While Xia Xiaolan took the college entrance exam alone, a crowd of people, both those close to her and those who despised her, waited for her results.
Xia Xiaolan knew her performance better than anyone else. She wasn’t anxious at all – having confirmed her preference form was submitted, she could wait patiently. The exam was on July 7th, estimated scores and preferences were submitted on July 12th, and results would be out by July 16th at the latest. The Yunan Province exam papers were likely still being graded in Shangdu, with excellent teachers selected from schools across the province working intensely on the marking process.
Somehow, word of Xia Xiaolan’s estimated score had spread. Given her previous first-place ranking in the city’s practice exam, while there was private envy and jealousy, no one publicly questioned it. Indeed, the score estimate was remarkably high – even the former top student of Anqing First High, now ranked second, hadn’t estimated above 540 points.
Xia Xiaolan had estimated 584 points, matching exactly last year’s provincial science stream champion… If she truly achieved such a score, she could compete in this year’s Yunan Province Science Stream championship!
According to Principal Sun’s information, neither Fengxian First nor Second High School had any students estimated above 580 points.
After schools finished their estimations but before preference forms were submitted, they typically exchanged information about their highest-scoring students.
For instance, if two top students were capable of high scores, why should both compete for Hua Qing University? One could choose Beijing University instead, improving admission rates. Fearing such “coordination,” Xia Xiaolan had repeatedly insisted her preference form shouldn’t be changed. Her choice was crystal clear – only Hua Qing University. Throughout Fengxian City, anyone who thought they scored better was welcome to compete head-on; those lacking confidence would have to yield… Isn’t this exactly what made a top student dominate?
Before the results were released, Xia Xiaolan wanted to keep herself busy.
After two months of intense preparation, she wasn’t used to having free time.
So she discussed house designs with Gong Yang. Xia Xiaolan wanted to build a two-story house, like a rural villa.
Personally, Xia Xiaolan objected to covering the exterior walls entirely with tiles. However, since the house was mainly for her mother, she had consulted Liu Fen – what if her mother preferred something grand like the Shangdu Municipal Party Committee Guesthouse, with its walls completely tiled and eaves decorated with colorful tile patterns?
Liu Fen repeatedly waved off the idea. She had visited the Party Committee Guesthouse twice while delivering eels.
“That’s too luxurious for us mother and daughter. How much would it cost to build something like that guesthouse!”
Liu Fen was essentially a low-key person. Though they now had some savings, she had no concept of showing off wealth. Building a house was about having their own home and foundation. Building something so grand seemed excessive since the mother-daughter pair wouldn’t spend much time in the countryside annually. She even somewhat regretted letting Xia Xiaolan build in the village, as their business currently needed significant capital. With Xiaolan’s uncle doing business in Pengcheng needing money, and if Xiaolan also needed large sums, would banks even lend to Xiaolan?
Xia Xiaolan had explained banking to Liu Fen – you earn interest when you deposit money and pay interest when you borrow.
Liu Fen would never dare borrow from banks – what if they couldn’t repay?
Liu Fen suggested building just two brick-and-tile rooms would suffice, occupying their allocated homestead land to give them a place to stay when visiting the village.
Xia Xiaolan hadn’t expected her mother’s requirements to be so modest, and she abandoned her idea of definitely building a two-story house. A single-story house would cost less, and if built elegantly, would serve well for occasional countryside visits.
In a place like Qijing Village, Xia Xiaolan would hate to waste money on a luxury villa.
She couldn’t afford a luxury villa now anyway. Building a house in the village would give the mother-daughter pair their own home.
Whether it was Grandmother Yu’s rented house in Shangdu or staying with Uncle Liu Yong, nothing compared to having their own home. The house was originally meant to give Liu Fen peace of mind, but as Gong Yang drew sketches according to her ideas, Xia Xiaolan became increasingly invested. While she might own many properties in the future, this countryside house would be her and Liu Fen’s first real “home.”
Everyone had their requirements for a home.
Liu Fen wanted simplicity and lower costs.
Xia Xiaolan hoped to build the most comfortable home possible within their limited budget.
They had somewhat reached a consensus. The village had allocated them eight fens of homestead land. Rural land measurements used ten fens per mu, with one mu equaling approximately 667㎡, so eight fens was about 533㎡… Of course, village land allocation wasn’t that precise, but after accurate measurement, Xia Xiaolan’s homestead totaled nearly 600㎡.
When Xia Xiaolan brought three strange men to the village, measuring with ropes and rulers, who in the village didn’t know they were planning to build?
“Xiaolan, where’s your uncle? Hasn’t he returned?”
House building was a major undertaking – how could a young girl manage it alone? Well, this girl wasn’t ordinary. As Chen Qing had said, Xia Xiaolan ranked first in the city’s practice exam and might even top the actual exam. For this alone, villagers didn’t dare act superior when speaking with her, regardless of age or status. Xia Xiaolan, who had only recently moved back to Qijing Village, might be what ancient sayings called a descended star of literature.
“Yes, Uncle Chen Four, my uncle hasn’t returned. I’m just having them measure the place first, to plan the house.”
The literary star’s attitude hadn’t changed from before, which Chen Lao Si found quite appropriate.
Villagers kept asking questions; Xia Xiaolan answered what she could and smiled away what she couldn’t.
At the village chief’s home, Chen Qing was sleeping heavily.
Chen Dasao worriedly watched the closed door. He’d been like this since returning from submitting his estimated scores and preferences. His performance wasn’t poor – he’d applied to key universities. With at least 490 points, Chen Wangda had praised “good” three times and nearly wanted to celebrate, but Chen Qing himself showed little enthusiasm.
Now that Xia Xiaolan had returned to start building her house, previously Chen Qing would have rushed to help.
This time he remained oddly quiet, sleeping in his room. As his mother, how could Chen Dasao not understand her son? She asked what was wrong: “Xiaolan helped you a lot with your studies, right? She’s building a new house back home, and you won’t even ask about it? Did you two argue?”
Chen Qing shook his head glumly.
He certainly didn’t hate Xiaolan; he was just upset.
After Chen Dasao’s repeated questioning, Chen Qing finally revealed what happened that day. Hearing that Xia Xiaolan had been dating someone for several months, Chen Dasao’s first reaction was anger. Before she could storm out to confront Xia Xiaolan, Chen Wangda’s words echoed in her mind – he had said Xia Xiaolan would be more successful than Chen Qing… How could such an accomplished and beautiful girl be content marrying Chen Qing?
Xia Xiaolan hadn’t been sold to the Chen family – there had been no engagement or betrothal gifts. Her foolish son hadn’t even dared speak much to her before, so why couldn’t Xia Xiaolan date others? Chen Dasao’s feelings were complicated. Seeing Chen Qing so lifeless, she tried to encourage him:
“So what if she has a boyfriend? As long as she’s not married, you can still compete fairly with him. You’ll both be studying in Beijing – who knows what might happen? Cheer up and ask if Xiaolan needs any help… You’ll go to school together tomorrow to get your scores, right?”