Chapter 83: Hope
Chapter 83: Hope
"Hurry up, it's sweet and icy."
Cheng Bing took a bite of the watermelon, finished eating it, and then said in a low voice, "I have to drink this very meaningful glutinous rice ball soup. You can eat it yourself."
Fang Yuenian said, "Drink it well, don't waste it."
Cheng Bing nodded. "Okay."
Fang Yuenian happily took the watermelon and sat down opposite him.
"Oh, by the way, Brother Cheng, the guy I was drinking with today told me his major is, um, clinical pharmacy, which doesn't sound familiar... Have you thought about what you'll study in the future?"
I don't know why, but it seems that very few people around me discuss this issue. Even though everyone knows that the college entrance examination is coming soon, it seems that everyone feels that university is far away, so far that they can only think about it after the college entrance examination scores are released.
Fang Yuenian asked himself honestly, and he had no clear idea about the future.
During childhood, teachers would ask children what they wanted to be when they grew up. At that time, most children would have very clear ideas and happily shout that they wanted to be doctors, scientists, astronauts, teachers, police officers, etc. However, when it came time to decide on their life direction, they were a little lost.
Cheng Bing thought for a moment, "Have you started considering this matter yet?"
Fang Yuenian hesitated for a moment. "It's not exactly early, I guess. I've been thinking about it, and apart from Meng Xiaoyang's firm desire to study medicine, no one else has told me they have a definite direction. Li Peixiang wants to study management, but I don't know which area he'll choose in the end, though he has family influence. You haven't told me either, whether you'll be like Sister Jun and study wood engineering or interior design, or anything like that?"
Cheng Bing shook her head. "I don't plan to study this. Besides, my second sister has already studied it. My dad and grandpa have her, and that's enough."
Fang Yuenian laughed: "So, it seems that Sister Xiaoxiao and Sister Jun had very specific plans back then, and they thought it through a long time ago. We should also think about it carefully. Anyway, I think that as long as you study what you like and are interested in, you can do well in any major."
Cheng Bing smiled and said, "Sometimes your evaluation of me is so high that it surprises even myself."
“I’m telling the truth, so I need to seriously consider this issue. Well, actually, although I haven’t taken it to heart, my grandma told me before that I must study at a teacher’s college and become a teacher in the future, preferably directly at Shuibiwei No. 2 Middle School, so that my grandpa can have a lot of face.” Cheng Bing’s eyes narrowed slightly. Fang Yuenian poked the watermelon in her arms again and said with a blank look in her eyes, “I’ve never understood what she cares about as face since I was little.”
"Anyway, it's not for your benefit," Cheng Bing said.
Fang Yuenian was stunned, then exclaimed, "Oh my!" "You finally said it! I thought you'd never say something like that in your life." He smiled, straightened up, and leaned closer. "Tell me, how long have you been keeping it to yourself?"
Cheng Bing awkwardly looked away. "It started when she made you attend high school in Shuibiwei last time."
"You're really something," Fang Yuenian laughed, then comforted her, "Don't worry about it. These words only made my mom and me a little unhappy, but they didn't really have any impact."
Cheng Bing was not happy. His upbringing prevented him from saying such sharp and sarcastic things, but he didn't understand.
Grandma Fang possessed a record that was unparalleled even in that era when ignorance had not yet been eradicated and there was still a certain degree of preference for sons over daughters. Yet, she treated the man she favored, and her only grandson Fang Yuenian, very poorly, which was incomprehensible to most people.
He spoke seriously and slowly, "I hope you can choose what you like, not for anyone else, not for your sisters, and not for me."
Fang Yuenian hadn't swallowed the watermelon in his mouth yet. He pursed his lips, feeling a little lost for a moment.
Cheng Bing continued, "Whether it's something you like, or something you're not entirely sure about but find interesting, whatever it is, I believe every major has its purpose. There's no such thing as one being more prestigious or better for the future."
Fang Yuenian was stunned for a long time before shrugging and laughing. He laughed several times before saying, "I'll try my best to make the right choice. Of course, first I need to do my best to get into a good university, and then make the right choice. I hope we will choose different majors, so that we can both have a completely new experience in our own school, our own major, and our future work."
Cheng Bing seemed to consider it for a moment, then suddenly said, "Are we definitely going to different schools?"
"Huh?" Fang Yue was confused at the beginning of the year. While scooping out watermelon, her mind suddenly clicked. "Hey, you don't mean to make me go from being in the forties to the top ten like I did in the third year of junior high, do you?" Before Cheng Bing could speak, he sighed again. "But I really have tried my best now."
Cheng Bing looked up and said, "I know, and I also think you're doing really well right now."
Fang Yuenian was so annoyed by the phrase "exceptionally good" that he couldn't stay angry anymore. He bit his lip and said, "So, you mean..."
Suddenly realizing what was happening, she immediately exploded, raising her voice to shout, "Stop thinking nonsense! You've worked so hard to get to where you are today, you could clearly go to a top-tier university, why did you choose something lower? Don't look at me like that, am I wrong? Am I shallow? If you dare to do anything reckless, I won't forgive you."
Cheng Bing blinked as he scolded her. Fang Yuenian said very seriously, "Do you understand?"
