Chapter 8, Mission Two
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The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, She Ning got up. After dreaming about Chen Shengnan's ending last night and being startled by the system, she didn't get much sleep afterward.
After washing up in front of the water vat in the yard, She Ning habitually walked towards the kitchen in the yard.
On the right side of the yard, the kitchen door, which is usually closed, now reveals a faint, dim light.
"Mom, you didn't go out today?" Inside the half-open door, steamed sweet potatoes and cooked porridge were already on the stove.
Meanwhile, She Hongmei sat in front of the stove, tending the fire.
The fire was a bit too strong, so she pulled out a burning piece of wood and put it aside to extinguish it, while answering She Ning, "It's still early, we'll go later."
Xiahe Town is close to the port city, and influenced by the ideas there, people there are more accepting of new things and new policies. After the reform and opening up in 1978, when many people in other places were still hesitant and dared not change, many people in the town had already started businesses.
Many restaurant owners come to these villages to buy food and vegetables because the city doesn't have enough.
The She family has a partnership with one of the restaurants, providing them with fresh fruits and vegetables every day. On weekdays, She Hongmei would go to the fields to pick vegetables first, and then come back to eat breakfast at just the right time.
She Ning moved a small stool over and sat down next to She Hongmei to warm herself by the fire. The bright red flames reflected on her thin face, making it look rosier than usual.
She Hongmei turned her head to look at the person leaning against her: "A-Ning, do you want to continue going to school?"
She couldn't sleep last night and thought about many things. Two years ago, eleven-year-old Xiao She Ning stood in front of her and casually said that she was not going to study anymore and did not want to go to school. No matter how she tried to persuade her, she would not change her mind.
But She Hongmei knew that it wasn't that she disliked school or didn't want to study. She always ranked first in her class, and when she got home, she always had a book in her hand. Her eyes would light up when she read a book she liked. How could she not like reading? It was just that she was sensible and didn't want to increase the burden on her family, so she made that decision.
In the past two years, the family's debts have been almost completely paid off. In a couple of days, the payment for a batch of vegetables will be settled. Yesterday, the deputy director said that She Ning helped catch the suspect, and there will be a reward coming in a few days.
The hard times are over, and she wants to send both She Ning and She Ni back to school.
Education is the only way out, especially for girls. She Hongmei hopes that they can leave this small village and see a bigger world. She hopes that they can have more choices and be able to choose what they want to do, instead of being limited to what they can do.
"Xiao Ning, go back to school," She Hongmei said again.
She never had the chance in her life, but she hoped her daughter would, having experienced the heart of a big city, and always being attracted to those confident, independent women who seemed to be shining.
She Ning paused, holding the firewood. She hadn't expected She Hongmei to say these things. She had planned to leave the system's tasks hanging until a better opportunity arose.
She wanted to take it slow. Although the She family was doing much better now, there was only She's mother as the sole breadwinner, both inside and outside the home.
However, primary and junior high school education is not compulsory nowadays, and the sudden increase in tuition fees for two children has put even more pressure on the She family.
"Let me think about it," She Ning said.
She Hongmei knew that She Ning had her own ideas and didn't expect her to agree immediately. When she saw that she said she would consider it, she didn't say anything more.
For breakfast, She's mother cooked white porridge with sweet potatoes. Afterwards, She Ning made a big bowl of steamed eggs with three eggs. The ratio of warm water to egg liquid was 1.5:1. The steamed eggs were tender and smooth, making them perfect for children and the elderly.
Upon tasting such tender steamed egg for the first time, She Ni immediately declared that steamed egg is her absolute favorite food.
Her adorable appearance made everyone laugh, and they jokingly asked her where her favorite dish, white sugar mixed with tomatoes, ranked after she announced it yesterday.
The little girl was so embarrassed that she buried her head in her bowl and ate several bowls of porridge.
She Ning didn't keep She Hongmei waiting for too long. After washing the breakfast dishes, she took the initiative to call out to She's mother, who was about to go out to weed the cornfield.
"Mom, come to school with me today."
Her body is currently 13 years old, which would normally be in the second year of junior high school. Before She Ning transmigrated here, she had only graduated from university a few years ago. Although her grades were not those of a top student, she was still considered an excellent student.
