Chapter 103 Review
After deciding to take the college entrance examination, Lin Qingqing devoted more time to reviewing.
However, she had a job and couldn't find much time to read while at work. Although Li Xingfang took care of things at home, she couldn't completely leave the child to her mother-in-law. After returning home, she had to bathe her daughter and put her to bed at night, so she could only study whenever she could after her daughter fell asleep. As a result, the time when Lin Qingqing turned off the lights in her room became later and later each day.
Due to lack of sleep and summer fatigue, Lin Qingqing felt listless every day after get off work after a period of time.
Seeing this, Li Xingfang said to Lin Qingqing after dinner that day, "How about letting Xixi sleep with me tonight?"
"What's wrong?" Lin Qingqing was holding her daughter and feeding her steamed egg custard when she heard Li Xingfang's words and paused.
"You don't seem to be in good spirits lately," Li Xingfang said tactfully.
Lin Qingqing was stunned at first, but quickly came to her senses.
Li Xingfang's room was accessed from the dining room, while her main room was accessed from the living room. Li Xingfang always went to bed very early, and even if she got up at night to use the bathroom, she wouldn't pass through the main room. So, seeing her listless state, they assumed it was because Xie Xi was making a lot of noise at night, keeping her awake.
Actually, Xie Xi isn't very fussy at night. As long as her daytime nap isn't too long, she can usually sleep through the night. Occasionally, she wakes up at night, but she only cries for a short while, drinks a bottle of formula, and then falls back asleep.
Lin Qingqing explained, "Xixi is very well-behaved at night. I haven't been sleeping well lately because I've been studying."
"Reading books? What kind of books?" Li Xingfang asked, puzzled.
"High school textbooks," Lin Qingqing said.
Li Xingfang was even more puzzled; "Why are you looking at high school textbooks? Are you going to go to high school?"
Lin Qingqing shook her head and said, "No, I want to go to university."
"University? Didn't the college entrance exam stop a long time ago? Now you need a recommendation from the commune or brigade to go to university." Because Xie Baoshan was the brigade leader, Li Xingfang knew about these things. Just last year, someone from their brigade went to university through the worker-peasant-soldier quota.
"It was suspended, but at a symposium held in Beijing in August, some people proposed to reinstate the college entrance examination."
Li Xingfang wasn't quite sure about this, but she felt a little strange: "So the college entrance exam, it can just be reinstated like that? What if it doesn't reinstate after all the hard work you've put in?"
Lin Qingqing didn't confidently tell Li Xingfang that the college entrance examination would definitely be reinstated. She only said, "If the college entrance examination is really reinstated, I'm just being prepared. I'll take the exam directly and maybe I can get into university. If it's not reinstated, there might be other opportunities for further education in the future. Besides, the knowledge I learn is my own, so it can't hurt."
That makes sense, but... Li Xingfang asked, "So you've been this busy lately?"
"I guess it'll be this busy all year," Lin Qingqing said vaguely.
Li Xingfang thought for a moment and then advised, "Try to go to bed early tonight and don't stay up late. If Xixi is noisy, let her sleep with me. Anyway, I can catch up on sleep during the day at home."
Although Xie Xi didn't quite understand what Li Xingfang was saying, she knew that "arguing" wasn't a good word. Looking at Li Xingfang's dissatisfied face, she said, "Xi Xi, no, arguing!"
Lin Qingqing hummed in agreement, then scooped another spoonful of steamed egg custard to her daughter's lips, smiling as she said, "Xixi, don't make a fuss, Xixi, eat up!"
The little girl opened her mouth and ate the steamed egg custard from the spoon with a "whoosh".
...
Lin Qingqing not only prepared for the college entrance examination herself, but also sent newspapers to Li Juan and He Xiaoli, telling them that the college entrance examination might be reinstated and urging them to think it over carefully in advance. If they decided to take the exam, they should start preparing now.
Not long after the newspaper was sent, the two men sent back letters, and their choices in the letters were very different.
After rejecting a potential partner introduced by her aunt, He Xiaoli has been frequently going on blind dates for the past two years, but remains single. It's not that she hasn't had crushes; this spring, she met a man who worked in the Revolutionary Committee, and He Xiaoli was very satisfied with him. They tried dating for a while. However, rumors have circulated that she's broken up with many men on blind dates. She doesn't know if the problem lies with the men or with her.
