Chapter Thirty-Eight: Zhang Liying’s Chinese Pager (Please Vote and Recommend)

Wei Xiaoping, hearing Zhang Liying ask about everyone’s plans after graduation, was reminded of the conversation he once had with his parents about whether to apply for vocational school or high school. Back then, his parents had advised him to pursue high school and then aim for university, since vocational schools no longer held the prestige they did in their time. Wei Xiaoping had followed their suggestion.

Now, what occupied his mind was what Wei Xiaofan would do after graduation. With Wei Xiaofan’s grades, there would be no difficulty gaining admission to either vocational school or high school. The real issue was whether his father would still support him once he was admitted. After middle school, the costs for high school or vocational school soared. Currently, most of Wei Xiaofan’s middle school expenses were covered by his uncle. Middle school fees were manageable, but would his uncle continue to help when it came to high school or vocational school?

In Wei Xiaoping’s view, he hoped Wei Xiaofan would continue at Liangzhi Middle School for high school, as that was where Wei Xiaoping himself planned to study. He was preparing to swear brotherhood with Wei Xiaofan, so if they attended high school together at Liangzhi, they could continue to study and live side by side. But thoughts of Wei Xiaofan’s family worried him.

He remembered, during dinner yesterday, his parents had said that after he and Wei Xiaofan became sworn brothers, Wei Xiaofan would be like a real younger brother, and would also be half a son to his parents. They would share both fortune and hardship as brothers. If only his parents could support Wei Xiaofan’s studies!

“I don’t know what I’ll do after graduation. Maybe I’ll help my parents at home, maybe I’ll go find work. I suppose I’ll just take things one step at a time,” Wei Xiaofan said, his voice tinged with sadness.

Truthfully, Wei Xiaofan truly wished to continue his studies. He loved reading; the knowledge in books fascinated him, made everything feel new. While reading, he could forget all else. The knowledge in books...

“Sigh, Wei Xiaofan, what do you mean ‘take things one step at a time’? Don’t you want to continue studying after middle school?” Zhang Liying was surprised by his words.

“I’ve been studying for almost ten years, and I feel tired of it. Besides, it doesn’t seem to be all that useful. I want to go out and earn money as soon as possible,” Wei Xiaofan replied.

“Who says studying is useless? If you finish vocational school or university, it’ll be much easier to find a job. With just a middle school diploma, who will hire you? At least you need a high school diploma,” Zhang Xiaoyan chimed in.

“My father said that as things progress, students will need at least a high school or vocational diploma to find a job. A few years ago, vocational graduates were guaranteed job placement, but that won’t last. As more people study, the number of vocational and university graduates will increase, competition will intensify, and employers will raise educational requirements. With only a middle school diploma, you’ll lose many advantages; besides, you’re not yet eighteen—who would hire you?” Zhang Liying added.

“No matter what, we hope you’ll continue on to high school after middle school. That way, we can keep studying together! We’re used to being together; suddenly losing someone would feel awful,” Zhang Xiaoyan said.

“Yes, Wei Xiaofan, stick to your convictions! First, do well in the entrance exams. As for continuing your studies, there’s a saying: ‘The cart will find its way around the mountain, the boat will go straight when it reaches the bridge.’ We’ll see when the time comes. I’m sure you’ll be able to keep going!” Wei Xiaoping squeezed Wei Xiaofan’s hand, encouraging him.

Zhang Liying found Wei Xiaoping’s words odd—if he could get good grades, why was there doubt about continuing his studies? Did Wei Xiaofan have difficulties? Oh right, Wei Xiaofan came from the countryside. Her father had said that many rural families were too poor to send their children to high school or vocational school—was Wei Xiaofan’s family one of those?

At this moment, Wei Xiaofan spoke, “I don’t want to leave everyone either, haha, but my family is from the countryside, different from yours in the city. Where I’m from, being able to attend middle school is already very fortunate. In my village, I’m one of the luckiest. Some kids my age didn’t even finish elementary school before dropping out! I’ve reached middle school—what more can I ask for? Still, when I go home, I’ll buy some books, study on my own while working, and when I’m eighteen, I’ll go find work. I believe by then I’ll have learned a lot!”

Hearing this, Zhang Liying thought to herself, so it’s true—Wei Xiaofan’s family is poor. What a shame for such a good student to drop out. If it’s due to financial reasons, no one can really help; you can help for a moment, but not for years.

