Just like the previous preliminary exam, a large red paper notice was posted at the gate of the county high school, and a huge crowd of people crowded in front of it.

No individual scores or rankings were announced, only a list of candidates who passed the exam. In order to avoid the embarrassment of candidates with the same name, the admission ticket number was placed before each name.

Zhang Ziwen, who squeezed in at the very back, quickly found his name at the front and his admission ticket number. But what did he seem to have seen?

He suddenly looked up and saw a very familiar name at the top of the list - Zhang Minglei.

Zhang Ziwen had a silly look on his face as he looked at the three big words happily… Although there was no score or ranking, this was undoubtedly the first place.

Accidentally, he was stepped on by someone. He woke up immediately and looked down the list one by one, praying silently in his heart: I hope all my brothers are qualified!

On the big red list, after Shitou's name, he was fifth, Zhang Ziwu was eighth, and right after that was Zhang Miao (Wheat Ear), and then there was nothing, still nothing...

It was not until the end that Zhang Ziwen finally found two names, his younger brother Zhang Zicong and his cousin Chen Zicheng from his aunt's family, and then there was really nothing else.

——Although these two younger brothers responded to each other in the end with the big name Shitou, they still caught the tail and went online directly!

Zhang Mingzuo and a few others who squeezed in a step late looked at it and just stared blankly... After a few seconds, they rubbed their eyes and looked again, with different expressions.

There is disbelief, disappointment, surprise, and...

Zhang Ziwen patted Zhang Mingzuo's shoulder comfortingly, not knowing what to say for a moment.

Zhang Mingzuo forced a smile and said, "Why? At least we brothers didn't fail. If we don't pass, then we don't pass. There's still hope for next year."

"Yes, keep working on it!"

"Go, go quickly, go back and report the good news!"

A group of young people held hands and pushed hard to get out of the crowd, feeling the strength in each other's hands, as if this could convey their encouragement to each other.

——During the days of waiting, I dreamed many times of setting off together with my brothers, but reality taught them a lesson.

Shitou held his cousin's hands tightly and turned to look at the crowd before leaving.

Those who squatted on the ground hugging their knees in pain, those who fought back tears, those who were heartbroken, and those who were as ecstatic as I was...

He took a deep breath and looked up at the sky - why did he want to cry at this moment?

The county high school is not far from Zhang Guoqing's courtyard.

——Zhou Xiaozheng chose this place for the convenience of his daughter’s schooling and life.

The group recovered their spirits and chose the same destination without any prior agreement - running back to the courtyard.

In the yard, just as Zhang's mother was about to turn around and go back to the house, she was attracted by a series of footsteps coming from not far away. She looked at her grandson and grandchildren with anticipation.

"Grandma, Grandpa, we are here to tell you the good news!"

Zhang's mother knew the good news without them having to announce it.

——Just now, many people ran out, shouting that the college entrance examination results were out.

But she never expected that she would win all of them...

"God bless you! Hurry, hurry, hurry, go call your parents and your wives over. It's a happy day today, and I'll give you a meal to celebrate!"

ah?

The brothers looked at each other.

The meaning in each other's eyes is not difficult to understand at all - is there a misunderstanding?

A little embarrassing, but also a little funny.

——You’ve shouted too much!

When Zhang's mother saw something was wrong, she immediately asked, "What's going on?"

Faced with her question, Zhang Mingzuo couldn't even look her in the eye, "Grandma, I didn't win."

Seeing him speak, Zhang Mingyou touched his head and found that his hat was still on. He sighed and said, "I didn't win either."

Zhang Zicong opened his mouth, and an idea flashed in his mind, "Grandma, none of my sisters-in-law got it right."

"Hey, grandma, you're not guaranteed to pass the exam yet. You still have to take a physical exam in a week. Only if you pass it can you fill out your application. You won't be sure of passing until you receive the acceptance letter. We can celebrate then."

Zhang Ziwen silently looked at his second and third brothers. No wonder these two idiots were still showing off to him. After they compared the answers, they estimated that their scores were around 250!

It’s just two hundred and fifty!

Is this consolation or showing off?

Zhang Meihao’s eldest son Chen Zicheng looked at everyone and was anxious to go back home to tell his grandparents the good news, but what should he do now?

Zhang's mother and she were not too surprised to hear that her grandson's (grandson's) daughter-in-law failed the exam.

Once a woman has children, how can she really concentrate on studying? One child is crying, another is making trouble, and she still has to go to work during the day.

——But why didn’t the eldest son pass the exam? The children went to school together, worked together, and studied together since they were young.

She looked at her two grandsons who were forcing smiles, thinking it was a pity, but she still smiled and comforted them, "Okay. It's no big deal. You still have jobs, right?"

"Besides, no one can get into university, so who wouldn't take the exam? If we want to go to university, we can take the exam next year. Maybe we can go to university together then."

Father Zhang came out of the living room, looked at them, and waved, "Go back and tell your parents the good news first. If you can't pass the exam, then you can't pass. It's just a good opportunity to work from home."

Obviously, without any surprise, Father Zhang listened to the entire process.

Mother Zhang glared at him. "Can you speak?" she asked. "What do you mean by 'just working from home'?" Suddenly, she remembered something. "Did Yinsuo and the others pass the exam?"

Shitou glanced at his brothers' confused expressions and realized they hadn't noticed. He quickly replied, "There's no one from Great Grandfather's family. Only Brother Dajiang's name is on the list from Third Grandfather's family."

"Alas..." Zhang's mother sighed, "Your great-grandfather will be angry again."

"What are you saying in front of the children?" Father Zhang glared at his wife. "Well, you should all go home as soon as possible."

Watching the children leave, Zhang's mother sighed, "Why does no one win?"

"Children follow their mothers. Look at how confused the old lady is. It's not good."

"Xizi will be admitted to university!"

"He takes after his father! Our eldest brother is no worse than his father."

Zhang's mother was so upset by his words that she really didn't want to refute him. Of course, she had this thought in her heart. After a moment of silence, she sighed softly, "It's time to get upset again."

Father Zhang smiled disapprovingly. "What's the fuss? It's not like we can't take the exam next year. Damn it, why didn't you mention the three girls?"

“Maybe I didn’t pass the exam.”

"Who knows? I wonder if my grandson-in-law passed the exam. Forget it. I'll go over there myself and see if there's any telegram from our family at the post office."

Zhang's mother rolled her eyes at her husband as he headed for the door. It sounded nice—I'll take the exam next year. Haha... Better to just focus on work.

"Remember to send a telegram to our Xiaowu to announce the good news~"

Father Zhang waved back without even turning his head.

Ouch, that’s so annoying!

Why couldn't he pass the exam? Back then, his Xiaowu and Jiaojiao, one working and the other taking care of the children, still easily got first and second place in the exam.

These craps are such a waste of their uncle’s hard work!