115: Chapter 115: Gratitude 115: Chapter 115: Gratitude “I got into a university…”
Not only Sun Jinzhong, but even Chen Hai himself was stunned for a moment.
Calculating the time, it had been about six or seven days since he had called Hou Donggui.
From Capital City, sending a letter takes about a week if it’s slow, or four to five days if it’s fast; it should have arrived in Liuyuan County by now.
However, although he had told Hou Donggui about it, Chen Hai really had no confidence that Hou Donggui would fully commit to helping him.
Strictly speaking, he had only met Hou Donggui face to face once.
During his time in Liuyuan County, he was initially busy with something at the gate of No.1 High School.
Later on, because he couldn’t receive his payment, he became quite irritated.
If not for his parents coming to the county town, Chen Hai wouldn’t have remembered that he had received the admission notice.
“Right, Hai, wasn’t Capital Political and Legal University your own choice of school?”
“A few days ago, you told us you didn’t do well on your college entrance exam, your dad and I didn’t say much, but we felt really uneasy about it!”
“This morning, I went to the village office, and when I saw that notice, I was stunned for a long time!”
“Chen Erleng, that damn weathervane, knew right away that you had the ability and might be admitted to the university, so he stuffed me with ten banknotes right away, saying it was to compensate for our broken TV!”
…
Jiang Meixian’s face nearly burst into a flower with her smile.
She dragged her son along, praising him incessantly for a good while.
Father Chen Zhonghua was equally radiant with joy, occasionally chiming in after Jiang Meixian.
“Zhonghua, Meixian, Hai getting into university is a huge celebration!”
“When will you host the banquet?
I’d love to join and share your family’s joy!”
After scolding Sun Jinzhong for a bit, his cousin Chen Dongmei, looking envious, glanced at Chen Hai a few times and asked Chen Zhonghua.
“Sister Dongmei, hosting a banquet for Hai’s university admission is a must.
We’ve picked the twenty-second; the old man who picks the dates said it means ‘double happiness.'”
“Hai is quite wild.
If not for your help, Sister Dongmei, Meixian and I wouldn’t even know where to start looking for him!”
“Make sure your whole family comes on the twenty-second.
We promise there will be plenty of good food and drink!”
Chen Zhonghua quickly spoke in response.
Finding Hai so quickly, he and Jiang Meixian were truly grateful from the bottom of their hearts to their cousin Chen Dongmei.
After all, they only knew that Chen Hai had come to Liuyuan County and might be hanging out with Sun Jinzhong; they didn’t really know much else.
Upon arriving in Liuyuan County, they first went to Chen Dongmei’s house, and she led them around the streets until they finally found Chen Hai and Sun Jinzhong.
“Alright, we’ll definitely be there on the twenty-second!”
“We’ve found Hai, and you must have a lot to sort out, so I’ll take Zhong back to Yanbei Village first and won’t keep you any longer!”
After saying goodbye to Chen Zhonghua, Cousin Chen Dongmei walked towards the street, pulling Sun Jinzhong behind her.
Having confirmed with his parents that the admission notice had been received, Chen Hai finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He hadn’t filled out any college applications at all.
Attending Capital Political and Legal University must have been arranged by Liu Jian on his behalf.
For Chen Hai, it didn’t matter which university he attended.
Let alone a well-known undergraduate college like Capital Political and Legal University, even getting into an ordinary vocational college would have been enough to make him secretly thrilled!
After all, the specialized colleges of that era were only slightly inferior to undergraduate ones, and their value was equally high.
After graduation, jobs were guaranteed, and graduates usually emerged as officials, either entering institutions or joining enterprises!
“Seeking Brother Hou’s help turned out to be the right step!”
“In these times, without connections, it’s very hard to get anything done!”
“On the matter of going to college, Brother Hou really did me a big favor.
I must remember to repay him properly when I get the chance!”
As he walked towards the bus station with his parents, Chen Hai thought quietly to himself.
When they passed a small shop with a sign for a public telephone hanging outside, he paused and stopped.
“Mom, do you have enough money on you?”
“I have an emergency and need some money.
Could you give me some of the money I previously left with you?”
After hesitating for a while, Chen Hai, who had always been reluctant to ask his parents for money, finally bit his lip and asked.
“How much do you need, Hai?”
“Maybe a couple hundred?”
“That much?
You’re just a kid; what kind of emergency could you have that needs so much money?”
In the eyes of parents, their children are always kids, no matter how old they get.
Though Meixian muttered this, she still reached into her bosom and pulled out a small cloth pouch, counting out ten banknotes and one elder banknote, handing them over to Chen Hai.
“Mom, Dad, wait here for a bit; I’m going to make a phone call over there!”
After getting the money, Chen Hai greeted his parents and quickly walked towards the public telephone.
Brother Hou had helped him significantly, and now that he had received his admission notice, it was only fitting, both morally and emotionally, to inform Brother Hou and express his gratitude.
After paging him, it took less than five minutes for Hou Donggui’s call to come through.
“Brother Hou, it’s me, Chen Hai!”
“I’ve just received my admission notice from the Capital Political and Legal University.
A simple thank you doesn’t sufficiently express my gratitude!”
“I can only promise you that, as long as it doesn’t cross my bottom line, I will never decline any task you entrust me with!”
“Do you often visit the Capital?
If so, let’s meet up once school starts!”
…
The phone call lasted another six or seven minutes before Chen Hai finally hung up.
“Hai, who were you talking to for so long?”
Chen Zhonghua and Meixian, already a bit impatient, curiously inquired after seeing Chen Hai return from the call.
“Just a friend who put in a lot of effort regarding my university admission notice.
Now that the notice has arrived, I naturally had to properly thank him!”
Chen Hai shrugged as he explained.
Seeing that his parents seemed to want to inquire further, he quickly changed the subject, “Mom, Dad, I still need to buy some things!”
“If you can’t wait, feel free to head back to Wuyang Town first, and I’ll make my own way back later!”
He wasn’t making an excuse.
What he wanted to visit was a shop specializing in selling incense and candles.
What he wanted to buy were items such as yellow paper, cinnabar, and talisman pens.
The few fragmented books had been in his possession for two to three days already, and Chen Hai had been eager to try drawing talismans.
However, due to financial constraints, he had temporarily set this idea aside.