Chapter 395: The Third Son's Career Path and the Youngest Son's College Entrance Exam

Chapter 395: The Third Son's Career Path and the Youngest Son's College Entrance Exam

The issue of children's education is a very important one, and Deng Shirong took it very seriously. The next day, he began to look for various teachers for his eldest granddaughter.

Although Nanning in this era was not as developed as in later times, it was still the capital of Guangxi, and there were plenty of talented people. Finding a few experienced teachers to teach the children English, singing, dancing, and musical instruments was not difficult.

In just three short days, Deng Shirong managed to hire all the necessary teachers.

Among them, the English teacher was a veteran teacher from Nanning No. 1 High School.

The music teacher, dance teacher, and instrument teacher were all experienced teachers from the Guangxi Arts Institute.

These teachers were all experienced professionals, and their capabilities were beyond doubt. Moreover, Deng Shirong firmly believed that "where there is a generous reward, there are brave men." When hiring these teachers, he made it clear that he was only interested in the results, not the process.

If his granddaughter's grades were mediocre, these teachers would only receive the basic salary, and might even lose their part-time jobs.

If her grades were outstanding, he would reward them generously, and the bonuses they could earn might be several to dozens of times their basic salary.

To evaluate the quality of the grades, he would periodically invite teachers from the same field to conduct assessments and grade the students. The bonuses these teachers received would be closely tied to these assessment scores.

This approach was naturally intended to motivate the teachers with money, encouraging them to put more effort into teaching Xiaodong'er rather than just going through the motions.

It must be said that money is indeed a powerful motivator. After hearing Deng Shirong's promise, these teachers took their part-time jobs seriously and began to think about how to best teach this special student.

Thus, from that point on, Xiaodong'er, in addition to her regular schoolwork, had to learn several additional skills. Her daily schedule was packed, leaving her with almost no free time.

Fortunately, whether it was singing, dancing, or learning musical instruments, Xiaodong'er genuinely enjoyed these activities. She approached them with enthusiasm, as if they were just another form of play, and she was eager to take more classes, never feeling bored or tired.

Interest is indeed the best teacher, not just a saying.

As for Dongzi, he initially joined his sister with enthusiasm, but after three days, he lost interest in English, singing, and dancing, revealing his clear tendencies as a poor student.

Fortunately, Dongzi found an interest in drums.

Xiaodong'er, on the other hand, chose the guzheng as her instrument.

From then on, the siblings began to learn these skills, which might be useless or might prove very useful, under the guidance of their respective teachers.

...

Time flew by.

Before they knew it, it was time for the annual college entrance exam.

Previously, when his youngest daughter and fourth son, both poor students, took the exam, Deng Shirong had no hope for them and remained calm, knowing they would definitely fail and there would be no surprises.

However, this time, it was different with his youngest son.

Although his youngest son's academic performance was not as good as his second and third sons, he was still a promising candidate for a key university, and thus deserved Deng Shirong's attention.

Therefore, as the exam approached, Deng Shirong returned to Baise County.

...

At the entrance of Suifeng Restaurant.

Deng Shirong squatted on the steps, stuffing tobacco into his pipe as he said, "Xiaoheng, the college entrance exam is just around the corner, and the results of your years of effort will soon be revealed. How do you feel? Are you confident?"

Deng Yunheng took a deep breath and said, "Of course I'm confident, but I can't help feeling a bit nervous."

Deng Shirong comforted him, "It's natural to feel nervous. After all, this is the most important exam of your life. For most people, this exam will determine the course of their lives, and it's not an exaggeration to say that one exam can decide a lifetime."

"One exam can decide a lifetime?"

The more Deng Yunheng thought about it, the more he felt that this was an apt description for candidates like him.

Deng Shirong lit his pipe with a lighter and took several puffs before nodding. "For ordinary people, the college entrance exam indeed determines a lifetime. Those who pass will have a stable job, while those who fail will have to return to farming or find work elsewhere.

As for doing business, that's not something everyone can do.

But Xiaoheng, you are different from these ordinary people. Even if you don't pass, I will prepare a good career for you. So don't feel pressured. Passing is great, but if you don't, you can always come back and take over the family business."

Deng Yunheng couldn't help but laugh, "Dad, if other parents heard you say that, they might roll their eyes."

Deng Shirong smiled, "I'm just being honest. In fact, the college entrance exam admission rate is much better now than it was before. In the first year of the exam's reinstatement, due to the large number of applicants, the competition was intense, and the admission rate was less than five percent.

By the time your second brother took the college entrance exam, the admission rate had just exceeded ten percent.

