Chapter 47 Get out of here, you're too ugly.
"Go to university?" Song Fenglan looked at her son.
"Yes, I want to go to university, a super big university," Qin Zihang said. "Mom, is that okay?"
“Sure, getting into university isn’t that easy. You have to go through elementary school, middle school, high school, and then university,” Song Fenglan said.
“I skipped grades,” Qin Zihang said. “I skipped from kindergarten to university.”
"Your mother hasn't even gone to college yet, and you're going to college?" Song Fenglan said.
"Then... I'll go to high school?" Qin Zihang asked cautiously.
“Go to elementary school first, then middle school. You can skip from kindergarten to elementary school.” Song Fenglan gently patted her son’s head.
“Your mother is right,” Mrs. Su said. “Starting primary school is good; you can progress step by step.”
"One step at a time." Qin Zihang fiddled with his fingers. He still wanted to go straight to university, but his mother said she hadn't gone yet, so he would wait until his mother went to university before he went.
The kindergarten children miss their parents very much, and many of them don't want to go to school. A few even wish they could stay in kindergarten forever. Some children play with other children after school.
Qin Zihang did hang out with those other people, but they rarely did after school. He, however, often played with Zhang Xiaohu. Mainly because the two lived close by, right next door, so it was easy for them to bump into each other.
Mrs. Su had dinner at Song Fenglan's place before going back. Professor Su always worked overtime, but he told Song Fenglan not to work overtime and to take care of her health, while he himself worked overtime.
Qin Yizhou gave Qin Zihang a bath and then washed his clothes. Children are restless and their clothes get dirty easily. In cold weather, they can change his clothes less often, but when the weather gets a little warmer, Qin Yizhou and his wife change his clothes almost every day, sometimes every day or two.
Fu Wangwang in the yard has grown a lot. It's very familiar with Qin Zihang and Zhang Xiaohu, and it often wags its tail at them. If a stranger comes to the house, Fu Wangwang will bark a few times.
When Qin Yizhou learned that Qin Zihang was going to skip a grade, he looked at his wife and asked, "Did the teacher say that?"
"Yes, Auntie said it was what the teacher said." Song Fenglan thought for a moment and knew what was going on. Qin Zihang was a little different from his peers. Children his age tend to cry more, and Qin Zihang also spoke according to his own thoughts, which would make other children cry easily.
Song Fenglan knew her own son well.
This is not to say that my child is bad, but compared to children in kindergarten, my child is more composed.
It's not impossible for Qin Zihang to go to first grade. Qin Zihang and Zhang Xiaohu are a little different in age, but not by much, and the two can still play together very well. Qin Zihang should be able to talk to first graders.
“It’s good to start first grade, since the primary school is right next door,” Song Fenglan said. “If you can start first grade earlier, you’ll be able to go to university earlier later.”
"You've already thought of everything for him?" Qin Yizhou asked.
“I don’t need to think about it, this is the way it is.” Song Fenglan couldn’t possibly prevent her son from going to university. The college entrance examination will be reinstated this year, and after that, even more people will take the exam.
The National College Entrance Examination (NCEE) is relatively fair and just. It is not about having a good family background or being a poor student so that they can go to university.
“Only by studying and learning more can he grow into a better person,” Song Fenglan said. “We only have one son, so we have to think more about him.”
“He’s like you, so he should be able to do it.” Qin Yizhou thought that his brain wasn’t as sharp as Song Fenglan’s. He could handle military missions, but he couldn’t research fighter jets.
Qin Yizhou didn't ask Song Fenglan about her research at home; it was confidential, and even he, her bedmate, couldn't ask. Qin Yizhou didn't think his wife had to tell him those things; confidentiality meant that even his bedmate couldn't be told.
"We'll have to see what happens in the future," Song Fenglan said, looking at her son who was sitting next to her watching TV.
Qin Zihang was watching TV very intently, not even glancing at his parents, his eyes glued to the screen.
Time flew by, and it was time for Gao Xiuxiu to finish her postpartum confinement. While she was in confinement, she could stay home and take care of the baby for a while afterward, but now it wasn't appropriate for her to stay indoors all the time. Gao Xiuxiu wasn't going back to work so soon; she still needed to rest for a while.
