616 points!
Principal Sun couldn’t contain his emotions, crying at the podium.
Xia Xiaolan’s heart remained calm. When estimating her scores, she had been somewhat conservative, expecting around 600 points. She hadn’t expected to exceed 600 by more than ten points. With 616 points in the 1984 science stream, claiming the South Yu Province science champion was indisputable!
Liu Fen was also able to wait in Class Three’s classroom.
During the graduation photo, Liu Fen watched her daughter Xia Xiaolan being called to the central position, standing right behind the principal. She knew this was a sign of respect.
This respect wasn’t because Xia Xiaolan was attractive – in the real battlefield of exams, could grading teachers see students’ appearances through the papers? Only scores, accumulated through countless drops of sweat, truly showed a student’s ability. After leaving the Xia family and moving to Qijing Village, when Xia Xiaolan said she wanted to attend university, what did she and her elder brother’s family think? They only hoped Xia Xiaolan would start high school and, after two or three years, qualify for a college diploma, or at least a technical school.
They never expected Xia Xiaolan would perform better with each exam, becoming the city’s top student before the practice exams.
City champion meant she would attend university and a key university at that!
The journey from practice exams to college entrance exams had been quite rocky. Xia Xiaolan had injured her wrist, making Liu Fen both worried and anxious, spending sleepless nights during the exam period. The estimated scores weren’t enough – only now, with Principal Sun announcing the score, was it final – 616 points, a score that couldn’t be wrong!
Liu Fen heard it but barely dared believe it.
It felt like a dream until the classroom ceiling nearly lifted from the students’ screams after they realized what happened. Xia Xiaolan was pushed to the podium, and Principal Sun, still tearful, repeated: “Student Xiaolan, 616 points, you’re this year’s South Yu Province science champion!”
A provincial champion who exceeded second place by 45 points.
Principal Sun wept with joy, and Xia Xiaolan was infected by his emotions and the class’s screaming atmosphere.
She seemed to understand the meaning of being reborn. Some regrets from her previous life could be remedied.
Her college entrance exam hadn’t gone as wished in her previous life. In this life, Xia Xiaolan had a chance to start over. She seized it and fought hard. The accumulated study from both lives led to today’s sweet harvest. Seeing Principal Sun’s tear-streaked face, Xia Xiaolan sincerely thanked him:
“Thank you, and thanks to every teacher!”
Principal Sun had his flaws – being easily swayed and deceived – but who was perfect?
As Anqing County First High’s principal, he favored good students. Every additional student who entered the university made Principal Sun as happy as if he’d found gold.
Xia Xiaolan bowed to Principal Sun, who was overwhelmed with joy.
Other teachers came running. Xia Xiaolan’s 616 points were news that would shake not just Anqing County First High, but likely the entire Fengxian City’s education circle. But the cutoff scores were equally important – besides Student Xia Xiaolan, other students were eagerly waiting!
Old Wang brought the news – 27 students had reached the undergraduate cutoff!
Last year only 8 qualified for undergraduate programs, but this year 27 – more than triple!
Even more reached the specialist college cutoff. The 427-point specialist threshold, once seemingly unreachable, had become attainable this year – 76 students from Anqing County First High exceeded it. This wasn’t just Anqing County’s highest level anymore; they might be on par with Fengxian City’s best high schools.
Principal Sun, after crying for a while, embarrassedly wiped his tears with his sleeve: “Where’s the banner? Hang it up quickly!”
The banner was already printed, just waiting for numbers, like “Tearfully congratulating our school’s student Xia Xiaolan for achieving the provincial science champion of ’84 with XXX points” – only the “XXX points” needed filling.
Of course, before the exam results, Xia Xiaolan estimated 584 points, uncertain if that would secure the provincial champion. Principal Sun had been modest, having a “City Science Champion” banner made as a backup. Now the city champion banner was unnecessary – straight to the provincial champion banner!
The undergraduate cutoff of 460 points naturally drew another round of amazement.
The school’s estimated cutoff had been extremely accurate – students wouldn’t waste points when choosing universities!
Provided students had accurately estimated their scores. Hearing the key university cutoff of 494 points, Chen Qing felt uneasy – his lowest estimate was 490 points. If he missed by 4 points, he felt like jumping in the river! The banner was quickly hung – 27 undergraduate qualifiers, and 76 specialist college qualifiers. Seeing this banner from afar, Xia Ziyu had an ominous feeling.
In her year, only 8 qualified for undergraduate programs, which was why Principal Sun valued her.
In just one year, Anqing County First High had 27 undergraduate qualifiers and 76 specialist qualifiers – wasn’t this progress too rapid?
Xia Ziyu wasn’t the only one scrutinizing Anqing County First High’s exam results; Liu Fang and Liang Huan were lurking too. The mother and daughter had found an excuse to come from Hedong County, just to check Xia Xiaolan’s exam score. Seeing the hung banner, Liu Fang hadn’t processed it yet, but Liang Huan was shocked:
“Last year our school only had 7 undergraduate qualifiers!”
Anqing County First High had 20 more undergraduate qualifiers than Liang Huan’s high school. How could teaching quality differ so much between county high schools?
Liu Fang was tempted, “Should we transfer you to Anqing?”
The distance between counties wasn’t far – Liang Huan’s chances of entering university seemed better here. Liang Huan initially wanted to refuse – she didn’t want to board with rural girls in a small room, but thinking of how people changed after her father lost his position, she considered a new environment.
Before she could answer Liu Fang, they saw another banner being hung at the school entrance.
“Hey, what’s this celebration for?”
“Let’s see…”
From their angle, the banner was partially folded, but “Provincial Science Champion” was visible.
Liu Fang gasped, instantly deciding to transfer Liang Huan to Anqing.
Liang Huan stepped forward, tiptoeing, “Impossible, could Anqing have someone achieve science champion?”
Nearby, Xia Ziyu also thought it impossible.
Could this backwater Anqing produce a science champion?
Their information was outdated, one in Beijing, the other in Hedong County. Information traveled extremely slowly then – no mobile devices, computers, or internet. They didn’t know Xia Xiaolan had already been the city champion in the practice exam two months ago! Had they known, they wouldn’t have been so shocked and dismayed when they saw the banner!
“Warmly congratulating our school’s Xia Xiaolan… Xia Xiaolan?”
Xia Xiaolan was South Yu Province’s science champion!
Was it the Xia Xiaolan they knew?
Impossible – how could Xia Xiaolan be a science champion? Someone who stayed home after middle school graduation – it must be someone with the same name!
The news hit Xia Ziyu so hard her heart seemed to stop, her throat burned, and she coughed up blood!
Liu Fang and Liang Huan refused to believe – don’t look, don’t listen, don’t believe, it’s fake, all fake! Must be someone with the same name!
Just then, a group came running from Shangdu to Anqing – reporters moving incredibly fast.
Carrying cameras and equipment, they flooded into Anqing County First High, eager to interview the fresh provincial champion! Old Zhao the guard touched the baton at his waist, unsure if he could hold back so many “intruders.”
“Let us in, I’m from the provincial TV station, need to interview Student Xia Xiaolan…”
“I’m from the provincial newspaper-“
“Don’t push, don’t push, I’m a school teacher, Old Zhao, quick, let me in… I’ve brought back the students’ score sheets!”