Chapter Sixty-Eight: The Eight-Word True Mantra

The two days of the college entrance examination flew by in the blink of an eye.

When the final subject was over, Zhao Zejun felt as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Even though he hadn’t seen the final answer key, he was already certain that as long as the University of Science and Technology’s cutoff score remained unchanged, the acceptance letter from a top university was as good as his.

In 2002, there were mainly two ways to apply for colleges nationwide: fill in your choices first, then take the exam; or take the exam, estimate your score, then fill in your choices. Only the capital adopted the method of releasing scores before filling in applications... In Jiangnan Province, it was the first method: once the exam was over, it was over—there was no need to estimate scores, but the school still handed out the answer keys the next day, so Zhao Zejun went to school for a look.

The classroom was abuzz with discussion about yesterday’s exam.

Zhao Zejun compared his answers with the key. In the end, he estimated his total score would be above 570.

He glanced around the classroom but didn’t see Xia Yubing. During the two days of the exam, they weren’t in the same examination room and hadn’t contacted each other to avoid affecting their moods.

Yu Zhe came running over, grinning like he was showing off a treasure. “Boss, what do you estimate your score is?”

“How about you? Did you get 350?” Zhao Zejun countered. If Yu Zhe could get 350, his father might be able to pull some strings for a junior college spot.

“I didn’t estimate, but it’s probably just over two hundred. Aren’t you applying for the University of Science and Technology? I’ll apply there too!”

“What?” Zhao Zejun was stunned. “Around two hundred, and you’re applying to the University of Science and Technology?”

The management of college admissions was extremely strict. Even if Yu Jin was a city commerce bureau official—or even the mayor of Yijiang City—he couldn’t get someone with just over two hundred points into the University of Science and Technology. The university’s administrative level was equivalent to Yijiang City’s; the president held a vice-ministerial rank and owed no favors to Yu Jin.

“Heh, I’m applying to the university’s Adult Education College. My family’s already decided—after all, in theory, an adult education diploma is treated the same as a regular one. Rather than going to some lousy junior college, I’d rather get into the adult education program at the University of Science and Technology. At least the name sounds better,” Yu Zhe explained.

That made sense. The adult education entrance exam was held after the regular college entrance exam; both the difficulty and the threshold were much lower. Yu Zhe had no hope for the regular exam, but as for an adult education undergraduate at the university... well, not much hope there either, but admissions for adult education were much looser. Yu Jin could manage that; Yu Zhe just had to show up for the adult entrance exam in half a month. Anyway, if he looked for a job later, he wouldn’t really face “unequal treatment.”

“That’s great. We’ll still be able to hang out together in the future,” Zhao Zejun laughed.

“Of course—I have to keep up with you, Boss! Only by staying by your side, receiving the organization’s education, and constantly improving myself can I achieve self-realization...”

“Cut it out. Focus on your novel; when I have time, I’ll help you brainstorm the third volume. What was the name you said last time?”

“Something Sword Chronicle? Oh right, Flowery Sword Chronicle!”

“Yeah, that’s it. Don’t slack off yourself; I’ve already given you the main plot, but you should think more about it too.”

“Understood!” Yu Zhe nodded, then asked mysteriously, “Boss, did you and Xia Yubing have a falling out?”

“What makes you say that?”

“I was in the same exam room as her. The first day was fine, but on the second day, she was absent-minded for both exams, and during the last one, she started sobbing uncontrollably before even handing in her paper—the invigilator nearly confiscated it. Did you two argue?”

“No. Do you know what happened?” Zhao Zejun frowned slightly.

“I wanted to ask her after the exam, but as soon as it was over, she rushed out, jumped into a Crown sedan, and took off. Hey, Boss, do you think she’s found herself a sugar daddy?”

“Sugar daddy, my foot—she’s the one with the money! Her mom drives a Crown!” Zhao Zejun rolled his eyes.

“Oh... By the way, Boss, what are your plans for summer vacation? A few friends I write with online are coming to Yijiang to hang out. They helped promote my work last time. Maybe we could all have a meal together?”

“Sure, just call me when the time comes. I’ve got something to do—I’ll head off first.”

“Old He’s about to hold a class meeting, our last one ever. You’re not attending?” Yu Zhe called after him.

“You represent me!”

Zhao Zejun waved without looking back.

“Come on, if I represent everyone, I’ll need three watches!” Yu Zhe shouted in frustration behind him.

Zhao Zejun left campus and called Xia Yubing.

Ring after ring... No answer.

He waited a while, called again, but still just endless ringing.

Zhao Zejun stared at his phone, thought for a moment, and didn’t call again.

Since she left in her mother’s Crown, she shouldn’t be in any danger. Her family situation was complicated—it was probably something at home.

Summer vacation was long; there would be chances to get in touch. He’d call again in a few days.

First, he’d go home with the good news.

