A few people who weren't very familiar with Zhang Hongmei felt particularly embarrassed, but they were all honest people, not good with words, and didn't know how to say anything polite, so they just looked at Dashan.
"Then I'll get up in the morning and help you."
"No need, you guys sleep a little longer, you still have exams. If you don't like it, I'll make you some more pancakes later, otherwise I'll wake you up in the morning."
After dinner, I made two large pots of flatbread. This time, instead of stew, I made porridge. Tomorrow morning, I can just chop some pickled vegetables and have breakfast.
The meal was ready, but sleeping was a nightmare; the kang (heated brick bed) was too hot. With no other option, the ten young men squeezed into the room where Wang Xiaoshun used to live.
Actually, this is quite good, since they don't live across the hall from each other. It makes it convenient for Zhang Hongmei to sleep in the space.
The next day at five o'clock, Zhang Hongmei got up, washed up, shredded some pickled vegetables, shredded the cucumbers she had picked the night before, and mixed in a few scallions. That was all she could manage.
Da Shan woke up and asked, "Hongmei, why are you up so early?"
"I have early morning study sessions, and it takes me more than half an hour to walk to school. I'm leaving now. Don't stay late, everyone. After you get up and eat, help me lock the door and we'll go to the power company. It's at the location I pointed out to you yesterday, can you find it?"
"Yes, don't worry about it, just go to school. We'll go straight home after the exams, and come back to check the results the day after tomorrow."
"Okay, the day after tomorrow, wait for me at the power supply bureau entrance during my lunch break."
"Okay, let's go now. I'll lock the door."
Da Shan woke them all up, helped them wash up and eat, and then swept the yard and cleaned the kitchen before setting off for the power supply bureau.
Erlinzi is cheerful and talkative. "Hongmei is really a good friend. From now on, she's like a little sister to me."
Xiao Suo chimed in, "Yes, she lent her bicycle to the brigade and has to walk to and from school every day. I'll be there for her whenever she needs me."
"Me too! Anything I can do, I'll do." Shuangcun was even more excited. Her family was poor, and she had no way to find work. If it weren't for Zhang Hongmei, she might have spent her whole life farming in the countryside. But she wasn't willing to accept that. Now, she had an opportunity. Although she didn't know if she would be selected, she had tried her best. She wouldn't regret it later.
The others, who weren't very familiar with Zhang Hongmei, were also genuinely grateful to her. Regardless of whether it worked out or not, at least they had a chance.
Ten people arrived at the power company entrance at 7:00 AM and saw that there were already people queuing. They quickly joined the queue at the back.
"Did you bring all the letters of introduction? Please double-check your pen and paper."
Several people took out their letters of introduction, waved them, and then put them back in their bags. Liu Maocai and Wang Hongxi had prepared these for them on Saturday night. Without this paper, you couldn't prove your identity and therefore weren't qualified to take the exam.
After that, a lot more people came one after another, and they were all quite excited. Hongmei said that they had only recruited fifty people in total, but now there were already a hundred people.
After a while, a leader came out and said, "Time's up. Now everyone line up and go into the empty room on the left. There are fifty people here. The rest of you go to the next room."
Da Shan and the other ten arrived on time and took the exam in the first room.
Two people registered as soon as I entered the room.
After registration, each person received a strip of newspaper clippings prepared for the day and sat down in order. Everyone breathed a slight sigh of relief. They could all recognize the characters.
After everyone had registered, five leaders came in.
“Now, start with the first person to stand up and read the newspaper in your hands. Stand up and say your name first.”
Some spoke very fluently, while others stumbled and hesitated. The people sitting up there occasionally picked up pens to scribble and draw.
The first person from Liujiatun was Dashan. Actually, after listening to the previous sixteen people read the newspaper, Dashan wasn't nervous anymore. He recognized all the words in that passage; he just needed to read it fluently.
Da Shan stood up and read aloud with a strong voice. After finishing, he sat down, and the others below also read fluently without any problems.
After reading them, some people felt calm, while others were quite frustrated.
"Now I'm going to ask you a question about electricity. Take out the paper and pens you've prepared, write it down, and hand it in at the front. You can go back now. Come back on Thursday to check your results, and they'll be posted at the door."
All ten people smiled when they heard the question. This was what Hongmei had told them on Sunday, and it actually came in handy.
All ten people picked up their pens seriously to answer the questions. After checking their names one last time, Dashan saw that everyone else had handed in their papers and left the room, and there were only a few people left in the room, so he took the lead in handing in his paper and leaving the room.
All ten of them were extremely excited. As soon as they stepped out the door, they saw Wang Hongxi waiting for them.
"Uncle, we've all finished our exams."
"Once the exam is over, Dashan, you ride your bike to pick up the vegetables from your third uncle's truck halfway there. I'll take the other nine to the supply station to wait for you."
The nine excited students chatted excitedly with Wang Hongxi about the exam, especially Wang Hongxi's son, Wang Jianshe, who was overjoyed. Unlike his parents, who were eloquent, the boy was quite shy. Upon learning of this opportunity, he proactively sought out Liu Maocai to register.
Wang Hongxi knew they had all answered correctly, and she was especially grateful to Zhang Hongmei.
This girl is kind-hearted and not selfish. Seeing her son's excited expression, she decided to go to Zhang Hongmei's school at noon today to see if she could pull some strings.
"After Dashan comes back, you can take the car back. I'll go find Hongmei to ask her after I finish delivering the vegetables."
"Dad, Hongmei went to the post office to look for someone as soon as she got to the city yesterday. She said she would wait until the results came out on Thursday before looking for someone."
"Is that so? Okay, we'll come over on Thursday."
Several people waited for Dashan at the entrance of the supply station. After calculating the money, Dashan rode his bicycle back, while Wang Hongxi took a car. Mainly, the young people had better stamina.
When I came back in the evening, I saw that the kitchen was clean and tidy, and of course, all the food had been eaten, saving me the trouble.
I tidied up two small bags of cornmeal in my space. I'll borrow Song Zigan's car tomorrow at noon to go to the post office. I can't let them help me with my mouth. I hope they'll accept them and give Dashan and the others a spot.
The next day, after finishing her morning self-study, Zhang Hongmei went to Song Zigan and said, "I have something to do at noon, can I borrow your bicycle?"
"Sure. I'll get it ready for you at noon. Do you need it?"
"No need, I have something to do."
After the first political class, Zhang Hongmei went to her homeroom teacher again. "Teacher, I'm going out for lunch, and I might be late for the first class this afternoon."
"Important matters?"
"Yes, it's something very important."
"Okay, I'll talk to the Chinese teacher."
As soon as the bell rang for the end of the fourth period, Zhang Hongmei followed the teacher out to the playground to wait for Song Zigan.
I rode my bicycle home, filled two bags with cornmeal, and rode to the post office to find Huang Ying. I wonder if this gift will work.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com