Chapter 36
Divorce is a shameful thing for others, but for Qin Xiang, it's a good thing worth celebrating with firecrackers. If she wasn't afraid her mother couldn't stand it, she would have set up a table to celebrate the new life.
So she didn't feel anything when others asked her, and there was no painful expression on her face after answering.
Ning Sumei had only heard about Qin Xiang's divorce. At the time, she'd felt nothing but pity for her, never expecting so much more to happen. After all these twists and turns, Qin Xiang was divorced and back at school.
She asked seriously, "So you plan to come back to study and take the college entrance exam?"
Qin Xiang nodded. "Yes, I want to go to college. This year of marriage has made me realize that men are unreliable and the only person you can rely on is yourself. Back then, I wondered why my husband would betray me and treat me like a fool. Later, I realized that he simply treated me as a man's vassal, a woman who depended on him for a living, someone who could be treated at will. I don't want to be that person. I don't want to stand behind a man my whole life and be labeled as someone's wife. I, Qin Xiang, just want to be myself. So I want to go to college, make a way for myself, and show others that even after divorce, I can still live a decent life."
Ning Sumei was deeply moved by her words. She'd initially worried about Qin Xiang's divorce, especially since divorce was so unpopular these days. But she was a student, at least in her own right. Her awareness was much better, and she hadn't lost her composure. She nodded in agreement, "You're right. But..."
If it were a year ago, Ning Sumei would have agreed without hesitation, but now it has been more than a year since Qin Xiang last took the college entrance examination. She worriedly said, "You haven't studied for more than a year. Can you take the college entrance examination this year? 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 a good score in the college entrance examination."
Although we studied English in the past few years, questions scored out of 100 were calculated as 30%. Back then, English was considered even less important than biology, and the teachers weren't very professional. As a result, most students focused their attention on other subjects and didn't excel in English. English became mandatory after the announcement last year, but everyone's foundation was weak, so they weren't doing very well. Qin Xiang hadn't been in school for over a year, so her English might have deteriorated even further.
Upon hearing this, Qin Xiang knew that she would have no problem getting into university. She hurriedly said, "Teacher Ning, to be honest, although I got married, I haven't fallen behind in my studies for over a year. I've even been listening to the radio and studying on my own for English. Although it's not as solid as listening to a teacher in school, I review according to what my teacher taught me, and I think the results are pretty good. It wouldn't be a problem if you could ask an English teacher to test me."
When Qin Xiang was in school, she was a good student. She always ranked first in every class test. Her scores in the college entrance examination pre-examination were 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 sudden change to happen during the college entrance examination. Her math score was directly zero, and her whole life changed drastically.
The once praised and envied prodigy suddenly failed the imperial examination and got married in a hurry. From then on, people felt nothing but regret when the name Qin Xiang was mentioned.
After Qin Xiang failed the college entrance examination, Teacher Ning went to see Qin Xiang more than once, trying to persuade Qin Xiang to repeat a year and take the college entrance examination again.
However, by then, the Wang family had already proposed marriage, and Lian Fengying, after joint lobbying by Tian Zhongmei and others, accepted the offer. She believed that since a girl's education was meant to secure a good marriage, she felt that since a good in-law had already arrived, there was no need to continue studying. So, she vigorously persuaded Qin Xiang to marry. Qin Xiang, already desperate, was persuaded into agreeing to the marriage without a clear mind. When Teacher Ning came to visit again, Lian Fengying stopped her, and Qin Xiang and Wang Junsheng's marriage was already finalized.
Ning Sumei still felt regretful when she thought of these past events, but she never expected that one day her student would stand up again and tell 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, a teacher said, "A divorced woman has a bad reputation. She will bring bad influence to the school."
Qin Xiang turned around and saw that it was Mr. Qi, the head teacher of the class next door.
Teacher Qi saw her looking at him and said, "I'm 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're married, you should abide by the law and not get divorced casually. The school is a very clean place. A divorced woman has lost her reputation. How can people view the girls in the school? Qin Xiang, you used to be a good student who knows the big picture. Don't you even understand this?"
"What truth are you telling me? 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 they have a bad reputation? Is the divorce because of me? It's obvious that the divorce was caused by the brother of your student Wang Xiao who cheated on her, but how come I, the victim, became the guilty person in your mouth? A person who caught his brother cheating and even spread rumors at will contrary to the facts can still study in school, so why can't I, the victim? You are a teacher, but you actually adhere to the theory of victim guilt. This means the revolution is over. If it were in the past, your words and deeds would clearly look down on the vast majority of women comrades. Great people said that women can hold up half the sky, but you say that women should bind their feet and observe the three obediences and four virtues after marriage. I think you shouldn't be a teacher in high school, but should open a special school for women."
She paused, then said mercilessly, "I remember you also have a daughter. If one day your daughter suffered what I have suffered, would you also tell her, as you did today, that once you marry, you must be honest and not divorce? You are truly great, such a good father. I'm just glad that my father is not like you. Having a father like you must be a very sad thing."