When your third brother took the exam, the admission rate was generally over twenty percent, and in some cases, it even reached thirty percent. This was already quite good."

Deng Yunheng said, "Dad, you are good at comforting people. After hearing what you said, I'm not nervous at all now."

Deng Shirong replied, "You shouldn't be nervous. Knowledge is something you either have or you don't. Being nervous won't make you perform better; it will only make you perform worse. Just let it flow naturally. For others, failing the exam can affect their entire lives, but for you, failing just means losing a hobby. It's not a big deal."

Deng Yunheng laughed, "Alright, I understand!"

...

The 1990 college entrance exam arrived as scheduled.

The college entrance exam, in later times, was considered the fairest competition in one's life, and it was the only opportunity for students from poor families to change their fate. The exam did not consider one's background, appearance, parents, or connections; the only standard for success was one's score.

Especially in an era where universities, colleges, and vocational schools all guaranteed job placements, the college entrance exam truly determined one's future.

On July 7th, 2.83 million candidates entered the examination halls, beginning a fair yet brutal competition.

The day before the exam, countless families were worshipping their ancestors, hoping for their blessings to help their children succeed.

Deng Yunheng, who had been comforted by his father, walked into the examination hall with a relaxed and confident demeanor, then began to tackle the questions with abandon.

Three days passed in a flash.

After estimating his scores, there were naturally some who were happy and others who were worried. Deng Yunheng was one of those who were happy.

This time, without the burden of stress, he was in excellent form, performing beyond his usual level. If his score estimation was not too far off, he should be able to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor.

His first choice was the clinical medicine program at Sun Yat-sen University's Medical School.

In this era, the most prestigious medical school was undoubtedly Peking Union Medical College (PUMC). Deng Yunheng also wanted to attend PUMC, especially its eight-year clinical medicine program, which he found incredibly appealing.

Unfortunately, no matter how much he desired it, it was only a dream. In this era, PUMC's admission scores were even higher than those of Tsinghua and Peking Universities. Although his grades were good, getting into PUMC was impossible.

Apart from PUMC, Xiangya (Hunan Medical University), Qilu, and Huaxi were also very famous medical schools in this era.

Previously, his second brother had sent him some information, and after discussing with his father, they concluded that the four most prestigious medical schools in this era were PUMC in the north, Xiangya in the south, Qilu in the east, and Huaxi in the west.

His father even gave them a nickname: the Four Heavenly Kings.

Unfortunately, it wasn't just PUMC that had high admission scores; the other three medical schools also had very high admission standards.

In fact, this was not just a phenomenon of this era. Even in later times, medical schools generally had higher admission scores than other universities.

It was common for a provincial medical university that was not a 211 institution to have higher admission scores than a 211 university.

Therefore, Deng Yunheng ultimately chose Sun Yat-sen University's Medical School. This university was also very prestigious in this era. Although it did not have the same reputation as the Four Heavenly Kings, it had great potential for future development and might one day catch up to them.

"Dad, I filled in Sun Yat-sen University's Medical School as my first choice."

After filling in his choices, Deng Yunheng immediately reported to his father.

Deng Shirong nodded and said, "This university is good. The economic development of Guangdong Province is recognized nationwide. Once a province's economy improves, its medical schools will also benefit. The future development potential of Sun Yat-sen University's Medical School should not be worse than the Four Heavenly Kings."

As a person who had been reborn, he naturally knew the reputation of Sun Yat-sen University's Medical School. It was one of the top medical schools in the country.

Of the current Four Heavenly Kings, only PUMC remained prestigious in later times, with an unshakable status. The other three Heavenly Kings, Xiangya and Huaxi, were still formidable and ranked among the top in the country, but they could not match the new Four Heavenly Kings.

The new Four Heavenly Kings in later times were the Peking Union Medical College, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, and Peking University Health Science Center.

These schools belonged to the four top universities: Tsinghua University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Fudan University, and Peking University. Only by relying on these top universities could they achieve the prestigious status of the new Four Heavenly Kings.

Deng Yunheng sighed, "Unfortunately, Sun Yat-sen University's Medical School doesn't offer an eight-year clinical medicine program. It will take at least eleven years to complete a Ph.D."

"Eleven years is nothing," Deng Shirong looked at his youngest son and advised, "If you choose the path of medicine, you must be prepared to learn for your entire life. This field requires continuous learning and is one of the few where experience and age make you more valuable.

"If you're not prepared for that, then don't pursue medicine. It would be a waste of your time."

Deng Yunheng said, "Dad, I'm already mentally prepared for this. Don't worry, I will keep studying no matter what. I don't expect to become a renowned doctor remembered for generations, but at least I want to become a well-known doctor in the area. That is my greatest dream."

