“How is that possible! Why would the principal give you an early graduation certificate? Lihua, there are some things you absolutely can’t do! How will you face people in the future…”
Yang Lijuan shrieked sharply.
Her third sister couldn’t have done something improper, could she? Just for a diploma—she’d better not drag her into trouble.
“Shut up! Listen to the nonsense you’re saying.”
Su Meilan frowned and glared fiercely at her foolish second daughter.
She spoke whatever came to mind, turning baseless guesses into something that sounded absolutely certain.
“Lihua, tell Mom what happened.”
Although Su Meilan didn’t love Yang Lihua the most, whenever her two sons weren’t around, it was easier for her to show some affection toward this daughter.
“Mom, this afternoon I went to the principal to take the early graduation exam. I passed all the subjects, so he issued the diploma. I didn’t tell you earlier because I was afraid things might not work out.”
“The moment I received the certificate, the first thing I wanted to do was bring it home for you to see. I thought it would make you happy. Besides, if I stop attending school two months earlier, the family can save some expenses—and we can keep more money for my brother’s wedding.”
Yang Lihua ignored Yang Lijuan’s foolish accusations and spoke with a bright smile.
“Oh my! My daughter is really capable—just like me.”
Then Su Meilan turned toward Yang Lijuan.
“Look at you. You’re two years older than Lihua, yet you should really learn from your younger sister.”
“Alright, Mom, don’t scold Second Sister anymore. She’s been busy with housework all day and has done a lot.”
Yang Lihua pulled Su Meilan gently to stop her.
“There’s no point arguing about it.”
“By the way, Second Sister, if you want to graduate early too, you can go directly to the principal. He’s very nice. As long as you pass the exams, you can get your diploma early.”
Since everyone already knew she had graduated early, she might as well generously give her hardworking but thoughtless sister a hint.
Su Meilan nodded when she heard this.
“Your third sister is right. You should go see the principal too…”
At the mention of the principal, Yang Lijuan shook her head like a rattling drum.
“I… I don’t dare. And my grades aren’t as good as Third Sister’s anyway. Graduating later is the same.”
In truth, she didn’t understand why anyone would want to graduate two months early.
Following the normal path was perfectly fine.
And going to see the principal? She was already afraid of talking to teachers—let alone someone more powerful than them.
Seeing Yang Lijuan’s timid attitude, Su Meilan frowned slightly and was about to say something.
Yang Lihua immediately interrupted.
“Mom, since I’ve already graduated, I should help the family more. I noticed the soap coupons and match coupons for this month haven’t been used yet. Tomorrow I can go early to the supply and marketing cooperative to line up and buy what we need.”
“And in a few days my brother’s marriage might be settled. We’ll probably need to buy quite a lot of things then.”
“Mom, give me the household registration book too. That way I can buy the items that require quotas.”
Su Meilan paused, clearly surprised that Yang Lihua would volunteer to handle these household errands.
Perhaps the girl had really grown up.
Still, she didn’t suspect anything.
Yang Lihua had always completed any task she promised without fail.
She wouldn’t misuse the money.
Neither Su Meilan nor Yang Lijuan suspected her intentions.
“Alright. I’ll give you the household register later. Be careful with it—if you lose it, you’ll have to go to the police station to replace it.”
During dinner, the usually silent Yang Daqiang suddenly looked at Yang Lihua.
“Now that you’ve graduated, what are your plans?”
She was already a grown girl. She couldn’t just stay at home forever.
Meeting her father’s gaze without hesitation, Yang Lihua replied,
“First I’ll help the family handle my brother’s wedding. Then I’ll spend some time looking for a job.”
Yang Daqiang nodded.
“Your younger brother is still young and needs money for his future. The family won’t be able to help you much.”
After saying that, his gaze seemed to linger briefly on Yang Lihua’s face—or perhaps not.
After dinner, Su Meilan handed Yang Lihua the household registration book and a stack of ration coupons.
With the household register and her diploma, tomorrow’s exam would truly be foolproof.
Just as she turned to return to her room, Yang Lihua suddenly heard her father’s voice coming from her parents’ bedroom.
“Eldest son is about to get married and needs money. As for the second and third daughters, I don’t expect them to support us in old age. Letting them attend high school was already good enough.”
“How their lives turn out after this is up to them.”
Su Meilan leaned against the bed and nodded in agreement.
“It depends on their ability. If they can find jobs, that’s best. If not, I’ll find a matchmaker for them. We can’t let daughters we raised end up going to the countryside with nothing.”
“That’s a good idea,” Yang Daqiang said.
“You can start looking for matchmakers now. Choose candidates in advance. Don’t wait until the neighborhood office comes urging us.”
“Don’t worry, I know what to do. Let’s sleep—we still have work tomorrow.”
The bedroom fell silent.
Yang Lihua returned to her room expressionlessly.
She had already known this, hadn’t she?
Her parents didn’t love her as much as she once imagined.
In small matters they might indulge her wishes.
But when it came to spending money or using connections, they would never think of their daughters.
Before dawn, Yang Lihua was already awake.
Quietly getting out of bed, she carefully wrapped her diploma and household registration book and placed them deep inside her pocket.
On the stove, Su Meilan had already left a basket and the money and coupons for today’s purchases.
Yang Lihua hurried through the morning, buying everything she needed.
At noon she barely swallowed a few bites of food before rushing to the Hongxing Textile Factory.
That afternoon, the employee classroom in the factory was so quiet that only the scratching sound of pens against paper could be heard.
Yang Lihua sat at her desk, completely focused on answering the test questions.
The one-hour exam seemed to pass in the blink of an eye.
But waiting for the results afterward felt painfully long.
The candidates who took the exam stood scattered around, each wearing extremely nervous expressions.
Yang Lihua noticed that most of them seemed to know each other.
Even if they didn’t know names, they roughly knew whose child each person was.
She overheard whispers among these internal candidates.
“I heard the textile factory is only recruiting ten people this time.”
“Ten? But more than fifty people registered for the exam.”
“That acceptance rate is really low.”
“I heard the vice factory director’s niece also came.”
“What? Doesn’t that mean the spot is already reserved?”
Listening to these inside rumors, Yang Lihua felt her heart sink.
Could an outsider like her really compete with the factory employees’ children?
Even the longest wait eventually ended.
More than an hour later, someone from the factory’s personnel department came out holding a list.
“The following names will stay and follow me to handle the formalities. Everyone else may leave.”
“Wang Dajun, Zhao Shufen…”
As one name after another was read, cheers erupted from the crowd.
Meanwhile, Yang Lihua’s heart sank lower and lower.
Until the ninth name was called—
Her name still hadn’t appeared.