After becoming the director of studies, Ning Sumei taught the first-year high school class again, while Teacher Qi took over the position of head teacher of the repeater class.
Seeing Qin Xiang's assertiveness and harsh words, Teacher Qi's face turned unhappy. He glanced at Ning Sumei and said, "Director Ning, this is no small matter. It concerns the reputation of our school. Qin Xiang is being unreasonable just to get into school. As teachers, we can't just consider one student, but the reputation of the entire school."
Ning Sumei raised her eyelids and said, "I think Qin Xiang is right."
Ning Sumei didn't want to let this outstanding talent go, 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 insist on speaking for Qin Xiang, Teacher Qi stood up angrily and said, "Director Ning, you will regret letting her enroll."
"I'll regret not letting such a good student enroll." Ning Sumei wouldn't have made it to the position of Dean if she wasn't capable. She looked at Teacher Qi and said, "Teacher Qi, as a teacher, the first thing you should do is believe in and encourage your students, instead of holding them to the same standards of feudal society. If all of us teachers act like this, how can society progress? It would be better for all the female students to stay at home embroidering and waiting to get married."
After saying that, Ning Sumei said to Qin Xiang, "Come with me."
Qin Xiang smiled and responded, then followed Ning Sumei out. Qin Hai, who was standing at the door, had obviously heard what was said inside, and his face looked very unhappy. Ning Sumei said to Qin Hai, "Teacher Qi's remarks do not represent our school. Don't worry, just wait at the door."
Then he said to Qin Xiang, "Come on, I'll take you to see the principal."
The two of them went to the principal's office. Ning Sumei said, "People with ability don't need to be quick-witted. Let's speak with strength. Show your level back then and win honor 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 views actually represented the views of many people on divorce at that time. In fact, she didn't care at all how Teacher Qi viewed her, but Teacher Ning's words made her inexplicably warm and caring.
Ning Sumei smiled rarely, "Go in."
The principal was still the same Principal Cao. He didn't recognize Ning Sumei when she brought a student in. "Hey, Director Ning, what's going on?"
Ning Sumei asked, "Principal Cao, do you still remember Qin Xiang?"
Principal Cao thought for a moment, then frowned, "The student who unexpectedly failed the exam two years ago?"
Qin Xiang's grades were excellent except for math, and many teachers felt it was a pity, thinking that with her math scores, she could have been admitted to a good university in the capital. Unfortunately, she got married in a hurry.
Ning Sumei nodded and said, "She's divorced now and wants to retake the college entrance examination. I think it's okay."
Principal Cao didn't think much of this, but he was worried, "Will it be okay if you don't study for so long?"
Ning Sumei's idea was simpler. "We'll know if it works or not just by doing a set of tests."
She slammed the test paper on the table and said to Qin Xiang, "Go tell your brother to leave 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 objections."
Upon hearing this, Principal Cao said, "Ignore him. He thought this was just the past ten years. How could he not understand what an old man like me understands? As long as he's a good student with good character, there's no reason for us to refuse him."
"I thought so too, so I just did a set of papers to shut him up and also to see Qin Xiang's current level."
Back then, many teachers had high hopes for Qin Xiang, believing she could at least get into a key university. Over a year later, Ning Sumei truly hoped Qin Xiang could still perform at her previous level. She wasn't worried about what others might say; after all, Principal Cao was personally invigilating, and no one dared to question his character. This was the best thing for Qin Xiang.
Qin Xiang came in quickly and started answering the questions right across from Principal Cao's desk.
Qin Xiang was a science student, so in addition to Chinese, math, and English, she had to take exams in politics, biology, physics, and chemistry, a total of seven subjects. Chinese and math totaled 120 points, and English, even after the revised grading system, was 100 points. Physics, chemistry, and politics were all 100 points, with biology being the only subject with 60 points.
Ning Sumei had to go back to class, so she handed Qin Xiang over to Principal Cao and left.
Qin Xiang took the seven papers and looked at the familiar questions on them, looking a little dazed, as if she had returned to her student days.
"Why, do you think it's difficult?" Principal Cao was puzzled when he saw that she was looking at the test paper but didn't touch it. "This test paper was just done by the senior class a few days ago. It was set by the city, and it is indeed a bit difficult."
Qin Xiang shook her head. "I think the difficulty of the test was okay. I just felt a little sad and disappointed with myself for giving up so easily when I encountered difficulties. Now that I have another chance, I can't believe it."
Principal Cao was a very easygoing person. He smiled when he heard this and said, "Fill it out. 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 given to her by Principal Cao, and began to answer the questions seriously.
Qin Xiang did the first math question. She looked up at the wall clock and then started to do it.
Principal Cao didn't leave either, and stayed here to supervise the exam.
Qin Xiang looked at the questions above 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, I finished the math test and then took the English test.
Today's English test paper was too easy for Qin Xiang, and she finished it in half an hour.
While she was answering the Chinese paper, Principal Cao picked up the math paper and started correcting it. When he finished and looked up, Qin Xiang was already writing her composition.
