. After a period of research, Wang Shouren has almost figured it out.

Start with the little things in life, see the big picture from the small, and finally sing praises to the great.

That should be about right.

He finished the math exam in the afternoon in half an hour, which wasn't too difficult for him. He also had templates to memorize for politics; whatever he thought was correct, as long as it was written correctly, it was correct.

After the exam, he breathed a sigh of relief; he could probably relax for a while now.

On the way back to the courtyard house, Wang Shouren's steps became lighter.

Entering the courtyard, I noticed that Uncle San wasn't there today; I heard he was out dealing with Yan Jiecheng's work. Yan Jiecheng was a year ahead of Wang Shouren. After graduating last year, he failed to get into high school or vocational school and is now making a living by doing odd jobs. Coupled with Uncle San's stinginess, this family has had quite a few conflicts over the past year.

I walked from the front yard to the middle yard.

Qin Huairu was washing clothes, and her graceful figure with her back to him excited Wang Shouren slightly, but he suppressed his restlessness.

At this moment, Sha Zhu came out of the room, carrying a package. He saw Wang Shouren, paused for a moment, grinned, and asked, "Oh, the cultured man is back. Didn't someone say half a year ago that they were planning to take the vocational school entrance exam? How did it go today?"

Sha Zhu's loud voice immediately attracted the attention of everyone in the yard.

Qin Huairu, who was washing clothes, also looked up and glanced at Wang Shouren. After that one glance, she lowered her head again and continued washing clothes, appearing undisturbed by anything around her.

Hearing Sha Zhu's sarcastic tone, the people in the courtyard finally realized that it was news from six months ago.

A mentally challenged person with poor grades sold his family's job in order to get into a vocational school.

No one knows how many were sold, but the reputation of the "Two Fools of the Compound" has never faded.

Actually, this is also Sha Zhu's fault. If it weren't for him, the low-key Wang Shouren would have been forgotten in a few weeks.

"What are you doing? Gathering together?" An old man also came back from get off work. He had a task at the factory today and worked overtime for a while. He was given a few grain coupons, which was a pretty good harvest, so he was in a good mood.

"Uncle, isn't today the high school entrance exam? I'm just checking in to see how our intellectuals are doing," Sha Zhu continued sarcastically. This guy had been holding it in for a long time.

To be honest, he had considered revenge. However, recalling that day, the brick in Wang Shouren's hand and his crazed eyes, filled him with a sense of fear. That slight fear made him extremely uncomfortable. From then on, he couldn't stand the sight of Wang Shouren. He had been holding back for over half a year, waiting for this moment.

I've been waiting for this.

"Is that what you call concern?" the old man asked, somewhat helplessly.

He just couldn't understand why this fool was bullying Wang Shouren all the time. Besides, the old man didn't think Wang Shouren was easy to bully; he used to be. But now, ever since his wife started practicing Tai Chi with Wang Shouren every day, her health had improved a lot. When they went to the hospital for a checkup, the doctor even said that if she continued like this, she might be able to recover her health.

Upon learning of this, the old man was so overjoyed that he almost kowtowed to Wang Shouren.

From then on, the elderly couple treated Wang Shouren even better.

So, when Sha Zhu came out to cause trouble, the old man naturally had to defend him.

"Hey, old man, I'm just asking, what's wrong, Wang Shouren, are you afraid to speak?" When it comes to witty banter, Sha Zhu has never lost.

"What, you idiot Zhu, you want to see me make a fool of myself?" Wang Shouren glanced at the fool, a young man in his early twenties, slovenly and disheveled, his hair covered in grease, and apart from his clean hands, every part of his body was oily. A strange smell emanated from him as he got closer. Wang Shouren had no idea where this guy's smugness came from.

"Hey, if you pass the exam, you're called an intellectual; if you don't, you're called intellectual dung. I think you're more likely to become a pile of dung. With your grades, hey, they're really stinky." As he spoke, Sha Zhu even fanned himself in front of his nose in a strange way.

"Silly Zhu, I'm not going to argue with you or beat around the bush. Do you dare to bet?"

"Bet? What kind of bet?" Sha Zhu raised an eyebrow; this was exactly the effect he wanted.

"If I win, I won't take anything from you. I just want to have a fair fight with you, right here. The loser shouldn't cry. What do you think?" Wang Shouren looked at Sha Zhu with a grin.

Upon hearing this, Sha Zhu trembled with excitement: "Then we don't need to gamble, let's just get started." With that, he rolled up his sleeves, ready to fight.

But an old man stopped him: "Hey! Sha Zhu, don't be impulsive!"

"Grandpa, this isn't me, he asked for it."

"Don't rush, what about yours? What if you win?"

"I won! Even if I win, I still want to fight you. The loser has to call me grandpa! Do you dare?" Sha Zhu's eyes were full of excitement.

Qin Huairu raised her head, glanced at Sha Zhu, then at Wang Shouren, her eyes filled with pity. Six months ago, Wang Shouren could hold his own for half an hour. Now, she couldn't handle him. She didn't know what Sha Zhu could use to fight Wang Shouren; she had the most direct experience of Wang Shouren's changes over the past six months. Just look at those powerful muscles, and that technique…

Thinking of this, she slightly squeezed her legs together.

"Alright, it's settled then. Gentlemen, everyone, be my witnesses." Wang Shouren clasped his hands in a fist salute to the people around him.

"Hey, don't go! We can fight today..."

"Alright, alright, everyone's gone. Let's talk about it after the high school entrance exam results come out. Sha Zhu, you'd better get ready."

"Prepare? Prepare what? That little chick-like thing, I'll beat him up with one hand! Damn it! Show off!"