Chapter 185 The Eve of College Entrance Examination
Chapter 185 The Eve of College Entrance Examination
The next day was the day to collect admission tickets.
Everyone sat in the classroom, while Liu Jinmei watched them with a relaxed expression.
"Students, our three-year high school journey is about to end," Liu Jinmei said with reluctance, "In fact, I am really going to miss you all. I know you have had a bad impression of me these three years, and yes, I know you often call me a witch behind my back. But, it doesn't matter.
If strictness can motivate you to work hard, to make progress, and to get the best scores on your college entrance exams, then I would rather be condemned by everyone and be infamous... Students, for most people, there is only one chance to take the college entrance exam, and this opportunity is very important, so I hope you can unleash your full strength and achieve the best results, alright?"
In the classroom, many girls secretly started wiping away tears, and a group of usually boisterous boys fell silent too.
It turned out, the strictness of everyday was for their own good; even a stern gaze, a hardened face were for them to achieve good results. Liu Jinmei was indeed a responsible and good teacher. Many people thought so.
"Alright, now I will call out the names of the students who should come up to collect their admission tickets!" Liu Jinmei glanced at everyone and said, "On the last day of our three years in high school, I hope that you will give me a warm embrace, okay?"
"Yes!" Everyone nodded.
"Chen Zihan!" Liu Jinmei called out.
Chen Zihan stood up, her eyes rimmed red, tears already streaming down her face. She ran over and hugged Liu Jinmei tightly, saying earnestly, "Teacher Liu, you are the best teacher I've ever met, without exception. You are our teacher, yet you are like our mother!"
"Silly girl," Liu Jinmei smiled and said, "Do your best on the test, and don't let down the hard work of your teacher and classmates."
"Yeah!" Chen Zihan nodded.
"Jiang Xiaoliang!" Liu Jinmei called out.
Jiang Xiaoliang's face was also solemn and silent. His arm had healed, but as he was a direct-admit student, it didn't matter whether he took the college entrance exam or not. However, he insisted on taking the exam; he wanted to prove with his own scores that he could get into Tsinghua University.
"Teacher Liu, thank you for nurturing me for three years!" Jiang Xiaoliang gave Liu Jinmei a heartfelt embrace and bowed deeply before turning to leave.
Gratitude is the kindest, softest thing in everyone's heart.
Gratitude is the highest emotion unique to humans.
In the classroom, whether boys or girls, all cried uncontrollably. Chen Zihan hugged Xiao Han even tighter, weeping profusely. Xiao Han had no idea that Chen Zihan's tears were not because of the sentimental atmosphere in the classroom, but because of the imminent farewell.
This departure might mean years apart; this departure might be a forever goodbye; this departure might mean all promises turn to dust. Therefore, she was sad; she cried her heart out, taking the chance to vent.
Yang Xiaoyan was watching from not too far away, she was Chen Zihan's best friend, her closest confidante. She knew everything, but she had promised Chen Zihan that she wouldn't tell. In fact, Yang Xiaoyan was also in pain, torn between speaking out and keeping her promise. Looking back, she wished she had never heard Chen Zihan's confessions, as they only caused herself distress.
Especially now, as she saw Chen Zihan crying so bitterly.
"Fool, stop crying," Xiao Han said softly, trying to comfort.
"Yeah, I won't cry anymore," Chen Zihan nodded, wiping away her tears. Having cried like that, it seemed to make her feel much better.
After embracing every student in the class, Liu Jinmei's face was flushed. She adjusted her glasses on the bridge of her nose and then said, "Students, make sure to keep your admission tickets safe. Also, remember to bring your ID cards to the exam tomorrow. Lastly, I wish you all a successful exam and entry into your desired universities."
Rustle, rustle...
At the end, everyone stood up, and the classroom filled with a long-lasting round of applause. The fervor of the applause felt nearly melting; it was a display of care and an acknowledgement of the teacher. It was also an awakening for past immature acts. Everyone felt guilty for it.
After school, Chen Zihan stood at the school gate, looking at Xiao Han earnestly and said, "Xiao Han, we have college entrance exams tomorrow. Please, remember to do your best. Prove your love for me with your results, okay?"
"Yes!" Xiao Han nodded and said, "You too, prove your love for me with your scores!"
"I definitely will," Chen Zihan said seriously.
Then, Chen Zihan gave Xiao Han a gentle hug before turning to leave.
Watching Chen Zihan's retreating figure, suddenly, Xiao Han felt a chill breeze blow past his ear. It was as if it were the depths of winter, a withered yellow leaf falling from the sky, fluttering in front of Xiao Han, spinning around, then plunging into a muddy puddle of yellow water by the roadside.
"Why do I feel a faint sadness?" Xiao Han felt a shiver run through his body.
