Education needs reformers.
Reform comes through multiple discussions, careful decisions, and gradual pilot programs.
More often than not, what education needs is “stability.”
Take the “college entrance examination” for example. After its reinstatement in 1977, when the Ministry of Education wanted to add English as a subject, it took several years to gradually increase its importance. Initially, only certain specialized majors required English scores, then English was weighted at only 30%, until last year when English scores were finally fully incorporated into the college entrance examination on a 100-point scale.
Such decisions were carefully deliberated by the Ministry of Education.
When the college entrance examination was reinstated in 1977, how many people would have been ready if they had announced English testing for 1978?
Students needed a transition period to accumulate knowledge; gradual reform wouldn’t cause severe disruption.
The work of the Higher Education Department was also crucial. Students were the successors of socialism; while basic education was important, higher education couldn’t be taken lightly. Wang Guangping had earned widespread criticism in the Higher Education Department, and those who had initially helped him return from the farm and resume his position now lost face.
The senior officials’ judgment had been accurate – Wang Guangping wasn’t suitable for work in the Higher Education Department.
Once the higher-ups understood the situation, the director knew Wang Guangping was finished.
Now Wang Guangping had absolutely nothing to do. Government institutions couldn’t fire people, but there were plenty of ways to deal with someone. While being given responsibilities by leadership was a sign of trust, the worst situation was being completely ignored by leadership.
He wasn’t assigned any work. While others were overwhelmingly busy, he alone was left with nothing to do but twiddle his thumbs.
Wang Guangping noticed that Deputy Director Tang often smiled at him mysteriously. The department had isolated him. Even Little Gao, who used to give Wang Guangping inside information, sensed something was wrong. If you wanted to flatter the leadership, you had to read the situation correctly. Director Wang’s office was cold from morning till night, with no one coming to report work to him. Wouldn’t it be foolish to keep rushing forward blindly?
“Section Chief Zhan, please give me some guidance…”
Little Gao didn’t know what Director Wang had done wrong and was worried.
Zhan Aiqun chuckled, “Little Gao, what are you afraid of? You haven’t done anything wrong.”
There wasn’t even anyone to pour tea or refill water for Wang Guangping anymore. Director Wang parched, had to carry his teacup out of his office to find the water bottle. Just as he opened the door, he heard Zhan Aiqun’s words. Little Gao also saw Director Wang and was still hesitating whether he should persist in offering help in difficult times when Section Chief Zhan had already snorted coldly and turned away.
Such disrespect for Director Wang?
Little Gao shrunk his shoulders and tiptoed away.
Wang Guangping stood at the doorway holding his teacup, lost in thought for a long time.
With such an abnormal atmosphere in the department, Wang Guangping knew the situation wasn’t good. But the director was so busy that Wang Guangping had no chance to report work privately. It seemed everyone in the Higher Education Department was extremely busy – with university exam week approaching, the department needed to conduct a survey. The only person not busy was Wang Guangping. His steps home were particularly heavy.
“Have Jianhua ask Xia Ziyu to come back for dinner.”
Wang Guangping had finally swallowed his pride.
Ran Shuyu immediately understood – the situation was very bad, and now they needed Xia Ziyu to step up and take responsibility.
However, Wang Jianhua returned home alone.
“Where’s Xia Ziyu?”
“Ziyu isn’t feeling well, and she’s under a lot of pressure from exams. She’s very sick – her fever reached 38.5° yesterday. How could she have the energy to come for dinner!”
Wang Jianhua knew why Xia Ziyu was under so much pressure.
After receiving disciplinary action, people around Xia Ziyu distanced themselves from her – how could she focus on her studies? Of course, Xia Ziyu would be nervous during final exams.
Moreover, there was the added pressure of Xia Xiaolan winning the special prize in the English competition. Under this double pressure, Xia Ziyu had fallen ill.
The family’s predicament needed Xia Ziyu’s intervention. Those words tumbled around in Wang Jianhua’s stomach, but seeing Xia Ziyu’s face red with high fever, he couldn’t bring himself to speak them!
“Does she know and is pretending to be sick because she doesn’t want to be associated with our family?”
Ran Shuyu was suspicious: “Jianhua, look, it’s not that Mother doesn’t accept her, but tell me, which of the things she’s done has turned out well? If she wants to be a daughter-in-law in the Wang family, she doesn’t know how to help the family proactively. Think about it – your father had to lower himself to deal with a female student because of whom? If it weren’t for Xia Ziyu, would your father even know who Xia Xiaolan was? Xia Xiaolan has nothing to do with our family!”
Wang Jianhua couldn’t raise his head after Ran Shuyu’s words.
He had forgotten that he too was part of betraying “Xia Xiaolan” – if it weren’t for his relationship with Xia Ziyu, the Wang family would have had no reason to go after Xia Xiaolan.
Wang Jianhua minimized his own mistakes and magnified Xia Ziyu’s portion, making himself uncomfortable as well.
Could Ziyu have sensed something and been pretending to be sick?
No, he must be overthinking. Ziyu’s feelings for him were most sincere; only someone as calculating as Xia Xiaolan would deceive him.
“Mom, let’s wait until after the exams. I won’t come home these few days either – final exams are quite important. This matter isn’t urgent for a few days, right, Dad?”
Wang Guangping nodded slowly.
He had endured eight years on the farm without being defeated.
These few days of cold treatment were indeed bearable for Wang Guangping.
Wang Guangping decided to maintain his position unchanged, while Wang Jianhua reluctantly suppressed his anxiety and returned to school for exams.
Originally, when Wang Guangping hadn’t returned to the city, Wang Jianhua had to both help his parents and focus on his studies, yet he still managed excellent grades – Wang Jianhua indeed had real ability. But in these past six months, since Wang Guangping had resumed his position and become a leader in the Higher Education Department, Wang Jianhua had found support and his dedication to studies had decreased – old friends had sought him out, there was trouble with the tutoring class, various rumors about Xia Xiaolan had reached his ears, and he had gotten engaged to Xia Ziyu. Too many distracting things had happened in half a year, and he knew that this final exam might not go as well as those in his first two semesters.
At this rate, forget about transferring to a better university – he might not even be able to take pride in his academic performance at Beijing Teachers College!
While Wang Jianhua was cramming for exams, Xia Ziyu was taking them while sick.
Xia Xiaolan breezed through her final exams.
Having studied diligently during regular times, the normal review was sufficient for exams. A final exam couldn’t stump Xia Xiaolan; she felt she had done quite well.
On the day the first-year Architecture Department finished their last subject, the Higher Education Department received a transfer order. The recently elusive director invited Wang Guangping to his office and placed the transfer order in front of him.
“Comrade Guangping, the organization has made new arrangements regarding your work. No matter where we work, we are all serving the people. I hope Comrade Guangping will continue to work actively in your new position and never stop pursuing progress!”
A transfer!
The transfer order seemed to weigh a thousand pounds.
Wang Guangping couldn’t control his trembling hands as he picked up the order. The three words “Party History Office” made him see black.
Compared to the Party History Office, the Higher Education Department of the Ministry of Education was already a very promising and powerful position.