Chapter 141 Chapter 141 High School Entrance Examination

Li Yaoqing was not only beaten up because of his final exam results, but also had to repeat the grade.

Although schools nowadays do not attach much importance to academic performance, there are still students who repeat a grade. At the end of each semester, when the report card is handed out, if the class teacher feels that the child is not suitable for further studies, he or she will write a note on the report card.

Otherwise, write the word "sheng".

Xia Qinqin heard that some people could stay in the first grade of elementary school for four or five years, which also caused a huge age gap among classmates.

Originally, people disagreed with the age at which children should start school. The country advocates starting school at the age of six, but many families still choose to let their children go to school when they are a little older.

Especially for girls, some families will keep dragging it out until their teens, when the local Women's Federation, Education Bureau and other departments send people to persuade and educate their children, and then they will let their children go to school.

This results in some children being 15 or 16 years old right after graduating from primary school, and many people at this age have already married and had children.

Therefore, even though the current school system is five years for elementary school, two years for junior high school, and only two years for high school, the age of students who complete all of this will not be very young.

Of course, there are exceptions, like Xia Qinqin, who entered school at the age of six and never failed a grade, graduating from junior high school at the age of thirteen.

She has always been the youngest in her class since she started school.

Xia Qinqin thought that the high school entrance examination was just a formality, and she didn't need to worry about failing based on her grades.

The high school entrance exam was a city-wide unified test, and she and Lu Yannan were assigned to a school in the city, an hour’s ride from their home campus.

Originally, Xia Junshan and Meng Yufei were planning to take leave to take their daughter to the exam, but Lu Shaohuan got a small car from somewhere and even provided a driver to take the two children directly to the exam site.

Xia Junshan frowned as he looked at the car. "It's just to take an exam. You need a car to pick you up with two half-grown children?"

Lu Shaohuan said, "What's the big deal? They're not using a military vehicle. If you weren't so particular and didn't want people to use the vehicle for personal purposes, I would have just sent my own car to pick them up."

Seeing that Xia Junshan was about to say something, Lu Shaohuan said, "Captain, you have the heart to let the two children ride such a long way to the examination center in such a hot day. When they get there, they will have to sit there for several hours to take the test. Don't worry, they will get heat stroke."

After hearing what he said, Xia Junshan looked at his daughter who was standing in front of the car, looking around curiously. He really couldn't bear to see such a delicate and pretty child suffer.

So, the matter was settled, and Xia Junshan and Meng Yufei didn't have to ask for leave. They were just allowed to take the bus to the examination venue by themselves.

At night, Xia Junshan sighed before going to bed.

"What's going on?" Meng Yufei asked him curiously.

Xia Junshan said: "Even if I ride a bike for a whole day and a whole night and get sunburned, I don't think it's a big deal. But when I think about asking our Qinqin to ride a bike for an hour under the scorching sun, I can't accept it at all... Well, even though I know that the bike Shaohuan got today is a little inappropriate, I agreed..."

Meng Yufei said, "Didn't Shao Huan say that he borrowed his car from a friend and that it was an idle car in someone else's company. He would only use it for two days."

Xia Junshan said helplessly: "This man is old, and he can't help but feel soft when he sees the child. Tell me, are we spoiling Qinqin too much? Shouldn't the child let her suffer a little?"

Meng Yufei asked back: "What do you think is suffering? Is it to make her hungry?"

Xia Junshan shook his head: "How can I not eat? The child is growing."

Meng Yufei asked again: "So she should be asked to do laundry, cooking and cleaning?"

Xia Junshan continued to shake his head: "We all eat in the cafeteria, so why would we need her to cook? Qinqin is still young, how could she wash clothes properly? Besides, we don't need her to do these things, so I just did it."

Meng Yufei smiled and said, "Why not let her live in the school dormitory when she goes to high school in the second half of the year to cultivate her self-care ability."

Xia Junshan frowned: "How can that be possible! There is room at home, why should I live in the school?"

Meng Yufei patted his shoulder and said with a smile: "Look at you, didn't you say you wanted Qinqin to suffer? You can't do this or that, so what are you going to let her suffer?"

Xia Junshan choked, thought for a moment and said, "The child is too young. Let's wait... wait a few years before we talk about it."

Meng Yufei looked at him and asked, "Do you think there is any difference between our Qinqin and other children of the same age?"

Xia Junshan said seriously: "How could that be? Our Qinqin is smart and sensible, has good grades in school, and is popular with people. Oh, and she is also very good at drawing and writing. Aunt Liu once said that Qinqin is a gifted and intelligent child..."

