The gray-haired Wang Deming adjusted the glasses on the bridge of his nose and looked at the neatly written application in surprise.
He knew Yang Lihua. She had excellent grades, and he had heard that her foreign language ability was particularly outstanding. If the college entrance examination still existed, she would definitely be able to get into a university—perhaps even become an excellent diplomat in the future.
“Graduate early?” Wang Deming raised his eyes and looked at her through his glasses with a hint of scrutiny.
“Student Yang Lihua, there are only two months left before graduation. Why do you suddenly want to graduate early?”
In truth, he was actually quite pleased that someone had come to apply for early graduation.
Graduating early meant having more time to find a job, instead of having only one path left—going to the countryside.
He hoped his students could make use of what they learned and have more choices in life.
Yang Lihua didn’t panic under the principal’s scrutiny. She spoke frankly.
“My elder brother is about to get married. My second sister and I are both in high school, and my younger siblings are still in middle school. My parents are also getting older…”
A subtle change flashed in Wang Deming’s eyes.
He understood what she meant.
In a family with so many children, daughters were often the first to be sacrificed.
Especially since her elder brother would soon marry. Once the new sister-in-law entered the household, how would she feel about so many unemployed younger siblings?
And there was also Yang Lihua’s second sister, who was facing graduation as well.
“So I thought… if I can graduate early, I can take my high school diploma and participate in recruitment exams. That way, I can help reduce the burden on my family.”
She didn’t say the most important reason out loud.
If she couldn’t find a job, the fate waiting for her would be being sent to the countryside.
Of course, Principal Wang clearly understood that unspoken implication.
He didn’t mind students coming to him to apply for early graduation. There was nothing wrong with someone who knew how to fight for their own future.
Wang Deming carefully examined Yang Lihua’s transcript.
“Alright. Come to the office tomorrow afternoon. If you can pass the examinations for all subjects, I’ll approve your request for early graduation.”
He paused.
“But if your results aren’t satisfactory, you should understand…”
Yang Lihua met his gaze with determination and bowed deeply.
“Thank you, Principal, for giving me this opportunity!”
Having the chance alone was enough.
What she feared most was not being given a chance at all.
Passing by the classroom, she saw Yang Lijuan leaning on her hand, staring sleepily at the blackboard.
Yang Lihua chuckled softly.
Heh.
In their family, the brain for studying had probably all grown inside her head alone.
She was also grateful for her sharp mind and fairly good looks. At least those gave her a bit of value in her parents’ eyes.
Otherwise, her fate might have been the same as her second sister’s—
Endless housework and constant complaints and dissatisfaction from their mother.
Although she now had the chance to take the early graduation exam, if she still couldn’t find a job, she would still face the problem of being sent to the countryside.
And this weekend, her elder brother Yang Lixin would go on his blind date.
If nothing unexpected happened, they would soon get married.
She knew very well that in the novel, it was the original female lead Zhou Hongxia who eventually sent her to the countryside.
The day before, Zhou Hongxia took the cookbook from her. The next day, she went straight to the neighborhood office to process Yang Lihua’s paperwork for being sent to the countryside.
What a wonderful sister-in-law.
She wasn’t even willing to wait a few more days.
In the novel, it was mentioned that Yang Lihua’s mother had planned to arrange a blind date for her since she didn’t have a job. If she got married, she wouldn’t have to go to the countryside.
But Zhou Hongxia couldn’t even wait those few days.
These thoughts flashed through Yang Lihua’s mind, but her footsteps didn’t slow in the slightest.
Hmm?
Before she realized it, she had walked near the textile factory area.
She rarely came here.
Her family lived in the steel factory residential compound, a massive factory employing tens of thousands of workers. It had complete facilities—everything needed for daily life, even two cinemas.
Today she had simply wandered here by coincidence.
As she passed the gate of the textile factory, Yang Lihua instinctively glanced inside.
She noticed several female workers gathered around the bulletin board, pointing and discussing something.
Yang Lihua slowed her steps and gradually moved closer.
She vaguely heard words like “recruitment exam.”
Recruitment?
Her heart suddenly jumped.
She quickly stepped forward.
In the most prominent spot on the bulletin board was a brand-new notice:
Hongxing Textile Factory Recruitment Announcement.
Reading the requirements, Yang Lihua frowned.
It clearly stated that applicants must have a high school diploma.
The earliest she could get her diploma would be tomorrow afternoon—or the morning after.
If she missed this opportunity because she didn’t yet have her diploma, she would feel sick with regret.
She continued reading the notice.
The exam time was Friday afternoon at two o’clock.
Her brows instantly relaxed.
Thank heavens.
The timing couldn’t have been better.
Today was already Wednesday.
If everything went smoothly, she could obtain her diploma Thursday afternoon, or at worst Friday morning.
Either way, she would still make it in time for the recruitment exam.
After reading everything, Yang Lihua quickly ran toward the administration building.
“Comrade, I’d like to register!”
The clerk in charge of registration, Zhang Chunmei, looked at Yang Lihua in surprise.
She clearly wasn’t the child of a textile factory employee.
This recruitment notice was actually meant for internal hiring.
The reason it was posted publicly was merely to silence criticism and make it appear fair and transparent to the leadership.
In fact, the notice would not remain posted for more than half an hour.
Yet Yang Lihua had somehow seen it.
All Zhang Chunmei could say was that her luck was truly remarkable.
For people like Yang Lihua who happened to see the notice, they were usually still allowed to register.
After all, luck was also a kind of strength.
Zhang Chunmei calmly took out a registration form.
“Fill in your information. Come back Friday afternoon for the exam. Bring your household registration booklet and your high school diploma.”
“Thank you.”
Yang Lihua filled out the form and thanked her.
While writing, she glanced at the other names on the registration list.
Almost all of them were children of textile factory employees.
Clearly, this recruitment was essentially internal hiring.
She had simply been lucky enough to see the notice.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t even have known about the recruitment.
Fortunately, the registration clerk hadn’t rejected her outright.
At least now there was still a bit of fairness left.
After finishing her registration, Yang Lihua quietly left the Hongxing Textile Factory with her head lowered.
Until the day of the exam, she wouldn’t come here again.
If the news somehow spread, she might not even be allowed to take the exam later.