"Shu, niece Shuzhen? Great-grandson Lian En?" Dai Weiguo swallowed with difficulty, asking half in shock and half suspiciously.
He and Shuzhen had been married for four years, yet he never knew she had such an impressive uncle, right?
If he had known, he wouldn’t have divorced so decisively!
"You don’t need to worry or ask about our connection. Just remember: neither mother nor son welcomes you. They don’t want you disturbing their peaceful and happy life." He was there to warn and caution, not to answer questions, so naturally, he ignored Dai Weiguo’s nearly bulging eyes and dropped jaw.
He solemnly declared that Shuzhen and Lian En were among his most valued juniors and he would protect them no matter what.
Anyone considering using power to pressure them, making life difficult for them, would have to contend with him!
"Oh, it’s not just me—the new deputy mayor of Beijing, Wei Lai, the director of the Water Resources Bureau, Feng Anhuai, and the music professor at Beijing University, Wu Hao, will indiscriminately stand with me to protect my dear niece and great-grandson. Oh, there’s also the couple Jiang Shengnan from the Weapons Research Institute? Considering their outstanding contributions in seed cultivation over the years, they’re definitely not obedient pushovers!" fearing Dai Zha might not be shocked enough, the old man added.
Seeing Dai Zha’s face turn black and blue from forced patience, perhaps already hurting internally, still having to feign a smile, his sense of achievement was boundless.
He thought he must call his foolish son-in-law later to proudly report his achievements.
Perhaps in gratitude and shame, the son-in-law would rush to fulfill filial duties at his doorstep?
Although this possibility was small, as long as it exists, shouldn’t one strive for it?
What if, what if the dream comes true?
However, these thoughts, more often than not, remain merely thoughts.
Upon hearing about the bad luck of the lousy man and shameless woman, Liu Shouren naturally took great delight.
A series of flattering compliments made the old man extremely pleased, yet he refused to suggest bringing the whole family to Beijing to fulfill filial duties to the old man.
With direct advice from wife and sister, and side confirmation from his father-in-law,
Understanding that the recovery of the college entrance examination was only a matter of time, Liu Shouren secretly gathered books and organized all the village youths who had progressive ideas and loved learning for intensive study. He was eager to cultivate a group of future college students who would contribute to the production and development of Liu family village!
When the movement ends, maybe Dong Shu, Feng Ju, and the others will be vindicated and return home.
Good opportunities are rare, good teachers even rarer.
Isn’t it necessary to prepare while some lead-time can be foreseen? Taking a small step ahead now ensures a big step forward in the future!
After years of persistence, the literacy class with dwindling students quietly evolved into a college entrance exam training class. Inside were over two hundred young men and women from the entire production brigade of the Liu family village, with over a dozen teachers taking turns teaching, filling the whole production brigade of Liu family village with a strong learning atmosphere.
To support his brother’s career, Lianshan and Liu Shouyi also acted as guest teachers, with even the pregnant Shuzhen and Wu Yinghong included.
Every evening from five to eight o’clock, over two hundred students were divided into four classes for collective learning.
Initially, everyone’s enthusiasm was quite high.
After all, the brigade leader and two experts emphasized that knowledge is the primary productive force. Learning more knowledge ultimately is beneficial, right?
Studying one day during idle farming times was acceptable, but during busy farming times, it became unbearable!
Planting seedlings or tilling land all day and then going to class truly felt bittersweet.
Luckily, Liu Shouren, the brigade leader, had astonishing influence, holding village-wide exams occasionally, rewarding outstanding students, significantly boosting most people’s enthusiasm.
He also mentioned how the national situation was changing, how the times were changing, and it’s possible the college entrance examination would soon be restored to select talents for socialist development, stirring young ones who admired Lianshan and Shuzhen’s seemingly carefree village life, enviably better than city dwellers. Embracing the belief in its possibility, they worked hard to learn.
Of course, when the news broke in October, confirming the college entrance exam would officially begin on December 10th, members were filled with gratitude for Liu Shouren and the group of teachers.
Having learned for nearly a year gave them countless opportunities more than those getting news through normal channels!
Indeed, when the official college entrance exam took place, the small Liu family village once again gained national fame.
The village of a total of 1,348 members produced 213 candidates, among which 98 were admitted to nationally acclaimed universities, 72 to provincial key universities, and the worst to vocational colleges.
All participating 213 candidates made the list, with a zero fail rate.
Upon the news release, the nation was astir.
Liu Shouren, the small village leader, once more appeared in national newspapers and on television.
Previously famous for eco-integrated livestock farming, high-yield radishes, cabbages, and grain seeds, and for altruistically contributing to earthquake relief, Liu family village again turned famous due to the college entrance exam.
The stellar all-member admission results earned it the reporter-given nickname, "Number One Scholar Village," while Liu Shouren, this leader was famed as one of the year’s top ten outstanding national cadres.
With the status of a small leader with no administrative rank, figuring among the top ten national outstanding cadres, he was remarkably brilliant. Based on such stellar results, nobody could say he wasn’t qualified.
When the college entrance notices were gradually received, Liu Shouren grandly slaughtered four pigs. The whole village celebrated for their outstanding college students.
At the feast’s start, admitted students and parents gratefully toasted to Liu Shouren and the teachers, inviting the brigade leader and teachers to address them.
Liu Shouren chuckled and expressed his happiness for having so many pillars of society emerge from Liu family village, hoping they would study well and contribute to the development of the Four Modernizations. He also hoped that they would remember Liu family village land wherever they were and encouraged them to return one day, equipped with more excellent, advanced cultural knowledge, to contribute to the construction of their hometown alongside the production brigade.