Although this statement was questionable, since it emphasized that she frequently changed blind dates, others naturally thought there was something wrong with her. Initially, the other party's family was quite satisfied with He Xiaoli, giving generous red envelopes when they visited, and the mother even expressed several times her hope that the two would get married soon. However, gossip started circulating, the other party's family changed their attitude, and ultimately the relationship broke down.
Her falling out with her blind date seemed to confirm something, and the rumors spread more and more. For a long time, He Xiaoli felt that everyone was pointing fingers at her.
But that wasn't what upset her the most; what truly disheartened her was her parents' attitude.
Her younger brother will graduate from high school next year. Because of his average grades, it's unlikely he'll be recommended for university. This means one of them will have to go to the countryside. Her mother couldn't bear to see her son suffer, so since last year she'd been subtly suggesting that she got the job at the guesthouse because her brother was too young, and now that he's grown up, she should give up her position to let him go to the countryside.
Previously, when she started dating a male comrade from the Revolutionary Committee, her mother was not only unhappy but also very nervous, trying to persuade her in various ways that she was too young and hadn't known him long enough to get married. Later, when he came to their house, they remained indifferent.
It's fair to say that if it weren't for her parents' opposition, she and her fiancé might already be engaged and just waiting to get married at the end of the year.
Later, she was plagued by rumors and broke up with her boyfriend. Although her mother comforted her a few times, she always ended by saying that her reputation was now bad and she couldn't find a suitable partner if she stayed in the commune. She should go to the countryside so that people wouldn't see her for long and the rumors would naturally disappear. Then she would try to use her connections to find her a good job, find a suitable partner, get married, and have children.
As for work, her mother was in poor health and her younger sister was too young, so naturally her younger brother, who was about to graduate from high school, took over.
If He Xiaoli were a few years younger, she might have been coaxed by her mother into giving up her job and going to the countryside. But although the guesthouse wasn't a large organization, she had met all sorts of people there, and she was no longer the easily fooled child she once was.
Therefore, when she heard her mother's words, she felt not comforted, but rather heartbroken.
In her darkest moments, she couldn't help but think that perhaps those rumors were spread by her mother, with the sole purpose of preventing her from getting married. Because once she got married, whether or not she was sent to the countryside would no longer be a matter for their family.
He Xiaoli didn't dare to verify it. She always held onto a sliver of hope that her parents were just biased, but that they still cared about her as their daughter.
But deception can only last for a time, not forever.
No matter how much He Xiaoli tried to hypnotize herself, she began to feel suffocated by the pointing fingers of others and her mother's repeated persuasion. She wanted to escape her family and even the commune.
So when He Xiaoli received Lin Qingqing's letter, her first reaction was joy. In the letter, she asked Lin Qingqing again and again if the news was true, but she was also a little worried that Lin Qingqing only had a junior high school education and would not be able to take the college entrance examination.
It's September now, and the relevant documents for resuming college entrance examinations have not yet been issued. Therefore, Lin Qingqing didn't say anything too certain. She only said that if the college entrance examination is really resumed, her chances of passing the exam would be greater if she started reviewing now than if she started reviewing after the documents were issued.
Because of Lin Qingqing's words, He Xiaoli hadn't given up on her studies over the past few years, practically wearing out her high school textbooks. So, after seeing Lin Qingqing's reply, she quickly made up her mind to prepare for the college entrance examination.
Regardless of whether there is a chance or not, she is determined to try.
Li Juan's thoughts differed from He Xiaoli's; even if the college entrance examination were reinstated, she did not plan to take it.
There are three main reasons for making this decision. First, she has been away from school for too long and is not confident that she can pass the exam even if she studies.
Secondly, she married Wu Haiyuan before the Lunar New Year, and found out she was pregnant in April. She was juggling pregnancy and work, so she simply didn't have the energy to study. After the baby is born, she'll have even less time to raise the child, so she doesn't plan to bother with studying anymore.
Thirdly, she currently works as a salesperson at Xingfeng Garment Factory, earning a decent monthly salary and allowances. She also keeps all of Wu Haiyuan's salary and allowances sent back to her. She is generally satisfied with her current life and doesn't want any major changes. If she had to suggest any changes, it would be hoping that Wu Haiyuan's rank would be promoted soon, so she could apply for a transfer and the family could be reunited.
