The next day, Zhang Hongmei got up, and Liu Jingze also got up and prepared the porridge.

"Jingze, why are you up so early?"

"If you're awake, get up and eat. Rice porridge."

"Haha, having someone cook for you is happiness."

"Really? Then I'll make it for you every day if I have the chance."

"Forget it, let's talk about it after you learn how to cook."

"Hehe, I'm just learning from you. Actually, I'm pretty good at cooking ordinary dishes. How about I show you my skills at lunch?"

Are you sure you can do it?

Liu Jingze: How should I answer this question?

"Okay, definitely. We'll make flatbread and stewed cabbage with frozen tofu for lunch."

"Alright! I'll wait and see."

"Eat quickly, there's only pickled vegetables."

"Okay, pickled vegetables will do just fine."

Zhang Hongmei picked up the bowl and took a bite. Hmm, it's alright, but it's a bit mushy.

"Hongmei, are you going to make a phone call?"

"Go ahead and notify them quickly, cough! We'll have to call them when the results come out."

Liu Jingze was pleased. It seemed that Hongmei didn't have any special feelings for Zhang Shouyi, which was good.

"I'll go with you. We're picking up the results the day after tomorrow. Should we go check the scores on Wednesday night?"

"Isn't that enough?"

"I'm anxious."

"Hehe, I don't see you being this anxious about your own grades."

"Of course." Of course I'm anxious, I want to pull you to my side as soon as possible.

After finishing their meal, the two of them weren't in a hurry. They tidied up the house inside and out before walking to the post office.

Because of the time of day, there weren't many pedestrians on the street. And it was cold; who would want to go out for a stroll for no reason?

Zhang Hongmei felt a little uncomfortable in her stomach, but didn't pay much attention to it.

Liu Jingze was in a good mood the whole time, and he didn't feel bad even when Zhang Hongmei sometimes ignored him.

When I arrived at the post office, it was already 8:30.

"Hongmei, what brings you here?"

"Sister Huang Ying, I'm here to make a phone call."

"Then you go first, and come find me later."

The operator connected Zhang Shouyi's office to the phone.

This phone was Zhang Shouyi's private phone. Zhang Shouyi always hoped that Zhang Hongmei would call him, but he was always disappointed.

The phone rang, and Zhang Shouyi paused for a moment before picking up the receiver.

"Hello, this is the X City Post Office."

"Hello." This time it really was Zhang Hongmei's call; otherwise, no one in X City would know this phone number.

Zhang Hongmei took the microphone from the operator and said, "Hello?"

"Red Plum?"

"Yes, it's me, Brother Zhang. How are you and Uncle Zhang doing?"

"It's all good, it's just that your Uncle Zhang keeps talking about you."

"Hehe, I called to tell you not to come over for the New Year. The snow here is too heavy and it's not safe on the road."

"I'll think about it some more. Have your results come out yet?"

"Not yet, the results will be released the day after tomorrow so I can apply to universities. I'll call you again the day after tomorrow, okay. You don't need to think about it anymore, so don't come over. If I get in, I'll take a bus there on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month. If I don't get in, I'll prepare to stay home and farm."

"Haha, you have a great attitude. I can tell you. You got a perfect score in math, but you were two points short in politics, five points short in Chinese, and one point short in history. Do you think you can make it through with these scores?"

"You already know? I feel it will definitely work. You don't need to come at all. Even if you did come, I wouldn't dare take a car. I'll take the train for safety."

"Okay. Then we won't go. I'll mail you some food?"

"No need, I'll be back in Liujiatun on the eleventh day of the twelfth lunar month, so I won't be able to receive it even if it's mailed to me."

"Then you can come alone. You don't need to bring anything. I'll prepare everything for you."

"Fine, let it go. We'll talk when we meet."

Zhang Hongmei handed the microphone to the operator before finally breaking into a smile. Although she was confident, she still felt uneasy without truly knowing the answer.

He was relieved to hear about the results from Zhang Shouyi.

Liu Jingze felt uneasy. Judging from Zhang Hongmei's tone, he knew that she and Zhang Shouyi must be very familiar with each other. Although he had never met them before, they must not be strangers.

Seeing Zhang Hongmei put down the phone and then grin again made him even more annoyed.

"Hongmei, why are you so happy?"

"Brother Jingze, Zhang Shouyi just told me my grades. I'm sure I'll get into Capital University."

"That's great, let's go home." Liu Jingze was genuinely worried. Was Zhang Shouyi being too concerned about Zhang Hongmei? How did he know her grades first?

I couldn't help but feel nervous, realizing that I was starting to feel a sense of crisis.

"No rush, I'll go check on Sister Huang Ying first." Zhang Hongmei said, then turned to look for Huang Ying.

Liu Jingze had no choice but to follow behind Zhang Hongmei, not wanting to leave her side for even a moment.

The two chattered away about gossip, and Huang Ying eventually learned that Zhang Hongmei had gone back home on the eleventh.

"Then I won't need to prepare newspapers for you anymore, right?"

"Yes, I won't be coming back before the New Year."

"We were hoping you could find some New Year's goods for us."

"It's probably going to be difficult. There are no pigs left to kill in the village, and you can't just run into a wild boar whenever you want."

"Sigh! Another bland and tasteless year. No meat at all."

"Maybe there will be a supply this year?"

"I'm looking forward to it too. When will you find out your results?"

"Go to school on the tenth day of the month."

"Then I wish you good results."

"Thank you, Sister Huang Ying. I'll head back now."

"Go on, come find me if you need anything." Huang Ying saw Zhang Hongmei and Liu Jingze out.

"Hongmei, do you know the exact score?"

"I know, I got full marks in math, 95 in Chinese, 98 in politics, and 99 in history."

"Good heavens! She's the top scorer in the country! How is my Hongmei so amazing?" Liu Jingze, who is usually very refined, laughed exaggeratedly.

Zhang Hongmei looked at Liu Jingze in confusion. Had she misheard? What? My Hongmei?

Seeing Zhang Hongmei's puzzled expression, Liu Jingze knew he had let his guard down and said something inappropriate, but he didn't explain.

“Hongmei, when you go to school the day after tomorrow, it will cause a sensation in your class and among your teachers, and even become famous throughout the city.”

"Can I not go? I don't like being watched by people."

"Hehe, this is an honor that so many people dream of, but you look down on it. If people find out, you'll be criticized."

“I really don’t like that. I’ll go to the school on Wednesday afternoon to see if I can ask the principal to fill out the application in advance.”

"Okay, let's go ask your homeroom teacher on Wednesday."

“If possible, let’s go back to Liujiatun first thing Thursday morning. I don’t like being bothered by strangers.”

"Okay, whatever you say, I think there's no problem. With these grades, you can just apply to a university in the capital."