Chapter 7

After the score estimation ended, Wang Lika did not disappoint Xiao Fei's expectations and made a huge boast.

He really dared to estimate, coming up with a super high score of 580. Although the standard score system was still in place in H Province in 1996, the reference line for the original score still existed.

In the 1995 college entrance examination, the reference line for the original score for liberal arts was 526, the reference line for the second batch (general undergraduate) was 504, and the reference line for the third batch (specialist) was 488.

Wang Lika's estimated score was more than 50 points higher than last year's key line.

Even if there was some exaggeration in this estimated score, squeezing it down to 530 should still be possible, which would still be above the key line.

For a moment, Wang Lika became the center of attention in the class, overshadowing everyone else. After confirming with Wang Lika several times, Li Tangqiu was overjoyed.

The liberal arts department of Heyang No.1 High School had always been weak.

In 1996, the college entrance examination had not yet expanded enrollment, and the admission ratio was still quite low.

Under normal circumstances, if a liberal arts class in the senior year could get one or two students into a general undergraduate program and two or three into a specialist program, it would be considered overachieving. Li Tangqiu had previously focused his attention on the top ten students in the class, especially Tian Yongzhi.

Tian Yongzhi's usual original score was generally above 540.

This score was very stable, above last year's key line.

One could say that Li Tangqiu regarded Tian Yongzhi as the greatest hope for the class. However, this time, Tian Yongzhi unfortunately only estimated a score of 518, far below his usual performance. The other top students in the class also performed poorly, with their estimated scores all below 450.

If it weren't for Wang Lika's sudden appearance,

Li Tangqiu's class might have only had Tian Yongzhi ensuring a spot in a general undergraduate program.

Li Tangqiu could not accept this result.

The teachers of the graduating class relied on the students' exam results to boost their own reputation and earn some bonuses. If this year's college admission results were worse than previous years,

it would be too embarrassing.

Therefore, the respected Mr. Li now faced Wang Lika, a student he usually didn't pay much attention to, with a very low posture, almost servile.

Li Tangqiu also specifically asked Xiao Fei about his score estimation.

When he learned that Xiao Fei had only estimated 410 points, Li Tangqiu's face showed a helpless expression.

Li Tangqiu then asked about the estimated scores for each subject, patted Xiao Fei on the shoulder, and said, "This score has no hope. Just prepare for a retake. If you work hard for a year, I think you have a good chance of getting into a general undergraduate program."

After saying this, he turned and left.

Li Tangqiu did not even ask about the scores of students like Yan Zhang and You Gui.

At noon, Wang Lika, encouraged by a group of people, treated everyone to a meal at a small restaurant outside the school gate. About a dozen people sat at two tables under a roadside canopy. The tables were filled with beer and small dishes, and Wang Lika's mouth was stretched from ear to ear, talking and raising his glass non-stop.

Xiao Fei noticed that Yao Jina sat next to Wang Lika, serving him food and wiping his sweat with a handkerchief, their bodies brushing against each other.

Even when the classmates teased them, Yao Jina remained calm.

Her eyes were fixed on his face.

Her gaze was full of admiration.

Just as in the previous life, Wang Lika won Yao Jina's favor and began a brief romance. Xiao Fei knew that in the ten days between the score estimation and the announcement of the results, Yao Jina and Wang Lika's relationship rapidly intensified, almost reaching the point of discussing marriage.

Unfortunately, once the college entrance examination scores were announced, the truth came to light, and Yao Jina immediately dumped Wang Lika, ending everything in a flash.

Yao Jina was a very pragmatic and goal-oriented girl, always trying to attach herself to the most promising man. She never hid her intentions.

As the meal was about to end, Xiao Fei saw Wang Lika call a male classmate named Li Peizhen to a corner and speak in a hushed tone.

Xiao Fei knew that Wang Lika must not have enough money and had to borrow to pay the bill.

Wang Lika was a perfect embodiment of the saying "swelling one's face to look rich."

Li Peizhen's father was the party secretary of the township where Xiao Fei lived, and his family was relatively wealthy. Li Peizhen himself was not spoiled and was quite amiable.

Wang Lika successfully borrowed money and settled the bill. The meal and drinks for a dozen people cost only about 40 yuan, and the prices in 1996 were still very low.

On the way back to school, Wang Lika and Yao Jina held hands, occasionally making small gestures, showing off their affection.

In the morning, they estimated scores; in the afternoon, they filled out their college applications.

The system of filling out applications based on estimated scores had been in place for many years, and H Province did not abolish it until 2006, when it was changed to filling out applications after the scores were announced.

Filling out applications based on estimated scores had obvious drawbacks.

The main drawback was that for many students, the estimated scores were often quite inaccurate, leading to many mistakes in college applications.

If the estimated score was low but the actual score was high, a student who could have attended a key university might end up at a general undergraduate program.

If the estimated score was high but the actual score was low, a student who thought they could attend a key university might not even meet the general undergraduate line, and if their application choices were too high, they might end up with no place to go.

In the afternoon, Li Tangqiu was still on-site to guide the students in filling out their applications.

He gave a lecture on the precautions and requirements for filling out applications, and then called Wang Lika and Tian Yongzhi to his office to guide them step by step.

For the first batch of admissions, Li Tangqiu decisively had Wang Lika apply to Peking University.

For the general undergraduate batch, Li Tangqiu had Wang Lika apply to H University. H University was a general key university, but because it admitted a large number of students from the province, as long as one could meet or even slightly exceed the key line, they would be guaranteed admission, serving as a safety net.

According to Li Tangqiu's calculations, a 580 original score was more than enough to get into Peking University, provided the score was accurate.

For the remaining applications, Li Tangqiu told Wang Lika to fill them out casually.

Li Tangqiu had Tian Yongzhi apply to Wuhan University, taking a chance in case there was an unexpected surprise in the actual score.

The standard score system had been in place for several years, and even Li Tangqiu didn't fully understand how it was calculated, but there were always surprises.

On this point, Tian Yongzhi and Li Tangqiu had a disagreement.

Tian Yongzhi felt that since the key line was just a random choice with a very low chance of success, why not apply to the highest institution?

For liberal arts students, everyone had a Peking University dream.

Tian Yongzhi also wanted to try applying to Peking University.

However, Li Tangqiu believed that Tian Yongzhi's estimated score of 518 had a high chance of a miracle. Tian Yongzhi was very cautious in his estimation, and the score was likely conservative, with room for improvement. It was possible that the comprehensive score would directly exceed the key line.

If that happened, applying to Wuhan University would have a much higher chance of success.

After a heated debate, Tian Yongzhi insisted on his own idea.

Li Tangqiu had no choice but to give in.

However, seeing Li Tangqiu's reluctant expression, Tian Yongzhi remembered what Xiao Fei had said to him, and he bitterly smiled, thinking that Xiao Fei was right. It was possible that the head teacher might secretly change his application.

But he had no hope of getting into Peking University. To get into Peking University, he would need to perform exceptionally well, which was beyond his usual level.

Moreover, he not only did not perform exceptionally well but also performed poorly.

Tian Yongzhi felt that Li Tangqiu's idea seemed more reasonable, and his own idea was just a utopian dream.

If Li Tangqiu wants to change my application, let him. He might be right.

This was Tian Yongzhi's thought.

Xiao Fei filled out his college application casually, as he had already prepared to retake the exam. There was no point in wasting effort on this application.

After filling out the application, Xiao Fei rode his bicycle with his luggage to the crossroads in the county town, bought some manuscript paper, looked up the addresses for submitting articles to newspapers, and then went home.