Composition has always occupied a large proportion in the college entrance examination in any era, but nowadays students have access to less materials and read fewer books, so it is not easy to write an excellent composition.
But Qin Xiang was different. In her previous life, when she accompanied her children to take exams, she had read a lot of reference books. She also had the habit of reading, so she could easily quote literary allusions. Even in this life, when she was in high school, her academic performance was good, and her Chinese grades were always her pride.
After Qin Xiang finished writing the composition, she checked it for typos and put it aside.
Next is physics, chemistry and biology, and finally politics.
For students nowadays, all they need to learn about politics is to listen to the radio, read newspapers, and memorize more.
But it was a bit difficult for Qin Xiang. The politics of this time were different from those in the future, and she had no chance to listen to the radio or read the newspaper after her rebirth. So some questions were not very clear to Qin Xiang.
However, Qin Xiang follows a principle when doing questions: whether you know the answer or not, you have to write it down.
When she finished 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 how hungry she was.
"Hungry?"
Qin Xiang raised her head and looked at Principal Cao in surprise. She was shocked to find that Principal Cao had been with her for five hours. "Principal."
Principal Cao stood up, stretched his wrists, and said, "Let's go, let's go eat something, and then we'll grade the papers when we come back."
Just then the door opened and Teacher Ning came in with two lunch boxes. "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. It's obvious that your teacher Ning made it at home."
Qin Xiang glanced at Ning Sumei and saw that her expression was indifferent, so she said nothing more. "Eat."
Qin Xiang thanked him and shared a lunch box with Principal Cao, while Ning Sumei took away the ungraded papers.
After lunch, Qin Xiang took two lunch boxes out to wash them and go to the restroom. During the break, 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. Unexpectedly, she was also 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."
"I see." Miao Huihui glanced at Wang Xiao and hesitated for a moment, "Let's go 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, so she immediately shouted, "By the way, Wang Xiao."
Wang Xiao's nerves tensed up, "What are you doing?"
Qin Xiang laughed helplessly, "It's okay, I just wanted to ask if your brother and Cui Hong are married. After all, they love each other so much, and I've already made their wish come true. It wouldn't be right for them not to get married."
Upon hearing this, everyone around them looked towards 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..."
"That's not true. You heard it wrong." Wang Xiao scolded Qin Xiang a thousand times and was about to leave with Miao Huihui.
But Miao Huihui felt she had been deceived. She had just been looking at Qin Xiang with tinted glasses, but now it seemed that was not the case. She shook off Wang Xiao and said, "Tell me clearly what's going on."
What's going on? The truth 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 story of the former good student divorcing Wang Xiao's brother because of his indecent behavior spread.
Wang Xiao simply couldn't believe it. Someone was afraid that no one knew about his divorce and announced it so loudly. If their Wang family was embarrassed, wouldn't Qin Xiang be embarrassed too?
Wang Xiao glared at Qin Xiang, who looked innocent. "Wang Xiao, I know you don't like me, and you like Cui Hong more. Now that she's married to your brother, she'll be your sister-in-law. We have nothing to do with each other anymore, and you don't have to treat me like this. Someone who doesn't know would think the divorce was because of me. By the way, when I came here just now, I vaguely heard that someone knew about my divorce. Did you spread it? Did you tell everyone why your brother and I divorced?"
Wang Xiao was horrified and wanted to cover Qin Xiang's mouth, "Qin Xiang, I was wrong, please don't say it. I was wrong, isn't that enough? Please don't say it."
Back home, she was humiliated and beaten. When she got to the county town, she took advantage of the lack of information and said such specious things. Who knew Qin Xiang wouldn't play by the rules? If people knew it was her who led the group to catch her brother cheating, and then her proud brother divorced because of being caught cheating, how would she stay in school in the future?
She begged, "Qin Xiang, I didn't say those words, please."
Qin Xiang said disdainfully, "Wang Xiao, you're scared now? What were you doing before? Why weren't you scared when you were saying bad things about me in front of others and deliberately trying to ruin my reputation?"
Wang Xiao’s face turned pale and he looked unwell.
Miao Huihui moved away from Wang Xiao and moved closer to Qin Xiang, smiling awkwardly, "Qin Xiang, why is that?"
"If you ask me, I have to tell you." Qin Xiang looked at this classmate who used to be on good terms with her and smiled. "Sorry, I don't have the obligation to tell you."
After saying that, Qin Xiang took the lunch box and left.
Miao Huihui gritted her teeth, 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, unable to conceal the gossip and excitement in her eyes. Wang Xiao was annoyed. "If you want to know, go ask her yourself."
"You!" Miao Huihui laughed out of anger. "Okay, you're capable."
After saying that, Miao Huihui ignored Wang Xiao and walked away.
Wang Xiao stood there feeling a little uneasy. If Qin Xiang came to school, that wouldn't be a good thing. What if Qin Xiang told the truth outside? How would others view her?
Thinking that Qin Xiang had been in school for the whole morning, Wang Xiao was worried and hurried to the office to inquire.
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