Free Web NovelChapter 123: Chapter 123: Leaving the Village
Mrs. Tang was stunned for a moment after hearing what Su Li said.
"What? What did you say?"
Su Li glanced at her. "I said I’m leaving tomorrow. I’m going to live in the county seat."
Mrs. Tang finally heard her clearly this time, and her face fell. "I don’t approve."
"I don’t need your approval. I’m just informing you," Su Li said, shooting her a look. "The factory can’t run without me. I’m leaving tomorrow."
Mrs. Tang was at a loss for words.
After a long moment, she finally said, "How were you able to manage before? You should stay here. It’s just me and Momo at home..."
"I had no choice before. It’s different now that the factory is open. I have to be there."
Su Li cut her off. "I want to take Little Tang Mo to the county seat for a while. Let him get used to life in the town."
"Absolutely not!" Mrs. Tang immediately objected. "I can’t be without Momo."
"He’ll have to join his father at his military post eventually," Su Li said coolly.
Mrs. Tang was speechless again and lowered her head, about to wipe away tears.
"This is for Little Mo’s own good. He can’t stay in these mountains his whole life. Stop your sniveling. If the time comes and Little Mo refuses to go live with his father, then you’ll really have something to cry about."
Su Li couldn’t stand Mrs. Tang’s whining and crying, so she spoke bluntly.
Mrs. Tang was so taken aback she couldn’t even cry anymore. "But he doesn’t need to go specifically to get used to it..."
"Little Mo wants to go with me. Other than a couple of trips to the county seat for market day, he’s spent his whole life in the village. It’s time for him to see the outside world, so he won’t be bullied or laughed at by city folk later on."
Su Li had already discussed this with Little Tang Mo.
Mrs. Tang fell silent at that last sentence. At first, she couldn’t accept Su Li leaving. But then Su Li dropped the bombshell that she was taking Little Tang Mo, and her train of thought was completely derailed. She had subconsciously accepted Su Li’s move to the county seat, and her focus shifted entirely to the fact that Little Tang Mo was being taken away.
Su Li continued, "It’s just in the county seat. If you miss him, I’ll bring him back for a visit."
Mrs. Tang was still reluctant, but she knew Su Li had a point and could only accept it helplessly.
Su Li was too firm. Mrs. Tang, who was known for bullying the weak and fearing the strong, was completely powerless against her.
The next day, amid Mrs. Tang’s reluctance, Su Li and Little Tang Mo left Xinghua Village for the county seat.
This time, Su Li carried even more luggage.
She had packed up everything that belonged to her, leaving nothing behind.
She even brought the money and the ring Tang Yuanxiao had sent her, none of which she had spent, ready to return them to him when she went to get the paperwork done.
She had also packed a lot of Little Tang Mo’s things.
It was a lot of stuff, but Su Li got lucky and managed to hitch a ride for her things on a mule.
Mules were the primary means of transporting heavy loads in the countryside, and everyone used them to carry goods on market day.
The round-faced woman she’d met earlier had a mule and happened to be going to the market, so she gave Su Li’s luggage a ride. Little Tang Mo even got to ride the mule instead of walking.
"Thank you, Aunt Hua," said Little Tang Mo, who, despite being nervous and fascinated after being lifted onto the mule, didn’t forget his manners.
"Don’t mention it, don’t mention it," the round-faced woman said, waving her hand.
As she chatted with the round-faced woman, accompanied by Little Tang Mo’s happy laughter, Xinghua Village grew more distant, and the county seat drew ever closer.
They arrived at the county seat in the afternoon.
The round-faced woman went to do her shopping, needing to hurry back to the village. After saying goodbye, Su Li took Little Tang Mo to Grandma Li’s house.
"Little Mo will be staying here with me for now."
Little Tang Mo held tightly to Su Li’s hand, his face full of wonder as he looked around. "Mommy, I like it here."
’As long as I’m with Mommy, I could be anywhere, and I’d love it!’ freёwebnovel.com
He was so happy.
"Good boy." Having left Xinghua Village, Su Li was also very happy.
After resting for the night, Su Li brought Little Tang Mo to the clothing factory the next day. She let Little Tang Mo play off to the side with Little Cao while she had a meeting with Li Hongqin and Yin Cuihua to take care of some business.
After lunch, seeing that Little Tang Mo and Little Cao were playing well together, Su Li asked Li Hongqin and the others to watch them and went to Fengcheng First Middle School by herself.
The answers for the college entrance exam had been released. The school had students come back to check their answers, estimate their scores, and then fill out their university applications.
Back then, you had to choose your universities before the official exam results were announced.
Su Li hadn’t come in the morning. She only quickly checked the answers in the afternoon while everyone else was discussing their estimated scores.
The entire campus was filled with only seniors, gathered in small groups, discussing which schools and majors they were applying to.
Qin Shanshan’s score estimate was quite high—the highest in the class, in fact. She was very confident after checking the answers. Though she feigned modesty, in her heart, she was sure she would get in.
’In any case, even if I don’t get in, I’ll definitely have a better score than Su Li,’ she thought. Amid everyone’s envious praise, she laughed and chatted coquettishly, feeling as if victory was already in her grasp.
Su Li had no energy to pay attention to these petty thoughts of hers. She simply checked her answers, felt confident about her results, and went straight to the head teacher to fill out her application.
Unlike the other indecisive students, she showed no hesitation. She took a deep breath and, with solemn and devout focus, filled out her choice stroke by stroke.
Each person could list three university choices, and admissions were based on that ranked preference.
Everyone else filled in three choices, and some even felt that wasn’t enough, but Su Li only put down one.
The head teacher took her form, glanced at it, and nodded.
"Ambitious."
After praising her, he handed it back. "Fill in your second and third choices before you give this to me."
"I’m finished," Su Li said with a smile. "This is my only choice. It’s the only school I want to attend."
’The university I dreamed of in my past life.’
"I know you’re a good student, and I don’t want to pour cold water on your ambitions, but you should still fill in two more," the head teacher persuaded her gently. "I’m your teacher, and I have a responsibility to you. I can’t let you have any regrets later."
The head teacher’s words sounded a bit familiar. Su Li felt a little helpless, but she knew he genuinely had her best interests at heart.
Su Li had wanted to stand her ground, but the head teacher kept trying to persuade her, even recommending other related schools. He was so earnest and persistent that he was about to get the principal to talk to her. In the end, she couldn’t bear to let down his good intentions, so she obediently filled in her second and third choices.
"Good, good." The head teacher wiped the sweat from his forehead and finally breathed a sigh of relief. "As long as you filled them in. I was worried you’d be too stubborn."
Su Li smiled, a little embarrassed.
"They’re all schools in the Imperial City," the head teacher remarked with emotion. "It’s rare for students from our school to get into a university in the Imperial City. Most only make it to the provincial capital. If you’re accepted, you’ll bring glory to our Fengcheng First Middle School, and I’ll be proud too."
Su Li chatted with the head teacher a bit longer before finally saying her goodbyes.
With her application submitted, all that was left was to wait for her scores and the acceptance letter.
That would be next month’s business. In those days, exams were graded by hand, and there were no computers or phones to check scores. Everyone had to come to the school to see the results.
Su Li and Little Tang Mo spent a few comfortable and heartwarming days in the county seat. Every day, they would go to the factory for a bit, then wander around town, eating, drinking, and shopping.
Su Li wasn’t short on money, and she and Little Tang Mo lived a carefree life. They were so happy they almost forgot about everything else.
Unfortunately, Mrs. Tang arrived soon after.
She missed Little Tang Mo terribly and had only managed to endure a week before coming to get him.