When it comes to praising his daughter, Xia Junshan can't stop talking, "Look, how could our Qinqin be worse than other children? I'm not bragging, I think no child of the same age can compare to Qinqin."

Meng Yufei smiled and said, "Look, our Qinqin didn't suffer, but she still grew up very well, so, your education of enduring hardship should be changed, times have changed."

Xia Junshan was silent for a few seconds, then whispered, "I'm just worried...worried about what she'll do when she grows up..."

Meng Yufei gently held his hand and said softly, "We are here. Even if Qinqin grows up, we are still her parents and can continue to protect her."

Xia Junshan held Meng Yufei's hand tightly and nodded: "Yes, there are us. We have fought for so many years, isn't it for her? As long as we are here, no one dares to bully her."

Meng Yufei also nodded: "I hope Qinqin can be a child for the rest of her life, happy and healthy."

"Well, safety is the most important thing." Xia Junshan said in a serious tone.

This is the simplest wish that parents have for their children. They don't want their children to be successful or have great abilities, they just want them to be healthy and happy.

The temperature was very high during the two days of the high school entrance examination. Meng Yufei got off work early and went home to wait. Xia Junshan also finished his work in advance and set aside these two days specifically.

"Why do I feel that the summer in Lingcheng is so hot?" Meng Yufei sat on the sofa and fanned herself with her hands, looking a little anxious.

Xia Junshan hurried into the house, took out the electric fan and placed it on the coffee table. After plugging it in, he blew it in Meng Yu's direction. The cool breeze blew and relieved her depression.

"The main reason is that there is no wind here. Although it was hot on the island before, the sea breeze in the morning and evening was quite comfortable. Here there is no wind at all and it's very stuffy." Xia Junshan said while fiddling with the electric fan.

Meng Yufei said, "Why don't we find a way to buy a refrigerator? Let Xiaoyan ask his classmates to give us a refrigerator coupon. It's already so hot in the early summer. It will probably be even hotter when Qinqin finishes her exams and goes on summer vacation. With a refrigerator, she can have a popsicle every day to cool down."

Xia Junshan thought about it and nodded: "Okay, there are still a few cigarettes at home, you can send them back to Xiaoyan next time."

"Okay, I have a letter to send home this weekend, I'll send it over then."

Xia Junshan sat for a while and then stood up to go out: "I'll go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy a few bottles of soda and bring them home. I'll put them in water to cool them down in advance so that the children can drink them when they come back."

Meng Yufei also stood up: "I'll go with you, and bring back some dishes from the restaurant next door. Qinqin loves their duck the most, I'll cut half of it and bring it back."

Although the family compound here is large and daily commuting is inconvenient, the facilities are really complete. The Third Supply and Marketing Cooperative is only a ten-minute walk away from their home, and next door is a restaurant. The chef there is a retired member of the army's kitchen squad.

People in Lingcheng love to eat ducks. This place is close to the river, so it is very convenient to raise ducks. The chef of Jiashuyuan Restaurant is a local of Lingcheng. The restaurant’s regular dishes are dried duck and salted duck.

When the couple got home with lunch boxes and soda, Xia Qinqin and Lu Yannan also came back in a car.

Xia Junshan originally wanted to invite the driver to have dinner at home, but he refused. Before leaving, Xia Junshan put two packs of cigarettes into the car, and the driver drove away with a smile.

Meng Yufei hurriedly pulled the two children into the house: "Come and sit in front of the sofa and enjoy the fan. It's very hot outside."

Xia Qinqin said: "It's okay. We were in a small car and it wasn't too hot with the windows open and the air blowing."

Xia Junshan handed over the soda, and Xia Qinqin's eyes lit up. She said happily, "Wow, thank you, Dad. I'm thirsty."

"Thank you, Uncle Xia." Lu Yannan took the soda and thanked him politely.

Xia Junshan said with a smile: "Sit down quickly, we will have dinner after a rest."

They didn’t ask how their children did in the exam. They didn’t say that the results of their two children were reassuring. Even if they didn’t pass, it didn’t matter. They could just take it again next year. The children are still young and cannot go out to work.

After the exams, Xia Qinqin had her summer vacation. The weather outside was too hot, so she stayed at home all day, drawing, writing, and reading. She didn't feel bored with Lu Yannan around to talk to.