Cheng Bing nodded: "Mm."
"That's more like it," Fang Yuenian said, relieved. The topic had been a bit heavy, and he didn't really want to eat watermelon anymore. He put the watermelon on the table and said, "I'm not eating anymore. I'm going back to take a shower. I'll come back tonight."
Cheng Bing: "I'll wait for you."
Fang Yuenian stretched and said, "Let's go."
If Cheng Bing's expectation of Fang Yuenian is for him to become an upright, virtuous, and respected person, then Fang Yuenian, in turn, hopes that Cheng Bing can become an outstanding, exceptional, and radiant person.
They both had this idea since they were very young, and it was very firm and never changed.
For students from rural areas, the college entrance examination and university are crucial stages that can change or even determine their lives. Higher education can bring people not only academic certificates, but also a sound and complete personality. Although they may not be fully aware of this yet, they will soon understand it when they leave home, go to unfamiliar cities, and become true adults.
At the dinner table that evening, Fang Yuenian declined Fang Wu's offer to have a drink and instead focused on eating a bowl of gourd soup with rice. As the family chatted, Wang Jing suddenly said, "Yuenian, we ran into Aunt Xiaofang at lunch. Her family's water chestnuts are ripe, and she said they're plentiful. Would you like to go pick some for fun these next few days? You like water chestnuts, don't you? If you bring them back, Mom will braise them with chicken for you."
Wang Jing's reputation in the village was mixed, but it was undeniable that she had a good relationship with the mothers and wives of her neighbors, and they would always remember to call on her when they needed something.
However, she only mentioned it briefly, saying that Fang Yuenian now values her studies and she doesn't know if she's still willing to go out and have fun.
However, Fang Yuenian, who was holding the bowl, paused for a moment, "Okay!"
He really wanted to go; the last time he picked water chestnuts was two years ago.
The main problem is that I felt a bit awkward talking to Cheng Bing during the day. If I could invite him to pick some water chestnuts and have some fun, I think everything would be fine.
Grandma Fang snorted, "Oh dear, what's so fun about picking water chestnuts? You get all dirty, and besides, there's nothing to eat. They're not even as good as chestnuts when roasted, and they're expensive too. How much do they cost per pound?"
“Who would cheat you out of a few dollars?” Wang Jing said sternly, then turned to Fang Yuenian. “Go if you want. It rained today, and Aunt Xiaofang told me that the shallow water and green duckweed in the pond have been cleaned up. The water is a little deeper after the rain, so you don’t have to worry about falling in.”
Fang Yuenian nodded: "When can we go?"
"It's best to go in the morning. The sun is too strong at noon, and it's probably going to rain in the evening, which is inconvenient."
"Okay, I understand."
Wang Jing gave many more instructions: not to eat too many raw water chestnuts, not to go into the river casually (getting stuck in the mud is no joke), not to pick too many, and to make sure to pay the money, even if Aunt Xiaofang doesn't want it, etc. Fang Yuenian agreed to them all.
After finishing his meal, he hurriedly went back to his room and sent a message to Cheng Bing:
"Brother Cheng! Let's go pick water chestnuts together tomorrow!!"
Cheng Bing was doing his homework in his room when his phone rang. He picked it up and saw Fang Yuenian's sentence with three exclamation marks.
A smile involuntarily appeared on her face, and she quickly replied, "Where should we pick them?"
Neither of their families nor their close relatives grow water chestnuts. If they want to eat them, they either buy them from nearby villages or have them given to them by others. The only people they had ever actually picked water chestnuts before were their classmates. It was Fang Yuenian who found out the opportunity by using her social skills.
Fang Yuenian had been glued to her phone. As soon as she heard the voice, she picked it up and replied, "It's Aunt Xiaofang's family home in the west. Her house in Lingtang is new. Shall we go? Anyway, not many people there know us, okay?"
If someone recognizes you, they will ask you questions.
Ask about grades, school, and older sisters.
Cheng Bing walked out of the room and said to Cheng Qiuyan, "Mom, are you close to Aunt Xiaofang from the west?"
Cheng Qiuyan was stunned by his question.
"What's wrong? It's great," she suddenly remembered. "Oh right, Aunt Xiaofang's family has a water chestnut pond. They've been harvesting so many water chestnuts these past few days that they can't sell them all. She even asked me if I wanted some when I passed by today."
Cheng Bing smiled and said, "Mom, I want to go pick some. If you're cooking, I'll pick more and bring it back."
"Why do you still want to go play that?" Cheng Qiuyan was surprised, but she smiled. "Sure, if you want to go, go ahead. It's cheap to pick a basketful. Your grandparents both like to eat it, and it's good for their health."
“Okay, I’ll go tomorrow,” Cheng Bing said, “Fang Yuenian will come with me.”
Cheng Qiuyan wasn't surprised and said, "Okay, okay, go out and have some fun. Be careful. It seems like her family has more than just those small white water chestnuts; they also have red water chestnuts. Pick some of each kind. But they're delicious raw, so don't eat too many. When you go into the water, keep a good grip on the water chestnut-picking boat so you don't fall. Don't play around recklessly, okay?"
Cheng Bing replied, "I understand."
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