Indeed, given Cheng Ying's age, she stood out among the younger children, especially now. Cheng Ying, honed by the hard labor in the mountains, looked far beyond her twelve years. Though just a girl of twelve, her figure, especially her waistline, rivaled that of girls of fourteen or fifteen. This was certainly a good development, she thought. She didn't look sickly at all. Cheng Ying sometimes admired her own physique, feeling that her hard work had paid off handsomely; she looked healthy and vibrant.

Principal: "Alright, since Cheng Ying has decided, please go and sit in the fifth-grade classroom. For fairness, and to ensure everyone accepts it, your seat will be the very first one in the front row."

This was clearly to prevent her from cheating.

Cheng Ying: "Thank you, Teacher." With that, she walked out.

There was still some time before the exam. People outside called out to her, "Cheng Ying, your maternal grandfather is out here!"

Cheng Ying felt a surge of warmth; after all, he was family. Whenever she had an exam, her grandfather never failed to show up. She hurried toward the exit. The main gate was unusually lively today. Cheng Ying thought this must be the entrance exam for middle school; perhaps parents these days were already placing such importance on their children's academic progression.

When Cheng Ying squeezed through to see her grandfather, she asked, "Grandpa, why did you bring Miaomiao? I’ll head back as soon as the exam is over."

Grandpa: "You silly girl, how could I not come for an exam?"

Cheng Ying: "Yes, this is the exam to get into middle school."

Sure enough, following Grandma Cheng, he was the second person ready to kick up a fuss. What annoyed Grandpa most was, "Why didn't you tell me earlier, girl? I wrote the wrong date on that red cloth strip! Oh dear, I must go home and fix it right away."

Cheng Ying: "Grandpa, do you have to be like this? Aren't you tired of fussing?"

The old man retorted, "You fuss more than I do, girl. Are you confident? Don't embarrass us now, you hear?"

Cheng Ying: "Does that even need saying? Look at all these people waiting—they're just here for moral support. They certainly don't have as much face as you and Miaomiao."

Miaomiao: "Sis, when you do well, buy me candy."

Cheng Ying thought, This bothersome child, is the order reversed? Fine, wait for your candy.

Miaomiao corrected her: "Sis, they aren't here for moral support. They're here for matchmaking."

Cheng Ying's eyes widened: "When did young teachers arrive at the school?"

The old man chuckled: "What teachers? The students are matchmaking! Look, aren't those students from your school?"

Cheng Ying’s expression was one of utter bewilderment. Matchmaking at elementary school? "Isn't that too early?"

The words slipped out, and the old man replied, "Not too early at all. Those kids are fifteen or sixteen. If their studies aren't stellar, they might as well wait until after the exams to get engaged."

Cheng Ying picked at her fingers. That was true; in the countryside, engagements happened early. If she had followed the normal timeline, she’d be fourteen or fifteen upon graduating elementary school. If her studies faltered, perhaps repeating a grade would put her at fifteen or sixteen. Looking at the crowd outside the school gate—the young men and women—it was quite embarrassing: being set up for marriage while surrounded by a gaggle of little seedlings.

Cheng Ying: "Grandpa, the sun is hot. If you and Miaomiao aren't going home, please find a cool place to wait. I'll be out quickly."

Grandpa: "You pay close attention, check everything before you turn in your paper. Don't rush. You don't need to worry about us."

Miaomiao: "Sis, you must test well! I'm waiting for my candy!"

Cheng Ying tapped the little fatty on the head: "You greedy thing, just wait."

With that, she re-entered the campus, sparing a glance at the matchmaking teens—a habit she couldn't break. Cheng Ying felt that even after staying here for two years, she still hadn't caught up with the rhythm of the times. This was completely unscientific. She was in elementary school!

Feeling that her own mind hadn't kept pace with the soaring speed of events, Cheng Ying slowly walked into the classroom. She saw the mass of little sprouts craning their necks to look outside. No matter the era, this sort of drama always drew a crowd of children.

A few minutes later, Cheng Ying was astonished to see one of the boys from the matchmaking group enter the classroom, his face bright red. What a coincidence—they were taking the exam in the same room! Cheng Ying desperately wanted to ask him how the matchmaking session went, but seeing the boy's fiery cheeks, she clamped her mouth shut. She worried that questioning him might make the already shy boy too self-conscious, and that would be her fault.

But just because Cheng Ying didn't ask didn't mean the others wouldn't. The oldest student in the class was sixteen, the youngest the same age as Cheng Ying at twelve. Most students were twelve or thirteen; the further away their homes were from the school, the harder it was for them to persist until the fifth grade. So, the class of little seedlings peppered the boy with questions: "Is that your wife?" Some immature children offered serious advice, remarking that the woman's backside was too large.

Cheng Ying winced listening to it all. Honestly, what do a bunch of little brats know? Fortunately, the teacher arrived with the exam papers, and the classroom quieted down. Cheng Ying glanced at the boy beside her; he clearly looked relieved. Still, having the entire class act as his impromptu matchmakers was a novel honor, perhaps unprecedented.

The teacher introduced the exam rules with stern professionalism before distributing the papers. Cheng Ying noticed this teacher was providing her with continuous, face-to-face monitoring. She was clearly suspicious about the authenticity of Cheng Ying’s exam scores.

