Chapter 62 Taking the College Entrance Examination
As soon as the news of the resumption of the college entrance examination spread, people could hear related discussions everywhere they went, in alleys, factories, and compounds.
Aunt Zhang: Has your child registered for the college entrance exam? Lucky! Now he doesn't have to go to the countryside to work in the fields.
Aunt Li: My child who went to the countryside to work must pass the exam today. If he passes, he can go back to the city.
He's eldest brother: My sister is working in the countryside in Northeast China, and I was planning to send her some high school books over.
Aunt Li: I heard that everyone is looking for the "Mathematics and Physics Self-Study Series", so my relative specially bought a set from Shanghai and sent it to me for the child to review.
Aunt Zhang: Really? Then I’ll go to the bookstore to look for it.
A group of middle-aged women in the machinery factory compound were also paying attention to the news. After hearing that Xiao Gong, Qiao Qinglu, Brother Qiao and his wife had all registered for the college entrance examination, the gossip never stopped.
Auntie A: Wow, Mr. Xiao, you have so much free time! Like a bunch of other kids, you're also applying for college. Instead of spending your free time on projects, why not finish a few more and contribute to our factory?
Auntie B: Exactly! You're already employed and have kids, yet you're still taking time off to study for the college entrance exam. Even if you pass, you really don't need to work to go to school?
Aunt C: I heard that if Mr. Xiao passes the exam, our factory will retain his position and continue to pay him his salary.
Auntie A: Is this true? The boss can't be so biased towards his family. If that's the case, I'll go to the boss tomorrow and ask why his family's salary is so high. If he wants to go to college, he should just quit his job and not take the factory salary for nothing.
Auntie: That's right. We can't let him take the factory money for nothing. I also heard that four or five people in his family are taking the college entrance exam. They've all quit their jobs to study for the exam.
Auntie B: They're absolutely crazy! They have jobs and yet they act this way. There were four or five of them, and besides those two couples, who else was there? Could it be Xiao Gong's younger brother?
Auntie: No, it’s Qiao’s wife’s younger brother.
Aunt C: I am waiting to see how many people can pass the exam from each family.
After saying that, everyone burst into laughter.
Before they could finish laughing, Fu Xialing couldn't take it anymore and rushed over to them, "The college entrance examination is a Guo Jia policy. We meet the policy and registered for the exam. What's the problem with your family? You control everything, and you even control what other people eat and drink! Everyone can see how much my brother-in-law has contributed to the factory. He deserves the title of Chief Engineer. What do you have to say? If you have the guts, go research a project and contribute to the factory! You rely on your age and say things without hesitation, and you keep pointing fingers at things all day long. In fact, you are nothing!"
Brother Qiao quickly tried to smooth things over, dragging her upstairs while yelling, "Xia Ling, how can you say that to an old man? You know, they're old and easily confused. Why bother with them? Okay, okay, let's go home. If they want to make a scene, then go ahead. If it gets out of hand, my brother-in-law will just quit and leave. We'll see who'll suffer. Why should we bother worrying about it?"
The aunties were relentless and insisted on discussing the matter with Fu Xialing for four, five, seven or eight minutes. But when they heard what Brother Qiao said, they were a little shocked. No way, could it be that the factory would not be able to function without Engineer Xiao?
Everyone was complaining in their hearts, if they had known earlier, they would not have discussed these things with them today, and would have gone back to ask the old man/son/daughter first. If it was really as Qiao Zhenguo said, what they said today would be too offensive, and they would have to lose face and ask Qiao Zhenguo for mercy and play the victim, so as to put this matter behind them.
After going upstairs, Fu Xialing was still complaining, "Zhenguo, who are all the people living in this courtyard? Why don't we wait until the lease on the courtyard in Nanluoguxiang expires, stop renting it out, simply do some repairs, and move in?"
Brother Qiao quickly comforted his sister-in-law, "Lingzi, I want to move over too, but if we really move over, I'm afraid we won't be able to keep the house here. Look at the courtyards at my younger sister's house, aren't they like that? Let's do this for now and talk about it in a few days."
Fu Xia Ling: "Okay, I'll bear with it. Wait until we both pass the exam and see what they say."
Brother Qiao: "Well, mother-in-law has worked hard these days. After we finish the exam, we will go pick up our daughter. I miss her so much after not seeing her for a few days."
Fu Xia Ling: "No, my mother loves our daughter very much. She wishes she could live there forever."
Brother Qiao: "Lingzi, if she passes the exam, what will happen to our daughter? We can't take the child to school with us."
Fu Xialing thought for a moment and said, "How about this? We can give my mother money and ask her to help take care of the child. When the child is three years old, we can send him to the factory nursery."
Brother Qiao: "Okay, don't mention this to my mother-in-law yet. Wait until we receive the acceptance letter."
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