Transmigration: On the Gossip Front
Chapter 539 - 540 Sister Flowers Educated Youth 57_1

Chapter 539: Chapter 540 Sister Flowers Educated Youth 57_1

As they entered 1977, Shen Jie felt that time was passing incredibly quickly, especially after the autumn harvest, when her mood had visibly improved.

At this moment, Shen Jie couldn’t help but feel fortunate that they were in the Northeast. By early October, they had finished all the fieldwork and entered a period of winter rest.

This meant no farming tasks to attend to. Elsewhere, they would have had to keep busy until the end of October or early November.

Even if the informed educated youth took leave to return to the cities to study or pulled strings, no one would be working.

But with the news of the restoration of the college entrance examination, many people’s happiness naturally turned into a quest for books.

Luckily, over the past year, whenever she visited the county town or city district, she would check the bookstores and recycling stations for books.

Once an educated youth herself, Shen Jie had completely abandoned the thought of finding valuable items at the recycling station.

Maybe valuable antiques turned in due to confiscation? But wouldn’t there be knowledgeable people among those activists?

And even if there weren’t, once the items arrived at the recycling station, wouldn’t there be knowledgeable workers here?

Because of their work, they also had some discernment and would hide things away upon seeing them.

Having given up on this path to riches, Shen Jie would only look for high school textbooks on her visits to the recycling station.

Although she didn’t go often, every visit was fruitful, and the fact that she had high school textbooks was no secret, as many in the brigade knew about it.

The biggest reason Shen Jie frantically sought after books was to prepare for the upcoming college entrance exam.

Once news of the exam’s restoration spread, surely many would come to her to borrow books, and she couldn’t refuse to lend them.

The best approach, of course, was to keep a set for herself and then lend out the rest, preferably to Commander Guo.

As for how things would be arranged at the top, that wasn’t something a small figure like her could worry about.

Feng Dan could clearly sense that Shen Jie was in exceptionally high spirits; she had wondered if it was because the winter rest period was nearing.

But upon reflection, she didn’t think that was likely. They wouldn’t have to work, but last winter rest period she hadn’t seen Shen Jie this happy.

Instinct told Feng Dan that Shen Jie must be happy about something else.

As for what that something was, Feng Dan could only say that if Shen Jie wished to share it with her, she would listen; if not, she would definitely not ask.

Once all the crops were stored away, Feng Dan thought it was finally time to rest for a while.

Shen Jie, of course, wouldn’t leave Feng Dan out. Seeing her lying on the kang bed, she sorted out all the textbooks very straightforwardly.

"From today on, we’ll review the high school curriculum from the past three years, starting from scratch."

"We must all study." Feng Dan had occasionally looked at textbooks before, but it was just casual reading, nothing serious.

Shen Jie couldn’t really urge her before. But now it was different; the college entrance exam was about to be restored, and it was time to speak.

What? Feng Dan immediately sat up straight, looking at Shen Jie in confusion, not understanding why she said this.

"My brother mentioned that the authorities have already been discussing whether to restore the college entrance exam," Shen Jie said in a low voice.

What? Although Feng Dan’s grades weren’t as good as Shen Jie’s, anyone who went to high school harbored dreams of university.

They too had complained about the absence of the college entrance exam during their high school years.

But as dissatisfied as they were, what could they do? It was the policy set by the authorities, and no one could change it.

After graduation, they either went to work in factories or went to rural areas to become educated youths building new villages.

And now, to hear that they might be able to take the college entrance exam, how could Feng Dan not be thrilled?

"I, I’ve been out of school for several years. Can we still apply?"

"Even if we can apply, I haven’t read books for a long time. How, how can I compete with those who are still in school?"

Alongside her happiness, Feng Dan started thinking about the entrance exam—how many points she could score, whether she could get into a university?

Filled with anxiety and regret, Feng Dan said, "I, I really should have studied seriously."

Shen Jie had mentioned that the college entrance exam could be restored at any time, and that they, as high school graduates, should never abandon their textbooks.

Yet back then, she didn’t take it seriously. When she did read books, it was more of a tool to lull herself to sleep.

Now, the long suspended college entrance exam was about to be held again, and the more Feng Dan thought about it, the more heartbroken she felt, unable to control her tears from flowing.

Zhao Jia had come to see Shen Jie for something and upon seeing Feng Dan crying, she looked puzzledly at Shen Jie.

It wasn’t a secret anyway, and since they would both be reading, Zhao Jia and others would take notice. "I received a letter from my brother today, and it mentioned that the college entrance exam might be restored."

Why talk about this today? Besides the fact that the crops were stored, it was also the day she happened to receive a letter from Shen Xiaoguang, so naturally, she wanted to make use of it.

Upon hearing that the college entrance exam might be restored, Zhao Jia, also a high school student, widened her eyes, "Really, Shen Jie, what did you say?"

"I said my brother sent me a letter, and in it, he mentioned that the college entrance exam might be restored."

Zhao Na came out of the house when she heard the exclamation and caught the conversation, staring at Shen Jie incredulously.

"Shen Jie, are you saying that the college entrance exam is really going to be restored?"

"It’s possible, it’s possible. My brother mentioned that the authorities were researching it."

"But he said that since there’s such a rumor, there’s bound to be some movement."

"Let’s start preparing."

"If there’s no news, it’s fine, we are in the winter rest period anyway." Shen Jie knew for sure that the college entrance exam would be restored and that the announcement would likely be soon.

Zhao Jia and Zhao Na looked at each other, "Right, we should start reading."

It’s best if there’s news, but if not, it’s fine. Resting on the kang bed is still resting.

"We’ll go to the county tomorrow, no, to the city bookstore to have a look," Zhao Jia said decisively.

She knew that once the news spread, many would prepare for the exam, and textbooks and study guides would surely become in high demand.

So they had to buy books early. Once they had the books, they could review at their leisure.

"I have books here." Shen Jie thought that since she had books, everyone could read together.

Zhao Na shook her head, "Everyone knows you have books, they’ll definitely come to you."

Whether Shen Jie was willing or not, people would certainly come knocking incessantly to borrow books.

"We’ll go to the city to buy books, ones that you don’t have, and then we can share among ourselves," said Zhao Na.

Zhao Jia nodded continually, "Then we can review together."

They knew Shen Jie’s school grades were good, and since coming here, she never stopped reading.

Even without a teacher’s guidance, she was certainly much better off than those who hadn’t read books in a long while.

"Good, we’ll go together," Shen Jie said, also thinking about going to check for more books before the news went out.

"Actually, we could also consider going to the recycling station. You might find textbooks there, and they’re cheaper."

Bookstores sold by the book, while the recycling station sold by weight.

Even though they earned wages, they weren’t exactly flush with cash, and saving a bit where possible was always a good idea.