Chapter 77
In order to be in the best mental state for the exam tomorrow, Chuxia did not review until midnight tonight.
Before going to bed, Tang Haikuan and Wu Xuemei helped her pack her things in her room and checked all the documents she would need to bring for tomorrow's exam.
Because the weather was cold, Wu Xuemei also knitted a pair of gloves for Chuxia.
I bought some new fine wool and knitted a pair of half-finger gloves that are convenient for writing. They are fluffy and very warm.
After everything for the exam was ready, Chuxia went to bed early.
Tang Haikuan and Wu Xuemei returned to their room. Wu Xuemei covered her chest and said, "Oh, I can't help but feel nervous. My heart hasn't been beating this fast in a long time."
Tang Haikuan said to her with a smile: "It's not you who's taking the exam, why are you so nervous?"
Wu Xuemei went to bed and said, "If I go to the examination room, I won't be able to sleep tonight."
Early summer is actually very stressful.
During her school years, she had no pressure from exams at all.
Now that I’m suddenly taking such an important exam, the pressure in my heart is naturally extraordinary.
She lay on the bed holding her chest.
I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to fall asleep, but I just lay there blinking for a few minutes feeling my own heartbeat, and then I fell asleep smoothly.
When I woke up the next day, I felt better than ever.
Tang Haikuan and Wu Xuemei made dumplings for Chuxia, and said to her while eating: "Eat more. No matter whether he passed the college entrance examination or not, we will make sure he gets the full reward."
Chuxia took a bite of dumplings and nodded with a smile: "Yeah!"
After breakfast, Chu Xia went to the examination room and did not let Tang Haikuan and Wu Xuemei see her off.
When leaving the yard, I met Jiang Guanjie who was also going to the examination room. Jiang Guanjie was sent by Xu Lihua.
Xu Lihua pushed her bicycle and said to Chuxia with a smile: "Oh, Chuxia, you are dressed so festively today."
Chu Xia also smiled and replied: "It's a good start."
Actually, it was nothing. Wu Xuemei just tied a light pink flower on her braid, asked her to wear a red scarf, and put colorful gloves on her hands.
Chuxia and Jiang Guanjie were not in the same examination room and they separated after leaving the alley.
Jiang Guanjie sat on the back of Xu Lihua's bicycle and said, "The test is about the knowledge in the brain, not the dressing style. Did she get the wrong direction?"
At this critical moment, who has the mood to care about others?
Xu Lihua replied: "Why do you care about other people? Most of them are just there to make up the numbers. Just do well in your exam."
Jiang Guanjie raised his hand and pushed his glasses up, "I'm fine."
***
This year's college entrance examination was held in winter, and it was the only winter college entrance examination.
The college entrance examination lasted for three days. Chuxia, like other candidates, sat in the examination room, holding a pen and writing quickly on the test paper. While waiting for the exam, she would read some books.
After finishing all the subjects in a tense state, Chuxia felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders, as if a support had been removed from her shoulders, and her whole body seemed to be falling apart all of a sudden.
It's because I was too tired and stressed out over the past month. I studied hard until midnight every day. There was nothing else in my mind except the review content. I even dreamed about reciting and doing exercises at night.
Now that the exam is over, I can finally relax.
What made Chuxia feel even more relaxed was that when she returned to the alleys and courtyards, no one would chase her and ask her how she did on the exams, and when they did, they would just smile and say a few pleasantries.
They would only ask Jiang Guanjie about the college entrance examination, after all, he was famous in the alley.
This year's college entrance examination is an opportunity to change the destiny of many people, but when it comes to real life, it is not a particularly big thing.
Because everyone has their own life to live, and they have to get on with their lives right after the exams.
The same is true in early summer.
I went to bed early that night after the exam and had a good sleep. The next day, I got up as usual and went to the factory to continue standing on the production line and doing my job.
Those who took the exam would naturally discuss how they performed in the factory.
But there is no way to come to any conclusion by discussing this matter, so we can only wait and see.
After waiting for a while, the factory notified another group of people to go for a physical examination.
