But he did think the little girl was too audacious, which is why he planned to have her take both the first and second year exams. That way, if she didn’t do well on the second year’s, at least she’d have a chance with the first year’s. If she did well on the first year’s exam, he would consider allowing her to skip a grade and go straight to the second year.
However, he hadn’t expected this news to explode just a few days before the end of the term.
"Tianyang, I don’t know how this got out." He had only mentioned it to the first and second year teachers, asking them to prepare an extra set of test papers.
"Now our village is in an uproar," Song Tianyang said helplessly.
"What can we do? It’s come to this," Principal Chu frowned and said, "It’s not that Chiang Xiao is feeling too much pressure and backing out, is it?"
When Song Tianyang thought of the Chiang Xiao he saw this afternoon, he couldn’t help but smile wryly and shake his head: "She’s very calm."
"Oh?" Principal Chu became interested, "She still doesn’t know?"
Maybe the little girl didn’t know how fiercely this was being talked about outside? Or perhaps she hadn’t thought too deeply and didn’t know that many people were cursing her for being arrogant, for being naive, and were waiting to laugh at her mistake. She might not have realized that if she didn’t perform well this time, even if she continued studying in the first year, she would endure many strange looks and mockery.
But perhaps it was better that she hadn’t thought of these things.
Song Tianyang shook his head; he felt that the girl was very clear-headed, "I see that she’s very aware, and I told her I’d come to you to find out where the leak had come from. And she even comforted me."
"Exactly," he replied, "She told me not to bother asking you, that it didn’t matter where the leak had come from now that it was out, what mattered was that she does well on her exams."
Chiang Xiao said, "Those who laugh at me, I will shut them up with my results."
That was Chiang Xiao’s exact words, but Song Tianyang didn’t dare repeat them to Principal Chu. He knew Principal Chu had connections and might move up the ladder someday, and he really hoped that Chiang Xiao could make a good impression; Principal Chu might be able to help her in the future.
Song Tianyang had never told Chiang Xiao about this plan of his, as he truly had her best interests at heart.
Principal Chu couldn’t help but laugh after hearing what he said, "It seems this little girl is indeed very interesting, quite the demeanor of a great general!"
He couldn’t wait to see her performance the day after tomorrow.
Just in time, he would be going to the county town for a meeting in a few days, and if a great seedling could come from their town’s school, he might be able to show it off as an achievement.
However, everything still depended on Chiang Xiao’s performance, to see if she really was as steady and composed as she appeared to be.
"That girl is truly exceptional," Song Tianyang said.
"Well then, since she’s not anxious, you don’t need to be too anxious either. Bring her for the exam tomorrow, and rest assured, I will provide her with a quiet environment to take her test."
"Uncle, also, since it’s already out in the open, we might as well let her take the test with the other students."
If she achieved good results in front of everyone, no one would question the legitimacy of the exams afterward.
"I understand. Tomorrow she will join the second-year students for the test, and the day after that, she will take the first-year exam alone," Principal Chu had already planned this.
Besides that, he was also curious to see how the second-year students would perform, wondering if having such a young girl taking the same test would throw them off their game.