Mother Zhao chatted with a few people in the front row for a while. Now that the college entrance exams were over, the students had relaxed, and even those who previously didn't dare to breathe too heavily in her presence were now bold enough to crack some jokes.
Once the last few students had arrived, Mother Zhao began to speak.
She casually touched on several topics: the process of filling out university preferences and some terminology, the tier system for universities and majors, and an introduction to the 985 elite universities.
Yan City Middle School was indeed the best middle school in Yan City, but it was still a small city. Having one or two students admitted to Tsinghua and Peking University each year was considered pretty good. Most students who made it into a 985 university were in the top class; Zhou Li's class might only have one or two who could squeak into a lower-tier 985 institution—there wasn't much to discuss.
The top one or two students held their ranks steadily; it was a given.
Brother Nan was an exception.
If all the questions on the exam just happened to be ones she could do, or if all her guesses were correct, then rising to the heavens wouldn't be an issue for her, but that would be exaggerating a bit too much.
It was just uncertain whether she had saved up enough during the entire semester to produce a qualitative change from a quantitative accumulation.
With so many options from the 211 universities down to the second-tier colleges in small cities, Mother Zhao couldn't introduce them all one by one. Instead, she let the students ask questions which she would then address or provide opinions on.
Brother Nan propped her eyelids up and took notes from beginning to end.
After Mother Zhao had finished her talk and tossed out the printed papers for students who wished to estimate their scores to compare, Brother Nan turned to Zhou Li and said, "I think I might make some big news this time."
"What? You're not really going to..."
"No! I took a detour on my way here to buy some scratch-off lottery tickets, guess what happened?"
"Won five million?" Zhou Li breathed a sigh of relief.
"Didn't win? That's impossible, right?"
"Really didn't win! Not a single penny!" Brother Nan said, her despondent eyes suddenly sparkling, "You know what that means?"
"You have no money to spend over summer vacation?"
"It means I used up all the luck I'd been saving up for half a year on the college entrance exam! Perhaps I even overdrew. Do you know what that implies?"
"Exactly! I've got to ascend! This time, I'm going to blow my uncle away!" Brother Nan's voice rose with excitement, but then she quickly shrank back, lowering her volume, "Keep it quiet, keep it quiet. Let's be low-key first, in case I end up doing poorly and embarrass myself. Low-key first and then make an astonishing debut—that's more impactful, right?"
"Right, so I'll congratulate you in advance."
"Hey, no need, I've only told you, right? You better not tell anyone else!"
Brother Nan guessed Zhou Li had no one to tell anyway.
She raised her head to glance forward, then said to Zhou Li, "Aren't you going to estimate your score? If you do it now, that will help you choose universities ahead of time, so you won't be scrambling later."
"I'll wait for them to finish."
"Heh, I think you'll probably score at least twenty or thirty points above your true level this time, right?"
"Thanks to your good fortune."
"We help each other out!" Feeling hopeful about Tsinghua and Peking University and confident that she could easily triumph over the next class with her abilities, Brother Nan was in a great mood. "If you really want to thank me, treat me to a meal after the exams. I want to eat taro chicken!"
Mother Zhao had brought several sets of test papers for each subject, and since some people weren't interested in estimating their scores, two or three students were able to share one set.
The Two Golden Flowers in the front row quickly got a set of English test papers and turned back to look at them with Zhou Li.
"Brother Nan, are you checking?" Zhou Li asked.
Li Nan found the kid amusing; How could I remember what I chose?
Zhou Li took a quick look at the papers, and the Two Golden Flowers did as well.
They had very different expressions.
Chen Guohua and Zhang Xiuhua's grades were among the lowest in the class. Now that there were no tier-three colleges anymore, it was truly difficult for them to even reach the undergraduate admission line. One of them didn't want to study at all, while the other studied earnestly every day but just couldn't grasp the material, and the teachers were at a loss with them.
After spending quite some time queuing and reviewing the papers for four subjects, Zhou Li felt that getting into a 211 university was highly likely.
The first-tier college admission line was definitely within reach.
And the expressions on the two girls in the front row didn't seem very promising.
Mother Zhao came around from behind and, seeing Zhou Li, smiled, "How did it go? Feeling confident?"
"Pretty good," Zhou Li replied.
"Then I'm relieved!" She then looked at Li Nan. "And Brother Nan, how did you do?"
"All good!" Brother Nan casually said.
"Yo, that's impressive!"
"Of course, who do you think Old Li is!"
"Judging by your state, did you go online last night?"
"The exams were over, weren't they?"
Mother Zhao instinctively raised her hand to hit her, but Brother Nan skillfully ducked her neck back.
Mother Zhao didn't hit her; she just smiled and didn't pursue further.
Then Mother Zhao turned to look at the Two Golden Flowers in front. Seeing their complexions, she pursed her lips and asked cautiously, "Did you not perform well?"
The two girls nodded silently.
Mother Zhao then comforted them, "The scores aren't out yet, and it's okay if you didn't do well; everyone has their own path to take."
The two girls just mumbled an "Mhm" in response.
Chen Guohua's family was pretty well off. They thought that even if she only got into a junior college, they hoped she would continue her education for two more years to get a diploma. But she herself didn't want to go; she was eager to enter society and become financially independent. Zhang Xiuhua, on the other hand, came from a rural area. Her family's mindset might be more outdated, as it was already quite difficult for them to afford her high school. If she only got into a junior college, she might want to attend, but her family wouldn't support her financially or emotionally.
The two girls were facing the first significant choice in their lives.
Normally, they were chatterboxes, talking ceaselessly whenever they had a chance. Just two hours ago, they were still arguing over which one was the bigger culinary crime against humanity: fish mint or cilantro. Now, however, they were unusually quiet.
It wasn't just them who were dejected.
Often, that's how it is; you're pushed to grow up without being fully prepared for it.
Gradually, it approached five o'clock. The class representatives had a discussion. Since Brother Nan, the sports representative, ignored their inquiries for her input, they decided to stay in the classroom until 5:30 before heading to the hotel. They had agreed to start dinner at six, so the timing was about right.
Brother Nan lay there motionless, facing Zhou Li's direction, her eyes devoid of spirit.
Suddenly, she asked, "Zhou Li, we're about to graduate, and we'll definitely part ways in the future. Will you miss your Big Brother Nan?"
"So decisive?" Brother Nan was somewhat surprised.
Zhou Li thought Brother Nan was easy to get along with and a very unique person; she was the only one he could really talk to. If Brother Nan hadn't been here, my high school life would have been completely bleak, wouldn't it? Just studying, with nothing to look back on with a fond smile or quiet contemplation, nothing nostalgic at all. But now it's different. I'll always remember those three years of twilight when I had a deskmate with a built-in antenna.
Brother Nan smiled contentedly. "Actually, I'll miss you quite a bit, too."
After saying that, she remembered her numerous friends from all walks of life, Little Brothers spread across the campus, and then she added, "I think you have something quite unique about you."
"What's that?" Zhou Li was puzzled.
"Because you understand me," Brother Nan said as she lay there.
"Like what I just said, you're not surprised at all, nor do you think I'm delusional or that my thinking is abnormal. Anyone else would be thinking Li Nan is an idiot on the inside, even if they didn't say anything."
So that's how it is, Zhou Li thought. He then silently repeated to himself three times: Li Nan is an idiot.
Then Brother Nan said, "Isn't it strange! Even though we are complete opposites in personality, we can still pee into the same pot!"