The scenery in Kushan was something all the teachers had heard of, but hadn't had the chance to visit. The joint ticket prices for Kushan had gone up.
They had promised their wives and children that after they saw this graduating class through, they would all go for a trip.
With the price increase, they'd been hesitant and procrastinating, reluctant to spend. To their surprise, their students treated them, so they graciously accepted.
Among the students, whether they were down on their luck or doing well, they cherished this last gathering.
There were a total of seven meals, six of which were arranged at Chen Fu Restaurant.
On the second day, at noon, the true graduation banquet would be held.
After this grand banquet, the teachers and students felt a sense of guilt.
They had heard of Yuan's Private Kitchen, its reputation and prices, even if they hadn't dined there themselves.
Nine tables were consumed in one go, costing thousands of yuan.
Adding in the entrance fees and accommodation, it easily exceeded thirty thousand yuan.
Li Weili waved her hand, and her three younger brothers helped her bring out the watermelons.
She picked up a slice of watermelon. "Come, come, don't be shy. This watermelon is exclusive post-meal fruit from Yuan's Private Kitchen, different from what you had at my place."
"I am very happy to have been accepted into my first-choice university. I thank my teachers for their cultivation and my classmates for their companionship."
"From now on, we will go our separate ways. I wish all my classmates smooth sailing. I wish all teachers and their families good health. And I wish myself the goal of becoming a strong woman soon."
"Tomorrow, after lunch, we will descend the cave by raft. Please pack all your belongings beforehand and register them at the telephone booth."
"The scenic area will deliver all luggage to the rafting endpoint pier. Remember, valuables and money must be carried with you."
"Any luggage handed over to the scenic area will be deemed ordinary clothing, bedding, etc. If anything goes wrong, no compensation will be provided."
Tomorrow was the day of parting, and the teachers and students were very reluctant.
After finishing their watermelons, they unanimously suggested going to a photo studio for a group photo.
The mood for their graduation photos was completely different from this reunion.
Li Weili took many photos with her classmates on her phone.
After the three-day, two-night excursion ended, they collected their luggage at the Ku River parking lot and boarded the shuttle bus back to the county town. The students shed tears.
They expressed that Li Weili had given them an unforgettable gathering and a perfect conclusion to their high school life.
Waving goodbye to the shuttle bus, Li Weili collapsed in a cold drink shop at the parking lot. Being a companion for outings was an exhausting task.
Li Weiyu, however, was eager. When would his admission notice arrive?
In mid-August, the new village primary school began enrollment.
The first batch of teachers, having enjoyed the thoughtful benefits of Kushan and witnessed its development, were unwilling to return to the city.
Their benefits included five free admission quotas to the scenic area, equivalent to those of the scenic area staff.
This benefit alone gave them immense prestige among their relatives, friends, and former colleagues. The free quotas were not subject to visitor limits; one only needed to book a time with the village committee office, ensuring it didn't overlap with others using the free quotas.
Therefore, they had no intention of leaving the brighter classrooms and more convenient, comfortable dormitory environment of the new school.
Consequently, the tasks of enrollment and recruitment fell upon them.
Certain positions within the primary school also fell to them.
As their positions increased, so did their benefits.
The primary school operated at a loss year after year. Originally free, with the advent of nine-year compulsory education, Kushan didn't even charge tuition fees.
Students were only required to purchase their own notebooks and any workbooks the teachers assigned.
Even with further losses, the village was determined to run the school. With three villages now merged into one, the deficit would increase.
It didn't matter; education should never be neglected, and Kushan was not short of money.
As the primary school enrolled students, villagers from all three villages busily brought their children for registration.
They didn't care about the cost, let alone the fact that it was free.
Since May, older children had earned several hundred yuan doing odd jobs.
If children could earn money themselves, why shouldn't they be educated?
An educated child brought honor to the family; even if they didn't excel academically, they wouldn't be ignorant.
Therefore, without any coercion from Village Chief Li, the villagers brought their children as soon as they heard about the enrollment.
Seeing that the school was running smoothly, Li Zhengguo was relieved.
The scenic area was also on track, so he no longer needed to be hands-on.
He had assigned tasks to his four assistants and was preparing to go home.
As he stepped out of his office, he encountered a postman delivering notices. Li Zhengguo reached out to take them, but the postman refused.
Li Zhengguo nodded approvingly. If everyone was as responsible as this postman, there would be no incidents of impersonating university students.
He used the loudspeaker to call Li Weiyu and Chen An to his office to collect their mail.
Li Weiyu, who had been nagging his mother, believing he hadn't been accepted, immediately rushed out of the house upon hearing the announcement.
By mid-August, his admission notice still hadn't arrived, and Chen An had lost all hope.
He was still in his room, engrossed in his studies.
When his cousin pulled him up, he dazedly asked, "Xiaoyu, why are you grabbing me?"
Li Weiyu shook him a few times with force. "Uncle-in-law is calling us to the office via broadcast to collect our mail. Who do you think would write to both of us?"
Chen An covered his head. "You've shaken me dizzy."
Li Weiyu shook him a few more times. "I'm shaking the water out of your head. Hurry up and get yourself ready to collect the notices that will turn our lives around."
"Notices?" Chen An's head was no longer dizzy, and his strength had returned. "Are you saying my notice has arrived?"
"Yes! Hurry up." Li Weiyu tossed him back onto the bed with a hint of disdain. "I don't know how you got accepted with that water-filled head of yours."
Chen An immediately got up. "Your head is filled with water, my head is filled with knowledge."
"Yes, yes, hurry up." Li Weiyu paced back and forth. "If it weren't for our notices arriving together, I wouldn't be here enduring your dawdling."
After what Li Weiyu felt was a long few minutes, they finally stepped out of the Chen family home.
The postman personally confirmed their names and solemnly handed them the large, thick envelopes, offering his congratulations.
The two thanked him and insisted on giving the postman a watermelon.
After seeing the postman off, Li Weiyu jumped for joy. He had been accepted into his first choice, Northern University of Technology, and could go to Kyoto with his cousin.
Chen An handed his letter to his uncle. His hands were trembling, and he dared not tear it open for fear of damaging it.
Chen An had been accepted into his third choice, Provincial City University.
Li Zhengguo congratulated both his nephews.
The people in the office also excitedly congratulated the two. With three university students from Kushan in one year, it was an honor unheard of in the surrounding ten villages.
Li Weiyu busily made a reservation with his uncle for the graduation banquet ticket quota.
After hearing his nephew's so-called 'grievances,' Li Zhengguo patted him on the shoulder.
"You are still a child dependent on your parents. It's wrong to be extravagant and recognize brands."
"Your father's approach is correct because what you are squandering is your future. Think about it carefully."
"You can make a reservation for the tickets, but don't book Yuan's Private Kitchen. Chen Fu's restaurant is also a good option."
Li Weiyu nodded and asked Chen An, "An'an cousin, what about your graduation banquet?"
"We'll have it normally," Chen An said pragmatically. "I'm only inviting teachers. None of my classmates invited me, so I won't reciprocate."
"No!" Li Weiyu disagreed.
Li Zhengguo also disagreed. Three university students, even if they were accepted into different universities, should not be treated differently.
Moreover, with the three children attending the same school, the teachers and classmates would undoubtedly know how Li Li had hosted her event.
Adding to that, since Xiaoyu also intended to host his graduation banquet like Li Li, Chen An's banquet could not follow the usual path.
The three children were all relatives, and they could not let others say anything about hierarchy or preference.
"An'an, just invite them along with Xiaoyu. Your mother will surely be willing to cover the expenses."