It was said that Gu Changan was going to become a Spartan, yet he was being tested on his cultural knowledge. Wasn’t being a soldier about fighting the enemy? What did literacy have to do with it? When one couldn’t win a war, were they supposed to compete in academic performance instead?
"Brother Gazi, don’t you only know a few big characters?"
Gu Changan patted Lao Gazi, who looked upset beside him.
Lao Gazi gave him a dull look. "That’s why I haven’t moved up… If I had a higher education level, I would already be a squad leader in another company."
Gu Changan squinted his eyes. He also wanted to be a squad leader in another company! "What about me? At my level, if I don’t pass the exam, what should I do?"
Lao Gazi looked at him and said with some concern, "You missed the assessment at the end of last year because you went out. The first assessment this year will be your first in the company. If you leave a bad impression on the leadership and don’t improve, you might be transferred to another company."
"I obey the organization’s arrangements. If the organization needs me, I’m willing to go to any company."
Lao Gazi frowned, "Usually, those who are brushed down like this will be assigned to more difficult posts for ‘training’..."
Gu Changan's expression stiffened. "As a soldier of our leading company, I can’t leave no matter what."
Lao Gazi sighed, "I don’t want to leave either."
After completing tests in physical fitness, combat ability, and firearms skills, it was time to move on to cultural knowledge—politics, history, geography, mathematics, chemistry, physics…
Gu Changan stared at the paper with a pen in his hand. His head was spinning. Damn, what is all this? Did the teacher even cover this in junior high school? What was I doing in class back then? What do I do now?
After attempting a few questions, Gu Changan really couldn’t write anymore.
Thinking of what Lao Gazi said, he shuddered. He couldn’t be eliminated!
After hesitating, he wrote a sentence on the test paper: *“Have a heart to serve the country with loyalty, but when the book is used, he hates less.”*
Look at that, he was also helpless.
Over at the old Gu house, Su Qinghe had been busy all morning, finally finishing up cleaning the living room. The kitchen, bathroom, and her room were now neat and tidy.
This was already the third time she cleaned. The first two times, the system said it wasn’t clean enough. If it still said that this time, she was going on strike. Damn, she was exhausted.
“Ding... Congratulations to the host for completing the ‘living’ task: cleaning. Reward: 1 skill point and a broom.”
"..."
All that work, and the reward was a broom?
Su Qinghe felt that the system was really stingy. But she had no choice. She didn’t do the ‘living’ task for the reward. She did it for the medical skills upgrade.
She had to endure...
“Host, this broom is ergonomically designed, ensuring your hands and feet stay relaxed while sweeping. It can sweep away all dust and trash.”
Su Qinghe immediately said in her head, “I think I’m more suited to a robot sweeper.”
“Hard work is glorious, laziness is shameful!”
Su Qinghe stopped talking to it. She exited the system, wiped her face, and prepared to head to the restaurant.
Gu’s mother had already prepared brown sugar water and brought it to her. “Qingmiao’er, have some sugar water. You must be tired. Look at you, you’re getting thinner. Later I’ll ask your dad to get you some malted milk. Drink that too.”
Su Qinghe took a sip and almost choked when she saw her mother-in-law’s gaze.
...What’s with that affectionate, doting look?
She already felt like her mother-in-law’s love was too much before. Now it was even heavier.
What amazing thing had she done just now?
Gu’s mother smiled kindly. “Qingmiao, you don’t have to clean so thoroughly. It’s too tiring. In the future, let Mom do it. Just do it casually.”
She felt her daughter-in-law was too careful, even scrubbing the cracks in the corners.
Why was this wife so diligent and virtuous? Gu’s mother felt like she couldn’t find the words to describe this daughter-in-law. She was just too likable. Even more likable than her youngest son.
After finishing the sugar water, Su Qinghe said seriously, “Mom, I’m used to doing things properly and finishing the job well. I have to go to work now.” She was afraid if she stayed, her mother-in-law’s loving gaze would melt her.
“Go, go. Don’t forget your class tonight… Aiya, I hate to see you go… it’s so tiring…”
Gu’s mother looked heartbroken. Su Qinghe got excited, thinking her mother-in-law was going to tell her to take the day off. But then Gu’s mother added, “But Mom can’t stop you from chasing your dreams. Go on, Mom supports you studying hard!”
Su Qinghe: “…”
...
At noon, she rushed to the state-owned restaurant to eat. In the afternoon, she taught Qiao Da how to make Mapo Tofu. Then she returned to her book.
This time, she really studied. After all, class would begin tonight. School had started a few days ago, and someone like her, without preparation, would only embarrass herself later.
Even though she was lazy, she still cared about saving face.
Qiao Da and Aunt Li saw how hard she was studying. After hearing she was going to night school, they didn’t disturb her anymore.
Especially Qiao Da. Now that Su Qinghe was showing signs of switching careers, and with her cooking skills guiding him, he treated her like a little master. He didn’t let her lift a finger and made sure she had delicious food to eat.
So Su Qinghe spent the entire afternoon doing nothing but reading.
When it was time to get off work, she rode her bike to night school.
These days, many work units had night schools. Larger units had many workers who needed to improve their skills. Su Qinghe’s night school was run by the county party committee, with students from all the county's public offices. But everyone chose subjects related to their jobs.
Someone like Su Qinghe, a cook, applying to the nursing program… was basically unheard of. After picking up her books from the student office, she went straight to her assigned nursing class.
There weren’t many people in the class—just over twenty, all young nurses from the county hospital. A few students had just finished junior high and hadn’t found jobs yet. They came to study and prepare to enter the county hospital.
