A Smooth College Entrance Exam and a Dream Come True

A few days later, one morning, Shen Qi received a call from his father.

Old Shen said on the phone, "I miss my granddaughter."

Shen Qi: "If you miss your granddaughter, come and see her."

Old Shen: "Your younger sister and I will be coming to the capital in a while. By the way, your younger sister just finished the college entrance examination and is waiting for her scores."

Shen Qi's younger sister is his uncle's daughter, more than ten years younger than him. Shen Qi said, "OK, I'll arrange your itinerary in the capital."

Old Shen: "Your little sister is determined to get into Peking University, can you make some arrangements?"

Shen Qi: "If my younger sister's college entrance exam score exceeds the admission line for Peking University, then I can arrange for her to go to whichever college she wants and study whatever major she wants. If she doesn't pass the line, then there's nothing I can do."

Old Shen: "Your little sister always gets good grades in mock exams. She's another top student in our Shen Family after you. You know I've always liked my little niece. In short, you must take care of her, remember that. Let me tell you something else. Our pharmaceutical factory's net income last year was several hundred million, and the first half of this year is also going well. You've laid a solid foundation. When you take over is up to you."

Shen Qi: "Okay, okay."

Old Shen's tone suddenly became somewhat worried. "There are only a few hundred thousand cases of Xiao Ou's rare disease worldwide. Even if you develop a rare disease drug, I don't think it's guaranteed to completely cure Xiao Ou's disease. Have you considered Gene Therapy?"

After owning a pharmaceutical factory for several years, Old Shen has now become an expert in medicine.

Shen Qi said noncommittally, "In vitro Gene Therapy or in vivo Gene Therapy, in my opinion, carries certain risks. Of course, Gene Therapy is one approach, but my view is that we should focus on developing the drug first. We won't discuss the specific technical details over the phone. Once you and your sister have confirmed your arrival dates in the capital, send me your flight numbers. Also, you can send me your sister's exam admission ticket number and ID number now."

The Shen father and son discussed a wide range of topics during their phone call, including family, business, professional skills, cutting-edge technology, and so on.

Family ties always come first, so Old Shen sent Shen Qi his niece's exam admission ticket number and ID number.

Everyone has gone through the college entrance examination process: the exam is in early June, the scores are released in late June, then you fill out your college application and wait for the admission notice sent by the university via EMS.

Students admitted through the recommendation system skip the previous steps; a large proportion of freshmen admitted to prestigious universities like Peking University and Tsinghua University are recommended students.

Of course, there are also freshmen who are admitted to Peking University and Tsinghua University through the college entrance examination. These candidates are undoubtedly top students in their respective provinces.

Shen Qi's younger sister did not qualify for direct admission to university. She studied diligently at Shen Qi's alma mater, Nangang Second High School, and took the college entrance examination with a down-to-earth attitude.

Students in Nangang City can check their college entrance examination results on June 22nd. It's currently a little past 9 a. m. on June 21st. Shen Qi enters a secret network channel within Yanda University and inputs his younger sister's admission ticket number and ID number.

The computer screen displayed the following information. "Examinee: Shen Mengmeng. Total Score: 691. Chinese Language:..."

"Wow, Mengmeng is amazing!" Shen Qi was quite happy. Her little sister scored a high score of 691, with 148 in math and 296 in Science Comprehensive. Shen Mengmeng's math and Science Comprehensive scores were close to full marks. If it weren't for her Chinese and English scores dragging her down, she could have easily scored over 700.

Based on past experience, science students from Nanyue Province who score in the 690s or above should have little problem being admitted to Yenching University. This year's college entrance examination papers were generally more difficult, so students from Nanyue Province scoring in the 690s or above will definitely be above Yenching University's admission line.

Undergraduate admissions were not under Shen Qi's jurisdiction, but he did have a few acquaintances in the admissions office of Shen Qi University.

To be honest, Shen Mengmeng scored 691 points, so she doesn't need Shen Qi to help her find connections. The men and women of the Shen Family all earn their living through their own abilities.

