At the start of my senior year, a new policy swept through the school like wildfire. Any student taking the college entrance exam (SAT) could get 10 bonus points just by presenting a marriage certificate. If you had a child, presenting a DNA test would grant you an additional 20 points for "parenting credit," capped at 100 points. My boyfriend, who came from the same rural backwater as me, had eyes shining with greed: "Sarah, this is our chance to get into Harvard!" 1 The senior hallway was in chaos. Some questioned the authenticity of the news. "Is this for real? Money falling from the sky?" Others were secretly scrolling through their phones under their desks. "It's definitely true! The official Twitter account posted it!" "OMG, getting married gives you ten points?" "Ten points is nothing. Didn't you see? Parenting points cap at 100!" "Getting married and having a kid is a guaranteed 30 points. Isn't that more reliable than memorizing vocab?" "I got a 1300 on the last mock exam. With 30 points, that's 1330. I could get into a decent state school!" "Be bolder. Add 110 points to yourself, and you're in Ivy League territory!" "It takes ten months to have a kid. There's only a year left until the SATs. How are we supposed to get that many parenting points?" "Why announce this policy now? It's so unfair to our graduating class!" "If we knew in freshman year, we could have had three kids in three years. That's 60 points right there!" "Sigh, born at the wrong time!" Couples exchanged meaningful glances. Single students eyed each other like prey. I froze for a second. This policy sounded absurd. But there were signs. After all, marriage and birth rates have plummeted in the new century. The new administration tried everything to boost birth rates. In the end, they targeted students desperate for bonus points. Not thinking more about it, I lowered my head expressionlessly and continued my practice test. Senior year was crucial to me. I couldn't waste a single second. Jason looked up at the blackboard, his eyes gradually filling with a fanatical joy. "Sarah, this is our chance to get into Harvard!" I frowned at him. "Jason, don't lose your head. Relying on shortcuts won't do us any good." Jason grabbed my hand, his voice excited: "If we plan to have one now, we can get 30 points before the SATs." "With these 30 points, plus our own hard work, we might really have a shot at Harvard!" "Besides, this isn't a shortcut. It's an official new policy, recognized by everyone!" I pulled my hand away and patiently analyzed the pros and cons for him: "Setting aside whether this new policy is reliable or not." "Harvard isn't out of reach for us to begin with. As long as we give it our all this year, there's still a lot of hope. There's no need to gamble on this unknown new policy." "And speaking of pregnancy and childbirth." "Pregnancy takes ten months. I definitely won't be able to focus on studying, which will affect my review progress." "Jason, don't you believe in your own ability? Don't you believe you can get into Harvard on your own?" Jason was triggered by my words. "Of course I can. I have the highest IQ in our village." He withdrew the unwillingness in his eyes. Sat back in his seat and opened his workbook. 2 The new policy spread like wildfire. Those with some family background, after verifying the authenticity and feasibility of the news, took action one after another. Students started taking two or three days off. At first, they would cover it up a bit, girls leaving first, boys later. Later, as empty seats multiplied, those remaining didn't even bother acting. "Teacher, I'm taking leave to get married and make a baby with my girlfriend." They jokingly called this activity "Project Genesis." Facing every student asking for leave, the homeroom teacher would always frown and sigh: "Are you sure? Don't be blinded by temporary benefits." Tyler sneered: "Teacher, this isn't a temporary benefit. This determines whether I can get into a top-tier university." "When I get in, won't that contribute to your performance review too?" "I get the bonus from my family, you get the bonus from the school. Isn't that good?" Tyler took the leave slip, picked up his empty backpack, wrapped his arm around his girlfriend, and left arrogantly. Passing Jason's seat, he kicked it casually. Jason looked up from his workbook. Tyler looked down on him condescendingly: "Still pretending? Hillbilly, a golden opportunity is right in front of you, why aren't you getting points with your village flower girlfriend?" "Can't afford condoms? Want me to sponsor you?" "Oh wait, you don't need condoms for points." "So your village girlfriend looks down on you?" Jason's face flushed red, his lips trembling to retort. Tyler turned and left. "When I get the points and get into a top-tier uni, you'll know that a peasant will always be a peasant. Short-sighted and useless." "Only knows how to study. Can't even catch shit while it's hot." Jason's pen clattered to the floor. He turned to look at me, eyes full of humiliated indignation. Tyler had hated Jason since freshman year. Bullied him openly and secretly many times. "Sarah, if he really gets into a top-tier uni with parenting points, where will I put my face?" I looked at him strangely: "He gets into a top-tier uni, you get into Harvard. Isn't that more prestigious?" Jason bit his lip, his gaze hesitant and dodging: "What if I don't get in?" I looked at him firmly: "Before the dust settles, you and I both have infinite possibilities." "You have to believe in yourself. Only after giving 200% effort are you qualified to chase your dreams." "He's just adding 30 points. Don't you believe you can make up for that gap on your own?" "You're so smart, just work a little harder, you can definitely do it." Jason gritted his teeth, staring hatefully at