Rebirth 1977 Great Era

Chapter 1174 The 1978 College Entrance Examination Scene: Director Chen, So Nervous He's Possessed by Evil (Bonus Chapter for Monthly Tickets)

On July 20th, not only were the traditional Chinese medicine practitioners from Fangyan, but also the Western medicine practitioners from Peking Union Medical College Hospital were present. There was a Peking Union Medical College Hospital ambulance parked outside each examination room, along with two traditional Chinese medicine practitioners, two Western medicine practitioners, and six nurses.

The exam room that Fang Yan is in charge of today is the same one that Director Chen is taking, which is the affiliated high school of the Normal University.

In addition, there are several other examination venues, such as No. 4 Middle School, Jingshan School, No. 8 Middle School, No. 5 Middle School, and No. 31 Middle School.

Meng Jimin is a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner who also speaks dialects.

The other two were Western doctors dispatched from the emergency department of Peking Union Medical College Hospital.

They and the nurses arrived in an ambulance, while Fang Yan and Meng Jimin rode together in Fang Yan's car.

1978 was the second year since the resumption of the college entrance examination. Today seemed much hotter than yesterday; the sun had already scorched the car interior by early morning, as if even the heavens were boiling over with excitement for this exam that would change the fate of countless people. Driving through the streets, I saw people everywhere heading to take the exam, and the whole city was filled with an atmosphere of tension yet hope.

The banner that Fang Yan used last year, which read "Please let the country choose freely," has been pulled up again on the street.

Meng Jimin and his younger brother, who were not originally going to take the college entrance examination, seemed to be infected by the atmosphere and suddenly became a little nervous.

Meng Jimin directly complained:

"I don't take any exams, but seeing these banners and the expressions on these people's faces makes me feel like I'm back in the college entrance exam period."

The younger brother also said:
"Me too, I feel my heart racing and my palms are sweating."

Fang Yan was speechless and said to them:

"You're all college students, what's there to be nervous about..."

Meng Jimin said:
"It's not that I'm nervous. I wasn't this nervous when I took the postgraduate entrance exam ten days ago. Humans are really social animals. When others are nervous, you can't help but be nervous too. If you weren't nervous at all, then I wasn't nervous at all either."

Upon hearing Meng Jimin's words, the younger brother smiled and said:

"Haha, Brother Meng, is there really such a saying?"

Meng Jimin said:
"Of course, so you see how important it is to have a friend who is strong and has a stable mindset, right?"

When their car arrived outside the examination hall, Fang Yan and the others saw that Director Chen's Jeep was already parked on the street corner.

The alleyway leading to the entrance of the affiliated high school of the Normal University was already completely blocked by crowds.

At this moment, the red banners on the utility poles on both sides of the alley read "Please let the country choose freely" and the slogan next to them read "One red heart, two preparations".

Several street officials wearing red armbands were standing on tiptoe to maintain order.

The area around the gray wall was crowded with test takers. Some squatted under the locust tree, engrossed in their crumpled review materials, while others paced around with their hands behind their backs, muttering to themselves as they memorized their notes, beads of sweat streaming down their faces.

Whether it was due to stress or the hot weather, some people appeared to be dehydrated.

Fang Yan said to Meng Jimin:
"Have some cooling soup prepared on site. It's very hot today, and if they don't replenish their fluids after sweating so much, they might run into problems later."

Meng Jimin nodded and immediately went to discuss the matter with the person in charge.

The white ambulance from Peking Union Medical College Hospital, its warning lights flashing, was parked in an open space fifty meters away from the school gate. The newly pasted "College Entrance Examination Medical Support" lettering on the vehicle was curled up from the sun.

The nurses were busy taking Huoxiang Zhengqi Water, cooling oil, and medicated oil from the car and placing them on the table next to the car.

When they saw Fang Yan approaching, they all greeted him.

"Director Fang!"

"Hello, Director Fang!"

"Director Fang is here!"

"Thank you all for your hard work," Fang Yan said to everyone.

