Chapter 50
Fengzhen is 21 years old this year and is a sophomore at the regional teachers' college.
No one would have thought that this girl who seemed the most dull and stupid in the past would become the first student in their Dongxi Village to be admitted to university. On the day the results came out, the village was in an uproar. Everyone confirmed over and over again, and after making sure that it was not a girl with the same name, they could not help but look at this girl who no one cared about in the past with unfamiliar eyes.
In everyone's impression, Fengzhen is an overly simple woman, with thick bangs always covering her forehead, wearing a half-worn cotton-padded jacket, always looking at people timidly, with a rough mouth and a slow tongue, like a gourd with a sawed mouth that can't fart even when hit with a stick. Few people would cast their eyes on such a girl, even her own mother Li Hongmei would often ignore her eldest daughter.
On the day Fengzhen was admitted to university, Lin Laoer and Li Hongmei were so proud. Li Hongmei even wore the red coat she wore at her wedding and took a big bag of candies to give out to everyone she met in the village. Listening to the villagers' compliments, she felt that her life had never been so happy.
When she returned home during the holidays, Fengzhen still worked as usual, but Li Hongmei was reluctant to order her around like before. She left most of the work to other people like Goudan and Fengxia, and did the work herself if they couldn't do it.
Fengzhen got up at daybreak. As usual, she took her toothbrush and towel and went to the yard to wash up. Since she entered junior high school, she has developed good hygiene habits. She brushes her teeth and washes up every morning and evening to keep herself clean and fresh. In the kitchen, Zhang Yueju was already making breakfast. After washing up, Fengzhen went to the kitchen to help.
"Aunt, what's for breakfast today?"
"Yesterday I pounded some crushed peanuts and sesame seeds, mixed them with sugar, and made some sugar dumplings. I also have rice porridge and pickled radish." Zhang Yueju smiled when she saw that it was Fengzhen. Now that her life was better, she was willing to spend more time on food.
Hearing this, Fengzhen added a few pieces of firewood to the stove, took out a plate from the cupboard, and picked out some pickled radishes from the pickle jar. The pickled radishes were Zhang Yueju's specialty, and they were especially sour, crispy and refreshing. Fengzhen smelled the fragrance of the radishes and couldn't help but secretly eat two pieces.
Zhang Yueju couldn't help but smile when she saw Fengzhen's actions, and started chatting with her, "I heard that dating is very popular in college now, and the school leaders don't care. Do you have any experience in this regard?"
Feng Zhen lowered her head and smiled, "I haven't made any plans yet. Right now I'm just thinking about how to study well."
Although Fengzhen's appearance has not changed much now, there is no trace of her past. Her former short and plump body has become slender, her skin has become much whiter, and her thick bangs are gone, revealing a full and smooth forehead. She wears a well-fitting and elegant shirt and simple pants. Her speech and behavior are graceful, and it feels like her whole body is filled with the fragrance of fragrant grass from the inside out.
Like Shuanzhu, Fengzhen did not get into university in her first year of college entrance examination. However, Shuanzhu was selected for military recruitment after the exam. Only Fengzhen chose to repeat her senior year under tremendous pressure.
Although Lin Youqing paid for her tuition, accommodation and food expenses during the year she repeated her grade, the mental pressure from family and outsiders almost crushed her. They all laughed at her for working hard in vain and said she had no chance of going to college. Her friends who grew up with her and did not get into high school got married one after another and had their own families and were living well. She asked herself countless times in her heart if it was worth it, but there was no turning back. She could only close her eyes and keep moving forward.
Since entering university, with deeper learning, she has seen a wider world. Looking at her former friends who are carrying a child on their backs or holding two children in their arms, being entangled in all kinds of trivial matters, and being numbed by life and have no self, Fengzhen realized how terrible her previous thoughts were. She even thought about not going to school and finding a young man in the countryside to marry and become a working woman. Now she is scared when she thinks about it. She is even more grateful to Jiang Jiang and her third uncle and aunt who have been working for her to persuade her to go to school. Thinking back to the year of repeating a grade, she secretly thanked herself countless times for finally making it through.
"Shuanzhu wrote to me from the army a few days ago, asking me how Tiezhu did in the exam. I don't think it's going to work out. This kid's grades are usually so-so. It's a good thing that you, as his sister, helped him with his studies. Otherwise, I'm afraid he wouldn't even be able to get into high school."
Although Shuanzhu did not get into university, he said in the letter that he is doing well in the army now and can be arranged a job when he retires, so there is no need to worry about his future.
Zhang Yueju is now worried about whether her youngest son can be admitted to university.
"What did Tiezhu say himself?"
"This kid is quite confident and says he will definitely pass the exam, but he always likes to bluff me with empty words. Besides, there are too many variables in the college entrance examination, so who can be sure?"
"Since he has said so, you should be at ease and wait for good news."