Gao Xiuxiu was reluctant to go out. Previously, a sweater she had been knitted had been taken back by someone. This made Gao Xiuxiu lose face; the sweater was already at her home, and that person had the nerve to ask for it back. But she had given birth to a daughter, not a son, so she couldn't complain about others not giving her a wedding gift.
Fatty saw Gao Xiuxiu hanging clothes out to dry in the yard. Grandma Fang, seeing that Gao Xiuxiu had given birth to another daughter, didn't want to do those chores and insisted that Gao Xiuxiu do them herself. When Gao Xiuxiu was in postpartum confinement, Grandma Fang did help with the laundry. If she hadn't, the other military wives probably would have come over and advised her to take better care of her daughter-in-law.
Sure enough, as soon as her daughter-in-law finished her postpartum confinement, Grandma Fang quit all her chores, and the food became much worse. When asked, she said that they had given all the good food to Gao Xiuxiu before. Now, the family has to be more frugal, lest they spend all their money in one go.
Gao Xiuxiu had no appetite at all when she saw the pickled vegetables and radishes. But since she had given birth to another daughter, she couldn't very well say that the food tasted bad.
"Your blanket needs to be washed too," Grandma Fang said. "Wash it yourself, don't wait for me to do it for you."
"I'll wash it myself," Gao Xiuxiu said. She wanted her mother-in-law to help her, but her mother-in-law refused.
"You said you'd have a boy, but you had a girl. You ate so much, your stomach is so uncooperative," Grandma Fang said. "You've had two children, both girls, not a single boy. You should try some herbal medicine to regulate your body and hopefully have a son next time."
Grandma Fang sought out a folk remedy because she wanted her daughter-in-law to give birth to a boy. She believed that giving birth to a girl was useless because girls would eventually marry out, and people would laugh at Fang Xudong for not having a son.
"..." Gao Xiuxiu didn't say she wouldn't drink the folk remedy. She thought that if taking the medicine could help her give birth to a son, she would still be very willing.
"Hurry up and finish," Grandma Fang said. "You've just finished your postpartum period, and you're doing things so slowly. People who don't know the situation might think I'm bullying you. Hurry up and finish, and don't keep touching the water."
Grandma Fang was urging her on, but Gao Xiuxiu had lost her previous energy and didn't like talking to Grandma Fang.
The portly woman overheard Gao Xiuxiu's conversation with Grandma Fang. Gao Xiuxiu had given birth to another daughter, and her mindset had changed somewhat. The portly woman thought that boys and girls were the same, and her daughter was also her own child. At worst, she could have her daughter find a husband to marry into the family.
However, given the current situation, Fatty Sister-in-law cannot say those things. If she is not careful, others may think that she is cursing Gao Xiuxiu to not be able to have a son and that Gao Xiuxiu can only have daughters.
In the capital, Tian Keshu went to see her child, but her child clearly did not want to see her.
"You're a spy, but I don't have a spy mother."
"Get lost, and don't come looking for me."
"It's all because of you that my classmates are laughing at me."
...
Tian Keshu never imagined she would hear such cold and heartless words from her child's mouth. She had often spoken ill of Song Fenglan and Qin Zihang in front of her child. At that time, Tian Keshu felt she was right and there was no need to hide it from her child. She even thought the child should know more to prevent him from having too much involvement with Qin Zihang in the future, and to avoid her son being implicated by Qin Zihang.
Now, both of Tian Keshu's children think there's something wrong with her. Seeing them avoid her like the plague, her heart trembles. Tian Keshu is divorced from Brother Qin, and her children don't want to have much contact with her; she fears they won't recognize her in the future.
Brother Qin is already married, and he and his second wife will have children sooner or later. Tian Keshu is worried about her child, but her child is so heartless towards her, which makes Tian Keshu feel ridiculous. Yet, she wants to...
If she doesn't think more about her child, who will?
“I am your biological mother,” Tian Keshu said. “Was it your stepmother who said these things to you? Was it her who made you resent me?”
Tian Keshu didn't look for the cause within herself; she looked for the cause in others.
