The next day, Liu Jingze came over early and told her about the personnel matters from the previous two days.
"Hongmei, did you see the newspaper and yarn Huang Ying gave you in the basket?"
"I see. Giving me yarn is useless; I don't know how to do it anyway. I'll ask my aunt if she knows how later."
“My mom knows how, you can take it to her.”
"My aunt is so skillful. I'll share half of the newspaper with you."
"I just came to pick up the newspaper. The news on the radio isn't as comprehensive as the newspaper." Actually, if he hadn't come back to pick up Zhang Hongmei, or rather, if it weren't for Zhang Hongmei, he wouldn't have come back at all. Maybe it's just his innate selfishness and cold-heartedness.
Liu Jingze took a few newspapers and said, "Take the yarn with you. My mom is out of work now, so maybe she can finish knitting it for you before you leave."
"Well, there's no rush. Just mail it over once it's finished. Don't let my aunt get tired."
When the two returned, Hu Aifen exclaimed, "This yarn is good, the color is perfect. I'll knit you a front-opening version of the Red Plum Blossom, and the rest will be used to knit you a back-opening version. It would be a waste to use this yarn to knit woolen pants."
"Don't worry, Auntie, I'm not in a hurry to put it on."
"It's okay, I can be lazy while I knit you a sweater. Come on, take off your cotton-padded coat, I'll take your measurements."
On the 28th, Liu Jingze arrived earlier than usual, and Zhang Hongmei, seeing Liu Jingze's restlessness, also became a little nervous.
"Brother Jingze, your unease is making me a little worried."
What are you worried about? With my grades, surely I'm accepted?
"I don't know either. I'm just anxious. I wonder if Dashan and the others took the early bus back?"
"Stop turning around, I'm getting dizzy. Go to the yard and find two more fish to thaw. I reckon six fish won't be enough."
"Okay, I'd rather do some work."
After returning from breakfast at the cafeteria, Zhang Hongmei really didn't want to stay with Liu Jingze anymore. He was affecting her.
The two of them sat on the kang (a heated brick bed) in her house with Er Ya, watching her sew shoe soles.
"Hongmei, do you know how to sew shoe soles?"
"No, theoretically yes, but I've never actually done it."
"That means no."
"These are for you?"
"No, I've already bought several pairs of shoes. You should make your own."
Will you pass this exam? Will you be able to go to high school?
"There shouldn't be any problem. There are only a few students in total. If they want to go, they should be allowed to go."
"Has this year's results not been released yet?"
"The teacher said to register after school starts."
"What happened?"
"I don't know, the principal just said that we'll take the exam again when school starts in high school."
"Why is it so chaotic? Aren't your final exams high school exams?"
"I don't know either."
Zhang Hongmei pondered, what was going on? Er Ya hadn't changed since she returned, so she hadn't asked again, but what did this mean?
"Sister Er Ya, did you find this exam difficult?"
"It's alright, this test paper was probably engraved by the principal."
Now Zhang Hongmei understood why Liu Jingze was so restless. Had something really happened? Was he afraid he hadn't been accepted into the school?
"Hongmei, what's wrong? Why are you frowning?"
"It's nothing, it just feels a bit abnormal. I wasn't like this during my exams last year."
“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. My classmates even said that we don’t need to take any exams and can go straight to high school.”
Zhang Hongmei sat to one side watching Er Ya sew shoe soles, her eyes vacant, her mind seemingly lost in thought.
Before I knew it, I had fallen asleep on the pile of blankets.
Er Ya shook her head. She got up and pulled the blanket over her.
Er Ya felt that a considerable amount of time had passed. "Hongmei, it's time to wake up. Are you going to sleep tonight?"
Zhang Hongmei opened her eyes groggily, and it took her a while to come to her senses. She checked the time; it was almost midnight.
"I slept for so long? Sister Er Ya, I'm going back."
Before Zhang Hongmei could even get out of bed, they heard Liu Jingze's voice, "Hongmei, Hongmei?"
"Brother Jingze, come inside." Er Ya quickly replied, getting out of bed to put on her shoes.
Liu Jingze entered the house with a kraft paper envelope in his hand. By then, Zhang Hongmei had already put on her shoes.
"Hongmei, your acceptance letter has arrived. Open it and take a look quickly."
Liu Jingze was really excited. All his worries were unnecessary. When he met Dashan at the village entrance and received the notice, he finally felt at ease and relieved.
"Really? That's great!" Er Ya leaned over to see what the admission letter from Capital University looked like.
Zhang Hongmei felt a mix of emotions, but the moment she had been waiting for had finally arrived.
As Li Cuihua entered the room, she looked at Zhang Hongmei with delight and said, "That's wonderful! You've finally made it through! Good girl, such a good girl."
"Hongmei, let's go find Grandma."
"Yes, yes. Hurry up and go find your great-grandmother and tell her the good news."
"Brother Jingze, is this for real?"
"Yes, it's true. I'm finally relieved. Let's go, let's hurry back, Grandma has been worried sick."
"Hehe, you were in such a hurry but didn't tell me. Were you afraid I'd get stressed?"
Er Ya also went to the old lady's house with the two of them.
"Grandma, look, my acceptance letter has arrived, from Capital University."
"Hahaha, well done, now I can finally relax."
Da Shan and the others also came over, and the house was bustling with noise. The old lady was genuinely happy. Surrounded by a group of younger relatives, all of whom were kind, how could she not be happy?
“Hongmei, I went to the school to see the principal last night. His hands were shaking when he handed it to me, and he kept telling me not to lose it or break it.”
“Hongmei, you don’t know, even the bus drivers and ticket sellers know you. You’re amazing. From now on, I’ll tell everyone that my sister is studying at the Capital University. It’ll make me so proud.” Once Erlinzi started talking, she wouldn’t stop.
The room was very lively, and everyone had a genuine smile on their face.
Even Wang Jianshe, who was the least talkative, congratulated Zhang Hongmei.
"Dashan, let's go to Hongmei's house for dinner tomorrow. She's already made preparations."
"Definitely, my sister is really capable. Hongmei, how about we have sauerkraut fish or fish balls tomorrow?"
"You guys discuss it? Brother Jingze has already cleaned the fish, so either of these is fine."
"Let's eat the pickled fish first, my mouth is so bland right now."
“Okay, let’s make cornbread, pickled fish, and fish.” Zhang Hongmei had no objections; she would cook anything.
"I'll go there early tomorrow to help."
“We’ll all go.”
After a while, everyone left, having been away from home for several months and missing their families.
"Hongmei, there will be a lot of people tomorrow. Do you have enough food at home?"
"Big sister, that's enough. I still have a bag of cornmeal, don't worry. Just make sure you give me some Sichuan peppercorns, because all the ones at home are from last year."
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