Calmly, she said, "Alright, then let's make radish and pork filling. Chopping the filling is hard work, so I'll leave it to you two!"
With the help of Gu Zhiyun and Yang Zinuo, Shen Jingyan made two large pots of dumplings in one go and sent a lot of them to Old Xu and his wife and the educated youth.
After dinner, the educated youth, as usual, carried their small stools to the blackboard and waited for class to begin.
During their conversation, Shen Jingyan learned that Zhang Wanfang was not planning to go back either.
Although she was a city girl, her parents favored boys over girls. They supported her until she graduated from high school, then forced her to get married. They even said that if they didn't want to find her a good family, they wouldn't have let her go to school at all.
Zhang Wanfang had excellent grades since childhood and was also ambitious. She was unwilling to get married after finishing high school and live an ordinary life, so she went to the countryside in a fit of pique and stayed in the forest farm for three years.
She studied harder than the other three female educated youths in her dormitory. She was also frugal and saved every penny of her meager eight-yuan subsidy to pay for her tuition.
Because she knew that even if she got into university, her parents might not pay for her studies, so she had to think carefully about how to take each step in the future.
Shen Jingyan greatly admired her courage and perseverance.
As soon as Old Xu appeared, the educated youth stopped talking and consciously took out their manuscript paper and textbooks.
The textbooks that the educated youth were holding were compiled by Old Xu over a month. Old Xu asked around and spent a lot of money at the county newspaper office to print them for the educated youth.
Therefore, everyone cherishes their textbooks.
"Jingya, hand out the mock exam papers from last time."
Shen Jingyan is now Old Xu's class representative.
After the test papers were handed out, everyone busied themselves exchanging papers to check their scores. Those who did well were elated, while those who did poorly were dejected.
Shen Jingyan glanced at the test paper. Old Xu's questions were quite difficult this time. The highest score was Gu Zhiyun with 92 points, Yang Zinuo with 90 points, and the rest did not exceed 90, and there were even a few who failed.
Several educated youths complained quietly that the questions were too difficult, even the college entrance examination might not have such difficult questions.
Although Old Xu was quite old, his hearing was still excellent. He picked up his pointer, tapped it on the table, and said sternly:
"Students, I don't know which university you're aiming for, but I must tell you that getting into any university and getting into a good university are not the same thing! All the students I teach must get into top-tier universities!"
If you find the questions too difficult, then you can review on your own. I can confidently tell you that the knowledge I'm teaching you now is enough to handle the college entrance exam and enough to ensure you can go to school. If your goal is so mediocre that you're just happy to get into university, then don't go out and say you're my student!
These stern words made the few educated youths who had complained about the difficulty of the questions lower their heads in shame.
Old Xu adjusted his glasses and continued, "I heard something today. Among our group of educated youth, three were on the list to return to the city, but they all chose to stay at the forest farm. I think a big reason why everyone is reluctant to leave is that they don't want to leave my classroom, right?"
The educated youth nodded in agreement.
Old Xu suddenly laughed, a slightly mischievous laugh: "What if one day I suddenly remember who I am and can send someone to pick me up with just one phone call?"
Yang Zinuo hiccuped in fright: "Teacher...you...you must be joking!"
The educated youth all looked very nervous.
Upon hearing this, Shen Jingyan's heart skipped a beat.
It has been two months since she took Old Man Xu back to the forest farm in her tricycle, and everyone has long been used to the presence of this old man.
He is humorous and witty in life, but rigorous and strict in the classroom, and is deeply loved by his students.
If he suddenly leaves, it will be a bolt from the blue for the educated youth!
Old Xu broke the tense atmosphere in the classroom with a hearty laugh: "Hahaha, you kids are so easy to fool! I've had Alzheimer's for so many years, do you think I can just get better like that?"
"What...what if you suddenly get better?"
Yang Zinuo asked cautiously.
Old Xu winked at him: "Even if I get better, I won't want to leave. Right now, I won't eat anyone else's food except for Jingya's!"
The pressure was immediately put on Chen Jingyan.
The educated youth all turned their gazes toward Shen Jingyan, as if they were looking at a savior descending to earth.
"Besides, you still owe me several thousand yuan in tuition fees!"
Old Xu once again drew everyone's attention. "I don't want your tuition fees. It's all for Jingya's sake. Let me tell you, you little brats, if any of you don't get into a top university, I'll ask you for your tuition fees. Even if you have to go bankrupt, you have to make up for it!"
Chen Jingyan secretly rejoiced; Old Xu's way of encouraging everyone to study diligently was truly unique.
After hearing this, no one dared to be careless. Throughout the class, everyone kept their eyes wide open and no one made any unnecessary movements.
Old Xu was so happy that he stayed for an extra half hour.
After class, Yang Zinuo suddenly exclaimed, "Old Gu, I suddenly understand a sentence."
While tidying up the manuscript, Gu Zhiyun casually asked, "What did you say?"
Yang Zinuo leaned close to Gu Zhiyun's ear and whispered, "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach."
Gu Zhiyun: "..."
What kind of nonsensical sentiments are these? Should I be talking about him or Old Man Xu?
Yang Zinuo solemnly said to Shen Jingyan, "Jingya, you must take good care of Professor Xu's three meals a day. Whether we can get into a top university depends entirely on you!"
Gu Zhiyun smacked him on the back of the head with a rolled-up book: "Read more books, do more exercises, and talk less nonsense!"
Just then, Anzi suddenly ran in, grabbed Shen Jingyan's hand, and said, "Sister Jingya, my older sister is back, but my mom won't let her in!"
Shen Jingyan was taken aback: "Why is eldest sister back at this time?"
The eldest sister Anzi mentioned is Shen Yulan, the eldest daughter of Shen Honggang and Chen Feng. She married far away to another province. Because a new bride has to spend the first year of the Lunar New Year at her husband's home, Shen Yulan did not go back to her parents' home for the Lunar New Year this year.
It's neither a holiday nor a festival right now, why are they suddenly coming back?
Anzi choked back tears and wiped them away: "My eldest sister's husband was run over by a train and died. My eldest sister's mother-in-law kicked her out. My mother said that my second sister had just gotten engaged and that my eldest sister, a widow, would spoil the happy occasion if she entered the house. She refused to let my eldest sister in no matter what!"
Hearing this, Chen Jingyan was furious.
Where is the eldest sister?
“Stand at my front door, Sister Jingya. My mom is yelling at me horribly, and my dad isn’t home. Only you can save me!”
Without saying a word, Shen Jingyan grabbed Anzi's hand and ran towards the gate of the Shen family.
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