Men drank outside while women gathered to talk. The meal continued until past nine in the evening, and Gu Shoufou was so happy he got drunk.
Chen Lishu stayed home for another day. On the morning of the third day, she, Xu Ning, and Wang Tigang went to the town's admissions office to collect their physical examination forms and check their scores.
In the first year the college entrance examination was reinstated, there were four subjects. Besides mathematics, Chinese, and politics, the remaining subject was either comprehensive liberal arts or comprehensive science. Each subject had a maximum score of one hundred, totaling four hundred. Foreign languages were not counted towards the score.
Three志愿 could be filled out. Xu Ning applied to the provincial medical university. Having prepared in advance and revised early, she scored three hundred and fifty-seven, exceeding the admission score line by more than fifty points.
Wang Tigang was more conservative. He applied to a vocational college, also exceeding the admission score line by over twenty points.
Chen Lishu scored a total of two hundred and ninety-five, luckily just barely passing the admission score line for the provincial normal university.
The reason she chose this school was that it was the alma mater of Ding Yongfeng and Sun Shuzhen. Since it could cultivate such excellent teachers as them, she couldn't help but feel a sense of yearning.
After the three checked their scores and filled out their physical examination forms, they headed towards the county health center.
…
In a low, dilapidated thatched hut behind Hongxing Village, a kang, more than two meters long, occupied half the room.
At this moment, a thin, desolate figure was wrapped beneath a patched, worn quilt on the kang.
Not far away, a similarly gaunt figure was carefully lifting a medicine pot from the stove and pouring the thick medicinal juice into a bowl. He quickly picked up the bowl and blew gently on it.
"Dad, it's time to drink your medicine." Lin Qi held the medicine and approached. The man on the kang stirred and struggled to sit up.
"It's all my fault for implicating you."
It was his background that implicated his child to suffer here. Now that he himself was ill, the family probably had barely any rice left to cook.
"Dad, don't think too much. Leave other things to me. Uncle Zhou specially prescribed these herbs to treat your illness."
Lin Yuliang picked up the medicine bowl and glanced at his son, ultimately swallowing the words he wanted to say.
"Is Old Lin at home? Your son Lin Qi got into university! The admissions office specifically sent someone to notify you. Hurry and call him to the town to get his physical examination form!"
The old wooden door was pushed open, and a man in his forties or fifties ran in.
"Uncle Zhou, are you serious?" Lin Qi suddenly stood up, looking at the man with disbelief.
"It's absolutely true. Hurry to town to get your physical examination form. It will be too late if you miss the deadline."
"Dad?" Lin Qi turned his head, his eyes shining with a bright light.
Lin Yuliang happily urged, "I'm fine, you go quickly."
Hearing his words, Lin Qi immediately put down the bowl in his hand and bolted out the door.
The village was more than ten li away from the town. He ran to the entrance of the admissions office in one go. Until this moment, Lin Qi still felt that everything was somewhat unreal.
His family's background was landlord, and they even had overseas connections. From childhood, he had suffered bullying and ostracism from those around him.
In school, he couldn't be a class leader or join the Young Pioneers. Even though his academic performance was excellent, he still didn't have a chance for the worker-peasant-soldier university. Later, the "gang of four" fell, and policies relaxed, but the village agreed while the commune did not. It took a long time for the commune to agree, and then the town disagreed.
He was thus dragged along, seeing no hope, and could only dejectedly accept his fate. Who knew that the country would reinstate the college entrance examination, and he would actually pass it!
…
After completing the physical examination and seeing the report stating everything was satisfactory, all three were very happy. Next was to fill out the political review materials, then return to the village to get the stamp and submit it to the admissions office. After that, they would just wait to receive the admission notice.
On the morning they were to submit the political review materials, the sky had started to be overcast. When the three were halfway there, snowflakes began to fall.
Before they even reached the admissions office, they suddenly heard shouting from inside.
"Why won't you let me pass? My family's status has clearly been rehabilitated, and the village stamp is also affixed. Why are you still not approving it!" Lin Qi looked at the people in the office, his face flushed red and his expression agitated.
With how much determination he had mustered to take the exam, his results were out, but he was stuck at the political review stage.
"It's not that we don't want to approve you, but your file is in question. While your status as a former landlord has been revoked, your family has overseas connections."
"What does that group of people abroad have to do with me? Why must she implicate us even after she's dead!"
Lin Qi, in despair, clutched his hair. Suddenly, he took out a bottle of Dichlorvos from his shoulder bag: "If you don't approve me, I'll die here today!"
Since pleading was useless, this was the only option left.
When Chen Lishu, Xu Ning, and the others entered, they saw Lin Qi holding the pesticide bottle, about to commit suicide.
"Comrade, think it over. Please don't do anything rash. Not passing the political review is a decision made by the organization. We have to follow their arrangements."
"Yes, even if we approve you now, your documents will be rejected by the university when they reach them."
"Lin Qi?" Chen Lishu called out uncertainly, looking at his gaunt figure.
Lin Qi heard the voice and turned back. When he saw clearly that it was Chen Lishu standing behind him, a look of bitterness appeared on his face.
"Sister Chen, I took the exam as you advised, but they said I have overseas connections and refused to pass me no matter what."
After all, he was only a seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy. Seeing the person who had once helped him, he subconsciously felt a sliver of dependence.
Chen Lishu felt a pang in her heart seeing his pained expression. She hadn't expected the political review to be so strict, and she even regretted what she had said to him back then.
If she hadn't spoken up, perhaps he wouldn't have even considered taking the exam. The greatest blow in life was probably being given hope only to fall back into despair.
"Lin Qi, calm down. In fact, university is not the only path in life. As the saying goes, 'There's success in every profession,' and you're so smart, you'll definitely develop well in the future."
Chen Lishu looked earnestly into his eyes and persuaded him gently.
"What path is there? My path has all been blocked by them!" Lin Qi said bitterly and pulled off the rubber stopper of the pesticide bottle in his hand.
Everyone present was startled, and Chen Lishu's heart almost leaped out of her throat.
"How old are you? There are still many beautiful experiences awaiting you. How about this, if you trust me, I can offer you an opportunity. What do you say?"
Hearing her words, Lin Qi slowed his movements considerably. "What opportunity can you give me?"
Seeing that she had his attention, Chen Lishu leaned closer and said in a voice only they could hear, "Going to university is also for the sake of getting a good job. If you agree, I can hire you as my employee and pay you a monthly salary."