"yes."

"Is this your fellow contestant?"

"Uh-huh!"

"Is it still a piglet?"

"No, Xiao Hei is already three years old."

The little girl puffed out her chest proudly and said, "Don't underestimate Xiao Hei because of his small stature and short legs. We won first place last year!"

Princess Zhaoyang was extremely surprised.

"You were the champions last year?"

“That’s right,” the little girl said excitedly. “We won ten piglets. They grew up and were sold this year. The money we earned was used to build a new house for our family.”

Princess Zhaoyang gave a thumbs up: "Truly amazing."

"Thanks."

The little girl spoke confidently.

Princess Zhaoyang asked, "Do you also want to win first place this year?"

The little girl nodded without hesitation.

"The village chief said that academies will be opened in every city, where boys and girls can study. Food, lodging, and textbooks will all be free!"

My older brother, sister, and I all want to go to school, but if we don't work, our parents won't have anything to eat.

If we can win the championship again, we can sell the produce and use it to buy food.

Ji Yunhua interjected, "Why does your parents go hungry if you don't work? Can't they work?"

The little girl nodded.

“Father is blind, and Mother has bad knees and can’t stand for too long.”

Princess Zhaoyang and the others fell silent.

After a moment of silence, Princess Zhaoyang patted the little girl's pigtails and smiled, "Then I wish you will also get first place this year."

"Um!"

The little girl smiled, her eyes curving like the moon.

"Xiao Hei and I will definitely win!"

"Hmph~"

The little black pig wagged its tail and grunted twice in response.