Chapter 36
Divorce is a shameful thing in the eyes of others, but for Qin Xiang, it is a good thing to celebrate with firecrackers. If she was not afraid that her mother could not bear it, she would have wanted to set up a table to celebrate the new students.
So when others asked her about it, she did not feel anything, and there was no pain on her face after answering.
Ning Sumei only heard about Qin Xiang's divorce. At that time, she only felt sad and felt sorry for Qin Xiang. She did not expect that there were so many things in between. After many twists and turns, Qin Xiang was divorced and came to school again.
She said seriously, "So you plan to come back to study and take the college entrance examination?"
Qin Xiang nodded, "Yes, I want to take the college entrance examination. This year's marriage life has made me realize that men are unreliable and the only person a person can rely on is themselves. At that time, I was wondering why my husband would betray me and fool me like a fool. Later, I figured it out. The other party simply regarded me as a man's vassal, a woman who relied on a man to live, and someone who could be treated casually. But I don't want to be such a person. I don't want to stand behind a man all my life and be labeled as someone's wife. I, Qin Xiang, just want to be myself. So I want to take the college entrance examination, make a way for myself, and let others see that even if I am divorced, I can still live like a human being."
Ning Sumei was very touched by her words. When she first heard the news of Qin Xiang's divorce, she was worried for her, mainly because divorce is so unfriendly these days. But he is worthy of being a student she has taught. At least his ideological awareness is much better and he has not lost heart
. She nodded in agreement, "Your idea is right. But..." If it was a year ago, Ning Sumei would have agreed without hesitation, but now it has been more than a year since Qin Xiang's last college entrance examination. She worriedly said, "You haven't studied for more than a year. Can you take part in this year's college entrance examination? The college entrance examination is not easy now. English is also based on a 100-point system. If you don't learn English well, it will be difficult to get good grades in the college entrance examination."
Although they also learned English in the past few years, the English questions out of 100 had to be calculated based on 30%. At that time, English was a subject less valued than biology, and the teachers who taught English were not very professional, so most students focused their energy on other subjects and did not learn English well. Since the notice was issued last year, we have been required to learn English, but our foundation is poor and we haven’t learned it very well. Qin Xiang hasn’t been to school for more than a year, so her English may be even worse.
After hearing this, Qin Xiang knew that she would have no problem getting into college. She hurriedly said, “Teacher Ning, to be honest, although I got married before, I have not fallen behind in my studies for more than a year. I have also been listening to the radio and learning English by myself. Although it is not as solid as listening to the teacher in school, I always review according to what the teacher taught me at the time, and I think the results are still good. Even if you ask the English teacher to test me, it will be no problem.”
When Qin Xiang was in school before, she was good at studying. She always ranked first in the class exam. At that time, her score in the college entrance examination pre-examination was also very good. Teacher Ning even said that she might be able to be admitted to the capital.
But no one could have expected such a change in the college entrance examination. Her math score was zero, and her whole life changed drastically.
The once admired and envied proud child suddenly failed the exam and got married in a hurry. From then on, when the name Qin Xiang was mentioned, there was only regret.
After Qin Xiang failed the exam, Teacher Ning went to Qin Xiang more than once, trying to persuade Qin Xiang to repeat a year and take the college entrance examination again.
However, at that time, the Wang family had already proposed marriage, and Lian Fengying agreed under the joint lobbying of Tanaka Mei and others. Girls study to marry into a good in-law family. They felt that since a good in-law family had already come to their door, there was no need to continue studying. So they strongly persuaded Qin Xiang to get married. At that time, Qin Xiang was already desperate. After some persuasion, she vaguely agreed to the marriage. When Teacher Ning came to visit again, she was stopped outside by Lian Fengying. Qin Xiang and Wang Junsheng's marriage was also finalized.
Thinking of these past events, Ning Sumei still felt sorry, but she didn't expect that one day her student stood up again and told her that she had not fallen behind in her studies for more than a year. This made Teacher Ning's heart excited.
"Since you want to take the exam, then take it..." After
she finished speaking, she heard a teacher say, "A divorced woman has a bad reputation. Studying in school will bring bad school atmosphere."
Qin Xiang turned around and looked, but it was Teacher Qi, the head teacher of the next class.
Teacher Qi saw her looking at him and said, "I am telling you the truth. You may not like it, but since you chose to get married, you should bear the consequences of marriage. Once you are married, you should abide by the law and not get divorced at will. The school is a very clean place. A divorced woman has lost her reputation. How will people look at the girls in the school? Qin Xiang, you used to be a good student who knew the general situation. Don't you even understand this?"
