Chapter 63: Movie

Group Leader Gao had a class this period, so the person Lin Qiao was most familiar with in the office was the head teacher of Class Three.

The head teacher of Class Three knew the answer. “There’s only the math competition, which started in 1978. Even Mr. Hua attended.”

Mr. Hua was a prominent figure in the mathematics world, so she remembered it clearly. “At that time, over 200,000 people from eight provinces and cities participated in the preliminary round, but only 350 were selected for the finals, and 57 won awards. Our school participated, but unfortunately, none of our students made it to the finals.”

With only 350 spots for eight provinces and cities, the top schools took most of them. For a lower-ranked school like theirs, it was hard to get in unless a student was exceptionally talented. Moreover, if it was only math, it would be troublesome. Among the three subjects of math, physics, and chemistry, Li Xiaoqiu was weakest in math.

Lin Qiao thought for a moment. “What happened to the students who won? Where are they now?”

She needed to know this to decide the next steps.

The head teacher of Class Three was stunned. “I don’t know. Some might have gone to college. I remember the youngest was only fourteen.”

Lin Qiao was also surprised. Didn’t winning competitions guarantee college admission in this era?

In her time, students like Li Xiaoqiu, who were particularly strong in one subject, often competed to win prestigious awards and secure college admission. She thought of this because Li Xiaoqiu’s Chinese scores were not improving. She didn’t expect to be only one math competition and no guaranteed college admission.

“Why did you suddenly ask about this?” the head teacher of Class Three asked. “These competitions are usually in spring and summer, and we have college entrance exams next year.”

Indeed, they had college entrance exams next year. With Li Xiaoqiu’s Chinese scores, even another year of study wouldn’t get her into a top university.

Lin Qiao sighed. “I just wanted to see if there were other paths for Li Xiaoqiu.”

The head teacher of Class Three, who also taught Li Xiaoqiu, sighed as well. “Her situation is difficult. It would be a pity for her to go to an average university.”

When Ji Duo returned home at noon, he found Lin Qiao sitting on the sofa, doing nothing. She didn’t even look up when he came in. This wasn’t like her. She was usually very alert. Even when they first got married, she would open her eyes to check when he came home, even if she was asleep. He took off his military cap and hung it up, thinking about recent events. “Did the students not do well this time?”

Hearing his familiar voice, Lin Qiao snapped out of her thoughts. “No, they did well. They even surpassed the class led by the head of the senior group.”

Is someone causing trouble for her again?

Ji Duo paused while taking off his gloves, his expression darkening. “Has that teacher, Ms. Zheng, returned to school, or…”

Lin Qiao hadn’t thought about Zheng Huifang for a while. She couldn’t help but glance at him. “Are you keeping an eye on her?”

Seeing no one was causing her trouble, Ji Duo placed his gloves on the coffee table. “Did your principal ask you not to conduct experiments with the students again?”

That sounded like a deliberate question. Lin Qiao noticed he was quite talkative today. “The lab is already built. If they don’t let me use it, aren’t they afraid I’ll write another letter to report the situation?”

At this, she paused. “Right, how could I forget that?”

If there’s no path, then make one. Even if it doesn’t succeed, it’s better than doing nothing and regretting it later.

Lin Qiao got up to go upstairs but then turned back. “It won’t take long. Let’s eat first.”

Seeing her lively again, Ji Duo picked up his gloves and military cap, and they headed out together.

While Lin Qiao was wrapping her scarf, he asked, “Do you have many classes this Saturday?”

“Not many. Why?”

“Elder Gu wants to invite you to his home for a meal.”

Lin Qiao had met Elder Gu several times, but always in the hospital. It wasn’t the best impression. She nodded. “I’ll leave early on Saturday.”

The next morning, Vice Principal Qi asked Lin Qiao to come to his office after her first class.

Lin Qiao thought it was about the reading room, as it had been over a week since she suggested it, and the school hadn’t responded, like a stone sinking into the sea.

Unexpectedly, Vice Principal Qi handed her some forms. “Principal Zeng and I have decided to recommend you for this year’s Outstanding Teacher Award. Fill these out and submit them by the end of the week.”