Then he ordered some Huoxiang Zhengqi Water:
"We've prepared enough of the non-alcoholic, improved version for test takers so they don't feel drowsy after drinking it. There are two types of menthol balm: a strong mint flavor for them to stay alert, and a milder flavor for those who are prone to allergies."

When turning to his Western medicine colleagues at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, he deliberately slowed his speech:
“Let’s divide the work and build a bridge: if a candidate suddenly feels dizzy or has heart palpitations, let Dr. Meng and his team take their pulse and examine their tongue to determine whether it’s heatstroke or stress. Traditional Chinese medicine can make accurate diagnoses, and then we can discuss how to help them.”

"Of course, I hope everything goes smoothly today and that nothing happens to us."

The two Western-trained doctors from the emergency department nodded repeatedly.

Fang Yan had saved their department director Liu's life, so they dared not disregard his words.

Then, Fang Yan glanced at the parents around him who were seeing their children off to the exam, and added:
"When the exam bell rings, let's keep things quiet here. If parents are anxious, we'll offer them a glass of cool water. We're here not only to protect the students' health, but also to support them."

Everyone nodded.

After finishing his explanation, Fang Yan led his younger brother toward Director Chen's car.

Director Chen and his wife Sun Jialin were sitting next to the car, studying intensely. This was a completely different state from when they were giving up last year.

Fang Yan clearly sensed that Director Chen's attitude had changed. That makes sense. Last year, he was just planning to take the exam for fun, but he missed the mark by just one point. This year, he should be able to pass by trying harder.
Fang Yan and his younger brother walked up to them, seemingly unaware that the couple had noticed them. Sun Jialin was still asking Director Chen questions, mentioning that this year's exams would be held over three days.

The first subject is Politics and Chinese Language, with Politics in the morning and Chinese Language in the afternoon.

At this moment, Sun Jialin is testing Chen Dadao on his political science skills.

Sun Jialin clutched a yellowed political review outline in his hand, his fingers flying across the line "Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth":
“Tell me again the significance of this statement. I made you memorize it yesterday. Don’t mix it up with ‘seeking truth from facts’ again.”

Director Chen squatted beside the jeep's wheels, a folded notebook spread out on his lap, beads of sweat dripping from his forehead onto the pages.

He scratched the back of his head, his voice a little anxious:
"I remember... it was to break down dogmatism? No, last time you said it was related to the great debate on the criteria of truth..."

"It's a breakthrough for ideological liberation!" Director Chen suddenly remembered and slapped his thigh, exclaiming.

Just then, he saw Fang Yan and his little brother standing to the side and exclaimed in surprise, "Wow!"

"Brother Fang, Xiao Chen is here!"

"Studying?" Fang Yan said to him with a smile.

Before Director Chen could respond, Sun Jialin said from the side:
"He's too nervous. He was fine before, but today he's acting like he's possessed. I have a feeling he won't do well on the test again."

Fang Yan glanced at Sun Jialin; it was obvious that she was putting immense pressure on Director Chen, making him seem as if he were under a spell.

Fang Yan said to Sun Jialin:
“He had studied very well before, but his performance is not normal now. That’s psychological pressure. What he needs to do now is not to study, but to relax as soon as possible.”

Director Chen said:
"I...I can't relax!"

Fang Yan took out a box of sea dragon needles from his bag:
"I'll give you two injections and you'll relax."

Director Chen was taken aback, but then, thinking of Fang Yan's medical skills, he immediately agreed.

"Come on, while there's still time, hurry up and give me a good treatment, give me as many as possible!"

The dialect is both funny and exasperating; what does "多扎点" mean?
However, he still said to Director Chen:
"Let's go to the sunshade over by the ambulance; it's too hot here."

Director Chen nodded immediately, with Sun Jialin following closely behind, muttering to himself:

"Won't you feel sleepy after getting your hair cut? I can't fail my political exam."

"Don't worry, it won't happen," Fang Yan said to her.

Once under the sunshade, Fang Yan opened the needle case, had Director Chen sit on a small stool, and pressed his hand against the Neiguan acupoint on the inside of Chen's wrist.
"Relax, don't be tense."

