chapter 8
Mu Jun strode away. In the direction he left, I saw the homeroom teacher of Class One, the Grade Leader for the first year, Teacher Liu.
He was my opportunity.
I broke into a run and squeezed into his office just before the door closed, grabbing his arm.
“Teacher Liu, please let me join the key class.”
“I promise I will study hard. I absolutely won’t drag anyone down. My grades are good enough-I’m ranked sixth in the parallel class…”
“I know this is difficult. I beg you, please, just give me a chance.”
…
In my previous life, when I was young, I was too proud to beg for anything.
Looking back now, compared to a lifetime’s future, what are a few pleading words?
Teacher Liu frowned, looking troubled.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the office door. Zhang Jie stood at the entrance, tall and straight.
“Teacher Liu, based on her grades, Song Zhaozhao should have…”
Teacher Liu’s frown deepened.
I quickly cut him off: “Zhang Jie, shut up.”
Then I turned to Teacher Liu: “Teacher, I have no inappropriate feelings toward Zhang Jie. I just want to get into the key class-any key class.”
“If you have concerns,” I took a deep breath, “I can keep my distance from Zhang Jie from now on.”
Zhang Jie’s expression darkened.
Teacher Liu looked at me deeply: “I don’t oppose normal interactions between classmates for the sake of studying. Go home and wait for news. I’ll do my best to fight for you.”
I went downstairs together with Zhang Jie.
His lips were pressed tightly, silent.
When we reached the bottom, he strode off ahead of me.
I called out to him: “I’m sorry, Zhang Jie. For people like us, stuck in the mud, we have to be determined enough to throw everything aside and fight our way up. Only then can we succeed.”
I raised my hand, spreading my fingers into a grasping gesture toward the sunlight: “I must have a key that’s weighty enough to open the door. Do you understand?”
He stopped and looked back at me.
Backlit by the sun, his expression was hazy and indistinct. “Now I understand.”
He took two steps toward me, and I could see the gentleness in his eyes: “I understand you. But I still hope we can be comrades who advance and retreat together, facing difficulties side by side.”
He had grown so fast.
He was nothing like the Zhang Jie from a few months ago, who was too shy to be seen getting his meal.
It made me feel ashamed.
When I returned to the village, Aunt Zhang was in the courtyard slaughtering a chicken for tomorrow’s meal.
The chicken hung upside down, bright red blood dripping into a cracked porcelain bowl. She asked me maliciously, “Zhaozhao, how did your exam go?”
“Not bad-over a hundredth in the grade.”
She was stunned for a moment, then awkwardly swallowed back the mocking words that had reached her throat.
The next day was Little New Year.
My cousin from the city came back.
The whole family gathered for a meal.
She was the one who had opposed me going to No. 1 High School in the first place, and now she took the opportunity to diss me in front of everyone.
“I heard you’ve been assigned to a parallel class. What future is there in a parallel class? It’s just a waste of time.”
Many relatives at the table chimed in.
“Girls don’t need so much schooling.”
“You’re just being thoughtless. Look at how tired your parents are.”
“Marrying a good man is the most important thing.”
…
I said calmly, “I ranked sixth in the parallel class in this final exam, and 135th in the entire grade.”
There was a moment of silence at the table.
My cousin’s face didn’t look good.
After a while, she clicked her tongue regretfully: “What a pity you’re a girl. If Xiao Mu scored like that, wouldn’t it be great?”
“But Xiao Mu’s not bad either. I heard he was in the top fifty at your school this time?”
“He’s got potential too, keep it up!”
…
The relatives all began to praise my younger brother.
Over a hundredth at No. 1 High School and top fifty at a rural middle school-do they really not understand the difference?
Of course they do.
It’s just that, in their eyes, girls don’t matter. The family’s hope must rest on the boys.
My cousin glanced at me and said, “One final exam doesn’t prove anything. You still have to get into the key class if you want any hope.”
Just then, my father’s old cell phone rang.
He was never used to holding the phone to his ear, so he always used the speaker.
On the other end, Teacher Liu’s gentle voice came through: “Is this the parent of Song Zhaozhao? I’m calling to let you know that your daughter can study in Class One next semester.”
“Song Zhaozhao is smart, sensible, and motivated. You’re very lucky to have such a daughter.”
Who knows how much effort he put in, how hard he worked, to get this result.
I grabbed the phone and choked out a thank you.
Teacher Liu chuckled: “You deserve it. Enjoy a good New Year!”
After hanging up, the whole table fell silent.