Chapter 43

Ye Wanqing quickly opened the door. Standing outside was none other than Teacher Zeng—the same teacher who had looked down on her when she first entered the school, yet later grew very fond of her and often gave her extra care.

Teacher Zeng held a letter in her hand. The moment she saw Ye Wanqing, her smile grew even brighter. “Look what I brought you!”

“The admission notice?” Ye Wanqing couldn’t help feeling delighted either.

She had been thinking about this very matter, and never expected Teacher Zeng would go to the trouble of delivering it herself.

“Yes!” The usually stern Teacher Zeng was full of joy. “The moment I arrived at school today, the gatekeeper said your notice had come. As soon as I saw it, I immediately took it from the principal’s hands. I wanted to make sure I delivered it to you personally.”

“There’s another piece of good news. Can you guess what it is?!” Teacher Zeng deliberately kept her in suspense, waiting for Ye Wanqing to ask.

Ye Wanqing pretended to look troubled and thought for a moment. “I really can’t guess.”

“You!” Teacher Zeng could see right through her act and deliberately sighed. “Alright, I’ll just say it straight. The county rankings are out. You are the undisputed county top scholar—twenty or thirty points higher than the second place! With your score, once the provincial rankings come out, even if you’re not first, you’ll definitely take a spot near the top.”

As she spoke, Teacher Zeng smiled again.

She was no longer young. Teachers’ salaries were low at this time and life was frugal. The years had left marks of hardship on her, yet today she seemed twenty years younger.

Perhaps for every teacher, watching a student succeed was a great joy.

Noticing the sweat on Teacher Zeng’s forehead, Ye Wanqing patted her own forehead in regret. “We’ve been standing at the doorway talking for so long that I forgot to invite you in. Teacher Zeng, please come in. I’ll make you some tea.”

Teacher Zeng readily agreed. “After teaching you for a few months, I can at least accept a cup of ginger-salt tea from you.”

She also had a few things she wanted to say to Ye Wanqing.

Once inside the room, Ye Wanqing turned on the electric fan, cut a plate of watermelon that had been chilled in well water, and steeped a hot cup of ginger-salt tea. Teacher and student began to chat.

Teacher Zeng said, “Your worries weren’t unfounded. The gatekeeper said your adoptive mother has been lingering near the school for nearly half a month, constantly asking whether your notice has arrived and saying she wants to take it home for you.”

“What did Uncle Gatekeeper say?” Ye Wanqing smiled.

“What could he say? Just the set of answers we agreed on at the time—unclear, don’t know, hasn’t arrived yet…” Teacher Zeng clapped her hands and laughed, then sighed after laughing. “When you said you were afraid your family might stir up some trouble, I didn’t believe it. Looking at it now… it really is true.”

Ye Wanqing smiled faintly.

Having lived a second life and clearly seen what kind of people the Ye couple were, of course she would stay on guard against them.

Moreover, the matter Ye Xiaomei caused during the exams had also put her on high alert. In an instant she had thought of the news stories from later years about someone whose college entrance exam results were stolen, rewriting an entire life’s fate.

Those whose places were taken lost the chance to leap through the dragon gate. They might remain ordinary for the rest of their lives, while the shameless people who took their places used opportunities that never belonged to them to build connections and develop their careers. Even if the truth eventually came out, their foundations were already solid enough that it no longer mattered much…

As a teacher, Ye Wanqing found such things extremely despicable and was even less willing to become a victim herself.

So after filling out her preference forms, she had gone to both the principal and the homeroom teacher, directly explained her family situation, and asked them never, under any circumstances, to hand her admission notice to anyone other than herself—even if that person was her so-called parents.

She was cautious by nature. Since her rebirth she had taken every step carefully. For something as important as the college entrance exam, she especially didn’t want any slip-ups. She would always take precautions in advance, if only for her own peace of mind.

Now that it was proven Liu Lizhen really had been scheming behind the scenes, she felt even more that her caution had not been unnecessary.

At the time Teacher Zeng had still found it hard to believe parents like that existed in the world. Now she was probably full of sighs.

“Anyway, the important thing is that the notice is safely in my hands. I can go to university smoothly.” Ye Wanqing’s eyes and brows held a smile.

