053 Graduation
Guan Yuehe was banned from participating in the dormitory's arm-wrestling competition. Afterwards, the last two students shared an egg, and Guan Yuehe could only watch her roommates eat it...
"What were you thinking?" Chunmei suspected that she just wanted to see everyone arm wrestle, so she came up with this dirty trick.
"I didn't!" Guan Yuehe felt wronged, but after thinking about it carefully, she realized that she wasn't so wronged after all.
"Sigh, I was blinded by emotion. If only I had..."
I should have known better, and my mouth was still stuffed with an egg. "Suping, you're the best!"
They were almost graduating when the college entrance examination was reinstated, but they couldn't take it anymore. One of the reasons for the reinstatement of the college entrance examination was that the students recommended for school had varying levels of ability, and a significant number of them were unable to complete their professional studies after entering the school.
The news came out today, and Guan Yuehe didn't even have time to ask her sister. However, knowing her sister's personality, it's impossible for her not to sign up. She just doesn't know how many restrictions there are for signing up.
"It doesn't really concern us. By the time they get into university through the college entrance exam, we'll have graduated too."
That's true. After they finish this semester, they'll get their diplomas and go back to their original workplaces.
Guan Yuehe asked curiously, "I'm definitely going back to my original unit. Are you going back to your original troops or will you be reassigned?"
She talked to several of her roommates, and it seems that everyone's situation is quite different.
Shenghua said, "Not necessarily. For me, the military needs English majors, so I was entrusted to study at the school. After graduation, I will definitely return to my original unit. Su Ping was recommended to study as soon as she joined the army. Since the original unit does not need English majors, she may be assigned to a military region that needs her, or she may be reassigned within her original military region... In short, she will obey the organization's arrangements."
"Oh, then the address you left might not be useful. If the military region changes, then we won't be able to contact them anymore?"
People are scattered all over the country after graduation, and without specific contact addresses, it becomes difficult to get in touch again in the future.
Several roommates exchanged glances and laughed, "Isn't there you? You're our dorm's, oh no, we're our class's liaison, Guan Yuehe!"
"Wow! I never thought of such a good idea! Well, anyway, everyone in the class knows that Yuehe works at Zhuoyue Garment Factory."
"If someone changes military regions, send a letter to Yuehe. If you can't contact the others, write to Yuehe to ask. Hmm, not bad, Yuehe, you are a communications platoon all by yourself, and now you are the platoon leader."
Guan Yuehe laughed at their comments, and after a while, she asked, "If I become a platoon leader, can my family accompany me?"
"You were almost there. If you had worked a little harder, you could have developed into a deputy battalion commander."
Chunmei grabbed Guan Yuehe's arms and shook her, "Tell me honestly, who do you want to go with you to the army? Is it that PLA brother next door?"
Guan Yuehe shook her head and said she didn't think that way. Soon, Shenghua separated the two of them and said seriously, "Don't joke around. Don't mention this again."
Students are not allowed to date at the school, and they are about to graduate. If they are targeted at this critical juncture, all their previous studies will be wasted.
Chunmei and Guan Yuehe quickly corrected their attitudes, and the others tacitly avoided the topic.
At the start of this semester, Guan Yuehe found herself very familiar with every classmate, and the awkward situation of staring at people for a while before calling out their names was no longer a problem. She even recognized everyone in Class Two.
Many people at school are discussing the resumption of the college entrance examination this year, but many others are also preparing for their upcoming graduation.
Guan Yuehe didn't go home for the holidays and didn't know what was going on with her older sister, but she wrote a letter to Ding Xuewen and sent him the news that Beijing had decided to reinstate the college entrance examination.
Meanwhile, in courtyard number three of Ginkgo Hutong.
The house of the Guan family was quiet. Guan Yuehua sat upright with her head held high. Gu Mannian looked at the two elders and then at Guan Yuehua, and said to ease the atmosphere, "It's not easy to resume the college entrance examination. It's a rare opportunity. It would be a pity if Yuehua didn't participate."
Jiang Guiying said with a stern face, "If you don't want us old folks to interfere, I'm too lazy to ask anymore. Do whatever you want."
After saying that, he turned his back and gave Guan Canghai a wink, signaling him to cooperate.
Guan Canghai tapped the table with his pipe. "Man Nian, have your parents found out yet?"
"I know, I've already told them," Gu Mannian said. "I told them that Yuehua and I both want to take the exam while we're still young. If we pass, it will be good for our future development. My parents both agree."
