"Alright, we’ll do as you say."
So the next morning, after breakfast, the family went to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative and bought two big bags of snacks, then proudly made their way back to Stone Bridge Village.
As soon as they entered the village, they were seen by the villagers working at the entrance, who all greeted them.
"Hey, Changhai’s back, and with so much stuff! You guys are so filial."
"Changhai, did our Little Prodigy get first place again in the final exams?"
Jiang Changhai smiled at everyone, straightened his back, cleared his throat, and said loudly, "Uncle, you guessed right. Mianmian did indeed get first place again on the exam; I’ve come back to bring my parents the good news."
"First place again, Mianmian is really amazing. That smartness must come from your dad; he’s been clever since he was small."
"Mianmian really makes Stone Bridge Village proud. Now, within ten miles, everyone knows our village has a Little Prodigy," the villagers said happily.
Jiang Changhai shared the sunflower seeds and peanuts he bought at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative with the villagers.
"Uncles and elders, have some peanuts, sunflower seeds, take a break, then get back to work later."
Seeing his generosity, the villagers felt even warmer towards him. Even after buying a house in the city and becoming a city dweller, he hadn’t looked down on them, and their smiles became even more genuine.
"Brother Changhai, Uncle Jiang and the others are working at the eastern end of the village. I’ll go call them for you," said a younger villager, who then grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds and ran off in a flash.
The young messenger reached the eastern end of the village, and standing on the ridge, cupped his hands around his mouth to form a megaphone, shouting towards the Jiang family members, "Grandpa Jiang, Grandma Jiang, San Ya has gotten first place again, you should come home and see, Uncle Changhai has brought back a lot of goodies!"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Guihua was ecstatic.
Not only did this girl skip a grade, but she also got first place; she was truly remarkable!
Seeing her drop her hoe and run home, Jiang Dashan involuntarily followed her for a few steps, but then remembered it wasn’t time for a break and stopped.
The other Jiang family members and the villagers working in the fields were all itching to join in the excitement.
The village chief, seeing everyone craning their necks towards the Jiang’s house and losing interest in working, glanced at the sun and thought that since it was almost noon, he grandly gestured and said, "Alright, no more gawking, let’s call it done for the morning’s work."
"Village chief, you’re awesome, truly a great leader for our proletariat."
Now that they could join in the fun, everyone suddenly flattered him.
Then they hurriedly put away their farming tools and joined the Jiang family members, moving en masse towards the Jiang’s house.
Even the village chief silently blended into the crowd.
Seeing that the villagers had all arrived, Zhang Guihua quickly started orchestrating, "Laosan’s Wife, you and a few other girls, quickly go boil water for tea. Laosan’s Wife, you go wash some bowls, so we can serve tea to everyone later."
Under her direction, the women of the Jiang family got busy, and the men brought out benches for the village elders to sit on.
As for everyone else, they just found a spot on the ground and sat down.
The villagers cracked sunflower seeds and munched on peanuts while they chatted noisily, praising Jiang Mianmian, who was surrounded in the center.
"How exactly is San Ya’s brain constructed to be so smart? In less than a year, she completed a five-year curriculum and got first place on the exams. She’s practically a Wenqu Star descended to earth!"
"Yeah, Changhai, Wanyu, tell us, how did you raise such a clever child?"