Chapter 35: University Quota

The next day,

Lu Zecheng and Xia Ning’an guided the villagers in planting oyster mushrooms at the village committee. After a morning of demonstrations, the villagers had mastered the method.

After lunch, the two of them were sorting through the mountain goods they had collected the day before when they heard the sound of a car at the gate, followed by the team leader’s voice, “Lu Da, An Ya, are you home? Someone from the county is here. Open the door quickly.”

Xia Ning’an heard the voice and quickly got up to open the courtyard gate.

“Uncle, we’re home. Who’s here?”

She opened the gate and saw two people getting out of the car at the gate. One was a middle-aged man wearing a Lenin suit with a pen in his pocket. He looked like a leader.

“Comrades, Team Leader, come in quickly.”

The few of them entered the courtyard. Lu Zecheng stood up at this time and saw the people who had come in.

“Tao Ge, why are you here?”

“I came to bring you good news. Oh, your eyes are healed?”

The middle-aged man was the director of the armed forces department, Wang Tao. He was once Lu Zecheng’s leader. After being discharged from the army due to injury, he became the director of the county armed forces department. Lu Zecheng had contacted the army through him the last time he went to the armed forces department.

“I just had the bandages removed. I can see now, but I still need to rest for a while.”

“You little rascal, you’re so lucky. It’s good that you’re healed. Have you reported it to the regiment commander?”

“Not yet. I’ll go to the hospital for a checkup in a few days and call Regiment Commander Gao.”

“Okay, okay.” Wang Tao patted Lu Zecheng on the shoulder.

“I’m here to give Xia Ning’an a reward. We took down several points this time. It’s thanks to Xia Tongzhi’s alertness. Your connections are still in the army, and we’ve already contacted them.”

He called over a young comrade, took out a small red booklet and an envelope from his briefcase, and handed them to Xia Ning’an.

“Xia Tongzhi, this is a certificate of honor and 500 yuan in bonus awarded to you by the county. The county has also decided to arrange a job for you. Would you like to go to the textile factory or the supply and marketing cooperative? There are currently job openings at both places.”

Xia Ning’an took the red booklet and the bonus with both hands.

“Director, thank you for your recognition. But I don’t want the job. I’m currently helping the villagers grow mushrooms. I can’t leave now. Besides, I want to perform well in the village and try to go to university in the future. I want to lead the villagers to become prosperous.”

Director Wang was momentarily incredulous when he heard her refuse. Were there still fools in the village who would refuse a job in the city?

The team leader saw this situation and couldn’t let Xia Ning’an go to the county, at least not now. The mushrooms had just been planted, and they needed Xia Ning’an’s help. They needed her guidance.

“Director Wang, Xia Tongzhi can’t leave now. The village can’t do without her. The village oil mill just opened, and it was Xia Tongzhi who helped. Now, she’s leading the villagers to grow mushrooms. Next year, the Workers’, Peasants’, and Soldiers’ University quota will definitely be hers. She won’t go to work in the county. Thank you for your kindness.”

Wang Tao looked at Lu Zecheng.

Lu Zecheng said, “Director, why don’t you change the job to a university quota? Apply for a quota for Xia Tongzhi in the county.”

After all, each commune only had three quotas. What if their village didn’t get one next year? If Xia Ning’an couldn’t go to university, she wouldn’t be able to agree to marry him. They had to get her a quota next year. Besides, the schools in the county were better than those in the village. The Workers’, Peasants’, and Soldiers’ University in the village was basically an agricultural university, but those in the county were different. Some of the better universities in the provincial capital were also available.

“Since you don’t want the job, the armed forces department will give Xia Tongzhi a university quota next year. I can decide this.”

Director Wang said readily. The schools their unit went to every year were all good. Xia Ning’an had made a great contribution this time, and he would help her get a quota within his capabilities.

Xia Ning’an happily thanked Director Wang. She hadn’t expected to get the university quota so easily.

After finishing their business, Wang Tao and his assistant prepared to leave. Xia Ning’an asked Director Wang to wait a moment. She went inside and took out a large bag of oyster mushrooms from the space.

“Director Wang, this is our village’s newest sideline business. We grow this kind of mushroom. Take some back and try it. If you like it, please help us promote it.”

“Xia Tongzhi, you’re so kind. This is the first time I’ve seen this kind of mushroom. I won’t be polite then.”

He said, and with his assistant, got into the car and left.

After seeing off Director Wang, the team leader asked Xia Ning’an.

“An Ya, what was this reward for?”

“Uncle, it was because I discovered enemy agents a while back and took the initiative to report the information. We took down several dens this time. I contacted the higher-ups.”

“An Ya, you’re so brave! But you did well. When you find these scum, you have to catch them. Can I borrow your certificate for a few days? I’ll put it on display at the village committee for a few days. I’ll give it back to you after the advanced worker evaluation at the end of the year.”

The team leader asked, rubbing his hands together, a little embarrassed.

“No problem. It’s also an honor for the village.” Xia Ning’an readily handed the certificate to the team leader.

The team leader happily took the certificate and went to the village committee.

When he came out of the Xia family’s house, he was surrounded by several villagers. They had all seen the car come to the Xia family’s house and came to inquire about what had happened.

“Of course it’s good news. The county came to give An Ya a reward. An Ya has brought glory to the village this time.” The team leader said happily as he walked.

“Team Leader, what good deed did An Ya do? Even the county came to praise her?” An auntie asked.

“Good deed, good deed.” The team leader didn’t say what it was specifically. He just smiled and walked towards the village committee, making the villagers curious and following him to find out.

One auntie said, “Could it be because Lu Da’s injuries are healed? The county gave him a reward. I saw Lu Da go up the mountain yesterday.”

Another auntie chimed in, “It’s possible. Now that Lu Da’s injuries are healed, he doesn’t have to come back to farm. He should be able to go back to the army. Oh, Zhang Dahua is going to regret this.”

“Of course. I heard her crying at home yesterday. She must be regretting it now. Hahaha~~”

“You have to say, Xia family’s girl is really amazing. I heard that she went to the provincial capital to buy medicine for Lu Da. Imported medicine costs over 80 yuan a bottle. Who would be willing to spend that much? My goodness.”

“Such expensive medicine! No wonder it’s so effective.”

“You have to say, Xia family’s girl is loyal and righteous. She’s going to have a good life in the future.”

“Yeah, this girl is lucky. She’s become even more beautiful in the past half month. I didn’t even recognize her yesterday.”

“Yeah, yeah. I saw her yesterday too. She’s like a fairy descending to earth. She’s like a different person. Girls really do change a lot when they grow up.”

“What are you talking about? Be careful you get criticized.”

“Oh, my mouth is running away with me…”

The crowd chattered all the way to the village committee.