Jiang Guiying, who was carrying the young couple on her back, breathed a sigh of relief. She was glad that Gu Mannian was clever enough to tell his family that they were taking the exam together. Otherwise, she was afraid that his family would have a problem with Yuehua because of this.
The Gu family said it was up to the young couple to discuss; having children later wasn't a big deal. They'd been married for a year and a half, so not having children was understandable. But if she got accepted, she'd be studying for at least three years, and during those three years, she definitely couldn't get pregnant or have children. If they delayed like that, by the time Yuehua graduated, she'd be twenty-eight or twenty-nine. And if she graduated and then got a promotion at work, it would take another year or two...
She was afraid that dragging it out would lead to a bigger conflict.
Now that Gu Mannian and his family have brought it up, the pressure is on his shoulders.
These two people came back specifically to talk about this matter. After they finished, Guan Yuehua said it was time to go back early.
"What's the rush? Let's eat first and then go back." Jiang Guiying got up to prepare lunch.
"No, Mom. It's a rare day off, and we need to make the most of our time to review. We'll come back for dinner next time."
When I left home, the neighbors in the front yard were also talking about the reinstatement of the college entrance examination, but no one in the third courtyard was still hoping their child would take it. Either their grades weren't good enough, or they were too old; there was no need to go through the trouble.
"Aunt Ding, your fourth child can sign up."
Aunt Ding scoffed, "I can't count on him. It's the same whether he takes the exam or not."
I heard he was a teacher in the village brigade, and I wanted him to put in a good word for the local brigade leader so that his second nephew could be transferred to the same brigade, but he ignored me completely.
We can't count on him now, so how can we expect him to bring any benefit to the family when he becomes successful?
Upon hearing this, Guan Yuehua glanced at Aunt Ding a few more times as she passed by the front yard.
If we can't count on Ding Laosi, are we supposed to count on Ding Laoda and Ding Laowu?
Aunt Ding noticed her gaze, looked over, and exclaimed loudly, "Yuehua used to be a good student, she should at least sign up this time, right?"
Guan Yuehua chuckled softly, and instead of answering, asked, "Ding Xuewu should be going to the countryside after graduating from junior high school this year, right? Aunt Ding, what kind of good job did you find for your youngest son?"
Aunt Ding's old face wrinkled up, and she said in a harsh voice, "What business is it of yours what good jobs my family is looking for? We're not like your family, with an older brother in the transportation team who keeps all the good things to himself and keeps passing the buck when asked to take on more apprentices."
"Oh, your family is so generous. Why don't you take out all your savings and share them with your neighbors?"
Aunt Ding screamed in anger: "Why should we take out my family's money to divide up?"
"Why should you share in the good things that happen to my family? Because you're shameless?" Guan Yuehua rolled her eyes at her and beckoned Gu Mannian behind her to follow.
Gu Mannian suppressed a laugh as he left the No. 3 courtyard and jogged over to Guan Yuehua's side, saying, "Wife, you're the best."
He's quite eloquent when dealing with people outside, but when faced with arguments from neighbors, he's like a scholar encountering a soldier—he can't reason with them.
Fortunately, he has his wife at home. One sentence from her is worth ten sentences from others, and every word she says is incisive.
Guan Yuehua cursed him inwardly for his useless mouth, just like her sister who had no mouth.
Once we were on the main street, I stopped and asked him, "Are you really going to take the exam with me?"
As previously agreed, Gu Mannian did not plan to take the exam. Firstly, he was aware of his own abilities, and secondly, he was highly likely to be promoted this year and did not want to miss the opportunity. Therefore, after discussion, Guan Yuehua was to take the exam, and if she passed, she would go to school.
Gu Mannian smiled sheepishly, "I was just worried that both sets of parents would object. I said we should take the exam together, so they wouldn't just criticize one of us."
Guan Yuehua: "......"
Well, I'm not very good with words, but at least my brain is sharp. I won't scold him.
The two walked side by side toward the family compound. Even before registering, Gu Mannian was already imagining what would happen after she graduated from university.
"There are too many people in the car factory, and it's hard to get promoted. But if you go to university, it will be much easier to get promoted."
He's different. At the Zhuoyue Garment Factory, the managers are relatively young, so there's no need to compete for seniority. The factory is also about to build two more workshops, giving him the opportunity to compete for vacant manager positions.
"Both parents work, both are government officials, so our child's life will be much easier in the future."
