A few days later, the college entrance examination arrived as scheduled.
Since this year's exam had each province, municipality, and autonomous region setting its own test papers, the exam dates were not unified either.
In the capital city, the exams were scheduled for December 10th and 11th.
On the first day, politics was in the morning; history and geography for arts students and physics and chemistry for science students were in the afternoon.
On the second day, mathematics was in the morning, and Chinese was in the afternoon.
For those applying to foreign language majors, there was an additional foreign language test on the morning of the third day.
Testing centers were arranged based on household registration or workplace proximity, so it wasn't far from the residential compound.
However, on the exam days, Huo Tingzhou still specifically took two days off to accompany the two children and cheer her on.
Overall, Jiang Si performed quite well in this exam.
After finishing, she roughly estimated her score.
Out of a total score of four hundred, apart from the essay which was somewhat uncertain, she barely lost points on the rest.
Conservatively estimating, her total score should be around three hundred and ninety.
No matter what, Tsinghua University should be a sure bet.
Weidong, Weimin, and the young nephews at home also performed exceptionally well this time; their estimated scores were all above three hundred and sixty.
However, as this was the first reinstatement of the college entrance exam, the grading process and the subsequent overall progress were extremely slow.
The exams finished in December, but the admission notices weren't issued until February of the following year.
February 4th, the Beginning of Spring.
On this day, Jiang Si finally received her admission notice from Tsinghua University.
This time, the capital city did not release individual scores to candidates, nor did it publish city-wide rankings.
Apart from the admissions office, no one knew the exact scores.
But some clues could be gleaned from the serial number on the admission notice.
Outwardly, Jiang Si was always low-key and never voluntarily mentioned her results.
But with her own family, Jiang Si held nothing back.
She didn't get first place, but being second in the capital city still satisfied her greatly.
In all things, a modest success is better than an overwhelming one.
Contentment brings constant joy.
Not long after, the two young nephews at home also successively received admission notices from Renmin University and Beijing Foreign Studies University.
Perhaps because Hunan Province was far away, Weidong and Weimin brothers didn't receive their admission notices from the National University of Defense Technology until mid-February.
Yes, just as Huo Tingzhou had said, after New Year's Day this year, the Hunan Institute of Technology officially changed its name.
Holding the notice bearing the words "National University of Defense Technology," Hu Meili turned it over and over, her smile never leaving her face.
"Don't you think, just changing the name makes it feel noticeably different."
Hu Meili was initially the most opposed to the brothers applying there, yet unexpectedly, at the subsequent celebration banquet, she was the one who laughed the loudest and looked the proudest.
Coincidentally, also on this day, Jiang Si received a money order from Hainan Island.
Along with the money order came a large cartload of packages.
"The packages were sent by the sisters-in-law," Huo Tingzhou explained, seeing Jiang Si's surprise. "This time, all the children from the residential compound did very well on the exams. Over ten university students emerged all at once."
He paused, looking over at her. "The sisters-in-law all say we have to thank you, that it's your credit."
"If it weren't for you thinking of them earlier and sending so many review materials and textbooks back, the children might not have even known which direction to study in."
Jiang Si listened with a smile but said nothing.
If the sisters-in-law hadn't sent things first, there wouldn't have been this subsequent exchange of courtesies.
So, it was more like a mutual effort.
Lost in thought, she glanced at the money order in her hand.
After the Cultural Revolution ended, the farm underwent another round of expansion, still using the design plans Jiang Si had left behind.
After the expansion, the farm's scale multiplied several times, and now it produced an increasing variety of products.
Not only did it handle export trade, but domestic sales also accounted for a growing share.
Nowadays, products from the farm could occasionally be bought in the capital city as well.
Consequently, the dividends Jiang Si received grew larger year by year.
The initial two hundred thousand yuan investment had already been fully recouped the year before last.
Now, she received dividends twice a year.
Including the sum from the first half of the year, the dividends she received this year alone amounted to a staggering thirty-six thousand yuan.
Just as Jiang Si was considering whether to use this money to buy a courtyard house or invest in something else, Huo Tingzhou suddenly took a file folder from a drawer and handed it to her.
Jiang Si took it and opened it.
Inside were actually an application form for a car purchase quota, a car purchase certificate, and a series of procedures and materials needed for license plate registration.
Jiang Si looked up at him in surprise. "This... where did it come from?"
Huo Tingzhou, looking at her astonished expression, smiled and gently tapped her nose. "Of course, it was applied for and processed through the proper channels."
Jiang Si certainly knew that, but at this time, the private car policy was still in a trial phase.
A full liberalization would likely only happen after the Reform and Opening Up.
Huo Tingzhou didn't hide it either; Fourth Uncle had also put in considerable effort regarding this matter.
The car was currently registered under the Beijing Public Security Bureau, as she was an external personnel after all.
But it was merely a registration; maintenance and related expenses had to be covered herself.
Jiang Si nodded; she was quite aware of such matters.
Mainly, money wasn't an issue!
Actually, she had considered buying a car before the New Year, mainly thinking it would be much more convenient for commuting between university and work in the future.
Now with all the paperwork complete, she didn't want to wait a moment longer.
And so, that very afternoon, the two of them went out together to handle the car purchase.
In this era, there were only a few car models available on the market.
Jiang Si looked them over and finally chose a Shanghai-brand SH760A sedan.
Huo Tingzhou said, "Don't you usually prefer driving jeeps?"
Saying you sit high and see far.
Jiang Si was fine with either, but driving from the residential compound to Tsinghua University took at least half an hour.
Compared to a jeep, this one was relatively more comfortable to sit in.
"Let's buy this one."
Although the two children hadn't yet taken the tests for the University of Science and Technology's Special Class for the Gifted Young, Jiang Si believed that given their abilities, it shouldn't be a problem.
As for the car, there was no rush.
In another couple of years, there would be more models to choose from, and buying another one then would be perfectly fine.
Sure enough, the two children didn't disappoint them.
At the end of January, the siblings smoothly passed the entrance tests for the Special Class for the Gifted Young and both received admission qualifications.
Jiang Si never imagined that in her lifetime, she and her own children would become "alumni" in such a marvelous way!
...
March 3rd was Tsinghua University's registration day.
Since the family had bought a car, Jiang Si didn't plan to live on campus.
However, considering the summer heat and needing a place for a midday nap, she still paid for a dormitory bed to reserve a spot.
She didn't have much stuff, and originally, she could have handled these minor matters herself.
But Huo Tingzhou insisted that he also wanted to see Tsinghua University and familiarize himself with the campus environment.
In case she got busy later, it would be convenient for him to come pick up the two children from school.
Jiang Si didn't think much of it; fine, let's go.
Little did she know, once they arrived at the university, the father and his two children were exceedingly enthusiastic.
He ran up and down the stairs, calling out "Mom" and "Wife."
Using the excuse of needing to tour Tsinghua University, he even insisted on dragging Jiang Si around the campus for two full laps.
And so, by that afternoon, everyone at Tsinghua knew.
A great beauty had joined the Engineering Mechanics program.
Not only did she have two exceptionally bright children, young enough to be in the Tsinghua Science Youth Program, but she also had a model husband who couldn't stop mentioning his wife.
With the children present, Jiang Si gave him some face.
But when they returned home that night and were alone, Jiang Si looked at him with amusement. "Are you reassured now, Chief of Staff Huo?"
Gazing at his wife's face, which looked even more radiant and captivating under the lamplight, Huo Tingzhou didn't answer with words. Instead, he responded with action.
He reached out and pulled her into his embrace, resting his chin gently on the top of her head.
It wasn't that he didn't trust her; he just lacked confidence in himself.