All six people in Chuxia and Feng Jingzhi's dormitory had registered for the exam, but only Chuxia and Feng Jingzhi were notified to go for the physical examination.
The four people were inevitably disappointed that they did not receive the physical examination notice.
But this was expected, so the feeling of disappointment was not strong.
Chuxia and Feng Jingzhi were certainly not very happy about being notified to go for a physical examination. They felt that they had already stepped one foot into the university gate and were prospective college students.
Because half of the people in the factory who took the college entrance examination received physical examination notices.
It is definitely impossible for so many people to get into university.
So after going to the hospital for a physical examination, you still have to wait for the results.
There wasn’t much time left before the New Year, and after waiting for a while, it was the end of the year.
As the New Year approaches, the entire city is covered with ice and snow.
In the evening, the afterglow of the setting sun shone down, illuminating half of the cold and hard steps with a pale red.
Xu Lihua came out of the post office and went home in the cold wind.
When she entered the alley and saw people smiling and greeting her, they inevitably asked her, "Haven't you received Guanjie's admission letter yet?"
Xu Lihua smiled and said, "Not yet, we have to wait a little longer."
Although he said it calmly, he was actually getting a little impatient.
Ever since Jiang Guanjie had his physical examination, she would go to the street post office to ask from time to time. She asked this when she went to the post office just now, but no notice had been mailed yet.
After saying a few hellos, I returned to Yard No. 8.
The weather was cold and there was no one in the yard, so there was no need to say hello.
Xu Lihua walked along the corridor to the door of the west room, opened the door curtain and went in.
I walked into the room, put my bag on the chair, and took a look inside.
Seeing that Jiang Guanjie was the only one at home, she asked, "Where's Shanshan?"
Jiang Guanjie was playing with the radio in the room.
He heard the sound, looked outside, and replied, "He went out to play."
Xu Lihua muttered, "I went out to do something this afternoon, and she took the opportunity to run away. She went out to have fun in such a cold weather instead of reading a book at home."
After that, she told Jiang Guanjie about the admission letter: "The Chinese New Year is almost here, and the admission letter hasn't arrived yet. I'm afraid I'll have to wait until the beginning of next spring."
Jiang Guanjie said: "Then just wait, hasn't Tang Chuxia arrived yet?"
Xu Lihua said: "Look at what she is doing. It is still unknown whether she can receive it."
As soon as she finished speaking, she heard someone talking outside, and then the door curtain was opened.
Seeing Jiang Jianping open the door curtain and enter the house, Xu Lihua asked him, "Who are you talking to?"
Jiang Jianping said, "Early summer."
Xu Lihua had no interest in Chu Xia and didn't ask any more questions.
After the college entrance examination, I no longer have to go to night school. In early summer, I naturally go home after work in the evening just like when I first came back to work.
She came home and took off her hat, gloves, scarf and book.
Bao, go to the kitchen to find Tang Haikuan and Wu Xuemei.
I went to the kitchen and warmed myself by the fire in the stove. The coldness I brought back from outside was almost completely gone, and my hands and face became warm.
Compared with the Jiang family, Tang Haikuan and Wu Xuemei were not so anxious about Chu Xia's notice.
They thought to themselves, Jiang Guanjie hadn't received it yet, so why were they in such a hurry?
Of course, not being anxious does not mean that I don’t care.
They talked about this with Chu Xia and said, "Even if I really pass the exam, I'm afraid I won't be able to wait until the New Year. But it's okay this way. I can spend the New Year peacefully first."
When it comes to Chinese New Year, the first thing to talk about is naturally buying New Year's goods.
As it happened that tomorrow was Sunday, the family of three started discussing again about getting up early to go to the market to buy things, specifically what they wanted to buy.
We talked lively all night and got up early the next day.
In early summer, I put on a hat, a scarf and gloves and went to the market with Tang Haikuan and Wu Xuemei.
No matter where you are, the annual market is the most lively, and the streets are packed with people.
But the more people there are, the more lively it is, and the more festive the atmosphere is.
Chuxia, Tang Haikuan and Wu Xuemei went to the market for half a day and bought all kinds of things. When they got home and entered the yard, they had to talk with the other two families about what each family had bought.
