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Hu Ruoyun was the class monitor, and Gao Qingshan was from Gaoqiao Town, specifically Gaoqiao Village. In their class, there was another student named Gao Cuihong who also came from the same village. Being local "natives," neither of them lived on campus. It was common to see Gao Qingshan riding his bicycle, carrying Gao Cuihong to and from school.
Later, rumors spread among the classmates that Gao Qingshan and Gao Cuihong were not just classmates at Middle School; their families had arranged their marriage long ago!
This young couple had no intention of pursuing a college education. They simply wanted to obtain a high school diploma and then, with the help of Gao Qingshan's uncle, who held a managerial position in a company in Jiang City, they planned to secure jobs as factory workers.
At that time, being a factory worker was considered a "valuable commodity," a dream for countless children of farmers.
The rapid economic development during this era also influenced people's perceptions of education. There were rampant notions like "Those who make atomic bombs are less valuable than those who sell tea eggs; those who wield scalpels are less important than those who wield butcher knives," suggesting that studying was futile.
In rural areas, parents believed that passing the college entrance exam and attending university was merely a "legend" for a select few. They thought it was more practical and responsible to arrange significant life events for their children, which they viewed as the essence of parental duty.
In rural communities at that time, if parents were over forty and their child had not yet been engaged, it would be a matter of gossip.
As summer vacation approached, Brother Biao took the bus to visit Hu Ruoyun and stayed overnight. Since it was Saturday and there were no other students in the dormitory, they talked all night long.
Brother Biao brought shocking news: Zhao Hongtao and Li Xiangqian had both dropped out!
He explained that Zhao Hongtao's father had used his connections through Hong Tao’s uncle, who worked at the Credit Union, to secure a job for Zhao at the Pingqiao Credit Union's Dongping Branch as a contract worker. His student status remained at Sixth Middle School, and as long as he graduated high school in two years, he could transition into a formal position at the rural credit union and obtain an urban household registration.
Li Xiangqian had also leveraged his father's connections as an accountant in the village to prepare for military enlistment this winter.
To the older generation, attending university seemed far too difficult. Rather than gamble on an uncertain future after three years of high school, it was wiser to plan for something tangible.
Hu Ruoyun asked, “Did Hong Tao and Forward agree to this?”
Brother Biao replied, “Why wouldn’t they? This arrangement seems pretty good!”
Hu Ruoyun then inquired about any developments between Brother Biao and Jiang Qiuying.
Brother Biao maintained his calm demeanor: “I’ve come to terms with it. We’re still young; what’s done is done. I don’t have any feelings or intentions regarding that anymore.”
Seeing Hu Ruoyun speechless, Brother Biao added, “My family is also urging me to go on blind dates. It’s someone from the neighboring village who graduated from Middle School. I’ve heard she’s quite attractive and comes from a better family than mine. Now that I’m in high school, they’re all waiting for me to return home on weekends for a ‘meeting.’”
Hu Ruoyun asked, "So what do you think?"
Brother Biao replied nonchalantly, "What else can I think? As long as the person is willing when we meet, I have no objections."
Hong Tao continued, "With how well they study, they don't even go to school anymore. With my level, I definitely won't get into college. It's better to get engaged early, fulfill my parents' wishes, and get married right after graduating high school. I've heard from people who went out to work that they can earn around four hundred a month..."
Hu Ruoyun understood that this reflected the changing mindset in rural areas during this era.
Then came the shocking news: Teacher Wang had an incident!
The front page of the Jiangbei Youth Daily, hosted by the Communist Youth League of Jiangbei Province, published an article titled "The Profit Chain Behind Educational Aids," detailing how students from elementary to high school were required to purchase various educational materials designated by the Education Department.
It was shocking to realize that there were dozens of these materials!
Most of these so-called educational aids were rarely used by students. One of the most expensive books was clearly a hodgepodge of content, filled with typos and poorly printed, yet it cost a staggering six yuan.
The article specifically named the education authorities, the publishers of these aids, and even higher-level editorial and publishing units as crucial links in this chain!
Although the Jiangbei Youth Daily did not have the circulation or influence of daily newspapers, it was still a provincial media outlet with a youthful style and was subscribed to by many middle schools and universities. The article "The Profit Chain Behind Educational Aids" caused a significant stir throughout the province and created quite a commotion in Annan County and Jinan City!
This was largely because many of the data and examples cited in the article were from Jinan City, and its author was Wang Hongjian, a substitute teacher at the Eighth Senior High School in Annan County!
In the wake of this storm, rumors spread like wildfire. Teachers at schools were gossiping about how departments led by Jinan City and Annan County were furious. Some reportedly threw cups in their offices while questioning:
"What was he thinking? Who does he think he is?"
"How dare he interfere? Can he even manage anything?"
"What does he want to achieve?"
They claimed they would expel Wang Hongjian, this troublemaker, from the teaching staff!
Although no official conclusion had been released yet, rumors had spread, causing colleagues close to Teacher Wang to worry: it seemed that Teacher Wang's temporary teaching position was in jeopardy!
Hu Ruoyun hadn’t seen Teacher Wang for several days, and their Language class was temporarily taken over by Han Youqi from Class Three.
It wasn’t until more than half a month later that Teacher Wang finally returned to school, but he looked worn and haggard, lacking the spirit and vitality he once had in his lectures.
Later, everyone heard that Teacher Wang had received a "serious warning" as a disciplinary action!
It was said that Principal Zheng, nearing retirement, couldn’t bear to see this young man dismissed. He stepped forward with his graying hair and argued passionately for Teacher Wang, openly confronting the investigation team sent by Annan County: “A young person merely stated some facts. If you dare to take action against Teacher Wang, I will report this issue to the relevant departments!”
In the end, Teacher Wang managed to keep his job, but from then on, no matter how carefully he worked or how diligently he taught, any awards or recognition would no longer be within his reach.
Afterward, he earnestly told Hu Ruoyun, “You must persist in writing. Who knows? It might be your means of survival in the future!”
He then added with a hint of melancholy, “With the development of the economy, poetry will eventually fade away, and literature will decline. I suggest you write more practical articles; they will better reflect your value. But remember to be adaptable and learn to protect yourself. Never step on landmines that could harm you…”
This incident had a tremendous negative impact on Teacher Wang and dealt a significant blow to him.
Hu Ruoyun understood this all too well.
In his envisioned future, while working as a "reporter" for Jiangbei Science and Technology News—a third-rate media outlet—he recalled a legendary journalist who had written many in-depth reports that influenced and even changed the fates of many individuals. This journalist had received praise from relevant leaders and honors from various departments, gaining recognition from peers in the industry. However, due to a series of ensuing problems, he ultimately had to move to another media organization.
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