Era: Starting with the struggle to refuse being taken advantage of

Chapter 319, Page 318.5: News That Excited the Nation

Wang Tieshan was an honest and simple man. Even though Zhao Yuju was utterly wicked, he couldn't bring himself to continue cricket-catching her after her death. His words stopped there.

The room fell silent for a moment, with only Wang Degong's heavy breathing remaining.

Wang Chengpeng stood aside, looking at Wang Degong's completely different appearance, and felt uneasy.

He remembered that the last time they met, the old man could still scold the younger generation with great vigor, but now he was as uneasy as a child who had done something wrong, wiping away tears with his sleeve from time to time.

Just then, Wang Degong suddenly grabbed his son's hand with astonishing force, his face full of regret, and said:

"Iron Mountain"

"These past few days, Dad has been lying in bed, thinking through everything in his life. It's because I'm senile and blinded by greed that I've become like this."

"In the end, it was my fault for not thinking things through, which caused you and Yinshan to suffer."

"I never expected... I never expected you would come to see me."

At this point, Wang Degong's voice trembled even more as he said:

"Tieshan, I'm so happy to see you again."

As he spoke, color gradually returned to Wang Degong's sallow face, his withered cheeks flushed, and even his cloudy eyes brightened.

His health was originally quite good, but the reason he became so ill that he was bedridden was ultimately due to his mental illness.

The father and son chatted casually for an hour before Wang Yinshan called them over for a meal.

Sun Xiufang quickly cooked several dishes: a plate of cured pork stir-fried with garlic sprouts, a plate of stir-fried pork slices, a dish of pickled radishes, and a pot of steaming wild vegetable soup.

Although it wasn't a lavish meal, it was still a rare treat for guests. After all, Wang Yinshan wasn't very wealthy to begin with, and now with the addition of Wang Degong, who needed to recuperate, the family burden was becoming increasingly heavy.

During the meal, Wang Degong sat in the main seat, looking much better. He even took the initiative to put a piece of cured meat into Wang Tieshan's bowl, and his voice was louder than before.
"Tieshan, eat more. You've suffered these past years."

Wang Tieshan lowered his head and ate his rice, mumbled an "Mmm," but his eyes quietly reddened.

He picked up a piece of food with his chopsticks and placed it in his father's bowl, saying in a low voice:
"Dad, you should eat too."

Looking at the food in his bowl, Wang Degong was extremely happy. His appetite improved, and he ate much more than usual.

Watching the father and son enjoying each other's company, Wang Chengpeng felt much more at ease, secretly thinking that his decision was indeed the right one.

The meal was exceptionally quiet, yet exceptionally warm, as if years of estrangement had melted away in that moment with the steaming hot food.

But happy times are always short-lived, and even the most heartwarming scenes eventually come to an end.

After dinner, as it grew late, Wang Tieshan and his family prepared to leave.

Wang Degong held his son's hand reluctantly, his lips trembling as if he had a thousand words to say, but in the end he only patted the back of his hand:
"Tieshan, come back and visit your father often when you have time."

Wang Tieshan nodded emphatically:

"Father, please take good care of yourself. I'll come to see you again in a few days."

“Our two families live close by. When you get better, you can come and visit me and see your grandson and granddaughter.”

While his father and grandfather were saying goodbye, Wang Chengpeng quietly pulled Wang Yinshan aside, took out two hundred yuan from his pocket, and stuffed it into his hand.

"Second Uncle, please take this money. Use it to buy some tonics for Grandpa, or to buy some things for the house."

Wang Yinshan was taken aback and quickly declined, "How can I accept this money?"

Wang Chengpeng insisted on stuffing the money into his hand and whispered, "Uncle Yinshan, please don't refuse."

“Grandpa has a grudge, so he definitely won’t accept our money, but you have to take this money, consider it for the sake of the family.”

“With this money, your family and Grandpa will be much better off.”

Wang Yinshan held the money, hesitated for a moment, and finally sighed, reluctantly accepting it.

"Okay, then I'll keep this money for Dad for now, and use it when needed."

"Don't worry, I will only use this money for Dad, and I will definitely not waste it!"

On the way home, dusk was falling, and the distant mountain shadows blurred into a deep blue.

Wang Tieshan walked ahead, his steps much lighter than when he came, and he even hummed a few off-key folk songs from time to time.