"The results will be out today. Regardless of whether I pass the exam or not, I can finally feel at ease."
Feng Zhen took out dishes and chopsticks from the cupboard and laid them out. Today was the day when the college entrance examination results would be announced. Jiang Jiang was also taking the exam this year, but she was not worried. With Jiang Jiang's talent and her daily hard work, it was a sure thing for her to be admitted to university. As for her biological sister Feng Yin, she no longer had any feelings for her sister, so whether she passed the exam or not was none of her business.
The rice porridge was ready. Fengzhen served it in a large clay bowl and called her family to come for breakfast.
Fengzhen saw Fengyin who had just gotten up, and she said calmly, "It's time for breakfast."
"Got it." Feng Yin rolled his eyes in disdain and couldn't help complaining in his heart, what is there to be proud of? It's just that he was admitted to a normal school. He really thought he had become a phoenix by flying onto the tree top.
Just wait and see, sooner or later the Lin family will know who is the golden phoenix in this nest.
After breakfast, Tiezhu rushed to wash the dishes. Fengzhen didn't argue with him and went back to her room to read.
She didn't remember when she developed the habit of reading. She was reading a novel now, which she found from Lin Youqing's bookcase. After Fengzhen went to college, she often stayed at her third uncle's house on weekends. Tiezhu also liked to read novels. He had borrowed and read almost all the novels that Fengzhen brought back during the holidays.
Fengzhen was also happy to let him borrow the books to read. Her two younger brothers were not good at studying. Goudan graduated from junior high school but did not get into high school. Now he was working as an apprentice in a breeding farm in the next town, learning a craft. As for Caogen, he dropped out of school in the second year of junior high school and now stayed at home to farm with his father. Tiezhu often read books and discussed some plot ideas with her, which often gave Fengzhen some new inspiration.
"Reading?" Li Hongmei came over with a washed pear in her arms. "I just bought this at the market. It's very sweet and juicy."
Fengzhen is now Li Hongmei's darling daughter. When she thought about how her brothers and sisters fawned on her when she returned to her parents' home yesterday, she felt so happy.
Fengzhen took the pear and took a bite. The whole bite was filled with sweet pear juice. "Thank you, mother."
"How come your father has been taking Fengyin and Tiezhu to the city for so long and still hasn't come back? I don't know if your sister passed the exam or not."
"I don't know. We'll know whether we can pass the exam or not when they come back." Feng Zhen said incoherently while chewing a pear.
Li Hongmei was about to say something when she heard a commotion outside. It was Boss Lin coming back. Zhang Yueju was hugging her son and crying and laughing, "He passed the exam, Tiezhu passed the exam!!"
Boss Lin was sweating profusely and his face was red from the sun, but he had a smile on his face. His son was admitted to the industrial university in the province! He is proud of his son!
Also gathered together were several college entrance examination candidates from the same village. They all had smiles on their faces. Upon asking, I found out that they all passed the exam. However, Lin Laoer and Feng Yin were the only ones missing in the crowd.
"Tiezhu, where's my Fengyin? Which school did she get into?"
"Second Aunt, I didn't see Feng Yin's name on the admission list."
Li Hongmei asked persistently, "What does it mean if Feng Yin's name is missing?"
"It means Feng Yin didn't pass the exam."
Li Hongmei felt as if someone had poured a bucket of cold water on her face, chilling her from head to toe.
"Second son's wife, although Fengyin didn't pass the exam, your Fengzhen is the first college student in our village." The villagers comforted her.
Li Hongmei felt a little bit of strength restored. She forced a smile and said, "Yes, our Fengzhen is not only good at studying, but also very filial and hardworking. She always rushes to help me with all the chores at home."
The villagers also found it strange. Fengyin seemed smart since she was young, while Fengzhen was dull since she was young. How come Fengzhen was admitted to the university while Fengyin failed?
When Li Hongmei returned home, Lin Laoer was smoking a pipe at the door with a tense face and not saying a word. Feng Yin's sobbing could be heard from inside the room.
Boss Lin and his family have returned home and are talking together. It is really a mixed bag. Boss Lin and Tiezhu are wiping Zhang Yueju's tears. Zhang Yueju can't help laughing when she sees them. Fengzhen is also happy for Tiezhu and asks, "Uncle, do you know which school Jiang Jiang got into?"
"I called the third brother and his family when I was in the county. I heard that Jiang Jiang was admitted to Capital University!"
When Feng Zhen heard this, although she was not surprised, she felt relieved.
"What? Capital University?" Although Mrs. Lin had never heard of the name of this university, when she heard the word "Capital", she thought it was the best place in the country!
Tiezhu was afraid that Old Lady Lin didn't know, so he explained to her, "Grandma, this is the highest institution of learning in our country. In the past, only officials could attend this school."
After hearing this, Lin Laoer and Li Hongmei felt even more heartbroken.
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