Chapter 10 – Joy and Sorrow (1/2)

North Heping Street.

In front of an apartment building.

Dong Xuebing had taken a cab to the Cancer Hospital and then took a taxi back home. He returned at about the same time as Qu Yunxuan and the others. They had taken public transport and the time taken to reach home was longer. As the taxi turned towards his residential area, Dong Xuebing saw his mother, Mrs. Xu, and the others walking in front. He immediately alights and walked over to explain himself: “Mum, Aunt Xuan, I’m sorry. I had something urgent to do and had rushed off.

“Xuebing……” His mother said his name and then stopped talking and sighed.

At the hallway, Section Chief Xu who had just returned from work, walked over with a briefcase. “You finished the test? How is the essay test?”

“I…… I…...” Xiao Dong was a different person from this morning. He no longer has that cocky, arrogant look.

Dong Xuebing wanted to laugh out.

“Tell me!” Section Chief Xu pulled a long face. “I had made arrangements with the Customs department.”

Mrs. Xu looked at his son. Xiao Dong mumbled: “The essay questions were tough. I don’t think anyone can answer these questions. I am only confident of getting one question right. The rest…… The rest of the questions should be wrong…… I don’t think I will be able to pass with my overall scores.”

Section Chief Xu shouted: “What have you been doing? Didn’t you prepare for this test? Didn’t you keep telling me that you will pass this test without any problem?”

Xiao Dong was in despair. “I also did not expect the questions to be so difficult. I don’t think the other candidates are able to answer them too.”

Section Chief Xu continued: “Stop telling me that the questions are difficult. You are the one who did not work hard.”

“Don’t blame Xiao Dong.” Mrs. Xu helped to speak up for her son: “The questions were really too difficult. I heard many people outside the test venue complaining about it. Not only Xiao Dong, I think everyone will fail this test. Oh, Xiao Ping’s son, Xiao Bing had taken the test too. He will also fail the test. At least our Xiao Dong did better than him. His multiple-choice test will get almost full marks.”

Dong Xuebing rolled his eyes. Who’s the one who told you that I will fail this test?

Section Chief Xu replied angrily: “If the overall score cannot reach the minimum passing mark, he can’t even qualify for the interview.”

Mrs. Xu sighed: “He can try again next year.” Section Chief Xu turned and went upstairs. Mrs. Xu looked at Xiao Dong and then turned to Dong Xuebing’s mother: “The National entry exams for the Civil Servant is in a few months. Is your son going to try again?”

Dong Xuebing’s mother replied: “Yes……”

Qu Yunxuan patted Dong Xuebing’s hand. “Don’t give yourself too much pressure. You can just take the test again next year.”

Xiao Dong had always been good with his studies. If he can’t even pass the test, Dong Xuebing should not be doing well either. This was what everyone was thinking.

Xiao Dong glared at Dong Xuebing and followed Section Chief Xu upstairs.

Dong Xuebing knew that Qu Yunxuan and his mother thought that he did not do well for the tell. He rubbed his nose but did not try to explain.

Just let them misunderstand. Even if he had passed the written test, he was also not confident of passing the interview. What if he told his mother that he had done well for the written test, and he failed the interview later? His mother might not be able to handle this roller coaster ride. She had high blood pressure, and this might affect her health. Dong Xuebing intends to tell them the truth after he had passed the interview.