MAC’60s Chapter 82.2

Last time, Yao Shunjuan’s ginseng had been sheer coincidence. Finding another buyer like that again would not be easy.

So what Wang Ying could realistically pursue now was honeysuckle cultivation.

The mountains already had large stretches of wild honeysuckle, so the chances of success were high. And planting honeysuckle wouldn’t take up farmland. She figured Tian Youfu should be willing to agree to give it a try.

While Wang Ying was still biting her pencil and writing out plans, she suddenly heard Wu Guihua’s voice outside.

“Wang Ying! Let’s go!”

Wang Ying glanced at her pocket watch and hurriedly stood up. “Coming right away!”

She had gotten so caught up thinking about her family’s affairs that she had lost track of time. Today was the day the brigade was selecting teachers for the new village school.

As soon as Wang Ying stepped out, Wu Guihua linked arms with her and urged, “Hurry, hurry, if we’re late we won’t get a good spot.”

Wang Ying said, “It’s just a lecture. No matter where you stand, you can still listen.”

Wu Guihua replied, “That’s because you don’t have kids yet, so of course you don’t feel it. Haven’t you seen how many people in our brigade are going? Even if we don’t understand everything, we still need to carefully pick the teachers. Otherwise, if your child ends up with someone who doesn’t teach well, it’s such a loss.”

True enough. Now everything was decided collectively by the brigade. Especially something like starting a primary school—this was something that required everyone to raise their hands and vote. So naturally, all the commune members went to watch.

When Wang Ying and the others arrived outside the educated youth office, they saw quite a few educated youths already gathered inside, all looking nervous.

The heavy snow had sealed off the mountains, but before that happened, Tian Youfu had already gone to the commune’s teachers to request a few sets of test papers—one for Chinese and one for mathematics. During the exam, someone would just copy the questions onto the blackboard, and the educated youths below would directly write their answers on paper.

But just a written test wasn’t enough. After finishing, each person also had to randomly explain one question out loud. Only if they passed both parts would they be considered qualified.

Such a fair method was something many of the educated youths approved of. It was far better than the brigade leader casually appointing someone, which would only leave everyone unconvinced and risk stirring up trouble at the educated youth station later.

Bai Ling sat upright at the desk, and diagonally across from her was Zhang Hong.

The moment she saw Zhang Hong, Bai Ling couldn’t help but feel her teeth itch with resentment. Ever since she’d asked Jiang Lei to tutor her, she and Zhang Hong had practically become mortal enemies. At first, Bai Ling thought she could easily manipulate Jiang Lei using her old tricks. After all, Jiang Lei’s image from before had left such a deep impression—in fact, even now the brigade still gossiped about that day when Jiang Lei had passionately confessed his love to Bai Ling, turning it into a little stage play that everyone repeated.

Bai Ling had assumed she could reel Jiang Lei back in effortlessly. Who could have expected Zhang Hong to keep butting in? Whenever Bai Ling made the slightest complaint, Zhang Hong would jump in with considerate concern for Jiang Lei. Whenever Bai Ling said she didn’t understand something and wanted Jiang Lei to explain more, Zhang Hong would immediately scold her for not caring enough about Comrade Jiang. “Can’t you see he’s already exhausted after a whole day of work? And you still expect him to tutor? What tutoring!”

Bai Ling had grievances she couldn’t even voice.

And she could also see clearly—ever since Zhang Hong started intervening, Jiang Lei seemed to have developed some dissatisfaction toward her as well.

Bai Ling was so angry she was practically steaming, her entire heart hung on Jiang Lei, and lately she hadn’t even bothered to put any effort into pursuing Yu Pengcheng.

Days dragged on like this, until a few days ago, Bai Ling finally couldn’t wait any longer.

With the exam looming, and knowing she hadn’t studied as well as Zhang Hong, how could she not be anxious?

After much tearful begging, Jiang Lei seemed to have softened under her crying, and in the end he marked out a few dozen pages of key points for Bai Ling.

Jiang Lei hesitated and said: “These are basically all the main points for this exam. I’m not taking the test, so you and Zhang Hong are probably the strongest contenders… it’s just that—”

Bai Ling, terrified that he might turn around and also mark out key points for Zhang Hong, couldn’t let Zhang Hong surpass her.

She hurriedly tried to placate Jiang Lei: “Jiang Lei, we’ve known each other for so long. Before, I just… I just felt that life in the countryside was too bitter. And you spent all your savings on me—I was only afraid of dragging you down further.”

Her eyes filled with tears, she poured out what was practically her lifetime’s best performance: “There’s nothing between me and Yu Pengcheng. In my heart, I always… How could I ever fall for that kind of slick-tongued young master who only knows how to boast?”

Jiang Lei’s eyes flickered with an emotion difficult to describe. “Really?”

Bai Ling said, “Really! I can swear to the Chairman, every word I say is true!”

