Writer 1978: I Need to Give the Literary World a Lesson

Chapter 6 Preparing for the College Entrance Examination

Out of politeness, Liu Yimin went to Tian Qingping's office and greeted him.

"Yimin, I've been waiting for you these past few days. I thought you hadn't come after registering." Tian Qingping quickly ushered him into his office and gave him a teacup to pour him a cup of water.

"Registration isn't urgent, there are too many people coming early, so I used a little trick," Liu Yimin said, taking a sip of water from his teacup.

"Haha, time doesn't matter, just give me the information. There's only a little over a month left. How's your exam preparation going? I'd love to have a classmate who gets into university, so I can brag about it to others later," Tian Qingping joked.

"All is ready except for the opportunity."

“Okay, that’s really encouraging. You probably didn’t have a place to live when you took the college entrance exam, right? Listen to me, my older brother works as a driver at the county supply and marketing cooperative, and there are dormitories there. July is the busiest time, so you can stay in their dormitory then. You know my brother, and given our relationship, you absolutely can’t refuse.”

"Qingping, you've made me..."

He wasn't a recent high school graduate, and he had nowhere to stay after the exams. Riding his bicycle back was obviously not a realistic option. Liu Yimin had already prepared to find a place to stay for the night with his bedding, but he didn't expect that Tian Qingping had already arranged a place for him to stay.

"Stop hesitating, let's just do it this way, listen to me. I've already talked to my older brother, and he was very happy to hear that you're going to stay here."

He knew Tian Qingping's older brother; they had even eaten together before. They weren't exactly best friends, given the age difference; they certainly wouldn't get along. He knew that Tian Qingping had played a significant role in their relationship.

"Alright, then I won't stand on ceremony. If I get into university, I'll treat you to a meal at the Dongfanghong Restaurant in the county."

"Then it's settled!"

July 19th was an important day for the Liu family, as Liu Yimin was going to take the college entrance examination. The elderly couple prepared things for Liu Yimin well in advance, and even went to the commune to exchange some grain coupons for him, telling him not to worry about spending money during the exam and to eat well.

The eldest brother, Liu Yiguo, didn't return from the coal mine, but he sent a letter through someone who had come back from the mine, with five ten-yuan bills tucked inside. Liu Yiguo had also started junior high school, but hadn't gone to high school; he was still capable of writing letters.

The letter told Liu Yimin not to worry about anything and to focus on the exam.

"Father, Mother, don't worry, I'll be back the day after tomorrow!"

Before Liu Yimin got his bicycle, Li Lanyong gave it a thorough wash and even drew a horse on it.

“Yimin, come on, come on, I’ll take you to the commune today, and then I’ll go to my sister’s house. She’s coming back today, and I can ride on her bicycle.” Li Lanyong patted the back seat, gesturing for him to get on.

"Lan Yong, I've kept you from riding your bicycle these past few days!" Liu Yimin felt quite embarrassed. The Liu family didn't own a bicycle, so they always had to use Li Lan Yong's whenever they needed to go on a long trip.

"Tian Qingping is right. You're just being a bit fussy. Our relationship is more like that of comrades and brothers. Just focus on your exams. I'm looking forward to your college entrance celebration. Look, I specially painted a picture for you with a calligraphy brush."

As Li Lanyong rode his bicycle, he pointed to the "horse" on the handlebars in front of him.

"What do you mean by this?" "Success upon arrival! This isn't a bicycle, it's a foreign horse!" Li Lanyong explained with a smile as he pedaled the bicycle with all his might.

Upon arriving at the commune, Liu Yimin rode his bicycle alone towards the county town. The road from Shiling Commune to the county town was relatively flat, with no steep inclines or declines.

However, the road was not in good condition. There were many coal mines on both sides, and coal trucks came one after another. The road was covered in black coal dust, and you would get a mouthful of coal every time you opened your mouth.

When they arrived in the county town, Liu Yimin gently rubbed his face with his hands, and upon closer inspection, his fingers were covered in black grime.

Rucheng is a coal-producing city, known as the "Hundred-Mile Coal Sea." Precisely because of its coal mines, its economy has developed better than that of neighboring counties.

Liu Yimin's exam venue was the county's No. 1 High School, and the county had specifically issued a notice prohibiting anyone from visiting the exam venue beforehand. However, Liu Yimin had attended the county's No. 1 High School himself and was very familiar with every detail there, so he didn't need to familiarize himself with the environment beforehand.

The county supply and marketing cooperative is located in the most central position in the county town. The two-story building of the cooperative is very large. The sales hall on the first floor sells a wide variety of goods, and there are more than a dozen sales clerks.

Walk about 50 meters along the street next to the supply and marketing cooperative building, and you'll see the back gate of the cooperative, which is the main entrance for receiving and shipping goods. On the screen walls on both sides of the entrance, it is written: "Develop the economy, ensure supply."

There was a small door on the right, and an old gatekeeper in a yellow military uniform stood at the door. His hair was already gray, but he was in high spirits. His sharp eyes swept around the doorway, and the leader's badge hanging on his chest shone with a golden light in the sunlight.

"Hello, sir, I'm Tian Qinglin's friend. Is he here today?"

"Oh? You're looking for Qinglin? He's not here; he went out to deliver goods and won't be back for several days. You're that guy, so-and-so Min, right? Qinglin specifically told me before he left that a friend of his is taking the college entrance exam and has nowhere to stay tonight, so he's planning to stay in his dorm. Is that you?"

The old gatekeeper scrutinized Liu Yimin from head to toe, his gaze softening considerably.

"Yes, it's me, my name is Liu Yimin."

"See that? Go straight ahead to that red brick building, go up to the second floor, turn left, and it's the first dormitory room. There are other people inside, but they're all out on business. You can sleep in any bed you like." The old gatekeeper led him to the door and pointed towards the supply and marketing cooperative's dormitory building, telling Liu Yimin not to go to the wrong place.

"Thank you, uncle!"

"Oh, it's nothing, young man, do your best on the exam! My name is Zhang Degui, you can just call me Uncle Zhang. If you need anything these next few days, you can come find me."

The old gatekeeper was very enthusiastic; he seemed to be a retired soldier, and judging by his age, he must have seen a lot on the battlefield. Liu Yimin noticed a very noticeable scar on his neck below his ear.

Liu Yimin pushed his bicycle to the dormitory building of the supply and marketing cooperative. Next to the dormitory building was a bicycle shed, where an old Jiefang truck was parked. The driver had a cigarette in his mouth, humming a song as he cheerfully wiped the truck with a towel. The driver glanced at Liu Yimin as he entered the dormitory building, then turned his head away and ignored him.

On the walls of the staircase were written the words, "Learn from the spirit of model workers, and learn from comrades Shi Chuanxiang and Zhang Binggui." In this era, laborers truly had the greatest honor. When a sanitation worker reached the pinnacle, he could become a representative and be received by teachers and the Premier.

Liu Yimin tightened his bag strap and excitedly headed upstairs.

(End of this chapter)