As they were talking, it was time for lunch and everyone went into the kitchen to cook.
After lunch, there was nothing to do in the afternoon. Also, because the weather was particularly good today and the sun was warm, the three families all basked in the sun in the yard.
A few men gathered together, holding newspapers and magazines, and discussing national affairs.
Han Mengyuan and Han Feipeng couldn't stay idle at home, so they ran out to play. Xu Lihua took Jiang Guanjie and Jiang Shan, brother and sister, to sit at the table and chairs in the yard, reading in the sun.
The only ones left were Wu Xuemei, Wang Cuiying, Li Lan, and Chuxia, who sat together doing needlework and knitting sweaters. They were all making clothes and shoes to be worn during the New Year.
Naturally, they didn't talk about big things, but just some trivial household matters.
Because the Chinese New Year is coming soon, Wang Cuiying couldn't help but think of Han Ting again, saying, "If this little bastard had worked hard, he could have come back to celebrate the Chinese New Year this year, but unfortunately he just didn't. He didn't get the quota to return to the city, and I don't know how he did in the college entrance examination. There's still no news."
Wu Xuemei and Chu Xia naturally didn't care how Han Ting did in the college entrance examination.
Li Lan continued, "Guanjie and Chuxia haven't received their letters yet. San'er is in a remote place in the countryside, and it takes many days to mail the letters. He definitely hasn't received any."
Wang Cuiying sighed again and said, "I don't know how long I have to wait."
As soon as she finished speaking, she heard Han Feipeng's voice coming from the second door: "Here he comes! Here he comes!"
Han Feipeng's two shouts were like thunder, and everyone in the yard looked towards the second gate.
Li Lan stopped sewing, looked at him and said unhappily, "What's up? What are you doing? Call your sister back home and read more books at home. Don't you have any winter vacation homework?"
Han Feipeng took a deep breath and ignored the question of winter vacation homework. He just said, "The postman is here."
Hearing this, Xu Lihua reacted the fastest and immediately stood up from her chair.
She looked at Han Feipeng and asked, "Are you here to deliver the admission letter?"
Han Feipeng said, "That should be the case. Those old ladies with bound feet from the neighborhood committee came along. You can hear the sound of gongs and drums. That was done by the neighborhood committee."
After Han Feipeng finished speaking, everyone pricked up their ears and listened, and sure enough, they heard the sound of gongs and drums. When I first heard it, it seemed a little far away, but then I soon felt it was outside.
Xu Lihua's eyes were filled with unconcealable excitement and she turned to look at Jiang Jianping.
Jiang Jianping received her signal and stood up from his chair, intending to go out with her.
But before they could move, they heard the sound of drums coming in through the outer gate.
Then, Director Niu of the neighborhood committee came in from the second door with a loud voice like a loud speaker, "Teacher Xu, I'm here to deliver the admission letter to your family!"
Hearing this, Xu Lihua and Jiang Jianping hurried to the door.
Director Niu brought other aunties from the neighborhood committee and went straight into the second gate. They were followed by many other neighbors in the alley and stood face to face with Jiang Jianping and Xu Lihua in the yard.
Xu Lihua smiled and said, "How come it's Director Niu who's here to deliver the admission letter?"
Director Niu spoke in a loud voice and said with a smile, "It was delivered by the postman, and we ran into him. A Peking University student has emerged from our neighborhood, can't we not come and congratulate him?"
When they heard the word Peking University, Xu Lihua and Jiang Jianping's faces instantly broke into smiles.
Jiang Guanjie and Jiang Shan also came over. Xu Lihua directly put her arm around Jiang Guanjie's shoulders and pulled him next to her. She smiled and said, "Thank you so much, Director Niu."
The other men in the yard followed Jiang Jianping and shared in the joy.
Wu Xuemei, Wang Cuiying and Li Lan also stood up, but stood at the steps of Langwu and did not come over. They watched from a distance.
Wang Cuiying and Li Lan felt uncomfortable and couldn't laugh.