Wang Chengpeng followed behind, watching his father's relieved figure, a slight smile playing on his lips.

He knew that the trip had been worthwhile; the knot in his father's heart had finally been untied.

The night breeze was slightly cool, but it couldn't dispel the warmth in my heart.

Having been given a second chance at life, this time, my entire family is finally thriving and all our wishes are coming true!

……

October 1977, 10!
Time flies, and before we knew it, this day, which is of great importance to all of China, arrived.

On this very day, the State Council approved and forwarded the Ministry of Education's "Opinions on the Enrollment Work of Institutions of Higher Learning in 1977," officially restoring the college entrance examination system, which had been suspended for ten years.

The target group for enrollment includes workers, farmers, educated youth who went to the countryside or returned to their hometowns, demobilized soldiers, cadres, and recent high school graduates.

This news was like a bombshell, instantly exploding across the country and igniting the hopes and enthusiasm of countless people.

Early in the morning, as soon as the sun rose, the streets were already bustling with activity.

Newspaper boys, carrying cloth bags full of newspapers, ran and shouted: "Breaking news! The college entrance examination has been reinstated! Come and see!"

Their voices were clear and loud, as if they wanted to spread the good news to every corner.

People flocked to newsstands, vying to buy the day's newspapers.

The newspaper's front page headline, in bold boldface, read: "The State Council Approves the Restoration of the College Entrance Examination System!"

The photo below shows the gate of the Ministry of Education, crowded with young people seeking information.

People held newspapers, discussing excitedly, their faces beaming with undisguised joy.

The message was played on the radio over and over again.

The announcer's voice was strong and clear, tinged with excitement and exhilaration:

"Dear young intellectuals, the college entrance examination has been reinstated! This is your opportunity and the hope of the nation! Please seize the time to review and prepare for the upcoming exam!"

In front of the radio, countless people held their breath, afraid of missing a single word.

The workers put down their tools, the farmers stopped working in the fields, and the educated youth came from all directions, gathering under the loudspeaker at the village entrance to listen to this life-changing news.

Their eyes held a hint of anticipation and excitement, as if they had seen hope for the future.

If they can get into university, they will be eligible to leave this place and return to the city.

"The college entrance exam has been reinstated! We finally have the chance to go to university!" someone shouted excitedly, their voice trembling slightly. "Yes! We've finally waited for this day!" someone next to them echoed, tears welling in their eyes.

People rushed to spread the news, as if they wanted to reach every corner of the country with this good news.

The educated youth in the village gathered together, excitedly discussing their review plans;

The factory workers put down their work and gathered together to discuss the schools and majors they were applying to.
The school's teachers were extremely busy, working through the night to compile review materials and prepare tutoring for the students.

The streets and bookstores were packed with people, all rushing to buy study materials.

The books on the bookshelf, which had been covered in dust, such as "Self-Study Series on Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry", "Basic Knowledge of Chinese Language and Literature", and "Political Economy", were instantly swept away.

The bookstore owner was sweating profusely from his work, but he couldn't stop smiling: "This is the first time in all these years that I've seen such a lively scene!"

The radio continued to broadcast exciting news, the newspapers published detailed application guides, and the radio stations were crowded with eager young people.

On this day, the whole of China seemed to be revitalized.

Wang Chengpeng stood under the old locust tree at the village entrance, clutching a newspaper in his hand, his eyes filled with determination and anticipation. He had finally waited for this crucial day!
Hetian Town Scrap Metal Recycling Station.

Zhuang Xian habitually turned on the radio, listening to the news while sorting through the mountain of scrap.

The radio announcer's powerful voice rang out: "The State Council has approved the restoration of the college entrance examination system! Young educated people, this is your opportunity, and the hope of the nation!"

Zhuang Xian's hand suddenly stopped, and he froze.

His ears were perked up, afraid of missing a single word.

The news on the radio was like a thunderbolt, shattering his peaceful life.

His mind was buzzing, and an indescribable excitement and exhilaration welled up inside him.

"The college entrance exam has been reinstated? It really has been reinstated?" Zhuang Xian murmured to himself, his voice filled with disbelief.

His fingers unconsciously rubbed the radio knobs, his eyes flashing with complex emotions.