Putting everything else aside, in a few years, based on their rank and seniority, they should be able to get a two-bedroom apartment. With some renovations, the child will have their own room.
Guan Yuehua suppressed the urge to smile. "Stop dreaming and go home."
"Alright! Honey, you get in the car first." Gu Mannian patted the back seat and frowned. "I'll ask Xu Cheng to make me a new car seat cover tomorrow before I go to work."
"Too much trouble! I can do it myself."
“That won’t do. You should study more when you have time. Leave the things at home to me.” Gu Mannian said, then thought of the shopping trip to the countryside in a few days and laughed, “When Yuehe comes back after graduation, we’ll have to give her a share of the meat we bought… Oh well, what can I do? I’m her brother-in-law, so I’ll just share it.”
As soon as Guan Yuehua got into the car, she saw Jin Junwei carrying his chubby daughter walking towards her.
Gu Mannian was the first to speak, "Brother-in-law Jin, where are you going?"
Yuanbao, who never stopped wriggling, drooled at the bicycle. Jin Junwei had to hold her tightly and also had to use his other hand to wipe his daughter's drool.
"Take Yuanbao for a walk." So she won't have to scream at the top of her lungs at home. He gets tired just listening to her scream, and he's afraid his daughter will ruin her voice.
After saying goodbye and walking a distance away, Gu Mannian said with lingering fear, "Hongqi's Yuanbao is too resilient. I wonder if my sister was like that when she was little?"
He's starting to worry that his future children might be like that too.
"But Yuanbao wasn't as troublesome." The car suddenly lurched, startling Guan Yuehua, who quickly grabbed his waist. "Tsk! Watch where you're going!"
—
"Oh my goodness! Teacher Ding, how did you fall into the ditch?"
Ding Xuewen was pulled up by the villager. Luckily, he reacted quickly and didn't fall into the ditch. Looking down, he saw that he was covered in mud, but he still had a smile on his face. He thanked the villager and then helped his bicycle back to the educated youth compound.
"No, Teacher Ding, the car isn't broken," a fellow villager reminded him from behind.
Ding Xuewen realized what was happening, thanked him again, and with a swift movement, got on the bicycle.
The villager behind him scratched his head and muttered to himself, "This Teacher Ding seems to have lost his soul."
Ding Xuewen returned to the educated youth compound, but did not see Chen Lizhong in the room. He immediately ran towards the brigade's pigsty.
He grabbed Chen Lizhong, who was about to pour pig feed inside, stuffed a newspaper into his hand, and excitedly said, "It's confirmed! The college entrance examination will be reinstated this year, and we both meet the registration requirements!"
"Really?!" Chen Lizhong hurriedly unfolded the newspaper, excitedly asking Ding Xuewen to help pour pig feed.
The college entrance examination is important, but even pigs shouldn't go hungry.
In the afternoon, the brigade leader brought back news from the commune about the resumption of the college entrance examination and announced the commune's registration quota.
The educated youth compound was in an uproar. How could there be a limit to the number of applicants? They exchanged information they had received and said that the news from the city did not mention any limit on the number of applicants.
After arguing for almost half a month, Ding Xuewen and Chen Lizhong successfully registered for the exam. They were both determined to take the exam and return to Beijing, as this might be the best opportunity they could get to go back to the city. The two began to work while studying.
On the Peking University campus, Guan Yuehe and her classmates are also making the most of their time to study.
As graduation drew closer, she realized there was still so much she didn't understand, and she wanted to find her teachers to clarify things before leaving school.
Her roommates told her not to be nervous, since she was already in Beijing and could just go back to school once a month to see her teachers.
Guan Yuehe thought about the time it would take for her to travel back and forth between her home and school, and realized that even making that trip once a month would be quite difficult.
"I'd better ask the teacher right away."
Since the start of this semester, there have been many things happening outside, and one thing after another has happened at school. Sometimes things are tense and sometimes there is no disturbance.
Xie Dongxue was fed up with this atmosphere and wished she could graduate and leave tomorrow.
Guan Yuehe and He Shuangshuang could only comfort her, saying, "It'll be soon, you'll graduate soon."
The vast majority of students return to where they came from. Even if they learn professional knowledge at university, they can only go back to their original jobs because there are no positions in their original workplaces that match their majors.
There are exceptions. Due to various circumstances, some graduates are reassigned to positions that match their majors.
“There is a classmate of mine who was sent to the countryside as an educated youth. After graduation, he will be assigned to work as an editor at a daily newspaper.”
