The two reporters saw that all the houses along the way were dilapidated mud houses, which showed just how tough the conditions were here.
Looking behind at the villagers following them, who were also not very well-dressed, their clothing often patched here and there.
Due to the villagers working in the fields all year round, everyone was tanned dark, but their smiles were warm and radiant. They merely followed and watched the excitement without any complaints.
The reporters thought these villagers were truly simple and honest people.
The group quickly arrived at the Jiang Family’s house, and when they saw that Jiang Mianmian’s ancestral home was also dilapidated, Photographer Wu raised his camera and took several pictures.
When they had first entered the village, someone had run over to report their arrival, and the Jiang family members now came out dressed in their finest clothes, looking spirited.
Jiang Changhai stepped forward and introduced them, "Reporter Zhao, Reporter Wu, these are my parents."
"Hello to both old comrades," the two reporters nodded to them.
"Ah, hello, hello," the elderly couple said somewhat flusteredly.
So this is what city folks look like, tall and big, neat and clean, and they even speak very gently.
Reporter Zhao, seeing the crowd of villagers inside and outside the yard, thought it was perfect since there was no need to interview door to door.
He looked at the crowd and said, "Well, folks, let’s start the interview now."
Reporter Zhao saw that after he finished speaking, the people in the yard looked very nervous, so he quickly reassured them, "Folks, no need to be nervous, let’s just chat casually. Just talking about comrade Jiang Mianmian’s childhood will suffice."
Reporter Zhao said this, then took out a pen and paper to prepare for taking notes.
"Ah, yeah, okay," Zhang Guihua was the first to speak up, "Comrade reporters, my granddaughter has been sensible from a young age, and she loves to study. There’s no one in the village who doesn’t like her."
"That’s right, Mianmian has been obedient since she was little and could stay seated quietly, truly a promising student," Jiang Dashan also nodded in agreement.
The other members of the Jiang family all praised Jiang Mianmian enthusiastically, even the usually disagreeing Third Branch spoke highly of her unusually.
Sun Lixia went even further by saying exaggeratedly, "Mianmian, I’ve watched her grow up since she was little. As a child, she learned things much faster than others, whether it was walking, talking, or recognizing words, she knew it all once taught. Sometimes, I wish she were my own child. I’m her aunt Sun Lixia."
After boasting, Sun Lixia didn’t forget to introduce herself, making Jiang Mianmian watch silently from the side. How did she not know her aunt liked her so much?
She vividly remembered, ever since she was little, her aunt’s eyes always brimmed with ill will.
The villagers also hastened to speak, fearing that speaking slowly would cost them a chance to appear in the newspaper.
"Reporter comrade, let me tell you, Mianmian loves studying. Every time I’m working in the fields and I pass by their house, I can see the child engrossed in a book," one villager said.
"Yes, yes, sometimes I come out in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, and I can see the light in Changhai’s house; the child really values her studies," another added.
"She’s been wise beyond her years since she was very little, knowing to help out with house chores like sweeping, feeding the chickens, and washing dishes," said another.
"She’s also very dutiful, whenever there’s good food, she can’t bear to eat it herself and always shares it with her parents, and they have to eat, no excuses," another villager shared.