sbdcsierra Chapter 1899
Chapter 1899
Chapter 1899 Conversation
After the younger generation took a group photo, they took a large group photo together.
I walked over 30,000 steps again today.
During their few days in Beijing, they walked at least 2 steps every day.
Mr. and Mrs. Ye were quite old, so they didn't walk too far. Also, the sun was strong, so they walked and stopped frequently, just taking a quick look around.
Often, the two elderly people would get tired and find a shady spot to rest, while the younger ones would run around aimlessly, and then they would have to go back to the starting point to find them.
Everyone did what they could manage; those who could walk walked, and those who couldn't rested and waited. Everyone had a great time.
After dinner and back at the hotel in the evening, Ye Chengyang knocked on his door again.
"Dad, what kind of hope were you talking about during the day, those few bits and pieces of hope?"
"You most likely don't have a chance..."
"It doesn't matter if I don't have the opportunity. Fudan University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University are also good, they are top universities. But people always strive for higher goals. I always have a number one in my heart. If I had a Beijing hukou, I could get into Tsinghua University or Peking University."
Are you sure you can get into Tsinghua or Peking University?
Ye Chengyang scratched his head. He had to work hard to get into Fudan and Jiaotong Universities. He was only in his second year of high school and had a year left. How could he be so confident?
"Isn't this what I'm thinking? My ideal."
"Seeing how anxious you are, I thought you were definitely going to Tsinghua or Peking University."
"No, I'm just looking forward to it. I don't really know how much lower the admission scores are for Tsinghua and Peking University for people with Beijing residency. I only know that the scores are much lower for people with local residency. For example, the admission scores for universities in Shanghai are definitely lower for people with Shanghai residency than for people from other provinces. If you didn't have Shanghai residency, you probably wouldn't even be able to get into a junior college."
"That's not necessarily true. Your older brother worked quite hard afterward, and his girlfriend tutored him. He might not have been able to get into a good junior college, but he could have gotten into a less prestigious one. However, if he hadn't moved to Shanghai and been affected by the environment, he definitely wouldn't have been able to get into even a less prestigious junior college."
"Isn't that clear? The environment influences people. If I were still in the village, I definitely wouldn't have been able to get into a junior college. There's a reason why Mencius' mother moved three times to find the right environment for her son."
Ye Yaodong didn't understand the story of Mencius' mother moving three times or moving three thousand miles, but he knew that the environment had a great influence, and Shanghai was already considered one of the best.
Ye Xiaoxi's grades aren't bad right now, but he never dared to dream of Tsinghua or Peking University. He didn't even consider Fudan or Shanghai Jiao Tong University. He'd be happy if he could get into an undergraduate program and be better than Ye Chenghu.
Before coming to Beijing, I never dared to dream of Tsinghua or Peking University...
Locality can really fuel people's ambition.
He's now wondering if it's worth it; favors should be spent wisely.
If we send our kids to Beijing now, and they end up getting into a mediocre university, it'll be a waste. It would be better to leave them in Shanghai.
"Dad, do you have any connections to get a Beijing residency permit? Even if I don't need it, Xiao Jiu can use it. Then she can study hard, just in case she almost gets into a university in Beijing?"
"She's not even in high school yet. High school is a huge difference from junior high. Who knows what score she'll get? If she can only get into an average university, she might as well stay in Shanghai."
He felt a little more at ease with it under his watchful eye.
Thinking about this, he became worried again. If they send him to Beijing for high school, who will take care of him then?
High school is too easy for young couples to start dating early. If there's no adult supervising them, and they end up boarding at school, they're more likely to go astray and be led astray by boys.
I hope she doesn't get into a university in Beijing and get lured away by that blond guy. If she comes back pregnant, he'll be furious.
Before even hoping their daughter would become a dragon, they're already hoping she'd become a wife.
Thinking of this, he shook his head. "If she's not confident about getting into Tsinghua or Peking University, she might as well study in Shanghai. Why bother going all this way? I don't expect her to get into a good university to support me. I just want her to be happy."
If you find studying too hard, just do your best. You don't need to work too hard, since you can afford to support yourself anyway.
Lin Xiuqing said in surprise, "Why are you all discussing getting into Tsinghua and Peking University? And what's with all this talk about household registration?"
"Yangyang came to the gates of Tsinghua and Peking Universities this afternoon and asked me if they could get in if they had a Beijing hukou (household registration). So I started thinking about whether I could get one for them."
She asked in bewilderment, "Isn't Shanghai pretty good too? Why do you have to go to Tsinghua or Peking University? I think Fudan and Shanghai Jiao Tong are amazing. If you get into any of them, our family's ancestral graves will be emitting auspicious smoke."
"Mother, this is the highest institution of learning! Don't you even know what 'number one' means? Number one is the most powerful!"
"Can you get in? Are you confident? Give it your all. If you're only aiming for an average university, you might as well stay in Shanghai."
“Your mother is right.”
Ye Chengyang admitted that he had acted impulsively at the time, and he chuckled as he faced their questioning gazes.
"Isn't this just hoping to increase our chances? Without a household registration, there's definitely no hope."
"If you're confident you can get into Fudan or Shanghai Jiao Tong University, then you can start thinking about Tsinghua or Peking University. Are you confident?"
"Ha ha……"
"Don't ask anymore. Didn't he just say that he's putting in all his effort to get into Fudan University's Jiaotong University, but he doesn't even dare to say he can get in?" Ye Yaodong's mind was at rest.
