Before you know it, it's the 21st day of the twelfth lunar month, which is also the day of the exam.
On this day, the county town was packed with people: students coming to take the exam, family members coming to see them off, and even the bold ones selling snacks from their carts—it was quite a lively scene.
Winters in Gu County are bitterly cold, with howling winds. Most examinees have nowhere to stay and have to rely on their righteous spirit to endure the cold.
Even so, their eyes still radiate vitality, which is particularly infectious.
During the three days of the college entrance examination, the only state-run restaurant in Gu County was packed with people every day.
Many people come to state-run restaurants but don't order anything; they just come to warm up.
At these times, Buling and the others would pour a cup of hot water for each person.
We can't provide more, but a cup of hot water is fine. In the dead of winter, a sip of hot water can warm you up.
After pouring hot water for the newcomers, Sister Ma returned to the kitchen and boiled another kettle. "This is really quite a lot of work," she remarked.
While Sister Ma was opening and closing the door, Bu Ling glanced outside and saw that even at midday, many people were eating hard steamed buns with the hot water they provided for free.
Hearing what Sister Ma said, I couldn't help but nod. Indeed, the hardship of studying is something that not everyone can endure.
"It's all for the sake of our dreams, so no matter how tough it is, it doesn't feel like a hardship," Zhu Zhizhi sighed, looking at the expressions of the test takers outside with a hint of envy.
"Zhizhi, why didn't you take the exam? I remember you did very well when you were promoted last time," Sister Ma asked curiously.
Zhu Zhizhi said sadly, "Forget it, I still have a child."
She is a typical virtuous wife and loving mother. After getting married, she focused her life on her home, and this became even more so after having children.
Even though there's some regret about not being able to take the college entrance exam, the biggest feeling is reluctance—reluctance to abandon the family and the children.
"That's true, your child is still so young." Sister Ma was quite understanding.
Neither Bu Ling nor Wu Yuanyuan spoke.
Their ideas were completely opposite to Zhu Zhizhi's; if they had the brains, they would do anything to try and succeed.
That's a university! Once you get in, your family genealogy can be published in a separate book.
However, there was nothing they could do; neither of them were intellectually gifted, so they had to miss this great opportunity.
The topic of taking the college entrance exam was only briefly mentioned in the conversation between the four people at the state-run restaurant, and then it was over.
Since ancient times, women, especially older women, have always been bound to have two topics: being urged to get married and having children.
And now, Aunt Ma has started again:
"Yuanyuan, your An'an is already four years old. Haven't you considered having another one?"
Wu Yuanyuan was used to being urged, and said, "I'll think about it some more, I'll think about it some more."
Buling reached for the chestnuts on the table, but because her arms were too short, she couldn't reach them. Seeing this, Aunt Ma quickly handed her a few.
"We still need to hurry. Your eldest child is old enough to understand things now, so having another one won't be a burden." Sister Ma handed Zhu Zhizhi a few more chestnuts.
Wu Yuanyuan remained unmoved and continued peeling roasted chestnuts: "Let's see how things go. If I find one, I'll take it."
What can we do without her?
"That's true, you can't force this."
Then, Sister Ma turned the topic to Buling: "Little Buling, are you sure you don't want another one?"
She still holds traditional views, preferring many children and a son.
Bling didn't seem too impressed: "Well, one little star is enough for me."
"Your man is willing?"
“Why would he be unwilling? It was me who gave birth, not him,” Bu Ling said bluntly.
If mulberries could reproduce, she would be willing to have five more, as she could afford to raise them.
Having a child is so harmful to women. She wants to live to ninety-nine, she wouldn't be so foolish.
"Little Bu, you have such a big mouth~" Sister Ma shook her head and laughed.
Sometimes, even Sister Ma couldn't understand some of Xiao Bu's ideas.
Bling smiled but didn't say anything.
She knew that in other people's eyes, she was not a qualified daughter-in-law at all, but what did it matter?
She lives for herself, not for others to see, so why care so much about what others think?
"And you, Zhizhi, when are you going to have another one?" Sister Ma's main approach was to treat everyone equally.
Zhu Zhizhi answered very seriously: "This year, he's about the same age as my eldest son, so the two of them can keep each other company."
Bling: ...
Once again, I felt out of place with Zhu Zhizhi.
"Zhizhi is so confident, it seems your man is very capable~" Sister Ma said in a yellow tone.
Zhu Zhizhi blushed and lowered her head.
Then, the topic somehow veered towards the physical strength of gay men, and the conversation became increasingly excited, leading to a rather indescribable topic.
Fortunately, Lü Zhiwei felt it wasn't appropriate to be in a room with four women, so he hid in Manager Zhu's office.
Otherwise, given how sensational this topic is, the four of them would have died on the spot.
Sure enough, married lesbians are more uninhibited than lesbians when it comes to sex.
The three-day exam period passed in the blink of an eye.
For the test takers, the ordeal has only just begun, but for people like Buling who are not in the thick of it, this wave of excitement is already over.
The restaurant was no longer filled with the sound of students reciting their lessons, and the kitchen was no longer overflowing with pots of hot water that never seemed to be enough.
In the evening, after finishing her get off work, Buling first went to the nursery at the machinery factory to pick up her daughter, and then the two of them chatted and laughed as they went home.
"Honey, did anything fun happen in daycare today?"
The eldest daughter, wearing a scarf, said in a muffled voice, "Yes, Teacher Lu led us in a game today, and I came in first place."
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
