Chapter 253 College Entrance Examination: The College Admission Notice—It's Here! ...
In December, on a winter morning, before dawn, the sea breeze was icy and biting. Outside the examination center for the island's college entrance examination, a large, striking patch of blue had already gathered as day broke.
Most of the candidates taking the exam were wearing "pigskin coats" produced by Feiyan Textile Factory, a nickname for imitation woolen short coats. Among the hundreds of candidates were dozens of employees of Feiyan Textile Factory.
Men and women, including factory director Qin Xiangxiang, were all wearing specially made dark blue worker's and peasant's short coats, made of thick woolen material, with double-breasted brass buttons neatly arranged.
This has practically become the "battle armor" for all college entrance examination students. After a year of improvement, the fabric has enhanced anti-static properties, reducing the crackling sparks during movements and adding a touch of composure to the cold winter days.
Qin Xiangxiang had fair skin and wore a thick hat, making her stand out in the crowd. Li Jianzhi, who was next to her, was not wearing a military uniform but a similar worker's and peasant's short coat. He was holding his two little daughters in his arms and was preparing to see his wife off to the college entrance examination hall.
Qin Xiangxiang yawned: "Sleepy..."
Li Jianzhi: "Mom is so kind."
The two little girls yawned just like their mother, while many people around them were using the last bit of time to study their review materials.
The bell rang to signal the start of the exam, and all the candidates stirred. The cold sea breeze brushed against their faces, fueling the burning passion in their hearts.
Qin Xiangxiang slowly and leisurely walked into the examination room. There were several textile factory workers in the same examination room. As soon as they saw Qin Xiangxiang, they were as if they had been given a shot of adrenaline and immediately sat up straight.
"Since I'm taking the exam in the same room as the factory manager, I'm sure I'll get into university this time!"
"The factory manager's nonchalant demeanor suggests he's been well-prepared!"
"If our factory manager were in a martial arts novel, he'd be called a master."
Qin Xiangxiang: "???"
Hearing the people around her praising her so highly, Qin Xiangxiang, who was still dozing off, couldn't help but feel a little nervous. She originally thought it didn't matter whether she passed the exam or not... but if she didn't pass, wouldn't it be a little embarrassing?
Calm and collected? The demeanor of a master?
This definitely doesn't refer to Qin Xiangxiang.
When the test papers were handed out, Qin Xiangxiang flipped them over and glanced at them. She found that many of the questions looked familiar. She could answer quite a few of them, especially the Chinese exam. The Chinese exam for this year, which was the first year the college entrance examination was reinstated, included more questions on politics and policy.
As the factory director, Qin Xiangxiang had read and written a lot of newspapers and materials, so she answered the questions with ease.
Before I knew it, I had finished the entire college entrance examination paper.
Qin Xiangxiang: "It's not that difficult."
For the remaining exams, Qin Xiangxiang slowly and deliberately finished all the papers, writing down everything she could and couldn't answer, until she was sleepy by the end.
Qin Xiangxiang was in high spirits after the last exam, because she had planned to have a "duck feet stew" banquet for the whole factory after the exam.
All the employees who took the exams returned to the factory by bus. That evening, the Feiyan Textile Factory canteen was brightly lit and bustling with activity. The air was filled with an unparalleled excitement and the exhaustion of someone who had just run a marathon.
In the center of the canteen, several huge charcoal-fired casserole pots were set up, simmering with fragrant snail broth. On another row of tables, bowls of noodles were placed one after another, each containing four deep-fried duck feet, kelp knots, potato chunks, taro strips, fried tofu, and quail eggs.
A spoonful of boiling broth is poured over the snails, which collide with each other with a crisp, popping sound. The pickled bamboo shoots release a tangy and spicy aroma from the broth, while a handful of perilla leaves release their fragrance from the hot soup. The alluring aroma spreads and masks the fishy smell of the duck and river fish.
Finally, add a round, pancake-like fried egg to the bowl.
A simple braised duck feet dish from the canteen is ready, one bowl for each person.
The layer of bright red oil floating on the soup is like a firecracker in this cold winter day, bringing warmth to the whole body.
"What was the last problem you solved today?"
"Oh no, why am I the only one who's different..."
...
The cafeteria was originally filled with the sounds of "checking answers," but as spoonful after spoonful of hot soup was poured over the fried duck feet, many people no longer had any thoughts of the college entrance examination questions. Instead, their mouths watered and their stomachs were rumbling with cravings.
Forget about the college entrance exam questions, let's eat first!
"Everyone line up to get your duck feet stew. Today's duck feet stew is free. Our Deputy Factory Director He said we're renaming it 'Top Scholar Stew,' wishing everyone success in the college entrance examination!"
"These are all benefits that the factory manager fought for for everyone."
...
Bowl after bowl of fragrant duck feet stew, the air filled with the aroma of perilla leaves. Many people dislike the smell of perilla leaves, but in this day and age, a folk remedy for warding off the cold and treating colds in winter is perilla leaf and ginger soup.
However, in this rich and flavorful duck feet stew, the aroma of perilla becomes like a veiled beauty, concealing its graceful figure amidst the pungent, spicy, and sour fragrance.
Once you get a bowl of braised duck feet, the first thing you'll definitely eat is the deep-fried, fragrant duck feet. The skin of the deep-fried duck feet is like a thin, resilient piece of paper, while the meat inside is tender and smooth. You can slurp it up and use your teeth and tongue to peel the meat and bones apart, as if even the duck bones are fragrant and flavorful.
Many people don't eat the duck feet first; instead, they scoop out the large chunks of potato and taro strips. The soft, powdery potato chunks are soaked in the delicious broth, and the taro strips are also deep-fried, melting in the soup when you eat them.