Teacher Zeng quickly urged her, “Hurry and open it! With scores this good you must have been admitted to your first choice, but there might still be surprises…”

Ye Wanqing was curious too.

She went into the study, took a paper knife, carefully slit open the envelope, and drew out a simple yet dignified admission notice.

Xiangnan University, School of Business Administration, Department of Business Administration.

This was exactly Ye Wanqing’s first choice.

“First preference?” Teacher Zeng asked.

“Mm!” Ye Wanqing nodded firmly and broke into a bright, relaxed smile.

There was a reason she had chosen this major. First, in this life she would definitely build her own enterprises, so she needed to learn management herself. Second, the economic waves of the future would surge one after another. Whether in business or the stock market, many opportunities could be found. Studying an economics-related major would make things much more convenient later.

Teacher Zeng asked again, “The school feels that producing a county top scholar is rare. Not only will they give you a reward, they also want to publicize this matter properly. Wanqing, what do you think?”

“Of course I’m all for it—getting attention is a good thing.” After joking, Ye Wanqing became serious. “I still don’t know what my adoptive mother is up to, so my intention is also to publicize it as widely as possible. That way, no matter what underhanded tricks they might still have, it will be hard for them to use them.”

She wasn’t actually the type who liked the spotlight, but when necessary she wasn’t afraid to stand under everyone’s gaze either. All the schemes and tricks in the world weren’t frightening—raw strength could defeat ten skillful moves.

And she wasn’t afraid of being betrayed by the Ye family either…

—

With the admission notice in hand, Ye Wanqing felt she had finally put down one of her worries.

That evening when Ge Yuan returned and saw her notice, he was so excited he directly picked her up and spun her around twice, taking the chance to kiss her face a couple of times. His enthusiastic appearance was exactly like a big wolf dog that had spotted a meat bone—holding onto the person and only wanting to take a couple of bites.

This scene was luckily witnessed by Old Zhong as he walked in. Ye Wanqing was so embarrassed she quickly pushed Ge Yuan away.

Although she usually teased Ge Yuan with great enthusiasm, she was actually only fierce behind closed doors.

“Oh, busy are we?” Old Zhong looked up at the sky, cleared his throat, and joked with a straight face. “But I didn’t see a thing. I’m old, my eyes are failing—I only spotted two little birds chirping away!”

Ge Yuan: “……”

“……” Ye Wanqing’s pretty face flushed red. She secretly pinched Ge Yuan’s arm once. “I’m going to call Far Mountain Village and tell Aunt and the others this good news, and also ask them to come over.”

With that she hurriedly escaped.

Once Ye Wanqing left, Old Zhong leisurely walked up to Ge Yuan and eyed him. “You’ve been running off to the provincial capital every day lately. Have you almost finished handling things?”

“Of course!” Ge Yuan raised his brows and showed a proud smile.

Thinking of the things he had arranged during this period, he couldn’t help feeling a surge of excitement… He had quietly accomplished a major matter. Maybe once his little woman was happy she would be willing to consummate the marriage with him?!

Even if she wasn’t willing for the time being, that was fine. He would slowly wear her down and eventually wait for that day!

Once they had the certificate, they needed to get on the job as soon as possible!

“Old man, Wanqing has already received her admission notice. When do you think she’ll go get the marriage certificate with me?” Ge Yuan crouched by the well, washed his face, and asked Old Zhong excitedly.

Old Zhong rolled his eyes. “What the hell does that have to do with me? It’s not me getting married.”

“Don’t be like that. Once I’m married you’ll get benefits too, won’t you?”

“What benefits could I get?”

Ge Yuan was in high spirits and had already planned the future. “When you’re old I’ll have to support you. Then I’ll have a few kids for you to look after and let you grab them every day to teach them archaeology. How about that? Isn’t that a benefit?”

“That’s true.” Old Zhong’s eyes lit up a little. “When the time comes, if you and Wanqing have eight or ten kids, I refuse to believe none of them will be smart enough to inherit my mantle!”

While Ge Yuan was still dreaming happily, Old Zhong glared at him again. “Can’t you put in a bit more effort and get your wife pregnant sooner?”

