When the Side Character Gets a System and Travels through Difference Worlds-Chapter 25: Tingting

The three of them followed the address to the Han family’s home. Han Cunming was just returning from the paddy fields. He was barefoot, a shovel slung over his shoulder—the very picture of a countryside farmer.

Seeing a crowd gathered at his gate, Han Cunming couldn’t help but quicken his pace. "What happened?"

An old man in the crowd grabbed Han Cunming. "Cunming, Tingting’s exam results are out! I heard her principal say she did really well!"

Han Cunming pushed through the crowd and walked in. "Mr. Qin, Mr. Zheng, Principal Tang, what was Tingting’s score?"

The Dean of Students, Mr. Zheng, who was also Han Tingting’s homeroom teacher, strode forward. Without any hesitation, he took the shovel from Han Cunming’s shoulder and set it aside.

"Uncle Han, we’re here looking for Han Tingting. Where is she? Her middle school entrance exam results are out, and we came specially to congratulate her."

’Congratulating her was just an excuse; getting her to sign the enrollment agreement was their real goal.’

"Tingting went to the nearby clothing factory for a summer job. She’s learning how to cut fabric right now."

"That kid’s really something! Little Yang said she’s already learning from the master pattern maker!"

The neighbors all chattered at once. It was a small village, after all. Anything that happened in the morning was common knowledge by noon.

Han Cunming washed his hands. "I’ll go to the clothing factory and get her."

"There’s no need for you to go. Have Mr. Zheng go with you. He drove, so it’ll be much faster." Principal Tang smiled like a plump fox, looking exceptionally amiable.

Han Cunming replied, "Then Principal Tang and Mr. Qin can rest here at the house. We’ll be right back."

As the two men headed for the clothing factory, the remaining villagers didn’t leave. They stayed in the Han family’s courtyard, the gossip still centered on Han Tingting as they asked about her usual behavior.

Mr. Qin said kindly, "Han Tingting works very hard at school. You never see her going out to play."

"Yang Shun is in the same class as Han Tingting. You could all ask him."

"He’d never come home and talk about Tingting," an auntie said with a pout. "Speaking of which, it’s such a shame about Tingting this time..."

"It’s not a shame," Tan You replied calmly to the factory director’s question. "That was the result of someone else’s parents’ efforts. I just don’t have a father like that. There’s nothing to be jealous of. You can’t choose your parents."

The factory director praised her enthusiastically. "Well said! How about this: you go home for today and take care of what you need to. This is a red envelope from the factory. Congratulations on your outstanding performance on the middle school entrance exam."

As he spoke, the director handed over a red envelope. Tan You accepted it without any coyness. "Thank you, Uncle Yang. I’ll head back now."

The factory director beamed. "Alright."

He had heard someone came to the factory looking for Han Tingting and thought another company was trying to poach her, so he had rushed out of his office. It was only when he got closer that he learned Han Tingting’s exam results were out. The score was so high it made his head spin.

He had a son himself, not much older than Han Tingting. He recalled his own son’s exam score—even if you doubled it, it wouldn’t be as high as Han Tingting’s. The thought made the factory director’s teeth ache with envy.

When Han Cunming and Mr. Zheng returned, Tan You briskly signed the enrollment agreement for the main high school. The school’s offer was excellent, of course: a full waiver of tuition and fees for three years, plus a monthly living stipend of 300 yuan.

Because Tan You had done exceptionally well on the exam, the school also gave her an additional reward of 10,000 yuan.

Principal Tang said, "We’re just a township high school, so we can’t offer you much."

Tan You replied, "This is already a lot. When I was at my lowest, my teachers never gave up on me. All of you have already given me so much."

Mr. Qin patted Tan You’s head. "That’s just like you. You’re the biggest miracle I’ve encountered in my entire teaching career. I hope you’ll continue to build on your success and strive for the very best."

"Of course," Tan You said, pressing her lips together. She handed the prize money and the red envelope from the factory director to Han Cunming. "Grandpa, please keep this for me."

Han Cunming grinned, revealing a gap in his teeth. "Okay. I’ll go deposit it for you this afternoon."

The old man didn’t have much of a concept of "key high schools." All he knew was that for the next three years, his granddaughter wouldn’t have to worry about a thing. She could just focus on her studies.

With the most important matter settled, Mr. Qin had the presence of mind to ask Tan You about other things. "I heard from your grandpa that you’re even busier during summer vacation than at school. You’re working and studying for your first year of high school?"

Tan You said, "I wouldn’t say busy. There’s only so much time, and it feels like a waste not to use it for learning. I’ve recently been studying pattern making with a master. It’s a rare opportunity, so I want to learn as much as I can."

Principal Tang remarked, "Your enthusiasm for learning is unmatched. Since you did so well on the exam, are you going to host a teacher appreciation banquet?"

Tan You shook her head. "No, given my family’s circumstances... I’ll prepare a small gift for each of you teachers later. Thank you for all your trouble and concern over the past two years. You’ve all looked out for me so much."

Mr. Zheng smiled. "Alright, I’ll be waiting for it then. Just make sure it’s something within your means."

Tan You nodded. "I know. I won’t overextend myself."

Principal Tang sighed. "It’s a pity the other student had bonus points. If not for that, the rewards from the county and city would have been much larger. As it is, they’ve been nearly cut in half."

Tan You was surprised. "There are other cash awards?"

"Of course," said Principal Tang. "The funds will be sent to the school, and we’ll notify you when we have news. By the way, leave us the phone number for your factory, so we don’t have trouble finding you again."

With the most important business concluded, the teachers left. The Han family’s small courtyard grew lively again, the topic of conversation now shifting to how much award money Han Tingting would receive.

"See? Studying is obviously useful. Look at Tingting—not only is high school free for her, but the school even gives her a monthly living stipend."

"That’s because Tingting’s grades are so good! In all these years, she’s the only one I’ve ever heard of!"

"Yang Shun’s mother is going to be red-eyed with jealousy again!"

The neighbors laughed, sharing a knowing look. Living in the same village, who didn’t know who?

The exam results didn’t have much of an impact on Tan You’s life. She didn’t even wait for the next day; that very afternoon, she went right back to work at the clothing factory.

Her time to learn from Master Hu was limited, so how could she bear to waste any of it? Her composure was as steady as a rock. The people around her praised her again, thinking that since Han Tingting wasn’t letting the success go to her head at all, she was bound to have a great future.

"I think we could add small shoulder pads here to make it look more structured." In Master Hu’s workshop, Tan You circled the sample garment twice before coming up with a new idea.

"Shoulder pads?" Master Hu frowned. "You mean those really exaggerated ones?"

"Of course not," Tan You said with a smile. "Just a little bit. If they’re too exaggerated, it won’t be refined enough."

The head of the sewing team was also in the workshop. "It already looks great like this. It’s very sharp."

Tan You insisted, "It’s not enough. How about you alter the sample again? Adding small shoulder pads will definitely make a huge difference."