Chapter 18: Tingting 16

Tan You didn't fixate on money; she was very busy herself. In addition to keeping up with her schoolwork, she had to keep the house clean and tidy. Watching Tan You huffing and puffing as she washed bedsheets and duvet covers, Han Cunming fell silent.

The next day, a semi-automatic washing machine appeared in the house. His granddaughter's hands were meant for writing, not for such heavy labor.

Tan You hadn't expected this gesture from the old man, but she had to admit that the washing machine indeed made her life easier. In less than three days, the Han family's courtyard was filled with hanging bedsheets, duvet covers, and heavy clothing.

Furthermore, the house had been tidied by Tan You until it was bright and spotless. Although it was still the same old house, it felt completely different compared to before.

In the morning, Tan You worked on her homework while keeping an eye on the washing machine. She had finished her math homework and was now working on physics. Just as she was becoming absorbed in her studies, a voice rang out from outside the courtyard.

"Han Tingting, we're dividing the fish at the pond this afternoon. Are you coming?"

Tan You looked toward the courtyard. Three boys were standing there—Yang Shun, Han Peng, and Han Wei, whom she had seen before. Come to think of it, since Tan You had refused to go to school with Yang Shun last time, they hadn't spoken for two months.

It was somewhat strange that Yang Shun was actually coming to find Han Tingting now.

"I'm not going. I have things to do." Tan You was a very aloof person; she didn't like hanging out in groups or being around others; she preferred being alone.

Yang Shun remained true to his caustic nature: "What kind of 'things' could you possibly have? Still acting like such a good student?"

Tan You had no intention of arguing with him: "I truly do have things to do. My grandfather is more than enough to go and collect the fish."

Han Cunming watched as his granddaughter rejected the boys without changing her expression, and only then did he speak up: "Tingting has things to do at home. There's nothing much to see at the fish distribution anyway."

Since Han Cunming had said so, the three of them couldn't say anything more and could only leave the Han residence.

Han Wei was somewhat annoyed: "No, what happened to Han Tingting? I saw her studying last time, and she's studying now too. How good can her grades really be? Isn't she still at the bottom of the class?"

Han Peng, who was habitually honest and kind-hearted, said nothing but looked at Yang Shun with confusion.

Han Wei: "You go to the same school as Han Tingting. What did she get on this final exam?"

Yang Shun choked up. How was he supposed to answer that? He had consciously avoided talking about Han Tingting's changes in the village, but since these two were his close friends, he had to speak up whether he wanted to or not.

"She scored 430," Yang Shun said after a long silence.

"Only 430?" Han Wei laughed. "Then why is she acting like such a good student? I scored 660 this time, and am I acting proud?"

Yang Shun glanced at Han Wei: "Her score for Chinese, Math, English, and Physics combined was 430. For the other four elective subjects, which the school doesn't include in the total score, she scored above 90 in every single one."

"That's almost 800!" Han Peng exclaimed. "Her grades are that good now? I haven't heard my parents mention it."

Yang Shun: "She didn't say anything. Her grandfather didn't know before either; he only found out when he went to the school for the parent-teacher meeting this time."

He usually couldn't talk about such things with others, and Yang Shun had kept these words buried in his heart for a long time. Now that his childhood friend had asked, he naturally felt the need to vent: "In this final exam, the city ranking is based on the core subjects. The homeroom teacher said she ranked ninth in the entire city."

"That's amazing," Han Peng marveled from the bottom of his heart. "She was studying last time we saw her, too."

Han Wei felt agitated. His total for the four core subjects was less than 350. He had always looked down on Han Tingting, so why did it feel like she was now looking down on him?

Yang Shun was also frustrated: "When my mom went to the parent-teacher meeting last time and heard Han Tingting did so well, she was so angry she couldn't even eat when she got back. She's been forcing me to study at home all day, wanting me to surpass Han Tingting. Do you think I can get such high scores?"

Han Peng: "It's not surprising your mom feels that way. Who told Han Tingting to become so capable? When did she start studying so hard and getting better?"

"Ever since we invited her fishing last time," Yang Shun said listlessly. "She's become very strange now."

The three teenagers talked animatedly, unaware that walls have ears. Only after the three had walked away, bickering, did an older woman emerge from behind the courtyard wall.

She had only come to the garden to dig up a few vegetables, but who knew she would overhear such news?

"Sister-in-law, let me tell you something. Han Cunming's granddaughter, Tingting—I heard she ranked ninth in the whole city this time!"

"Really? Ninth in the city? That's impressive!"

"Is that true? Why haven't I heard anyone else mention it?"

"Yang Shun's mother never said a word."

"Would she have the face to say it? She's so narrow-minded; if she said it, wouldn't she be admitting her son is inferior to Tingting? When it comes to studying, Tingting is definitely the better one. She wasn't this outstanding before."

"Sigh, she's just grown up and become sensible."

"Exactly! Her biological parents aren't reliable, so she has to stand on her own two feet, doesn't she?"

Soon, in less than two hours, the news of Han Tingting ranking ninth in the city had spread throughout the entire village. Tan You, who was busy making lunch at home, was completely unaware of it. She was busy frying meatballs; she had no time to pay attention to anything else.

Every year during the New Year, Cheng Wenhui would fry meatballs, and this was the time of year Tan You looked forward to most. Now that she had arrived in this world, Tan You thought that frying a plate of meatballs would serve as a way to tell herself that the New Year was approaching.

Han Cunming leaned against the stove tending the fire, looking as relaxed as an old cat. His granddaughter was truly a relief these days—good at her studies and capable of managing both the inside and outside of the house, keeping everything in perfect order.

Picking up a meatball at random, Han Cunming squinted in satisfaction: "This would go well with some wine."

Tan You: "I bought a bottle for you. Drink it tonight; I'll cook a few more dishes tonight."

"Alright," Han Cunming said happily. "I'll just wait for my granddaughter's filial devotion."

After lunch, Han Cunming headed toward the fish pond. Along the way, people occasionally asked him about Han Tingting's grades. Han Cunming was a bit puzzled; there was nothing to hide.

He didn't exaggerate; he simply told the truth. He answered whatever they asked, and soon everyone knew the news was true.

"Uncle Cunming, you'll be living a life of luxury in the future. How capable is Tingting now?" In rural areas, people seemed to use the word "capable" to praise children. But upon closer reflection, the word felt somewhat strange.

Han Cunming squinted: "She is indeed... indeed very good. Very efficient."

Recalling what the shop owner had told him—to praise Han Tingting more so that she wouldn't be swayed away by the words of outsiders—Han Cunming's habitual modesty changed. Only when one's own family valued something would others value it too.

After Han Cunming went to the fish pond, Tan You continued her studies as usual. What else could a student do if they didn't study? No one would even hire them for manual labor.

Moreover, education truly was the only way for children from impoverished families to change their lives. With these thoughts in mind, Tan You suppressed the urge to go out and play and turned another page of her exercise book.