Carson didn’t think Whitaker Scarlett was being unrealistic. After his initial surprise, he actually admired Whitaker Scarlett’s ambition.
Whitaker Scarlett was unaware of the complexities involved in obtaining these textbooks, but the fact that Carson was able to deliver them so quickly showed that he cared about her. They didn’t have a deep relationship; Whitaker Scarlett hadn’t even met him before she came to Wellwater village, only truly getting to know him in the past half-month.
Touched by his thoughtfulness, Whitaker Scarlett said:
“Brother Carson, I don’t know what to say…”
Carson was backlit. The light from the Miller family’s house spilled over the courtyard wall, illuminating Whitaker Scarlett’s fair face.
Carson felt his entire face was burning up. He quickly steadied himself and continued with the important matter:
“I asked for you today. County East High School doesn’t necessarily refuse transfer students, but since you only have a junior high school diploma, you have to pass the school’s entrance exam—regardless of whether you choose the arts or science stream, you need to reach last year’s ‘higher vocational and technical’ score line for County East High School to accept you.”
Carson lowered his head, his tone anxious and frustrated.
He was worried, feeling he hadn’t handled this well.
Currently, high school students taking the college entrance exam could fall into four categories: key universities, ordinary universities, junior colleges, and higher vocational and technical schools.
To ensure a high matriculation rate, County East High School had score restrictions for repeat students from other schools. But passing last year’s ‘higher vocational and technical’ score line was far from easy. Carson’s ranking in his class was in the top 15, and he had performed steadily last year, but he made a mistake in his estimated score, missing out on his desired school. Even with his top 15 ranking, his total score didn’t reach the undergraduate line… Could Whitaker Scarlett, a junior high school graduate, achieve last year’s higher vocational and technical score in the entrance exam?
Carson was still a student himself; he had no connections to help with this matter, so he could only follow the school’s rules.
Whitaker Scarlett remained silent for a long time, making Carson anxious:
“Don’t worry, I’ll talk to my grandpa. He might be able to find someone in the county. Even if you can’t get into County East High School, County West High School is definitely possible.”
County West High School’s teaching quality was slightly lower than County East High School.
But if there were no other options, County West High School was also acceptable.
Whitaker Scarlett snapped back to reality and quickly explained:
“You misunderstood, Brother Carson. I don’t want to trouble Grandpa Daniel. It’s not that I’m being polite, but if I can’t even reach the higher vocational and technical score line, there’s no point in transferring and taking the college entrance exam next year… By the way, what was the provincial science stream higher vocational and technical admission line this year?”
Was it her own illusion?
Or was it the fearlessness of the ignorant?
It felt like Whitaker Scarlett saying she would pass the higher vocational and technical score line was as easy as selling eggs in the county. This wasn’t selling eggs; being good at business didn’t mean being good at studying.
“This year’s science stream higher vocational and technical score line was 350, with a total score of 690. Scarlett, I suggest you study arts. It involves more memorization, unlike science, which requires physics and chemistry…”
For most girls studying science, subjects like physics and chemistry were like having their brains coated in lard.
Even Carson himself felt confused when facing those questions.
He was kindly advising Whitaker Scarlett, but she didn’t listen.
“Is there a deadline for the entrance exam?”
“Next Monday.”
“Then I’ll read these books first and take the exam next Monday.”
Seven days left, and you, a junior high school student, are going to take the transfer entrance exam for County East High School?
Carson was speechless.
He practically fled. Whitaker Scarlett’s confidence frightened him; he feared the Monday entrance exam would lead to Whitaker Scarlett’s disappointment.
Whitaker Scarlett carried the books into the house. The three people in the house were staring at her expectantly.
It was already dark, and Carson had come to see Whitaker Scarlett, the two whispering for a long time outside the wall. Whitaker Scarlett returned to the house carrying a large bag of things, making it hard for her family not to misunderstand.
Elizabeth hesitated to speak.
She felt Whitaker Scarlett wasn’t suitable to be with Carson.
It wasn’t that she thought Whitaker Scarlett wasn’t good enough for Carson, but their mother and daughter hadn’t yet established themselves in Wellwater village. If Whitaker Scarlett and Carson were together, the villagers would surely say Whitaker Scarlett was climbing. Elizabeth didn’t want those rumors to plague Whitaker Scarlett again; they had finally left Larkspur Village and found a foothold here.
