Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Windfall in the Bag

First, first, always first! The villagers watching the spectacle were green with envy. How on earth do Wang Baoxing and Liu Yulan teach their kids to be so outstanding? Why can’t we have someone like that in our family… especially those parents of Wang Miaomiao’s cohort, how envious and jealous they must be…

“Wang Miaomiao, you’re truly impressive. You’ve brought honor to Red Star Middle School. Here, this is the certificate and reward from the school.” The principal of Red Star Middle School was all smiles, his eyes filled with kindness and pride.

“Thank you, Principal.” Wang Miaomiao accepted the certificate and envelope, feeling a thrill of excitement rising in her once-calm heart…

An envelope… a reward… were these the things she had been thinking about?

A staff member in charge of education from the Red Star Commune came along and showered praises on Wang Miaomiao and her parents, followed by an envelope and a new school bag filled with a set of new stationery.

Wang Miaomiao beamed like a flower, eagerly showering praise upon the Party, the organization, the school, the commune, the village committee, her parents, and the neighbors in a lengthy speech. She offered no fewer than ten thank-yous…

Well, this made everyone feel delighted, praising the child for her high level of awareness, seeing her as a good child with a promising future.

After a round of mutual bragging, everyone left, some going off to work…

Wang Miaomiao’s name also became famous among the candidates in the J City for the current high school entrance examination — a dark horse indeed. The principal and teachers of the Provincial High School in distant J City were very pleased when they received her file.

However, there were also those who felt regretful — such a talented student couldn’t participate in the college entrance exam, what a pity.

Once the onlookers left, Wang Miaomiao impatiently ran back home and opened the envelope.

Red Star Middle School gave her five ten-yuan bills, such generosity…

What came from Red Star Commune was quite mixed, a pile of vouchers, and two ten-yuan bills.

Wang Miaomiao stared dumbfounded at the messy pile of vouchers. Who prepared this reward? It was quite creative…

Actually, it was that staff member. Upon learning that Red Star Middle School gave a fifty-yuan reward, while he had only prepared twenty yuan, he felt the gap was too large. He didn’t want his own commune to lose face, nor did he have time to go back and request more funds. He happened to have a pile of vouchers in his bag, which were meant to be given to another leader by his leader. Not knowing what they were, he didn’t even look and just stuffed them in the envelope to beef up its thickness. At least it looked fuller and nicer.

Of course, he hoped the other party wouldn’t open it on the spot, and she didn’t disappoint him. The young girl was very well-spoken, and he was very satisfied with his work this time. When reporting to the leaders, he could say a few more words of praise for her.

As for the vouchers, he would just have the leaders prepare another set. Little did he know…

“Wow, there’s even a bicycle voucher.” Liu Yulan exclaimed in excitement while sorting through the pile of vouchers.

“What? Where? Let me see.” Wang Jia Bao, who had been gazing enviously at the pile of rewards, was instantly intrigued by Liu Yulan’s words, his eyes lighting up as he moved closer to take a look.

Even Wang Baoxing got excited. Expensive vouchers like those for bicycles, sewing machines, and watches were utterly unattainable for honest rural people working in the fields. There wasn’t even a single bicycle in the entire Huang Village!

“Mom, mom… can we buy it?” Wang Jia Bao swallowed hard, his mind filled with visions of himself riding the bike, looking cool and stylish, earning envy and admiration from his peers…

“Buy what? We don’t need a bike. A bicycle costs at least a hundred and twenty, spend all that money on a bike, and how will you survive afterward…” To Liu Yulan, a bicycle wasn’t a necessity and wasn’t part of her plans. Would it just gather dust after being bought? If people in the village asked to borrow it, would you lend it or not?

Wang Miaomiao thought for a moment, there really was no need. Her parents rarely went to town, she and Jia Bao had to go to the city for school, it wouldn’t be needed in the next couple of years, and her sister’s marriage was still far off. Besides, the Yang Family mentioned they would provide a bicycle and a sewing machine for the wedding…

“Sigh, if only it were a watch voucher…” She needed a watch since attending school in the city without one would make keeping track of time challenging, prompting her to voice her thoughts…

Liu Yulan didn’t comment verbally but continued sorting through the vouchers, her mind starting to turn.

“Miaomiao, let me keep this money for you, as part of your dowry when you get married later.”

Wang Miaomiao nodded readily. “Mom, you don’t have to save it for me. You can use it. Once I graduate and earn a good income, I’ll give you spending money every month, and we can eat meat every day.”

She had long known that this kind of money would never find its way to her, and it was a significant sum, no parent would trust a child to handle it. If lost or spent frivolously, it would be heartbreaking.

“You be good, have you run out of the money I gave you last time? If you run out, just tell Mom…” Liu Yulan felt very comforted by her daughter’s words.

“What? Mom, when did you give her pocket money? I want some too.” Wang Jia Bao, hearing that his sister had pocket money he didn’t have, felt a twinge of jealousy.

Liu Yulan gave him a sharp look, “What do you need pocket money for? Your sister uses it to buy pens and paper for proper purposes. You’d only spend it on sugar and sweets, not worrying about tooth decay.”

She had seen the picture book Wang Miaomiao made for Wang Pandi, knowing it was bought during a bookshop visit. When they returned home, Wang Miaomiao wanted to return the change, but she didn’t accept it, letting her keep it as pocket money.

Wang Miaomiao smiled, “I haven’t used it all yet. No need to give me more. My sister and I can earn our own pocket money now.”

Thinking of the earnings from making clothes, Liu Yulan didn’t continue, instead feeling even fonder of her little daughter.

Looking at her son who just wouldn’t grow up, she couldn’t help but express her disappointment, scolding him harshly, “Look at your sister, and then look at yourself. When you’re on holiday, all you do is run wild like a child. When will you start acting your age?”

“Let me tell you, when you get to the city school, you better study hard. If I find out you’re slacking off, I’ll break your leg, understand?” She glared at him after scolding him once again.

Feeling anxious, Wang Jia Bao stood obediently to one side, like a quail. “I understand, I understand.”

The way his mom handled things had become increasingly strict. Last time, she told him to listen to his sister and study hard for the high school entrance exams. One day he acted lazy and refused to study, his sister reported it, and their mom really made him eat nothing but cornbread for three days.

Liu Yulan quickly sorted the vouchers, which were very comprehensive, covering all sorts of areas. As she pondered what good items to add to the family, she pocketed the money.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep