Chapter 40: Xiao Heshuo Receives Good News
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Xiao Heshuo froze for a moment before understanding what the principal meant.
“My wife and I aren’t planning to have children for the time being, Principal. You needn’t worry.”
The principal scratched his head and said somewhat apologetically, “I hope you won’t take offense at my asking.”
He let out a soft sigh. “You may not know this, but some students stop attending school halfway through—not because they’ve gone home to get married, but because they’ve become pregnant. After that, they never return.”
“Some of them have excellent grades and could easily continue on to high school.”
“But their families refuse outright. They insist that getting married and having children is the most important thing for a woman, and that studying doesn’t matter.”
He truly pitied those girls. In the prime of their youth, they were confined to their homes to bear children and do housework, losing all sense of self.
Xiao Heshuo glanced at Yan Ziyue, who was diligently working through the test, and said to the principal, “My wife really wants to study. I plan to wait until she finishes her education before we consider those things.”
There was still one hurdle between him and Yan Ziyue.
Only after they crossed it would the two of them have a true future together.
The principal was relieved.
Then he leaned slightly toward Xiao Heshuo and lowered his voice. “I’ve recently received some inside information. The national college entrance examination is going to be reinstated!”
Xiao Heshuo’s eyes lit up, and a trace of excitement surfaced in his voice. “Principal, is that really true?”
The principal nodded firmly. “It’s true!”
“The only uncertainty is that no one knows exactly which year it will return.”
He ventured a guess. “Most likely within the next few years.”
“If you want to attend university, start reviewing your middle- and high-school textbooks and knowledge as soon as possible. Try to pass the exam on your first attempt.”
“When the entrance examination is reinstated, the number of candidates in the first year will be the smallest. Every year after that, the number will only increase.”
Xiao Heshuo clenched his fists and solemnly thanked the principal. “I’ll begin reviewing as soon as I get home.”
One of his wishes was to attend university.
His second was to return to that family and reclaim everything that belonged to him.
…
After Yan Ziyue finished the test, she checked it several times before handing the paper to the principal with both hands. “Could you please grade it for me, Principal?”
The principal picked up a fountain pen filled with red ink from his desk and sat down to mark her answers. “Let me have a look.”
Yan Ziyue’s palms soon grew clammy with sweat, and her entire body became rigid.
There were several questions she hadn’t been able to solve. She didn’t know whether she could pass the entrance examination for middle school.
“Don’t worry.” Xiao Heshuo held her hand and comforted her gently. “Didn’t we agree?”
“If you don’t pass this time, there’s always next time. Isn’t that right?”
Yan Ziyue forced an awkward smile. “But I’m still so nervous. My heart is pounding.”
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As if it might leap right out of her chest at any moment.
Xiao Heshuo took a handkerchief from his trouser pocket and wiped the sweat from her palm. “Take a deep breath and slowly calm yourself.”
Yan Ziyue drew several deep breaths, doing her best to steady her emotions. She hoped she would pass this time.
After several minutes of waiting, the principal finished grading the test.
He set down the paper and fountain pen, then smiled at Yan Ziyue. “You’ve just barely reached the level required to enter middle school.”
“You have two choices. The first is to study at home for a while and take the test again. That way, once you start school, you’ll be able to keep up with the lessons.”
“The second is to begin attending school now, though it will be more difficult for you.”
“Which would you prefer?”
Yan Ziyue’s entire body relaxed, leaving her somewhat exhausted.
After thinking it over, she looked determined. “Principal, I want to start school now!”
“I’ll work very hard. I won’t hold the class back.”
She had worked so hard to obtain this opportunity to study. She would cherish it all the more.
The principal was not surprised by her decision. “All right!”
“Today is Thursday. Come to school next Monday and attend Class Three of the first year.”
“Will you commute from home or live at school?”
Yan Ziyue had already made up her mind. “I’ll commute.”
“Don’t worry, Principal. I won’t be late or leave early.”
The principal would never force students to live at school. After all, every student’s family circumstances were different, and not everyone could stay on campus.
“Then just arrive at school before nine o’clock next Monday morning.”
He stood up. “I’ll take you to collect your textbooks and exercise books.”
“Oh, right. Middle school includes English classes. Ask your husband to teach you when you get home. His English is excellent.”
Yan Ziyue glanced at Xiao Heshuo several times in surprise, then smiled at the principal. “All right. I’ll ask my husband to teach me more English when we get home.”
“Come to think of it, all the progress I’ve made is thanks to my husband teaching me.”
The principal burst into laughter. “With your husband teaching you, you’ll master English in no time.”
“English is a wonderful thing. It’s practically another skill, and it should make finding work easier in the future.”
Yan Ziyue didn’t know whether being good at English would really make it easier to find a job. In her previous life, she had never had the chance to study English or come into contact with any of this. Every day, she had been wholly occupied with Xu Lecheng and the Yan family.
The principal led Yan Ziyue and Xiao Heshuo to the storeroom to collect her textbooks, then took the couple to meet Yan Ziyue’s homeroom teacher.
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“This is Teacher Zhang, the homeroom teacher of Class Three in the first year,” he introduced them. “Teacher Zhang, this is Yan Ziyue. She’ll be joining your class next Monday.”
Teacher Zhang was a middle-aged woman who wore glasses and dressed in somewhat drab clothing.
At his words, she pushed up her glasses and shook Yan Ziyue’s hand warmly. “Welcome, welcome.”
“I teach Chinese. The mathematics and English teachers are both in class right now. Once you come next Monday, I’ll introduce you to them.”
Yan Ziyue greeted her respectfully. “Hello, Teacher Zhang.”
Teacher Zhang’s first impression of her was excellent. “The lessons for this term are nearly finished, so I don’t think you’ll need to take the final examination.”
“For now, preview the material at home. Once you begin attending classes, follow along with our review. We’re already in the revision period.”
She calculated the time. “During the summer vacation, review everything carefully at home and try your best to keep up when the new term begins.”
There were quite a few students Yan Ziyue’s age who began school at this time of year, so Teacher Zhang did not find it unusual.
Only then did Yan Ziyue remember that the term was almost over.
She had entered halfway through. Unless she worked hard in her spare time, she would struggle to keep up.
“All right, Teacher Zhang. I’ll study the material carefully at home.”
Teacher Zhang was very pleased by her attitude. She handed Yan Ziyue a stack of study materials and test papers. “Preview the lessons first. If there’s anything you don’t understand, mark it and ask the teacher about it on Monday.”
“Take your time with the materials.”
“There’s no need to rush through the tests. Once you’ve thoroughly understood one unit, complete that unit’s test paper.”
She offered some reassurance. “Although you started studying late, don’t be anxious.”
“Many people achieve success later in life.”
Yan Ziyue thanked her repeatedly. Clutching the textbooks, study materials, and test papers carefully in her arms, she was filled with joy. In this life, she could finally continue her education as she had always wished.
After leaving the middle school, she and Xiao Heshuo walked toward the bus stop.
“Husband, could you help me preview the middle-school material when we get home?” Yan Ziyue gazed at him hopefully.
Xiao Heshuo nodded. “We’ll eat first when we get home. Afterward, I’ll help you study.”
As it happened, he also needed to review the middle-school material in preparation for the college entrance examination.
Yan Ziyue had just said, “You’re so good to me, darling,” when she caught sight of a familiar figure out of the corner of her eye.
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