084 Restoration
A few days later, news came that Song Xibei had passed his physical examination. He looked very proud among a group of kids while watching TV that evening. When he saw Lin Yiku return, he stood at attention and saluted: "Good morning, leader!"
He wanted to test his skills against Lin Yiku, so he charged over with two howls, but Lin Yiku took him down in one move.
Song Gong'an was exasperated. He hadn't wanted Song Xibei to join the army before, but now he just wanted the army to take him away as soon as possible.
As Song Gong'an wished, after passing the physical examination, Song Xibei carried his luggage to participate in the scheduled recruit training.
With the absence of the boisterous Song Xibei, Courtyard No. 2 suddenly became quiet.
But it was only peaceful for one day.
Suddenly, the number of matchmakers coming to Courtyard No. 2 increased dramatically, and they all seemed to be heading straight to the Bai family.
Bai Yuejin and Bai Xianghong are only one year apart in age. The matchmakers initially came for Bai Xianghong because Zhuoyue Garment Factory was going to build workers' dormitories again, and Bai Xianghong was on the next list of people to be allocated housing.
When they arrived, they found Bai Yuejin, who was about the same age. Although he hadn't been allocated a house, he was still a formal worker at the car factory and had his own room at home, so his living conditions were quite good.
Aunt Bai was so picky that her eyes were dazzled. No matter how much others praised them, Aunt Bai insisted on investigating each one. Those families with many problems were absolutely out of the question.
So, Aunt Bai contacted a few of her idle old friends and checked their names one by one on her list, thoroughly investigating their circumstances.
During the investigation, a lot of gossip was also uncovered, making the entrance to Ginkgo Hutong more and more lively every day. Instead of rushing to the pool table, everyone surrounded Aunt Bai and her friends, asking, "What happened to that place we talked about last time?"
Guan Yuehe would join in the fun every day after get off work, and only after Lin Yiku came back from get off work would they start dividing up the tasks.
One cooks, the other gossips.
As she talked, Guan Yuehe started thinking about Lin Sitian. Gossip is definitely more fun to share with your best friends.
She felt that her story was uninteresting, and that Lin Sitian was much better at gossiping.
What are you thinking about?
"I miss Sitian."
"Um?"
"Her brother."
Guan Yuehe grinned and leaned in to sniff a few times. "Lin Yiku, your cooking skills are much better than Grandpa Ming's!"
She would praise him every time she said something she didn't mean.
Lin Yiku had seen through it all long ago.
—
Guan Yuehe went to collect the watermelons distributed by the factory. Just as she and Da Chao, who had just finished get off work, stepped out of the factory gate, she saw He Shuangshuang waving at her from outside the gate.
"Yue He!"
He Shuangshuang called out to Guan Yuehe and pulled Xie Dongxue along. Before they could ask what was wrong, He Shuangshuang just pulled them towards Guan Yuehe's house.
After walking for a while and when no one was around, He Shuangshuang whispered, "My father-in-law's old friend came to visit yesterday and said that a symposium on science and education had just been held at the higher authorities, and someone at the meeting proposed restoring the college entrance examination... My father-in-law's friend said it's possible, and there will be news next year."
Guan Yuehe's eyes lit up, and she asked in surprise, "Really?"
Then she realized that He Shuangshuang wouldn't spread rumors.
"Very good!"
Her sister and Ding Xuewen's advance review was not a waste of their time!
"It's just a possibility," He Shuangshuang emphasized.
"I see!"
At this point, who dares to confidently say, "The college entrance examination is about to be reinstated"?
The days of posting big-character posters at the drop of a hat are long gone, and everyone is afraid of saying the wrong thing and being caught out by someone with ulterior motives.
"Shuangshuang, you're not thinking of taking the college entrance exam, are you?" Xie Dongxue guessed.
Guan Yuehe was also stunned. He Shuangshuang also wanted to take the college entrance examination? She really hadn't thought of this possibility.
He Shuangshuang nodded, "If the college entrance examination isn't reinstated, fine. But if it is, do you think worker-peasant-soldier college students or those who genuinely passed the college entrance examination will be more recognized? And besides..."
He Shuangshuang frankly said, "Our factory is very good, but if there is a better place, I will try to go for it."
Guan Yuehe and Xie Dongxue were not surprised by her idea of leaving the garment factory. When He Shuangshuang graduated from the Workers, Peasants and Soldiers University, she had to return to the Zhuoyue Garment Factory because she already had a job and her major was not easy to be assigned to a job.
