Chapter 40: Announcing Results

On the day the results were announced, all the contestants were present, including Xu Shengcai and Lu Daya. When they saw their names occupying the first and second places on the list, they were so excited that tears nearly came to their eyes.

Xu Shengcai was relatively calm.

But Lu Daya started crying with excitement.

Her mother was even more demonstrative, waving her hands and shouting, “My Daya got in, my Daya will also be eating food from the state quota now.”

“Mom, there are so many people here, keep your voice down,” Lu Daya said with some embarrassment.

Mrs. Lu didn’t care, thinking about her daughter’s future salary, her eyes twinkled as she said, “Daya, I’ll take care of your salary for you, and use it as your dowry when the time comes.”

Once it was in her hands, she would be the one to say if it could be spent.

Xu Ying tugged at Lu Daya, “Daya, your money is only safe when it’s in your own hands.”

Lu Daya knew this well but for once she stood firm, looking at her mother she said, “Mom, since I’m going to work at the school, I can’t avoid social interactions.

I’ll manage the money myself, but I can give you five yuan out of my salary each month.”

Mrs. Lu became frantic at this, saying, “What does a young girl need so much money for?

I must be the one to take care of it—am I as your mother going to harm you?”

Mrs. Lu’s words were heartfelt, and Xu Ying was really afraid she might give in, but she couldn’t say too much—it wasn’t her place to interfere in someone else’s family business.

“I’ll manage it myself, otherwise, I’ll give the job to Xu Ying. I’ve eaten so much at her place these past days, it’s only fair to pay her back with this job.”

Hearing this left Mrs. Lu red-faced with anger, but after some indecision, she eventually opted for the long-term five yuan.

“Second Brother, congratulations, you’re going to be a teacher now,” Xu Ying said, seeing the joy on Second Brother Xu’s face.

Second Brother Xu chuckled and scratched the back of his head.

Mr. Qiu Ye had promised to let him date Qiu Ye if he became a teacher—it indeed was something to congratulate.

“All thanks to you, little sister, for those mock questions you painted for me. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have stood out from the many candidates.” God knows how shocked he was when he saw that room full of people during the exam.

Upon hearing this, Lu Daya was equally grateful, “Thank you, Yingying. I’ll treat you to a meal once I get my salary.”

Xu Ying was now past the point of being courteous with her; Lu Daya was sensitive by nature, and too much politeness from her might make Daya feel looked down upon.

Lu Daya’s smile grew wider when she saw Xu Ying’s acceptance.

At this moment, Second Brother Xu’s eyebrows were alive with joy, “Little sister, I’m off to the county to give Qiu Ye the good news.”

He was so excited that he could hardly stand still.

Xu Ying nodded, a smile on her face; finally, the path of their lives had changed.

But things were not yet settled; she wanted Dong Wenzhong and Chen Yanran to live out a miserable life, to avenge their past selves.

Second Brother Xu rode on the back of a cart before transferring to a bus to go to the county.

As soon as he got off the bus, he couldn’t wait to run to the supply and marketing cooperative, “Qiu Ye, I got in.”

Xu Qiuye’s eyes moistened when she heard this; she had been restless these past few days, fearing that Xu Er wouldn’t pass. It wasn’t that she doubted Xu Er’s abilities; it’s just that there were so many participants and only two spots available.

What if someone pulled some strings in between? Wouldn’t that mean missing the chance?

Now that she heard the news, the anxiety Xu Qiuye had been carrying finally dissipated, and she said with an excited smile, “Yes, I knew you could do it.”

“Then you’re my girlfriend now,” Xu Er shamelessly declared.

Hearing this, Xu Qiuye’s face flushed scarlet red; she bashfully hung her head, but her lips curved up in a sweet smile.

A sales clerk at the counter overheard their exchange and teased with a laugh, “Hey, Qiu Ye, your boyfriend’s here to see you!”

“Who’s Qiu Ye’s boyfriend?” Gu Fuying’s voice came from the next counter over, her face full of curiosity.

Xu Er had thick skin and wasn’t perturbed by everyone’s stares; he introduced himself with a swagger, “I’m Qiu Ye’s boyfriend, my name is Xu Shengcai, from Xujia Village.