Xiao Han didn't understand why he felt this way. Could such a scene have triggered some dormant sadness deep inside him?
Just as Xiao Han was about to leave, Li Hengzhong happened to drive back from outside the school; he spotted Xiao Han standing at the school gate. He stopped the car, opened the door, dressed neatly in a Zhongshan suit, then looked at Xiao Han with a smile, "What? Has Chen Zihan left?"
"Yes," Xiao Han nodded.
"Ah..." Li Hengzhong sighed softly, then said, "The college entrance exam is tomorrow, you can't afford to slack off in the slightest."
"Don't worry, I will perform to my best!" Xiao Han said with a smile.
"Hehe, I have high expectations for you," Li Hengzhong sighed and continued, "Whether our school can get the top score in LJ city's college entrance exam this year depends entirely on you. I know you've been holding back your strength but, this is the college entrance exam, there's no need for you to hide it any longer."
"Hehe..." Xiao Han laughed awkwardly, then said, "You can count on me. But, does the promise you made me still stand?"
"Of course!" Li Hengzhong nodded and said, "I told you, as long as you achieve the top score in LJ city's college entrance exam, I will definitely give you a bonus. If you get the top score in the provincial exam, your bonus will be doubled. Additionally, I will help get your mother a permanent position at the Sanitation Bureau."
"Alright, it's a deal!" Xiao Han nodded.
The college entrance exam is China's most important diploma examination, as well as the most crucial entrance exam for colleges and universities. It is organized and scheduled by the Ministry of Education, with the exam papers set by the Ministry of Education's Examination Centre or the provincial examination institutes that have the authority to set their own exam papers.
The exam takes place on the seventh and eighth of June every year, with some provinces and cities extending it to three days due to different examination systems.
Equally, for many people, the college entrance exam is the only chance to change their fate. Many people find themselves unable to sleep the night before the exam, even shaking all over with nerves. Especially when walking into the examination hall, they become even more tense, more afraid, and more scared of the stage.
Xiao Han still seemed particularly calm.
Upon returning home, Mother Xiao had already prepared dinner, a plate of braised pork, a plate of poached eggs, a whole stewed chicken, along with several home-cooked dishes. This was a feast that could usually only be enjoyed during the New Year's celebration. The table was unusually free of pickled vegetables and fermented tofu.
As soon as he walked through the door, Xiao Han had already caught the strong, enticing aroma.
Entering the house, Xiao Han called out excitedly, "Mom, what a wonderful smell, so much food?"
"Isn't it!" Mother Xiao nodded repeatedly and said, "Tomorrow you're going into the examination room, I wanted to prepare a good meal for you. Only if you eat well will you have the strength for the exam tomorrow. Otherwise, where will you get the energy to go into battle?"
"Hehe..." Xiao Han sniffed, certainly very hungry by now.
He hurried over and excitedly grabbed a piece of the braised pork and popped it into his mouth, finding it both authentic and delicious.
"Delicious!" Xiao Han exclaimed with joy.
"If it's delicious, that's good," Mother Xiao quickly served the last plate of vegetables, then untied her apron and said with a smile, "Go wash your hands, it's time to eat."
"Okay!" Xiao Han dashed into the washroom.
Mother Xiao happily dished out the rice. As soon as Xiao Han came out, he couldn't wait to hug his bowl of rice, then devoured it. The food was especially tasty, incredibly abundant, and Xiao Han swept through three big bowls of rice in one go. Nearly all the pot of rice was eaten by Xiao Han. The braised pork, his favorite, and the chicken soup were mostly consumed by him as well.
"So full, too full," Xiao Han let out a satisfied belch.
Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire
"Are you full?" Mother Xiao had been watching Xiao Han eat all this time, hardly touching her own food.
"Mmhmm!" Xiao Han nodded and said, "Mom, why aren't you eating?"
"I am eating, I've been eating all along!" Mother Xiao laughed and then lovingly watched her only son, her only hope. Tomorrow he would finally enter the most intense competition of his life. If he passed the test, he would have prospects for success. If he failed, his life might become dim from then on.
"I'll go for a walk, I ate too much and need to digest," Xiao Han said with a laugh.
"Alright," Mother Xiao nodded.
After that, Xiao Han hurried out.
Xiao Han walked slowly towards the entrance of Fuxing Community. Across from the main door, the signboard of Hanmen Catering was especially eye-catching, and those glaring words constantly reminded passersby that this restaurant did good business. The cars parked at the entrance conveyed to everyone that customers were continuously coming and going.
"This restaurant does good business."
"Yeah, it's always full of cars."
"Indeed, the owner must be making a fortune. Wonder where they're from."
In summer, many people out for a walk stood by the roadside, watching the restaurant curiously. The colorful neon lights and glaring LED lights gave the place a high-class and distinctive décor.