After learning about the situation, Lin Zhen directly put out word that he would notify everyone if he came across any job openings in the future, but he also asked everyone not to disturb their family’s life.
After that, fewer people frequently visited Lin Zhen’s home.
“What’s going on with those educated youths? They’ve been going out less and less lately. What are they all doing holed up at home?”
“Who knows? Did you see that article Song wrote last time? It was about our brigade’s hard work, and there was even a photo of my back while I was harvesting wheat.”
“Yeah, yeah, we saw it. You’ve mentioned it like eight hundred times already.”
“Did any of you buy the newspaper today? Nothing much has happened in the brigade lately—it’s getting a bit boring.”
“We should ask those who went to town today.”
“Let’s go together. I’ve started liking reading the newspaper too—you can learn a lot from it.”
“Wait, you can read now?”
“Honestly, I’ve picked up a few characters from reading the newspaper.”
Laughing and chatting, they headed to the village entrance. The group that had gone to town should be returning soon.
They didn’t have to wait long before the Ping’an Brigade’s ox cart came swaying into view.
But before the cart could even get close, someone excitedly jumped off.
“Great news, great news! The college entrance exams are being restored! The college entrance exams are being restored!!!”
A young man waved a newspaper in his hand, grinning from ear to ear.
“The exams are coming back!”
This news was like a drop of water in a hot oil pan—it instantly caused an uproar.
“What? The exams are being restored? Is it true?”
“Let me see, quick, show me!”
The restoration of the college entrance exams was significant for some, but for most, it was just something to get excited about.
Once the news was confirmed, many people calmed down.
“So what if they’re restored? Passing is another matter. Even if someone becomes a college student, what’s the use?”
“What’s the use? You’re so short-sighted! Nowadays, many factories consider education level when hiring. High school graduates and college students have a better chance of being selected.”
“Really? Then I should push my kids to study harder.”
“What are you thinking? Do you think factory job openings will be shared with us?”
So far, the only recruitment channel they knew of was through Lin Zhen.
But the transport station rarely hired, and applicants had to know how to drive.
Could schools teach them how to drive?
“It’s been so long since anyone studied. The newspaper says the exams will start on December 10. Can anyone even pass now?”
“Might as well try. If they succeed, it’ll be like striking gold.”
“The younger ones should study hard too. Now that the exams are back, doing well could make them college students someday.”
“But how much will that cost?”
Some worried about the expense and didn’t want their children to study.
“I’ll only let Yaozhu study. The girls are older—what’s the point of them studying? There’s too much work at home. If they all go to school, who will do the chores?”
This was clearly a sexist remark.
The brigade leader, who was in the crowd, couldn’t help but frown.
Clearly, many people shared this mindset—worried about money and needing someone to handle household chores.
The favored children would be sent to study, while the less favored would stay behind to help at home.
The brigade leader took a drag of his cigarette and sighed. He didn’t know how to handle this situation—after all, he couldn’t force people to send their children to school.
The brigade leader had learned about the restoration of the college entrance exams earlier than anyone else in the brigade.
Song Wei and Lin Zhen had informed the educated youths, and naturally, they had also told the brigade leader’s family and Great Uncle’s family.
However, neither family had anyone planning to take the exams.
Setting other matters aside, the restoration of the exams was undoubtedly exciting and uplifting.
Those in the brigade who had previously received an education, especially those who had attended high school, were growing restless.
“By the way, we should inform the educated youths about this,” someone said.
The brigade leader interjected, “I’ll handle it. The rest of you, go about your business.”
He was worried that if someone else delivered the news, the educated youths might accidentally reveal that Lin Zhen and Song Wei had known about it earlier. If the brigade found out that Lin Zhen and Song Wei had shared the news with the educated youths but not with everyone else, it could cause significant conflict.
It wasn’t that Lin Zhen and Song Wei didn’t want to share the news—it was that they couldn’t.
If they had told the brigade, the information wouldn’t have remained confidential.
How could they explain having known about it so far in advance? That would have been difficult to justify.
Those who wanted to take the exams scrambled to find textbooks, hoping to make one last push.
A few days later, the educated youths produced a set of high school textbooks, claiming they had been sent by Gao Le and Zhao Su.
The people of Ping’an Brigade believed them and began studying diligently using those textbooks.
Compared to their luck in finding textbooks, many others were desperately searching without success, particularly the educated youths.
They were desperate to leave the countryside and return to the city.
Even at home, Song Wei overheard plenty of gossip related to the educated youths.
For example, a married educated youth in a neighboring brigade wanted to take the exams, but her husband’s family firmly opposed it, fearing she would abandon her child and husband if she left.
This wasn’t limited to female educated youths—married male educated youths faced similar situations.
However, male educated youths had an advantage.
Many were allowed to take the exams by promising to bring their wives and children to the city if they succeeded.
Some might genuinely care about their families, but others were outright scoundrels.
If they passed the exams and left for another city, it would be like finding a needle in a haystack for the wives’ families to track them down.
“It seems like things will be chaotic for a while,” Song Wei remarked after hearing all this gossip.
Lin Zhen nodded. “It’s inevitable.”
He had a long-term perspective. Even without knowing the future, he could guess some of what might happen based on current events.
In December, the highly anticipated college entrance exams began.
All the students flocked to the reopened schools.
The first exams since their restoration were underway.
The weather was bitterly cold, and the snow was thick, but nothing could dampen their determination to take the exams.
Many parents accompanied their children to the exam sites, but Song Wei only saw the educated youths off at the village entrance—she didn’t dare go farther.
After all, she had two children with her.
The educated youths exchanged blessings and words of encouragement before resolutely heading toward their “future,” smiles on their faces despite the cold.
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