Director Niu smiled and said, "Okay, I'll hand you the admission letter now. Please open it quickly and let us all see what the admission letter from Peking University looks like."
After saying that, she handed the brown paper envelope in her hand to Jiang Jianping.
Jiang Jianping smiled and took over, and was about to tear the envelope immediately.
But before he could tear open a crack, Han Lei, who was standing behind him, suddenly said, "Wait!"
Jiang Jianping stopped and looked back at him, "What's wrong?"
Han Lei pointed at the envelope in his hand and said hesitantly, "Uncle Jianping, this... the recipient on the envelope doesn't seem to be Guanjie..."
Jiang Jianping was stunned when he heard this, then he withdrew his gaze and put the envelope flat.
The others standing next to him also looked at the envelope with inquiring eyes.
The moment they saw it, everyone was stunned.
Jiang Jianping and Xu Lihua frowned, and their faces became extremely ugly.
Everyone else was stunned and didn't come to their senses, including Tang Haikuan.
Han Qingtian read it out beside him: "Tang... early... summer..."
Early summer of Tang Dynasty?
Director Niu of the neighborhood committee reached out and snatched the envelope from Jiang Jianping's hand.
When she saw the recipient's name on the envelope, she was stunned for a long time.
Isn’t it Jiang Guanjie who took the entrance exams for Tsinghua University and Peking University? How did it become Tang Chuxia?
Before everyone else could react, Chu Xia did.
She rushed over and snatched the brown paper envelope from Director Niu.
When Chuxia saw her name in the middle of the envelope, her heart started beating faster.
Then she held her breath and tore open the manila envelope, took out the acceptance letter inside, read it in her hand, and confirmed that it was her acceptance letter. She couldn't help but screamed "Ah".
Then she showed the admission letter to Tang Haikuan who was still in a daze. She couldn't suppress the excitement in her expression and voice, "Dad! It's mine! I got in!!"
Tang Haikuan came back to his senses at this moment and spoke stutteringly, "It's...it's...it's...it's our Xia Xia's. Our Xia Xia passed the exam... "
At this time Wu Xuemei also came over.
She took the admission letter from Chu Xia and immediately covered her mouth after reading it.
If she didn't cover herself, she would either cry or scream.
Chu Xia couldn't control herself at all. She excitedly said to Wu Xuemei, "Mom, did you see that? I passed! I really passed!"
She was laughing excitedly at first, but tears started to come as she spoke.
Then she hugged Wu Xuemei and cried, "I passed the exam... woo..."
She really put in a lot of effort for this day.
Although she was very happy when she broke away from the setting of the novel and became beautiful, it was not until this moment that she truly felt that she was changing her own destiny.
She is no longer the Tang Chuxia in the novel, never again.
Chu Xia and Wu Xuemei hugged each other and cried.
Some of the onlookers had tears in their eyes and started wiping away their tears after being led astray.
Especially Director Niu, even the tip of his nose turned red.
Director Niu cried for a while, wiped his tears, sniffed, walked to Chu Xia, raised his hand and patted her on the back and said, "Good girl, you really do great things quietly and make your parents proud!"
She waved her hand and said, "Come on, let's congratulate Chu Xia for getting admitted to Peking University!"
The people from the neighborhood committee followed the instructions and started beating drums and gongs again.
When they did this, Chu Xia's mood was disrupted and she couldn't cry anymore.
She burst into laughter, and then she looked so funny that she was crying with laughter.
After the neighborhood committee's gongs and drums stopped beating, Chuxia wiped the tears from her face.
The others also figured it out after discussing it - Director Niu made a misunderstanding, thinking that the admission letter was from Jiang Guanjie, but it was actually from Chu Xia.
So someone in the crowd asked, "Chuxia, are you also applying to Peking University?"
Chu Xia hummed, and said with a nasal tone as if she had just finished crying: "I signed up, but I was afraid that you would laugh at me because I am usually inconspicuous, so I didn't dare to tell you. But actually, when I was in school, my grades were not bad. I have been a teacher in the countryside for the past two years, and I have also studied every day."
Suddenly someone in the crowd shouted, "Uncle Haikuan, there is smoke coming out of your ancestral grave!"
