"What’s so unbelievable? My brain works fine, unlike someone like you," An Hao said with a laugh.
"Me?" An Ping choked, asking annoyedly, "What’s wrong with me? My brain isn’t dumb!"
"It’s not dumb! It’s just that you don’t study properly!"
"Is that me not studying properly? I’m just not interested at all! I get a headache as soon as I see a book. I’m probably just not cut out for this!" An Ping scratched his head irritably and turned to Qin Jian, "Brother-in-law, does your workplace still need temporary workers? How about I come work at your place?"
"Enough, stop joking around." An Shuchao intervened quickly to stop his son from talking nonsense, "Your sister’s college entrance exam is no problem. Now it’s up to you. If you don’t do well, you might as well not bother going to school and come back home to help me with farming."
"Farming? No way!" An Ping grimaced, "Working in the production team doesn’t make much money in a year. If I can’t get into high school, I’ll have my brother-in-law find me a job. My brother-in-law is a great engineer, and certainly, someone will give face for him, right?"
"Is that... possible?" An Shuchao was actually somewhat tempted by what his son had said.
"Everyone at our workplace has a pretty high level of education," Qin Jian said diplomatically.
"Which means even if they gave you a job, you might not be able to do it!" An Hao glared at her brother, "There are no shortcuts in life; I think you better study steady and secure and then find a good job on your own merit!"
"There isn’t any job that doesn’t require an education?" An Ping asked persistently.
"That’s great." An Hao was immediately delighted, "Brother-in-law, get me in, and when people ask me where I work, I can say I work at the Provincial Electric Power Research Institute. How reputable would that be? Hey, by the way, brother-in-law, what job were you referring to?"
An Ping choked badly.
"Hahaha!" An Hao couldn’t help but let out a burst of laughter, "Serves you right! This is what happens when you don’t study properly!"
"Boiler operator? I don’t want to do that!" An Ping said through clenched teeth. "Worst comes to worst, I’ll just hang around at the production team! Who cares about going back home to farm?"
"Production team?" An Shuchao shook his head, "You won’t be hanging around at the production team in the future either. The central government has already issued orders to disband the production teams, and many places have started dividing land among individual households. We are one of the last groups in the entire country. The commune has already had meetings about it; just waiting for the last batch of wheat to be harvested, and then we’ll start implementing the household responsibility system."
"Ah? If we’re working for our own household, won’t we work ourselves to death?" An Ping couldn’t help wailing, "I really didn’t catch the good times!"
An Hao shook her head in disagreement, "You’re mistaken. An Ping, you’ve encountered a great era! If the land really is divided among households, our options in the future will be broader. As long as we find the right path, our lives will only become more prosperous."
"Really? Then I’ll need you to help me find that path!"
"Forget about all those other things for now. The most important thing at the moment is your middle school exams!" An Hao said.
"Alright. I’ll listen to you." It seemed studying was the most hassle-free option, but it looked like his realization might be a little too late.