Lu Yuning looked at the Lu Yubai sitting beside her in amazement.
Lu Yubai was the youngest son of Second Uncle Lu, making him Lu Yuning’s youngest male cousin. He was the twelfth child among the Lu family’s third generation.
He was about the same age as Lu Shier from Ninth Grandma’s family next door. He was ten years old this year and should have been starting fourth grade in September.
But now, naturally, that was no longer going to happen.
Second Uncle Lu was even more stunned than Grandpa Lu.
Usually, he only knew how to bury his head in work. Being able to bring home some money or supplies to help the family was already something he considered an achievement.
As for the family’s several children, he wasn’t very familiar with them, and neither was Second Aunt Lu.
After all, neither of them was particularly well-educated. They could read, and they had basically attended elementary school or junior high, but if you asked whether they had much talent for studying…
The answer was really no.
Even Grandma Lu, who was such a strong and ambitious woman, had to admit that there weren’t many people in their large family who had a natural talent for studying.
Otherwise, why had Lu Yuxin and the others chosen to work first and then go to university?
Wasn’t it because they were afraid they might fail the entrance examination, end up with neither option working out, and even drag the whole family into hardship?
However, Lu Yuxin and the other older cousins were too far removed from Lu Yuning and the other younger children. Lu Yuning didn’t know whether Lu Yuxin actually had a talent for studying.
What she could see now was that her little cousin really did have the brains for it!
Grandma Lu clearly thought the same way. Seeing that Second Uncle Lu was still standing there in a daze, she snorted impatiently and ignored him, turning directly to the principal of Hong’an Elementary School.
“Hongjun, tell me, how exactly is this child supposed to continue his studies?”
If they were simply sending the child to junior high school to register, there was actually no need for Principal Lu Hongjun to come all the way here himself.
Clearly, he had another purpose for making this trip.
Sure enough, Lu Hongjun smiled and said, “Tenth Aunt, it’s like this. Earlier, Yubai wanted to prove that he had the ability to skip grades, so he participated in several important competitions. The results of those competitions have all been released now…”
As he spoke, Lu Hongjun took out a stack of certificates from the briefcase he had brought with him and smiled as he showed them to Grandma Lu and the others.
“Take a look. These are the rankings Yubai achieved at the city and provincial levels, along with the prize money…”
As he said that, he took out another fairly large envelope from the briefcase.
The envelope looked stuffed, and Lu Yuning guessed that it must be filled with money!
She turned around and leaned closer to Grandma Lu to look at the certificates in her hands.
Her eyes immediately widened!
Good heavens!
They were all first-place awards!
She couldn’t help looking at Lu Yubai with admiration.
Lu Yubai remained completely calm. He didn’t care much about these things and simply said to Lu Hongjun, “Principal, you’ve been building up to this for too long.”
He had said so much without even getting to the main point. After all, he was still young, so he was starting to feel a little impatient.
Lu Hongjun smiled.
“Don’t rush. Your grandma, parents, and the others need to understand your talent first. Only then will they know how to support you in the future, right?”
Lu Yubai pursed his lips and nodded.
When he saw Lu Yuning staring at him with shining eyes, he couldn’t help smiling. He raised his hand and rubbed the top of her head.
“What is it, Little Sister? Don’t you recognize your Little Brother anymore?”
Lu Yuning sighed emotionally.
“Little Brother, how is your brain so good? Can you teach me?”
Lu Yubai laughed.
“You? Your brain is smart too. As long as you don’t go to school just thinking about playing like your Third Brother, you can skip grades and take the university entrance examination just like me!”
Lu Yuning’s eyes widened even further!
What?
Her Little Brother had actually planned to skip grades and take the university entrance examination?
That was indeed Lu Yubai’s plan.
He was smart, and from a very young age, he had already understood that his family’s circumstances couldn’t afford to support him through higher education. So, from the moment he started school, he had already been thinking of ways around it.