Ge Yuan: “……”

Wasn’t he working hard too? Hadn’t Old Zhong seen him practicing punches every day lately, just worried his abs wouldn’t look good!

—

Ye Wanqing ran out to make the phone call.

At this time very few people had telephones installed at home. Usually a general store or small shop would have one telephone, and people who needed to make a call paid by the minute.

Summer vacation had arrived. The moment Wei Jun and Wei Hong finished school they returned to Far Mountain Village to help the family with the double rush of harvesting early rice and planting late rice. Otherwise, with the amount of land the Wei family farmed, just Wei Huainong and the three of them wouldn’t be able to manage.

By now the double rush was finished. Ye Wanqing had received her admission notice and wanted to call the village, tell them the good news, and ask them to come to the county town to lend a hand.

Whether it was the promotion banquet or the wedding banquet, both needed trustworthy people. The Wei family were the best choice.

Moreover, Ye Wanqing had her own calculations and felt some troubles were due to be settled once and for all.

The moment Ye Wanqing’s call arrived, the entire Wei family rushed to the telephone.

“You really got in? That’s wonderful, that’s wonderful!” Liu Lixiu’s voice was a little choked with emotion. Overjoyed, she still held the receiver as she couldn’t help thanking the Bodhisattva and all the various deities.

Wei Hong snatched the phone. “Jie, were you admitted to Xiangnan University? Your first choice?”

“Yes.” Ye Wanqing smiled.

“Wow, that’s really great! I’ve never even been to the provincial capital! When you come back from studying, you have to tell me what the provincial capital is like.”

Ye Wanqing said, “The provincial capital is so close—what’s so hard about going? This time when I go to study, I’ll take you both to the provincial capital for a look around. Just treat it as you sending me off to school. How about that?”

Wei Hong hesitated, however. “If we all go, how much money will that cost? Jie, even though you have money on hand, you still need to save a bit.” She loved to play, but she wasn’t thoughtless either. Being able to study was already something she was very content with, and she knew not to add extra burdens to the family.

Ye Wanqing couldn’t help laughing. “I know. You don’t need to worry about that.”

After chatting with Wei Hong, she spoke a bit with Wei Jun as well.

Wei Lan also offered a word of congratulations.

When it was the turn of the taciturn Wei Huainong, he was silent for a long time before finally saying one sentence: “You’re a good one. You’ll amount to something in the future!”

Even that one sentence carried an uneven tone in his voice. He was only an uneducated farmer with a quiet temperament. This was the most heartfelt thing he could say—the most practical blessing.

After hanging up, Ye Wanqing felt warm inside.

She had originally gone out to make the call partly to avoid people for a while, yet now smiles spilled from the corners of her eyes and brows.

In Far Mountain Village.

After hanging up the phone, the entire Wei family couldn’t hide their smiles. When others asked what happy event had occurred and the Wei family said a relative had been admitted to university as a student, they were immediately surrounded with congratulations.

University students were precious these days. Although the Wei family’s days weren’t easy, having a university-student relative already made people envious. And this relative was willing to help support Wei Jun and Wei Hong’s studies. Once the Wei siblings also graduated, their days would only get better.

Ordinarily the Wei family existed in Far Mountain Village as low-key as a shadow. Now, because of this matter, they quietly became the object of many people’s envy, and quite a few people started thinking of getting on good terms with them.

—

Knowing that Ye Wanqing had received her admission notice filled the Wei family with joy. This time not only Wei Huainong and his wife and the siblings Wei Hong and Wei Jun came—even the eldest sister Wei Lan came along to Qingshui County.

The moment they arrived at the little courtyard, Wei Huainong and his wife put down their bundles and prepared to start working. The Wei siblings did the same.

Ye Wanqing quickly stopped them and told them not to rush.

There were quite a few things to do, but nothing that needed to be handled this very moment. They should rest a little first before getting to work.

The preparations for the promotion banquet could wait until tomorrow or the day after. Today it would be enough just to prepare the melon seeds, peanuts, and fruit candies that would be used to entertain guests.

The next morning, the principal of Third Middle brought the director of teaching and Teacher Zeng along with Ye Wanqing’s other subject teachers. They set off a long string of firecrackers at the gate of Ye Wanqing’s little courtyard to celebrate her becoming the county top scholar!

