How much could it cost to attend high school?Last year, Liu Yong would have definitely felt the strain. But this year, he had found a way to make money, and while he had not yet withdrawn much of it, supporting Xia Xiaolan and Liu Fen was no problem.When you had money, you had confidence. Liu Yong truly hoped Xia Xiaolan would have a better life in the future.Back then, there had been no conditions for that. Now that she had a chance to go to College, even if he had no money, he would sell blood to support her.Xia Xiaolan lowered her head.“Uncle, I said I’d buy my mom a house in the provincial capital. That’s my life, and I’m already eighteen. You should save your money for my cousin.”If she really had to rely on Liu Yong to raise her, she would be ashamed to death.Liu Yong knew Xia Xiaolan had always been proud and stubborn.She had been like that before she tried to kill herself, and it seemed that even after becoming more sensible, that part of her had not changed.Old Wang thought the girl had it rough... living in her uncle’s house with her divorced mother, desperate to change her circumstances.Teacher Qi’s heart softened too. Being a small private business owner was not exactly respectable, but Xia Xiaolan saying she wanted to buy her mother a house was truly filial.“Student Xia, going to school and settling down your life are not contradictory.” Teacher Qi said.“After you graduate from college, the state will assign you a job, and your work unit will provide housing too.”That was only a few years away.Running a business did not guarantee she could buy a house anyway. Business was not risk-free, and how could it compare to the future of a College graduate?Teacher Qi sincerely tried to persuade her.“Once you have a salary, you can pay your uncle back for your schooling month by month.”Xia Xiaolan answered very sincerely.“I’m used to studying on my own at home. The school environment makes me nervous. In Junior high, I just couldn’t get it no matter how I studied, but when I read on my own at home, I found a study method that worked for me.”“Teacher, could the school agree to this? If there are exams, I’ll come. Even if there aren’t, I can go to school once a week to ask about the parts I don’t understand.”If Xia Xiaolan had said she wanted to keep doing business and not go to school, neither teacher nor uncle would have agreed.But now that she said she was suited to self-study, the two teachers were not sure what to think, and even Liu Yong was half-convinced, half-skeptical.Xia Xiaolan’s Junior high grades really had been ordinary.If she had done well, she would have gone to Vocational school, and there would have been no way she’d stop after Junior high.And yet, after three years away from school, she had scored 446 on County No. 1 High School’s entrance test.She could not possibly have done that after only two days of flipping through books at home. It had to be the result of self-study.Liu Yong could not ask too carefully in front of the two teachers, but in his mind he guessed it might have something to do with that sent-down youth from Dahe Village, Wang Jianhua.Didn’t Wang Jianhua also get into college? Xiaolan had been close to him before, so maybe the two of them had studied together.But how could Liu Yong say that?If he did, it would drag in the triangle between Xia Ziyu, Wang Jianhua, and Xia Xiaolan.Xia Xiaolan had already lost out in that relationship and was saddled with the reputation of trying to seduce her future brother-in-law.How could that be brought up in front of County No. 1 High School’s teachers?Xia Xiaolan’s request put Old Wang in a difficult position.But she was firm. If County No. 1 High School would not agree, she did not mind enrolling in No. 2 High School instead.How could they possibly let such a promising student go to another school?Old Wang could only say they would discuss it with the school leadership.That was enough. Xia Xiaolan knew it was probably going to work. After parting with the two teachers in Anqing County, Teacher Qi was somewhat dissatisfied with Liu Yong.Self-study was just an excuse.In Teacher Qi’s view, Xia Xiaolan was really worried about the family’s financial situation.Being stubborn was one thing, but she was being far too stubborn.As her uncle, Liu Yong should have taken a harder line and not let her ruin her future.“The teacher still recommends that you come to school and attend class normally.” he said.“Thank you, Teacher Qi. But I’ve already decided.”That was that.She was taking the college entrance exam for pride, and also to broaden her connections.In twenty or thirty years, this first generation of 1980s college students would occupy key positions across all industries and government departments.Xia Xiaolan knew the connections she built by going to College now would be very useful in the future. No one could live in the world always alone.Of course, getting into college mattered. But no matter how far ahead she looked, she still had to deal with the present.Her first goal was to escape poverty as quickly as possible and secure a better life.“She really can go to College…”Liu Yong grinned foolishly all the way home.He had even forgotten that Xia Xiaolan’s surname was actually Xia. In his heart, he had already long since regarded her as one of his own.The joy in his chest was that the Liu family was about to produce a College student!Something to make them proud for generations.He agreed with the teacher, Xiaolan should go to school and attend classes normally.There were plenty of people who had repeated a year or two and still failed the exam. Since Xia Xiaolan had done well on the test, she could not become arrogant.She should go to school, focus all her energy on studying, and give it her best shot. Then maybe next year she could get into a good university.Liu Yong did not say much more. He planned to wait until Liu Fen and Li Fengmei came back, then put pressure on Xia Xiaolan together with them.
“Really!?”Liu Fen and Li Fengmei had been going from village to village buying eel. Since Xia Xiaolan had taken the bicycle, the two of them had to walk on foot.It had been a hard day’s work, but after hearing the good news at home, Liu Fen was so happy she could barely speak.The news was absolutely true. The teachers from County No. 1 High School had personally come to inform them that Xia Xiaolan had not only passed the transfer exam, but also had a very good chance of getting into college next year.“Go to school! Study hard. Mom will support you…”That was all Liu Fen could keep repeating.It made no sense, and her words were jumbled, but she was clearly too excited to think straight.To Liu Fen, life felt like a dream. Not long ago, her daughter had tried to kill herself, and the mother and daughter had been driven out of the Xia family with nothing.But Xia Xiaolan seemed to have changed overnight. Their lives had not gotten worse... they had only gotten better.The divorce had gone through, the household registration had been transferred, Xia Xiaolan had started making money from business, and all those small changes had slowly accumulated.And now, the County No. 1 High School teachers had brought the best news yet: Xia Xiaolan not only had a chance to go to college, her chances were excellent.A top university?That was too extravagant.Even a Junior College would be enough.Even a Vocational University.Xia Xiaolan’s fate would change.She had not even reported to County No. 1 High School yet, and Liu Fen was already imagining her brilliant future.Changing her destiny, getting a state-assigned job, transferring from rural to urban hukou, and holding an iron rice bowl...while cutting ties with all those ugly rumors!This future was still somewhat hazy, but it matched everything Liu Fen hoped for.Overcome with emotion, she covered her face and cried loudly.“Listen to your mom. Study hard. Don’t worry about the business. And even if something comes up, your old uncle is here. What are you afraid of?”“Yes, you child. We’re family. Don’t stand on ceremony.”Liu Yong and Li Fengmei took turns persuading her.Even Xia Xiaolan hesitated for a moment.Was she being too hasty?Maybe she should wait until after getting into college before worrying about business?No.In this stormy era, she was not one of those naturally brilliant people destined to shine no matter what.She only had a little more foresight than others from her later life. If she did not seize the moment, how could she achieve more than she had in her previous life?She had not come here to be a failure.Her wavering heart became firm again.Making money and going to school were not contradictory.To balance both, she would have to put in more effort.So what?She could do it.She hugged the sobbing Liu Fen tightly.“Mom, believe me.”
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