Although the original owner dropped out of school, she continued to study on her own in secret, and there were many junior and senior high school textbooks collected by the girl hidden under the bed in her room.
She had flipped through those books, and the knowledge points were familiar to her. If the school hadn't prohibited it, she would have planned to skip directly to the senior year of high school.
Currently, junior high school enrollment is based on the principle of proximity to residence. Children from Xiahe Village, Shanghe Village, and surrounding villages are assigned to Xiahe Middle School in Xiahe Town. In addition, a primary school graduation certificate is required for enrollment.
High schools, on the other hand, select students based on their middle school entrance examination scores.
The original owner had just finished sixth grade when she dropped out of school, but she did not take the final exam, so she did not have an elementary school graduation certificate.
In the afternoon, when She Hongmei brought She Ning and She Ni to Xiahe Primary School, it was during class time and there were not many people walking around the school.
Following the original owner's memories, She Ning led them to the teachers' office. In the morning, She Ning's mother had asked someone to contact She Ning's homeroom teacher, saying that she would come to see her this afternoon for something.
She Hongmei carried some bananas and led She Ni behind her.
In She Ning's memory, her sixth-grade homeroom teacher was a strict and stubborn person. She always had a stern face in class. She was even more harsh in criticizing and educating naughty students who did not like to study. Many students in the class did not like her and felt that she was too unapproachable, just like Abbess Miejue in Jin Yong's novels.
The old lady smiled with relief when she saw them appear outside the door and warmly invited them to come in and sit in her office.
"You're here, it's nothing, why bring a gift? You can take your things back later."
"Xiao Ning is a smart girl. She studies well and is self-disciplined. She doesn't need anyone to supervise her studies. I felt it was a pity when she dropped out of school," Teacher Zhu said with emotion. "Fortunately, you have come to your senses now."
Teacher Zhu then inquired in detail about She Ning's situation over the past two years, learning that she had been studying junior high school material on her own. She then pulled out a few test papers from the side for her to work on; these were junior high school test papers that she had brought for relatives.
While She Ning was doing her homework, Teacher Zhu whispered to She Hongmei, "Is this your younger one? How old is he?"
She Hongmei nudged She Ni forward, saying, "She's seven years old by the traditional Chinese age reckoning. We've come here to ask you to arrange her schooling."
Teacher Zhu nodded and randomly checked She Ni's math and Chinese pinyin skills.
She Ni wasn't intimidated. When the original owner was studying, she also helped her younger sister study. She Ni's learning progress was at least at the third grade level. Teacher Zhu's questions were based on first grade, and she answered them almost as soon as Teacher Zhu finished explaining the questions.
"Good, just like her sister, she's a promising student." Teacher Zhu nodded in satisfaction. "I can decide on her enrollment now; she can come to school next Monday."
Over there, She Ning had also finished writing the questions.
After checking the test paper, Teacher Zhu put it down, turned around and took out a small notebook with a vermilion cover from the drawer: "I've kept this notebook for you for two years, and now it can finally be returned to its rightful owner."
Inside the notebook, on the left side, under a quote from a great man, was a photo of eleven-year-old She Ning, and on the right side was the information from her graduation certificate.
Student She Ning... meets the graduation requirements and is hereby granted graduation.
July 22, 1978.
"Teacher Zhu, this is..." She Ning was somewhat incredulous.
The original owner of this body did not take the final exams, so in principle, she shouldn't have this graduation certificate. She came here today hoping to find a way to make amends.
Teacher Zhu noticed her confusion: "You did not take the final exam, but we have all witnessed your academic performance over the past six years of elementary school. The principal and I both believe that you deserve this diploma."
Teacher Zhu did not say how many times she argued with the principal about this matter, nor did she mention how much she received as a bribe, as some people behind the scenes claimed.
She is innocent and has a clear conscience; she has done right by herself and her students.
She Ning's current level is perfectly capable of directly entering the second year of junior high school. Teacher Zhu asked them to wait a moment, and then she wrote a letter to She Ning by hand.
