Chapter 43 I am a little bird

  The list of students who stayed on campus has been released, and the two students who stayed are both girls, one of whom is Zheng Yuxin. After the list was announced, Xu Shaojie saw Zheng Yuxin once, and she was excited like a little woman, clinging tightly to Liu Hong, her eyes only seeing Liu Hong, and ignoring everyone else. Xu Shaojie knew that this was just reality.

  Every class held a graduation party, and Xu Shaojie didn't have any programs. At night, looking at everyone laughing and having fun in the classroom, Xu Shaojie seemed to be out of place. He didn't have any particularly good friends in the class, all his buddies were in the dormitory. The school was about to hold a graduation party, and Xu Shaojie originally didn't want to have any programs, but again, it was Class Director Xu Zhuxin who signed him up. As the champion of the school's singing competition, he couldn't not offer his vocal talents, that would be unforgivable.

  The graduation ceremony was very grand, the school leaders all attended, and the principal gave a speech. Generally, people can't see the principal often, at most a few times a year. The principal encouraged everyone to work hard in their respective positions after graduation, make contributions, and be outstanding talents in their own fields, as Xilin University graduates are all proud sons and daughters of heaven.

  The principal's words didn't quite register with Xu Shaojie. Nowadays, many graduates bring their own dispatch certificates and files to report to their assigned workplaces after roughly settling on a job location. So far, the biggest news is that Liu Hong has been assigned to work in the Xilin City Government, specifically in the Office of the Municipal Government. Liu Hong was recommended by the school as an outstanding talent. As a result, Liu Hong works in the Xilin City Government, while Zheng Yuxin works at Xilin University. This couple has become the envy of everyone. Xu Shaojie is also concerned about his own assignment and went to the personnel department two days ago to pick up his dispatch certificate and see where the school had assigned him. He planned to go find Ding Yuanshuai, the secretary, after getting the certificate. However, the director of the personnel department, who was also the original branch secretary, told him with a smile that his file had already been taken away, and his organizational relationship had also been transferred. Xu Shaojie directly went to report to the Huaiyang Municipal Committee. Originally, Xu Shaojie's assignment was barely passable, but under Liu Hong's halo, it seemed somewhat insignificant. Xu Shaojie only received his dispatch certificate, which showed that he was assigned to the Huaiyang Municipal Committee.

  The commencement ceremony had just ended, and people began to rearrange the venue. In the evening, a graduation party was held, and after this party, graduates who had already found units would have to leave school. Some graduates who were still trying to find good units would stay temporarily, but they would definitely have to leave before the new semester started. Many freshmen and sophomores saw that many seniors were in tears while rearranging the venue and didn't quite understand why.

  Xu Shaojie returned to the dormitory and found that the atmosphere in the dormitory was very depressing. Everyone's belongings were packed up, big bags and small bags were all tied up, four years of life left many memories and feelings.

  Ma Jianhua eventually returned to work in Beijing, although Ma Jianhua never mentioned the internship situation, Xu Shaojie knew that Ma Jianhua was not so pleased with it. Ma Jianhua's father was a worker in a factory in Beijing, and his mother was a teacher without any power or influence. It was extremely difficult for him to be assigned to a good unit. As the capital city, Beijing was a place many people yearned for, and the annual job assignments were fiercely competitive. Although the current assignment principle was "where you come from is where you go back to", many top graduates from universities like Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Renmin University still chose to stay in Beijing, making it even harder to get assigned to a good unit. Xu Shaojie wanted to ask Ma Jianhua about it, but seeing Ma Jianhua's gloomy expression lately, he didn't dare to bring it up.

  Du Yu Xin is not going anywhere, Shanghai is the country's financial center, a gathering place for the rich, Du Yu Xin's father is an ordinary civil servant, and his mother works in the street office, also an ordinary family. However, Xu Shaojie vaguely heard that Du Yu Xin returning to Shanghai to teach was not a big problem, but he could only teach junior high school, high school was out of reach. Nowadays, teaching junior high and high school still has obvious differences, but Du Yu Xin can return to Shanghai to teach, which is already very good.

  Sun Yong was the luckiest, and in the end, No. 15 Middle School agreed to accept Sun Yong. Sun Yong is a kind person who can endure hardships. During his internship at school, everyone had a good impression of him. As a graduate of Xilin University, there were not many people willing to teach, but compared to graduates from other universities, he still had some advantages. However, No. 15 Middle School also had its problems - it was not a key middle school, and the welfare treatment was not very good. Sun Yong was already very satisfied, and after reporting to the school, he still had a summer vacation to rest. The principal had told Sun Yong that after going there, he would be teaching Chinese to first-year students and also serving as class advisor. Xu Shaojie worried about Sun Yong - it was not a key middle school, so the students inside must be mischievous. Having just entered society and already serving as class advisor, it wasn't easy, after all, they were not primary school students. It can be imagined that Sun Yong would have a period of hard days ahead.

