Chapter 32
The next day, the educated youth went to the brigade headquarters to inquire with the brigade leader, and the result was not optimistic. According to the policy, Chen Jingbai and Chen Jingyi could not register, and their files could not be approved.
The brigade leader wanted to help but couldn't. He mentioned it to the commune chief at a meeting in the morning. The commune chief said that this matter was difficult to handle, but if it could be redressed, he could still take the exam. However, whether it could be redressed at all was a big problem.
Furthermore, now that the college entrance examination news has been released, textbooks are basically unavailable on the market and have been snapped up.
However, the commune will try to get a few sets of textbooks for each brigade, but we still have to wait. As for when, it's hard to say. The best way is to go and find them ourselves.
Because Chen Jingbai and Chen Jingyi couldn't register for the college entrance examination and couldn't get textbooks to review, the excitement of being able to take the exam was somewhat dampened.
Everyone sat around the dinner table, the atmosphere heavy and somber.
He He felt this was wrong. The book clearly stated that Chen Jingyi and Chen Jingbai both got into university. Shouldn't it be next year, not this year?
She tugged at Chen Jingbai's hand. "It's okay. If we can't take the exam this year, we can take it again next year. Maybe your family will be exonerated this year, and the college entrance exam will be reinstated. What can't be achieved?"
Zhao Dechuan said, "Xiao He is right. If it doesn't work this year, then it will be next year. Besides, we don't know what the exam will be about, and we don't have any textbooks. Even if we register this year, we don't know if we will pass the exam."
He He said, "When Cheng Sulin comes back, we will have a clearer understanding of the college entrance examination. Moreover, my grandparents will definitely be able to find textbooks for us, so everyone doesn't need to worry too much about not having books."
Today, Cheng Surin didn't go with them to see the brigade leader. Instead, he went to the commune post office to call home. His third uncle works in the provincial education system, so he definitely knows more about the college entrance examination and has more resources to tell them what to do.
"Yes, I know." Chen Jingbai's face didn't show much expression, but he was anxious. If he and his sister couldn't register for the college entrance examination, they wouldn't be able to return to the city, and he would be separated from He He.
What if the college entrance examination is reinstated this year, but then suddenly suspended again next year?
He really didn't dare to think too much. The thought of possibly separating from He He made him not know what to do. The college entrance examination had been reinstated, and she would eventually have to return to the city.
Chen Jingbai could only try to tell himself that things would take a turn for the better, but his family's status as the "stinking intellectual" was already etched into his mind. Could it really be changed? He was afraid and apprehensive.
If he hadn't been with He He and had been alone, perhaps he wouldn't have been so worried about not being able to take the college entrance exam, and he could have accepted living in the countryside for the rest of his life.
But it was precisely because He He came into his life that he felt warmth and found it even harder to accept separation.
He He held Chen Jingbai's hand and could feel its warmth, as well as his unease. "Do you want to come out with me? I have something to tell you."
"Okay." Chen Jingbai stood up and followed He He out the door.
The two went to the grove behind the house, where they often went, and stood facing each other, just like on several previous nights.
He He looked up at Chen Jingbai, her eyes sparkling, "Do you believe me? I think you can definitely get into university and go back to the city."
Her eyes were pure and clear, not like she was saying it to comfort him, but she was sincerely telling him that he could. Chen Jingbai suddenly felt that what He He said was true, that he could get into university and return to the city.
He He continued, "My family told me a few months ago that the country has many new policies this year, and many things will change. They also said that some people who were wronged before have been exonerated and returned to their original positions."
Her maternal grandparents had told her that there would be many big changes this year, but they hadn't told her the rest; she only knew them from the Book of the World.
She said all this so that Chen Jingbai wouldn't be discouraged. He was sure he could take the college entrance exam. Even if it wasn't possible this year, it would be possible next year, the year after, and the year after that. He was certain he could.
Chen Jingbai lowered his head, his eyelashes casting a faint shadow on his lower eyelids in the sunlight. "I believe you. But you've gone back to the city. You have to wait for me. Wait for me to come back to the city and find you."
He He arched her eyebrows and swayed her face from side to side. "No, I want to take the college entrance exam in the same year as you."
Her decision wasn't a sudden impulse, but rather something she had carefully considered from the moment she learned the truth about the world until yesterday when she heard that the college entrance examination had been reinstated.
She knew she didn't have much ability, otherwise the book wouldn't have said that she hadn't passed the college entrance exam for several years, and now there were only two months left until this year's exam.
Even if she didn't eat or drink for two months and spent 24 hours a day memorizing, she still wouldn't be able to finish memorizing and pass the exam.
She wanted to follow Chen Jingbai's study pace and be led by him in studying.
If Chen Jingbai can take the college entrance examination next year, she will still have a year to review. With Chen Jingbai, who is good at studying, guiding her, she doesn't believe she won't even get into a junior college.
She didn't ask for much; she just wanted to be able to study and return to the city in style, instead of looking disheveled and having to rely on her family to help her go back.
Moreover, she remembered that Cheng Surin had also returned to the city in the same year as Chen Jingyi after being admitted to university. Her grades were similar to Cheng Surin's, so if Cheng Surin could do it, she definitely could too.
He He's words stunned Chen Jingbai. "Why? Wouldn't it be better to go back to the city sooner if you pass the exam this year? Don't you always say you can't stand living in the countryside?"
