Chapter 1354: Chapter 1355: The Little Widow of the Courtyard 82 Zhao Gui and his group left, and everyone talked for several days. They also discussed Zhao Fu’s family, and the punishment for Zhao Juan and her husband had come down, along with the disposition for Zhao Fu’s family. Some of Zhao Lin’s confessions, after investigation, were proven to be used to implicate others, though some parts were true. For example, Zhao Fu’s family knew he was involved in black market dealings, lent him the principal, and received high interest, allegedly double the principal annually. Initially, people wondered if Zhao Fu’s family had been tricked by Zhao Lin, maybe Zhao Fu’s family was just like Zhao Gui’s. When they confronted Zhao Fu’s family about their actions, everyone said they deserved it. Thus, they were considered accomplices, and the whole family was sent to the Western Region for reformation. As for their children, with no one to adopt them, they were sent directly to the welfare home. Everyone was indeed quite sighing over the situation. Although there had been previous conflicts, seeing Zhao Gui and Zhao Fu, the two brothers, fall so far due to the unscrupulous children of the family, made everyone reconsider the importance of children’s education. Previously, people never paid much attention to educating daughters, thinking that daughters would marry out, so why bother? But now, they put a lot of effort into educating their daughters, not necessarily expecting them to help or support their natal family after marriage, at least not make them suffer like Zhao Juan did. Neighbors from the surrounding courtyards also intensified their focus on children’s education, realizing such consequences were unbearable. Zhang Yu is incredibly busy now because Zhao Lei is about to face the July college entrance exams. Zhang Yu had thought about Zhao Lei applying to university in 1962, so he could graduate before the upheavals of 1966. Unexpectedly, Zhao Lei gave an even greater surprise, planning to take the college entrance exams in the summer of 1961. Looking at Zhao Lei, who was much taller than himself, Zhang Yu realized that he had to raise his arm considerably to pat the young man’s shoulder like he used to. “Are you confident?” Zhang Yu knew that Zhao Lei planned to apply to Capital University’s mechanical engineering, a top major at a renowned university. “Confident.” Zhao Lei knew Zhang Yu must be worried, otherwise, he wouldn’t ask. “Once I get into university, I can get a job assignment, and Father’s job will be left for my sister.” “We’ll see by then, maybe your sister can also get a job assigned.” Zhang Yu actually knew that Zhao Hong’s chances of attending university were slim. Even if there’s a chance to attend university, the prospects aren’t promising, and Zhang Yu was considering whether to let Zhao Hong attend a technical secondary school instead. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel•fire.net While Zhang Yu was tense about Zhao Lei’s college exams, the surrounding neighbors were equally anxious, even more so than Zhang Yu, hoping Zhao Lei could get into college. Everyone knew that college graduates were precious, and upon graduation, there was no worry about jobs as factories offered various benefits to attract college graduates. Zhao Lei had good grades, and going to college was assured; the only concern was which university he would get into. “When Zhao Lei goes to university, what about Zhang Yu’s job quota?” Everyone was eager for Zhang Yu’s quota. “It’s difficult, and there’s Zhao Hong as well.” Although hopeful, the Zhao family didn’t just have Zhao Lei as a child. “Ah, they have three jobs for a family of three!” Everyone was envious. “What can be done? Their child is ambitious, with good grades.” “If only our kids were as ambitious, with good grades, working wouldn’t be a worry.” It was already mid-1961, and while resources were still tight, news indicated this summer’s harvest was promising. Even though there was no news of improving resource supply, it’s better than constantly hearing about floods, droughts, and crop failures everywhere. At least now, there are favorable news reports. With rising grain yields, eating won’t be the biggest hardship; people shifted their focus to job issues for their children. Families with many children were worried. Seeing Zhao Lei’s promising future, of course, led to widespread discussions. “It’s still essential to study hard; it’s necessary to attend technical secondary school, high school, or university.” Earlier, people weren’t concerned about their children’s education, thinking children who could read were already better than many parents and elders, and wouldn’t be illiterate in the outside world. Parents had this attitude, and children didn’t desire education much either; just passing was fine. In Zhang Yu’s case, skipping grades in both elementary and middle school, in this era, parents weren’t very envious, thinking at most that skipping meant earlier graduation. Everyone thought Zhao Lei might want to skip grades to graduate high school early and take over. Yet no one expected Zhao Lei never aimed to take over; his goal since childhood was simple. The goal was to attend university and become a college student. When news of Zhao Lei planning to attend university reached the machinery factory, there was one family that sighed in relief, the technical section chief. Back then, to allow his younger son to take over, he signed an agreement with Zhang Yu, stating Zhao Lei would join the workforce after graduating. Earlier, hearing Zhao Lei was skipping grades, the chief was anxious since his higher salary meant that if he retired before the official age, he wouldn’t receive a pension. Knowing Zhao Lei was preparing for university, the chief relaxed, “Looks like Zhao Lei won’t take over; the successor should be Zhao Hong.” The chief recalled Zhang Yu’s mention of uncertainty regarding which child would take over, so it couldn’t be confirmed. Back then, people assumed Zhang Yu was trying not to show favoritism, but everyone believed she would surely leave the job for Zhao Lei. Such a good job, why not leave it for the son instead of the daughter? “Dad, do you mean that back then, Zhang Yu already knew Zhao Lei would definitely apply to university?” The elder son looked puzzled. “No one can be certain about the future; no one knows.” The chief relaxed, “This way, I can work for a few more years.” People recalled saying earlier that Zhao Lei and his sister had good grades, “Dad, you say if Zhao Hong’s grades are good, and she goes to college too.” The younger son glanced at his wife; his younger brother-in-law’s grades weren’t great, not to mention college, even getting into high school was unlikely. Now, junior high school graduates hoping for formal employment couldn’t expect much, and though the Yue family had jobs, the positions had been given to the elder brother-in-law. The elder brother looked at the younger one, knowing his thoughts about their father’s job; he had ideas too, hoping maybe it would be reserved for his son. Even if his son couldn’t use it, he thought if their father could resolve the younger brother’s job, then he should also provide their family a job.