Deng Shirong nodded and said, "Alright, if you've thought it through, that's good. Our family isn't short of money, so you don't need to work for money. If you have a dream, go after it. Not many people in this world can pursue their dreams without being swayed by other factors."

"Many people's dreams are crushed by daily necessities, leaving nothing behind. You are already much happier than most people because you can keep pursuing your dreams."

Deng Yunheng chuckled and said, "Thank you, Dad, for providing such good conditions for me to pursue my dreams without any reservations."

Deng Shirong said, "We are father and son, no need for thanks. Being a doctor is a noble profession. Saving lives and healing the wounded is a virtuous act. Just make sure you study hard and never become a mediocre doctor."

Deng Yunheng nodded and said, "Don't worry, Dad. My goal is to become a well-known doctor, so I won't become a mediocre one!"

Deng Shirong said, "It's good that you have this mindset. When the acceptance letter arrives, I'll go back to the hometown to celebrate with a banquet."

Deng Yunheng quickly waved his hands and said, "No need, Dad. Don't go through the trouble. My university isn't as prestigious as the ones my second and third brothers attended, like Tsinghua and Peking University. Let's skip the celebration!"

Deng Shirong said, "Your university isn't bad either. Apart from your second and third brothers, there are probably no more than three people in the entire Ye Deng Clan who can match you. It's worth celebrating."

Deng Yunheng said, "If it weren't for my second and third brothers setting such high standards, it would be worth celebrating. But compared to them, my university is clearly a step lower. I wouldn't feel comfortable celebrating, so let's skip it!"

Deng Shirong laughed and said, "Alright, if you insist. Since we're not having a banquet, how about we go on a trip to Guilin? I promised Xiaodong'er that if she got first place in her grade, I would take her to Guilin."

Deng Yunheng's spirits lifted, "That's a great idea! I've heard that Guilin has beautiful scenery, and I've always wanted to see it!"

...

As Deng Shirong was preparing to fulfill his promise and take Xiaodong'er, who had just achieved first place in her grade, on a trip to Guilin, he received a call from his third son.

After exchanging greetings, Deng Yunsong reported the good news to his father, "Dad, I have officially started working at the Ministry of Finance, and I've been given a position at the section chief level."

Deng Shirong was pleased and said, "That's great. The Ministry of Finance is a highly prestigious department. Work hard and build good relationships. The connections you make here are something many people can only dream of. Your second brother has already discussed the specifics with you, so I won't repeat them."

Deng Yunsong smiled and said, "Dad, I know what to do. I will work hard."

Deng Shirong said, "Yunsong, there's one more thing you need to do in addition to your work."

Deng Yunsong asked, "What is it?"

Deng Shirong said, "Fully understand the situation in Zhejiang Province. Once you are promoted to deputy section chief, find a way to be transferred to work in Zhejiang."

Deng Yunsong was surprised and asked, "Be transferred to Zhejiang after becoming a deputy section chief? Dad, there are so many provinces in the country. Why specifically Zhejiang? Is there a reason for this?"

Deng Shirong said, "Because there might be an opportunity for you in Zhejiang. However, it's too early to discuss this now. For now, focus on your work. When you are promoted to deputy section chief, we can have a more detailed discussion."

Although Deng Yunsong was full of questions, he trusted his father completely. If his father wanted him to be transferred to Zhejiang, there must be a good reason, just as his second brother was transferred to work in Fujian.

Without his father's guidance, his second brother, no matter how capable, wouldn't have been promoted to deputy department head in such a short time.

Therefore, Deng Yunsong responded enthusiastically, "Alright, Dad. I'll study the province in detail."

Deng Shirong nodded and said, "If you encounter any problems at work, contact your second brother more often. He has been working for five years and has more experience than you do as a newcomer."

Deng Yunsong said, "I understand, Dad. I'll ask my second brother if I have any questions. How did Xiaoheng do on his college entrance exam? Which university did he apply to?"

Deng Shirong said, "He did pretty well. He applied to Sun Yat-sen University's Medical School."

Deng Yunsong said, "That's not bad. Although it's not as prestigious as the top medical universities, it still ranks quite high nationally."

Deng Shirong said, "Medicine is the most challenging field. It is difficult to learn and even harder to master, requiring a lot of time and effort, even a lifetime of learning. I wonder if Xiaoheng can keep up with it."

Deng Yunsong said, "It should be possible. Didn't you always tell us that interest is the best teacher? Since Xiaoheng is interested in medicine, although the first few years of study might be a bit dull, he will continue to learn and practice simultaneously afterward. This interest will accompany him and lead him to keep learning."