"You're not our mother." Tian Keshu's eldest daughter pulled her younger brother away quickly; they didn't want to see their biological mother. It was all because of their biological mother that they had ended up being ridiculed by others.
Tian Keshu watched helplessly as her two children ran away from her. She had become someone even her own children hated. Tian Keshu's eyes reddened. They were her own children! How could they do this to her?
Children are easily influenced by those around them. Tian Keshu used to speak ill of Song Fenglan and her son in front of her children, so naturally others are now speaking ill of her in front of her children as well.
It wasn't Qin's current wife who spoke up; she didn't care who her stepsons and stepdaughters interacted with. They were already so grown up, they had memories, and they knew who their biological parents were. You Yun knew in her heart that she was a stepmother, not a biological mother, and couldn't control everything. It was better to mind her own business. She had her own daughter and planned to have one or two more children.
Only if You Yun has a child with Brother Qin will she truly have a foothold in this family and be able to think about other things. If You Yun and Brother Qin don't have a child, she might be kicked out by Brother Qin's child from his previous marriage when she gets old.
Don't expect your stepson to have much of a conscience; it's impossible.
Qin's mother instructed her grandchildren not to have much contact with Tian Keshu, as Tian Keshu had a bad family background.
These days, the crackdown on spies is very strict. If Tian Keshu gets into trouble, their family can't be implicated. Qin's mother doesn't want her grandchildren to have much contact with Tian Keshu; cutting off all contact would be best.
If Tian Keshu knew that Qin's mother had said these things in front of the two children, she would be furious. She felt that she had been quite good to Qin's parents; she was only bad to Song Fenglan and her son. Qin's mother didn't care about any of that. She only knew that it was Tian Keshu who had caused the rift between Qin's older brother and Qin Yizhou, and that Tian Keshu had done so many wrong things.
Most people, when they make a mistake, don't blame themselves; they blame others.
Qin's mother felt the same way; she couldn't possibly think she was wrong, so it could only be Tian Keshu who was wrong. She asked Tian Keshu to deliver things, so Tian Keshu had to deliver them, not swallow them.
When Tian Keshu returned home, her mother told her to sit down quickly.
The matchmaker brought a man to Tian Keshu's door for her to see. The man was a widower with a child, and not very good-looking, far less attractive than Brother Qin. Brother Qin appeared more refined and cultured, while the man before her had yellow teeth, which disgusted Tian Keshu.
“We’re not a good match,” Tian Keshu said bluntly. She looked down on this man and couldn’t just marry such a disgusting man.
Tian's mother held Tian Keshu's hand, gesturing for her to speak properly.
“You’re too ugly, we’re not a good match,” Tian Keshu gave another reason.
Tian Keshu truly didn't want to be with a man like that. She couldn't let herself fall so low so quickly, and she couldn't let others laugh at her.
"I'm ugly? Who do you think you are? Your family has a spy, what do you think you are?" the man said. "Do you think everyone has to fawn over you? You look down on me, and I look down on you too!"
The man left in a rage; he shouldn't have come here in the first place. After walking a few steps, he took the fruit he had brought with him.
Seeing this, the matchmaker was also in a bad mood. She looked at Tian's mother and said, "You should persuade your daughter. She will have to get married sooner or later."
“I won’t marry someone like that,” Tian Keshu said. “What good could someone like that possibly have?”
Tian Keshu pointed at the door and said, "Get out, get out of here."
The matchmaker rolled her eyes and simply left.
"No, sister!" Mother Tian chased after the matchmaker as she left.
“With your daughter like this, I can’t introduce her to anyone,” the matchmaker said. “You know your family’s situation. It’s not that I don’t want to introduce you to someone better, it’s just that nobody wants your daughter. The last person I found who was willing to take your eldest daughter has a job and can make a living. With your daughter like this… never mind, never mind, it’s not like he can’t find a wife.”
The matchmaker pushed away Tian's mother's hand and left on her own.
When Tian's mother returned to the living room, she saw Tian Keshu sitting there and was furious. "What are you doing? She came to you for a blind date, and if you don't think she's suitable, then she's not suitable. Why did you say she's ugly?"