After reading Li Juan's reply, Lin Qingqing felt a pang of regret, but everyone has their own thoughts. It was normal for Li Juan to be satisfied with her current life and not want any major changes, so she didn't say anything.
...
On October 12, 1977, the "Opinions on the Enrollment Work of Institutions of Higher Learning in 1977" was approved and forwarded. The document stipulated that the recommendation system should be abolished and a method of voluntary application, unified examination and selection based on merit should be adopted. [1]
The news caused a nationwide uproar.
During that time, wherever Lin Qingqing went, the first thing she heard was, "Hey! Did you hear? The country is going to reinstate the college entrance examination! I heard the exam is in December! Oh dear, only two months is not enough time to study!"
Many people say they don't have enough time and hesitate about registering for the college entrance exam, but secretly they've already dug out their old textbooks and started studying. Seriously? Getting into university is like a carp leaping over the dragon gate—no matter how hard it is, they have to go!
In an instant, people in all units were in high spirits, and Qingshan Department Store was no exception.
Although most of the employees at Aoyama Department Store before the relocation were temporary hires who had worked there for seven or eight to ten years, and had been out of school for many years and were getting older, most of them had no intention of taking the college entrance examination. However, the employees hired after the relocation were mostly junior and senior high school graduates, who were not only young, but had also been out of school for only a few years, and many of them wanted to take the college entrance examination.
Among those who want to take the college entrance examination, some lack confidence in themselves, so they focus on their work and only study after getting home. But others are more eager to go to university, studying in the morning and evening, even secretly during work hours, to the point that it affects their work.
Director Gao almost decided to hold a large meeting to severely criticize this slack work behavior, but Lin Qingqing persuaded him to stop just before the notice was given.
As the general manager of the department store, Lin Qingqing strongly disapproved of this behavior of letting studying interfere with work. However, as a student preparing for an exam herself, she could understand the employees' anxiety, and she felt that Director Gao's direct criticism of this behavior at a company-wide meeting could easily pit the organization against the individual.
Director Gao wasn't short-tempered and was open to feedback, so after listening to Lin Qingqing, she asked, "What do you think the unit should do?"
"I think the company could organize a study improvement group, bringing together all the candidates to study together, share their good study experiences with others, and learn from and absorb others' review experiences. This would not only improve everyone's learning efficiency, but also make employees feel cared for by the company."
Director Gao thought the idea was acceptable, but asked, "Do you think this will affect our work?"
"I'm panicking. Even if they don't study at work, it will still affect their work. Studying together can not only improve learning efficiency, but also keep track of other people's review progress, instead of running around like headless flies. It helps us to calm down and work."
"In addition, I think it is necessary to compile a list of those who took the college entrance examination. We can ask each person for their opinion and let them reduce their working hours according to their own arrangements, and deduct the corresponding wages. As for the missing hours, they can be managed by the adjacent counter, or apprentices or people transferred from other departments can be arranged, and the deducted wages can be distributed to them as a reward."
"In this way, employees preparing for the exam can adjust their time freely, so they naturally have no reason to be distracted during work hours. The company also shows its support through its actions, making employees feel the warmth of home."
Director Gao considered Lin Qingqing's proposed plan and found it feasible, saying, "Then I'll leave this to you." Remembering that Lin Qingqing was also preparing for exams, he asked, "Do you have the time?"
Lin Qingqing already had an idea in mind, and it wouldn't be difficult to implement. Besides, it wasn't something she needed to do personally; she could just assign it and supervise. She nodded and said, "No problem!"
...
After speaking with Director Gao, Lin Qingqing delegated the task. The next afternoon, the logistics department produced a complete plan. Lin Qingqing reviewed it and found no problems, so she showed it to Director Gao for confirmation. After that, she instructed the logistics department to implement it as soon as possible.
The logistics department is now under Xu Fangfang's management. After several years of experience, she has become quite efficient and decisive in her work, and issued a notice the very next morning.
The notice mainly explains three things: First, the company needs to compile a list of employees who have registered for the college entrance examination; second, the company has established a college entrance examination study and exchange group, which will be held every evening from 6:30 to 8:30 in the cafeteria, and everyone is welcome to sign up; third, candidates can adjust their work hours according to their own arrangements, and it is specifically stated later that anyone who is distracted by preparing for the exam during work hours after the adjustment will be given a major demerit!