Deng Shirong said, "I hope so!"

After discussing the main topic, they chatted a bit more about family matters before ending the call.

...

Three days later.

On the bus from Nanning to Guilin, Xiaodong'er, Dongzi, and Zhu Shiba were all extremely excited, as it was their first time traveling. The three kids looked around curiously, occasionally saying something that made everyone smile.

Xiaodong'er was about to turn nine in a few months, but by traditional Chinese age reckoning, she was already ten.

Dongzi was two years younger than his sister, making him eight by traditional age reckoning.

As for Zhu Shiba, he was also four by traditional age reckoning.

This trip was the first time the Deng family had gone on a vacation, and it was quite a grand affair. The entire family, including the eldest son's family of four, the eldest daughter and her son, the youngest daughter, the fourth son, and the youngest son, all came along.

They were riding in a large bus from the Tenglong Passenger Transport Company, which had become a subsidiary of the Deng Clan Group. With the group's substantial financial support, the company's business had developed rapidly, and its network now covered the main cities of Guangdong and Guangxi, bringing in significant daily profits.

At the beginning of the trip, the three kids were full of energy, but after a couple of hours, their excitement waned, and they started to feel drowsy.

Then, Deng Yuntao, Zhang Xiuping, and Deng Yunzhen each held one of the children and let them sleep.

When they woke up, the bus had finally arrived in Guilin, the most beautiful city in Guangxi.

After getting off the bus with their luggage, a surprised voice called out, "Uncle Deng!"

Deng Shirong looked in the direction of the voice and said with a sigh, "Xiaoyan, what a coincidence, we meet again!"

Yan Shuwen smiled and said, "Indeed, what a coincidence! Uncle Deng, are you here on a family vacation?"

Deng Shirong nodded and smiled, "Yes, I'm here on a family vacation. I was thinking about asking you to be our tour guide, but I didn't expect to meet you right after getting off the bus. Are you just back from a business trip to Guangzhou?"

Yan Shuwen said with a broad smile, "Yes, I just got back from Guangzhou. Being a tour guide is no problem. Where are you planning to stay? I'll drop off my goods and then come find you."

Deng Shirong asked, "Will that affect your business?"

Yan Shuwen waved her hand and said generously, "No problem, I'll have my mother help me run the store for a few days. It won't affect my business much."

Deng Shirong smiled and said, "In that case, I won't be shy. It's our first time in Guilin, so could you recommend a place to stay?"

Yan Shuwen asked, "Uncle Deng, do you have any specific requirements for the place to stay?"

Deng Shirong said, "The only requirement is that it must be clean and hygienic. Other than that, I don't have any specific needs."

Yan Shuwen then enthusiastically recommended, "In that case, you must stay at the Xiangjiang Hotel. It's a newly built and opened grand hotel with twenty floors, making it the tallest and most luxurious building in Guilin right now.

I heard from an insider that the hotel's rooftop Lingxiao Pavilion is a revolving restaurant with a panoramic view of the city. The guest rooms are equipped with high-end furniture, central air conditioning, color TVs, closed-circuit TVs, and programmable telephones.

I understand that the total investment for this hotel was 12.93 million US dollars, making it one of the few hotels in Guilin capable of accommodating foreign guests. Staying at the Xiangjiang Hotel should meet your requirements, Uncle Deng."

Deng Shirong praised, "In this era, there are very few buildings over ten floors in all of Guangxi. Building a twenty-story hotel is indeed impressive. Let's stay at the Xiangjiang Hotel then. Xiaoyan, you go ahead and drop off your goods, and then come to the Xiangjiang Hotel. I'll treat you to dinner at the Lingxiao Pavilion."

Yan Shuwen said politely, "Uncle Deng, there's no need for that!"

Deng Shirong said, "Xiaoyan, I didn't hesitate to ask you to be our tour guide, so why are you being so formal about a meal?"

Yan Shuwen smiled and said, "Alright, I'll drop off my goods and then come to the Xiangjiang Hotel."

She then waved down a rickshaw, loaded her goods, and waved goodbye to Deng Shirong and the others.

After she left, Deng Yuntao asked, "Dad, who is that lady?"

"She's surnamed Yan, a local from Guilin. I've met her a few times before and mentioned that I would ask her to be our tour guide if we came to Guilin. I didn't expect to run into her at the station."

Deng Shirong said with anticipation, "Let's go, let's take a ride to see how luxurious this Xiangjiang Hotel is, which cost nearly 13 million US dollars to build."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end