“He’s just too ugly,” Tian Keshu said. “He has a pointed mouth and monkey-like face. Who knows what kind of dirty freak he is in private? I’d rather die than marry him.”
“Ugly? He has a job, and his monthly salary isn’t low,” Tian’s mother said. “You’re unemployed now, you’re divorced, and your family is in this situation. Do you think anyone would want to marry you?”
Mother Tian felt irritated just thinking about it. Her eldest daughter staying at home wasn't a long-term solution. Another mouth to feed meant more expenses for the household, and not only would her daughter-in-law be unhappy, but none of them would be either.
"Take advantage of the fact that you're not too old yet and get married soon. Do you really want to wait until you're forty to think about getting married? By then, will anyone still want you?" Mother Tian said. "The family is already in such a state. If you don't get married and stay at home for the rest of your life, won't you just be causing trouble for your younger brother and sister-in-law?"
Tian's mother didn't want her eldest daughter to stay at home; she thought her eldest daughter was too useless.
"And you, why did you do those things back then?" Tian's mother said. "Did you really need just a bite to eat? Did you really need just a little money? You lost the watermelon to pick up a sesame seed."
"Back then, you all approved of me," Tian Keshu said. Her family members were very happy and told her to hide the things well so that no one else would know.
“You’ll do whatever we tell you to do?” Mother Tian didn’t think it was her fault; it was her eldest daughter’s fault for not doing it properly. “You’re an adult. If you don’t want to do it, can we force you? In the beginning, you did it yourself. You’ve already done it, so I’m just telling you to be careful and not get caught.”
When Tian's mother learned what her eldest daughter had done, she could have given the gifts to Song Fenglan or tried to persuade her daughter to stop, but she didn't. Instead, she accepted the gifts directly, pretending not to know that they were originally intended for Song Fenglan.
Since Song Fenglan wasn't a relative, Tian's mother didn't want to get involved.
“This won’t do. What kind of man do you want? Do you still want someone like my eldest son-in-law?” Mother Tian said. “Things are different now. Before, our family had a good class background, we were working class, and our family conditions were quite good. Now, your father is unemployed, your brother’s job is also affected, and your sister is about to get married. There are a lot of things to do at home. Even if you don’t think about yourself, you have to think about your family.”
Mother Tian felt annoyed just thinking about it. Her eldest daughter stayed at home, and the neighbors always asked her: When is your eldest daughter getting married?
What was Tian's mother supposed to say?
Mother Tian could only say a few words, as she couldn't be sure when her eldest daughter would remarry. Mother Tian desperately hoped her eldest daughter and son-in-law could remarry, but her son-in-law had already remarried. This greatly displeased Mother Tian; she knew the Qin family had completely given up on Tian Keshu, and there was no way they would let her go back.
“Your eldest son-in-law has already remarried, so don’t think about him anymore,” Tian’s mother reminded her eldest daughter. “You can’t go back to the past. Remarry sooner rather than later, so you won’t lose face.”
Tian Keshu's eyes were red. She wanted to run out, but where could she go? She could only come back and stay at home.
The Song family didn't pay attention to Tian Keshu's situation or what would happen to the Tian family afterward; they lived their lives peacefully. These people were unaware...
Song Fenglan knew even less about Daotian Keshu's affairs.
Qin Zihang is truly a social misfit and a burden on his mother. When Mrs. Su took Qin Zihang to the large square in the family compound to play with other children...
Qin Zihang often brags about his mother, always talking about how amazing she is.
"My mom will go to college in the future. When my mom goes to college, I can go to college too," Qin Zihang told the other children. "College is even more amazing than elementary school."
When Mrs. Su heard what Qin Zihang said, she did not stop him. He was just a kid, he could just say whatever he wanted.
"Your mom is going to college?" one of the children asked in surprise.
“Yes, my mom is going to college,” Qin Zihang said. “If my mom said it, how could it be false?”
"Doesn't your mom go to work?" the child asked curiously.
“You can still go to university even if you have a job,” Qin Zihang said.
"Wow, your mom is amazing!" the child exclaimed. "Can you take me to college with you someday?"
“Let your mother go to university, and let her take you with her,” Qin Zihang said.
