Chapter 46: The Boy's Name Begins to Spread Far and Wide

Anshu Water County has produced a national top scorer in liberal arts!

737 points!

This news spread like a gust of wind, first among those on the front lines of education, and then through friends and relatives to the entire county.

A major event, a joyous event, a grand joyous event!

Even those who did not know Wang Donglai could not help but feel a surge of pride and honor.

Our county has produced a national top scorer in liberal arts, with a Gaokao score of 737!

The Education Bureau even held an emergency meeting, deciding to take this opportunity to promote Anshui County extensively.

Consequently, a flurry of phone calls was made.

Wang Jiacai, the principal of Anshui High School; Wang Yuhua, the head of the senior grade; Meng Fang, the homeroom teacher of Class 34; and various other officials boarded two vehicles and headed toward Siping Town.

Accompanying them was the Anshui County Convergence Media Center, tasked with recording this historic moment.

As for the leaders of Siping Town, they had also learned of the matter and arrived at Wang Donglai's home first.

On the official vehicle driving toward Wangjia Village in Siping Town.

Zheng Fa, the Director of the Education Bureau, and Wang Jiacai, the principal of Anshui High School, were discussing a matter.

"This year, our county has produced a national top scorer on the national exam paper. This is the glory of our county, and it proves the teaching standards of Anshui High School. As a national poverty-stricken county, being able to produce such a top scorer is sufficient proof of our county's emphasis on education."

"Therefore, when we meet student Wang Donglai later, we must express our county's commitment to education."

"Wang Donglai's family consists of four people; his parents are farmers, so their standard of living is likely not high. Thus, to support educational work, the county intends to provide a 50,000 yuan prize."

"As for your school, you receive direct allocations from the province, so you should also be able to provide some money as a reward. That shouldn't be a problem, right?"

The Director of the County Education Bureau held a division-chief level position, and as the only high school in Anshui County, Anshui High School was also of a relatively high level with a principal of the same rank. Furthermore, since the school received funding from the Provincial Department of Education, there was no obvious hierarchy between the two men.

"The Director is right. I have just communicated with the school committee. To reward Wang Donglai for such an excellent result, the school will provide 30,000 yuan as a reward."

"I wonder what the Director thinks of that?"

After speaking, Wang Jiacai waited for Zheng Fa's reply.

"There is no need for that. The county's finances are not very loose, but we can still provide 50,000 yuan as a reward. Your school should also provide 50,000 yuan, so it adds up to exactly 100,000 yuan."

"Although our county is poor, we cannot let our only liberal arts top scorer leave in a state of destitution."

"Being poor is fine, but we cannot be poor when it comes to education."

"A 100,000 yuan reward may be large, but if it can buy us a top scorer, I would wish we had one every year!"

"In ancient times, Shang Yang used a wooden pillar to establish trust; today, we must keep up with the times and use cold, hard cash to attract those students who are unwilling to study. We must let them know that studying can truly change their fate and truly improve their family's life."

As the leader in charge of education for Anshui County, Zheng Fa's political perspective was naturally higher than Wang Jiacai's.

One hundred thousand yuan—an ordinary rural family might not earn that in three or four years!

After accounting for social obligations and daily expenses, it might even take seven or eight years to save up.

This reward was by no means small; it was incredibly generous.

After listening to Zheng Fa, Wang Jiacai thought for a moment and then had an epiphany.

A liberal arts top scorer emerging from a poverty-stricken county, with the county providing a massive reward—if such an achievement were reported, Zheng Fa, the leader in charge of education, would undoubtedly be promoted.

Beyond that, it could also improve the local teaching environment.

In rural areas, too many people suffer from a lack of interest in learning; they study for a while and then lose the desire to continue, some even failing to complete their nine years of compulsory education.

Once the news of the 100,000 yuan reward spread, it would likely attract many farmers to send their children to school.

And this would become Zheng Fa's political achievement.

Wang Jiacai understood the significance behind this action almost instantly.

However, he did not mind; the action was beneficial and harmless, so why not go along with it?

Even he would benefit from this, so naturally, he would not undermine it.

Soon.

The group arrived at Wangjia Village.

Led by the Siping Town officials, they arrived at Wang Donglai's home.

*Pop! Crackle!*

The sound of firecrackers rang out, and bright red bursts scattered across the ground, looking exceptionally festive.

The ten thousand firecrackers roared for several minutes, sending smoke and dust into the air.

"How is it? I heard that admissions officers from prestigious universities like Tsinghua, Peking, Fudan, and Zhejiang University came. Which school did Wang Donglai choose?"

As soon as they entered the house, Zheng Fa asked the Siping Town official, Dang Dong.

"It's been decided. He chose Tangdu Jiaoda!"

Dang Dong's expression was somewhat subtle; he frowned with confusion, yet a trace of shock remained.

With so many prestigious universities offering such excellent conditions, Wang Donglai had specifically chosen Tangdu Jiaoda.

While Tangdu Jiaoda was good, it did not possess the same level of fame as Tsinghua or Peking.

Dang Dong completely failed to understand.

Hearing this, Zheng Fa was also stunned and asked again, "Tangdu Jiaoda?"

"Yes!" Dang Dong nodded again, fully understanding Zheng Fa's reaction.

Listening from the side, Meng Fang, Wang Jiacai, and the others also wore expressions of shock and doubt, wondering what Wang Donglai was thinking and why he would choose Tangdu Jiaoda.

However, since the decision to announce the prize money had already been made, no one questioned Wang Donglai.

Regardless of which school Wang Donglai chose, his score was undeniably real.

Soon.

In front of everyone and before the cameras, Zheng Fa announced that, to emphasize the importance of education in Anshui County, a special reward of 50,000 yuan would be given to Wang Donglai.

Anshui High School Principal Wang Jiacai followed immediately, announcing a reward of 50,000 yuan to Wang Donglai.

The cameras, the county convergence media reporters, and the Siping Town officials immediately plunged the watching villagers of Wangjia Village into shock.

Combined with the previously rumored 300,000 yuan reward from Tangdu Jiaoda, this brought the total to 400,000 yuan.

At the thought of this figure, many people had a sudden idea: perhaps they should send their own children to school; maybe they too could be academic talents.

Even if they didn't become a top scorer, having a higher degree could lead to a brighter future.

...

As time passed.

The news of Wang Donglai becoming the top scorer fermented completely.

The students of this graduating class at Anshui High School felt as if they were in a dream.

A national Gaokao top scorer?

737 points?

And he was from their school?

The various class group chats had long since gone wild, with everyone frantically inquiring about and discussing Wang Donglai's deeds.

Previously, Wang Donglai's reputation at Anshui High School was not low.

However, back then, everyone simply thought he had good grades, a serious attitude toward learning, and was intelligent.

Even when he scored nearly 700 in the final city-wide mock exam, very few people thought he could become a national top scorer on the national exam paper.

It wasn't until the results were released that everyone realized the truth.

Wang Donglai had always shown extraordinary qualities, but they had been blinded by their own limited perspectives and had not paid attention.

Thus, they could only watch helplessly as Wang Donglai took flight.

When Huang Cheng saw the news in the Class 14 group chat, he froze for a moment, then opened his novel to continue reading, muttering under his breath, "What does it have to do with me? He goes to his university, and I'll go to my vocational college. We both have bright futures ahead."

Chen Mengni failed to get through to Wang Donglai on the phone, but then saw his information in the group chat, instantly falling into a state of excitement.

With her hands behind her back, she began jumping around her room in excitement.

"National liberal arts top scorer, 737 points."

But after the excitement, Chen Mengni's brow slowly furrowed.

She suddenly thought of the gap between them.

She had barely passed the first-tier university threshold, so she didn't have many school choices, whereas Wang Donglai was destined for the top institutions.

At this thought, Chen Mengni's eyes dimmed slightly.

However, after a moment, she pulled herself together again.

"It doesn't matter if we aren't in the same school; being in the same city is fine!"

"Little Mengni, you have to work hard! You can't let him leave you too far behind. You must grow and strive to follow in his footsteps!"

Clenching her fists, she cheered herself on.

Having said that, Chen Mengni sat down at her desk, pulled out a book, and began to read.

On the other side.

Guo Xing also realized this immediately.

"You want to change the world. Although I don't have the ability, I can accompany you."

Muttering softly, Guo Xing also picked up a book.

Anshui County was not particularly large.

The name Wang Donglai spread throughout the entire county in a very short time.

In the past, he was just a country boy from the rural areas.

He was born in an earthen house, played by the river, and grew up in the fields.

He entered school in a state of innocence and began his studies.

Elementary school, middle school, high school—following the prescribed path, he barely kept pace with his peers.

In his previous life, he left the small county and went to the provincial capital, Tangdu, witnessing the splendor of the ancient capital and experiencing the charm of the city.

The brilliance of the big city had nothing to do with him; only the multicolored lights of the urban villages accompanied him to sleep.

There was no success as imagined, only the stagnation and frustration of falling into the grind of work.

A country boy leaving his hometown, looking around, he felt like a piece of duckweed—a wanderer with no place to belong.

But Heaven gave him a chance to start over.

He had returned to the most beautiful time. Through hard work and opportunity, he had changed his fate.

He could correct the mistakes of his past life, embark on a brand-new path, and experience even more thrilling scenery.

He could make up for the regrets and indignities of his previous life and vent the grievances in his heart.

And now, his name was beginning to be sung throughout the county.

This was his hometown, the place that gave birth to and raised him—an inseparable root.

Whether in his past life or this one.

Whether he liked it or not, it could not be changed.

Next, his young self would carry his dreams and soar from this barren little county.

To experience the wonders of the outside world, to face the storms of the outside world, and to achieve his dreams.

The name of the youth would eventually echo across this land.

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(End of Chapter)