After reading the notice, some people were happy while others were worried. Those who were confident about the college entrance examination and wanted to focus more on preparing for it were happy, while those who wanted to do both were worried and couldn't decide between them.
Regardless of everyone's reaction, Xu Fangfang quickly pushed forward with the matter after the notice was issued.
The following afternoon, she compiled a list of all those who had registered for the college entrance examination, noting each person's adjusted working hours and whether they participated in study groups. Xu Fangfang also created a revised work schedule based on each person's adjusted hours.
Lin Qingqing glanced at the schedule and found that there were no problems, but fewer than five people were willing to participate in the exchange group, while more than twenty people in the unit had signed up for the exam.
Seeing that Lin Qingqing had glanced at the list of participants in the exchange group a few more times, Xu Fangfang said, "Those who didn't want to participate all said it was because they were busy at home, or they felt that studying alone was enough."
In reality, both of these reasons are just excuses; ultimately, they simply reflect a lack of trust in the group activities organized by the workplace.
Lin Qingqing didn't say it explicitly, but simply added her own name to the list and said, "Take this to Director Gao and if she says there's no problem, then do it this way."
After leaving Lin Qingqing's office, Xu Fangfang went to talk to Director Gao about the matter. Director Gao initially thought the number of people was too small, but after hearing Xu Fangfang's account of Lin Qingqing's reaction, he didn't say anything more.
After the two women agreed, Xu Fangfang quickly made the arrangements.
...
"Team Leader Deng, are you having dinner at work today?"
After work, Lin Qingqing took her lunchbox and textbooks to the cafeteria. Her colleague asked curiously, "Don't you usually eat at home?" Deng Lingling hummed in response. The colleague then asked, "Don't you usually eat at home?"
"I joined a study and exchange group, and I've been eating at work for the past month or so," Deng Lingling explained.
"Will those study groups even be useful? Aren't they just a waste of time?" the other person complained, saying that the logistics department did nothing but engage in these fancy things all day long.
She had also registered for the college entrance exam and used to secretly study during work hours, which was common practice lately, so nothing went wrong. But a few days ago, the logistics department suddenly issued a notice strictly prohibiting studying during work hours. Although they gave everyone the opportunity to adjust their working hours, reducing those hours would result in a pay cut!
If she were confident about getting into university, it would be fine; it would only take two months, and the base salary deduction would be acceptable. But unfortunately, she hadn't touched a textbook since leaving school, and it had been over a year. She was really unsure of herself and worried that while the logistics department might officially deduct her salary, her position would actually be filled by someone else in a month or two. So, after much consideration, she decided not to reduce her working hours.
With her working hours not reduced and not being able to read during work hours, she felt that she was just a runner-up in the college entrance examination. She couldn't help but feel resentful, thinking that the logistics department was incompetent and that this so-called study and exchange group was for the good of the employees.
After Deng Lingling learned that the logistics department had issued a new notice, many people who had registered for the college entrance examination were dissatisfied, but she was among those who breathed a sigh of relief.
Although she had a good job—a team leader in a department store with about a dozen sales clerks under her—it was a respectable position, and she loved her job. But compared to her job, she longed to return to school. However, as a team leader, she had to set an example, so she couldn't study during work hours and could only squeeze in time to read.
In this situation, the notice issued by her company solved her immediate problem. She shortened her daily work hours to six hours, which allowed her to study more at home every morning.
Therefore, from Deng Lingling's perspective, the series of measures announced by the logistics department were mainly for the benefit of the employees. However, he also knew that the other party was resentful and would definitely not listen to these words, so he said, "Whether it works or not, it doesn't hurt to try. If this group is really helpful for our review, it will be a good thing."
“That’s true.” The other person said casually. She felt really stupid. Deng Lingling was a leader, of course she would speak up for the unit! She had thought that Deng Lingling was also a candidate and could see things from their perspective.
The two went to the cafeteria to eat with different attitudes. After the meal, one stayed to participate in the exchange group activity, while the other went home to continue reading.