"I want to go to college too!" The other children were all shouting that they wanted to go to college, and their mothers wanted to go to college too.
Universities, how prestigious they are! They want to go to university, their mothers want to go to university, everyone has to go.
Some of the mothers wanted to cover their faces when they heard what their children said. They thought it would be relatively easy for Song Fenglan to go to university, but as for the rest of them, oh my god, let them go.
To be recommended to attend a worker-peasant-soldier university, one had to have certain abilities and contributions; it wasn't something just anyone could be recommended for.
Many of the children's mothers are housewives; they haven't even considered going to university, and it's unlikely they'll be recommended for it. Fortunately, it wasn't just one child who echoed Qin Zihang's sentiments; at least other mothers were there with them.
Some people take what children say as a joke, while others take it seriously.
As the news spread, it became known that Song Fenglan was going to be recommended to go to university, and some people even congratulated her.
"What?" Song Fenglan met Fan Yani on the road. She was surprised to hear Fan Yani congratulate her on going to university. Could it be that Fan Yani, this time-traveling woman, was going to tell her about the restoration of the college entrance examination?
“Actually, it’s good to be recommended to go to university.” Fan Yani looked around and pulled Song Fenglan aside. “It would be even better if you could take the college entrance examination and get into university on your own.”
Fan Yani would have preferred Song Fenglan to take the college entrance examination. If she were recommended to attend a worker-peasant-soldier university, promotions would be difficult. The diploma would likely be considered a junior college degree or something similar; Fan Yani had heard similar stories in her previous life. Some people couldn't get promoted because of this, and some said they wished they had taken the college entrance examination back then. Fan Yani really wanted to ask, if those people actually took the college entrance examination, would they really have passed?
Some people take advantage of others, and then they still complain about it.
“The policy has changed now, and the college entrance examination may be reinstated this year,” Fan Yani said. “You have to pass the exam on your own merit. I’m not saying that being recommended to go to university is bad. What I mean is that taking the exam yourself demonstrates your ability better and you will be more valued in the future.”
The main point is that the college entrance examination will be reinstated at the end of this year, so time will pass quickly.
Fan Yani respected Song Fenglan. She thought it wasn't easy for women in the workplace, and in research institutes, men were definitely more likely to get promoted than women. What a terrible thing it would be if Song Fenglan were held back by her diploma. Song Fenglan was an outstanding person, as evidenced by her getting a job at the research institute, and Fan Yani didn't want Song Fenglan to regret it later.
“I wasn’t recommended to go to university,” Song Fenglan said.
"No?" Fan Yani asked in surprise. "Didn't everyone say you were recommended to go to university? Your son is still saying you're going to university."
"..." Song Fenglan's lips twitched slightly. She knew Zihang might say these things, "He wants to go to university."
“Then you can review it when you get off work,” Fan Yani said. “I asked my husband to find some books, and I’ll bring them to you later.”
"Need not……"
“Don’t be shy,” Fan Yani said again. “Someone like you… should probably be looking at things like biochemistry, right? As for physics, you’re a researcher, you should know how to do that, right? Or, I’ll get you a copy of each.”
“No need, you can look for yourself. I can also look at them at the library; our institute has a lot of books,” Song Fenglan said. “It must have been difficult for you to get those books, right?”
"Fortunately, they're still relatively easy to get now. If we wait any longer, they'll probably be harder to get," Fan Yani said. "Those intellectuals, professors and the like, they've been exonerated, and the college entrance exam will be reinstated sooner or later. Once the news of the reinstatement of the college entrance exam comes out, there will definitely be a lot of people looking for these books."
"Do you want to take the college entrance examination?" Song Fenglan asked.
"Yes, I have that idea," Fan Yani said somewhat shyly. "Do you think I'm overestimating myself?"
You should know that in other people's eyes, Fan Yani is at most someone who didn't finish elementary school.
The original owner attended school for a few years, but school conditions in the countryside were generally poor, and the original owner also had to work, so it was already quite an achievement to be able to attend school for even a few years. Many children in rural areas are in the same situation; very few of them go on to junior high school.
"No," Song Fenglan said. "If there's a real opportunity, I'll take the exam. Whether I pass or not is another matter, but at least I'll try my best."