Tang Haikuan was still too confused to react and said, "This in my family...our family...my Xia Xia, this in my family..." He didn't know how to speak anymore!
He acted so funny that all the onlookers laughed.
People laughed for a while and then said, "Is Uncle Haikuan so happy that he's silly?"
Tang Haikuan reacted too slowly and suddenly raised his hand to wipe away his tears.
Wiping away tears, she said, "Am I dreaming?"
Wu Xuemei didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and couldn't help but pat him.
Tang Haikuan wiped his tears a few more times and said, "No, no... I have to slow down... slowly..."
And Tang Haikuan was not the only one who needed to slow down in this yard.
Jiang Jianping, Xu Lihua and Jiang Guanjie not only looked extremely ugly at this moment, they also seemed out of tune with everyone around them, and they even had difficulty breathing.
They couldn't believe it, but they couldn't question it.
After all, the admission letter is written in black and white and is stamped.
Xu Lihua was forcing herself to remain calm.
She managed to squeeze out a voice, "Director Niu, what about Guanjie's admission letter..."
As soon as Xu Lihua spoke, Director Niu and the other onlookers naturally shifted their attention to the family of three. Jiang Shan had already hidden back in the house.
Director Niu looked at Xu Lihua, and his face showed embarrassment when he thought of the brainless thing he had done.
She smiled to hide her embarrassment and said, "The postman only delivered this one letter, and he left when he got to the gate of the courtyard. Teacher Xu, I'm so sorry. When the postman gave me the letter, I didn't read it. I just thought it was from your Guanjie. I thought Guanjie was the only one in our alley who got into Peking University, but who would have thought that Chuxia would also get into Peking University. And you said this girl, she's usually very quiet, so who would have thought she had such good grades. Today I finally understand what it means to do great things quietly, and people just wait for the college entrance examination to make a splash."
Hearing this, Wang Cuiying suddenly added, "It is only by keeping quiet that great things can be accomplished. If you shout about something before it's even done and let the whole world know about it, it usually won't get done. Don't you think so?"
If we apply this to life, there are many examples.
Everyone could think of some subconsciously, so they all nodded in agreement.
But it would be fine if this was said at other times, but it is very inappropriate to say it now, after all, it sounds like it is talking about the Jiang family.
Director Niu then tried to smooth things over by saying, "Whether it succeeds or not depends on one's ability. Didn't Guanjie apply to Tsinghua University and that famous school in Tianjin? He probably wasn't admitted to Peking University. The admission letter may still be on the way. It hasn't arrived yet. Teacher Xu, please wait a little longer."
This can be considered as a way for the Jiang family of three to save their way out.
But Xu Lihua was not happy. She said with a dark face and a light tone: "Director Niu, please be more careful in the future. You said that what happened today has made our family a joke."
Director Niu also felt sorry.
Then he smiled and said, "No, who would make fun of Guanjie? When Guanjie gets the admission letter, I will definitely buy some firecrackers and set them off. I keep my word, and everyone can bear witness to my words!"
Xu Lihua was too lazy to say anything more. She turned around with a dark face and went back to the west room.
Jiang Jianping and Jiang Guanjie naturally did not stand there any longer. They maintained their dignity by gesturing to everyone and turned back to the west room.
The other people in the yard did not leave. Some surrounded Chuxia and asked her this and that. Some went to Tang Haikuan and shook his shoulders, asking him if he had recovered. Others surrounded Wu Xuemei and, together with Wang Cuiying and Li Lan, praised her until her face turned red.
In the west room.
Jiang Guanjie sat at the desk in the room with a gloomy face and said nothing.
Jiang Jianping and Xu Lihua sat in their rooms, also with gloomy faces, in silence for a long time.
The noisy sounds outside made people feel very irritated.
Unable to hold back, Xu Lihua said, "How is that possible? If her admission letter wasn't fake, I seriously suspect she cheated in the exam."
Jiang Jianping glanced at her and said, "Don't talk nonsense if you don't have any evidence."