Not only the county top scholar of Qingshui County—she was also the provincial top scholar of Xiangnan Province!

The lively sound of firecrackers attracted the attention of many neighbors. Everyone came out under the blazing sun to watch the excitement. When they saw Wei Hong and Wei Jun standing at the gate with bamboo baskets distributing candy, they curiously asked what was going on.

“My older sister got into university—and she’s the provincial top scholar!”

“Here, take a couple of candies and sweeten your mouths.”

People accepted a few candies and then looked at Ye Wanqing in the courtyard laughing and talking with the principal and teachers. They couldn’t help feeling a wave of envy and emotion.

Back when Ye Wanqing first moved into the little courtyard, some people had quietly thought that such a fine young woman was dating a hooligan like the Ge family’s boy and would probably ruin her whole life that way.

Who would have thought that not only was she cherished by that Ge boy like some rare treasure, the shop she opened was thriving, and she herself had been so capable as to test into university!

She had truly flown up to the branch and become a phoenix!

People simply couldn’t be compared. Some were just good-looking and smart, and their luck was good too.

Wei Hong enthusiastically invited the onlookers. “Aunties, all of you come in and sit a while! Have a cup of tea and join the liveliness!”

Once she invited them, a few bold ones walked inside.

Liu Lixiu and Wei Lan were busy in the courtyard, skillfully brewing ginger-salt tea. The atmosphere was both good and lively.

While things were lively here, when the good news reached the ears of people at the bus station and then reached Liu Lizhen, she nearly suffered a sudden bout of high blood pressure or a cerebral hemorrhage on the spot.

These past two days she had gone to Third Middle asking whether Ye Wanqing’s notice had arrived, yet that gatekeeper had impatiently told her “no,” “don’t know,” and “why keep asking—it’ll come when it’s supposed to come.”

She had thought Ye Wanqing’s notice still hadn’t arrived. She never expected people were already celebrating!

County top scholar—even provincial top scholar. How could the school not have received advance notice?

Impossible!

Although she didn’t know where things had gone wrong, she hadn’t gotten her hands on Ye Wanqing’s notice. Thinking again of the five thousand yuan she had already spent most of, Ye Guoqiang’s side definitely wouldn’t let the matter rest easily. Liu Lizhen’s heart immediately became a tangled mess.

What was she going to do now?!

—

Liu Lizhen returned home with an extremely ugly expression. Even though she tried hard to hide it, the sharp-minded Ye Xiangdang still noticed something was off.

“What’s wrong with you today?” Ye Xiangdang frowned and asked. “Are you unwilling to go make peace with the eldest girl?”

He had also learned today that Ye Wanqing had become the county top scholar and been admitted to Xiangnan University… Because of this, quite a few people had congratulated him. Although some wore expressions of watching a show, most were sincere.

Those people had always known that in this day and age the debt of raising a child was greater than heaven. No matter what, Ye Wanqing couldn’t possibly refuse to acknowledge them as parents.

After returning home he was in a good mood and once again brought up holding a promotion banquet for Ye Wanqing. Yet Liu Lizhen looked completely distracted, as if she had lost her soul.

That made him feel something was wrong.

He had urged Liu Lizhen so many times before, and she had always delayed and delayed. But now that Ye Wanqing’s admission notice was already in hand, it couldn’t be delayed any longer!

Today this matter had to be settled no matter what!

Liu Lizhen stammered and shook her head. “N-no…”

“Then what’s going on? Liu Lizhen, you’re acting very strange today! You’d better not be hiding something from me!”

“I…”

Liu Lizhen was at her wit’s end and wanted to just smash the pot and admit she had taken Ye Guoqiang’s five thousand yuan. Unexpectedly the door suddenly opened and Ye Mingzhu walked in from outside.

Seeing the cold expressions on both their faces, she opened her eyes wide in confusion and asked, “What happened? Why are you arguing again?”

Liu Lizhen didn’t want to be scolded by Ye Xiangdang in front of her daughter. She forced a smile and found an excuse. “It’s just that time of the month. I’m not feeling well. Your dad was asking what was wrong because he cares about me.”