The nurses all knew each other, so they didn’t pay attention to newcomers. Some were even a bit dismissive. A non-professional trying to compare with professionals? What a joke.
Su Qinghe was good at reading people. Since they ignored her, she ignored them too. She was just here to pass time anyway.
Sitting next to her were two girls around fifteen or sixteen—Liu Lingling with short hair, and Li Zhaofu with long hair. Neither was a professional. Both had come to study in hopes of getting into the county hospital.
They had always been looked down on by the professional nurses, so when they saw Su Qinghe join, they felt a little comforted… Finally, someone worse than them!
Liu Lingling tugged on Su Qinghe. “Hey, are you preparing for the nurse exam? Let me tell you, it’s really hard. I’ve read the book so many times before I understood anything. Those medicines, especially Western ones, are super hard.”
Su Qinghe said, “I’m not taking the nurse exam.” She was just here for rewards.
Li Zhaofu looked shocked. “You’re not? Then why are you studying this?”
“To take care of my family’s health. Learning more doesn’t hurt.”
The two girls looked at Su Qinghe in surprise, then relaxed. So she was just here to mess around. That was great—this person would definitely be at the bottom!
For people like that, they figured they should be friendly. Otherwise, what if she felt left out and switched to a different class?
Liu Lingling immediately offered her some maltose. “Here, have some. If you don’t understand something later, you can ask me.”
Li Zhaofu nodded. “Yeah, come to us. We’ve learned a lot already!”
Su Qinghe hadn’t expected people to be so friendly back then. Such simple girls, offering candy at first meeting.
She took one and chewed it happily.
Class soon started. The teacher was a woman in her forties, said to be the head nurse of the county hospital.
The nurses became very serious as soon as class began. But Su Qinghe started to doze off. The teacher was just reading straight from the book. Su Qinghe had already previewed all of it, so it felt like a lullaby. She held on for a while, then rested her head on the book and nodded off. She’d read later when she was awake.
Liu Lingling and Li Zhaofu saw this and exchanged a glance. As expected.
When class ended, Su Qinghe forced herself to stay alert, packed her books, and headed out with her bag.
As soon as she stepped outside, she saw Gu Ersao munching on sunflower seeds and chatting away. She looked completely engrossed.
Gu Ersao felt her life was great. After work, she could sit for a bit at the unit, then come here to pick up Su Qinghe.
Knowing she was going to pick someone up, her mother-in-law had stuffed her with some dried sweet potatoes at noon, telling her to give them to Su Qinghe on the way, in case she got hungry after school.
Seeing Su Qinghe come out, she hurried to grab the sweet potatoes… only to find the bag empty. Crap, she had eaten them all while chatting!
Su Qinghe asked curiously, “Second sister, what are you looking for?”
“…Nothing. Are you hungry?”
Su Qinghe touched her stomach and shook her head. “No, I already ate at the restaurant.”
Gu Ersao sighed in relief and quickly went to push Su Qinghe’s bike. There were many bikes parked outside night school, but she spotted theirs right away—she had been watching them all evening.
“Come on, hop on. I’ll take you home for dinner.”
Su Qinghe felt a bit embarrassed. “Sister-in-law, maybe I should take you.” She felt bad being picked up and then making someone else pedal her home.
Gu Ersao said seriously, “How could I let you ride? I can ride too. I’m even better than you. Let me do it.”
Su Qinghe had no choice but to get on the bike. Ersao Gu looked satisfied and pushed the bike forward, then swung her leg to mount it… halfway through, she remembered someone was sitting behind. She tried to stop her leg, but it was too late. The bike tilted to the side.
Su Qinghe jumped off in fright, while Gu Ersao fell with the bike.
“Ouch—”
“Sister-in-law, are you okay?” Su Qinghe rushed over to help. Seeing she hadn’t hit anything seriously, she felt relieved. “Where does it hurt?”
“I’m fine.” Gu Ersao stood up and patted her chest. Damn, that scared her!
“Sister-in-law, let me ride…” Su Qinghe now had zero faith in her riding skills.
Gu Ersao almost nodded, but then firmly shook her head. She was going to take over the third wife’s bike and handle the pick-up duty from now on. She couldn’t admit she couldn’t ride.
“It’s okay. That was just an accident. I’ll get on first this time, then you follow.”
Su Qinghe: “…”
Left with no choice, she helped her pick up the bike and checked it. Luckily, it was sturdy and undamaged.
Gu Ersao got on first and then motioned for Su Qinghe to sit.
Su Qinghe got on carefully. Ersao Gu was satisfied, pushed the bike forward again, and finally managed to get her feet on the pedals.
But she quickly realized—having someone on the back made a huge difference.
Uuuuu, back when she was in Changping, she never carried anyone. Why was this so hard?
“Sister-in-law… maybe I should ride…” Su Qinghe said nervously. The bike was swaying from side to side.
Ersao Gu gritted her teeth. “It’s fine.” She had to tough it out. If she gave up halfway, it would be too embarrassing. Her mother-in-law needed to see her effort.
She pedaled hard.
The two of them swayed all the way home, finally arriving at the county party committee compound. Gu Ma and Gu Changping were waiting anxiously. Seeing them return, they rushed over.
As soon as Ersao Gu got off the bike, her legs gave out. She grabbed Gu Changping’s arm and cried out, “Changping—” Her voice was aggrieved and full of sorrow…
Su Qinghe: “…”
Gu Ma’s face darkened instantly. What was this? Wasn’t it you who insisted on picking her up in the first place?