Lin Qiao was surprised and looked at Vice Principal Qi. “But I’m taking the college entrance exam next year.”

“We know,” Vice Principal Qi said, adjusting his glasses with a smile. “But you’ve done a lot for the school and education in the past six months. You deserve this recommendation.”

He had also repeatedly weighed this matter with Principal Zeng, and apart from Lin Qiao, there was indeed no other equally convincing candidate.

Moreover, if others missed this year, they could still apply in the future, but Lin Qiao only had this one chance. The matter of directly pursuing a master’s degree still had no clear direction, and Lin Qiao had done so much for the school that the school had to leave something for her.

Thinking of this, Vice Principal Qi couldn’t help but ask, “Which university are you planning to apply to next year?”

“Qing University or Yandu University of Technology,” Lin Qiao said. “I plan to take the mock exams next semester to see my level.”

Under the current review situation, Yandu University of Technology should be no problem; after all, she had prepared for more than a year.

Vice Principal Qi nodded and didn’t continue the topic, “The matter of the reading room probably can’t be scheduled this year. You know it’s almost the end of the term, students are busy reviewing, and the school has a lot of things to handle, so we can’t spare the time for this.”

He didn’t directly say it was impossible, but that it couldn’t be scheduled this year, which meant it had been seriously considered.

Lin Qiao smiled and said, “I was just making a suggestion. Whether it can be implemented and how to implement it depends on our school’s situation.”

Back in the office, Group Leader Gao, who had also been awarded as an excellent teacher, immediately saw what she was holding, “I guessed they would find you these two days.”

This surprised Lin Qiao a bit, “You knew already?”

“Yes,” Group Leader Gao said. “When Old Zeng and Old Qi were looking for a recommender for you, they also came to me.”

He laughed, “After a lot of debate, the spot finally fell to you. I wonder what Zheng Huifang will think when she finds out. I heard that the two intern teachers in the third grade are doing quite well, especially Song Jing, whose class scores have been steadily improving in several exams.”

Speaking of Song Jing, the homeroom teacher of Class Three couldn’t help but add, “I heard that after we started making test papers, she also made two sets for the students?”

“Yes, she made two sets. Otherwise, why would the parents of her class students come together to give Old Zeng a banner with the big words: ‘Wise Eyes Recognize Talent, Good Use of People.'”

“Wise Eyes Recognize Talent, Good Use of People?” Lin Qiao couldn’t help but laugh, “When did this happen? How come I didn’t know?”

“Just last Saturday, when you took half a day off, a few parent representatives came to deliver it. The banner is still hanging in Old Zeng’s office.”

These parents are really talented, writing such a couple of sentences. How could Principal Zeng have the nerve to let Zheng Huifang come back? They will have to be more careful in employing people in the future.

Sometimes, complaints and compliments can be a kind of shackle. When elevated, people become more cautious in their actions, unconsciously holding themselves to the standards of those compliments.

Lin Qiao quickly filled out the application form in triplicate and submitted it in a reasonable and timely manner.

On Saturday afternoon, she left work a bit early, and when she exited the school gate, Ji Duo’s jeep was already waiting there. They first went to the store to buy some fruit and then officially visited.

Due to their status, the security of the Gu family was even stricter than that of the Ji family, but it lacked a bit of human warmth. It wasn’t until they entered the warm living room that the heat from the floor heater dispelled the coldness.

Old Gu had inquired about Lin Qiao’s preferences. The dishes prepared were not complicated and adhered to the simplicity of the era, but there was one dish of braised prawns that Lin Qiao liked very much, and it tasted better than the ones in the army canteen.

Seeing her satisfaction, the old man even asked Sister Du to pack some for her, saying, “If you want to eat it in the future, just come to Grandpa Gu’s place.”

His voice wasn’t as strong as before, but compared to the first time they met in the hospital when he seemed to be hanging by a thread, his spirits were much better.

Leaving the Gu family, Lin Qiao couldn’t help but say to Ji Duo, “I think Old Gu’s heart disease is half cured; only the cause of Shaoping’s death remains.”

