CHAPTER 672: CHAPTER 671: STARTLING AWAKENING FROM A DEATHBED

In the midst of fervent enthusiasm, Chang Shihong’s calmness seemed out of place.

Even Wen Lan opened her eyes, looking at him doubtfully: "Aren’t you going to university?"

Chang Shihong was of the same age as Wen Lan, only a few months older, the right age to sit for university entrance exams.

Placing his lunchbox on the table beside her bed, Chang Shihong replied, "Why should I join in the excitement? I have a job, food, and drink. Why should I bother with university? That would be pointless."

He seemed as indifferent as a bystander.

Lin Nianhe and Wang Shumei exchanged looks, both seeing helplessness in each other’s eyes.

Chang Shihong has always done as he pleased; there was no moving him to do something he wasn’t interested in, not even by all the donkeys in the commune.

Lin Nianhe pondered that later, she would have to tell Su Yuncheng to inform Wong Xiao so he could mention it to Chang Jinzhong—after all, Uncle Chang had trusted them to look after his nephew, and he had to be told about something as important as the college entrance exams.

She had just picked up a piece of potato with her chopsticks and was about to eat it when she heard Wen Lan say, "Don’t tell me you’re scared you won’t pass, and that’s why you don’t dare to try?"

Chang Shihong, as if his secret thoughts had been exposed, suddenly became irritable: "What are you talking about? What can’t I pass?"

"Then why aren’t you taking the exam?" Wen Lan glared at him, "Scaredy-cat."

Chang Shihong: "...!"

You could call him idle, but scared?

He was not scared at all!

Wen Lan was delirious with fever, squinting as she continued to nag, "I thought you had backbone. Tsk... too scared to even partake in the college exams, yet you claim to be a tough guy..."

"Ha!"

Annoyed, Chang Shihong paced around the sickroom twice before glaring fiercely at Wen Lan: "You just wait, I’ll definitely do better than you!"

With that, he stormed off, forgetting even to take his lunchbox with him.

Lin Nianhe was dumbstruck: "Sister Lan, that was some brilliant use of reverse psychology."

Wang Shumei also nodded: "Indeed it was. If Xiaoxiao doesn’t study well in the future, I’ll have you scold her."

Sister Lan wore a puzzled expression: "What reverse psychology? I just think he’s a wimp."

Lin Nianhe: "..."

Wang Shumei: "..."

The fever from the chickenpox had caused Sister Lan, who was already impetuous, to become even more impulsive; it was not in her nature to concern herself with roundabout schemes. Sometimes, her words would be spoken half a minute before her brain processed them.

However, the outcome was good. Chang Shihong had gone to line up for books.

Yes, books.

Feng Yuanshan had started to prepare textbooks and exercise books five months prior; these were collected from before, which he was reluctant to burn or tear apart. With Wong Xiao indulging him, those ten-year-old textbooks were preserved in the warehouse.

Upon hearing the rumors that the college entrance exams would be reinstated, Feng Yuanshan began organizing those textbooks, hoping for the day that they could be distributed.

Today, his dream came true.

In fact, even without any solid news, he had been busy during this period—

Strengthening high school education under various guises, with frequent tests both major and minor;

Organizing studies and exams in the factories under the pretense of selecting cadres, the content of which was high school level;

And testing among the teachers to identify those with the best academic performance and the most teaching experience.

The young people lined up in front of the commune, perhaps for the rest of their lives, would never know that someone had worked tirelessly behind the scenes for their sake, graying their hair in the process.

Thanks to early preparations, Lan County acted particularly swiftly regarding the college entrance exams.

The news came out in the morning, the books were distributed in the afternoon, and the cram school for the college entrance exams was established by evening and immediately full.

Seeing that the four prepared high school classrooms were filled to capacity, with three or four students cramming into desks meant for two, and even more sitting in rows in the aisles, Feng Yuanshan became anxious.

"This won’t do. The college entrance exams are in December. At this rate, won’t a bunch of kids fall sick before the exam?"

He was so worried that he furrowed his brow, and just as he was about to suggest using the middle school for cram sessions too, Factory Director Ji arrived.

"Brother Feng, I’ve cleared out the newly built factory building for us. All the desks and such have been moved over. Come take a look with me, and I’ll arrange whatever is still needed!"

On a cool autumn night, Factory Director Ji was drenched in sweat.

Feng Yuanshan’s eyes lit up, but he still reminded him: "You need to think this through. The Gaokao is in December, and once we move in, we won’t be moving out. Can you afford the delay?"

"Hey, at most it means earning a bit less money," Factory Director Ji was quite open about it, "What are we making money for, if not to give the little bastards a better life? At my age, how much more can I eat?"

Saying so, he grabbed Feng Yuanshan and pulled him onto the small bus of the Lan County Textile Factory.

With the current strength of the textile factory, the factory director could have afforded a small car, but he did not want to show off – it was a five-minute walk from the family compound to the factory; with that money, he could do something more meaningful.

The factory building was in the east of the city and had just been completed, the sewing machines had all been brought in.

But now, the workshop was filled with rows of tables, imbued with the fragrance of food, as these were brought from the canteen. The enduring aroma had seeped into the wood and would not dissipate.

"Right next to it is the canteen," Factory Director Ji gestured grandly, "Let them come over. I’ll take care of the meals."

Feng Yuanshan looked at him and said, "Today, I’ve distributed over two thousand sets of books. Three months – can you cover that?"

He certainly knew the textile factory had the capability, but...

"It’s just for three months," Factory Director Ji jutted out his chin, "What can’t I afford? And I’ll say this: if anyone tries to give me money, I’ll be furious!"

Hearing his commitment, Feng Yuanshan felt relieved.

After thinking for a bit, he added, "A few days ago, I gave a lecture at Ten Miles Team. Brother Old Li said that, as their match factory is small and can’t support too many people, if a kid from Ten Miles Team gets into university, he’ll cover their tuition and living expenses."

Factory Director Ji: "Brother Feng, if you want money, just say it outright."

"Oh, I want money."

Factory Director Ji had also become more shrewd over the past two years. After pondering for one night, he drafted a regulation:

For any members of the Lan County Commune and educated youth—

Those admitted to Peking University or Tsinghua will be rewarded one thousand yuan by the Lan County Textile Factory;

Those admitted to other universities will be rewarded eight hundred yuan by the Lan County Textile Factory;

Those admitted to colleges will be rewarded five hundred yuan by the Lan County Textile Factory.

Additionally, if graduates return to work in Lan County after graduation, regardless of profession, the textile factory will provide three years’ worth of salary as a settlement fee and allocate housing.

Lin Nianhe was stunned upon reading the announcement in the hospital room.

Was this really the same Uncle Ji who used to follow the leaders around harmlessly and feel guilty for slighting anyone?

Surprised herself, her two young companions were even more astounded—they practically bounced off the hospital beds: "What? One thousand yuan!"

"Meizi, they’re giving us money for going to university. Has Uncle Ji gone mad?"

"He couldn’t have gone mad. Clearly, the leaders are worried about someone not having tuition and living expenses."

"One thousand yuan! How many clothes would I need to make for that?"

"That should be enough to buy a house in Beijing, right?"

"I’m not sure, but suddenly I really want to try for Peking University... I think my fever’s gone down!"

"What a coincidence, me too."

Lin Nianhe: "..."

One sits up in their deathbed, not resting until Peking or Tsinghua is won.