In the years since she returned to the factory, Guan Yuehe and Xie Dongxue, who had also gone for two and a half years of further training, have been promoted to deputy section chiefs, while she remains stagnant. It is to be expected that she is unwilling to accept this situation and wants to change it through other means.
He Shuangshuang heard the news yesterday, thought about it all night, and made up her mind today.
We have to give it our all.
"But we already have a university degree, right? Can we still take the college entrance exam?" Xie Dongxue frowned.
"I'm not sure, but I won't miss the opportunity if I get the chance." He Shuangshuang is now full of fighting spirit and has even invited two friends to start reviewing with her.
Guan Yuehe shook her head. She wasn't fixated on taking the college entrance exam; she had already gone to university a few years ago. She also had no intention of leaving Zhuoyue Garment Factory, so preparing for the exam again wasn't something she absolutely had to do.
If I were to go to university again, what would I study? Would I still major in English? Or would I switch to German?
There's no need for her to study these two languages at university, but she doesn't have any other majors that interest her.
Guan Yuehe shared her thoughts and patted He Shuangshuang on the shoulder, saying, "Although I don't plan to participate, I fully support you! Go for it, Comrade He Shuangshuang!"
Xie Dongxue chimed in, "Me too."
Seeing that He Shuangshuang wanted to persuade her again, Xie Dongxue quickly said, "I have some good news for you. The newspaper has offered me a job as an editor. I haven't figured out how to bring it up with the factory leaders yet."
Now it was Guan Yuehe and He Shuangshuang's turn to be surprised.
"So sudden?"
"It wasn't exactly sudden. This job was recommended by my university professor, who asked me about it several times."
Xie Dongxue said, "I just got promoted, and I've been struggling with this for half a year. But working in the propaganda department of our factory is quite boring, not as good as when I was in the union. Li Chaoyang is very supportive of me, but the house we live in now is going to be taken back, and we have to use his quota to apply for housing at the machinery factory, which is a bit of a hassle."
Guan Yuehe recalled that Xie Dongxue used to publish her own works when she was in college, but after returning to Zhuoyue Garment Factory and joining the publicity department, she stopped publishing them altogether.
“It’s different,” Xie Dongxue said. “In the previous environment, the things I wrote were all the same. I was afraid that writing them would only bring me more trouble.”
He Shuangshuang sighed helplessly, "I was thinking that you guys would want to take the college entrance exam just like me."
“Although we have different ideas, we all have a desire to improve, so we are still good comrades-in-arms!” Guan Yuehe patted her two friends beside her.
"Ouch! That's some strength... We're not your girlfriends, we can't take your hits!"
The three of them formed a small circle, looked at each other, and then laughed.
Suddenly, Guan Yuehe remembered an important question, "If that's the case, does that mean I'll be the only one left in our factory?"
"What if I fail the exam, or..."
Guan Yuehe tightly covered He Shuangshuang's mouth, "You can't say things like that! You must pass the exam!"
She also hopes that her sister, Ding Xuewen, and Chen Lizhong will all pass the exam.
“That’s right!” Xie Dongxue echoed, but after a while, she exclaimed, “Shuangshuang, then why did you apply to be transferred to the Women’s Federation? If you go to the Women’s Federation, will you still have time to review?”
The factory's women's federation is doing a lot of work now, and most of it involves creating disturbances in the family compound.
A few years ago, many of the factory's veteran workers transferred their jobs to their children, especially their sons. When the sons got married and had children, the whole family lived together, so it's no wonder there were so many conflicts.
Not to mention anything else, just look at the old lady next door to her sister. She either gets into conflicts with her daughter-in-law or with her neighbors. The Women's Federation, the Trade Union, and the factory leaders have all come to mediate, but it never stops.
"We can't cut off our escape route," He Shuangshuang said. "We can continue learning after get off work."
If you pass the exam, go to university and then look for opportunities in other organizations. If you don't pass, staying in the Women's Federation is better than staying in the personnel department.
Xie Dongxue hesitated, but ultimately said nothing.
—
After Guan Yuehe went home and ate dinner, she told the children who came over that she wouldn't be watching TV today and that they should go to Aunt Zhao's house or Yuanbao's house to watch TV instead.
A group of children cried out in disappointment, then ran in unison towards Courtyard No. 3.
Aunt Zhao's family is mostly adults, unlike Yuanbao's family which has many children. The main reason is that Zhou Hongqi and Jin Junwei occasionally give peanuts and melon seeds to the children who come to watch TV.
"Going out so late at night?"