The most delicious dish is fried tofu—the factory's homemade fried tofu, also known as deep-fried tofu. The tender white tofu is deep-fried into a golden-yellow color, and the skin becomes chewy and cannot be easily pierced with chopsticks. Eating it directly like this doesn't allow the flavors to penetrate.
You need to use chopsticks to poke the fried dough stick open, and the tofu puffs inside will immediately become like a sponge, soaking up the snail broth. When you eat it, the juice bursts out.
Kelp knots cut through the greasiness, and the snail's tail is cut open. With a gentle suck, you can extract the snail meat without needing a toothpick. To enjoy this type of snail, you have to use your mouth directly. First, suck out the rich broth from the snail's opening, and then suck out the snail meat.
The broth is rich and flavorful, the duck feet are tender and fall off the bone, melting in your mouth. Each bite is filled with rich collagen, making it the ultimate comfort on a cold winter day.
The workers of Feiyan Textile Factory huddled around the pot, sweating profusely as they ate. In that moment, they forgot the tension of the exam and the uncertainty about the future. Their mouths, without prior agreement, abandoned the exam questions and began to murmur about "our factory's development over the years..."
They are all memories of the years we spent living together in the past.
Zhang Dayong was the first to stand up, holding a bowl of rice wine, and said in a loud voice: "Factory Director! I'd like to toast you! Without you, there would be no factory, no girl in the choir, and I, Old Zhang, would never have dared to dream of being able to take the college entrance examination."
That's right, Zhang Haiyan's father also registered for the college entrance examination, making him one of the relatively older employees.
After he finished speaking, he drank the rice wine in his hand in one gulp. Under the orange light of the canteen, tears glistened in the corners of his eyes.
The others were also eager to stand up.
Qin Xiangxiang was wrapped in a military overcoat, holding an enamel mug containing red date and longan tea. She felt overwhelmed and disliked these endless toasting occasions.
"Alright, alright, everyone drink less. We have to go to work tomorrow."
"I'll offer tea in lieu of wine to everyone in return." Qin Xiangxiang took a sip of tea. "Now that the exams are over, everyone should have a good time tonight, chat and have some fun. Don't worry about formalities, just relax."
"Many people will part ways this time, and may never have the chance to meet again in the future, even if they are separated by thousands of miles. Let's cherish this night we spend together tonight."
Subsequently, Zhou Wenqing, Zhao Hongmei, Sun Jian'an, Li Aihua, and other employees who participated in the college entrance examination came forward one after another to express their gratitude in the simplest language.
Qin Xiangxiang nodded, slowly sipping her tea and occasionally exchanging a few words.
The atmosphere in the cafeteria reached its peak when someone started singing, and it quickly turned into a group sing-along. The singing echoed in the warm cafeteria, where there was no resonance from the spruce trees, but rather a sense of anticipation for the future.
However, amidst the singing, a faint sense of sorrow and parting permeated the crowd like wisps of smoke.
All the workers understood that once the admission results were released, many of them would go their separate ways to study at universities all over the country.
Everything from the factory days—the burning boiler room, the noisy textile workshop, the spruce wood rehearsal hall, the braised meat in the canteen… and the beautiful Factory Director Qin—will all become memories.
When filling out college applications after the Gaokao (National College Entrance Examination), Qin Xiangxiang applied to Tsinghua University, Peking University, and East China Textile University, basically just filling in random choices.
She didn't think she could get into Tsinghua or Peking University, but she followed the crowd and applied to one of them.
"What if you get into Tsinghua University?" Li Jianzhi also received confirmation that he would be going to Shanghai for further studies. He was going to the regimental and divisional class, and after completing the studies, he would probably be promoted to the rank of deputy division-level cadre.
His wife, Qin Xiangxiang, applied to Tsinghua and Peking Universities! "Have you forgotten that you have two factories on the island and in Shanghai? Do you want to open another branch factory in the capital?"
Qin Xiangxiang was speechless: "Do you really think I can get into Tsinghua or Peking University?"
Li Jianzhi: "Maybe you'll pass the exam."
Qin Xiangxiang took a sip of hot tea: "You really have faith in me."
At this time, Li Xiaopang took his younger sister to dig up big cabbages in the winter. They were especially sweet. His younger sister, Suisui, was holding a big cabbage and a basket of warm eggs.
"Once we go to Shanghai, there won't be anywhere to raise chickens and grow vegetables. We'll have to go to the market to buy vegetables every day."
Qin Xiangxiang was eager to try: "Wait until I run the cafeteria well."
Li Jianzhi: "..."
"Has I, Little Fatty, finally graduated? I don't have to raise chickens anymore?" Little Fatty Li sighed. He had been taking care of the family's vegetable garden and chicken coop all these years.
"Let's eat all the chickens we raise at home."
Comrade Li Xiaopang is in middle school, and his younger sister Suisui is in elementary school. Li Jianzhi stared at his son and said, "Xiaopang, you seem to have lost some weight."
Li Xiaopang: "Mom, did you hear that? I need to eat more from now on, I've lost weight!"
Qin Xiangxiang: "..."
These are all teenagers who should be eating like pigs, but Li Xiaopang has surprisingly lost weight. He eats a lot, which means he's expending a lot of energy growing, and he's also become fair-skinned.
"Eat up, eat up, I'm not stopping you from eating."
It was early spring of 1978, a late February afternoon. The air was still chilly, the sea breeze was blowing gently, and the soft sunlight streamed down, bringing a touch of warmth.
Postman Old Chen rode his old-fashioned bicycle into Changmen, shouting at the top of his lungs:
"The admission notice! The college admission notice from Feiyan Textile Factory has arrived!"
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