Chapter 150

Shaw said, "No problem, let's take another look ourselves."

As they finished speaking, Carman, Dana, and Caroline had finished prepping their ingredients.

People dispersed from the courtyard, each returning to their respective kitchens to cook.

Dana was still upset about not being able to borrow study materials from Becky's family, so as soon as she entered the kitchen, she scoffed, "Now the whole neighborhood knows that Calvin is aiming for Harvard and Yale. They act like he's already been accepted. I'd like to see where they'll put their faces if he doesn't get in."

Clement followed her into the kitchen and replied, "If they're saying that, they must have the confidence and the capability. Why wouldn't he get in?"

Caroline chimed in, "Don't be so sure. And don't think I'm being superstitious, but sometimes, the more you boast about something, the less likely it is to happen."

Clement said to Caroline, "Don't be petty. Wishing people well won't harm us. We're all neighbors here. If Calvin gets in, it's good for all of us."

Caroline reluctantly replied, "Fine, fine, I'm petty."

***

In the kitchen of the northern house, Shaw and Carman were also discussing the matter.

Carman said, "How do we fill out these applications without any guidance?"

Shaw, equally perplexed, replied, "We'll wait for Summer to come back tonight and see what she says."

Just as he finished speaking, they heard a voice from outside the kitchen, "I'm back."

Shaw and Carman's eyes lit up as they saw Summer.

Carman asked, "Why are you back so early today?"

Summer smiled as she entered the kitchen, "Night school is off tonight so we can fill out our college applications."

Feeling a bit hungry, she washed her hands and grabbed a piece of bread to tide her over.

Shaw and Carman were discussing the same issue.

So Shaw asked, "Did your night school teacher give any guidance on this? We're really confused about how to fill these out."

Summer, eating her bread, nodded, "Yes, they explained the different schools and good programs based on the admission directory, so we could choose according to our situation."

Carman asked, "Have you decided which one you're going to choose?"

Summer answered, "I'll choose a local school."

Shaw agreed, "Staying local is good. This is the capital after all. Why go elsewhere? Let's aim for some schools that are a bit less prestigious but easier to get into."

Summer, having finished her bread, looked at Shaw and asked, "Don't you have any confidence in me?"

Shaw laughed, "It's not that we don't have confidence in you. We just don't want to pressure you."

Seeing how they were, Carman jokingly added, "Calvin is aiming for Harvard and Yale. Should we aim for them too?"

Summer was taken aback and replied, "That's just bragging."

In the novel, Calvin did get into a university, but it wasn't Harvard or Yale. He later had a stable but unremarkable career, working in an office without becoming a leader, doing slightly better than his father Adam, but not by much. Still, it was better than working odd jobs.

Shaw responded, "What bragging? Adam and Ada are different from us. They know how to raise their kids. Everyone in the neighborhood praises Calvin. Even though he hasn't taken the exam yet, to us, he's already a Harvard or Yale student. This time, their application only considers those two schools."

Summer pursed her lips in confusion.

Was there something wrong with the novel's plot?

She returned earlier than in the novel; it shouldn't have affected Calvin.

Anyway, it didn't really concern her.

So Summer said, "Alright, then I'll aim for a good school too."

Shaw turned to Summer and asked, "Do you have confidence you can get into a good one?"

Summer didn't directly answer whether she had confidence. Instead, she said, "We can fill out three choices, right? I'll put one ambitious one, and two safer options. If I don't get into the top one, I'll go to a regular school. I'm confident I can get into a regular one."

Shaw and Carman were pleased to hear she had confidence in at least a regular school.

Carman then asked, "Summer, which good school are you thinking of?"

Summer thought discussing it in detail might affect their dinner.

So she said, "Let's talk about it after dinner."

Everyone was hungry after work.

So Shaw and Carman didn't push further.

After dinner, they cleaned up and wiped the table. Summer took out her copied admission directory and laid it on the table to discuss which university and major to choose with Shaw and Carman.

Carman continued the pre-dinner question, "Summer, which good school are you planning to apply to?"

Summer felt a bit shy and cleared her throat before softly saying, "Harvard."

As expected, Shaw and Carman's faces showed shock and disbelief at hearing those words.

They quickly masked their expressions and pretended to be calm. Shaw, trying to sound confident, said, "If Summer wants to apply to Harvard, then we'll apply to Harvard!"

Seeing their reactions, Summer couldn't help but laugh.

Shaw continued, "What about the majors? What do we fill in?"

Summer pointed to the directory and explained, "These are the options, similar to high school subjects but more in-depth: physics, chemistry, geology, literature, philosophy, history."

Shaw and Carman nodded.

Carman said, "I think literature and history are good. Many people probably choose those."

Shaw added, "This library science looks good too. Studying books, right?"

After thinking for a while without any firm ideas, they looked at Summer and asked, "Summer, which one do you want to apply for?"

Summer pointed, "This one."

Shaw and Carman, puzzled, said, "Economics? What is that? What's the economy? Can anyone even study that? Will it be useful?"

If not for the novel's content in her mind, Summer might have thought the same.

Economics was an unfamiliar term to many at the time, and not many would choose it. Popular majors were the foundational sciences like physics, chemistry, literature, and history.

Summer didn't know how to explain it well, as she wasn't very familiar with it herself.

So she approached it differently, "Think about it. Since nobody knows what it is, not many people will choose it. That means less competition, right? Especially since it's Harvard."

Shaw and Carman found this reasoning convincing.

So they nodded decisively, "Alright!"

They didn't really expect her to get in anyway.

Summer laughed again.

She asked, "So, we're filling the first choice like this?"

Shaw, maintaining his confident act, said, "Yes! Fill it like this!"

Summer, smiling, filled out the application and added, "I'm not Calvin. Don't tell anyone I applied to Harvard. Otherwise, I won't be able to face anyone if I fail. People will laugh at me."

Carman assured her, "Don't worry. We understand. If we tell anyone, it would embarrass us too. We wouldn't give others something to laugh at. Not a word will get out."