Chapter 314: [314] What happened to the former classmates? Chapter 314: [314] What happened to the former classmates? Xie Wanying asked a classmate, “Did you stay and work around here after graduation?”
“Yes, Teacher Zhuang helped me find an internship. The tech scene in the Capital is great, with lots of big companies and top universities’ tech faculties within the Capital region. Just thinking about it made me head straight for Teacher Zhuang.”
Teacher Zhuang has always been attentive to students from impoverished backgrounds and helps them whenever possible.
“I am now working in the computer lab at Foreign Languages University,” Zhao Wenzong revealed further.
Xie Wanying felt a wave of happiness for him.
Being kept by the university’s computer department before graduation, securing a stable job, his career path was set.
It was no easy feat, as both he and she came from poverty.
Zhao Wenzong was full of confidence, “Besides work, I’m actively preparing for graduate school. I’m planning to apply for the nation’s top university in computer science.” At this point, he couldn’t help but turn and say, “Thank you, it was you who encouraged me to be brave in filling out my university preferences.”
“No need to thank me,” Xie Wanying waved her hand dismissively.
What she did was barely even worth mentioning as a favor.
They walked into the living room together.
Seeing the fruit Xie Wanying was holding, Teacher Zhuang called out, “Why did you buy something when you’re a guest at my house? You don’t even have a job yet. Take it back!”
Xie Wanying quickly and deftly placed the fruit in the fridge, not allowing the teacher to refuse.
“You, you–” Seeing her actions, Teacher Zhuang pointed at her, frustrated.
“Teacher, is there anything in the kitchen that I can help with?” asked Xie Wanying, as Teacher Zhuang had mentioned keeping her for lunch.
“A soup is simmering, vegetables are washed, there’s nothing that needs to be done. Come on, have a seat, let’s catch up,” Teacher Zhuang beckoned them to sit down.
It was a rare treat for Teacher Zhuang to sit down and chat about old times with former students, and it left her feeling delighted.
Zhao Wenzong was busy brewing gongfu tea at the coffee table.
Seeing this, Xie Wanying helped by boiling some more water.
“Apart from you two, how are the other students from your class?” Teacher Zhuang inquired about the others. It was not common for all students to maintain contact with their teachers after graduation, only those with a particularly close relationship, like Xie Wanying and Zhao Wenzong.
Xie Wanying had not been in much contact with the other classmates from high school, as her place of study was too far from theirs.
Zhao Wenzong gave Teacher Zhuang an update, saying, “Zhang Wei went to the United Kingdom, left just before the New Year.”
“So it’s as your headteacher Liu Hui wished,” Teacher Zhuang said.
“Not really,” said Zhao Wenzong, “She didn’t inform Teacher Liu before going abroad. Teacher Liu only found out from us.”
Teacher Zhuang couldn’t help but laugh: it was exactly as expected.
“Hu Hao also wants to study abroad, but his English isn’t good enough. He told Zhang Wei to wait for him,” Zhao Wenzong said.
“Does he like Zhang Wei?”
“Zhang Wei doesn’t like him.” Zhao Wenzong was certain of this.
Xie Wanying thought of her own deskmate, someone incredibly proud; since she had gone overseas, she’d probably plan on marrying a foreigner.
“You should also strive to study abroad, and remember to return home and contribute,” Teacher Zhuang told them.
“Teacher, how could we possibly. We don’t have the money,” Zhao Wenzong flatly denied.
Xie Wanying nodded in agreement: it was impossible.
She and Zhao Wenzong were both clear about their family situations. Nowadays, it was not like before; the number of sponsored students was dwindling while the number of university applicants was growing, turning it into a fierce competition. Most people going abroad were now self-funded.
“Don’t lose hope; just wait for the opportunity,” Teacher Zhuang encouraged them, but she thought to herself how educational inequality was becoming more severe.
Good and smart students, due to their family circumstances, were finding it increasingly difficult to climb the social ladder.