"What truth are you saying? What do you mean by divorced women have a bad reputation?" Qin Xiang looked at Teacher Qi sarcastically and said, "Teacher Qi, tell me, why do you have a bad reputation? Is the divorce because of my problem? It is obviously because the brother of your student Wang Xiao cheated on you, so why do you make me, the victim, the guilty person? A person who caught his brother cheating and even spread rumors at will despite the facts can still study in school, so why can't I, the victim? You are still a teacher, but you actually believe in the theory that victims are guilty. This is the end of the revolution. In the past, your words and deeds clearly looked down on the vast number of women comrades. Great men say that women "You are a man who can hold up half the sky, but you think that women should bind their feet and follow the three obediences and four virtues after marriage. I think you should not be a high school teacher, but open a school for women."
She paused and said mercilessly, "I remember that you have a daughter at home. If one day your daughter suffers from what I have suffered, can you also tell your daughter like you did today that after getting married, she must be honest and cannot get divorced? You are really great, a really good father. I am just glad that my father is not like you. It must be a very sad thing to have a father like you."
Ning Sumei taught the first grade class again after becoming the dean of studies, and Teacher Qi took over the position of the head teacher of the refresher class.
Seeing Qin Xiang was so strong and spoke harshly, Teacher Qi was not happy either. He glanced at Ning Sumei and said, "Director Ning, this is not a trivial matter. It concerns the reputation of our school. Qin Xiang is making trouble just to get into school. We teachers can't just look at one student, but the face of all the students in the school."
Ning Sumei raised her eyelids, "I think Qin Xiang is right."
Ning Sumei didn't want to let go of this excellent seedling, so she simply took out a stack of test papers from the drawer, stood up and said to Qin Xiang, "Come out with me."
Seeing Ning Sumei insisted on speaking for Qin Xiang, Teacher Qi stood up angrily and said, "Director Ning, you will regret letting her in."
"I will regret not letting such a good student enroll." Ning Sumei would not have been the dean if she was incompetent. She looked at Teacher Qi and said, "Teacher Qi, as a teacher, the first thing you should do is to believe in your students and encourage them, instead of using the feudal society's set of rules to demand your students. If all of us teachers are like this, how can this society progress? Female students should all stay at home embroidering and waiting to get married."
After that, Ning Sumei said to Qin Xiang, "Come with me."
Qin Xiang smiled and responded and followed Ning Sumei out. Qin Hai at the door obviously heard what was said in the room, and his face looked very bad. Ning Sumei said to Qin Hai, "Teacher Qi's remarks cannot represent our school. Don't worry, you wait at the door."
Then he said to Qin Xiang, "Come on, I'll take you to see the principal."
The two went to the principal's office. Ning Sumei said, "Capable people don't need to argue. Let's speak with our strength. Show your level back then and win face for the teacher."
Qin Xiang's eyes were filled with tears and she nodded, "Okay."
Before the divorce, she knew what kind of criticism she would face after the divorce. Teacher Qi's point of view actually represented the views of many people on divorce at that time. In fact, she didn't care at all about how Teacher Qi viewed her, but Teacher Ning's words made her heart inexplicably warm and thoughtful.
Ning Sumei smiled, "Go in."
The principal was still the same Principal Cao. He didn't recognize Ning Sumei when she brought a student in. "Principal Ning, what's up?"
Ning Sumei asked, "Principal Cao, do you still remember Qin Xiang?"
Principal Cao thought for a moment and frowned, "The student who unexpectedly failed the exam two years ago?"
Qin Xiang's grades were very good except for mathematics. Many teachers felt sorry for her and thought that with her math scores, Qin Xiang could get into a good university in the capital. Unfortunately, the student got married in a hurry.
Ning Sumei nodded, and then said, "She is divorced now, and wants to retake the college entrance examination. I think it's okay."
Principal Cao didn't think much of this matter, but was worried, "Will it be okay if she doesn't study for such a long time?"
Ning Sumei's idea was simpler, "If it's okay, just do a set of papers and you'll know."
She slapped the papers on the table and said to Qin Xiang, "Go and tell your brother to let him go first. You have to finish the exam before you can leave."
Ning Sumei was still very confident in her students. After seeing Qin Xiang leave, she said to Principal Cao, "Teacher Qi seems to have a lot of opinions."