Guan Yuehe and Lin Yiku had just reached the gate when Lu Changshun, who was returning from outside, greeted them.
"Let's go for a walk. Are there any workshops in the factory still rushing to meet production targets?"
Guan Yuehe saw that he was wearing work clothes and looked like he had just come back from work. But a few days ago, she heard Cai Ying say that the factory's machines had encountered problems, and the production line had stopped working for a few days. They were waiting for technical experts to come and solve the problem.
"Oh, no, my bicycle broke down, so I pushed it all the way back, which is why it's late. I won't keep you two any longer."
Lu Chang carried the bicycle to the door of his house, went back inside to get his toolbox, and started repairing the bicycle.
Seeing his skillful movements, Guan Yuehe whispered to Lin Yiku, "I never knew Uncle Lu had this skill before. I'll have Dad take his bicycle to Uncle Lu sometime. Maybe he can fix it."
Her father's bicycle, which he had ridden for over ten years, finally broke down. He absolutely refused to spend money to buy a new one and was wondering who he could find to fix it.
A group of people were playing ball and chatting in the open space outside the alley, even more enthusiastically than the old men who gathered to play chess.
In her opinion, placing a pool table on this open space was the right decision; it's always better to exercise in one's free time than to cause trouble everywhere.
"Some people say that there are people in our alley who are gambling, but they are well hidden and haven't been exposed yet."
There was always something new happening in the alley, and Officer Song never seemed to stop for a moment.
They walked to the residential compound of the Zhuoyue Garment Factory and went in to visit her sister.
Guan Yuehua finished her postpartum confinement in mid-July and went back to work at the factory.
Jiang Guiying would go over to take care of their children during the day, while Guan Yuehua had to go back home every noon to nurse the children. These two trips a day were quite exhausting.
As soon as Guan Yuehe entered the room, she saw Guan Yuehua studying at her desk and immediately noticed that she had lost weight since she was in postpartum confinement.
"Out for a walk again?" Guan Yuehua was already used to the two of them taking long walks late at night.
With their boundless energy, it would take them half an hour to walk from Ginkgo Alley to the garment factory's residential compound and back. However, they might also have run.
"What a coincidence, Gu Yu just woke up. Let you hold her for a while." Before Gu Mannian could finish speaking, the baby had already been placed in Lin Yiku's arms, and she turned to go to the balcony to wash diapers.
"Yuehe, brother-in-law, if you want some water, help yourself. We're all family, don't be shy."
Lin Yiku was always given a child whenever she came, but Gu Yu was held by a different person and she didn't cry or fuss.
In Gu Mannian's words, "My brother-in-law is a soldier, he's reliable, so the kids feel safe and won't cause trouble."
Guan Yuehe, of course, didn't believe his nonsense; it was all just an excuse to get them to help hold the baby!
Guan Yuehe and Gu Yu, who was chewing her fingers in Lin Yiku's arms, met each other's eyes.
The baby smelled of milk, which made Guan Yuehe's teeth itch. When her sister wasn't paying attention, she leaned over and kissed Gu Yu's little belly several times. She even wanted to bite Gu Yu's little hand.
Guan Yuehua didn't hear any noise, so she turned her head and glanced in the direction of the sofa.
From her perspective, all she could see was Guan Yuehe burying her head in Lin Yiku's arms, with Lin Yiku even having one hand around her...
It's such an eyesore.
But then she heard Gu Mannian washing clothes on the balcony, so she swallowed her complaints and turned back to her book.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Gu Yu finally couldn't stand her enthusiastic aunt anymore and started whimpering.
Guan Yuehe only teased but didn't coax, and immediately dodged away, leaving Lin Yiku to carry Gu Yu around the corridor.
"Did you know about the recent science and education symposium, sis?"
Guan Yuehua nodded. "I only heard about it a couple of days ago."
After making up her mind to start reviewing, Guan Yuehua not only adjusted her work attitude and stopped competing with the other deputy section chief for performance, but also contacted her classmates from the previous training course, hoping to get more information from them.
A classmate of mine works for the Education Bureau. A couple of days ago, she had someone deliver a message to her saying that national leaders held a symposium, where a university professor proposed restoring the college entrance examination, which received the support of most of the participants.
In the letter, the student mentioned that the current quality of primary and secondary education is not high, and the university admission system has problems, making it difficult to cultivate talent. Restoring the college entrance examination is the only way to select talent fairly.
This letter boosted her confidence: the college entrance examination was likely to be reinstated.
Guan Yuehe came over to tell her this news, and now that she knows, Guan Yuehe won't waste any more words.
