Achieving the top score in the college entrance examination was Xia Xiaolan’s most noteworthy accomplishment to date.
However, one cannot dwell solely on past achievements. With 616 points, her admission to Huaqing University was practically guaranteed. Although acceptance letters for first-tier universities wouldn’t arrive until late July, Xia Xiaolan wasn’t anxious at all.
After the provincial television interview aired, she declined all requests for further interviews. As for the various rewards from the Provincial Education Department, Fengxian City Education Bureau, Anqing County Education Bureau, and Anqing First High School, Xia Xiaolan had Liu Fen collect them all on her behalf. She had no interest in those occasions where receiving money meant giving speeches. “You want to hear about the provincial top scorer’s journey? Interviewing the top scorer’s mother works just as well.”
Liu Fen’s honest and modest demeanor better matched the public’s perception of what a top student’s family from humble beginnings should be like.
As for Xia Xiaolan herself, after finalizing the design plans for their hometown house, she advanced part of the construction materials money to Gong Yang, asking him to oversee the building project.
Gong Yang, still a university student himself, could handle drawing design plans, but was suddenly thrust into managing everything from design to construction was more than he felt capable of handling.
“If anything comes up, just consult Village Chief Chen. The villagers will all help. You just need to oversee the overall project and make sure they don’t build the house improperly.”
After Xia Xiaolan achieved the top provincial score, the timing was perfect for her and Liu Fen to build their new house. The villagers would have helped even without payment – never mind that they were being compensated. The hot weather meant nothing; everyone’s hearts were filled with enthusiasm. Xia Xiaolan had only one requirement for Gong Yang: work was only permitted from 6:00-10:00 in the morning and 4:00-8:00 p.m. No construction was allowed outside these hours.
She wanted the new house completed before university registration but refused to compromise the villagers’ health to meet the deadline. With afternoon temperatures regularly exceeding 30°C, outdoor work was grueling. Xia Xiaolan preferred to shorten the daily working hours. If time was insufficient, they could compensate by hiring more workers. Why be stingy with a few extra yuan per day when they could simply employ more people?
The exam results were announced on July 16th, and by July 19th, Xia Xiaolan, wearing a cast, had arrived at Yangcheng Station.
Bai Zhenzhu was waiting for her.
Boss Bai had grown increasingly valiant – no one would believe she was a woman now. In the small commodities market area, everyone knew Boss Bai as tough, capable of fighting, and resourceful, always able to acquire scarce goods. Gender had become irrelevant when it came to Boss Bai.
“Sister Bai, why do you keep stealing glances at me?”
They were old friends – what couldn’t be said openly? Why the furtive looks? They had their past relationship, and they were about to do business together.
After hesitating for a while, Bai Zhenzhu finally spoke: “You’re Yunan Province’s top scorer. Uncle Liu Yong said you’re going to Huaqing University. Will you still do business with us?”
Xia Xiaolan couldn’t help but laugh, “Why else would I rush to Yangcheng if not for business? You’ve already secured the shop, Sister Bai, stop joking around.”
Bai Zhenzhu genuinely sighed in relief!
It wasn’t that she was overthinking things. What was the social status of individual businesspeople? Even ordinary workers looked down on them. Who would give up an iron rice bowl for an individual business if they had a proper work unit? Although her and Xia Xiaolan’s operation was different from small street vendors, they were still essentially individual businesspeople. Xia Xiaolan previously had no choice, but now as the top scorer entering the best university, her prospects needn’t be mentioned… In many people’s eyes, someone like Xia Xiaolan continuing in individual business would be considered frivolous.
The building at People’s Bridge Small Commodities Market was particularly large – Bai Zhenzhu couldn’t handle it alone if Xia Xiaolan didn’t continue the business.
As for Kang Wei, without Xia Xiaolan serving as an intermediary, Bai Zhenzhu had no connection to this young master from Beijing.
Just a few months ago, Bai Zhenzhu couldn’t have imagined any of this. Working in the small commodities market had taught her much. She had fought for territory, found her suppliers, earned considerable money, and been deceived along the way. Her personal growth had been rapid… Three days away, and one return completely changed.
Xia Xiaolan sensed these changes too. Everything has two sides – you can’t expect a partner to be both capable of independent operation and maintain complete innocence. People inevitably change. Bai Zhenzhu had learned to weigh her words carefully now, no longer as simple and direct as before. Xia Xiaolan couldn’t expect her to remain unchanged; she could only adapt to these changes herself.
Hearing Xia Xiaolan’s firm commitment to continue their business, Bai Zhenzhu was pleased:
“Is it alright if we let Uncle Liu Yong handle the shop’s renovation? I’ve seen the guesthouse renovation once – it looks very nice.”
Neither of them mentioned Xia Xiaolan’s cast.
It was taboo. Xia Xiaolan had Ge Jian take revenge on some thugs, then forced those thugs to disable Xia Changzheng’s hand, and hurriedly had Li Dongliang return to Shangdu. Bai Zhenzhu wasn’t meant to know any of these details. If she knew, it would mean Li Dongliang and Ge Jian were no longer suitable as Xia Xiaolan’s bodyguards – taking her money while leaking such imprisonment-worthy secrets to Bai Zhenzhu… Xia Xiaolan clearly wouldn’t employ them anymore.
She and Bai Zhenzhu were now business partners and friends, but the future remained uncertain. Xia Xiaolan wasn’t foolish enough to let the other party know everything.
It wasn’t that she was suspicious, but rather that she didn’t want to test human nature.
Don’t hand someone a knife, and your chances of getting hurt become much smaller.
Xia Xiaolan’s bearing was different now – she had two bodyguards wherever she went, unlike her country-girl appearance when she first came to Yangcheng last year. Yet Ke Yixiong had fallen for that country girl look, wanting her desperately, naturally thinking of her day and night. While Bai Zhenzhu couldn’t ask, Ke Yixiong noticed the cast on Xia Xiaolan’s hand.
Wasn’t that man supposed to be very capable?
Others couldn’t even covet Xia Xiaolan, yet she still got injured.
He didn’t seem so impressive after all!
If Xia Xiaolan knew Zhou Cheng’s thoughts, she would certainly defend him – Zhou Cheng still didn’t know about her hand injury.
Why keep it secret? Xia Xiaolan had an intuition that Zhou Cheng would lose control if he knew about her injured hand! Zhou Cheng cared about her a bit too much. That time at the Municipal Committee Guesthouse, Xia Xiaolan truly feared Zhou Cheng might kill Fan Zhenchuan outright. Zhou Cheng had a hint of wickedness, a touch of roguishness, and had become clingy since they got together, but these were only the aspects he showed to her – what about the parts he hadn’t revealed?
Before the cast came off, Xia Xiaolan had no plans to meet Zhou Cheng. Using the excuse of preparing for business in Pengcheng, she headed south to the Special Zone after the college entrance examination instead of going to Beijing immediately.
Liu Yong waited for Xia Xiaolan at the Special Zone checkpoint, along with Tang Hongen’s driver, Little Wang.
Little Wang’s gaze toward Xia Xiaolan now carried additional respect.
The top scorer’s halo was indeed dazzling – at least when the leader learned of it, he made time to see Xia Xiaolan:
“The leader said he wants to meet you.”
Liu Yong was making eye signals from the side, but Xia Xiaolan remained composed: “Sure, I’d like to visit Uncle Tang as well.”
What kind of leader this “Uncle Tang” actually was, Liu Yong probably knew, but Xia Xiaolan didn’t. Tang Hongen wanted to properly introduce himself this time!