Chapter 305: Chapter 303:

Ling Chengyan knew what Wang Liansheng was up to. Lately, when that man faced her, he was increasingly candid. Every night, he would tell her where he’d been, what he’d done, even his detailed plans. Ling Chengyan always felt this man resembled a child, coming home to boast to his parents, seeking praise and encouragement like a big child.

If Ling Chengyan were a modern person, she’d probably know a saying: Men are forever children at heart.

She was from ancient times and recalled her mother always laughing and berating her elder brother: You’re so old yet still act like a child, not as steady as your younger sister.

Ling Chengyan found this person somewhat amusing, yet not annoying. Perhaps even she hadn’t noticed that, due to Wang Liansheng’s closeness, the distance and separation between them were gradually disappearing, and they were becoming increasingly intimate, increasingly unguarded.

Time flew by quickly. Ling Chengyan’s month-long vacation was about to end when Political Commissioner He informed her again: She and several other exceptionally talented individuals were given special recommendations for further study. The course would take two years, and upon completion, they would receive the corresponding academic diploma.

Receiving the news that she was being transferred to the provincial capital had made Ling Chengyan happy, but this recommendation for schooling brought her immense joy.

In her past, she had been educated by a family-hired tutor and practiced riding and archery with her father and brothers. But the more she exposed herself to modernity, the more she felt inadequate. While learning to drive, she self-studied mechanical books related to cars, learned about various firearms during special training, and even self-studied Vietnamese.

Now, being able to enter a professional military school and systematically study modern military knowledge made her extremely excited and happy.

Due to their special status, their enrollment didn’t coincide with that of ordinary students. They would start at the end of May, forming a separate class taught by the best instructors sent by the school.

Upon receiving this news, Wang Liansheng was also very pleased. He especially bought some good food and cooked a feast to celebrate.

After a few drinks, Wang Liansheng embraced little Shi Tou and sighed, “Now, your mother will also become a college student. In a few years, you’ll all get into college, and then Dad will have the lowest education level in the family.”

He attended a teacher training school and held a secondary school diploma.

Ling Chengyan brought warm water for people to wash up. Hearing these words, she shook her head in amusement, patted Shi Tou on the head, and sent the little guy to bed.

Her elder brother and sister-in-law settled in the city, and siblings Hong Zhi and Hongbing returned home. The side room where Hongbing lived became little Shi Tou’s room.

Little Shi Tou was caught and rubbed by his drunken father for quite some time before finally being rescued and hurriedly slipped away.

Wang Liansheng laughed and cursed, “You little rascal!”

Ling Chengyan tossed a towel into his lap and said, “You’re his father.”

This man was tipsy and scolding his son as a little rascal. Then what was he? An old rascal?

“Wife… so nice.” Wang Liansheng’s feet were soaked in the basin, and despite this, he cheekily tilted his head, gave a sly smile, and looked at Ling Chengyan.

Ling Chengyan rolled her eyes inelegantly, not bothering to respond, and busied herself with making the bed. When she turned around, the drunk man had wiped his feet and was wobbling out to dump the footbath water.

Ling Chengyan didn’t stop him but followed behind, ready to help if he stumbled.

Exiting and going down the steps, Wang Liansheng staggered, splashing some footbath water around as he took two unsteady steps, yet he didn’t fall. He finished emptying the water, left the basin by the water pool, and sat lazily on the edge.

Ling Chengyan stood four or five steps away, somewhat helplessly watching. This person had become childlike; fine behind closed doors, but today he’d had a few too many drinks and started slacking.

“Wife, look at the moon above…”

Ling Chengyan didn’t even need to look. It was the beginning of the lunar month, and the crescent moon was as thin as a thread. What was there to see?

She walked over, intending to pull him up and bring him inside.

But unexpectedly, though drunk, his movements weren’t slow. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to sit beside him.

He stretched out his hand, wrapped it around her shoulder, letting half her body lean against his embrace.

Raising his hand, he pointed at the night sky and said to her, “See, the moon above is missing a part, but it’ll slowly round out, just like life…”

Ling Chengyan was somewhat resigned: this man had drunk a bit and started getting philosophical. First, he lamented his low education level, and now he was pondering life’s unpredictability.

She said, “Your knowledge isn’t bad. What’s there to fear about having a lower degree? Nowadays, there are night schools and training schools everywhere. You could enroll in one to study. If all else fails, even getting into a full-time class works…”

The country, from an initial state of devastation, had seen promising results after several years of construction. All sectors were rapidly developing, respect for knowledge and intellectuals was being restored, and people valued knowledge, degrees, and diplomas more than ever.

College students were synonymous with the favored ones in society. In comparison, although secondary school students were assigned jobs after graduation, they weren’t as prestigious or sought-after as college graduates. At workplaces, when it came to salary evaluations and housing allocations, college graduates were prioritized over secondary school graduates.

Against this backdrop, countless night schools, correspondence courses, and training classes were established everywhere, becoming channels for countless people to improve their degrees.

“Full-time, I can’t.” Wang Liansheng was drunk, yet not entirely confused.

His wife had already secured a recommendation spot for further study; how could he leave the family and children behind to pursue full-time studies? After all, one must stay to care for the family.

With that, Wang Liansheng tightened his arm slightly, bringing his wife closer, and then whispered, “Rest assured and go learn, the family has me.”

Ling Chengyan suddenly felt warm in her eyes. She slowly reached out her hand, embracing the man.

The next day, after breakfast, Ling Chengyan left the house, heading straight to Xinhua Bookstore to inquire if there were any college textbooks available for self-study.

Huicheng wasn’t considered a big city. It had a few secondary vocational schools, and only two higher educational institutions—one medical, and the other a normal college.

Ling Chengyan was inquiring about the normal college’s professional books. She wanted to buy them for Wang Liansheng to self-study—since she arrived here, she’d witnessed the progression from suspension of classes and exams to the resumption of college entrance exams, from intellectuals being deemed worthless to now being respected by everyone. She’d seen the societal changes unfold before her eyes. Studying and learning had become common, various forms of learning and further education, which were recognized and acknowledged, kept emerging. Didn’t people often say ’opportunities are only given to those who are prepared’? Well then, learn on your own; when the knowledge is acquired, one can seize any unexpected opportunity when it arises.

Unfortunately, Xinhua Bookstore didn’t have the books she needed.

Ling Chengyan could only leverage her connections, reaching out to Xu Dong to seek help and ask him to borrow a set of textbooks from the normal college.

Xu Dong was always quick in his actions. On the same day, he delivered the entire set of normal college textbooks.

In the evening, Ling Chengyan handed the thick stack of textbooks to Wang Liansheng, who shared his accomplishments with her excitedly: “…”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep