Free Web NovelChapter 43: Chapter 43: A Good Start
Fengcheng County was a mountainous, agricultural area with only one high school.
Teacher Fan knew the way well and led Su Li directly to Fengcheng First Middle School. After a few twists and turns, they arrived at the staff apartment building.
The apartment building had been renovated two years prior. It was a little old but not run-down. "This is Principal Zhang’s home."
Teacher Fan had brought Su Li straight to the county high school principal’s home. Su Li was taken aback for a moment by Teacher Fan’s directness.
"The principal and I are old friends. She has the final say in this matter, so I decided to come straight to her. You’ll be taking an exam on the spot in a moment. Just focus on doing your best and don’t worry about anything else..." Just as Teacher Fan was explaining, the door opened.
"You’re here. Hurry and come in."
Principal Zhang was around the same age as Teacher Fan. She wore glasses and had a scholarly air about her, but there was an intensity in her eyes that was impossible to ignore.
The fact that she was the female principal of the county’s only high school was a testament to her capabilities. Principal Zhang had been married in her youth, but after her husband’s unexpected death, she had thrown herself into her work in education. With no children of her own, she lived alone.
Once Teacher Fan and Su Li were inside, she wasted no time on pleasantries. She opened the door to her study, then moved a desk and chair into place for Su Li.
"This is your exam room. The test will begin in ten minutes." fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
At three o’clock in the afternoon sharp, Su Li’s entrance exam officially began.
Teacher Fan and Teacher Zhang sat reading in the living room, whispering to each other now and then and occasionally glancing up at Su Li.
Su Li didn’t notice them, completely absorbed in her exam. A look of admiration surfaced in Principal Zhang’s eyes as she watched, and she murmured to Teacher Fan.
"She’s not bad at all."
As night began to fall, Su Li’s exam finally concluded. She had only taken a single ten-minute break. By the time she finished the last paper, her hands were trembling.
"Good work. Rest for a bit. Let’s eat first."
Principal Zhang and Teacher Fan collected the exam papers and set them aside, then beckoned Su Li over.
The county seat had electricity by then. The lightbulbs were dim, but they were still a vast improvement over kerosene lamps. After dinner, Principal Zhang stepped out. She returned with two people trailing behind her.
Both were high school teachers whom Principal Zhang had invited over to grade Su Li’s exam.
"They’re the experts when it comes to grading papers."
Principal Zhang said with a smile. The two teachers laughed, and without any fuss, they picked up Su Li’s exam and began to grade it.
Su Li felt she had done reasonably well, but she grew nervous as the two teachers graded her exam. Pacing restlessly in the living room, she kept glancing toward the study.
After about half an hour of agonizing waiting, the two teachers emerged, their faces wreathed in smiles.
Their smiles said it all. Principal Zhang and Teacher Fan, having already looked over the exam, had a good idea of the outcome. But after hearing the final score, Principal Zhang’s smile vanished, and she turned to look at Su Li.
Her expression was serious and appraising, as were the expressions of Teacher Fan and the other two teachers. Su Li, however, had calmed down the moment she heard her score. She met Principal Zhang’s gaze, her own eyes steady and confident.
"Principal Zhang, Teacher Fan, I’m counting on you," Su Li said, standing up to give a deep bow.
"Alright!" Principal Zhang declared, looking at Su Li. She made her decision on the spot: she would accept this special student.
"Great talent should never be buried. If you get into a university, we can consider it our contribution to nurturing talent for the country."
With Principal Zhang’s declaration, the dust settled. Su Li no longer had to worry about things like her school registration.
"Thank you, thank you."
Su Li bowed again and again. A thousand words of gratitude filled her heart, but all she could manage to say was, "Thank you."
Her face was flushed with excitement and gratitude, and her eyes welled with tears. "Thank you, truly."
"Alright, that’s enough thanks. And no tears, now," Principal Zhang said, patting Su Li’s shoulder comfortingly. "This is only the beginning. If you truly want to thank us, just keep working hard and get into a good university. Your acceptance letter will be the best thanks we could ask for."
"I will. I absolutely will!" Su Li vowed, clenching her fists.
’In this lifetime, I will rewrite my own destiny. I *will* get into a university!’
Principal Zhang was a woman of swift and decisive action. She immediately assigned Su Li to a class with a homeroom teacher. Understanding Su Li’s special circumstances meant she couldn’t attend school daily, the principal didn’t press the issue.
"Studying is studying, no matter where you do it. The only thing that matters is that you learn the material well. Teacher Fan mentioned you’re already married. What are your plans now?"
Su Li replied, "My home life... it’s not a good environment for studying. I plan to rent a room in the county so I can focus. I’ll also have to earn money for tuition on the side." ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
Both high school and university cost money—a lot of it. The fees were not cheap, and an ordinary family could never afford to support a student.
Everyone immediately understood. Given her situation, Su Li couldn’t be like a typical student, attending classes every day without a care in the world.
"It’s good that you have a plan. But Su Li, remember to prioritize your studies," Teacher Fan reminded her.
"Yes, I know," Su Li said, nodding vigorously.
"What kind of place are you looking to rent?" Principal Zhang asked.
"If you’re just looking for a single room, I might have a place for you. I know an elderly woman who lives alone and has a spare room for rent, just nearby."
Su Li’s eyes lit up. "That would be perfect!"
"I’ll take you to see it tomorrow." And just like that, it was settled.
With Su Li’s business concluded, Principal Zhang, Teacher Fan, and the others began to chat. At one point, Principal Zhang mentioned the school uniforms at the high school in the neighboring county, her tone tinged with envy.
"Their uniforms are quite nice, but the price is a little steep..."
It was clear Principal Zhang was interested, just lamenting the cost. Listening in, a glint flashed in Su Li’s eyes as a brilliant business idea took shape in her mind. She didn’t dare speak up just yet, but her eyes grew brighter and brighter.
That night, neither Su Li nor Teacher Fan went home; they stayed over at Principal Zhang’s place. Early the next morning, Teacher Fan headed back to her town, while Principal Zhang took Su Li to see the room for rent.
The arrangement satisfied both of them. The landlady could earn a little extra money, and Su Li would be safe living with the older woman.
The landlady was a tidy person, and her home was spotless. The rent was cheap, and its proximity to the high school made the location ideal. They hit it off right away.
Su Li had brought all of her worldly possessions with her on this trip. She paid the deposit on the spot, planning to move in as soon as her divorce was final.
This was her fallback plan. By renting this room, she wouldn’t be left homeless after the divorce.
Having successfully secured her spot in school and found a place to live so smoothly, Su Li was overjoyed. After bidding farewell to Principal Zhang, she went to meet up with Yin Cuihua and Li Hongqin.
The three of them had arranged this on the seventh day of the Lunar New Year. After gathering, they followed Yin Cuihua to a fabric factory to look at materials and greet the factory’s management.
Thanks to Yin Cuihua’s connections, and because they planned to purchase in bulk, the factory agreed to give them a discount. They also promised a larger discount for even bigger orders in the future.
After concluding their business, the three women started to leave. As they did, Su Li spotted a pile of fabric scraps in a corner of the warehouse, and an idea flashed in her eyes.
"Sister Cuihua, is that pile going to be thrown out?"
"They sell it by weight. It’s really cheap. You can use it to make shoe uppers," Yin Cuihua replied.
"Sister Cuihua, go back and tell the factory manager right now: from now on, we’ll take all of their scrap fabric!"
Su Li declared this with the swagger of a tycoon, claiming all the scrap fabric in the factory for themselves.