It wasn’t impossible for him to follow his older brothers and sisters, graduate from high school, find a job, and then take the university entrance examination.
But if he had the ability to study directly while still in school, why wouldn’t he do that?
Wouldn’t it be simpler?
So after he started school, he had always paid attention to how he could continue his studies and eventually take the university entrance examination without placing an additional burden on his family.
Now, he had already found a way.
Grandma Lu and the others passed the stack of certificates around and looked at them one by one. The more they looked, the more shocked they became.
Grandma Lu and Grandpa Lu exchanged a glance. They had more or less guessed why Lu Hongjun had come here, and they could see the determination in each other’s eyes.
They absolutely had to support Yubai in going to university!
Seeing the change in their expressions, Lu Hongjun felt reassured as well. He smiled and explained the reason for his visit that day.
“Tenth Uncle, Tenth Aunt, after seeing how hard Yubai has worked during this period, you should understand his talent. This is the prize money he has earned from participating in competitions recently. And in the future, he can continue participating in competitions…”
“For him, these things are all within his ability. So I hope that you can support him in continuing his education. He has the ability to get into a good university, and in the future, he can contribute even more to the country’s development!”
Of course, once Lu Yubai succeeded and entered university, his future after graduation would be full of opportunities.
That would be a tremendous benefit not only to the entire Lu family but also to the entire Hong’an Brigade!
Lu Hongjun genuinely hoped that Tenth Uncle and the others would support Lu Yubai.
Grandpa Lu had already recovered from his shock. He made his decision and nodded solemnly.
“Hongjun, don’t worry. We absolutely won’t hold Yubai back!”
Lu Hongjun breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.
“With that assurance from you, Tenth Uncle, I’m relieved. I’ll leave first, then. When Yubai is about to start junior high school, I’ll come back and accompany you to town to handle his enrollment.”
As for the fact that Yubai would still need to take an entrance examination to enter junior high school in town, Lu Hongjun wasn’t worried about it and didn’t mention it to Grandpa Lu and the others.
For Lu Yubai, that examination was practically child’s play. There was no need to worry about it at all.
Grandpa Lu and the others didn’t know this either and didn’t ask.
Lu Yuning also didn’t realize that students skipping grades at this time still had to take entrance examinations, so it didn’t occur to her either.
Right now, she was more curious about how Lu Yubai had managed to get first place in all these competitions.
Every single one was first place!
She was also very curious about how much prize money Lu Yubai could earn from these competitions.
Grandpa Lu had Second Uncle Lu see Lu Hongjun out. He and Grandma Lu then sat in the main room, looking at Lu Yubai with great emotion.
“In the past, I always thought our children were pretty good at studying. I never expected Yubai to be even better than your older brothers and sisters!”
Today was an important occasion, so Lu Hongjun had asked Lu Yubai to return home early and tell Grandpa Lu about it, so that the whole family could come back and listen.
Thus, apart from the two older male cousins who were already working in town and the eldest female cousin, Lu Yutao, who was married, everyone else was present.
Third Cousin Lu Yujun worked as a cashier at the forestry farm. It wasn’t too far from the brigade, so he had also come back today. Normally, he lived with his wife in the small courtyard provided by the forestry farm and rarely returned to the brigade.
Lu Yujun glanced at Second Aunt Lu before saying to Grandpa Lu, “Grandpa, whatever Yubai needs for his studies in the future, just tell me. If I can afford it, I’ll take care of it for him.”
It was not easy for the family to finally have such a smart child. Getting into university in the future was practically a certainty.
As the oldest among the third generation of the family, Lu Yujun naturally had to step forward and make his position clear.
Sixth Cousin Lu Yuyang immediately nodded as well.
“That’s right, Grandpa. I’ve already found a temporary job in the city. It’s at a shirt factory. Although it’s not stable yet, I’m sure I’ll be able to stay at the factory in the future. Don’t worry. As long as Yubai wants to study, no matter how long he studies, I’m willing to support him!”
