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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 also a student named Gao Cuihong, who was from the same village. Being locals, neither of them lived on campus, and everyone often saw Gao Qingshan riding his bicycle to school with Gao Cuihong.
Later, rumors spread among the classmates that Gao Qingshan and Gao Cuihong were actually in a relationship, having been betrothed by their parents since their time in middle school.
This young couple had no intention of pursuing higher education; they simply wanted to obtain a high school diploma and then rely on Gao Qingshan's uncle, who held a managerial position in a company in Jiang City, to secure jobs as factory workers.
At that time, being a factory worker was highly sought after, a dream for countless children of farmers.
The rapid economic development during this era also influenced people's perceptions of education. The notion that "those who build atomic bombs are not as good as those who sell tea eggs, and those who wield scalpels are not as valuable as butchers" became increasingly prevalent.
In rural areas at that time, parents believed that attending university was merely a "legend" for a select few. It was considered practical and responsible to arrange significant life events for their children, which was seen as the essence of parental duty.
In rural communities back then, if parents reached their forties and their children were still unengaged, it would attract criticism.
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 throughout the night.
Brother Biao brought shocking news: Zhao Hongtao and Li Xiangqian had both dropped out!
He explained that Zhao Hongtao's father had leveraged connections through his cousin 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 at Sixth Middle School would remain intact, and as long as he obtained his high school diploma in two years, he could transition to a permanent position with an urban household registration.
Li Xiangqian's father had also established connections with relevant departments in Annan County to ensure Li would enlist in the military that winter.
To the older generation, attending university seemed 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 if Hongtao and Forward had agreed to these plans.
Brother Biao replied, "Why wouldn't they? This arrangement seems quite good!"
Hu Ruoyun then inquired about Brother Biao's relationship with Jiang Qiuying.
Brother Biao remained calm: "I've come to terms with it. We're still young; what's done is done. I don't have any thoughts or intentions regarding that anymore."
Seeing Hu Ruoyun speechless, Brother Biao added, "My family is also urging me to meet someone. It's a girl from a 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've entered high school, they’re eager for me to meet her when I go home for the weekend."
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 there had been no official conclusion regarding the matter, rumors had spread, causing colleagues who were close to Teacher Wang to worry: it seemed that his temporary teaching position was unlikely to last.
Hu Ruoyun had not 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 while teaching.
Later, everyone learned that Teacher Wang had received a "serious warning" as a disciplinary action.
It was said that Principal Zheng, nearing retirement, could not bear to see this young man dismissed. He resolutely stood up for Teacher Wang, his hair graying, and argued passionately with the investigation team sent from Annan County: "A young person merely stated some facts. If you dare to take action against Teacher Wang, I will go to the relevant departments to report this issue!"
In the end, Teacher Wang managed to keep his job, but from that point on, no matter how careful he was in his work or how dedicated he was in his teaching, any recognition or awards were no longer within his reach.
Afterward, he earnestly advised Hu Ruoyun, "You must persist in writing. You never know when it might become 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 profound negative impact on Teacher Wang and dealt a significant blow to him.
Hu Ruoyun understood this well.
In his envisioned future as a "reporter" at 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 received praise from relevant leaders and honors from related departments, gaining recognition from peers in the industry. Yet, amidst a series of ensuing problems, he had no choice but to move to another media outlet.
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