Chapter 565: A Gunny Sack of Problems
But Tang Xiao’nan still had confidence in Howard Thorne. The national college entrance exam had only been reinstated the previous year. Because it had been suspended for ten years, the questions for the first few years were said to be very simple. Out of curiosity, she had once found the 1977 exam papers and tried them herself.
There were very few multiple-choice questions; it was mostly long-form problems, each worth twenty points. For the high school students of the future, the questions weren’t difficult at all. That was the case in ’77, and ’78 wouldn’t be much harder. It wasn’t until after the 1980s that the exam gradually became standardized. As long as Howard Thorne studied diligently and worked through a sackful of practice problems, he had a very real chance of getting into a university.
Besides, a university degree was worth its weight in gold back then. Not only was tuition free, but students also received a monthly living stipend of fifteen yuan and twenty-nine jin of grain coupons. After graduation, the state would even assign you a job. In this era, getting into university was truly like a carp leaping over the dragon gate. Once you stepped through the campus gates, even if you didn’t soar to unimaginable heights, a life free from worry about food and clothing was a certainty.
The Thorne family automatically interpreted Tang Xiao’nan’s words to mean that as long as Howard Thorne worked through a sackful of practice exams, he would definitely get into a university. Their little goddess had spoken; it had to be true.
Phoebe Huxley slapped the back of Howard Thorne’s head and exclaimed excitedly, "You’d better study hard! Go buy a whole sack of practice exams to work through. If there’s anything you don’t understand, have Kelley teach you. If you get into a university, I’ll throw a three-day feast to celebrate!"
"We won’t sell the family pig! We’ll save it for the celebration!" Raina announced with gusto. If her eldest grandson really got into a university, he’d be the very first university student from Millstone Peak. Forget one pig—she’d gladly part with three for an occasion like that.
Not many people on Millstone Peak pursued higher education. Most of them only finished junior high before returning home to earn work points. Although tuition for a semester wasn’t exorbitant, it was still two yuan. On top of that, you had to buy study materials and bring several dozen jin of grain to the school each month for meals. And boys of seventeen or eighteen could eat even more than a full-grown farmhand.
In all of Clearspring Township, very few families could afford to support a high school student. For a child from the countryside, just graduating from junior high was already considered a remarkable achievement. Only a well-off family like the Thornes could manage it. Across all of Millstone Peak, Howard Thorne was the only senior in high school. The other kids his age had either gone home to farm, joined the B-team, or were learning a trade like bricklaying or carpentry.
Howard Thorne suddenly felt the immense pressure. He grew apprehensive. ’If I don’t pass, I’ll die of embarrassment.’
’Sigh... I guess there’s nothing for it but to study hard.’
Kelley Xavier noticed his anxiety and comforted him in a low voice, "Don’t worry. Hard work always pays off. Your effort will definitely be rewarded."
Howard Thorne’s confidence returned. He nodded firmly. The two of them exchanged a smile, and the rest of the Thorne family smiled knowingly. The young couple gets along so well, and this year has been full of one happy occasion after another for their family!
Phoebe Huxley scooped up Tang Xiao’nan and planted a big kiss on her cheek. "My precious treasure..."
’All this good luck is thanks to Xiao’nan. Ever since she was born, everything’s gone so smoothly for the family. Especially this year. It’s been nothing but smooth sailing; I feel like I’m walking on air!’
Raina also took Tang Xiao’nan into her arms for a few kisses. She felt the same way—all their good luck was because of her granddaughter. She simply couldn’t get enough of kissing her. Tang Xiao’nan was left looking completely bewildered, her face covered in drool. ’So exhausting...’
Kelley Xavier smiled sweetly. She really liked the warm, relaxed atmosphere in the Thorne household, especially when it came to the youngest, Tang Xiao’nan. The chubby little girl was a joy to behold. She’d heard that the little girl was the absolute apple of the family’s eye. At first, she thought it sounded like an exaggeration, but seeing it now, it wasn’t an exaggeration at all. The Thorne family truly adored her.
Phoebe Huxley was an impatient woman. The very next day, she went with the village chief’s wife to visit Kelley Xavier’s home.