Hearing this, Principal Cao said, "Don't pay attention to him. I thought this was the past ten years. How could he not understand the principles that an old man like me understands? As long as he is a good student with no problem with his character, there is no reason for us to refuse to accept him."
"I thought so too, so I just did a set of papers to shut him up and see how good Qin Xiang is now."
Many teachers back then were optimistic about Qin Xiang and thought she could at least get into a key university. After more than a year, Ning Sumei really hoped that Qin Xiang could still perform at the same level as before. And she didn't worry about what other people would say. After all, Principal Cao was in charge of the exam himself, and no one dared to question Principal Cao's character. This was the best for Qin Xiang.
Qin Xiang came in quickly and started answering the papers across from Principal Cao's desk.
Qin Xiang was a science student, so in addition to Chinese, mathematics, and English, she also had to take politics, biology, physics, and chemistry, a total of seven courses. The total score for Chinese and mathematics was 120 points, and English was also 100 points after the score change. Physics, chemistry, and politics were all 100 points, and only biology was 60 points.
Ning Sumei had to go back to class, so she taught Qin Xiang to Principal Cao and left.
Qin Xiang held seven papers and looked at the familiar questions on them. She looked a little dazed, as if she had returned to her student days.
"Why, do you think it's difficult?" Principal Cao asked doubtfully when he saw that she looked at the papers but didn't do anything. "This paper was just done by the senior students a few days ago. It's a question from the city, and it's indeed a bit difficult."
Qin Xiang shook her head. "I think the difficulty of the paper is okay. I just feel a little sad and disappointed that I gave up so easily when I encountered difficulties. Now I can't believe that I have the opportunity again."
Principal Cao is a very easy-going person. He smiled when he heard it. "Fill it in. As long as you can reach the level of the pre-exam, I can let you come back to study."
Qin Xiang nodded, picked up the pen that Principal Cao gave her, and began to answer the questions seriously.
Qin Xiang did the math paper first. She looked up at the wall clock and then started to work on it.
Principal Cao did not leave either, and supervised the exam here.
Qin Xiang looked at the questions and felt a little unfamiliar at first, but after doing two questions, familiar memories came flooding back. The questions were no longer unfamiliar, but instead felt familiar and liked.
After an hour and a half, she finished the math paper and took the English paper.
Today's English papers are too simple for Qin Xiang, and she finished the paper in half an hour.
While she was answering the Chinese paper, Principal Cao picked up the math paper and started to correct it. When he finished correcting it and looked up, Qin Xiang was already writing her composition.
Compositions always take up a large proportion in the college entrance examination in any era, but nowadays students have less access to materials and read fewer books, so it is not easy to write an excellent composition.
But Qin Xiang is different. When she accompanied her children to take the exam in her previous life, she read a lot of reference books. She also has the habit of reading books in her daily life, so she can easily come up with some literary allusions. Even in this life, when she was in high school, her academic performance was good, and her Chinese performance was always her pride.
After Qin Xiang finished writing the composition, she checked for typos and put it aside.
Next was physics, chemistry, and biology, and finally politics.
For students nowadays, politics only requires listening to the radio, reading newspapers, and memorizing more.
But it was a bit difficult for Qin Xiang. The politics of this time was different from that of later generations, and she had no chance to listen to the radio or read newspapers after her rebirth. So some questions were not very clear to Qin Xiang.
However, Qin Xiang followed a principle when doing questions: whether she knew or not, she had to write it down.
After finishing the last question, she looked up and saw that it was already 2:30 in the afternoon. It took her five hours from 9:30 to 2:30 to finish seven papers. Only then did she realize that she was hungry.
"Are you hungry?"
Qin Xiang looked up and looked at Principal Cao in surprise. She was surprised that Principal Cao had been here with her for five hours. "Principal."
Principal Cao stood up and stretched his wrists, then said, "Let's go, let's go eat something and come back to mark the papers."
Just at this moment the door opened and Teacher Ning came in with two lunch boxes. "Let's eat here. There's no food in the cafeteria."
Principal Cao glanced at the food in the lunch box and smiled at Qin Xiang. "We are in for a treat. You can tell at a glance that your teacher Ning made it at home."
Qin Xiang glanced at Ning Sumei and saw that she had a faint expression on her face and didn't say much. "Eat."
Qin Xiang thanked her and Principal Cao each had a lunch box to eat, while Ning Sumei took away the papers that she had not finished marking.
After lunch, Qin Xiang took two lunch boxes and went out to wash them and go to the toilet. It was during the break, and a female student asked in surprise, "Qin Xiang, is that you?"
