When people from the city...
"What, the person I said who helped her must be that Supervisor Guard I saw! I felt right away that his demeanor was different from the folks around here; he definitely must be a city person! Seems like I was right, and his family is certainly wealthy..." Yu Chun Yu was actually thinking about Meng Xinian.
She was convinced that Chiang Xiao’s excellent academic performance must be thanks to Meng Xinian’s help, and she also believed that Meng Xinian must have spent a lot of money on her.
Each lost in their own thoughts, neither of them really took in what the other was saying.
Meanwhile, Chiang Xiao was staring dumbfounded at an envelope Principal Chu was handing her.
"Principal, what’s this?"
"I’ve heard from Tianyang that your family’s circumstances aren’t very good," Principal Chu said, "I don’t mean any disrespect by saying this, it’s just that you’re the most talented student I’ve ever seen. I don’t want to see your potential impacted by external factors. You can only study at this middle school for one year, so I’ve paid this year’s tuition for you. Take this money, buy some study materials."
So, Principal Chu was also taking responsibility for her tuition?
"Principal, there’s no need..."
Principal Chu waved his hand to interrupt Chiang Xiao, saying, "Don’t think of it as charity. Chiang Xiao, I can tell you’re a child with a lot of pride. They didn’t understand your answer just now, but I did. Has it been difficult for you living in the village?"
That’s why she had talked about wanting to use the power of knowledge to leave that poor mountain hollow.
"Life used to be very tough," Chiang Xiao admitted, "You could say it was almost unbearable. But now things have gotten better, Principal. I’ve already felt the power of knowledge. My grandparents’ health was very poor, but it’s been getting better, and I can also earn money for myself now. If you ask around the village, you’ll know that we’re making a decent amount of money each month from Bai Gu Mountain; I get a share of that. Plus, my uncle has opened a shop selling roasted chestnuts in town, and I have a stake in it, so I get some money from that each month."
If it weren’t for Principal Chu’s kindness towards her, Chiang Xiao wouldn’t have been so forthcoming with someone who was practically a stranger, but she was quite grateful, so she spoke sincerely, "Principal, thank you, but I really don’t need the assistance, and I’ve also told Teacher Song this before. Thank you again, Principal."
Having said that, Chiang Xiao bowed to him and turned to walk out without taking the envelope.
Watching her leave, Principal Chu nodded involuntarily.
After Chiang Xiao returned, Ge Xiaotong eagerly approached to ask what had happened.
"Little, hurry up and tell us, what did they want with you?"
Ge Liutao and Liu Pei also looked at her anxiously, waiting for her response.
"It’s nothing, they just couldn’t believe how well I did on the test and wanted to give me a few more questions."
"Wow, you did too well? Not just barely passing?" Ge Xiaotong exclaimed. Honestly, she had always thought that if Chiang Xiao went to take the test and barely passed, it would’ve been quite an achievement; that would mean she could skip grades. She had never even considered the possibility of Chiang Xiao doing too well!
"Yeah, if I was just barely passing, would I have the nerve to skip two grades?"
"Little, you’re really amazing! I admire you so much!" Ge Xiaotong, if not already showing with pregnancy, might have jumped up to hug her and spin her around in excitement. "So did they test you? How did it go?"
Seeing her so excited and curious, Chiang Xiao had no choice but to recount the experience to her.