Xia Xiaolan wasn’t just confident; she was also willful.
She only filled in “Huaqing University.” After some thought, she still checked the box for “Accept Program Adjustment.”
Her strategy was to first get through Huaqing’s gates – if she didn’t get into the Architecture Department, she could always transfer after enrollment. Either way, it was better than not getting in at all.
Principal Sun breathed a sigh of relief; he had been worried that Xia Xiaolan would check “Do Not Accept Program Adjustment.”
The Architecture Department at Huaqing wasn’t particularly popular at that time. Many people couldn’t distinguish between Architecture and Civil Engineering. As long as one scored a few points above Huaqing’s admission line, they could study Architecture. Xia Xiaolan’s choice to “Accept Program Adjustment” was just an extra safety measure.
“You’re only applying to one school?” Principal Sun became somewhat anxious. While putting Huaqing as the first choice wasn’t a problem, there were many other schools besides it.
Xia Xiaolan firmly refused to change her application form, repeatedly emphasizing that no one should touch it: “Even if I get accepted to another university, I won’t attend if someone changes my form.”
She wasn’t being arrogant; she was thinking of certain rumors. Students had the least rights in those days. Whether teachers or parents, many would secretly modify students’ application forms under the pretense of helping them.
Xia Xiaolan feared encountering such a situation, so Principal Sun repeatedly assured her: “Nobody except me will touch it!”
Xia Xiaolan could back up her choice – ranking first in Fengxian City’s practice exam had already proved that.
Since the wrist injury hadn’t affected Student Xia Xiaolan’s performance, Principal Sun hoped that Anqing County First High School could have someone admitted to a top university!
After submitting her application, Xia Xiaolan asked Chen Qing about his estimated scores.
“I’m not entirely sure about some of my answers at the time. At the low end, around 490, at the high end, about 510 points.”
These were scores Chen Qing had never achieved in mock exams.
Firstly, both Chinese and English were simple this year. Chen Qing had always been good at Chinese, and his English had improved significantly. As for mathematics, while everyone said it was difficult and dragged down scores, Chen Qing solved several additional problems correctly, estimating 80 points in math. These combined factors explained why his total estimated score could reach 500 points.
In all this, Xia Xiaolan’s contribution was immense – from English study methods to mathematical problem types before the exam… Without Xia Xiaolan, Chen Qing wasn’t sure if he could have even reached the undergraduate admission line.
Indeed, even calculating from the lower estimate, 490 points would securely pass the undergraduate line, though reaching the key university threshold was uncertain.
Xia Xiaolan smiled and congratulated him: “Well done! Have you decided which school to apply to?”
With these scores, if he had to choose a key university, Chen Qing wanted to apply to the Business University.
The Business University was in Yunan Province and prioritized local students. Commercial City was only two or three hours from Qijing Village, making it convenient for Chen Qing to study there. However, since Xia Xiaolan had applied to Huaqing as mentioned earlier, Chen Qing had long decided that he too would apply to a Beijing university.
This decision received unanimous support from the Chen family.
Not just Chen Wangda, even Chen’s sister-in-law knew that Beijing was the nation’s capital, and studying there was different from studying anywhere else.
“I want to apply to a Beijing school, the University of International Business and Economics. What do you think?”
Want to apply to a Beijing university?
The University of International Business and Economics in Beijing was indeed a good school. Chen Qing had researched the admission scores from the past two years; if he could score 500 points, applying to this school wouldn’t be a problem. However, Xia Xiaolan wondered why Chen Qing suddenly wanted to study economics. Not to underestimate him, but Chen Qing had focused solely on classical studies, though he was skilled at helping with farm work in his spare time. He might not even understand the term “economics.”
“It’s a good school, probably the only key university specializing in economics in the country. Most majors there are related to economics. ‘International Economics and Trade’ is their best program. I suggest you apply for this major, but it’s best to accept program adjustment…”
Xia Xiaolan shared everything she knew with Chen Qing.
She knew the school well, both from her previous life’s impressions and her current attention to it.
Xia Xiaolan had wavered between studying architecture and economics, ultimately choosing architecture because she could rely on her thirty-plus years of foreknowledge. Having experienced economic developments up to 2017, what more was there to learn? Better to invest energy in an unfamiliar field that still intersects with her future plans, making the most of her reincarnation by learning something new.
Chen Qing nodded along to everything Xia Xiaolan said.
He was determined to follow in Xia Xiaolan’s footsteps and wouldn’t consider universities outside Beijing.
Seeing his application form, the teachers were troubled. Based on his estimated scores, Chen Qing would pass the undergraduate line this year, but how could he choose only one university? Wouldn’t he fill in a second choice? While Principal Sun couldn’t force Xia Xiaolan, he still held authority over Chen Qing. He compelled Chen Qing to fill in a second choice, another key university in Beijing – Principal Sun helped him select “Beijing Normal University.”
Chen Qing frowned; he had no desire to become a teacher.
Xia Xiaolan could barely suppress her amusement. “Beijing Normal is quite good too.”
Beijing Normal University was easily confused with Beijing Teachers College, where Xia Ziyu and Wang Jianhua studied.
Due to its location, Beijing Normal University was subtly the leader among national normal universities, far superior to Beijing Teachers College.
While teaching jobs didn’t offer good benefits in the 1980s, graduating from Beijing Normal University could lead to opportunities to stay at the university. Being a professor at a national key university was completely different from being a high school or middle school teacher.
Both had submitted their applications, and the sultry weather seemed to stir Chen Qing’s long-suppressed emotions.
Although they hadn’t received their admission notices yet, the young man’s long-repressed feelings seemed to be stirring.
“Xiaolan, I have something to tell you…” Chen Qing’s voice grew increasingly quiet, though his face turned red.
Seeing this situation, how could Xia Xiaolan not understand? This silly boy was probably about to confess!
Xia Xiaolan had always concealed her relationship with Zhou Cheng, partly because she hadn’t found the right time to mention it, and partly because she worried that rejection might affect Chen Qing’s exam performance. Chen Wangda had shown kindness to both Xia Xiaolan and Liu Fen; without his support, it wouldn’t have been so easy to escape from Xia Dajun. While Xia Xiaolan wouldn’t marry Chen Wangda’s grandson out of gratitude, she also wouldn’t repay kindness with unkindness by distracting Chen Qing from his studies.
Now it was all good – the college entrance exam was over, scores were estimated, and applications were submitted. Xia Xiaolan no longer had any concerns.
“Brother Chen Qing, do you know why I want to study at Huaqing University in Beijing?”
Xia Xiaolan suddenly spoke, interrupting Chen Qing’s train of thought.
“Because the person I like is in Beijing, and I want to be closer to him. He’s a very good person, and when you go to study in Beijing, you’ll surely become friends with him…”
Xia Xiaolan’s voice seemed to fade in and out, leaving Chen Qing stunned.
“Xiao-Xiaolan, is he your boyfriend?”
Liking someone didn’t necessarily mean they were dating.
Chen Qing still clung to a glimmer of hope, but Xia Xiaolan nodded without hesitation:
“Yes, we’ve been dating for several months.”