"I'm very likely to fail," Fan Yani said, already mentally prepared.
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t pass the exam. There are top performers in every profession,” Song Fenglan said. “You don’t have to go to university to be successful. You can be successful in other things too.”
"Sister-in-law..." Fan Yani felt that Song Fenglan was in good spirits and that Song Fenglan would not say anything bad about her.
"That's reality. There are so many people in the world, it's impossible for everyone to go to university, and even those who do go to university aren't necessarily outstanding," Song Fenglan said. "If you want to take the exam, then take it. It doesn't matter if you don't pass. Look at us here, many people didn't go to university. Give it your all, and whether you succeed or not, you won't regret it."
"Yes, I will definitely try my best," Fan Yani said. "I don't have much to do right now, so I just lend a hand in the cafeteria."
Fan Yani is currently working in the cafeteria, which at least allows her to earn some money; she doesn't intend to remain unemployed. If Fan Yani's grades were good, it wouldn't be so bad, but the problem is the books she reads. The content is so complex that it gives her a headache. She reads them every day, but it's just too difficult.
Fan Yani didn't give up completely, but she couldn't be without a job either. Women still need to have a job to be financially independent and have confidence.
“I’ll go back and get the book,” Fan Yani said again.
“No need, you can keep it yourself.” Song Fenglan refused again. “You should focus on your studies. I have plenty of ways to get those books. You should read more yourself and not always think about others.”
In Song Fenglan's eyes, Fan Yani was a very kind-hearted transmigrator. Fan Yani didn't try to wreak havoc right from the start. You see, some transmigrators start by fighting and arguing all the time, making a big fuss over every little thing, and they can't stand anyone saying the wrong thing.
Song Fenglan disliked troublesome matters. She felt that real life was real life, and it couldn't be a constant cycle of excitement and revelry. Song Fenglan didn't like wasting time on meaningless things. Perhaps arguing or fighting might feel satisfying, but Song Fenglan wanted to do other things.
"Alright then." Fan Yani didn't mention giving the book to Song Fenglan again. "Sister-in-law, you can start preparing early. You'll definitely pass the college entrance exam. Sister-in-law, where is your household registration?"
“It’s here,” Song Fenglan said.
Song Fenglan and her son were stationed here with the army, and their food rations were also here, so their household registration was naturally transferred here first. However, given Song Fenglan's situation, her household registration could be transferred back to the capital at any time; this was not a problem.
"If you're going to take the college entrance exam, will you choose one here or one in the capital?" Fan Yani asked. "But your job is here..."
"We'll see," Song Fenglan said. If nothing unexpected happens, she will most likely apply to a university in Nancheng.
The work at hand must continue. Song Fenglan cannot return to the capital now. Even in the second half of the year, she will have to stay here.
“What I said is true, you can start preparing early,” Fan Yani said. “Your family is so powerful, they must be able to find out some information as well.”
Fan Yani couldn't tell Song Fenglan that she was a time traveler, and the latter might not believe her anyway. After traveling through time, Fan Yani discovered that the people of this era were quite intelligent; just because she had traveled through time didn't mean she could directly crush them.
"Okay." Song Fenglan chuckled. "If the college entrance exam is reinstated, I will definitely..."
Those who took the college entrance examination.
Song Fenglan thought that if she passed the college entrance examination, she could apply for exemption from courses and continue to stay in the research institute.
"The college entrance exam is very important," Fan Yani said. "It doesn't matter to me whether I pass or not, sister-in-law, you'd better pass, it will be helpful for your future promotion."
We can't keep letting people say that Song Fenglan is relying on her uncle. Her uncle has been gone for a long time, and how long can this connection last? In the long run, those old professors will be gone, and those people will be even less likely to pay attention to Song Fenglan. Song Fenglan's situation will definitely not be as good as it is now.
"I know." Song Fenglan nodded. "Don't worry, everyone in our family goes to school and strives to get into a prestigious university."
“That’s true, you have a family tradition of learning.” Fan Yani was a little embarrassed. “I seem to have said too much.”
"No," Song Fenglan said. "You meant well, did you just buy groceries?"