Ji Duo responded with a “hmm. “Su Zheng and I have already announced that this Chen Zhaonan is also a fake.”

Next, it would be a matter of seeing if the other party would take the bait and create another fake Shaozhen.

Lin Qiao didn’t ask further. After getting in the car, Xiao Fang didn’t drive towards the Ji family’s old residence or back to the army. Looking at the unfamiliar scenery outside the car window, she glanced at the man in surprise.

Ji Duo’s eyebrows and eyes were outlined by the streetlights, “It’s still early. Let’s go see a movie first.”

This surprised Lin Qiao even more. This man only watched the news at home and never glanced at TV dramas, yet he would come out to watch a movie?

She couldn’t help but tease, “Did our mom ask you to accompany me out again?”

The first time Ji Duo mentioned this to her was before their marriage, urged by Xu Li.

This made Ji Duo’s expression freeze, “No.”

It wasn’t? Lin Qiao’s expression also paused, “Then who bought the tickets but couldn’t go and gave them to you?”

This was understandable. Ji Duo was the youngest at his level, and there were no newlyweds among his peers. To watch a movie, they had to arrange for the children. Since they were already planning to return to Yandu today, it wouldn’t be a waste to watch a movie on the way.

But this made the man’s expression even more rigid, and Xiao Fang in the front focused on the road, pretending not to have ears. Their Captain Ji was known for his cold demeanor, not someone who would go to the movies, but the sister-in-law shouldn’t ask like this.

Sure enough, Ji Duo turned to look at Lin Qiao, his eyes deep, his voice even deeper, “Can’t I just want to take my wife to see a movie?”

This left Lin Qiao speechless, not only because he wanted to come himself but also because of his address.

Compared to introducing her as his lover, occasionally calling her Lin Qiao, or addressing her as a comrade during meetings, the word “wife” seemed inexplicably more intimate.

Old Zhou and Su Zheng always called her “your wife,” but Ji Duo had only listened and never used this term for her before.

The car was quiet for a moment, making the sounds outside the car particularly clear.

Ji Duo was about to say something when he looked out the window and suddenly frowned, “Stop the car.”

Xiao Fang didn’t ask anything; he just turned the steering wheel and steadily parked by the roadside.

Ji Duo opened the door and got out of the car. Only then did Lin Qiao notice that Xiao Fang must have taken a shortcut, as they had stopped near the entrance of an alley.

Not far away, there was a restaurant where several men were blocking a young girl’s path. Wherever the girl tried to go, someone would block her path. It was hard to hear what they were saying with the car door closed but seeing the girl wiping her eyes anxiously while the men laughed loudly, it was clear they weren’t saying anything good.

Seeing this, Lin Qiao wanted to get out too, but Ji Duo held her shoulder, “It’s someone I know. I can handle it myself.”

Someone he knows? Did he mean the girl being blocked?

Lin Qiao was stunned for a moment. By then, Ji Duo had already closed the car door and walked over with large strides, calling out in a deep voice, “Tang Er.”

All the young men looked towards the one leading them, who also turned his head. Upon seeing Ji Duo, his gaze fixed on him, “What do you want?”

Ji Duo, wrapped in his military coat, just nodded toward the circle, “What do you think I want?”

This made the other man’s gaze even more sinister, “Why do you always meddle in other people’s business? Do you know this girl? Is she someone you’re keeping outside?”

As he said this, the men around him all laughed, and the girl’s face turned red, but she still looked at Ji Duo, “You came just in time, they’ve been blocking me for a while.”

Ji Duo didn’t say anything, just stared at Tang Er, who cursed under his breath, “You really know her!”

He gritted his teeth, “Forget it. I’m not playing anymore.” He turned and left, followed quickly by his companions, who didn’t dare to provoke someone Tang Er wouldn’t mess with.

In a few words, Ji Duo returned, followed by the young girl he had rescued.

With his long legs and big strides, the girl struggled to keep up, “Comrade.”

Lin Qiao was about to get out of the car when she saw Ji Duo frown and turn back, “Anything else?”

