Transmigration: On the Gossip Front
Chapter 296 True or False First Love 96_1

Chapter 296: Chapter 296 True or False First Love 96_1

Zheng Family Younger Sister left for the countryside as an educated youth without looking back, and Zhou Lina knew that in addition to taking as much of her belongings as possible, she had also taken all her textbooks and other materials.

Father Zheng felt a tinge of pity for his young daughter; it was his sudden idea that led her to become an educated youth in the first place.

Nevertheless, despite his guilt, he still gave her thirty yuan, which Zheng Family Younger Sister accepted without hesitation.

According to her, it was like a loan; she would repay it once she had money in the future.

With Zheng Family Younger Sister no longer at home to do chores, housework fell to Mother Zheng and Zhou Juan, making the two, accustomed to being pampered at home, extremely uncomfortable.

But there was no choice, regardless of how unwilling they were, if they didn’t do the work, Zheng Weijian and his father would not look kindly upon them.

Zhou Lina had seen Zhou Juan a few times and thought she seemed even older, worn down by housework and concern over the family’s expenses. The Zheng family could form ’N’ number of combinations to cope.

Zhou Dahai’s family certainly had its own joke to tell; their youngest son couldn’t focus on his junior high studies and ended up having to become an educated youth instead of attending classes.

Zhou Dahai, unwilling to let his youngest son become an educated youth, let him take over the business. As a result, his income sharply decreased, and he could no longer support Zhou Hong.

Zhou Hong, being the eldest son and grandson, was anything but happy. He must have quarreled countless times upon returning home with Zhou Dahai, his wife, and his brother.

Indeed, they provided ample amusement for those around them, especially considering their lack of popularity among the factory workers and the residential community.

Whenever something happened in someone else’s family, people were ready to mock, and this time, they were more than willing to spread the word about the Zhengs’ predicaments.

Zhou Dajiang’s three generations were slightly better off than Zhou Dahai’s family, but not by much.

They just didn’t have any scandals erupting, although people still whispered behind their backs.

Zhou Dajiang was considering remarriage; after all, hiring someone to look after children and do housework was truly costly. If he were to marry, he could save that money.

Moreover, it was quite lonely sleeping alone. It’d be much better to have a wife by his side. With lowered expectations, he could find a wife since he was a permanent worker.

However, in the current circumstances, he still hadn’t lowered his standards and required that a prospective partner have a pension.

Everyone understood that he wanted the same deal as when Zhang Shifen married him. But given his requirements, which woman would be willing to marry him?

When it came to Zhou Yong, his prospects for remarriage were even bleaker. Everyone knew he was penniless, hot-tempered, and calculative.

Despite having a son to raise and a desire to remarry, he showed no ambition, idling away his days in the factory.

Under such circumstances, Zhou Yong stipulated that his partner be marrying for the first time and at least have a temporary job.

The girls who met his criteria weren’t willing to become stepmothers and enter a family where they had to earn money and serve the three generations of Zhou Dajiang’s family like beasts of burden.

Zhou Dajiang hadn’t completely given up hope. While asking people to introduce him to potential partners, he also took advantage of the opportunity to visit Zhou Xuan, cozying up to Zhang Shifen and Zhou Lina, hoping to remarry Zhang Shifen.

As soon as Zhou Dajiang voiced this desire, Zhang Shifen knew his intentions, but for her, remarriage was absolutely out of the question.

Her life now was very good, free from the burden of domestic affairs, devoting all her energy to work. Going home meant spending time with her grandson—she couldn’t have been happier.

Meanwhile, both Zhou Dahai’s and Zhou Dajiang’s families had difficult lives, both looking to her to uphold their dignity.

As Zhou Lina and her husband busied themselves with work and their children grew each day, with a second child born in the meantime, days passed by one after another.

And they, too, had awaited the day when the college entrance examination was restored. Despite their years of persevering with their studies, they still received some veiled hints from the Gu Family members who had returned to their hometown from the Northwest after resuming work.

But all those hints paled in comparison with the announcement of the restoration of the college entrance examination.

Zhou Xuan looked at the joyous embrace of Zhou Lina and her husband, feeling happy for them as well.

He knew that no matter how busy they were with work, or how preoccupied they were taking care of children, they always managed to find time to read.

Sometimes, Zhou Xuan would wonder when the college entrance examination would be restored, or if, when that happened, they would be eligible to sit for it.

They were nearly thirty, parents themselves by then, but the conditions for the exam had been relaxed significantly in order to accommodate many of the returned youths.

Zhou Xuan didn’t know if anyone else had kept up with their studies over those years, but he was certain that if Zhou Lina and Gu Kai didn’t get into university, then who could?

After her initial excitement, Zhou Lina, looking at Zhou Xuan smiling stupidly at the side, said, "Xiao Xuan, let’s take the college entrance exam together."

Although they hadn’t seen the test papers, they were aware that the exams in the first couple of years following the restoration weren’t too difficult.

Zhou Xuan hadn’t graduated from high school, but what of it? He had a middle school diploma, so why not give it a try?

What? Zhou Xuan knew Zhou Lina was bold in her aspirations, but he had never imagined she would propose that he take the college entrance exam.

"Sister, I do have a middle school diploma," he noted. According to the application guidelines, he was indeed eligible to take the college entrance exam, but could he really get into a university?

Seeing Zhou Xuan’s worry, Zhou Lina laughed, "Many people have given up on studying over the years. Even if they completed high school, their grasp of knowledge might not be as good as yours."

"Besides, you’re just trying your luck this time. If you get in, great; if not, no harm done. You can still try again next year; it’s not like you only get one shot."

"Getting into university earlier means starting work sooner and earning a salary earlier."

As someone who had looked after Zhou Xuan, Zhou Lina knew his thoughts all too well.

"Right, I’ll participate," Zhou Xuan agreed, just as Zhou Lina had anticipated.

Gu Kai had thought that Zhou Xuan wouldn’t agree to take the college entrance exam. The boy was quite determined and not easily swayed.

To everyone’s surprise, Zhou Lina convinced Gu Kai with just a few simple words.

"It’s perfect. We’ll take the college entrance exam together and go back to the Capital City." The Gu Family’s stronghold was in the Capital City, and that was where Gu Kai had his sights set on certain universities and majors.

Zhou Lina, of course, planned to follow Gu Kai. Having worked in finance for so long, she had developed an interest in studying economics.

Zhou Xuan had never considered this matter; he had always been methodical with his studies and had no specific career aspirations.

Remembering the time when Zhou Lina was pregnant and Gu Wei would take her pulse, with Zhou Xuan always watching attentively, Gu Kai suggested, "Have you thought about studying medicine?"

"Study medicine and become a doctor later?" Zhou Xuan pondered the suggestion for a moment and felt it wasn’t a bad idea at all.

But he was still concerned, "Am I suitable for it?"

"Why wouldn’t you be? When Mother was injured the last time, didn’t you help dress the wound?"

"You don’t faint at the sight of blood, you’re interested in these things, I really think you should consider it," Gu Kai wasn’t giving casual advice, but a suggestion based on his careful observation.