Xie Dongxue gave several examples, and Guan Yuehe finally noticed the pattern: "Does it mean that educated youth who went to the countryside could stay in the city after graduation?"
"Most of the time, but the individual's wishes also need to be considered. One of my classmates also chose to return to the place where he was sent down to the countryside."
Guan Yuehe found it strange but didn't take it to heart. The three of them still had to return to the Zhuoyue Garment Factory.
He Shuangshuang had other ideas, but currently, apart from the military where Russian language specialists are needed, there are almost no other units with positions that require Russian language skills, so she could only think about it in her mind.
But He Shuangshuang took it in stride, encouraging herself: "A few years ago, who would have thought we'd even have the opportunity to go to university? In a few more years, maybe we'll even have a chance to show our talents. Right?"
"right!"
Guan Yuehe relayed He Shuangshuang's words to the dormitory, and her roommates all nodded in agreement. They agreed that even after graduating and leaving school, and even if they did not pursue a career related to English, they would continue to learn the language.
"I'll save up some more tickets and buy a radio to study."
Guan Yuehe touched her radio, thankful that she hadn't been foolish enough to exchange the ticket; this radio was such a worthwhile purchase!
As I tore off the calendar in the dorm room, the days turned to July.
College entrance examinations across the country have come to an end, and the first cohort of worker-peasant-soldier college students have graduated.
Graduation was busier than Guan Yuehe had imagined. She was busy getting certificates and letters of introduction, transferring her grain rations back to her original work unit, and saying goodbye to her classmates and exchanging contact information.
Thanks to her roommates' word of mouth, students in both English-major classes learned about Guan Yuehe, the "communications platoon leader," and asked her for her contact address. They also made an agreement with their close friends that if they couldn't reach each other, they would write to Guan Yuehe to inquire.
Because the two classes had a large number of students, the "communication platoon" was barely upgraded to a "communication company," and now Guan Yuehe is the "commander of the communication company."
To make things easier, Guan Yuehe bought a new notebook specifically to record everyone's addresses.
"No, what kind of writing is this?" Guan Yuehe looked at it for a long time but couldn't understand it. After checking and confirming, she copied it again neatly.
“If you hadn’t told me, I would have thought you were writing to the Third Army! If you send this letter to the Thirteenth Army, you can just wait! You might not get a reply for ten years.”
According to the way some students write, even if she were in the communications unit, it wouldn't make a difference.
The school didn't organize a graduation photo session, but a classmate named T brought a camera and managed to take a group photo of the entire class and teachers.
Strictly speaking, this isn't a complete class photo.
In the past two and a half years, some students have graduated early, and the number of students who have received their diplomas is a full quarter less than the number of students who enrolled.
"Wait, take a picture of our dorm too." Shenghua found the student who was taking pictures and called the dorm members over.
They adjusted the positions, and just like when taking a class group photo, everyone still had Guan Yuehe stand in the center. She was the only cadet without a uniform, and not standing in the center would disrupt the formation.
Guan Yuehe laughed heartily. She really stood out from the moment she entered school until graduation!
The laughter faded as I smiled. Receiving a student ID upon enrollment and receiving a graduation certificate upon graduation evoke completely different emotions.
Before she could even show her sadness, she had to rush to help her roommates pack their luggage and then go with the teachers to see her classmates off at the train station.
A green train, carrying cadets in green military uniforms, is heading to all corners of the motherland.
"Goodbye, Moon Lotus!"
Goodbye, Wa Yuehe! Keep in touch!
Guan Yuehe kept waving goodbye, but suddenly found her throat tighten and her eyes became moist.
Several teachers with graying hair turned their backs and wiped the corners of their eyes.
This is a group of students who have lofty ideals, are in their prime, are full of vigor, are diligent, and are lovely.
Looking back, I saw the only remaining student whose mouth was practically flattened into a duck's beak, his eyes blinking rapidly, yet he managed to hold back his tears.
The group couldn't help but chuckle.
I almost forgot I had to walk this student a little further. "Guan Yuehe, it's time to go. Let me walk you a little further."
Guan Yuehe responded with a muffled "Mmm".
As she exited the train station with her teachers, she said she didn't need them to see her off, but they insisted on seeing her onto the train.
So, when the bus arrived, Guan Yuehe carried her bicycle aboard.
The ticket seller accepted tickets for two people because she had too much luggage and it took up a lot of space.