Although Deng Lingling felt that the company's measures were for the benefit of its employees, she was still unsure about the learning and exchange group. By 6:30 p.m., as people who had been eating dinner in the cafeteria gradually left, only four people remained, including herself. At that point, Deng Lingling felt not just uncertain, but that the project was doomed to fail.
Despite thinking this, seeing that no one was moving, Deng Lingling coughed and said, "I... General Manager Lin!"
As soon as Deng Lingling opened her mouth, her eyes lit up when she saw Lin Qingqing enter. Looking at the textbook in Lin Qingqing's hand, she asked, "Are you also going to join the study exchange group?"
“My company organized such a meaningful activity, and as a candidate, of course I should participate actively,” Lin Qingqing said as she walked in, found a seat, looked around at everyone, and smiled, “Why are you all sitting so far away? We are here to have a learning exchange. Come on, let’s all sit at the same table.”
The cafeteria tables are all long tables, each seating eight people. People in the cafeteria looked at each other and then found seats at Lin Qingqing's table.
Seeing that everyone was seated, Lin Qingqing said, "Don't be nervous or reserved, everyone. Here, I am just another examinee like you. Well... to be honest, you've all studied more than I have."
"No, no," everyone quickly replied, but they were much more relaxed than before.
After exchanging pleasantries, Lin Qingqing said, "Let's talk about everyone's review progress first. Who wants to start?"
Everyone looked at each other, and finally Deng Lingling raised her hand and said, "I'll go first." She began to talk about which subjects she had reviewed, which chapters she had insights into, and which chapters she thought were more difficult.
Everyone else followed Deng Lingling's template, and Lin Qingqing was no exception.
In fact, everyone who participated in the study group, like Deng Lingling, was uncertain about their future. They just thought it was an activity organized by their workplace, and that it didn't matter where they studied, so they came. Therefore, when they saw that only four people were participating, they were all disappointed, until Lin Qingqing arrived.
Although Lin Qingqing said she had never been to school and was not as good as them in her studies, many employees of Qingshan Department Store secretly admired her. Seeing her gave them a sense of security.
Lin Qingqing was indeed more organized than them. After everyone shared their strengths and weaknesses, she quickly sorted out the chapters that everyone was weaker in, assigned these chapters to those who felt they had mastered them well, had one person give a lecture, and others supplemented the lecture. Then she assigned homework, and those who had problems after completing the homework were to strengthen their own areas.
However, there is so much content in high school, and not everyone can master every chapter well. For the parts that everyone is not familiar with, Lin Qingqing will be the main lecturer. She said very modestly, "I will explain first, and you can change the lecturer if you have any questions."
Since she's already said that, even if everyone is worried, they can't really discourage her. They can only wait and see what happens when she finally speaks.
Lin Qingqing was scheduled to speak on the fourth day. By then, the number of members in the exchange group had increased to eight. The newcomers were unaware that she was also going to speak, and they felt a little nervous when they saw her stand up.
Although General Manager Lin is very capable, is she really up to the task of preparing students for high school?
As it turns out, Lin Qingqing really did it.
She explains the key points of knowledge in a clear and logical manner, without being convoluted, so everyone can understand her immediately.
When the half-hour class ended, everyone was full of admiration for Lin Qingqing. Some even suggested that she teach the rest of the material, but she declined, saying that teaching was also a process of reinforcing memory and relearning, and that she would distribute the knowledge points among everyone. However, Lin Qingqing would supplement any parts that were missed when others were explaining.
...
The learning method of forming exchange groups is indeed very effective. Before, everyone was learning blindly, not knowing who to ask when they didn't understand something. But after forming study groups, everyone quickly sorted out the key points and began to efficiently fill in the gaps in their knowledge. If there were some things they didn't understand, they could always get the answers by asking others.
Gradually, everyone stopped feeling as anxious as when they were studying alone, their work became less prone to errors, and they spoke with greater confidence about the college entrance examination. Those who hadn't joined the study group noticed these changes and became interested as well, so the study group grew larger and larger. By early November, all the employees who had registered for the college entrance examination had joined the study group.
For the next month or so, the employees of Qingshan Department Store who had registered for the college entrance examination worked during the day and studied at night. Although it was hard work, everyone was filled with hope for the future.
The study group meeting lasted until December 9th. To ensure everyone was well-rested for the exam, everyone went home after get off work on the 10th, waiting for the next day.
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