That day she was playing Go with Lu Yannan at home. She had recently started learning Go, which was more interesting than chess and could help pass the time. A game of Go would take half a day.

"Qinqin, I knew you were at home." A clear and hearty female voice came from the door. "I saw your door was not closed, so I came in by myself."

Xia Qinqin looked up. The person who came in was about fifteen or sixteen years old, with a sporty hairstyle and a round face full of smiles. The freckles on the tip of her nose made her look more lively and playful.

This person is Xia Qinqin's classmate Jia Huan. Her father is an employee of a military factory and lives in the family compound opposite.

"Jia Huan, you're here, come and sit down." Xia Qinqin hurriedly stood up to greet her. Her movements were a bit large and she accidentally messed up the chessboard.

Zhang Jiahuan walked over and sat next to Xia Qinqin. Seeing Lu Yannan sitting opposite him, he smiled and said, "Hello, classmate Yannan, are you here to play with Qinqin too?"

Lu Yannan nodded slightly and said, "Well, hello."

Zhang Jiahuan lowered his head to glance at the coffee table, where a set of Go was placed. Next to it were two bottles of orange soda, half of which he had just opened and drunk. There were still water droplets on the bottles from the cold air.

"Jia Huan, do you like orange-flavored soda or pear-flavored soda?" Xia Qinqin said as she walked to the refrigerator and opened the freezer compartment below, which contained a whole row of sodas.

Zhang Jiahuan stood up curiously and followed, and said in surprise: "Xia Qinqin, you actually have a refrigerator at home!"

Xia Qinqin smiled and said, "I just bought it a few days ago. It's very convenient to use in the summer. Take a look and see what flavor of soda you want to drink. By the way, there are popsicles in the freezer upstairs. Do you want some?"

Zhang Jiahuan shook his head: "I ate a popsicle on the way here. I'll just drink orange-flavored soda."

"Okay." Xia Qinqin nodded and took a bottle of soda from the refrigerator and handed it to her.

Zhang Jiahuan took it with a smile: "Thank you."

After opening the soda and taking a sip, Zhang Jiahuan exclaimed in surprise: "Wow, this soda is really cold! It tastes much better than the one sold at the supply and marketing cooperative!"

Xia Qinqin sat back on the sofa and said with a smile, "I also think iced soda tastes better."

Zhang Jiahuan also went over and sat on the sofa. The electric fan next to him was turned on the lowest setting and blew slowly. He held an iced soda in his hand and couldn't help but sigh: "Xia Qinqin, your life at home is too comfortable. No wonder you don't go out all day."

Xia Qinqin picked up the soda on the table and took a sip, then nodded and said, "It's quite comfortable."

Zhang Jiahuan drank half a bottle of soda in one breath, "No, we still have to go out, otherwise the summer vacation will be wasted. I came here to ask you to go out and play."

Xia Qinqin asked curiously: "Oh? Where are we going to play?"

Zhang Jiahuan said, "Of course we have to go swimming in the summer! Last year, the Municipal Sports Committee renovated and expanded the city swimming pool and built a shallow water area. Let's go and play together."

"Just the two of us?" Xia Qinqin was somewhat tempted.

Zhang Jiahuan said: "There are also Sun Wenli, Feng Xiaoyan, and the four of us will go together." These people are all good classmates in the class.

Xia Qinqin asked: "Are we going now? I have to talk to my parents."

Zhang Jiahuan pulled her aside and said, "Hey, you're already this old, do you still need your parents' permission to go out and play?"

Xia Qinqin nodded: "Yes, otherwise they will worry."

Zhang Jiahuan: "…Why don't we come back earlier and get home before your parents get off work, so they won't know. I used to do this all the time."

Xia Qinqin frowned, but still shook her head and said, "No, I can't lie to my parents."

Zhang Jiahuan was still trying to persuade him, but Lu Yannan, who had been fiddling with the chess pieces with his head down, stopped what he was doing, raised his head and spoke slowly: "Xia Qinqin has to play chess with me this afternoon, so she can't go swimming with you guys."

After that, he added: "We made an appointment in advance. Right, Qinqin?"

Xia Qinqin was stunned for a moment, then nodded and said, "Oh, yes, I want to play chess with Brother Yannan. Jiahuan, you guys go play, I won't go."

Zhang Jiahuan was a little unhappy: "We can play chess anytime, it doesn't have to be today..."

Bang! Lu Yannan put the chess piece in his hand onto the chessboard with a little force, making a crisp sound.

He said coldly: "I will play this chess game today."