"Brother-in-law, are the diapers washed yet?"
"What's the rush? Stay a little longer. There are White Rabbit milk candies in the cabinet. My sister-in-law brought them over. Help yourself."
Having finally found some help, Gu Mannian didn't want them to go back so soon.
"Let my brother-in-law learn more about how to soothe a baby, so you'll have experience when you have kids in the future."
Guan Yuehua, who was doing her homework, curled up the corners of her mouth. She really could get these two stubborn mules to take care of the kids.
As soon as Gu Mannian finished her work and sat down, less than two seconds later, the child was shoved into her arms again.
Guan Yuehe pulled Lin Yiku and ran outside, grabbing a handful of milk candy along the way, "Hurry up, hurry up."
Gu Mannian chased after them, carrying the child, "Yuehe, brother-in-law, come over to our house to play often when you have time!"
Guan Yuehe pretended not to hear.
He shared half of the candy in his pocket with Lin Yiku, and the two of them hurried home under the hazy moonlight.
at night.
“My sister and He Shuangshuang are both taking the college entrance exam, Xie Dongxue is being transferred to the daily newspaper as an editor... Oh, and Ding Xuewen and Chen Lizhong too.” Guan Yuehe lay on the kang with her legs crossed, sighing, “I also want to do something.”
What should we do?
I didn't miss any studying today either; I'm already learning two foreign languages. If I want to replace Section Chief Long as Section Chief Guan in the Planning Section instead of Deputy Section Chief Guan, I still need to accumulate more experience...
Lin Yiku turned her head to wait for her to continue, but Guan Yuehe couldn't think of anything after thinking for a long time.
He rolled over and landed directly on top of Lin Yiku, his intention to use birth control products was very clear.
—
In early September, He Shuangshuang was transferred from the personnel department to the Women's Federation. This was a lateral transfer rather than a promotion, so not many people paid attention to her transfer.
But the first mediation work He Shuangshuang did after being transferred to the Women's Federation was in her own family.
Mo Zhinan's family felt that He Shuangshuang's transfer was not a good idea. Since they knew that she wouldn't be promoted anytime soon, and the Women's Federation was busy, it would be better for her to stay in the personnel department and have more time to take care of her family.
Xie Dongxue whispered to Guan Yuehe, "Actually, Mo Zhinan's family wants her to have another child."
Although He Shuangshuang gave birth to a son as her first child, these days, only children are still quite rare. Most people would consider having two children to be reasonable, let alone many.
Especially since Mo Zhinan is now a factory cadre, and now various factories and mines are starting to advocate having only two children, cadres should take the lead in responding to the call.
Mo Zhinan's family is well-off, and some of his relatives work in the government, so they have many sources of information. They even speculate that the one-child policy might be promoted in the future.
That's why Mo Zhinan's family is urging He Shuangshuang and Mo Zhinan to have another child as soon as possible.
Xie Dongxue continued, "At the beginning of the year, He Shuangshuang was wavering and considering having another child. But now... she definitely won't have a baby now. Her mother-in-law and other relatives want her to stay in the personnel department because of this. Uh, I guess her in-laws don't know she's preparing for her exams..."
In the end, the commotion even alarmed the factory leaders. Factory Director Zheng personally went to mediate, and only then did Mo Zhinan's relatives calm down. At least they didn't dare to go to the factory again to ask to have He Shuangshuang transferred back to the personnel department.
He Shuangshuang didn't tell them, but since they all worked in the same factory, when others talked about gossip in the family compound, they would mention He Shuangshuang.
“I live right above them, and they’re making so much noise late at night that it’s scaring the kids. I really don’t know what they have to argue about. I think the personnel department and the women’s federation are the same everywhere, aren’t they?”
Some people gloated, saying, "See? Everyone says their relationship is so good, but I think it's just an act for outsiders. Who knows what's really going on?"
Guan Yuehe frowned. "What business is it of yours if other people are having relationship problems? Who do you have your eye on and want to sabotage?"
"I'm a man!" The gossiping man was so angry that he turned around to yell back, but when he turned around, he saw Guan Yuehe, who was about the same height as him, glaring at him fiercely. He couldn't help but feel angry.
"So what if it's a guy? It's not like there aren't guys who like other guys." Guan Yuehe gave him a look that said, "How can you be so ignorant?"
The others gasped, forgetting all about gossiping about He Shuangshuang's family. They all pulled Guan Yuehe aside and asked, "Section Chief Guan, which man has taken a fancy to which man? Tell us, and we promise we won't tell anyone."
