Chapter 048: That Summer

The gentle evening breeze caressed the shores of Penghu Bay, with white waves chasing the sand. There were no coconut groves intoxicated under the setting sun, only a vast stretch of blue sea...

As the summer of 1997 arrived, the middle school students about to enter the high school entrance examination were left with little more than exhaustion. Whenever this song played from the audio shop at the gate of Victory Middle School, Yang Tian and Chen Ming would unconsciously wander to the grassy field on the east side of the playground, sometimes quietly listening, sometimes humming along.

Only An Qi kept reading her book. With less than half a month left before the entrance exams, she was more nervous than anyone. She had not believed Yang Tian’s advice earlier and had spent too much time memorizing political and historical facts. When the Binhai City exam outline was released in March, just as Yang Tian had predicted, she panicked—just like the other students who had dismissed the open-book policy.

Everyone scrambled to find ways to cope with the open-book exam. The politics and history teachers were at a loss and began frantically "imparting" their emergency tips to students.

After the first mock exam under the new guidelines, the school switched to open-book testing. Yang Tian, Chen Ming, and Huang Juan scored exceptionally well, ranking in the top three in the school, particularly excelling in politics and history. So the teachers all came to them for advice.

The page number memory method quickly spread throughout Victory Middle School. But, pressed for time and under increasing pressure as the exams approached, this technique could only temporarily ease their nerves. In the subsequent mock exams, students were still frantic during politics and history tests; the sound of pages rustling filled the hall, and results remained disappointing.

An Qi was the best example!

By this point, Yang Tian and his friends barely needed to open their books. Only when they were uncertain did they glance at the text, flipping quickly and precisely to the right page, then answering with ease.

They had long realized that answers to open-book exam questions were rarely found directly in the textbooks. The questions were all about summaries and conclusions. Those who spent time on analysis and synthesis were at an advantage in politics and history.

After all, once open-book exams were implemented, the difference in scores for politics and history was minimal among students. The real key was in Chinese, math, English, and science. This was why Yang Tian and the others felt at ease—they were well-prepared and only needed to focus on performing their best.

"What if I can’t get into No.1 High School?" An Qi gripped Huang Juan’s hand nervously. "My mom dreams about me getting in and bringing honor to the family. If I fail… what will I do?"

"Don’t worry. As long as you review the way Yang Tian taught you, you’ll definitely make it!" Huang Juan hugged her gently, comforting her. Besides Yang Tian, Chen Ming had also tutored An Qi for a long time. Still, Huang Juan was well aware that, with the exam so near and An Qi only now shifting her focus, it might be too late. Whether she succeeded would depend on her own efforts.

"Mm, if only I had studied with you guys starting last semester," An Qi sighed with regret.

Yang Tian and Chen Ming came over to console her as well. Yang Tian didn’t blame An Qi for not trusting his advice earlier; after all, middle schoolers were still like primary school kids, taking their teachers’ words as gospel—especially those from the countryside.

With the exam approaching, the school held more and more pep rallies, hoping to inspire students to do their best in the examination room. Yet, the teachers might not realize that too many rallies only increased the students’ anxiety.

An Qi said as much, confessing that the teachers made the entrance exam feel like going into battle—or worse, to the execution ground.

Baoyuehong’s Office

"Yang Tian, how’s your review going?" It was evening, and school was over. The office was empty except for Baoyuehong, dressed in a white blouse and black bell-bottom trousers. Her short hair made her look particularly spirited that summer.

"Not bad," Yang Tian replied. Many people had asked him the same question—his parents, Yang Qingtang, and Zhang Qiang’s family. He always gave the same answer, unable to find a better one that wouldn’t disappoint or make him seem arrogant.

"Didn’t we agree we could be friends? Is this how you usually answer a friend’s question—so casually and perfunctorily?" Baoyuehong poured Yang Tian a glass of water in a clear glass and smiled elegantly.

"How did your qualification exam for Binhai No.2 High School go?" Yang Tian asked with a sincere smile.

"I just took it today. Didn’t you notice my clothes were different? I dressed like this just to take the exam in the city!" Baoyuehong poured herself a glass of water as well, sat down across from Yang Tian, and tugged at her white blouse.

Yang Tian smiled faintly without replying. With the review materials he’d given her, Baoyuehong should have no trouble getting into Binhai No.2 High School. The working conditions and benefits there would be much better than at Victory Middle School.

"Guess which school I applied for?" Baoyuehong leaned her head close to Yang Tian, like an older sister sharing a secret with her dearest brother.

"Not Binhai No.2?" Yang Tian was slightly surprised. Suddenly, he realized Baoyuehong might have applied to Binhai No.1 High School as well. He remembered she was someone who never admitted defeat.

"You’re so clever—you should have guessed right away! Well, how about that? Your Sister Yuehong isn’t bad, right? You’ll study at No.1 High School, and I’ll be teaching there—maybe I’ll even be your teacher!" Baoyuehong smiled, radiant.

"Sister Yuehong?" Yang Tian was taken aback, thoughts swirling. If age were measured by his mind, she should call him Brother Yang Tian. Now she wanted him to call her Sister Yuehong—how unpredictable fate is!

"That’s right, good brother! Even though we’re teacher and student now, after you start high school, we might still be teacher and student. But this summer, we can be siblings. What, you think I’m not fit to be your sister?" Baoyuehong pinched Yang Tian’s nose with a smile.

Yang Tian instinctively shrank back, feeling a little embarrassed. He was a quiet and reserved person on the outside, but inside, his thoughts were lively. Baoyuehong’s playful teasing set his mature thoughts spinning and even made him blush.

"How embarrassing," Yang Tian mocked himself inwardly.

"Oh, you’re blushing? Hehe, do your best on the exam, okay? If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have had the courage to apply to No.1 High School as a teacher! Now I want to give you confidence too—go for it!" Baoyuehong patted Yang Tian’s head and made a cheering gesture. The young woman’s return to innocence made her seem even more endearing.

Yang Tian nodded with a smile and left Baoyuehong’s office. Seeing her shed her old discouragement and strive for her dream made him truly happy.

What he didn’t know was that, although he had given Baoyuehong the materials for the No.2 High School’s Chinese department, it completely changed her initial plans. She suddenly realized she wasn’t alone, found her confidence and courage, and set her sights on Binhai No.1 High School.

In youth, the distance between dreams and reality is as thin as a cicada’s wing. As long as you dare to dream and work for it, anyone can make their dreams come true.