Chapter 7: I Am Not Deserving

Scoring 97 points in the interview, Li Xiuyuan felt a surreal lightness that lingered until he returned to the hotel. Such a high score was unprecedented; no matter how many points the third or fourth place candidates in the written test had surpassed him by, this impressive 97 in the interview alone was enough to surpass them all.

After packing his belongings and checking out, Li Xiuyuan took a bus home, feeling as if he were floating, like in a dream. The scenery along the way appeared unusually beautiful to him. At that moment, he could vaguely understand the saying, “Riding swiftly on a horse with the spring breeze at one’s back, one beholds all the blossoms of Chang’an in a single day.”

Though the original phrase referred to the nationwide top scorer who earned a seventh-rank official post—equivalent to a county magistrate or party secretary—Li Xiuyuan had only secured a position in the county government office. Still, he was already daydreaming about his first day on the job in this coveted core department of the county administration.

Everyone said that passing the civil service exam meant entering the officialdom, but that was nonsense. If one were assigned to a rural area, it might take ten years without even becoming a deputy division chief. That was not a career path—it was just a job. But working in the county government office, a central hub of local power, was truly stepping onto the path of officialdom.

In his previous life, Li Xiuyuan had wasted more than ten years in the countryside. This time, having obtained the golden ticket into official life, he was determined to witness the scenery he had never seen before.

Sitting on the bus with the warm spring breeze blowing, Li Xiuyuan thought to himself this was just the beginning.

When he arrived home, he finally suppressed his restless excitement. After putting away his things, taking a shower, and changing clothes, he went to the noodle shop his parents ran.

Zhang Qiuhua and Li Jianguo were delighted to see their son return. Zhang Qiuhua put down her cloth, poured him a glass of water, and softly asked, “How did the interview go?”

“Not bad,” Li Xiuyuan replied cautiously. Success was almost certain now, but until the official announcement came, and he received the employment notice, secrecy was essential.

Human nature could not withstand such tests. In his previous life, even though he stayed in the countryside, the small community was rife with gossip. He had learned the hard way that telling his parents was fine, but if they accidentally let it slip, trouble could arise.

Once, a colleague was on the verge of promotion after a leader’s conversation. In excitement, he told his wife, who inadvertently revealed it. Competitors then launched complaints and accusations, and the promotion fell through. Since then, many leaders avoided considering him for promotion, fearing more trouble.

“Not bad, then. Just think of it as gaining experience. Don’t worry, you can try again next year. Are you hungry? I’ll have your dad make some noodles for you,” Zhang Qiuhua said, misunderstanding his cautious words as a sign of failure.

She thought it was normal—his written test score was mediocre, he barely made it to the interview, had no preparation, and was still recovering from heartbreak. It was no wonder the interview didn’t go well.

“Okay,” Li Xiuyuan nodded.

As Zhang Qiuhua stepped away, a familiar customer at a nearby table chuckled and asked, “Xiuyuan, I heard you and your girlfriend broke up?”

Their noodle shop was right at the entrance of their residential community, and most customers were locals. The woman asking was Aunt Wang, who lived in the building next door.

Aunt Wang worked at the community committee with a permanent position, known as the neighborhood’s gossip hub and loudspeaker. If she knew something, the entire community knew it too. Her information was always surprisingly accurate; she was well-informed about almost everything happening locally.

“Yes, Aunt Wang. We broke up,” Li Xiuyuan answered honestly.

“Xiuyuan, Auntie wants to tell you it’s okay not to pass this time. The position you applied for is very popular. Honestly, aiming for the county government office is a bit ambitious. Many young people in the county, with strong skills or connections, scramble to get transferred there. Everyone knows it’s a great unit—close to the leaders and quick promotions—but it’s not for ordinary people. Not passing is the norm.”

Li Xiuyuan nodded silently. It was harsh but true.

“Next year, apply for a regular position. A colleague of mine has a daughter about your age. If she passes, I can introduce you two,” Aunt Wang suggested kindly.

Li Xiuyuan’s lips twitched. He said nothing, but inwardly he scoffed. How realistic! The colleague’s daughter could only be introduced if he passed. So, if he didn’t, he wasn’t worthy? Was there some reproductive isolation between civil servants and ordinary people? Could he not even meet others if he failed?

Just then, Zhang Qiuhua brought out a bowl of noodles and, displeased, glanced at Aunt Wang without greeting her.

Her son had just failed the provincial exam and was heartbroken from the breakup. Aunt Wang kept bringing it up, deliberately hitting a sore spot.

Sensing the awkwardness, Aunt Wang sheepishly smiled and explained, “Qiuhua, please don’t misunderstand. I meant no harm—just trying to encourage Xiuyuan.”

“Thank you for your concern, Aunt Wang. But Xiuyuan doesn’t have to be a civil servant. Even if he doesn’t pass, there are other jobs. We’ve run this noodle shop for years and have lived well. He just didn’t do well on the exam; it’s not a reflection of his character,” Zhang Qiuhua replied firmly.

Though usually gentle and welcoming to customers, when it came to her son, she was fiercely protective.

“Yes, Qiuhua is right,” Aunt Wang agreed awkwardly. Having finished eating, she quickly paid and left, though only she knew what she truly thought.

After she left, Li Xiuyuan tried to comfort his mother. “Mom, no need to take it personally. It’s not worth getting angry over people like her.”

“I just can’t stand her—talking about being too ambitious. My son is not someone she can mock,” Zhang Qiuhua said, looking at her son with concern.

Li Xiuyuan said nothing, lowering his head to eat. Since Lin Jingya had publicly broken up with him, rumors had surely spread around the community.

He just needed to endure a little longer. Once the official announcement came and he received his acceptance letter, the gossip would fade like the wind.

Meanwhile, outside the noodle shop on the street, a bus slowly passed by. At a window seat, a striking young woman looked intently at the shop’s sign, lost in thought.

“Jingya, what are you thinking about? Could it be your ‘Ramen Prince,’ Li Xiuyuan?” a voice teased from beside her. The girl was none other than Lin Jingya, fresh from the provincial exam interview.