Guan Yuehe: "......"
At the end of September, Xie Dongxue completed her work handover and officially left Zhuoyue Garment Factory. She will officially report to the Daily News after the National Day holiday.
As soon as the news spread, many people started discussing it. Everyone said that Xie Dongxue had lost her mind. If she stayed at the factory, she would at least get a house, but if she went to the newspaper office, who knows when she would get a house.
But what everyone is most concerned about is who will get the house that has been taken back?
The housing management office was packed with people again. Those who met the requirements didn't want to wait for the factory's newly built dormitory and were all vying for this apartment.
Then everyone started guessing: who would succeed Xie Dongxue and be promoted to deputy head of the publicity department.
Some people felt sorry for He Shuangshuang, who was transferred to the Women's Federation, and said, "If she hadn't been transferred, she might have taken her place."
"It's hard to say. Three of her family members are factory cadres. This is a serious matter."
Regardless of what others say, He Shuangshuang still goes to work as usual and uses her spare time to review.
When Guan Yuehe went to her sister's house again, she actually saw He Shuangshuang and her sister studying together!
Meanwhile, He Shuangshuang's son was holding and comforting Gu Yu, and Gu Mannian had time to do other household chores.
It's great. Mothers come to Guan Yuehua for tutoring when they don't know how to do something, and sons have to help Guan Yuehua take care of their daughters.
—
Beijing is the capital city, and if the country makes any major moves, those living in Beijing will be the first to notice.
Recently, many elderly people in the alley have been discussing mysteriously: I guess the country might reinstate the college entrance examination.
When someone first brought it up, everyone thought it was just wild speculation.
People felt that the news of the resumption of the college entrance examination was about 70% true. So, elderly people flocked to various scrap yards to find high school textbooks for their children.
On National Day, Lin Yiku didn't have to go to the military base, so she went back to her hometown with them.
Both Guan Yuehe and Lin Yiku had high school textbooks on the back of their bicycles; one set was prepared by Sister Luo for Zhou Baoyu, and the other by Jiang Guiying for Guan Aiguo.
Jiang Guiying knew her son's background very well, but everyone was looking for textbooks for their children, and she felt uneasy if she didn't.
"I think everyone's level is about the same, what if he gets lucky and passes the exam?"
Guan Yuehe had never taken the college entrance examination and didn't know how difficult it would be to get admitted after the exam was reinstated. But regardless of the difficulty, she was certain that Guan Aiguo was not cut out for studying.
Sure enough, Zhou Baoyu's eyes lit up when he got the book. He felt dizzy and lightheaded after getting the book.
Almost everyone in the Fengshou Brigade's educated youth settlement had a high school textbook, but each family had given instructions when delivering the books not to talk about it and to prepare them in their spare time.
These people were only excited for two days. After two days, they finished their farm work, lay down on their beds, and completely forgot about reviewing their lessons.
"Baoyu, you should rest for a while."
"Yes, don't you know your family members? They believe everything they hear. Even if the college entrance exam is reinstated, who knows when that will be? I think it's not too late to start reviewing after we get definite news."
Zhou Baoyu blinked, trying to ease his fatigue. "It's alright, I'll take another look."
When she failed to get into a vocational school last time, her mother cried for several nights, and her two younger sisters cried along with her.
Although being a barefoot doctor is good enough for her now, she wants to try harder again.
What if?
Ding Xuewen and Chen Lizhong, who were studying at the educated youth settlement in Sidaogou, Northeast China, were also studying by the light of a kerosene lamp. The night was quiet, and the other educated youths were all snoring away, but a voice in their hearts kept them going: What if?
On an ordinary morning in late October, the daily newspaper published the news that "major reforms are underway in college admissions."
Meanwhile, the broadcasts of Zhuoyue Garment Factory, Wuxing Automobile Factory, Fengshou Production Team, and Sidaogou Production Team were broadcasting this news.
At the entrance of Ginkgo Alley, a group of elderly men and women sat around a radio, listened for a long time, and finally asked, "Is this broadcast saying that the college entrance examination has been reinstated?"
"Yes! The college entrance examination has been reinstated!"
"Oh dear! The college entrance exam is in December, and it's already the end of October! No way, I need to send a telegram to my grandson right away so he can start reviewing." He ran outside for a bit, then slapped his thigh in frustration and ran back to ask, "Do you have any extra high school textbooks?"
This issue has been raised across the country, and many people, after their initial excitement, realized: there are no textbooks left.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