“No matter what, focus on getting the best possible results in the entrance exams. Even if you really don’t have the money to continue, you’ll have a good reputation! Let your classmates know, let your village know—you did well!” Zhang Liying looked at Wei Xiaofan and encouraged him.

“Absolutely! Otherwise, people will think I dropped out because I failed the exams. That would be so embarrassing! So, no matter what, I’ll get good results—let the villagers see!” Wei Xiaofan said with confidence.

“That’s right!” Zhang Liying, seeing Wei Xiaofan so determined, became excited herself. She picked some food for him and said, “Wei Xiaofan, no matter what, I hope you get into high school. Then the few of us can continue together in the same class for high school!”

Wei Xiaoping, seeing Zhang Liying encourage Wei Xiaofan like this, felt an even stronger wish for Wei Xiaofan to continue studying with him, even through university.

“I’ll have to talk to my parents about Wei Xiaofan’s schooling,” Wei Xiaoping thought. “Maybe they can support him financially, even a little would help. Wei Xiaofan has his uncle, after all. His uncle is already paying most of his middle school expenses. When I visit his house next weekend, I’ll talk to his father and uncle about his schooling.”

With this thought, he reached under the table and squeezed Wei Xiaofan’s hand tightly.

Zhang Xiaoyan also encouraged Wei Xiaofan, “Wei Xiaofan, I agree with Zhang Liying and Wei Xiaoping. Get good grades and show everyone what you’re made of—strive for an admission letter! As for whether you can continue, we’ll talk about it then. There are still three months until the entrance exams; who knows, maybe a miracle will happen!”

Seeing everyone encourage him, Wei Xiaofan became excited as well. “Thank you, Class Leader Zhang, thank you, Zhang Xiaoyan, and thank you my future sworn brother Wei Xiaoping! No matter if I can continue studying, I’ll always remember you. Meeting you is the greatest fortune of my life!”

Zhang Xiaoyan laughed, “Wei Xiaofan, thank you shouldn’t just be words—you should act! The class leader has picked food for you several times and encouraged you, why not do the same for her? And besides, she’s the one treating us to this meal!”

“Hey, Zhang Xiaoyan, what do you mean calling me old? Is this how you treat friends? Good intentions go unrewarded!” Zhang Liying laughed.

Wei Xiaofan, hearing Zhang Xiaoyan, became embarrassed. “R-right, sorry, Class Leader. This is my first time eating out in a restaurant, so I don’t know all the customs, and I got caught up talking about myself and forgot to thank you! Not just you, but also Zhang Xiaoyan and Wei Xiaoping! Thank you!” As he spoke, he picked food for each of them in turn.

Zhang Liying laughed and said, “No need for thanks! We’re all classmates, no need to be so formal. From today, we’re friends, and I hope we’ll help each other in studies, discipline, and life! Come on, let’s all join hands!”

Zhang Liying stretched her hand over the table, waiting for everyone to join hers.

Zhang Xiaoyan was the first to clap her hand.

Wei Xiaoping and Wei Xiaofan exchanged looks, seeming a bit hesitant, but ultimately joined in.

Just after the hands met, a series of beeping sounds echoed!

Hearing the sound, Wei Xiaofan felt it was familiar—he remembered hearing the same beeps at Wei Xiaoping’s house from his father’s pager.

Wei Xiaoping, hearing the beeps, thought perhaps some boss was eating at the restaurant and paid it no mind.

Then, Zhang Liying pulled from her pocket a small, pitch-black object, smaller than a matchbox. She pressed a button, and the device lit up.

“Class Leader Zhang, is your family calling you again?” Zhang Xiaoyan teased.

“Hehe! My dad’s calling. Tomorrow is my grandmother’s seventieth birthday! I forgot! Tomorrow I can take leave and go home!” Zhang Liying said happily.

Across the table, Wei Xiaofan was startled by Zhang Liying’s pager. He wondered, whose daughter was she, to have a pager? And it seemed more advanced than Wei Xiaoping’s father’s—it didn’t require a shared phone to call back, and the messages were displayed directly.

Wei Xiaoping, too, was amazed by her pager. This was a Chinese-language pager, with messages shown in Chinese, easy to read! Much better than his father’s, and nearly two thousand yuan each! For a girl to have such a device, her family must be extraordinary. What did her parents do, to be willing to spend so much for a Chinese-language pager for their daughter?