When it came to the Third Household, Lu Yuqing spoke on behalf of the third generation of their branch.
“Grandpa, I’ve also found a job in the provincial capital. I passed the examination for a permanent position as a primary school teacher. Don’t worry, I support Yubai too.”
Grandpa Lu was extremely gratified.
“Good. That’s how it should be. You’re all good children. Your grandma and I know that.”
“But for now, the two of us old folks can still manage Yubai’s affairs. You all just focus on your jobs.”
“Yuwei and Yuqing, you’re getting older too. You need to find husbands. Even though you’ve found jobs, marriage is still an important matter and can’t be taken lightly.”
“And you, Yuyang, you’re not that young anymore either. You should also find a wife. Work hard for the next couple of years. Once your job is stable, your future life will be better.”
Grandpa Lu smiled.
“Don’t worry. Your grandpa is still strong. I can keep working for another twenty years!”
Lu Yubai found their conversation far too emotional and said helplessly,
“Grandpa, why don’t you look at the prize money from my competitions first?”
He had asked the principal to come and tell his family that he wanted to skip grades and continue his studies. He hadn’t done it to make his family worry!
Grandpa Lu nodded with a smile.
“Right, right, right. We should take a good look. Let’s see what our Yubai has gotten from these competitions.”
As he spoke, he picked up the envelope Lu Hongjun had left on the table.
He opened it and immediately sucked in a sharp breath.
Grandma Lu frowned and leaned over to take a look, and her eyes immediately widened as well.
Second Aunt Lu leaned over and directly let out an exclamation.
“My heavens!”
Lu Yuning quickly stretched her neck to look.
Good heavens!
They were stacks of brand-new ten-yuan bills!
Judging by the amount, there had to be at least several hundred yuan!
And there was also a bundle after bundle of ration coupons inside!
Grandma Lu could hardly believe it.
“This really is the prize money you won from your competitions, Yubai?”
This was far too generous!
Lu Yubai nodded.
“Winning first place in a city-level competition gives me one hundred yuan and ten coupons. Aside from industrial coupons and the harder-to-obtain bicycle, radio, and watch coupons, I can ask the city competition committee for things like cloth coupons. They can help me get those…”
“It’s the same for the provincial competitions, except the prize money is three hundred yuan and thirty coupons. I also represented our province in the national finals afterward. I might even have to go to Beijing for that.”
Grandpa Lu sucked in another sharp breath.
Good heavens, their family really had produced a Wenqu Star—a child blessed with extraordinary scholarly talent!
Lu Yuning was deeply shocked.
So the saying that “there is a golden house in books” really was true!
Lu Yujun and the others were also extremely shocked, but they quickly understood why Lu Yubai had asked the principal to come today.
Lu Yujun couldn’t help laughing. He reached out and patted Lu Yubai on the shoulder.
“Good kid! You’re much better than us older cousins!”
Lu Yuyang nodded.
“Exactly! With you being this capable, if I, as your older brother, turn out useless in the future, won’t people laugh at me? Little Brother, you’re really bringing honor to our family, but you’re also giving your older brother quite a lot of pressure!”
Everyone couldn’t help bursting into laughter!
Grandma Lu immediately waved her hand.
“All right. This money should be kept for Yubai’s studies and education in the future! As for these coupons…”
Lu Yubai quickly said, “Grandma, just give them to my older brothers and second sisters for their marriages. I’m still young. I can continue participating in competitions and earning money in the future. I’m not in a hurry.”
Grandma Lu smiled kindly.
“Good boy. Consider this something your older brothers and sisters are borrowing from you. They can pay you back in the future.”
Lu Yuwei and the others nodded, all agreeing that it was only right.
Lu Yuning watched them, her heart warming.
See?
This was what a large family in this era was supposed to be like.