The girl was clearly taken aback, “No, I just wanted to thank you.”

This definitely didn’t seem like they knew each other. Lin Qiao opened the car door and softly asked the girl, “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, just a bit scared.” The girl shook her head and hesitated, “Can I walk with you for a bit? Just alongside the car. I’m afraid they haven’t gone far and might come back.”

This request was abrupt, but given that she had just been frightened and the area was remote, it was understandable that she was scared.

Lin Qiao was about to say something when Ji Duo had already opened the passenger door.

The girl hesitated for a moment, just about to thank him, when she heard him say to the driver, Xiao Fang, “You take her over; I’ll wait here with my wife.”

Xiao Fang was taken aback, “Yes.” He quickly got out of the car, “Comrade, I’ll take you.”

The girl was also visibly surprised but still thanked him and followed Xiao Fang, keeping a meter’s distance.

“Get in the car.” Ji Duo’s gaze had already returned to Lin Qiao.

Lin Qiao sat in the car through the door he had opened and recalled his words when he got out, “Didn’t you say it was someone you knew? I thought you recognized her.”

“I was talking about the people blocking her.” Ji Duo’s tone wasn’t very good.

This made Lin Qiao even more surprised. Ji Duo was a calculating person, sharp in seeing people and things, and didn’t seem like someone who would associate with such people.

She looked up at the man.

“Get in the car, and I’ll explain.” Ji Duo was about to get in when a teasing male voice suddenly came from not far away: “You’ve already played the hero saving the beauty. Why not go all the way?”

Ji Duo turned his gaze, and Lin Qiao followed the sound to see a young man, not yet thirty. He seemed to have had a bit to drink. His exposed face was flushed, his eyes were not very clear, and his coat was open in the cold weather.

Seeing Lin Qiao in the car, he exaggeratedly expressed surprise, then smiled knowingly, “So it’s the lady of the house in the car, I see.”

Though it was a tease, this person didn’t give the same feeling as Su Zheng, who always wanted things to escalate for amusement.

Ji Duo clearly wasn’t close to him, and he only introduced him to Lin Qiao. “This is the fifth son of the Yu family; his nephew Yu Jin and Xiao Ze are childhood friends.”

Emphasizing the connection with Ji Ze, it was clear they had no real friendship.

Yu Wu didn’t mind, only asking, “Does your family still want that production line? Xiao Jin told me that Chen Weiguo is already preparing to take out a loan.”

Production line? Lin Qiao had never heard of this and couldn’t help but glance at Ji Duo.

Ji Duo hadn’t expected this question, and his gaze deepened. “He doesn’t plan to do it anymore; the family won’t allow it.”

“Such a good opportunity. Why not do it?” Yu Wu seemed to regret it for Ji Ze, “That’s a complete production line, ready to be put into use.”

“If you think it’s so good, why not fight for it yourself? Isn’t it more convenient for your own family?” Ji Duo asked.

Yu Wu immediately raised his hands, “You know me, I’ve never amounted to much since I was a kid. Even if I wanted to, my old man wouldn’t agree.”

He then brought up Ji Ze again: “I saw he was quite willing before, and with Xiao Jin’s connections, aren’t you reassured? Your Xiao Ze is grown up, too. This matter should depend on his own thoughts. It’s not like the old days when people were forced to stay in the army.”

Ji Duo didn’t respond. Seeing Xiao Fang return, he glanced at his watch. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”

Yu Wu’s persuasion was left outside the car door. As the car started, Lin Qiao’s gaze fell on Ji Duo’s face, “Xiao Ze considered buying a production line?”

“Yes, there was such a thing.” Ji Duo didn’t hide it, “Dad and I both thought taking out a loan was too risky, so we didn’t agree.”

“So it didn’t happen.” Lin Qiao frowned slightly, feeling something was off but couldn’t pinpoint it.

“It didn’t happen.” Ji Duo looked at her and then mentioned the earlier matter: “I got out of the car because I saw Tang Er.”

“Tang Er? The one you tricked back then?” Lin Qiao remembered the story Old Gu had told her.