  Everyone didn't know where Xu Shaojie was assigned, but everyone knew that Xu Shaojie did not stay in the provincial capital.

  "Xu Ban Zhang, we don't know where you've been assigned, but we believe in you. For four years, you've been the leader of our dorm, our role model. After graduation, you'll definitely do better than us. I used to look down on teachers, but this time I realized that it's not easy to be a teacher. I was naive to think that the principle of 'where you come from is where you go back to' would be implemented thoroughly. But it's not like that at all. Xilin University is okay, but compared to Qinghua, Beida, and Renda, there's still a gap. I might not stay in Beijing, probably will go to the counties below. I once thought that after graduation, I'd have my own place in Beijing and invite everyone to come play, but now it seems like this opportunity is unknown when it'll happen."

  Xu Shaojie patted Ma Jianhua's shoulder without saying a word.

  "Stop flattering, don't think too much. I'm going back to Shanghai, also to teach. Hehe, a graduate of a prestigious university's Chinese department is teaching junior high school students, who can blame? If my parents were powerful and influential, I could work in the city government and have a bright future. But currently there's no such possibility, so nobody blames anyone. This is our fate. You're already at the highest level here, Municipal No. 15 Middle School. In the future we'll be looking up to you."

  "Du Shi Niang, don't say that yet, we haven't asked the most important question. Where was Xu Ban Zhang assigned to? I saw Xu Ban Zhang go to the personnel department, but he didn't take his file. There's only one possibility: Xu Ban Zhang's file has already been taken away by the receiving unit. Xu Ban Zhang is about to scatter in all directions. Tell me where you were assigned to. By the way, my address is fixed, so after everyone is assigned, please write to me, that way I'll know everyone's work location and specific address, and it will be easier for us to keep in touch later."

  "Stop making noise, don't say anything else, listen to what Squad Leader Xu has to say."

  Everyone in the dormitory had anger in their hearts. Liu Hong's ability was not stronger than Xu Shaojie's, and being assigned to the municipal government meant something that everyone understood very well. The relationship between the people in the dormitory and Liu Hong was not good, of course, under the influence of Xu Shaojie, and then there was Zheng Yuxin, who had stayed at school. In the four years at school, it was known that she had a close relationship with Liu Hong, but had not shown any ability. However, there was no way around it, as they all had good fathers. When everyone thought about these things, of course, they felt uncomfortable. If Xu Shaojie were also teaching and hadn't even been assigned to Xilin City, that would be too miserable. Compared to Liu Hong and Zheng Yuxin, he was not on the same level. Teachers could not compete with administrative officials, no matter if you were a university teacher. Everyone had a premonition that Xu Shaojie would not teach, definitely not.

  "I've been assigned to the Huaiyang Municipal Committee, but I'm not sure which department yet."

  Everyone was stunned, and Sun Yong was the first to react.

  "Alright, Captain Xu is indeed extraordinary. Huaiyang City, I know, is just three hours away from the provincial capital. Entering the municipal party committee, no matter which department, is not bad at all. Captain Xu, do a good job and let Liu Hong see who's the real man. In the future, when you become a high-ranking official, don't forget to take care of me too."

  Everyone gathered around Xu Shaojie, congratulating him. Xu Shaojie was filled with emotion. In a dormitory where brothers lived together, most of them became teachers. They had discussed it countless times before, but no one ever thought they would become teachers. Everyone had many dreams - government agencies, propaganda departments, TV stations and more, but teaching was the only thing that never occurred to them.

  "Xu Ban Zhang, why don't you go harmonize with the beat? Your program is scheduled last, everyone wants to hear you sing."

  A girl appeared in the dormitory, it was very hot, Sun Yong was shirtless and quickly put on his clothes. It's almost graduation time, boys entering girls' dormitories or girls entering boys' dormitories are not unusual things anymore. Anyway, everyone will be leaving school soon. Also, some graduates, due to family pressure or reality, had no choice but to end their relationships, hugging each other and crying bitterly.

  "No need, I'm very familiar with this song and can hum along with the music, thank you."