"That's settled then, don't aim too high."
Ye Chengyang added, "Then you should ask your sister about her grades. If she does well, you can consider it earlier. It's definitely too late if it's just a last-minute decision."
“She’s only in the top 5 of her class, and that’s in junior high. What can you tell from that?” Lin Xiuqing said.
"This shows that she still has several years to strive for improvement and there is room for further progress."
Ye Yaodong thought for a moment, "Go and call her over, ask her and see if she has any thoughts."
"Then I'll go call them."
Ye Xiaoxi was still lying in the room, soaking her feet, chatting with Pei Yu about going to university together in the future.
Unexpectedly, her father called her over and asked her if she had any thoughts about Tsinghua or Peking University, which almost startled her so much that her eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
"Dad, do you have some misunderstanding about my grades? Tsinghua and Peking University, those are only for the top scorers in the college entrance examination in each province!"
"You failed the exam, didn't you?"
"You might as well ask your second brother if he can pass the exam; his grades are better than mine."
"He is ambitious, but he may not have enough time."
Ye Xiaoxi slapped Ye Chengyang hard, "Tell him to work hard! Study diligently, even if it means burning the midnight oil!"
"Where did you get so much strength? I'm going to give you internal injuries," Ye Chengyang said, rubbing his back and glaring at her with disdain. "What girl do you think you are, having so much strength?"
"It was caused by beating my cousin."
After she finished speaking, she looked at Ye Yaodong and said, "Dad, our family's honor depends on Second Brother. Don't count on me. I can't do it. I can visit Second Brother at Tsinghua or Peking University, or Second Brother can find me a talented man from Tsinghua or Peking University as a partner so that you can bring honor to our family. That would be fine."
"That's wishful thinking."
Ye Xiaoxi said smugly, "I'm just picking a ready-made peach! I'm learning from my older brother!"
Lin Xiuqing laughed, "Your idea is quite good, even better than your older brother's."
"I call this ambition greater than my older brother's."
Ye Yaodong: "You're more cunning than Motorola."
Ye Chengyang said irritably, "Do you think those top students from Tsinghua and Peking University would even look at your third-rate, worthless university? You'd better study hard to have a chance."
"I studied hard."
"A soldier who doesn't want to be a general isn't a good soldier; a student who doesn't want to be a student at Tsinghua or Peking University isn't a good student!"
"Second brother, does that mean you don't want to go to Tsinghua or Peking University?"
Ye Chengyang was speechless for a moment.
Ye Yaodong chuckled as he watched the two bickering. "Alright, go back to your room."
Ye Xiaoxi stopped walking and asked curiously, "Dad, why are you asking me what I think of Tsinghua and Peking University all of a sudden? We just strolled around together today."
Ask your second brother.
Ye Chengyang coughed lightly to explain.
Ye Xiaoxi looked at him with an increasingly mischievous expression as she listened. "Hmm? So Second Brother has an idea? Wow, Second Brother, you better work hard. My dream of finding a Tsinghua or Peking University graduate boyfriend depends on you." Ye Xiaoxi hooked her arm around his and said ingratiatingly.
Ye Chengyang shoved her hand all the way down and said, "Get out of here."
"You are my biggest connection, and I'm counting on you to help me."
"I don't have that ability, don't try to pin it on me."
"Alright, you two go back to your rooms and get some rest. Have a good time tomorrow and then go home."
"Wow, time flies! I'm going home the day after tomorrow."
The two of them slowly went out.
Lin Xiuqing asked Ye Yaodong, "You called your daughter over to ask her what she thinks, and then you want to repay the favor to that Master Jing you saved a few years ago?"
"I do have that idea. If my children are willing to try their best, I will certainly pave the way for them. However, it seems that only Yangyang has this idea, not my daughter."
“Yangyang will be a senior in high school next semester. Even if he has the will, it’s probably too late. Even if he does, I don’t think he can improve much by going to Beijing for a year now. He will have to readjust the textbooks and interpersonal relationships. It would be better for him to stay in Shanghai. It would be bad if he doesn’t adapt well and does even worse on the exam.”
"Is that so? Well, let's see. We'll talk about it after your daughter graduates from junior high. It's too late for him now. I'll make a call later. If I can get in touch with someone, I'll visit them tomorrow. Since I'm here, I'll make contact first and not let the relationship fall apart."
Lin Xiuqing nodded, "That makes sense. Since we're here, we should pay a visit. We shouldn't ask for help right away; it's too obvious that we have ulterior motives."
"Yes, and we're leaving the day after tomorrow, so paying a visit tomorrow won't bother anyone. It's just a way of letting them know before we leave."
It can also win favor, showing that you didn't come specifically for them and didn't intend to trouble them, so you only contact them when you leave to show politeness.
If I really need their help later, that's fine, since we've already renewed the contract.
Did you bring your phone number book with you?
"I brought it with me, just in case any of you need to make a call. I have my phone book with me."
"Then you should call earlier. It's already dark, and they should be home after dinner by now."
"I'll go right away."
"Not using a mobile phone?"
"You can make the call at the front desk downstairs, which is convenient. It might be better to use a local phone, since it's just a short walk away."
"Then go ahead, it won't make much difference."
P.S.: I wrote a little bit this morning, and a little more at the airport. I'll add another one when I get home tonight.
(End of this chapter)