Chapter 14 The End of the College Entrance Examination

Three days of the college entrance examination had passed, and at the end of the final session, Zhong Yuxiu handed in her paper half an hour early. Her steps were light as she walked out of the examination site, her heart soaring like the vast blue sky and sea.

There were few people outside; Zhong Yuxiu immediately spotted Yan Rushan, tall and upright, and hurried over.

“Brother Yan, you handed in your paper early too?”

Yan Rushan turned, his composed gaze softening. “Yes. You finished early as well—did you check your answers?”

“I went over them once. Didn’t find any mistakes, so I came out.” Zhong Yuxiu smiled, her eyes curved with cheer. “How did you do, Brother Yan? I bet you did well.”

Both knew each other's abilities well enough. The corners of Yan Rushan’s lips lifted in a slight smile. “It was alright.”

“I did alright, too.”

They smiled at each other, a tacit understanding gently spreading between them, tingling and warm. Zhong Yuxiu didn’t dwell on it, while Yan Rushan’s gaze softened.

“Comrade Zhong, can you estimate your score?”

Zhong Yuxiu nodded. “We estimated after each session. My score should be around three hundred eighty; with this last exam, it’ll be over four hundred fifty.” The total for the science exam was five hundred.

“I’m about the same.” A smile glimmered in Yan Rushan’s eyes as he fixed his gaze on her. “Which university are you planning to apply to?”

“If possible, I’d like to study in the Physics Department at Hua University. What about you, Brother Yan?” She looked up; Yan Rushan was truly tall, over six feet.

Yan Rushan replied, “I haven’t decided yet, but I won’t leave Shangjing.”

“Take your time to consider.” Yan Rushan’s family was in Shangjing, with a well-known background. The country’s top universities were all in Shangjing—such as the Normal College and Medical College, both outstanding.

As they chatted, time slipped by until the scheduled end of the exam. Students poured out of the examination site—some dejected, some beaming with joy, excitement written all over their faces.

“Comrade Yan, Comrade Zhong!” Luo Jianmin waved wildly, rushing over. “How did you do? I did pretty well!”

“It went alright,” Yan Rushan replied, his gaze calm and tranquil.

Luo Jianmin grinned, “Makes sense, you two are smart and learn faster than the rest of us.” Naturally, they would do better.

Wang Yishan, Feng Jianjun, Sun Ruhong, and Jiang Mei followed, each asking the same question about the exam. Once everyone had gathered, they returned together to Yu’s Family Production Brigade. Local workers greeted them with questions as well; with Luo Jianmin’s cheerful responses, the other educated youths smiled and occasionally chimed in before heading back to their quarters.

“At last, we’re home. The villagers are so enthusiastic, even though our admission notices haven’t arrived yet,” Sun Ruhong complained. Usually, the villagers kept their distance; first, the educated youths were outsiders from the city, without roots in the village; second, they were city youths, not as skilled at farm work.

As a result, most workers didn’t welcome the educated youths; only a few families in the brigade were willing to befriend them.

Luo Jianmin joked, “Well, there’s nothing to be done. Who knows which of us will pass and leave? The workers aren’t stupid; when their own interests are at stake, they can be remarkably shrewd.”

“Enough about them. Ruhong and I will cook; Yuxiu, come help us pick vegetables. Let’s have a good meal tonight to celebrate the end of the exams and relax a bit,” Jiang Mei said, shaking her head, uninterested in gossip.

Zhong Yuxiu smiled, “Exactly. Brother Luo, you shouldn’t say such things outside.”

“I know, I know. Let’s make something tasty.” Having spent several years in the countryside, Luo Jianmin understood. He appreciated Zhong Yuxiu’s kindly reminder.

The three female educated youths prepared several meat dishes. Wild vegetables were scarce in winter, though not entirely absent—the few that remained were deep in the mountains. Thus, the table held only pickled vegetables alongside meat, mostly smoked meats brought back by Yan Rushan and Zhong Yuxiu from the mountain.

Wild pheasant, rabbit, salted fish, smoked duck, and pickled vegetables made a sumptuous feast for the seven educated youths.

After the meal, as usual, the male youths cleaned up while the girls heated water to wash and went to bed early.

In the days that followed, aside from trips to the county town to fill out application forms, the seven stayed in their quarters, rarely venturing out. The workers remained enthusiastic, dropping by in small groups daily. Though the educated youths were reluctant to entertain them, they never showed disrespect, and the atmosphere stayed cordial.

More than half a month passed with no news of admission notices. The workers’ enthusiasm faded. Luo Jianmin and Sun Ruhong grew anxious and restless; Jiang Mei was uneasy as well. One day, they gathered around the brazier in the hall to warm themselves when a loud voice called from outside, “Comrade Yan, Comrade Zhong, you have mail!”

“It’s here?” Luo Jianmin leapt up.

Yan Rushan glanced at him, “I’ll go check. You stay inside, it’s cold outside.”

“Alright, alright, hurry up and see if your admission notices have arrived.” Luo Jianmin sat back down.

Yan Rushan looked at Zhong Yuxiu, then rose, went outside, and opened the gate. The visitor was the postman. There were only two postmen in the county, and Yan Rushan recognized him.

“Postman Zhang, what’s arrived?”

Postman Zhang pulled two large envelopes resembling kraft paper from the bag on his bicycle’s rear seat. “Congratulations! Admission notices. There’s another one for one of the educated youths—her admission notice is here too.”

“She’s inside. I’ll accept it for her.” Yan Rushan took the envelopes but didn’t open them immediately, instead thanking the postman politely. “Thank you for making this trip.”

“It’s my duty. I still have to visit other brigades, so I’ll be on my way.” Postman Zhang rode off, and Yan Rushan closed the gate and returned to the hall. He handed one envelope, addressed to Comrade Zhong Yuxiu, to her. “It’s your admission notice.”

Zhong Yuxiu was unsurprised. She had no close family or friends; the only thing that could be sent here was her admission notice.

“Thank you.” She took it, opened it, and drew out the thin sheet inside, which bore Hua University’s crest. Zhong Yuxiu said calmly, “I’ve been admitted, Physics Department.”

Seeing this, Yan Rushan tore open his envelope and drew out a notice identical to hers.

Luo Jianmin picked it up and glanced at it, grinning widely. “Congratulations, Comrade Yan, Comrade Zhong—you’ve both been accepted to Hua University. Comrade Yan applied to the Finance Department; classes start on February 3rd after the New Year.”

“Congratulations to you too. Your notices should be on their way,” Zhong Yuxiu said, putting her notice back in the envelope.

Yan Rushan’s eyes flickered and he handed his notice to Zhong Yuxiu. “Comrade Zhong, my envelope was torn. Could you please keep mine together with yours?”

“Brother Yan, wrapping it in kraft paper would work just as well.” She and Yan Rushan weren’t close; it wasn’t appropriate for her to keep his admission notice.

“There’s no need. In the end, we’ll be leaving together.” Yan Rushan firmly pressed the notice into her hands.

Zhong Yuxiu felt the weight of responsibility—if anything went wrong, Yan Rushan would lose his chance at Hua University. “Brother Yan…”

“We men can be careless; who knows if I might misplace it. Please help me keep it safe.”

Yan Rushan’s resolve left her no choice, especially under the watchful eyes of Sun Ruhong and the others. She put it away; fortunately, she had a storage ring and wasn’t worried about losing his notice.