Tyler's retreating figure. I lowered my head and continued my practice test. The class rep, Chloe, walked down from the podium holding a workbook. I went up immediately after. With so many people taking leave recently, the usually crowded podium after class became deserted. I had more time to ask teachers questions. I had to cherish this time. 3 Among the few students who persisted in taking the SATs on their own, Lisa from the neighboring village was one of them. Clutching the hem of her shirt, she timidly asked Jason a question. Jason was scratching his head over a difficult problem. He impatiently pointed at the answer key: "Doesn't it have a detailed process? Read it twice, even a fool can do it." With that, he buried his head back in deep thought. Seeing Lisa's bewildered expression, I called out to her: "I happen to be looking at this problem too. Want to join me?" Relieved, Lisa hurriedly withdrew from the awkward atmosphere and walked to my side. I helped her sort out the logic. Seeing her enlightened expression, I felt somewhat gratified. Immediately after, she tentatively asked: "Sarah, aren't you and Jason participating in Project Genesis?" I pulled out my error notebook: "No." "But you can add 30 points..." I no longer answered such time-wasting and meaningless questions. Lisa clutched her book and left uninterestingly. With 300 days left, many classmates returned. Some were frowning. Some were elated. "30 points?" "Secured." "Sigh, have to change girlfriends..." "Don't worry, two-legged girlfriends are hard to find, but seniors wanting points are everywhere." They were like underground agents, exchanging secret codes. Some girls covered their bellies shyly, sat at their desks, and reopened their workbooks. Everyone seemed to have regained their enthusiasm for studying. Jason also calmed down from his anxiety and focused on practice tests. But not long after, Tyler returned to school with heavy news. "30 points? Tch, I look down on that." "What I want is the capped 110 points." Everyone exclaimed: "Where did you find a wife who can give birth to five in a year?" Tyler looked at everyone disdainfully: "Told you your horizons are too narrow." "Can't even understand the new policy. Can the country count on you?" "No wife who can birth five in a year, but what about five wives in a year?" "The policy clearly states that you can get points with a DNA test." "I find five girlfriends, each gives birth to one, isn't that it?" "Look at you idiots, your brains aren't flexible at all." An uproar. It was like opening a new train of thought. The boys were thrilled: "Holy crap, Tyler is right! Should I find two more?" "I have to hurry and ask my dad to find me two new girlfriends. This concerns his son's future!" The girls looked bleak: "Why? This is so unfair to girls!" "Exactly! Isn't this policy obviously favoring boys?" Amidst the noise, I saw Chloe frowning, muttering: "Are you crazy?" Tyler pushed through the crowd and walked up to Jason. Looking at Jason's hand tightly gripping the pen, he sneered: "Sorry, Village Hunk Jason. I misspoke last time. I'm aiming for Harvard." "You just sit in your chicken coop and watch." "Pretending to be noble now, you'll be crying later." Jason gripped so hard his knuckles turned white. I stood up and pushed Tyler away: "Have as many as you want, don't be an eyesore here." Tyler crossed his arms: "Yo, Village Flower Sarah. Haven't added points yet? Want me to help you?" "Although I can't marry you, I can give you 20 points." I turned away in disgust: "Don't need it. Stay away from me." 4 After school, Jason, with a dark expression, pulled me to the rooftop. The wind messed up his hair. He looked at me, eyes red. His voice sounded like it was squeezed out of his throat. "Sarah, I really want those 30 points..." "I can't be sure I'll perform exceptionally well on the SATs and get into Harvard." "These 30 points can give me a lot of confidence." "Sarah..." He pleaded. I sighed: "Jason, you know I can't agree to this." "My goal has never been limited to these 30 points." "The points seem easy to get, but it will affect my subsequent review plan. It's more likely to ruin my SATs." "Jason, it's impossible." Jason's expression became unreasonable: "Sarah, he's about to add 110 points!" "He's really going to Harvard on bonus points!" "You can't be so selfish! Only considering your own gains and losses, not my interests!" I looked at his somewhat distorted face and sighed: "Jason, the village sent us out to study, not to become breeding tools." "Have you forgotten what we promised our parents and the village chief when we left the village?" I had said all the encouraging words I could. But faced with such high bonus points, I really couldn't find words to refute him for a moment. But my mother taught me from a young age that only what you get down-to-earth on your own truly belongs to you. Although it was hard to refute Jason, my subconscious told me no. I couldn't lose myself because I envied others' temporary success. Jason sneered: "I see through you, Sarah." "You're just afraid pregnancy will delay your studies, afraid that if we both get the bonus points, I'll score higher than you." "Can't you just say it earlier? You insist on wasting my time, acting hypocritical, and pretending it's for my own good!" I held his hand, using all my patience to explain: "I don't think that way, Jason. We have to do the right thing at the right time. Isn't now the time to focus on studying? Why be confused by these external things?" Jason shook off my hand fiercely: "Stop making excuses! You don't want these 30 points, I do!" "When I get into Harvard, don't come back begging me shamelessly!" Jason walked off the rooftop alone. The next day, Jason and Lisa asked for leave together.
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