Chapter 6: The Greatest Advantage

“Hurry, have a seat, old desk mate,” I called out to her with a smile.

Yin Yu set her books neatly on the desk and asked, “So, how did it go? Where did you put your choices for university?”

“My first choice is the Normal University in H City. Second is the Institute of Technology in J City. Third is the Medical College in M City. Fourth is the Teacher’s College in Q City. Fifth is the Normal College in M City,” I recited as if I were reading from a list.

“All schools within the province? Are you planning to be a teacher? You’ve got quite a few teacher’s colleges on there,” Yin Yu teased.

“I’m not really sure what I want to do in the future. My parents think being a teacher is good for a girl—at least you get summer and winter breaks. Being a doctor isn’t bad either—never have to worry about falling ill—but the thought of performing surgery on people terrifies me.”

“Yeah, I don’t think you’d make a great doctor. You’re too timid,” Yin Yu agreed. “But what about the Institute of Technology?”

“Oh, that… My cousin, my aunt’s third daughter, is studying there—she’s in her third year now. I figured if I managed to get in, she could look after me,” I replied with a grin. “What about you? Where did you apply?”

“My first choice is the University of Engineering in H City. My father wanted me to choose it; he says it’s really strong in physics,” Yin Yu said, smiling.

“Really? H City too? If only I could get into the Normal University there, then we’d both be in the same city!” I exclaimed, delighted.

“Exactly! Let’s work hard together!” Yin Yu raised her fist and made a cheering gesture.

“But I’m afraid I won’t get into my first choice. On the last mock exam, my total score was only 479, just one point short of last year’s undergraduate admission line!” I said gloomily.

“Mock exams aren’t always accurate,” Yin Yu comforted me.

“But my math is just too weak. That’s bound to drag my score down. I’m not good at physics either, and my chemistry isn’t much better. Chinese is just average.”

“But your English is great! Do well in English, pick up some extra points there,” she encouraged.

“I hope so. That’s the only subject I’m confident in, haha…”

We chatted happily, when suddenly, the classroom door, which had been left slightly ajar, was pushed open. The English teacher entered, carrying his book and lesson plan.

The room fell instantly silent.

What a powerful presence!

I hurriedly opened my textbook, ready for class.

Mr. Yin scanned the room with his eyes, and I noticed that Yin Yu, who had been sitting so relaxed beside me, quietly straightened her back.

“Today, we’re going to review several English tenses: present continuous, present perfect, present perfect continuous…” Mr. Yin began the lesson.

I listened attentively, scribbling notes at a brisk pace.

Only in English class could I regain the confidence I once had.

I didn’t start learning English until middle school. Among all the city’s elementary schools, only the Experimental Primary School offered English classes.

When I was still learning to write the ABCs, my classmates who’d graduated from the Experimental School had already mastered phonetics and basic sentence structures.

Determined not to fall behind, I memorized vocabulary and dialogues every day, listening to every lesson with complete focus.

By the end of my first semester in seventh grade, my English grades were already the highest in the class. I’d filled several thick notebooks with class notes…

Truthfully, my original intention in working so hard at English wasn’t to be the top student.

It was simply because, when the school year began, my father had said to me in earnest, “Ling Yin, you have to keep up with English. No one in our family can help you with it.”

As it turned out, precisely because no one in my family knew English and couldn’t tutor me, English became the subject I excelled at most—and my greatest advantage.