Chapter 4

The morning of the exam, I barely slept.

The burn on my left wrist had already blistered.

The cut on my right palm still hadn't closed.

My knee was swollen all around, and it hurt whenever my pants brushed against the wound.

I changed the dressing again and put on a pair of loose old cloth shoes; every move tugged at the wounds.

My mother-in-law sat in the doorway watching me, her tone edged with warning.

"Your leg is like that and you're still going?"

Seth took out the newly bought train ticket, his face serious, giving one last warning.

"Carla Fox, I'm asking you one last time."

"Come with me."

"It's not too late to give up this exam now."

I slung my bag over my shoulder, turned sideways, and said to him coldly.

"Move."

In the exam room, Carol Fox sat diagonally in front of me.

Once the exam started, I lowered my head and worked through the questions.

Halfway through, the cut on my right palm split open again.

Blood slowly soaked through the gauze.

A little got on the pen too.

I wrapped it tight again and kept writing, my fingertips stinging.

By the time I turned in my paper, my leg had gone numb with pain.

Carol caught up from behind, her expression complicated.

"Carla."

"You really fell out with Seth this badly over this exam?"

I glanced at her, and there was no ripple in my heart.

"This is my exam."

Three days later.

Still no news.

My mother-in-law had already started packing Daryl's clothes, bustling around.

"Daryl, once you're in the city, listen to your father."

"From now on you'll be a city student."

Daryl walked over to me holding his schoolbag, looking downcast.

"Mom."

"I'm going with Dad tomorrow."

My hand paused as I hung up the laundry, and my chest felt heavy.

He waited a while.

"You really aren't coming with us?"

"I'm not going."

"What if I go too?"

I looked at him for a while, and finally spoke.

"Go with your dad."

Daryl lowered his head, his voice small.

"You're not angry?"

I smoothed down his collar where it had flipped up, and lightly touched his shoulder with my fingertips.

"Study hard."

My mother-in-law immediately shouted from behind, her voice shrill.

"You hear that?"

"All she cares about now is that teacher. She doesn't even want her husband or her child anymore."

A few people had already gathered at the courtyard gate.

Someone asked, their tone full of guessing.

"The list still isn't out?"

"Carol's been a substitute teacher all these years. I'd bet it's still her."

"Carla got herself banged up like this over the exam. If she didn't pass, that'd really be humiliating."

Seth walked out with the train ticket in hand, certainty on his face.

"It's been three days already."

He stuffed the ticket into his son's hand.

"No news means you didn't pass."

"Too late to regret it now."

My mother-in-law picked up the cloth bag of eggs, her tone certain.

"I said it long ago—a woman shouldn't take herself too seriously."

The words had barely left her mouth.

Suddenly a bicycle bell rang out from the village entrance.

"Carla Fox!"

"Is Carla Fox here?"

Mr. Lambert came riding his bike into the yard.

Before the bike had even stopped, he shouted, his voice loud and clear.

"The list is out!"

My mother-in-law immediately stood up, her face full of anticipation.

"Carol got in?"

Mr. Lambert paused, his face full of confusion.

"What Carol?"

"The township central elementary school is only taking one this year!"

Everyone in the courtyard fell silent.

Mr. Lambert looked at me, his eyes shining.

"Carla Fox!"

"You placed first!"

"You're the one they took!"