How I Tamed My Wolfish Husband Back in 80s-Chapter 118: Feeling Guilty_1

Li Shengcai voiced his concern, "How is she now? Can she even take tomorrow’s test?" Jinhua had previously told them that Li Qiao scored full marks in every subject, so even missing two, if she scored full marks on the others, wouldn’t Beijing University accept her? Wouldn’t some other university?

Qin Jin discreetly studied Li Shengcai’s expression, which didn’t seem to be a show of fake concern.

The talisman was again requested by Dong Lamei, and it was highly likely that she had a hand in it.

He decided to inquire about it discreetly.

He gave Li Shengcai a couple of perfunctory responses and left.

He went straight to find a few brothers, instructing them to keep a close watch on Dong Lamei’s every move and keep him informed of any developments.

The men slapped their chests, promising to fulfil their task to perfection.

On Li Shengcai’s end, he scrutinized Dong Lamei, "Who did you get that talisman from? It wouldn’t actually cause any trouble, would it?"

"What trouble could there be?" Dong Lamei felt somewhat guilty, but she quickly reminded herself that if the manipulation was undetectable and without evidence, she wouldn’t admit to anything, and no one could touch her. "What? You suspect me?"

Dong Lamei took the initiative, leaving Li Shengcai at a loss for words. He hurriedly denied it, fearing Dong Lamei would seize the issue and would not let go, so he immediately walked away.

...

After three days of testing, the young intellectuals gathered around Li Qiao to compare answers.

Du Xinxin estimated she could score around 530, while Han Ting claimed he could score around 645.

The other three all thought they would score between 550 and 560.

"Your scores should make it possible to get into a university."

"Choosing majors is a real issue, apart from Han Ting, our grades are in a middle ground. We don’t know where we should go or what we should do in the future." Everyone felt lost.

"It’s most important to study a major you’re interested in. Du Xinxin, didn’t you say you want to be a doctor? You could apply to the medical university," Li Qiao advised.

"I’m just afraid they won’t take me."

"Tomorrow, let’s go back to school and ask the teacher for the guide we use for choosing majors. It should list all the majors and admission scores for each university."

The group discussed this topic for a while before dispersing.

The next day, Han Ting brought the book, and they all gathered to analyze their options.

Han Ting was thinking of applying to Petroleum University, and Zou Qing wanted to go to Electric Power University.

Li Qiao thought these were good choices.

Du Xinxin’s score made it uncertain if she could pick a good major in medical science, while Wang Nannan and Liu Jing had enough points, but they both wanted to study at a teacher’s college and become teachers, mainly because the stipend was the most substantial there.

Li Qiao did not recommend it, citing that being a teacher easily leads to baldness. Among their eight teachers, the women prematurely had gray hair, the men showed signs of balding, only the physical education teacher appeared normal.

It was a high-risk profession.

With one comment from Li Qiao, they both dismissed the idea of becoming teachers.

"There are many other choices. You could study finance or accounting, then work in a bank later, with a stable nine-to-five job. Zou Qing, you’re eyeing Electric Power University, and Liu Jing, this university of engineering is in the same city as him, and the majors are quite good too..."

Both of them blushed immediately.

Eventually, everyone confirmed their university and major choices, settling a matter that had weighed on their minds. They agreed to go watch a movie in the city the next day, but Li Qiao refused, "I’ve been very tired recently. I want to rest. You all go ahead."

"We can always hang out after you’ve rested."

Li Qiao gently replied, "In a couple of days, I’m planning to go on a trip with my partner. Let’s talk when I get back."

"A trip? Where to? How are you getting there? When will you be back?"

"The world is a big place—where can’t you go? By bicycle. Maybe around seven or eight days. Could you guys look after my grandmother while I’m gone?"

The group readily responded, "Count on us!"

It wasn’t just about looking after her; they would be willing to have her stay with them if needed.

The next day, Li Qiao was at home packing for the trip when Hu Xiufang showed up.

Li Qiao was surprised, "How come you’re here? To compare answers?" Hu Xiufang was good in every way but had one flaw; she was impetuous and lacked patience.

Hu Xiufang laughed heartily, "Indeed."

