The 1983 College Entrance Examination had only been reinstated for a few years. During the years when the exam was suspended, students were listless, teachers lacked enthusiasm, and the overall educational level of the country regressed. In the years following the resumption of the exam, the weak foundation of teaching resources hadn’t been immediately replenished. In places like Greenfield County, the number of students who could get into undergraduate programs each year was extremely small.
Carson himself was a repeat student.
He had to compete with current graduates and those who had been repeating for two years or more.
This year, a total of 1.67 million people nationwide took the college entrance examination, with a total of 390,000 students admitted to specialized and undergraduate programs. The admission rate seemed quite high—23%, meaning that out of every 100 candidates, 23 could get into university. Yet, Carson still failed; his grades were simply not good enough.
This admission rate, however, was deceptive. After the implementation of the college entrance examination pre-selection system in 1980, candidates who failed the “preliminary examination” before the main exam, regardless of whether they were current graduates or repeat students, were not even eligible to register for the formal college entrance examination! The preliminary examination had already eliminated over 60% of the candidates, resulting in the 23% admission rate.
Greenfield County was a small county in the Southern state, a province with a large number of college entrance examination candidates, resulting in a low admission rate and fierce competition.
Under these circumstances, rural students who could get into university were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. That’s why Whitaker Rosalie was so precious and why Carson, after failing the exam, immediately decided to repeat… either continue to strive for university or return home to be a farmer; only two choices lay before Carson. Even vocational school graduates were assigned jobs in those days; university students, both specialized and undergraduate, were even more so. Only high school graduates were stuck in the middle, neither here nor there, like stepchildren.
Those with urban household registrations could still find factory jobs if they didn’t get into university; Carson had no other choice.
Hearing him talk about the exam, Julie didn’t dare to joke any more.
Carson was the promising son of Uncle Daniel; if she said anything inappropriate to discourage him, let alone Uncle Daniel’s reaction, Julie’s husband wouldn’t let her off.
Thinking of the college entrance examination, Carson’s youthful infatuation subsided somewhat.
After finishing his meal, he left his bowl and wanted to go home to study. Remembering Whitaker Scarlett’s earlier request, he patiently waited for her.
Whitaker Scarlett was also thinking about it and found an opportunity to talk to Carson.
It turned out that she wanted to ask about the college entrance examination.
“Do you want to take next year’s college entrance examination?”
Carson was surprised. He thought Whitaker Scarlett would continue to be a self-employed businesswoman.
“Yes, but I only finished junior high school. I don’t know if I can join the third-year class. Brother Carson, could you help me inquire at the school?”
Whitaker Scarlett’s age wasn’t a problem; many current graduates were older than her, let alone repeat students. But several years had passed since the resumption of the college entrance examination, and now more people were attending high school systematically before taking the exam. Whitaker Scarlett hadn’t touched a book for two or three years after graduating from junior high school, and her grades weren’t good then. Her sudden decision to take the college entrance examination… Carson didn’t want to discourage her enthusiasm; it was certainly good that she was striving to improve herself.
“I’ll ask the school for you. Even if you can join the class, you’ll definitely have to take an exam.”
Carson didn’t want to discourage Whitaker Scarlett, so he said this in advance to prepare her. Seeing Whitaker Scarlett’s hesitation, those misty, watery eyes were indescribably moving, and Carson felt a surge of pity, blurting out:
“Let me lend you a set of high school textbooks first. You can read them in advance. If the school requires an exam, you’ll be prepared.”
“Oh, thank you so much, Brother Carson!”
“N-no need to thank me.”
Carson ran off as if a dog were chasing him.
…