"I don't want to, I want to be with you."
Chen Jingbai didn't want He He to miss the opportunity to change her fate because of him. Moreover, no one knew if there would be other variables in the college entrance examination. Although he had his own selfish reasons, he didn't want to delay He He's life.
“Listen to me, you absolutely have to register. I’ll go with you to register. If you pass the exam this year, go back to the city first. You can wait for me there. You don’t need to suffer with me in the countryside.”
He He hesitated for a moment, "I don't want to, and there are only two months left, I definitely won't pass the exam."
Chen Jingbai gripped her arms tightly, his expression grave. "How will you know if you don't try? Listen to me, you have to apply this year, whether you pass or not. What if the college entrance exam is canceled again next year..."
He didn't say the rest, and his expression was even somewhat dejected.
Nobody wants the college entrance examination to be reinstated for only one year.
He He's attitude was also very firm: "The college entrance examination has been reinstated and it will not be stopped. If you don't believe me, wait for Cheng Sulin to come back and ask him. The higher-ups will not treat the college entrance examination as a joke."
"And...and you have no idea how bad my grades were in high school." He He's face turned red, a red of shame. "I...I never passed any exams in high school. Sometimes I only got a few points, especially in math. I knew I wouldn't pass in just two months. Going there would only be embarrassing. I might as well use that time to study properly and wait until next year."
Chen Jingbai hadn't expected He He to be acting this way. He pursed his lips. "Is she really that bad?"
The score was beyond his imagination. He couldn't fathom how he could have gotten such a score. He had always been a good student, and even during those years of anxiety, he and his older sister consistently ranked in the top two of their grade.
He He patted Chen Jingbai's side, somewhat annoyed, "It's really bad, don't say anymore. Anyway, I'm not participating this year. If you don't tutor me well, I won't go and embarrass myself."
Since He He had said all that, Chen Jingbai gave in, "Alright then, I'll help you out properly."
Cheng Surin returned that evening with good news.
"Let me have a drink of water first. I ran all the way back, I'm exhausted." Cheng Sulin drank water in large gulps, surrounded by the educated youth.
Everyone was eagerly anticipating the good news from Cheng Surin, since he had shouted that he had good news as soon as he came in.
After finishing her water, Cheng Surin was finally able to speak properly: "My third great-uncle said he could get us two sets of books so we can read them together. He also said that this year is the first year since the college entrance examination was reinstated, so if we don't pass, we can take it again the following year."
Everyone was delighted when Cheng Surin said this. It was good that they had the books, and the news that they could take the exam again next year if they weren't fully prepared this year was truly encouraging.
However, the biggest concern now is whether Chen Jingbai and Chen Jingyi will be able to register for the college entrance examination.
After they finished asking about the two people's situation, Cheng Surin continued, "I told my grandfather about Jing Yi and Jing Bai's family situation. My great-grandfather and grandfather both said that they would be exonerated. Some big shots have already been exonerated, and many others have also been exonerated."
Cheng Surin said the same thing as He He and Chen Jingbai had said that afternoon. Chen Jingbai looked down at He He.
Just then, He He was also looking at him. She nudged Chen Jingbai with her arm, her eyes saying: See, I told you so, I didn't lie to you.
Chen Jingbai smiled and gently pinched He Heying's smooth cheek.
A few days later, He He's third uncle sent three sets of books, one of which was an old book that Cheng Sulin used back then. He didn't expect that his eldest uncle's family would still keep it for him.
He He didn't know if her own books were still there. They were at home, and her stepmother might have thrown them away, or they might not exist. However, she didn't want to write back to tell them, so she didn't ask if her high school books were still there.
There were a total of nine educated youths, and Cheng Sulin also decided not to register for the college entrance examination this year, so only five people would take the exam.
October to December is a time when there is less farm work. The brigade leader is a kind person, so he specially told those who registered for the college entrance examination to focus on their studies and not to bother with farm work anymore.
In addition to the five educated youths who signed up, three other high school students from the Qianjin Brigade also signed up for the college entrance examination this year. The brigade leader specially organized them and invited the brigade's veteran teachers to teach them.
The three high school students had textbooks, so the five educated youths took two sets of textbooks and went to the classroom arranged for them by the brigade leader.
The remaining set of textbooks was used by He He and the other three. Chen Jingbai and Chen Jingyi taught the students, while He He and Cheng Sulin learned from them.
I don't know how Chen Jingbai and Chen Jingyi are thinking. They graduated from high school four years ago, but they can still recall high school knowledge with ease. He He was extremely impressed.
He He's knowledge system was too poor, so Chen Jingbai broke it down for her bit by bit and explained it to her. He did this for two months. This year, the college entrance examination was held as scheduled, and five educated youths went to take the exam.
The first year of the college entrance examination, the results were announced at the beginning of the following year. Three people from the educated youth settlement passed the exam: Zheng Xinxin, Wang Huihui, and Sun Jiabao.
All three were relatively young and quick-witted. Everyone was excited when the results came out, but Zhao Dechuan and Li Baiyun were a little disappointed because they didn't pass the exam.
However, they were both optimistic and agreed to take the exam again the following year.
The three students who were admitted to university stayed for two or three days after receiving their acceptance letters, then packed their bags and went home, not even staying until the Chinese New Year.
After the New Year, Chen Jingbai's family was exonerated.
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