"Qingqing!"
"I saw the newspaper!"
"Woohoo, I never thought you had such a hard time before! Your grandparents were really inhumane. You were so young back then, but you did more work than adults. It's so unfair!"
"If you hadn't been so ambitious and got the chance to study, the country would have lost a talent in the future!"
Chen Mengshu admired Hua Qingqing very much. Especially after learning that the latter had passed the skip - grade exam with high scores, she was even more in awe.
She had been studying for ten years and had never admired anyone. Hua Qingqing was the first. Now that she knew how hard the other girl's life had been before, she felt extremely indignant on her behalf.
She rushed to Hua Qingqing's rented house with the newspaper in hand.
There were still more than three months until the college entrance examination.
Hua Qingqing had been focusing on her review during this period and didn't go to the factory anymore. If there were any matters, Lin Xiu, Yang Wang, and Zhou Cai would come to tell her on weekends.
After she had thoroughly understood and finished all the materials and test papers she had brought back from the Chen family, she still felt it was not enough. So she went to ask her current senior - three head teacher for test papers.
The head teacher first praised her self - awareness and then took out several previous college - entrance - examination papers.
Hua Qingqing couldn't hide her disappointment. She had done all of these before.
It was a pity that there were not as many kinds of review materials, test papers, and questions as there would be several decades later.
It was really hard to find new questions to do!
When Chen Mengshu came, Hua Qingqing was sitting on a chair reading a book. Her composition scores were quite high, but she still had to spend more time on it.
The little girl clenched the newspaper tightly, her eyes red, as if she had experienced something sad.
Hua Qingqing put down the book and asked her what was wrong.
Chen Mengshu's full - fledged anger suddenly got stuck in her throat.
She had been in such a hurry and worried, but it seemed that the other girl hadn't even heard about it?
How annoying!
Chen Mengshu directly slapped the newspaper on the table forcefully.
"Read it for yourself!"
Hua Qingqing of course saw the familiar thing in her hand. She had even planned to send the newspaper to the capital and Hong Kong Island a couple of days ago.
She picked up the newspaper and slowly unfolded it. A half - body black - and - white photo immediately came into view. She stared at the photo for a couple of seconds and then clicked her tongue disdainfully.
"Alas, the photo was not taken well. It made me look ugly."
Seeing her calm and relaxed expression, Chen Mengshu couldn't understand at all: "Aren't you angry? Aren't you sad? The Yu family treated you like this..."
Hua Qingqing smiled: "What's there to be angry or sad about? Thirteen years have passed. I've already been angry enough. Alas, I'm a child not loved by my parents. Do you still expect them to treat me, an outsider, well? Compared with many children who can't even get enough to eat, I'm already very lucky."
Bullshit! The original body's parents had sent so much money and so many good things to the Yu family, but they still treated the child like this. The Yu family deserved to be damned!
If the social atmosphere were more open like it would be in the future, she would definitely expose what the Yu family had done and sever the relationship.
However, if she exaggerated her miserable situation now, the public opinion might turn against her. After all, in the eyes of the public, she was safe, healthy, and had even been admitted to No. 1 Middle School. So what if she had been abused by the Yu family before? Wasn't she still doing well now?
In their view, if the Yu family really disliked the child for eating an extra mouthful of rice, they might as well have starved her to death.
Not killing the child was already a kindness.
It was very common to abandon baby girls at that time.
No one cared about the life of a little girl. The fact that she had survived and was clearly going to have a good future was considered the Yu family's kindness to her.
Hua Qingqing was right, but Chen Mengshu still thought the Yu family was too much.
Hua Qingqing: "Okay, okay, don't think so much. Thinking more won't change anything. Did you come to me just for this?"
Chen Mengshu: "No, I have good news to tell you."
"I heard from my dad that the Education Bureau is going to hold a composition contest, divided into high - school, junior - high - school, and primary - school levels. The first - place winner can get 100 yuan, the second - place winner 80 yuan, and the third - place winner 50 yuan. I think you're really good at writing compositions. Even if you can't get the first place, you can still get 50 yuan. Fifty yuan is not a small amount."
When she heard this news from her dad, she had planned to tell Hua Qingqing at school. Then, after seeing the newspaper, she couldn't wait until then and directly ran over to tell the other girl this good news.
Hua Qingqing was so young and her parents were not around. Moreover, it seemed that her parents didn't really care about their daughter. What if she didn't have enough money when she got into college?
Winning a prize in the contest would at least get her some bonus.
Although there was only one first - place winner, there were three second - place winners and five third - place winners.
Hua Qingqing was so excellent. She couldn't possibly not win any prize.
Hua Qingqing raised her eyebrows: "You have so much confidence in me?"
She naturally knew about this composition contest because it was sponsored by Dongxing Factory. The prize money was quite a lot, and it followed the process of the Education Bureau.
It was a county - wide composition contest. What a nice name!
Moreover, during this period, Dongxing Factory had become more and more well - known in Nan County. Although it was a private factory, everyone knew how amazing and kind - hearted it was. It was very stable to work there!
"Of course. I, Chen Mengshu, have never admired anyone. You're the first. If you don't win a prize, I won't let you off!"
Hua Qingqing: "… Thank you for having so much faith in me, but I can't participate in this contest."
The contest was sponsored by her factory. If she participated and finally won a prize, wouldn't it be taking up the quota for nothing?
Chen Mengshu stared with wide eyes: "Why?"
"Of course it's because it's not convenient for me to participate now. I'm concentrating on my review. If I participate in the contest and don't win a prize in the end, it will surely affect my mentality. No, no."
Hua Qingqing cleared her throat and explained seriously. Chen Mengshu actually believed it to some extent.
But she was still not willing to give up.
"You're so good. You will surely win a prize."
Hua Qingqing firmly refused: "No, no. There are quite a lot of excellent people in the whole county. I don't want to participate."
"…"
Was this still the confident Hua Qingqing?
Not long after, the school also announced the county - wide composition contest.
Not only Chen Mengshu but also the school teachers asked her to participate.
Hua Qingqing refused with the same excuse and was extremely firm.
Before she could enjoy a couple of days of peace, the Yu family suddenly came to the school.
"Let Hua Qingqing come out. She's been talking nonsense in the newspaper, seriously affecting the reputation of our Yu family! My eldest grandson hasn't gotten married yet. If this matter affects his chance of finding a wife, who can take the responsibility!"
"Yes, yes. The newspaper has spread so widely. Our Yu family has been living an honest life and done nothing wrong, but we've been slandered by Hua Qingqing like this. I don't care. It's all her fault. If she doesn't take the responsibility, we'll ask the school to!"
Granny Fang leaned on a bamboo stick and stood at the school gate, looking extremely frail. Anyone who saw her would be terrified.
If something happened to the old woman on the school grounds, it would be a big problem.
The school director rushed out and wanted to take them into the school, but Granny Fang refused to go in. She insisted on staying at the gate and shouting loudly.
"Call Hua Qingqing out for me. Otherwise, this matter won't end today!"
It happened to be lunch break at this time.