After being warned by Party Secretary Cheng Zhenguo, Liu Qing was still unconvinced, but she dared not speak out and could only keep quiet for the time being.
Order was quickly restored at the scene, and most of the educated youth had finished registering and were leaving one after another.
Xiao Jing and Cheng Lin were at the back of the registration line and quickly received their registration forms.
There were pens on site, so Xiaojing didn't take the registration form with her; instead, she filled it out on the spot.
After filling out the registration form, Xiao Jing handed it along with the registration fee to the Party Secretary Cheng Zhenguo. She watched him stamp the registration form with his bright red seal, and only then did she breathe a sigh of relief as if she had accomplished something.
After submitting the registration form, Xiaojing and Chenglin came out of the office one after the other.
Cheng Lin had to go to work, so he told Xiao Jing and left first.
After Cheng Lin left, Wang Qiuju came up to him: "Sister, have you registered?"
Xiao Jing nodded: "I've finished reporting."
"Let's hurry back. We still need to go to the city later to pack our things and do some cleaning. We're short on time this afternoon."
Wang Qiuju turned her head and called to Wang Lele, "Lele, let's go."
Wang Lele was squatting by the wall, pulling weeds. The withered grass had lost its resilience, and he could pull out a large handful at a time. A huge pile of grass had already accumulated next to him, but he seemed to have no time to play with it and continued to play happily. He didn't even respond when Wang Qiuju called him.
Wang Qiuju could only walk over and tug at his hand, reminding him, "Lele, your aunt is out, we should go."
"No, no." Wang Lele twisted her little body and struggled.
He hadn't had enough fun yet and didn't want to leave.
"Then you can stay here and weed for your grandfather. Mom's leaving." Wang Qiuju pretended to leave.
Wang Lele tugged at her clothes: "Mommy, no, don't go."
Xiaojing said, "If Lele doesn't want to leave, let him play here. Keep an eye on him, I'll go back by myself."
"No way, we came out together, how can I let you go back alone?" Wang Qiuju: "Wang Lele, stop playing around, let's go."
Wang Lele pouted, about to cry: "I won't go, I won't go."
"Qiuju, Lele doesn't want to leave, don't force him. He's just a kid, he doesn't want to go home until he's had enough fun."
Xiaojing said, "I'll go back by myself, it's just a short walk."
Wang Lele refused to leave, so Wang Qiuju had no choice but to nod and say, "Alright then."
After parting ways with Wang Qiuju and her son, Xiao Jing walked home along the road.
This is the main road in the village, connecting the brigade headquarters and the educated youth settlement. Almost everyone in the village had to take this road to get to work.
So Xiaojing ran into several of her neighbor aunties who were going to work. After not seeing her for a long time, these aunties couldn't help but greet her, chat for a while, and ask about her situation.
This delay led to her meeting other educated youth who had also come to work, including Liu Qing.
Liu Qing rolled her eyes as soon as she saw her. She turned to talk to the female educated youth next to her, covering her mouth with her hand, but speaking very loudly, as if she was deliberately talking to Xiao Jing.
"Some people really don't know their place. The college entrance exam is like a thousand soldiers crossing a single-plank bridge. How many people from a whole village can pass it? She only graduated from elementary school. I really don't know how she has the nerve to sign up."
Liu Qing didn't name names, but Xiao Jing knew she was being referred to, though she couldn't be bothered to respond.
The more you engage with this kind of person, the more enthusiastic they become; ignoring them only makes them feel stifled.
Xiao Jing walked forward without changing her expression, completely ignoring Liu Qing, whose face tightened and turned pale and then red.
Just as the two were passing each other, she suddenly raised her voice: "Some people really love to show off. A country girl, after going to the big city for a few years, thinks she's different from other rural people and wants to show off, which is understandable. But, people should know their place. Going to the capital doesn't make you a resident of the capital. The college entrance exam is sacred; it's the hope everyone has been waiting for for ten years, not a tool for some people to show off! Without real talent and learning, be careful you don't expose yourself and embarrass yourself."
As Liu Qing spoke, she stared intently at Xiao Jing's face, her eyes flashing with malice.
Liu Qing's blatant provocation didn't faze Xiao Jing.
Xiao Jing stopped and looked back at Liu Qing expressionlessly: "Whether I pass the exam or not is my own business, you don't need to worry about it for me."
Liu Qing smiled with narrowed eyes: "I'm not worried, I'm waiting to see the joke!"
Xiao Jing said coldly, "The preliminary exam isn't just for show. Whether someone has real talent or not, the preliminary exam will naturally filter them out. As for the results, let's wait and see. Liu Zhiqing, you criticized me so vehemently today. I hope your results will impress me."
Liu Qing raised her chin: "Of course I'll impress you! I'm a high school student!"
Xiaojing: "A high level of education does not mean that you have learned knowledge well."
"What a joke!" Liu Qing scoffed. "You should worry about yourself first! Thinking you can go to university after only elementary school? You're dreaming!"
Liu Qing's words did not affect Xiao Jing's state of mind.
If I had to say there was something, I'd say it was motivation.
Over the years, she had long been fed up with these negative comments from the outside world! She just needed an opportunity to bounce back.
Since everyone looks down on her so much, she's determined to prove herself through the exams!
The college entrance examination is an opportunity!
Back home, Xiaojing was calm as if nothing had happened, chatting and laughing with her family as she packed her luggage.
Because they were going to stay in the city for a month, they brought all their food, drinks, clothes, and other necessities, filling several bundles.
When they returned to the city, Cheng Qiang still saw them off, but this time they didn't take a donkey cart. Instead, they borrowed a tractor from the neighboring brigade. Cheng Lin and several other examinees from Xiaocheng Village also went to the city with them.
They also wanted to study at the No. 1 Middle School on a temporary basis, so they decided to pool their resources and go to the city together to try their luck. If they could pass the exam and stay to study there, that would be even better. If not, they would borrow some books to study at home.
If those educated youth could learn on their own, so can they.
Sister Xiaojing is right, rural people are no worse than city people.
Back in the city, Cheng Baidong helped his third aunt and Xiao Jing clean the rented room and secretly set up a protective formation in the yard—a simple bewildering array.
The maze is only a defensive formation; it won't harm anyone and has no effect on people with good intentions. However, if someone with malicious intent comes along, they will be trapped in it as if they've encountered a ghost wall.
This is a precaution, to prevent any unscrupulous individuals from bothering us during this crucial period of exam preparation.
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