SIAS Chapter 6.2

As soon as she entered the home, Yi Qingqing saw Liu Meili leaning against her door. She frowned, “Sister-in-law, what are you doing?”

Liu Meili was startled when she saw that it was her, “Why did you make such a noise so suddenly? You scared me!”

“Who told you to be sneaky?” Yi Qingqing replied.

“Qingqing, come in quickly!”

Zhao Xianglan’s voice came from her room.

Why was her mother already back? Still in her room? It was not time to get off work at the factory yet!

Yi Qingqing pushed the door open and went in, “Mom, why are you back so early?”

Liu Meili also came over to take a peek, but Yi Qingqing closed the door too quickly, and Liu Meili almost hit the door panel.

“Ignore that short-sighted person. I’m afraid that she saw me packing your things and wanted to see what I got for you.” Zhao Xianglan spat toward the door. “You are leaving tomorrow. I asked for two hours of leave. I will come back early to sort out your things. Come here quickly!”

“There are so many things. It’s hard for a girl like you to carry so many things after taking such a long train ride. Fortunately, it’s not autumn yet, so your clothes can be lighter.”

Zhao Xianglan added and pointed to the side. “This larger package contains slightly thinner bedding, a change of clothes, and some daily necessities. It looks big, but it’s actually not heavy. You can bear it.”

“This pile is not urgently needed, including the thicker new quilt and your winter coat. Mom will send it to you next week at the latest. Remember to go to the post office to pick it up in time and write back a letter to explain the situation there. If you are not doing well, Mom will try my best to find a way for you to return to the city.” Zhao Xianglan was full of worry.

She lowered her voice and said, “Here’s the big baggage. Don’t open it until you settle down there. There is a biscuit box with biscuits on the top and the money I prepared for you underneath. But, you have to keep it safe.”

“When you get there, your valuables must be locked up. I’ve also bought a lock for you and put it in a big package. If you sleep alone in a room, hang the lock on the door; if you live with others, hang it on the box where valuables are stored.”

“You will use this small package on the road. It contains small daily necessities and a pound of candy. You can use this to get closer to the villagers or other educated youth. I will also put the dry food in it when the time comes.”

“There are only a few ration coupons, and they will expire soon. Your brother secretly gave me these twenty yuan yesterday and asked me to give it to you. He is not at ease to give it to you directly, which caused trouble with your sister-in-law.”

“When you get there, buy whatever you need by yourself. When you use up all of it, Mom will send it to you again with a letter. Live your life well.”

“You must not have too much contact with unmarried men of the same age in the countryside, so as not to suffer losses. You must not be like your Aunt Wang’s daughter, who married a countryman because she was afraid of hard work. If she can’t come back then, her parents will be so sad…”

Yi Qingqing hugged her mother’s arm and rested her head on her mother’s neck. Her voice was a little muffled.

“Mom, I understand. Don’t worry. In a few years, I will definitely be able to pass the college entrance examination and return to the city on my own. I will also bring you happiness when the time comes!”

Zhao Xianglan laughed until she burst into tears. Her silly girl, she had no chance to take the college entrance examination, so how could she still go to university? And didn’t she know about her academic results?

Even if the college entrance examination had not been canceled, it would be difficult for her to pass it!

However, it was a good thing that her daughter was ambitious. If she was ambitious, she would not be trapped in that rural place, so she also happily agreed, “Okay, my daughter is ambitious. Mom is waiting to enjoy your blessing!”

“Mom, Zhigang and the others are coming back soon, and the food hasn’t been cooked yet!” Liu Meili couldn’t hear their sound for a long time, so she couldn’t help but knock on the door.

Zhao Xianglan wiped her eyes and said, “See for yourself. Mom is out.”

She opened the door and went out, cursing, “Why are you urging me? Why can’t you cook? The new daughter-in-law still asks her mother-in-law for food every day. Do you want to lose face?”

“Am I not pregnant with your Yi family’s grandson?” Liu Meili touched her slightly protruding belly.

*****

Translator’s Little Encyclopedia

College Entrance Examination (Part 2)

During the next ten years, the Down to the Countryside Movement, initiated by Mao Zedong, forced both senior and junior secondary school graduates, the so-called “educated youths”, to work as farmers in countryside villages. Against the backdrop of world revolution, millions of such young people joined the ranks of farmers, working and living alongside them.

In the early 1970s, Mao Zedong resumed the operation of universities. However, new students were selected through evaluation by a revolutionary committee rather than through formal academic scores. This practice continued until the death of Mao in September 1976.

In late 1977, Deng Xiaoping, then under Hua Guofeng, the heir apparent of Mao, officially resumed traditional examinations based on academics, the National Higher Education Entrance Examination, which has continued to the present day.

The first such examination after the Cultural Revolution took place in late 1977. There was no limit on the age or official educational background of examinees. The youngest were in their early teens and the oldest were in their late thirties.

The examinations took place in the winter of 1977, and the exam questions were designed by each province individually. A total number of 5.7 million candidates took the national college entrance exam. Initially, only 200,000 people were to be admitted to college.

Although the Ministry of Education eventually expanded enrollment, with admissions being granted to a total number of 272,971 students, the admission rate of 4.8% was the lowest in the history of the PRC. These students are known as the Class of 1977.

(Source: Wikipedia)

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