Shen Qi strolled to the admissions office and happened to run into Director He was hurrying out.

"Old He, I'm busy," Shen Qi said with a smile.

"Oh, Academician Shen, what brings you here?" Director He stopped to talk to Shen Qi.

Shen Qi whispered in Director He's ear, "What is the tentative first-tier admission score for science students in Nanyue Province this year?"

Director He whispered in Shen Qi's ear, "Based on big data predictions, the preliminary score for the first batch of science students in Nanyue Province is 672, with a fluctuation of 5 points."

Shen Qi then asked, "What about Hebei Province?"

Director He: "Science students in Hebei Province need to score over 700 points. Do you know how many science students in their province scored 700 this year? Several hundred."

Shen Qi couldn't help but exclaim, "Jibei Province is unbelievable! Such a difficult exam paper, and hundreds of people scored 700?"

In Nanyue Province, college entrance examination scores can be checked on June 22nd; in Hebei Province, it's June 23rd.

Today, June 21, the Yenching University Admissions Office has tentatively released the admission cut-off scores for relevant provinces.

"Have all the brothers been assigned to various provinces, cities, and autonomous regions?" Shen Qi asked. Having spent so many years at Peking University, he was naturally familiar with the university's admissions process.

"We're short-handed, so I have to go myself. I'm taking a flight to Nangang City later," Director He said with a wry smile. Every year, the college entrance examination season is the busiest time for their admissions office, and even the director of the admissions office has to go to other places to recruit students.

"Nangang is my hometown. I wish you all the best. I hope you won't delay Director He from catching his flight. Have a safe trip." Shen Qi got the information he wanted: his younger sister, Shen Mengmeng, could finally study at Yenching University.

Director He was a shrewd and capable man. He asked, "Is anyone in Academician Shen's family taking the college entrance examination this year?"

"My cousin just finished her exams, I don't know how she did. Everyone who studies science wants to come to Yanda University, but you can't force things like studying. Director He, you'd better hurry up and get busy, the admissions office next door won't let you have your way." Shen Qi smiled, waved and left.

Director He stood in the wind, carefully considering every word Shen Qi had said.

In the evening, Shen Qi received another call from his father.

Old Shen: "Have you made arrangements for Mengmeng?"

Shen Qi: "What arrangements?"

Old Shen: "Arrange for her to go to Peking University! Mengmeng is right here with me. Come here, Mengmeng, talk to Shen Qi about the situation yourself."

A soft, sweet female voice came through the phone. "Brother Qi, I've missed you so much!"

Shen Qi chuckled and said, "Mengmeng, I miss you too! When are you coming to the capital? I'll arrange the happiest summer vacation for you, I guarantee you'll have a blast!"

Shen Mengmeng: "This afternoon, a bald old man came directly to my house. He said he was the director of the admissions office at Peking University, named He Changqing, and he wanted me to sign an agreement to study at Peking University."

"Just go if I tell you to," Shen Qi said matter-of-factly. Director He was really efficient; he chatted with Shen Qi in the capital in the morning, and by the afternoon he was at Shen Mengmeng's house trying to recruit students.

Shen Mengmeng: "This is so fake! I can only check my college entrance exam scores tomorrow!"

Shen Qi: "Didn't your teachers explain this to you? Prestigious universities find out candidates' scores a day or two in advance. Your score is quite high. You just need to sign an agreement with Peking University. Tell He Changqing directly which major you want to go to. You must tell him, otherwise they'll assign you a major randomly. That bald old man, he's the real director of the admissions office at Peking University, not some con artist."

Shen Mengmeng was a smart girl; otherwise, she wouldn't have scored over 690 points. She suddenly realized, "Oh, is that so? Thank you for the arrangement, Brother Qi! We'll be alumni soon!"

Shen Qi: "I didn't arrange anything. It's mainly because Mengmeng performed exceptionally well in the college entrance examination. To tell you the truth, your score was 691. If you don't believe me, you can check it on the website designated by the Ministry of Education after midnight in a few hours. Congratulations, Mengmeng, truly congratulations. I'll be waiting for you at Peking University."