Chapter 41: Whereabouts of the Roommate

Yang Xingwu felt agitated for a long time after dwelling on these matters, so much so that he couldn't settle down to study during the final ten minutes of the first evening study session.

As soon as class ended, he ran frantically around the playground for several laps. Only after he finally slowed down did the heavy panting help distract him, allowing his excitement to gradually subside.

The impact of this news was simply too great for him. Though he was no longer young, he was still just an ordinary man, and his ability to maintain inner composure was not yet refined. Only through such cathartic running—tiring out his body—could he dissipate such a shock.

After finishing his run, Yang Xingwu walked slowly back to the classroom. He picked up his enamel mug, drank a few mouthfuls of water, and then returned to his seat to ponder.

For an ordinary person, the most influential figures one could ever encounter in life were those found in university lecture halls. In his previous life, he had only attended an average college, but during his elective courses, the instructors were experts in their respective fields. They were the highest-status people he had ever known!

If that was true in his past life, it was even more so in these early years since the restoration of the college entrance examination. Anyone capable of being a university professor at this time held multiple roles, possessed significant status, and had vast connections. For someone like him, who had no foundation to speak of, wasn't this the ultimate shortcut?

Thinking of this, Yang Xingwu felt even more motivated. He picked up his chemistry practice paper and began to work. Over the course of three study sessions, he completed three sets of papers, effectively gauging his baseline in physics, chemistry, and biology. After checking the answer keys, he could clearly sense the lack of standardization and the sloppiness of the test design; the simple questions were far too easy, and the difficult ones were overly complex.

After the evening study session ended, Yang Xingwu followed his roommates back to the dormitory and took two more sets of papers, intending to grind through them at night.

Once back in the dormitory, the four of them went to fetch water to wash up. The weather was sweltering, and the water from the hand pump was quite refreshing. They grabbed their towels and began scrubbing themselves down in the room.

"I heard the middle schools are going to be reformed in a couple of years, with separate years for junior and senior high?"

"So what if they are? As long as it doesn't interfere with our college entrance exam, it’s fine!"

"That’s true! Hey, Xingwu, why did you go to sleep so early last night?"

Hearing this, Yang Xingwu replied while wiping his shoulders.

"I was exhausted yesterday. I walked for seven or eight hours to get to school in the morning and didn't sleep at noon, so I couldn't even keep my eyes open during the evening study session! I must have been snoring quite loudly last night. I didn't disturb you guys, did I?"

"Not at all. I snore much louder than you do. We only snore when we're tired; it's not like we do it every day!"

"Exactly!"

Seeing his roommates expressing their understanding, Yang Xingwu took a jar of malted milk extract from his locker, brewed a mug, and placed the jar on the table.

"I caused you guys trouble yesterday, so I'm treating everyone to some malted milk!"

The three roommates were visibly tempted, but after a moment's thought, they declined.

"This was bought by your family to build up your health! We won't drink it. If you really want to treat us, wait until Sunday—just buy us some tofu!"

"Right, Jiefang is right. Malted milk is too precious. Tofu is great—cheap, nutritious, and a good source of protein!"

"Yeah! Xingwu, we're all so familiar with each other, no need for such formalities. It’s a pity Yuejin and Yuehua aren't here, or they'd be lecturing you again!"

"Alright, then when the tofu vendor comes on Sunday, we'll buy a big slab! By the way, do you guys know what happened to Yuejin and Yuehua?" Yang Xingwu asked his three roommates.

There were eight people living in their dorm, but four were eliminated after the preliminary exam. The three remaining were Li Aiguo, Zhang Jianye, and Liu Jiefang. Their names carried the distinct characteristics of the era. Liu Jiefang was the oldest among them, at twenty-two. The four who had left were Zhang Yuejin, Wang Yuehua, He Anmin, and Li Dingguo.

"What else could they be doing? Gone home to harvest wheat! You know how it is—if you don't get into university, you have to go home and farm. Scratching a living from the dirt for the rest of your life!"

Liu Jiefang spoke lightly, but the look of worry on his face did not diminish. Although they had passed the preliminary exam, they were far from confident about the actual college entrance exam. Beyond the current students, there were three remedial classes in the school—two for science and one for liberal arts—filled with people who had been repeating the year for two or three times. It was said that one "legendary" student had even taken the test five or six times! In such a climate, who dared to relax?

Yang Xingwu fell silent upon hearing this. The reality was harsh and helpless. It was precisely because of this social and historical context that the students' goals were so clear and pure: to pass the university entrance exam! Only in this way could they secure a government-provided livelihood.

"That's not necessarily true. If you have a good teacher, you can still find a path. I heard from Yuehua that he’s going to be a chemistry teacher at their county's junior high school!"

"Really? Is he that lucky?"

The group turned their attention to Zhang Jianye, who had spoken.

"Yuehua has always been great at chemistry! He scored a 90 on the preliminary exam! His junior high teacher knew he was good at it, and they just happened to be short-staffed. When his teacher found out Yuehua hadn't passed the preliminary cutoff for university, he recommended him to the principal! Yuehua took his scorecard to see the principal, who immediately decided to let him trial-teach for a few months. He’s teaching second-year chemistry now; if his results are good, they'll keep him on as a formal teacher!"

Zhang Jianye gave the three of them a detailed account of Wang Yuehua's situation. Liu Jiefang and Li Aiguo were filled with envy. They hadn't expected Wang Yuehua to have such a connection with his old teacher, and more importantly, that the teacher would think to tell him. If Wang Yuehua could hold onto that position, it would be far better than farming in the village. Even as a substitute teacher, earning a dozen yuan a month—barely more than what one could make from the soil—it was much easier work and wouldn't stop him from farming on the side. With outstanding teaching performance, he might even be able to get a permanent position, at which point his salary would start at twenty yuan! One could say Wang Yuehua's future was bright!

Yang Xingwu felt happy for Wang Yuehua and considered him lucky to have met such a teacher. Hearing about Wang Yuehua's life, Yang Xingwu was reminded of his own uncle. His uncle's experience was similar, except that he had actually been accepted into a junior college, only to have his spot usurped by someone else.

His uncle was a local celebrity in the surrounding villages. When people found out about his acceptance, matchmakers were sent by many families to offer their daughters' hands, hoping to secure a son-in-law who was a "would-be university student." His uncle was only nineteen at the time, full of youthful vigor, and treated the matter with disdain. Naturally, he also disdained attending such a lackluster college. After settling the matter privately, he spent two more years in remedial study, but the following year he was accepted into another junior college, and again he refused to go.

It wasn't until his third year, when he failed the entrance exam, that he stopped. Yang Xingwu didn't know the specific details of what happened afterward, only hearing from his mother that his uncle had been invited by his teacher to teach physics at the township middle school. He had been working there ever since, and now, in the blink of an eye, he was nearly at retirement age.

"Yuehua is indeed lucky! But how many people get an opportunity like that?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the dormitory fell into silence.