Li Qiao was speechless, "Have you not been out for ten days or half a month? Besides, with your grades, if you can’t get in, who can?"

Hu Xiufang loved listening to Li Qiao’s compliments. With a determined and serious tone, she bent her eyes and asked, "I can’t wait, when will it be?" She stepped forward to help tidy up, but when she accidentally picked up Qin Jin’s underwear, she was so startled she tossed them aside, stammering, "I...I...I didn’t do it on purpose."

Li Qiao chuckled softly, picked them up, and shook them out, "You don’t need to help."

Putting her work aside for a moment, Li Qiao took out the draft paper they used to check answers with the educated youth and handed it to Hu Xiufang to check slowly.

Hu Xiufang, mortified, sat at the desk with the draft paper, "I’ve finished checking. Around 600 points, that’s fantastic!" She felt no regrets this year.

Last year’s experiences were more agonizing than death itself.

Li Qiao gave a thumbs up, "Impressive."

"Still far behind you."

"Almost caught up with me on the language exam..." Li Qiao recounted the situation at the time.

Hu Xiufang, who was assigned to a different commune, was unaware that Li Qiao had been ill, "No wonder there were two black scabs on your face. I thought they were just pimples that had burst. Are they better now?"

"All better." She had been on an IV for three straight days and had just stopped two days ago.

She continued taking medication, though.

The doctor said her chickenpox was quite severe.

Luckily, they had treated her with the right medication from the start. If it had been treated as a common cold, she probably wouldn’t have had such a smooth time taking her exams.

After Li Qiao packed her luggage, she pulled Hu Xiufang to sit under the shade of a tree outside to cool off.

Entering the height of summer, staying in the earthen house for a while would leave one dripping with sweat.

Hu Xiufang’s gaze fell on the working aunts’ hands, hesitated for a moment, then gathered the courage to ask, "Does your family still need people for weaving?"

Li Qiao asked, "You want to recommend someone?" Her grandmother had devised many weaving techniques that sold well, but few had learned them. Locals who wanted to work had basically all tried their hand at it, but in the end, only six people remained.

Gao Dagang had requested an increase in production several times.

But they couldn’t produce more, so they didn’t agree to his requests.

Old Mrs. Qin had even asked someone to recruit women from the nearby villages, but they refused after hearing Qin Jin’s name, shaking their heads in fear.

Qin Jin’s brothers’ wives had come, three in total, but none lasted a week. They all claimed they suddenly discovered they were pregnant, which made it inconvenient to run back and forth.

So, their place earned the nickname "Child-Giving Land."

As a result, Yu Feng, who was arranging to bring back He Xiaohong to work, pleaded with the grandmother several times.

He Xiaohong had tried to learn but hadn’t mastered it, though she was a good person.

After consideration, the grandmother agreed.

However, Feng Bing went to the He family and saw something startling.

He Xiaohong had remarried.

The Feng family made a scene at the township office, and the He family, fed up, claimed she had been driven out by the Feng family. Moreover, since they hadn’t officially registered their marriage and Yu Feng had previously bullied the He family for being honest and not wanting to add another person’s share to the communal grain quota, she didn’t allow He Xiaohong to transfer her household registration.

Feng Bing thus became a bachelor, spending his days at home drinking and cursing people.

The two girls weren’t looked after and stopped attending school. He Xiaohong returned to take her two children with her, but Yu Feng objected, claiming the children bore the surname Feng and had nothing to do with someone named He. Yet, while Yu Feng fought for the children, she didn’t take care of them and went around telling people their mother had abandoned them.

Even the two children thought the same, filled with hatred at the mention of their mother.

"I would like to learn," Hu Xiufang said shyly.

Her elderly parents couldn’t manage too much work, and her education depended entirely on her elder brother and sister-in-law. Last year when she didn’t get admitted, her brother suggested she repeat the year, but her sister-in-law pulled a long face and argued with her brother.

She felt uncomfortable at first, but slowly began to understand.

Now that the results were out, she wanted to buy some gifts to thank her sister-in-law but didn’t know where to get the money.

Collecting her thoughts, Li Qiao smiled and said, "Of course, you can." She quietly gave Hu Xiufang a price.