Zhang Jiahuan was stunned, pouted and whispered: "I was just talking, why are you angry...Okay, if you don't want to go swimming, then don't go."

Xia Qinqin hurriedly smiled and said, "Jia Huan, how about next time? Next time, tell me in advance, and I'll ask my parents before we go out together."

Zhang Jiahuan turned his head and looked at Xia Qinqin, saying, "Forget it this time. It's my birthday next Friday, and you must come. This is the last dinner party for our junior high school classmates."

Xia Qinqin nodded: "Well, okay, I will definitely go."

Zhang Jiahuan glanced at Lu Yannan who was sitting there, cleared his throat and said, "Student Yannan, come over here too."

Lu Yannan said with a dull face: "I have something to do that day, so I can't go."

Zhang Jiahuan choked and was silent for two seconds before saying, "Many of my classmates came together that day. I don't know if we can get together again in the future."

Lu Yannan's expression remained unchanged, and he said calmly: "I had guests coming to my house that day, so I couldn't go over. You guys had fun."

Zhang Jiahuan said awkwardly, "Oh, then... okay then." She finished her soda and stood up to leave: "Sun Wenli and Feng Xiaoyan are still waiting for me, I'm leaving first."

Xia Qinqin stood up and walked the man to the door, then turned back and walked to Lu Yannan, looked him in the eyes and asked, "Brother Yannan, did you lie just now?"

Lu Yannan laughed and said, "What lie did I tell?"

Xia Qinqin said, "You said this morning that you were going to play basketball with my dad, Uncle Lu and the others next Friday. How come a guest suddenly showed up?"

Lu Yannan raised his eyebrows and said, "There are guests coming. My uncle even called a few of his comrades to come over to play basketball. Isn't that a guest?"

Xia Qinqin: "...So the guest you were talking about is my dad..."

Lu Yannan said softly: "Your father is not a guest. The guests are my uncle's comrades-in-arms."

Xia Qinqin sat back on the sofa, picked up the soda on the coffee table and took a sip, then said with a smile, "What's the difference? They're not the same."

Lu Yannan said nothing, but lowered his head and fiddled with the chess pieces on the board.

"By the way, Brother Yannan, why don't you want to go to Jia Huan's birthday party? We are all classmates, wouldn't it be nice to go and celebrate for her?" Xia Qinqin asked puzzled.

Lu Yannan said: "It just happened that we attended classes in the same classroom for two years, and I'm not very familiar with it."

Xia Qinqin knew that he had a cold personality and didn't like to make friends at school, but she didn't expect that his attitude towards his classmates was even colder than she imagined.

"Brother Yannan, it's fate that we are classmates. You shouldn't be so cold to your classmates." Xia Qinqin said this with a sense of deep meaning.

Hearing this tone, Lu Yannan smiled and pointed at the chessboard and said, "Don't think about those irrelevant people. Just play this game first. I have already rearranged the chess pieces that you accidentally messed up."

Xia Qinqin looked down and saw that the chess pieces of both sides had indeed returned to their previous state. She said in surprise, "Really? Brother Yannan, you have such a good memory."

Neither of them mentioned the person just now and continued playing chess.

Before they even waited for Zhang Jiahuan’s birthday, they received the results of the high school entrance examination.

When students are admitted to high school, their grades are first considered. Only the top 10% of students will be selected, so the admission rate is very low.

After passing the exam, you will go through the political review and if you meet the requirements, you can go to high school.

Due to policy reasons in recent years, the Education Bureau no longer publishes student rankings or gives out any top-ranking titles. Admission letters are simply sent out directly after admission.

Xia Qinqin and Lu Yannan both received high school admission letters. They both applied to the high school of the family academy, so they can be classmates again in the future.

"Brother Yannan, we can go to school together again." Xia Qinqin said happily while holding the notice, "I don't know if we will be in the same class this time."

Lu Yannan said: "I will be there."

"Huh? Why are you so sure?" Xia Qinqin asked curiously.

Lu Yannan smiled and said, "Because in the high school of the family courtyard, there is only one class in each grade."

The high school of the Family Academy naturally also admitted students from the Family Academy. Although there were several classes in the junior high school, with an admission rate of 10%, there was only one class of students in the high school.

Xia Qinqin nodded: "Oh, that's right, I forgot, now our high school classmates are still the same people from our school, but I don't know how many of our class have been admitted to high school."

"You'll know when school starts." Lu Yannan had no interest in this matter at all.