"Buy some flour and stuff," Fan Yani said. "The cookies outside are expensive, so I plan to make some myself and keep them at home. If I get hungry, I can eat something to fill my stomach."
Fan Yani works in the canteen, and she also brings food back from there. Fan Yani and her husband don't have children yet. Yue Hongwei can eat at the military canteen, and Fan Yani can eat at the family canteen. This way, they don't have to spend much money on food and can even save some money.
"Sister-in-law, I'm going back now," Fan Yani said. "I'll bring some over when I've finished making the cookies."
“You can eat by yourselves,” Song Fenglan said.
"It's just a small thing, I'll head back now," Fan Yani said.
Fan Yani happily carried her bamboo basket home. She had just been worried that Song Fenglan might think she was hindering her future, but Song Fenglan didn't. Fan Yani really liked Song Fenglan's personality; she thought Song Fenglan was pure and didn't gossip about others. Song Fenglan was a perfect person.
If Song Fenglan knew what Fan Yani was thinking, she would definitely say that she wasn't that perfect.
It wasn't just Fan Yani who offered her congratulations; others also spoke to Qin Yizhou.
Therefore, when Song Fenglan returned home, Qin Yizhou asked her about going to university.
“No, I wasn’t recommended to go to university,” Song Fenglan explained. “It’s not that your son wanted to skip a grade and go to university. He said he didn’t want to go to primary school, he wanted to go to university. I told him I hadn’t gone to university yet, and he said he would go to university after I did. When he went out to play, he said he wanted to go to university, and people mistakenly thought I was going to university.”
"Going to university would be great," Qin Yizhou said. "Do you want to go to university?"
“If we can get in, we should,” Song Fenglan said. “Going to university is fine as long as we pass the exams. If we have something to do, we can apply for exemption from classes. Some of the professors in our research institute are teachers at Nancheng University.”
"I wonder when the college entrance examination will be reinstated," Qin Yizhou sighed.
Qin Yizhou was recommended to attend university while in the army, and he did attend. Qin Yizhou's qualifications in all aspects were quite good, which was part of the reason why Song Fenglan chose to marry him after being framed.
Waiting to be recommended for university admission is quite difficult. Many people are vying for these spots and being recommended, so there's a lot of room for manipulation in the process.
“It might be restored this year,” Song Fenglan said. “The policies have changed a lot now, so we can just wait. At my age, I can wait another year or two.”
Song Fenglan is not afraid to wait; she can afford to wait.
"You can do it." Qin Yizhou thought that if it weren't for that special era, Song Fenglan would definitely have developed even better.
"Zihang, Qin Zihang." Song Fenglan thought about finding her son. She still needed to tell him to be more careful and not to talk nonsense outside.
Although I had that idea myself, my son just bragged about it...
The son was not afraid of being laughed at. Song Fenglan went to see her son, only to find him in the backyard.
Qin Zihang had some mud on his head, dirt under his fingernails, and several earthworms on the ground.
"..." When Song Fenglan saw the wriggling earthworms, she didn't want to go over anymore.
"Mom, this is for the chicks," Qin Zihang said. "Little Tiger's chicks will eat it."
“Brother Zihang, do you want to raise a chick too? One for you, one for me,” Zhang Xiaohu said. “I’ll go catch it.”
Looking at the mud on the two children, Song Fenglan thought: Oh well, it's just digging for earthworms. Digging for earthworms is actually a good thing.
“I have two at home,” Zhang Xiaohu gestured. “I have two.”
"Mom," Qin Zihang turned to his mother, "Mom, can we get one?"
“Yes,” Song Fenglan said. “Not to mention one chick, we can raise two chicks.”
"I'll go catch it." Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaohu was about to go catch it.
“No need, I’ll have Zihang’s father catch one later,” Song Fenglan said.
“I have one at home,” Zhang Xiaohu said. “My mom said she’d get me a dog, but she hasn’t gotten one yet.”
Zhang Xiaohu thought the adults were too good at lying; they said they'd catch them, but they never did. However, he's not thinking about getting a dog anymore; he can raise chickens now.
"No need..." Song Fenglan said no need, but Zhang Xiaohu still ran out.