Her eyes brimmed with tenderness, her gentle voice like a soft breeze: “I could never love the kind of man who only has words. In my heart, there’s only you. I’ve seen everything you’ve done for me. Though I may have been lost before, I truly love you. So everything will go back to the way it was… Once I pass the teacher’s exam, our days will be so much better. Don’t you think so?”

A flash of mockery passed through Jiang Lei’s eyes, gone in an instant, replaced instead by a face full of confusion and pain. “Bai Ling, is what you say true? Can I really believe you again?”

Bai Ling held Jiang Lei’s hand with deep emotion.
“Yes, you can! Jiang Lei, it’s because my hesitation in the middle hurt you, so I will spend my entire life making it up to you.”

After she spoke, Bai Ling leaned into Jiang Lei’s chest, shy and bashful.
“Now do you still not believe me?”

Jiang Lei made no move. To be precise, his gaze passed over the top of Bai Ling’s head and locked onto the young man standing not far away at the doorway.

“Alright then, you’d better remember what you said today.”

As soon as Jiang Lei said this, he saw that Yu Pengcheng—who just moments earlier had been standing at the door with a face like iron—had instantly disappeared.

Bai Ling pulled herself out of her memories and refocused on the blank sheet of paper in front of her.

The key points Jiang Lei had marked out for her were extremely detailed. He had even predicted all the possible types of questions that might appear. Bai Ling, short on time and never a strong student to begin with, could only do her best to memorize the specific problem types Jiang Lei had especially emphasized.

Jiang Lei had patted his chest and promised her that at least half of them would definitely appear.

Although Bai Ling inwardly complained that Jiang Lei was useless—how could he only manage to guess half? It really proved the man was a good-for-nothing!

Still, useless or not, at least he had some remaining value she could make use of. This time she had truly learned her lesson. She would definitely wait until her teaching position was secure before cutting ties with Jiang Lei.

Heh, after all, Jiang Lei didn’t have a drop of oil left to squeeze out of him now. She certainly had no patience to keep putting on an act with him.

Bai Ling indulged in these beautiful thoughts, casting a sidelong glance at Zhang Hong, who sat diagonally in front of her with her brows tightly knitted, and sneered inwardly.

What good was studying so hard? Wasn’t it better to take shortcuts like she did?

Bai Ling’s self-satisfaction screeched to a halt the moment the exam questions appeared on the blackboard.

The first problem—something Jiang Lei hadn’t mentioned. Bai Ling could still manage to steady herself. After all, Jiang Lei had said he could guarantee “most of them,” so although the first one wasn’t among his predictions, the difficulty wasn’t high, and she could work it out on her own.

The second problem—again, not one Jiang Lei had gone over. Bai Ling was already panicking. She had to remember, there weren’t many questions this time, at most twenty or thirty. Since it was for teacher selection, the range spanned from fifth-grade level all the way to high school. Most were open-ended questions—not only requiring solutions, but also explanations of which knowledge points were used. Two problems in a row that she hadn’t seen before left Bai Ling’s heart hollow. And when she stole another glance at Zhang Hong—she was already writing away in a frenzy!

By the third question, Bai Ling’s hand holding the pen was trembling.

By the fourth question, Bai Ling could no longer deceive herself…

When the exam ended, Bai Ling had practically just sat there freezing, her paper nearly blank, with only a few scattered words written, and only a handful of questions she could actually solve.

In contrast, Zhang Hong, as soon as she finished the exam, picked up a book to review again, clearly confident about the upcoming interview.

Bai Ling felt even the air she exhaled was icy, and what followed immediately was a surge of uncontrollable rage.

She searched everywhere for Jiang Lei, and finally found him in the male educated youths’ dormitory, sitting leisurely with a book in his hands. From his expression, it was clear he had long been prepared for her fury. When Bai Ling burst in, he didn’t even bother to change his posture.

Bai Ling no longer bothered with any false pretenses.
“Jiang Lei! Give me an explanation! Why didn’t a single one of the key points you marked out appear on the test?”

If even a few had appeared, Bai Ling could still have grudgingly comforted herself that Jiang Lei just wasn’t skilled enough at predicting. But out of twenty problems, not a single one hit!

This was obviously Jiang Lei deliberately setting her up!

Bai Ling was furious beyond bearing.
“You did this on purpose, didn’t you? You can’t stand to see me doing well, so you deliberately took revenge on me? Jiang Lei, how could I have never realized before that you’re such a childish, petty man!”

Jiang Lei closed his book, his face full of mockery.
“Compared to you, I’m not so petty, am I? What—only you’re allowed to play others, but others aren’t allowed to play you?”

Bai Ling was provoked by his attitude. In her eyes, Jiang Lei was nothing more than her dog, and now this dog was baring its teeth at her? That was unbearable.

“What kind of thing do you think you are? If I hadn’t noticed you had a bit of money and could solve some math problems, I wouldn’t have given you the time of day! If you were walking by on the road, I wouldn’t even glance at you! A man like you, with nothing to your name—no woman would ever look twice at you! You’re not even worth the little finger of someone like Yu Pengcheng. Fine, fine, you think you can trip me up this way? I’m telling you, don’t even dream of it!”