Xu Lihua still couldn't believe it. "Then how did she get into Peking University? That's Peking University! I think it must be a great honor for her family to be able to get into the Normal College!"
Jiang Jianping said: "Seeing is believing. He was admitted and everyone has seen the admission letter. I was also very shocked and found it unbelievable, but the fact is the fact."
Too lazy to talk about Chu Xia anymore, Xu Lihua started talking about others: "It's all that Niu Da Laba's fault! She couldn't read the big words on the admission letter, and we lost such a big person! And Wang Cuiying next door, I hate her the most, she can't read a few words, and her words are always annoying."
Jiang Jianping said, "We didn't lose anyone. It was Director Niu who made the mistake first. She was just upset for nothing. Once Guanjie's admission letter arrives, the matter will be over. Wang Cuiying is such a rude person who doesn't know the situation. Why do you care about her?"
Xu Lihua took a deep breath, calmed down for a moment, and then said, "Tang Chuxia's admission letter has been sent, which means that the admission work of various schools has been almost completed, except that the admission letter has not been sent. Why don't you go ask someone to see which school our Guanjie was admitted to."
Jiang Jianping nodded, "Okay, I'll go to the office tomorrow and ask for help."
***
The Jiang family of four returned to their house and never came out again.
Outside in the yard, people were bustling about all afternoon.
Chu Xia had been talking to different people until her lips were numb. Just when she was thinking about how to escape, Han Feipeng came to the yard and called her, telling her that someone was looking for her outside.
Chuxia immediately followed Han Feipeng.
When she got outside the gate, she asked Han Feipeng, "Who's looking for me?"
Han Feipeng led her for a while, pointed ahead and said, "In front, turn a corner."
Han Feipeng led the way and then ran away.
Chuxia followed his instructions and walked forward in confusion.
When I walked to the end and turned a corner, I saw Lin Xiaohan standing leisurely in the alley with his back against the wall.
Seeing Lin Xiaohan, Chu Xia's eyes became even more confused.
She walked towards him and asked him curiously, "Why are you here?"
Lin Xiaohan stood up, looked at her and said, "If I remember correctly, you said you would treat me to a meal after you got the admission letter. I just heard that you received the admission letter from Peking University. Congratulations."
Chuxia certainly didn't forget to treat me to a meal, and she wouldn't go back on her word.
She was also happy when talking about the admission, and couldn't help but smile. She looked at Lin Xiaohan and asked, "Have you received your admission letter?"
Lin Xiaohan didn't answer, but took out a brown paper envelope from his schoolbag and handed it to Chu Xia.
Chuxia took the envelope and turned it over. She lowered her eyebrows to take a look. When she saw the university name on the envelope, she blinked in surprise.
Lin Xiaohan could see the change in her facial expression.
Looking at her, he deliberately asked, "What's wrong? You can get into a good university, but others can't?"
Chu Xia raised her head: "No..."
He was not surprised that he was admitted to Peking University, but he did not expect that he would apply to Peking University.
According to the novel, he should have gone to the south to study at university.
Of course, I won’t talk about the things in the novel. Chu Xia looked into Lin Xiaohan’s eyes and smiled again, saying, “I didn’t expect that you would also apply to Peking University. This way, we will be alumni in the future…”
As he was talking, he thought of something and naturally changed the subject: "By the way, what is your major?"
Lin Xiaohan motioned for her to look for herself.
Chu Xia lowered her brows and took the admission letter out of the envelope. She unfolded it and took a look, and asked in confusion, "Political science and law? I didn't seem to see this major when I filled out the application."
Lin Xiaohan said, "Well, indeed not. I applied for the National Political Science major at the time, and when I received the admission letter, I found out that I was assigned to this major. It should be a confidential major."
Chu Xia stuffed the notice back into the envelope and said with a smile, "You are amazing."
Lin Xiaohan didn't want to discuss with her who was good and who was not.
He put the admission letter back into his schoolbag, looked at her and asked, "Are you leaving now?"
Walk, walk, walk.
Chuxia didn't want to stay at home and deal with those neighbors anymore.
She turned around and ran back, whispering to him, "Wait for me, I'll go back and get my schoolbag."
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