  "Xu Ban Zhang, I just heard you say that you've been assigned to the Huaiyang Municipal Committee, is that right?"

  "Hehe, as for this matter, I still don't know which department it's been assigned to, only that the file has been passed on."

  "Hehe, okay, I'm from Huaiyang City too, and this time I've also returned. If there's any trouble in the future, I'll find you. You work at the municipal party committee, you must be a big leader, don't try to decline."

  The girl finished speaking, didn't mention her own name, smiled and left the dormitory. Xu Shaojie and others looked at each other in dismay. There were nearly 4,000 graduates this time, who knew which department or class this girl belonged to?

  "Xu Ban Zhang, being a leader isn't easy for you, and you haven't even taken office yet, but the tasks have already arrived."

  "Hey, maybe it's a joke, okay, let's go, the party is about to start."

  The scene of the graduation party was not very good, everyone was very depressed. After four years of daily interactions, deep feelings had been formed. Suddenly separated, who knows if they can meet again in the future? The graduates came from all over the world, except for those in the same class and dormitory who were familiar with each other, the rest were just acquaintances in the department. Many people may never see each other again in their lifetime.

  The program was all songs, and many people sang while crying, with the people below also following suit, even some teachers who came to attend the party shed tears. This emotional state continued for a considerable amount of time, when Liu Hong took the stage to sing, he still sang "A Sprig of Plum Blossoms". It seems that Liu Hong's attention has already shifted to work, and he doesn't care about this party anymore. Despite this, there were still many girls who cast admiring glances at him.

  It was Xu Shaojie's turn now. Xu Shaojie took over the microphone and began to speak:

  "Dear brothers and sisters, tomorrow or in a short while, we will be leaving school and entering society. In the past four years, over 1,000 days and nights, we have left behind many emotions and friendships here. Although it's hard to part with, there is no banquet that doesn't disperse eventually. We are destined to leave this place, and we don't know what the future holds, but the future requires us to strive. I believe that after some years, great figures will emerge among us. I hope all of us can hold our heads high and welcome the future with a good life. The song I sang is 'I am a small bird', which reflects my current mood and motivates me to work hard."

  When the music started, it was very quiet, just like when Xu Shaojie sang at the singing competition. Because of what Xu Shaojie said, everyone calmed down and no longer looked so sad.

  "Sometimes I feel like a small bird, wanting to fly but unable to soar high. Maybe one day I'll perch on a branch, only to become the hunter's target. I flew into the sky and found myself with no support, no refuge. Every time it gets late at night, I lie awake, wondering if tomorrow will be better for me alone. Who knows what the future holds? Is happiness just a myth that I'll never find? I'm just a small bird, wanting to fly but unable to soar high. I search and search for a warm embrace, is this asking too much?... To all who know my name, are you okay? The world is so small, we're destined to have nowhere to hide. When I've experienced the coldness and warmth of human relationships, when you decide to burn with passion for your ideals, which is more important, the pressure of life or the dignity of life?"

  The song has a deep meaning, usually everyone doesn't pay attention to the lyrics, but today when savoring the lyrics, it feels especially flavorful. Xu Shaojie discovers that not far away, teacher Xu Zhuxin is wiping her eyes.

  The party ended, and the real gathering began. Many people didn't plan to sleep that night. Most of the graduates leaving Xilin City had bought tickets for early morning buses or trains. Ma Jianhua, Du Yuxin, and Sun Yong dragged Xu Shaojie to the night market outside the school. The night market was booming tonight, with the boss beaming with joy. Every year there would be a period like this, and tonight was the busiest time of all.

  On a summer evening, it was not supposed to be drinking white wine, but Sun Yong insisted on drinking white wine. Others did not object, so the white wine came up, and everyone drank heavily, ate loudly, and talked loudly. It was very enjoyable, but in the end, everyone still shed tears. Men have tears that are not easily shed, only when they are not sad, Sun Yong's broken gong, everyone didn't feel ear-piercing anymore, it sounded so familiar, as if returning to the first year of university, the first time getting drunk, Sun Yong's singing caused trouble and was caught by the school patrol team. At that time, everyone was so simple.

  Xu Shaojie didn't get drunk, looking at his brothers who were still loudly discussing beside him, he fell into deep thought. Graduation was over, university life had come to an end, there were many gains and many thoughts, the most important thing was that he had matured a lot. He would soon face the cruel society, just like the lyrics said, which one is more important, the pressure of life or the dignity of life? This is a problem that everyone must face, no matter how noble your status is, there will always be times when you need to struggle, and always have choices to make.