Faced with such a shameless tirade, Jiang Lei’s face was first filled with anger, but gradually he calmed down.

“Have you noticed something?”

Still immersed in her fury, Bai Ling snapped back, “What?”

Jiang Lei, unhurried, said,
“Have you noticed that Yu Pengcheng isn’t here today?”

Bai Ling froze for a moment.
“So what?!”

Jiang Lei:
“Then do you know who was given our brigade’s worker-peasant-soldier university quota?”

Without waiting for Bai Ling to answer, Jiang Lei said:
“It was given to Yu Pengcheng.”

Bai Ling was stunned at first. How had Yu Pengcheng never mentioned it to her?

Of course—she had been so busy lately having Jiang Lei tutor her in math that she had neglected Yu Pengcheng for quite some time.

But then…

Hope rekindled in Bai Ling’s heart. Since she hadn’t gotten the teacher’s qualification through Jiang Lei, she might as well go and have Yu Pengcheng give up his worker-peasant-soldier university quota to her!

How could Jiang Lei not see through her thoughts? With a tone that was both flippant and amused at the show, he said:
“Don’t bother. Yu Pengcheng has already returned to the city. He took the quota, reported a sick leave to the brigade leader, and his family has already arranged for him to go back.”

Bai Ling stood there dumbfounded.

Gone back?

Who went back?

Back where?

Jiang Lei didn’t press the attack, but simply shook his head and walked out.

In fact, Yu Pengcheng’s situation hadn’t been hidden from Jiang Lei.

Before Yu Pengcheng left, the two of them had even talked for a while. Although Yu Pengcheng loved to spout lofty principles, coming from a cadre family, he wasn’t a fool like Jiang Lei.

Yu Pengcheng had spoken quite plainly. He had originally planned to bring Bai Ling back to the city with him. This turn of events had simply coincided with the timing. His family had been working connections to find him a job for nearly a year, wearing themselves down until it was finally settled. Recently, they had been sending letters one after another, urging him to quickly get the introduction letter and return.

At first, he was still hesitating, wondering if his departure would hinder the smooth progress of his relationship with Bai Ling. But having his family arrange another job for Bai Ling was simply unrealistic.

Just when he was caught in this dilemma, Tian Youfu came to deliver good news.

The brigade’s worker-peasant-soldier university quota, after being recommended by the brigade cadres and nominated by the educated youth team leader Yang Hong, had been decided to go to him.

At last, the matter that had been troubling Yu Pengcheng for so long was resolved.

He decided to attend university himself, but give the job quota to Bai Ling. That way, once he graduated and returned, a work assignment would be arranged for him, and both of them would have stable jobs.

Who would have thought that on the very day he went to see Bai Ling, intending to settle their relationship, he instead overheard her complaints about him.

Things like—always spouting lofty principles, all talk and nothing else. Those words almost instantly shattered the sweet illusion of the past several months.

Before leaving, Yu Pengcheng apologized to Jiang Lei. Previously, in order to defend Bai Ling, he had made Jiang Lei lose face. Now that he had seen Bai Ling’s true nature, of course he felt the need to apologize.

Jiang Lei said nothing, only asked Yu Pengcheng when he planned to leave.

Yu Pengcheng replied, “The sooner, the better.” So, as soon as the snow stopped, he trudged through the snowy ground to town and took the bus to leave.

Bai Ling felt as if she had been transported into another world. She never expected that after all her scheming, she would end up with nothing—losing on both sides.

Her relationship with Jiang Lei was torn apart, and Yu Pengcheng had left without a word.

Meanwhile, cheerful voices came from the teacher’s side.

“Congratulations to our Teacher Yang Hong and Teacher Zhang Hong—two teachers with the same ‘Hong’ in their names—on becoming our Chinese and math teachers. We hope you both will hold onto your red hearts and shine brightly in your teaching posts!”

This winter seemed to pass especially quickly, perhaps because of the radio.

With the blink of an eye, it already felt like spring had arrived.

Wang Ying was reluctant to let it go—this winter had been far too pleasant. She had even gained three jin in weight.

Xu Shuang had already sorted through the household’s stored goods, taking out anything that would spoil before spring if they didn’t eat it, preparing to finish tidying up and then head to work.

But before Xu Shuang could leave for work, someone came looking for him.

It was a familiar face—one of the vegetable washers from the restaurant.

The man came with mud all over his shoes, clearly in a hurry.

The moment he saw Xu Shuang, he urged him to come quickly.

“Wan Guodong and Xie Yuejin have been taken away. Several higher-level leaders have come too, and now they’re just waiting for you to get there.”

The vegetable washer’s face was full of lingering fear.
“And it’s not just those two—some of the waiters from our restaurant were also taken in.”

Xu Shuang’s expression grew grave. He didn’t need to think twice—Xie Yuejin must have been caught.

Wang Ying quickly changed her shoes.
“I’m going with you.”