Chapter 30: Are You Only Educated to a Middle School Level?

"Ultimately, at a family gathering, Lin Xiaomei confessed her feelings to her parents, expressing her unwavering conviction regarding Li Ming.

Lin Xiaomei threatened her parents with pesticide, and they eventually chose to respect their daughter's decision. However, Li Ming's parents also coerced him with the threat of suicide, and in the end, Li Ming was transferred away from the textile mill.

The story concludes with Lin Xiaomei and Li Ming failing to spend their lives together. Lin Xiaomei died on that heart-wrenching winter day."

As Liu Jingjing finished her story, her heart was filled with both expectation and apprehension. Lin Junsheng and Liu Siyao remained silent for a while, seemingly digesting the narrative.

It was a perfectly decent story, but without a satisfying ending, it felt as though class ideology had been forced into a view on love. Lacking twists, it qualified as a story, but hardly a good one. Lin Junsheng felt that, at this rate, it might not even earn a publication fee.

After Liu Jingjing concluded the harrowing tale, a faint melancholy seemed to shroud the room. Lin Junsheng and Liu Siyao were both lost in silence, their eyes flickering with complex emotions as they struggled to process every detail.

"Sigh, Jingjing, this story of yours is truly..." Liu Siyao sighed and shook her head, as if wanting to say something but unsure of how to begin. She understood that while the story was emotionally sincere, the ending was far too bleak, leaving one with a heavy heart.

Lin Junsheng spoke slowly, his voice laced with contemplation. "This story makes me feel like I'm watching a tragedy from an older era. It's a bit like those cliché tales of the past, where the hero is a Chen Shimei and the heroine meets a tragic end, just transposed into a modern setting. The love between Lin Xiaomei and Li Ming is firmly shackled by class and reality, inevitably leading to tragedy. While touching, it feels a bit too heavy and lacks positive elements."

Listening to their critiques, Liu Jingjing felt a sense of helplessness. The story certainly had many flaws, but she wanted to use it to explore her own reflections on reality. Summoning her courage, she explained, "Actually, I didn't write this to dwell on tragedy for its own sake. I wanted to use their experiences to explore the conflict between personal emotions and social pressures in that era. I hope readers can feel that sense of helplessness and struggle, and perhaps find some room for reflection on reality."

Lin Junsheng nodded, a glimmer of appreciation in his eyes. "Your intent is good, but the form of expression could be more diverse. For example, you could try to incorporate some positive elements, so that while readers feel the tragedy, they can also see hope and strength."

Liu Siyao chimed in, "Exactly, Jingjing. You could consider giving Lin Xiaomei a different ending."

However, Lin Junsheng didn't think much of the story; it was far too conventional. He estimated that the manuscript might not even be accepted. In the landscape of reflective, "root-seeking," or "scar" literature, no editor would be impressed by such a cliché romance.

At this point, Liu Jingjing suddenly remembered something. She turned to Lin Junsheng and asked curiously, "Junsheng, you said just now that this story is like those old, cliché tales. Do you think such stories are engaging?"

Lin Junsheng smiled slightly. "Actually, besides studying animal husbandry, I enjoy reading literature. I've read books like *Border Town*, *Fortress Besieged*, and *Rickshaw Boy*. I've found that many love stories in classical literature often carry a tragic hue, and your story reminded me of the plots and characters in those classics. But your execution isn't quite brilliant enough; naturally, it also depends on your command of language."

Hearing this, Liu Jingjing couldn't help but look at Lin Junsheng with newfound respect. She hadn't expected this seemingly reticent animal husbandry doctor to possess such a deep literary foundation.

She smiled and said, "It seems that in the future, you can not only be an animal husbandry expert but also moonlight as a literary critic!"

Liu Siyao linked her arm with Liu Jingjing's, her eyes showing a touch of comfort. "Jingjing, your story moved me deeply. Although the ending is regrettable, that is a true reflection of life, isn't it? But let's stop here for today; it's getting quite late."

She looked out the window; the afterglow of the sunset was fading, and the sky was beginning to turn a pale blue-gray, signaling the coming of night. Liu Jingjing followed her gaze; it was indeed getting late.

"It really is getting late," Liu Jingjing agreed.

"Are you going to the market in town tomorrow?" Liu Siyao asked. "The snacks in town are much better than the ones in the county seat."

Liu Jingjing smiled, "Alright, I'll see you in town tomorrow then."

"We'll be heading off now."

"Great! Siyao, I've noted down the market trip for tomorrow—I'll definitely be there! Hearing you talk about it, I can't wait to try those authentic snacks."

Liu Siyao then turned to look at Lin Junsheng, who had been standing quietly to the side. "Xiaosheng, why don't you come along? The three of us can have a good time exploring the town and getting some good food to relax."

Lin Junsheng smiled slightly and nodded. Although his main purpose today was to accompany his cousin to meet her friend, he hadn't expected the friend to be Liu Jingjing. It was quite a surprise, but to see such a beautiful woman, he felt satisfied. Without the filter of a movie, he felt Liu Jingjing was even more beautiful than Zhang Yu.

He replied without hesitation, "Sure! It's been a long time since I've been to the town market anyway; it'll be a good chance to try the food."

After agreeing on the time and place to meet the next day, Liu Siyao and Lin Junsheng set off for home.

"Junsheng, who knew your literary skills were so good? Even Jingjing praised you—you might really have a chance," Liu Siyao laughed suddenly.

This unexpected question caught Lin Junsheng off guard. "This... actually, I only have a junior high education, while Liu Jingjing is a university graduate from Shanghai and a high school teacher in the county."

Liu Siyao nodded. "At least you have some self-awareness. Don't go getting any ideas about her."

Lin Junsheng had only been humble, yet his cousin wasn't exactly cheering for him. "Weren't you the one who introduced me to a beauty? Why keep me from pursuing her after the introduction?"

"The gap is too big; I'm afraid you'll feel inferior."

"You're a real heartbreaker for a cousin."

"Don't be like that. I'll find you someone better in the county."

"You can't even handle things in the countryside, and you're going to introduce me to someone 'better'?"

"The main thing is, your education level is a major drawback. People in the city value intellectuals."

"I'm an intellectual too."

"A junior high-educated intellectual?"

"I..."

Lin Junsheng suddenly felt the urge to show his cousin his manuscript fees and his work, just to let her see whether or not he was an intellectual.