Cheng Ying had no trouble completing the math test. However, the language arts section presented difficulties, as some questions involved concepts far beyond the students’ usual curriculum—though they related to real-life social matters. Cheng Ying saw about a dozen such questions worth several points each. For the ones she could recall or had personally experienced, she answered easily. For those details she couldn't remember precisely, she simply wrote, "Serving the people." This way, even if she got it wrong, no one would question her character or political stance. That was a feature of the times; these questions likely tested overall comprehension.

Cheng Ying put down her pen, and the teacher immediately collected the paper. Cheng Ying was quite fast, but she had intended to quietly review her work. Why the rush? Nevertheless, she packed her bag and left the classroom, mostly ignoring the stares of the other mischievous children.

However, she didn't get far from the campus before being intercepted by the Principal and escorted to his office. The administrative efficiency was certainly high; the Principal graded her papers right in front of her. Cheng Ying thought this was a flaw in the education system—grading papers like that!

Once the Principal finished grading with remarkable speed, Cheng Ying stood properly at attention. Holding the two tests, the Principal looked conflicted. "Cheng Ying, your scores are good, but you still need to solidify some areas, understand? You can go home now. Getting into middle school won't be a problem. Wait for the news at home."

Cheng Ying: "Thank you, Principal. I'll go home now." She walked out with an appropriately cheerful demeanor for a child.

The Principal added behind her, "Don't be arrogant; keep working hard."

Cheng Ying turned back, "I understand, thank you, Principal."

Once out of the classroom, she finally rubbed her face back to a normal expression. Stepping out of the school grounds, she immediately spotted her grandfather and Miaomiao squatting by the roadside. Cheng Ying walked quickly toward them, feeling that her heart was hotter than the weather. "Grandpa, why didn't you wait in the shade?"

The old man grumbled, "Your cousin insisted on waiting right here." Cheng Ying would be a fool to believe that.

Then Grandpa asked expectantly, "Yingzi, how did it go?"

Seeing the old man's eager face, Cheng Ying felt her score didn't quite do the elder justice. Knowing she should recite some quotations for him, she said, "Grandpa, Math was one hundred points. Chinese was close, ninety-six."

The old man’s mouth stretched so wide with joy it almost touched his ears. "That's my granddaughter, haha!" After the laughter died down, he asked, "How did you know the scores? Aren't they supposed to be posted in a few days?"

Cheng Ying explained, "The Principal graded the papers right in front of me and told me to wait for news at home; getting into middle school is confirmed. I didn't lose any points on my essays." Cheng Ying relished the chance to show off a little in front of her grandfather.

Grandpa beamed: "Good, good, you’ve made us proud! Yingzi, why don't we treat the Principal to a meal?"

Cheng Ying was stunned by the suggestion—it was too forward; he already knew about thank-you banquets. But she dismissed the idea: "Do you want people to gossip about us? We rely on our strength, on real ability; we don't need that sort of thing." Then, fearing she might upset him, Cheng Ying added, "We'll save that for when it’s truly necessary."

The two of them laughed together. "My granddaughter, she takes after me. Nothing wrong there." Cheng Ying wasn't sure if that was a compliment or a slight jab.

Miaomiao whined, "Sis, it's hot."

Cheng Ying looked down at the child's sun-reddened, smiling face. With a pang of heartache, she kissed his cheek, then grabbed him and headed to the nearby cooperative store. She spent six fen buying three ice pops and used the remaining four fen to buy candy for the child.

The three of them walked home, each sucking on an ice pop. It’s a good thing it’s Grandpa, Cheng Ying thought; if it were her own grandmother, she’d never walk down the main road with them like this.

Auntie had prepared a table full of delicious food at home. Seeing the three return, she asked nothing, simply stating, "Eat first."

Cheng Ying asked, "Shouldn't we wait for Uncle?"

Auntie replied, "No need. Your uncle is busy when he gets back. We’ll start. Yingzi, eat quickly; you must be tired. That was all brain work; you need to replenish your strength."

Cheng Ying insisted, "Auntie, that's nothing." She then passed the piece of meat Auntie had served her over to Miaomiao. "Eat up, grow tall."

Auntie dismissed her: "She doesn't need you to look after her; you eat your own." Cheng Ying had been reluctant to visit Grandpa’s house lately because Auntie's overwhelming affection had unnerved her. Ever since her mother passed, Auntie had been too enthusiastic, as if trying to fill a void, which made Cheng Ying hesitate to visit.

After barely surviving the meal, Cheng Ying prepared to leave: "Auntie, I need to go now."

Grandpa said, "Good. Go tell your Grandma the good news, and wait for her there. She must be worried sick."

Auntie bustled out, packing bags until the cart was loaded. Cheng Ying stared, speechless: "Auntie, you’re emptying the house! Uncle will say you don't know how to manage things."

Auntie scoffed, "Nonsense. Your Uncle never stopped me from giving you anything."

Cheng Ying could only take the things with a sigh. Miaomiao pleaded, "Sis, I'll go with you! You always coddle me but never take me along." The complaint sounded deeply aggrieved.

Cheng Ying looked at the chubby boy. "Auntie, you can trust me to take Miaomiao, right?"

Auntie glanced at her mischievous son: "Will your Grandma be happy?"

Cheng Ying replied, "Grandma just wants some excitement. Our house is quiet thirteen hours a day watching TV."