Now I’m a teacher at our commune.” He said the last sentence deliberately, not wanting anyone to think he was just a country bumpkin from the countryside and bring shame to Qiu Ye.

The others, upon hearing that Second Brother Xu was from the countryside, their eyes flickered, losing their prior interest.

But Gu Fuying, as soon as she heard he was from Xujia Village, immediately asked, “You’re from Xujia Village too? Do you know Xu Ying, the daughter of the Xujia Village Captain?”

“That’s my little sister,” Second Brother Xu said. “You know my little sister, could it be that the stuff she bought before was from your shop?”

“Exactly, exactly, Xu Ying saved me before, and we’ve become good friends.” Gu Fuying didn’t expect that Sister Qiu Ye’s beau would be Xu Ying’s brother.

Her laughter grew even brighter—true Liang Mountain brotherhood is never forged without a challenge.

These past few days, she’d been missing Xu Ying and wondering why she hadn’t come to see her.

Unexpectedly, what a coincidence, she ran into Xu Ying’s brother here.

She blinked her eyes towards Xu Qiu Ye and asked, “Qiu Ye, are you going to your beau’s house after work today? If you’re going, take me with you, I want to go see Yingying.”

Xu Qiu Ye was indeed planning to, but it wasn’t proper for her, a lady, to go to the Xu Family house alone, especially since she still didn’t know what her own father thought about it.

Now it was like being sleepy and someone bringing a pillow—having Gu Fuying accompany her would be perfect.

Second Brother Xu was waiting at the door for Qiu Ye to get off work.

At six o’clock sharp, everyone got off work on time.

Xu Qiu Ye and Gu Fuying had become good sisters in a short while, arm in arm as they left the supply and marketing store.

“Work’s over.” Second Brother Xu jumped out from a corner.

Xu Qiu Ye and her friend were startled: “Why haven’t you gone back yet?”

Second Brother Xu chuckled with a “Heh heh”: “I was waiting to go back together with you guys.”

Xu Qiu Ye shot him a feigned angry look. She and Gu Fuying bought some pastries and fruit.

Seeing this, Second Brother Xu hurriedly said, “You don’t need to buy all that.”

Xu Qiu Ye wouldn’t listen to him. It was her first time visiting as a girlfriend—how could she go empty-handed?

Even if the Xu Family didn’t say anything, Mr. Xu and Mrs. Xu would surely feel uncomfortable about it.

Gu Fuying was buying these things purely out of gratitude for Xu Ying.

They had agreed that Xu Ying would come over to her place when she was free, but the girl had bailed on her promises, and so long had passed without her dropping by even once.

Gu Fuying and Xu Qiu Ye both had bicycles. When they left, Gu Fuying rode her own, while Second Brother Xu rode Xu Qiu Ye’s bike, taking her along.

Fortunately, Xujia Village was right next to Yushan Commune, not too far from the county.

It only took about an hour to get there by bike, and if they rode fast, they could arrive in less than an hour.

Whether they hurried or took their time, they made it back to the Xu Family home by seven.

“Xu Ying, I’ve come to see you!” Gu Fuying’s loud voice carried from the gate into the courtyard.

Mr. Xu and Mrs. Xu heard the voice in the courtyard, their faces filled with confusion: “Yingying, someone is looking for you.”

“That brat Xu Shengcai, out for half the day, no idea when he’ll come back!” Mrs. Xu grumbled, though worry flickered in her eyes.

Xu Ying’s voice hurried out of the house. She had just finished trying a new recipe, waiting for Second Brother Xu to come home so they could eat.

Stepping out into the courtyard, she saw Gu Fuying at the gate.

“Fuying, Sister Qiu Ye, what brings you here?” her face beamed with surprise.

Gu Fuyin excitedly threw herself at her, hugging her tight: “You promised to come see me, why haven’t you? If you won’t come, then I had to come to see you.”@@novelbin@@

Xu Qiu Ye’s demeanor was mild, and she spoke with the refined grace of a lady, her face smiling: “Fuying missed you, so I came along with her. Are Uncle Xu and Aunt Xu at home?”

“They are,” Mrs. Xu’s strong voice called out.

“Come on in and let’s talk. Dinner’s ready—let’s sit down together and eat,” Mrs. Xu’s face beamed with an unceasing smile.