“Is that so!” Ye Mingzhu put down the bag in her hand. “I’ll go heat some water and make you a cup of brown sugar water. After you drink it, go lie down on the bed for a while.”

Once the person went to the kitchen to heat water, Liu Lizhen looked at Ye Xiangdang with complaint. “Even our daughter knows how to care about me. Only you—when you see I’m not well you still think I’ve done something underhanded that wrongs the old Ye family.”

Ye Xiangdang looked at her suspiciously but didn’t say anything more.

After Ye Mingzhu brought out the brown sugar water, Ye Xiangdang brought up again the matter of holding several tables of promotion banquet for Ye Wanqing.

Liu Lizhen once again disagreed. “The family doesn’t have that much money, and even if we did I wouldn’t want to spend it on this. That Ye Wanqing is just an ungrateful white-eyed wolf. If we’re good to her now, will she remember the kindness? She won’t at all!”

Ye Mingzhu disagreed. “Mom, how can you say that about Older Sister? Her getting into university is such a good thing. Other families are dying of envy of us, and you’re still angry.”

“Holding a promotion banquet costs money everywhere. You two men speak so lightly—will you put up the money?”

Ye Mingzhu pouted and stopped talking.

She had no money. Her monthly wages were only that little and weren’t even enough for her own spending.

Ye Xiangdang’s brows furrowed tightly. “The family doesn’t even have money to hold a few tables of banquet?”

This time it was Liu Lizhen’s turn to fall silent. After a long while, under Ye Xiangdang’s oppressive gaze, she finally spoke unwillingly. “Fine, fine, fine. I’ll start handling this matter.”

At worst she would just keep delaying until Ye Wanqing held the promotion banquet herself. Then she wouldn’t have to spend that money.

—

Ye Wanqing discussed it with Ge Yuan. This promotion banquet was less a promotion banquet and more a thank-the-teachers banquet. They only needed to invite the teachers properly and then invite the relatives and friends they were close to on ordinary days.

Earlier Ge Yuan had said he wanted to set out more than ten tables, but that had only been a joke. With the connections they had now, they simply didn’t know that many people. At most they would probably fill seven or eight tables.

But because this banquet also carried an important meaning—it was also their wedding banquet—although they wouldn’t make a big extravagant affair, they would definitely make the banquet good and of a higher standard.

“It’s just that I’ve wronged you.” Ge Yuan rested his chin on Ye Wanqing’s shoulder.

His short, hard hair pricked against her cheek—a little painful and a little itchy. She couldn’t help leaning away, only to be suddenly hugged tightly by him again.

“What have you wronged me about?” Ye Wanqing lightly laughed. “If it weren’t for needing a ceremony to witness our marriage, I actually don’t place much importance on these things.”

This foolish man didn’t know what a grand wedding he had given her in the previous life—luxury car convoys, air-freighted roses, a wedding dress designed by a top designer… That wedding had been extremely dreamlike and had even been reported by entertainment news.

Yet no matter how grand the wedding of the previous life had been, in her heart it still couldn’t compare to the mutual understanding between the two of them right now…

Being able to make him her man and openly become his woman already made her very happy.

The customary formalities couldn’t be omitted, but what he was giving her right now was already enough.

“However, so that our wedding won’t be disrupted by anyone, I do need you to help me solve one difficult problem.” Ye Wanqing said.

“What is it?”

Ye Wanqing smiled lightly, her voice a little cold. “Earlier my teacher said Liu Lizhen has been going to Third Middle from time to time asking whether my notice has arrived. She’s clearly been a bit too diligent. Combined with how I already felt something was off about Ye Xiaomei’s family during the exams, I think they may have made some kind of deal targeting me… Although I already have the admission notice in hand and no longer fear them making trouble, if the Ye family really did something that wronged me, then I want to take this opportunity to make a clean and complete break with the Ye family.”

She wasn’t actually a cold-blooded, heartless person. Even though the Ye family had intensified their attacks against her after her rebirth and destroyed the last thread of kinship, her original expectation toward the Ye family had only been mutual non-interference. In the future she would still provide support money to support them in their old age.

But now…

Since the Ye family people were so ungrateful, why should she continue carrying this family on her back? Better to cut the connection with the Ye family at the root, find her own roots, and wholeheartedly treat her true family.