Director Chen craned his neck and stared at the needle tip: "I'm not nervous, really... Hey!" Before he could finish speaking, the sea dragon needle had already gently pierced his skin. He instinctively wanted to pull his hand away, but Fang Yan pressed him down: "Don't move, this acupoint can calm the mind."

Fang Yan took another needle and gestured near the Anmian acupoint behind Director Chen's ear:

"This doctor is so good at calming the nerves. Before this year's postgraduate entrance exam, one candidate was so nervous that he couldn't hold his pen. After the doctor treated him, he was able to write again immediately."

As he spoke, the needle in his hand pierced the skin and entered the acupoint. Director Chen felt a sharp pain and suddenly burst out laughing:
"Hey? Why does this spot feel a little itchy?"

"Once the Qi and blood flow smoothly, you won't feel tense anymore." Fang Yan twisted the end of the needle as she inserted it.

“Come on, take a deep breath with me!” Fang Yan said to him.

Then Fang Yan instructed Director Chen to adjust his breathing. With each breath, he felt the tension in his body receding like a tide, and his mind suddenly came alive.

Fang Yan then massaged several acupoints on his head, and Director Chen immediately felt relaxed all over.

"Come on, test me again. I feel like I'm fine now."

Fang Yan was speechless and said to him:
"You can use that energy to prepare for the exam later."

Director Chen had originally planned to show off, but was interrupted while casting his spell, leaving him somewhat embarrassed.

"I really feel like my mind is much clearer now, and that helps."

Fang Yan glanced at his watch and said:
"As long as it's useful, just do your best later. It won't be long before we enter the exam room."

As soon as he finished speaking, Meng Jimin walked over and said to Fang Yan:

"The school has already asked the cafeteria to start preparing, and the soup should be here in a little while."

"Okay!" Fang Yan nodded.

Meng Jimin and Director Chen were old acquaintances. Fang Yan got to know the Chen family through Meng Jimin. After they finished speaking, they greeted each other.

It's funny, everyone took the exam together last year, and only Director Chen failed. Today, everyone has come to watch him take the exam again.

After a while, the cooling soup was served, and there were many cups ready. Once one person finished drinking, the next person would drink. Unless you brought your own cup, you would have to make do.

However, this still provided a boost of hydration for many students who were already so stressed they were somewhat dehydrated.

They lined up to drink soup.

Hearing the students' expressions of gratitude, the school officials also felt that the soup had indeed come at the right time.

By the time most people had had their drinks, it was almost time.

"Attention all candidates, there are 15 minutes remaining before the start of the Political Science exam. Please bring your admission ticket, pen, and other stationery, and enter the examination room in an orderly manner." The loudspeaker announced, "After entering the examination room, please take your seats according to your assigned number and place your admission ticket in the upper left corner of your desk for inspection. Bringing any books, newspapers, or draft paper into the examination room is prohibited; violators will be treated as cheating."

The broadcast paused for two seconds, as if to allow the test takers to process the information, before resuming:

"Whispering, looking around, and passing notes are strictly prohibited in the examination room. If you encounter any printing problems with the exam paper, please raise your hand to signal the invigilator; do not ask other candidates for help. Please abide by the examination rules, remain calm, and we wish you all the best in achieving your desired results."

"Jingle Bell……"

As soon as the last sentence was uttered, a crisp electric bell rang from inside the school gate, startling the cicadas on the locust tree into a commotion.

The cadres wearing red armbands immediately stood on both sides of the passageway:

"Candidates, please line up! Take your time! Don't push!"

Under the gray wall, the students closed their review materials. Some stuffed the pages into their pockets, while others silently recited a few last words to the tree trunk, clutching their pencil cases as they moved into the school gate with the crowd.

Director Chen drank half a bowl of plum juice, and the sweat on his forehead subsided considerably. He said to everyone, "Brother Fang, Brother Meng, Xiao Chen, I'm going in now. You all wait for my good news!"

P.S.: We're even again, everyone please vote with your monthly tickets!

(End of this chapter)