She Ning was instructed to take the letter to Director Xia of the junior high school section at Xiahe Middle School next Monday, saying that she had recommended the student. She also said that she would have someone give Director Xia a heads-up in advance.
When it was time to leave, Teacher Zhu resolutely refused to accept the fruit, so She Hongmei had no choice but to take the fruit back as is.
Before leaving, She Ning bowed deeply to the old lady.
The old lady smiled and waved her hand. The stern and stubborn person from the original owner's memories remained stern, but now possessed more warmth and strength.
On the way home, having solved the problem of her two daughters' schooling, She Hongmei felt relieved. Remembering that they didn't have any school supplies, she took them to town to buy stationery.
The convenience store was near Xiahe Middle School. She Hongmei took She Ni there to buy things.
She Ning then took a look at the situation at the middle school. Since she wasn't a student there, she couldn't go in, so she stood outside and glanced at it.
During labor class, students went to the fields one after another, carrying hoes, buckets, and other tools.
"Ah Ning? It really is you!" A surprised voice suddenly rang out, and then She Ning saw a petite girl with chubby cheeks squeeze out from the crowd. She threw her water bucket to someone else to hold and headed straight for She Ning.
"Wow, deskmate, you appear whenever I think of you, that's amazing!" She hugged She Ning and jumped up and down happily.
Her commotion was so loud that many students around looked over, including a few who seemed to be the girl's classmates, who also came over.
"Hello, I'm Lin Qian."
"Li Ni".
He Xiaoyan.
"I am She Ning."
"I guessed it, this little girl praises you to us every day." Lin Qian, the first girl to introduce herself, gently pinched Wang Weiwei's cheek and said, pretending to be jealous.
Having escaped her clutches, Wang Weiwei covered her face and hid behind She Ning, saying, "Ning is really amazing, I wasn't wrong."
"Yes, yes, your Aning is super amazing."
"I gave you snacks for free, you little ingrate."
"Ah, I'm not an ingrate!"
"They just like teasing Weiwei, don't take it personally." He Xiaoyan, with two braids, stood next to She Ning, watching them play around, and explained softly.
She secretly turned her head to look at She Ning with a hint of curiosity.
He Xiaoyan had actually heard of Wang Weiwei before she met her. Shanghe Village and Xiahe Village were not far apart, and the two primary schools had always been competing with each other, from first grade to sixth grade, mid-term and final exams.
She Ning was always first in her grade; in her homeroom teacher's eyes, she was the kind of student everyone admired.
He Xiaoyan and Lin Qian are both from Shanghe Village. For six years of elementary school, they were always overshadowed by She Ning's grades. Although they were frustrated, they were also convinced and kept trying to catch up.
That year, She Ning dropped out of school, and they felt sorry for her for a long time.
They only heard the name again after they met Wang Weiwei in junior high school.
She Ning shook her head. "Don't say that. I should be thanking you."
She had always assumed that the books under the original owner's bed were found somewhere, until today when she heard their names, she realized that they were all gifts from them.
On the title page of the book are their names or names with the same surname as them, although they have been crossed out, they can still be made out in the blur.
On the way back, She Ni happily shared her school supplies with She Ning.
She Hongmei told her to buy whatever she wanted. The shop had all sorts of trendy pencil cases and a variety of pretty schoolbags, but she only bought two pencils and an eraser.
She Ning patted her little rocket launcher and said, "Nini has such good taste; the pencils and erasers she picked are so beautiful."
Hearing her sister's affirmation, She Ni's expression was visibly happy, and she fluttered around them like a little butterfly.
It's actually just a very ordinary wooden pencil and a light yellow square eraser.
But for She Ni, who had never had these things before, these were her most beautiful and precious treasures.
After returning home, She Hongmei hurriedly picked up her tools and went to the fields. She had already wasted a day and hadn't even started working in the fields yet.
She Ning cleaned up the kitchen and scooped a large grass carp out of the basin, planning to cook it in three different ways that evening.
"Beep, the school reporting task is 50% complete. Please keep up the good work, host."
The system's voice suddenly rang out, but She Ning, who was already immune to it, could calmly accept its sudden appearance.
50% complete.
It seems that only by successfully enrolling in secondary school can the task of reporting to the school be considered a success.
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