Qin Xiang looked over and saw that it was her former classmate Miao Huihui. She didn't expect that she was still reviewing, and Wang Xiao was standing next to her.
Qin Xiang's smile faded, and she said politely, "It's me. I came here for something."
"So that's how it is." Miao Huihui glanced at Wang Xiao, hesitated for a moment, "We'll leave first."
Qin Xiang nodded, "Okay."
She looked at Wang Xiao, who didn't dare to look her in the eye. Qin Xiang was not a good person, and immediately shouted, "By the way, Wang Xiao."
Wang Xiao became nervous, "What for."
Qin Xiang smiled helplessly, "Nothing, I just want to ask if your brother and Cui Hong are married. After all, they love each other so much, and I have helped them. It would be unreasonable for them not to get married."
Hearing this, everyone around looked at them in shock. Miao Huihui was so shocked that she looked at Wang Xiao, "Wang Xiao, what does Qin Xiang mean by this? Didn't you say that your brother and Qin Xiang divorced because Qin Xiang was not serious..."
"No, you heard wrong." Wang Xiao scolded Qin Xiang a thousand times and pulled Miao Huihui to leave.
But Miao Huihui felt that she was deceived. She just wore tinted glasses to look at Qin Xiang, but now it seems that it is not the case. She shook Wang Xiao off and said, "Tell me clearly what happened."
What happened? The real situation is that Wang Xiao wanted to ruin Qin Xiang's reputation. Taking advantage of Qin Xiang's ignorance, she deliberately said that the divorce was due to Qin Xiang. When she said it, she was vague and deliberately misled others. Then the news that the former good student divorced Wang Xiao's brother because of indecent behavior spread.
Wang Xiao simply couldn't believe it. Someone was afraid that he didn't know about his divorce and announced it publicly. Doesn't it mean that if the Wang family is embarrassed, Qin Xiang is also embarrassed?
Wang Xiao glared at Qin Xiang, Qin Xiang was innocent, "Wang Xiao, I know you don't like me, you like Cui Hong more. Now if she is married to your brother, she will be your sister-in-law, we have nothing to do, you don't have to treat me like this. People who don't know would think that the divorce was because of me. By the way, when I just came, I vaguely heard that someone knew that I was divorced. Did you spread it? Then have you told everyone why your brother and I got divorced?"
Wang Xiao was shocked and wanted to cover Qin Xiang's mouth, "Qin Xiang, I was wrong, please don't say it. Isn't it okay that I was wrong, please don't say it."
When she was in her hometown, she was humiliated and beaten. When she arrived in the county, she took advantage of the lack of information among people to say such specious words. Who knew that Qin Xiang would not play by the rules. If people knew that she had led people to catch her brother cheating, and her proud brother got divorced because of being caught cheating, how could she stay in school in the future?
She begged, "Qin Xiang, I didn't say those words, please."
Qin Xiang said disdainfully, "Wang Xiao, are you scared now? What were you doing before? Why weren't you scared when you said bad things about me in front of others and tried to ruin my reputation?"
Wang Xiao's face turned pale and he felt terrible.
Miao Huihui moved away from Wang Xiao, approached Qin Xiang, and smiled awkwardly, "Qin Xiang, why is that?"
"I have to tell you if you ask?" Qin Xiang looked at this classmate who used to have a good relationship with her, and smiled, "Sorry, I have no obligation to tell you."
After that, Qin Xiang took the lunch box and left.
Miao Huihui gritted her teeth and looked at Wang Xiao and said, "Wang Xiao, how did Qin Xiang and your brother get divorced?"
Wang Xiao stared at Qin Xiang's back and couldn't say a word. She knew that if she dared to talk nonsense again, Qin Xiang would definitely not forgive her. If Qin Xiang really came to school, her good days would be over.
"Go ahead." Miao Huihui pushed Wang Xiao, and the gossip and excitement in her eyes could not be concealed. Wang Xiao was irritable, "If you want to know, go ask her yourself."
"You!" Miao Huihui was so angry that she laughed, "Okay, you are capable."
After that, Miao Huihui ignored Wang Xiao and walked away.
Wang Xiao stood there with a little trepidation in his heart. If Qin Xiang came to school, it would not be a good thing. What if Qin Xiang told the truth outside, how would others look at her?
Thinking that Qin Xiang had been in school for a whole morning, Wang Xiao was still worried and hurried to the office to inquire.