Guan Yuehe leaned out of the car window and said goodbye to her teachers.
As the car drove away, Guan Yuehe couldn't help but pout again.
It's really uncomfortable.
He sighed heavily, then sighed again...
“Your little girl has been sighing for the past two days. I’ll go get her a piece of pork belly tomorrow.” Jiang Guiying took out the meat coupons she had saved up this month and counted them. It was enough.
Guan Canghai wanted to sigh. His youngest daughter had finally graduated and returned home, and he'd even transferred her affiliation back to Zhuoyue Garment Factory, but there was absolutely no word of a promotion for her. And his eldest daughter—her exams were over, but why hadn't her acceptance letter arrived yet?
On the third day after Guan Yuehe returned home, she finally started to get busy with her own things. First, she did a thorough cleaning of the house, and while the sun was shining, she took down the curtains and tablecloths to wash and dry them.
Cao Lili helped her set up the clothes rack, "When are you going back to work at the factory?"
I'll be back in a couple of days.
She went back to the factory yesterday, and the head of the personnel department, Director Xiao, said that the factory had discussed it and that after the three of them graduated and returned, they would first go back to their original positions for a period of time, and then make adjustments based on the situation.
The job reassignment is a minor matter for now. After all, she understands that she should shine in whatever position she's in.
Importantly, she confirmed her salary with Section Chief Xiao upon her return.
She joined Zhuoyue Garment Factory in August 1966, became a full-time employee in February 1967, and has been working there for six and a half years since then, until July 1973. Her monthly salary is thirty-nine yuan. If she is reassigned or promoted later, her salary will increase accordingly.
This is really good news.
After two and a half years of schooling, she now only has a dozen yuan left in her savings.
She originally had over forty yuan, but her roommates had to take trains for at least twenty hours to return to their respective military units, so she bought a lot of biscuits and pastries that didn't require tickets. As a result, she had less money left.
She wasn't worried at all; she was able to save up the money again quickly.
Guan Yuehe also wanted to ask Cao Lili if her job had been settled.
But the fact that the Chang family had bought Cao Lili a job hadn't been made public yet, so she couldn't bring herself to bring it up. She was afraid something might go wrong.
This news wasn't told to Cao Lili or anyone else in the Chang family, but rather to her brother-in-law, Gu Mannian, when she went back to the factory to handle some paperwork. It's not surprising that he, who spends all his time running around to different workplaces, found out about it.
Her curiosity was satisfied the next day.
Cao Lili's son, Shunshun, was entrusted to Aunt Bai for care. Aunt Bai only has one granddaughter, Jinhua, who will start primary school next year. She has more than enough time to take care of both children.
The people in the alley found it strange, "Cao Lili isn't home?"
"Lili has gone to work." That's how Aunt Bai dropped this bombshell on her neighbors.
"Cao Lili? She's at work? Where did she get a job?" Shock, curiosity, envy, and jealousy all converged in the voices.
Following what Aunt Zhao had told her, Aunt Bai said, "She took over her relative's job as a sales clerk in a department store."
Everyone was so surprised that their mouths dropped open: It's one thing to have a job, but to have such a good one?
He claims it's a job he's taking over from a relative, but everyone knows that's just an official story. The job was definitely bought.
If you could buy a job, you'd borrow money to do it. But the key is that there's no way to buy one. A lot of information doesn't circulate. By the time people know someone is selling a job, it's already been bought.
That evening, many people gathered at Aunt Zhao's house, all wanting to know if she had any relatives who wanted to sell their jobs.
Aunt Zhao always replied, "If there is, I will definitely let everyone know."
Guan Yuehe held a large bowl, with a layer of fragrant braised pork on top of white rice. She ate heartily while following along to join in the fun.
Another working neighbor has joined the No. 2 courtyard, so there are no adults at home in the backyard during the day anymore.
After getting a job, Cao Lili's complexion became rosy and her voice became louder.
"Good morning, Yuehe!"
Guan Yuehe pushed her bicycle out the door and ran into Chang Zhengyi and Cao Lili.
Cao Lili leaned closer to her and said excitedly, "Today is my first official day at work!"
Guan Yuehe smiled, "This is my first day at work after graduation!"
The three split into two groups at the entrance of the Zhuoyue Garment Factory.
Guan Yuehe rang her bicycle bell as she turned past the guardhouse. The old guard reminded her, "Comrade Guan, the bicycle shed has been moved. It's behind the small auditorium. Don't go to the wrong place!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