“No, that’s their third brother.” Seeing the cinema ahead, Ji Duo got out of the car. “Tang Er had previously tried to set up Xiao Ze.”

“Set up Xiao Ze?” Lin Qiao was a bit surprised.

Ji Duo nodded, speaking softly as they walked, “He took Xiao Ze out to smoke, drink, and gamble and even called several young women to accompany them.”

Hearing this, Lin Qiao knew that gambling and women were likely problematic, “Gambling with money?”

“Big money.” Ji Duo paused at the entrance, then turned towards a nearby roasted sweet potato stand, “Xiao Ze was only sixteen at the time.”

Taking a minor out to smoke, drink, and gamble, claiming it was with good intentions, was hard to believe, “What happened afterward?”

“He and one of the women there were caught, and the woman had a partner.” Ji Duo’s words were brief but carried significant weight.

When Ji Ze was sixteen, it was still during those ten years, and such an incident during that time would have led to public humiliation and the end of one’s reputation and political future. Lin Qiao didn’t believe it was just a coincidence. No wonder the man was so resentful earlier and eventually left, likely out of fear of repercussions.

Ji Duo didn’t seem like someone who would bring this up without reason. Lin Qiao thought for a moment, “Do you suspect he was involved in that incident back then?”

“The Tang family, the Yu family, the Dai family…” Ji Duo listed several prominent families in Yandu, “All are possible.”

These families were all in the same place back then, and their young people were between their teens and twenties. After the incident ended, they were all rehabilitated.

Tang Er, who had tried to lead Ji Ze astray, clearly had no goodwill towards the Ji family, making him a suspect.

As Lin Qiao was thinking, Ji Duo handed her a warm roasted sweet potato he had just bought.

“Let’s go.” The man didn’t take anything for himself, only pulling out two tickets from his pocket. They entered the cinema, watching the film “Romance on Lushan Mountain,” which was released that summer.

The title indicated it was a romance movie, and indeed it was, featuring a Chinese-American female lead and a mainland male lead. It was produced in response to the establishment of diplomatic relations with the United States.

The more Lin Qiao watched, the more familiar it seemed. It wasn’t until the end, when the female lead kissed the male lead on the cheek, that she remembered this was the famous first on-screen kiss in film history.

Coming from the 21st century, she was used to more explicit scenes. But in the 1980s, even a cheek kiss caused many people to buy tickets to watch repeatedly.

Who would have thought? The usually serious Ji Duo, who didn’t even watch TV dramas, actually enjoyed this.

Lin Qiao couldn’t help but glance at the man beside her, finding Ji Duo sitting upright, brows furrowed, looking more like he was there to review the film than to watch it.

It wasn’t until the movie ended and they left the cinema that he said in a low voice, “Su Zheng’s recommendation wasn’t good. Next time, I’ll take you to see something else.”

“Then you’d better not take me to see it.” Lin Qiao didn’t trust the old cadre’s taste. Seeing that he was about to speak, she stuffed the last bit of roasted sweet potato into his mouth.

On Monday, at the Ministry of Education, several secretaries in the minister’s office routinely opened the public mailbox of the Ministry of Education.

At the end of the year, these departments were the busiest, with messages from all over the country pouring in, filling the mailbox with suggestion letters.

Seeing the thickness of the pile, one of the secretaries felt a headache coming on, “How long will this take to go through? We still have to filter out the useful ones.”

Someone with sharp eyes noticed a familiar name on one of the letters, “Lin Qiao? Isn’t she the one who wrote to us and the leaders’ office last time?”

“It should be her.” Another person looked at the sender’s address, “I remember her school.”

“It’s only been a few months, and she has another suggestion?” The secretary felt the thickness of the letter, thinking it was just adding to their workload, “Does she think that just because she got a commendation once and was praised by the leaders, every word she writes is golden?”

It’s no wonder he was unhappy. He filtered out the last letter Lin Qiao sent, but the minister found out and had the first secretary reprimand them.

Just as he thought of the first secretary, the first secretary came to supervise their work. Seeing the name on the envelope, he was also surprised, “Lin Qiao? Let me see.”