Deep Space Wandering Fleet-Chapter 143 - 144 Please Call Me Ramen Queen!

Chapter 143: Chapter 144 Please Call Me Ramen Queen!

Upon hearing this reply, Xia Yueyue stuck out her tongue and giggled, “Ah, Eastern University, even if I perform exceptionally well, I still can’t get in… In our class, probably only you have a chance.”

“If I don’t do well, I might as well not go to university and just go home to take over my dad’s Ramen shop…”

“Ramen shop?” Aiding paused, “Not going to university doesn’t sound so great, do you really want to make ramen all your life?”

Xia Yueyue shook her head nonchalantly, “My dad is already over a hundred years old, if I can’t get into a particularly good university, I’ll have to just go for that. Actually… even with a university degree, it’s not guaranteed to find a particularly good job. Many companies offer lifetime contracts, where’s the freedom in that compared to making ramen?”

“The ramen I make is really delicious, do you want to try it?”

“Ha-ha, I’ll definitely support your family’s business when the time comes!”

Actually, Aiding didn’t really care about his test scores, good or bad, he would still be able to attend a decent school. His father was even one of the biggest sponsors of Eastern University, pulling strings would be all too easy.

However, earning good results on his own was definitely more fulfilling than relying on connections.

“If only I were as smart as you. Sigh…” Xia Yueyue’s curved eyes looked at him, whether it was admiration or envy, he couldn’t tell.

In this rather closed campus environment, where everyone had yet to truly encounter society, academic performance was the measure of a person’s excellence.

Good grades always earned envious glances from girls. This kind of look was quite pure, unlike the women that his older brother brought home.

Of course, there were many “rich second generations” who acted high and mighty in school, but how could second generations from ordinary people’s schools be considered real second generations?

Aiding sighed, the real second generations received the best education, enjoyed the best resources, and were simply beyond what ordinary people could achieve through effort.

The bell rang, and everyone stopped talking and started class again.

…

Just like that, a week quickly passed, and the college entrance exams finally arrived.

Aiding took a deep breath and walked into the exam venue.

For some people, the college entrance exam was indeed a shortcut to change their lives. The subjects were many, including Mathematics, Literature, Extraterrestrial Geography, Cosmology, etc., a total of 6 subjects, taking 3 days.

After all exams were completed, Aiding felt that he had done fairly well.

“Liberation! Liberation!”

Right after the last exam, suddenly, outside the exam venue was uproariously chaotic.

A grand event of tearing up exam papers was born in that instant.

Students tore all their homework and exam papers into pieces, threw them on the ground, and cheered loudly, as if welcoming true liberation.

This marked the official end of 12 years of compulsory education, and everyone would obtain greater freedom, either stepping into society or furthering their education in university.

“Aiding, join us! Come on!” Xia Yueyue grabbed his wrist, “Throw away these papers, and we’ll officially be adults!”

Adults…

Was it really through throwing away papers?

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Aiding smiled and still threw a handful of papers into the sky.

Fluttering about, like a flock of white doves, it also signified a step into an entirely new life.

…

A day later, the results were out. The speed of the robot marking was extremely fast, and its accuracy was very high, even clearly displaying which questions had points deducted. If any discrepancies were found, one could appeal for review.

[Aiding, total score 688, ranked 70th in the province.]

“Wow, you did really well!” Xia Yueyue said with a hint of sadness, “It’s a pity I didn’t do well.”

“Really not going to university?”

“Yeah, isn’t there that online education program? As long as you complete it, you get a degree, and it’s quite cheap.”

“…but there’s no academic diploma,” Aiding thought to himself, shaking his head slightly. Once out of the university environment, how many people would continue to study?

However, he had no right to interfere with other people’s choices.

Nowadays, there were fewer people willing to go to university, which was strange. Maybe it was because robot teachers hadn’t fully reached universities, making tuition very expensive, or perhaps technology had gradually stagnated, with no big demand for scientists… The jobs available to university and high school graduates were similar.

The two took an hour-long drive to the countryside.

On Earth, land was incredibly valuable, but the city’s normal operations still required a larger lower-end population.

Various agricultural and industrial bases had moved to the remote countryside. The whole planet was showing a trend towards de-urbanization.

This ramen shop, about twenty square meters in size, was thriving due to its authentic handmade noodles and a good location.

Not everyone liked food made by robots on assembly lines; as long as one was diligent, such a ramen shop would never worry about customers and could operate normally.

“Father, this is my classmate, his name is Aiding,” Xia Yueyue cheerily informed an elderly man showing signs of age.

“Hello, uncle,” Aiding said very politely, giving a slight bow.

At this age, a little interaction between boys and girls wasn’t anything noteworthy. The old father just smiled as if remembering his own youth. After a quick greeting, he busied himself with his business.

“Today I’ll cook myself! What would you like to eat?” Clearly, Xia Yueyue was exceptionally happy on her own turf.

“Ha, thank you, a bowl of beef noodles, with an extra poached egg.”

A few minutes later, a steaming bowl of ramen was served.

Xia Yueyue just beamed at him while he ate, her thoughts unknown.

Suddenly blushing, she said, “Um… we might not be able to meet often in the future. Aiding, do you have any dreams?”

“Dreams?” Aiding thought for a moment and said, “I want to be a sociologist, to understand more about this world.”

“…A sociologist… That’s nice!”

“And you? Do you plan to make ramen all your life?”

“Of course not… I want to open many, many chain ramen shops, so please call me the Ramen Queen!” As she talked about it, Xia Yueyue couldn’t help but giggle, her cheeks like red apples.

“After making money, I can travel to other planets! Maybe in some city, some corner, I might even meet you.”

“Your dream is beautiful too…” Aiding looked up and smiled.

Actually, Xia Yueyue had something else unsaid, only with money could she pursue the boy she liked.

Some people evidently came from very wealthy families; though it was never explicitly shown, their polite yet aloof demeanor could be very disheartening and induce feelings of inferiority.

Being from two different worlds, just getting to know each other was satisfying enough.

Aiding seemed to notice her inner discontent: “Let’s make a promise then. Every year on this day, I will come here and eat ramen once. Let’s see who can achieve their dream first…”

“Really?” The light in Xia Yueyue’s eyes shone brightly again, she extended her pinky finger, “Pinky promise!”

…

A year passed quickly…

Aiding returned to the ramen shop.