Having temporarily solved two major problems, Yang Lihua was in an excellent mood as she strolled back home.
Humming a tune, she lightly pushed open the door.
In the living room, Su Meilan, who was resting, and Yang Lijuan, who was about to cook, looked at her in confusion.
“Lihua, you’re back. Your second sister said you didn’t go to school all day today. What were you doing?”
Behind them, Yang Daqiang frowned as he listened.
Skipping school when she should be studying—what a waste of money. He regretted agreeing to let both daughters attend high school.
“Mom, Dad, I was thinking that since my big brother is going on a blind date soon, I went to the scrap station to see if I could find something useful. That way we could save some money for the family.”
She deliberately kept the rest of the news to herself.
The fewer people who knew, the better.
She could say it later when everything was settled.
Su Meilan nodded, approving the explanation.
After all, Yang Lixin’s blind date was currently the biggest event in the family.
At dinner, as usual, there was stewed cabbage and a plate of stir-fried eggs with chives. Even this counted as a rare good meal.
Yet Yang Lihua was only allowed a small chopstick portion.
In their household, the best food always went first to her father Yang Daqiang and elder brother Yang Lixin, then a large portion to her younger brother Yang Lijun.
Whatever remained was divided among the four women of the family.
Of course, it wasn’t evenly split.
Her mother would give the largest share to Yang Lihua first, then the remaining portion would be split between the three daughters.
Even with a single dish, the family hierarchy was clear.
She could neither complain about the unfairness nor feel happy about being slightly favored.
That night, Yang Lihua went to bed as usual.
She didn’t stay up studying because of tomorrow’s exam, nor did excitement keep her awake.
On Thursday morning, she attended class normally with Yang Lijuan as if the afternoon exam didn’t exist.
When the afternoon bell rang, however, Yang Lihua headed straight for the principal’s office.
“Lihua, class has started. Where are you going?” Yang Lijuan called from the classroom.
Yang Lihua ignored her.
She was in a hurry to take the exam and had no time to care about anything else.
The graduation exam went exactly as she expected.
Smoothly.
The exams were graded on the spot.
Shortly after she finished the last subject—math—all the papers had been marked.
Principal Wang Deming looked at the pages filled with red check marks and nodded in approval.
Although he had agreed to the early graduation test, Yang Lihua had truly earned this diploma through her own ability.
Standing quietly to the side, Yang Lihua noticed the principal’s increasingly gentle expression.
She already knew—
This matter was settled.
“Student Yang Lihua, your results are out. Very impressive. These scores rank among the top in the grade.”
He removed his glasses and set them on the desk.
“You’re getting this diploma to participate in a recruitment exam, right?”
Yang Lihua wasn’t sure what he meant by that.
Was he dissatisfied?
“Principal, I—”
He waved his hand to stop her.
“I’m pleased. I admire that you had the courage to come to me. I’m glad my students have the determination to try. I hope going to the countryside isn’t something you choose out of helplessness…”
He seemed to remember something and sighed without finishing the sentence.
Opening a drawer, he took out a graduation certificate that had already been prepared.
“You passed the graduation exams. This is your diploma. After today, you don’t need to come to school anymore.”
Even though she had expected this outcome, Yang Lihua still couldn’t help feeling excited when she held the certificate.
“Thank you, Principal!”
She bowed deeply.
Her situation had already deviated slightly from the original novel’s storyline.
That meant the plot could be changed.
She wasn’t forced to follow the story.
This realization relieved her greatly and gave her even more confidence for tomorrow’s recruitment exam.
“Go back and prepare well,” Principal Wang said softly.
“Lihua, in the future, don’t forget this courage—the determination to move forward and dare to act.”
I also wish you a bright future, blooming with success.
It was a pity for such a talented child.
If she could attend university, who knew what heights she might reach?
In this era, it was rare for someone with authority to give her such affirmation.
Holding the diploma tightly, her fingers turned pale and her eyes reddened.
She bowed again.
“Thank you, Principal! I won’t let you down!”
By the time she walked out of the school gate, she had calmed down.
Except for slightly moist eyes, she looked no different from usual.
On the way home, her hand kept touching the diploma in her pocket.
With this certificate, tomorrow’s recruitment exam would be much easier.
When she entered the house, the same scene from yesterday appeared again.
“Lihua, your second sister said you skipped class again this afternoon. What were you doing?”
Apparently Yang Lijuan had already reported it.
Yang Lihua glanced at her second sister eavesdropping from the kitchen doorway.
Ignoring her mother’s displeased expression, Yang Lihua wrapped her arm around Su Meilan’s and proudly pulled the diploma from her pocket.
“Mom, look what this is.”
Su Meilan opened the red booklet.
“A high school diploma?”
“Lihua, where did you get this? Didn’t you still have two months before graduation?”
Yang Lijuan rushed out of the kitchen.
“Lihua, where did you get that? You didn’t get scammed, did you? We’re still two months away from graduation.”
Yang Lihua rolled her eyes.
“What are you talking about? Principal Wang Deming personally issued it to me. How could it be fake?”
Mostly because she wouldn’t be going to school anymore.
If she didn’t tell them now, her second sister might twist the story later.