He subconsciously looked at the mountain of books piled up in the scrap yard.

Those books were originally discarded trash; some had damaged covers, some had yellowed pages, and some were even wrinkled from being soaked in rain.

But at this moment, these books were no longer trash in his eyes, but a priceless treasure trove.

"These books...these books are all treasures!"

Zhuang Xian's voice trembled, tinged with excitement and agitation.

His mind raced, calculating how many of these books could be used as study materials for students preparing for the college entrance examination.

His fingers unconsciously turned the pages, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

He knew that these books would soon become priceless treasures that countless educated young people would fight to buy.

He was already plotting how to sell these books at a high price and make a fortune.

However, before Zhuang could recover from the joy of making a fortune, he saw a familiar yet unfamiliar figure—Li Dafei!

As the leader of the scrap metal recycling station, Li Dafei was dressed in a smart Zhongshan suit and shiny leather shoes, with a serious and anxious expression on his face.

Several staff members followed behind him, carrying notebooks and folders, looking very businesslike.

Li Dafei's voice was loud and powerful, carrying an undeniable air of authority:
"Comrade, move all these books to the warehouse. Not a single one may be sold without my order!"

His gaze swept over Zhuang Xian, as if he could see through Zhuang Xian's little scheme.

Zhuang Xian's face immediately turned bitter, and an indescribable sense of loss and frustration welled up in his heart.

He knew that his dream of getting rich had been shattered.

These books are no longer his cash cow, but have become public property.

He couldn't bear the charge of enriching himself at the expense of the public.

He lowered his head and sighed inwardly. These books, which were as valuable as gold, were ultimately not his own. But then he suddenly remembered that he had hoarded some books because of Wang Chengpeng's words!

Zhuang Xian's heart skipped a beat, as if he had been hit hard by something.

He suddenly remembered what Wang Chengpeng had told him before: "I think these books might come in handy."

At the time, he thought Wang Chengpeng was talking nonsense, but now it seems that Wang Chengpeng's words have actually come true!

Zhuang Xian felt an indescribable shock and admiration welling up inside him.

He was amazed by Wang Chengpeng's foresight and admired his ability to anticipate the resumption of the college entrance examination.

But amidst his shock, a question arose in his mind—was this a coincidence, or did Wang Chengpeng already know something in advance?
No matter how hard he racked his brains, he couldn't figure out the key point. He could only be thankful that he had listened to Wang Chengpeng's advice and stockpiled some books, which would allow him to make a fortune.

However, just as Zhuang Xian was pondering how to sell these "rare goods" for a good price, a thought suddenly popped into his mind:
Why should I sell these books? Wouldn't it be better to use them to study for the college entrance exam?

This thought struck him like a bolt of lightning, instantly cleaving through the fog in his mind. His eyes lit up, as if he had discovered some incredible treasure.

He knew that college graduates at that time had good benefits, guaranteed job placement, government-funded jobs, company-provided dormitories, high salaries, and good welfare. It was a "golden rice bowl" that everyone envied.

"That's right! Why should I sell these books? If I take the college entrance exam and get into university, wouldn't I be able to change my destiny?"

Zhuang Xian's voice trembled, tinged with excitement and agitation.

His mind raced, and an indescribable sense of anticipation and hope welled up within him.

He knew that although he was a bit old, he was still not without a chance.

As soon as the news of the resumption of the college entrance examination came out, countless educated youth, workers, and farmers were eager to take this life-changing exam.

Why can't Zhuang Xian be one of them?

Thinking this, Zhuang Xian's eyes showed a hint of determination and resolve.

He knew he could no longer live his life aimlessly as before.

He wanted to seize this opportunity to change his destiny.

Zhuang Xian is definitely not the only person who has this idea.

In that special era, countless people like Zhuang Xian, harboring dreams of changing their destiny, resolutely picked up their books and threw themselves into this life-changing exam.

Among them were educated youth, workers, farmers, demobilized soldiers, and even "older test takers" who had already started families and careers.

Their ages vary greatly; some have just graduated from high school and are full of youthful vigor, while others are over thirty or even forty years old, with their faces etched with the marks of time.

But they all shared a common goal: to change their destiny through learning and contribute to national development, thus forming a unique group of college students from the "Class of '77" and "Class of '78".

(End of this chapter)