At noon, upon hearing Zhao Zejun had estimated a 570, Zhou Ya was overjoyed and cooked up a huge meal. They waited and waited, but Zhao Tao still hadn’t returned.

“Let’s not wait. We’ll eat first!”

Just as she spoke, Zhao Tao came home beaming. “Son, you really called it—Gaogang Village is going to be demolished!”

Zhou Ya looked up sharply, disbelief on her face. “Really?”

“The demolition notice is out. It’s posted right downstairs, and the relocation office is right across the street. They’re handing out notices to everyone—I brought home a stack,” Zhao Tao said, pulling a small pile of papers from his bag.

“So, we’re getting several more apartments?” Zhou Ya struggled to turn her head to look at Zhao Zejun. She and Zhao Tao had learned about his property purchases after the fact, but they didn’t know the exact number.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself. Let’s see what the notice actually says—how many we’ll get is still unclear.” Zhao Tao shut the door, and the family gathered around the demolition notice.

This demolition’s boundaries were broad, centered on Gaogang Village and including several surrounding buildings, Zhao Zejun’s home among them.

Compensation would mainly involve several aspects: first, compensation for the original property, one-for-one replacement in principle; second, the right to buy more space at a price far below market value, based on the compensated area; third, a lump-sum payment covering three years’ rent, since it would take years to build new homes after the old ones were demolished—people needed somewhere to live in the meantime.

“So that means we’ll get at least four or five apartments?!” Zhou Ya gasped.

Zhao Tao and Zhou Ya didn’t actually know how many properties Zhao Zejun owned, only that he’d bought that two-story concrete house. After giving him full freedom, neither parent had questioned him in detail.

“Four or five? Not just that—I think we’ll get at least five!” Zhao Tao said.

Zhou Ya slapped her thigh in regret. “We were too conservative! If we’d listened to our son and put all our savings into it, we could have bought more apartments!”

Zhao Tao was more philosophical, laughing. “You’re always wise after the fact! When our son wanted to buy property, you gave me looks and pinched my back to stop me from giving him money. Now that it’s really happening, you regret it.”

“Dad, Mom, those thirty or forty thousand yuan—at the time, even if we’d spent it all, we couldn’t have bought two more apartments. Besides, I didn’t know the demolition would happen so soon. No one would have risked everything back then; there’s no need to regret it,” Zhao Zejun said with a smile.

“Exactly! Our son’s right—you can’t take advantage of every opportunity in life,” Zhao Tao agreed, setting the notice down. “So, how did your score estimate turn out? That’s the real big deal for our family!”

“Didn’t hit six hundred, but I should have at least 570,” Zhao Zejun replied.

Zhao Tao slapped him heartily on the shoulder. “Excellent! Double happiness for our family! Tonight, I’m treating us to a feast!”

“Dad, my shoulder’s made of flesh—if you want to practice iron palm, go hit the door,” Zhao Zejun grinned, then magically produced an envelope and set it on the table. “Since we’re all so happy, how about I pay for you two to take a trip? You’ve spent all these years worrying about me. Now that I’ve sorted out college and the house, take this chance to travel.”

“Oh, but the final results and acceptance letter haven’t come yet...” Zhou Ya began.

Zhao Tao waved her off and pushed the envelope back to Zhao Zejun. “Our son’s trying to get us out of the way so he can do big things,” he said with a meaningful smile. After thinking for a moment, he added, “All right! Like I’ve always said, your mother and I can’t help you much, but at least we won’t hold you back.”

“Dad, you saw right through me.” Zhao Zejun chuckled sheepishly. “Demolition is a hassle—I don’t want you two to get upset.”

“I get it. Take the envelope back. I’ve got money for a trip—you need your funds more now. Also, about the demolition, let me give you two pieces of advice. Remember them well.”

“Yes, Dad?” Zhao Zejun straightened up, dropping his playful grin.

Zhao Tao enunciated each word clearly: “Fight for your rights, but know when to stop.”

Even with the experiences of a previous life, Zhao Zejun had never underestimated his father. Those two sentences were heavy with the weight of decades of life’s lessons, and he immediately understood. “Got it. I’ll make you and Mom a promise—take what’s fair and put safety first.”

“Haha! My son’s understanding is second to none! Now your mother and I can really rest easy. See, I told you our son knows what he’s doing—no need to worry,” Zhao Tao said to Zhou Ya with a laugh.

“Worrying is a must—he’s our own flesh and blood!”

Looking at his happy family, Zhao Zejun thought to himself that his parents were still too kindhearted. If they knew the undercurrents that would surge during the demolition, they’d never feel at ease leaving him to handle it alone.

Perhaps it was better this way. Light and shadow are always two sides of the same coin—someone has to stand in the shadows to uphold the light behind.

In his previous life, his parents had chosen to stand in the shadows they weren’t suited for, struggling to hold up a carefree world for him. In this life, it was finally his turn to step onto the stage.