Song Fenglan's lips twitched slightly; these kids really were energetic and impulsive.
When Zhang Xiaohu ran to his house, he shouted, "Mom, catch a chick! My little brother Zihang wants one, and Auntie wants one too!"
When Song Fenglan went into the courtyard, she was speechless at what Zhang Xiaohu said; she really hadn't wanted it.
After Zhang Xiaohu said those words, he rolled up his sleeves and went to grab it.
“No need to catch them, Fatty Sister-in-law. Tell Xiao Hu not to catch them. I’ll have Yi Zhou bring two more to Zi Hang another day,” Song Fenglan said.
Catch, catch, catch, catch what?
If you can get two chicks from your own family, it's better not to take them from Fatty's family.
"Are you going to raise chicks?" the plump woman asked as she walked into the yard.
"I want to raise it, I want to raise it." Qin Zihang ran to his mother's side, afraid that she would say no.
“Yes, let him raise two,” Song Fenglan said. “This child even went to dig for earthworms. He wants to raise them, so let him raise two.”
"Do you know where there are chicks?" the plump woman asked.
“Well… we’ll find out if we ask,” Song Fenglan said.
"If you want them, I'll go and catch two for you tomorrow," said the plump woman.
"This...won't this be too much trouble for you?" Song Fenglan said somewhat embarrassedly.
"No trouble at all," said the plump woman. Afraid that others might overhear her, she gestured with her hand, indicating that there were five at Gao Xiuxiu's house next door.
The policy has changed, but whether or not families can raise more chickens and ducks is still unknown. Grandma Fang raises the chicks in the backyard, not the front yard. At most, the neighbors on the left and right might know if they're in the backyard, but if they're in the front yard, many more people would probably know.
Seeing the fat woman's gestures, Song Fenglan understood.
“Then let’s catch two,” Song Fenglan said. “We’re not usually home, so let him raise them if he wants. It’s his skill to raise chicks to adulthood.”
“You still spoil the child,” said the plump woman. “But the chicks are fine. Just plant some vegetables in the yard and give them some leafy greens to eat.”
Sister-in-law Pang thinks raising chicks is much easier than raising dogs. Raising dogs is not so simple; dogs are big and eat a lot.
"Tell Xiaohu to stop catching him," Song Fenglan said.
"Auntie, give us ours, and we'll catch more," Zhang Xiaohu said.
"..." Song Fenglan did not expect Zhang Xiaohu to say this.
"Auntie, here you go. My mom will catch more," Zhang Xiaohu said.
"There's no need to rush," Song Fenglan said.
“Auntie, don’t worry, I’m worried! Little Zihang is worried,” Zhang Xiaohu said. “Auntie, you can’t be like my mother, saying you’ll catch the dog but not catching it.”
"Want a dog? I'll get you one." Fatty Sister looked at Zhang Xiaohu.
"No, no, I don't want a dog anymore." Zhang Xiaohu refused. "Mom, give them to Zihang, give those two chicks to Zihang."
Zhang Xiaohu said he doesn't want his younger brother Zihang to become like him, and doesn't want him to be let down by his mother.
“Your aunt won’t refuse to catch the chicks.” The plump woman looked at Zhang Xiaohu with genuine helplessness. “You…”
“Another day,” Song Fenglan said. “If we start raising them from the moment we catch them, our bond will be even stronger.”
"Brother Xiaohu, please stop grabbing them," Qin Zihang quickly said. "Our family wants to raise them from a young age, like chicks, very small ones. Yours are already a bit bigger."
It wasn't that Sister Pang was reluctant to part with the two slightly grown chicks, but rather that Zhang Xiaohu was impulsive and acted on a whim.
In the end, Zhang Xiaohu stopped catching chicks. He reminded Song Fenglan, "Auntie, you must catch two chicks for Zihang. You can't do what my mother did."
"Dinner's ready." The plump woman pulled Zhang Xiaohu into the house.
Xiao Hu talks too much.
"Mom." As Song Fenglan turned around, Qin Zihang held up two earthworms in his hand. "Mom, should we raise earthworms? We should raise lots and lots of earthworms so the chicks can eat them!"
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