“This year, eight students got into undergraduate programs. Scarlett is a promising candidate. Comrade, do you know how many points she scored in the school’s entrance exam? She scored 446!”
English: 67, History: 100, Math: 89, Politics: 32, Physics: 56, Chemistry: 76, Biology: 28.
George remembered Whitaker Scarlett’s scores for each subject clearly.
How could he not?
The school accepted repeat and transfer students who scored over 350. 350 was the admission score line for “higher and secondary vocational schools” in Southern Province this year. In the 1980s, secondary vocational schools were divided into two types: junior secondary vocational schools, for junior high graduates, requiring four years of study, and higher secondary vocational schools, for high school graduates, admitted through the national college entrance examination, requiring two years of study.
Graduates from higher secondary vocational schools were also guaranteed job assignments by the state.
The college entrance examination had four levels of admission: “key universities, ordinary universities, junior colleges, and higher secondary vocational schools.” Even the last one, the worst outcome, still meant getting an education.
But Whitaker Scarlett didn’t score 350; she scored 446!
George felt he should explain this to Whitaker Scarlett’s family:
“This year’s science undergraduate admission line in Southern Province is 441. While Scarlett’s test wasn’t exactly the same as the college entrance exam, the difficulty was similar… She can improve in many subjects. If she focuses on studying now, she might be able to get into a key university next year!”
The admission score line for key universities and ordinary universities differed by only about 20 points.
Of course, there were prestigious universities above key universities, and the admission score was just the basic requirement. Like this year’s college entrance examination, the key university admission line in Southern Province was 465. For universities like Pinnacle and Star University, the admission line in Southern Province was 100 points above the key university line. George didn’t expect Whitaker Scarlett to get into a prestigious university, but if she improved her English and Politics scores, she had a good chance of getting into a key university!
George explained all this, not just to Parker Jace’s mother, but mainly to William.
On the way to Harborfield, George and Teacher Sophie had also learned about Whitaker Scarlett’s situation, knowing she currently depended on her uncle William. They were afraid William wouldn’t want to support Whitaker Scarlett’s education—don’t be foolish, this girl is a promising candidate for a key university.
Parker Jace’s mother’s mouth fell open.
Her eyes darted between the people, suspecting Whitaker Scarlett had hired people to act.
Whitaker Scarlett didn’t care about others’ feelings. She also wanted to ask about the specifics of County East High School.
The three people escorted Whitaker Scarlett away. Parker Jace opened his mouth but didn’t say anything.
She’s really going to university?
Her scores sound pretty good?
Parker Jace found Whitaker Scarlett beautiful and liked her; he didn’t mind that she was from a rural background and only had a junior high school diploma.
But what if Whitaker Scarlett went to university?
Parker Jace wasn’t being self-deprecating; he just felt the possibility between him and Whitaker Scarlett was shrinking infinitely.
The school teacher said Whitaker Scarlett could get into a key university—a key undergraduate program. After graduation, the state would assign her a job. Whitaker Scarlett wouldn’t look at a hotel purchasing agent! Maybe she’d be assigned to another city and wouldn’t return to HarborfieldCity at all.
Parker Jace was quite disheartened. His usually proud neck drooped.
His mother still retorted, “University is so easy to get into? We’ll see!”
But if she really got into university, even if she came from a rural background, she’d barely qualify to be the Parker Family’s daughter-in-law.
But could Whitaker Scarlett get in?
In that godforsaken Greenfield County high school, the number of students who got into university each year could be counted on one hand.
…
After delivering the eels, Whitaker Scarlett was going to pick up the oil residue.
George and Teacher Sophie brought good news, so they couldn’t let Whitaker Scarlett go back empty-handed. Hearing that she carried 300-400 pounds of oil residue back to the countryside each trip, Teacher Sophie looked at William disapprovingly:
“University is tuition-free, and students receive a monthly living allowance. You only need to support her for a year, and Scarlett will definitely get into university next year!”
Rural conditions were naturally poor.
William was her uncle, not her father, so Teacher Sophie was afraid William wouldn’t let Whitaker Scarlett continue her studies.
A promising candidate for a key university, the school could waive tuition and fees, but living expenses still needed to be covered. This amount of money wasn’t insignificant for rural people… but gritting their teeth and supporting her for a year would change Whitaker Scarlett’s life!
