Chapter 300

The next morning, Xiao Qi did something unprecedented - she didn't oversleep and instead got up early.

She went downstairs to join Wei Cheng for a run. After completing a lap, she became too tired and started walking in circles while reading a book. She even kicked her legs while walking and was reading an English book.

Among their dormmates, she was the one who seemed to have the most relaxed approach to studying.

She was busy with various activities in the student union and clubs every day, and her textbooks were always brand new.

Xiao Qi didn't pay much attention to her desk mate, who had a lively personality and kept changing her behavior.

After finishing her run, Xiao Qi returned to the dormitory to freshen up.

To her surprise, Yun Shu was also up early. Instead of reading novels on her phone, she went to the rooftop with Wei Cheng and read a book there.

The study atmosphere in Hua Shan 606 was incredibly intense. While other dormitory residents were rushing to wake up, they had already prepared themselves.

They had breakfast together in the cafeteria and then headed to class. The teacher had arrived early, and they exchanged greetings.

Wei Gaowen, the English teacher and part-time lecturer from Qingmeng University, jokingly said to Xiao Qi, "I heard you're taking over Qingmeng University. Some colleagues of mine even asked about you."

Xiao Qi felt a bit embarrassed by the teasing.

"The students at Qingmeng University are all excellent. I still need to continue working hard," she replied.

Wei Gaowen had also watched the video of that competition. Tang Baolin from the Chinese Department at Qingmeng University delivered an excellent speech, and she was outstanding. As for the students in front of him, their sense of language was excellent, and they had a strong presence. Their experiences were also touching, and it could be said that each had their own strengths.

Wei Gaowen felt it was a pity that the students in front of him were in Enhua. The study atmosphere there was not as strong, and the school culture was more relaxed.

Fortunately, this particular student was very diligent. As a teacher, Wei Gaowen could see clearly who among the students were studying and who were just idling their time. It was clear at a glance.

After a brief chat, Xiao Qi began reviewing her lessons.

Her roommates also opened their books.

At the moment, the impact on Mi Er, Yun Shu, and Wei Cheng was perhaps just a small one - getting up a little earlier than others and reading an extra page. But little by little, these habits would change their lives. Personal transformations usually don't happen overnight but rather subtly and gradually, accumulating over time.

During these few days, Su Youfu and Sheng Juanhua were not idle either.

The two of them thoroughly explored Lvshan City.

In fact, neither of them was familiar with Lvshan City. They were both from the village, and they had spent most of their lives in the countryside. Everything they saw outside was fresh and new.

But in the past, they used to feel inferior when they came to see things. They thought people from the city were high above them.

Now, Sheng Juanhua was changing rapidly. She had money in her bank account, and her whole demeanor was different. She had also become good at dressing up and wasn't afraid of gossip from people in the village. Although she didn't buy very expensive clothes, she chose to go to the mall and bought a few outfits and shoes, making her look mature and beautiful.

In fact, the clothes she chose were somewhat similar to how Liang Lady dressed. So far, the most fashionable person she had come into contact with was Liang Lady. People are always easily influenced by those around them and want to fit into that circle.

In Gumula Village, Sheng Juanhua was considered a trendy and fashionable woman. But when she met Liang Lady, her perspective instantly elevated, opening the doors to a whole new world.

She was dressed in a floral dress, paired with a knitted jacket and flat leather shoes. She carried her own handbag and hadn't cut her hair for many years. She tied it into a low ponytail. With her attractive facial features, she had a very pleasant appearance.

Sheng Juanhua also made sure her husband was well-dressed. Su Youfu initially thought it was unnecessary to spend money on that, but Sheng Juanhua insisted. She believed that appearance mattered, and if there were conditions to dress up, they should take advantage of them.

One day, Sheng Juanhua saw how stylish her husband looked in traditional Chinese clothing and decided to continue finding similar outfits. Moreover, there was also an application for some kind of intangible cultural heritage in progress. It sounded very prestigious, like being a teacher or a scholar. Her husband wearing fashionable clothes like suits seemed a bit strange and didn't suit him well. Su Youfu wasn't tall and had a limp, and his temperament wasn't trendy. He was just a middle-aged man who appeared reliable and steady.

Wearing traditional Chinese clothes and pants made them look more generous, and those cloth shoes were more comfortable than leather ones.

The two of them, one stylish and the other steady, strolled through every street and alley in Lvshan City.

They couldn't earn the kind of money they had in their bank account in their lifetime, so they had to be extra careful about how they spent it.

They hadn't thought about buying a house. They already had a house in the countryside, so they didn't consider investing in a property in the city. Besides, this money was earned by their daughter, and when she decided where to go, they would use it to buy a house for her. There was no need for the two of them.

But opening a small shop was something they really wanted to do. They planned to rent an affordable and spacious place where they could continue their bamboo weaving.

Both of them would set off before dawn and only return when it was already dark, as the locals would say, "wandering around aimlessly."

Su Simei was very busy working at the hospital and also made time for exercise. She didn't have time to meddle in her cousin's affairs, so she let them live in peace without saying anything.

After observing for many days, Sheng Juanhua felt that in the city, anything could make money.

In the countryside, they could barely earn a few thousand yuan in a year, but in the city, they could even make money by selling a box of water.

Making snacks, selling small dishes, or selling vegetables—all of these could bring in money. It broadened their horizons considerably.

Su Youfu was a bit more conservative, but he was also much more confident than before. Money truly gave people courage. At least now, when he spoke, he no longer hunched his back. He tried to stand up straight, even though it still felt a bit uncomfortable.

During this period, Liang Huaying also took her husband for a stroll. She was quite busy, managing her own career and taking care of their daughter. Fortunately, since their daughter returned from Meng City, she had changed her attitude and become more sensible. She was more focused on her studies and seemed truly determined to achieve top grades in her final exams. This relieved Liang Huaying's worries, and she became more invested in the affairs of Su Youfu and his wife. Today was Monday, and Su Youfu and Sheng Juanhua knew that many city dwellers had weekends off, so they only officially started work today.

Both of them were dressed exceptionally well today.

Liang Lady had previously called Sheng Juanhua, informing her that there were developments in the selection of intangible cultural heritage inheritors. The first two rounds of screening had been completed, and the third round required Su Youfu to perform on-site bamboo weaving and filming to finalize his selection.

Liang Huaying found it curious. Xiao Qi's father seemed unremarkable and ordinary, yet he had unusually good luck. On the day when registration was already closed, he coincidentally met Xiao Qi's Japanese language tutor, who helped him register and even gave him preferential treatment by putting his name at the top of the list.

Having been involved in some bidding processes for projects, Liang Huaying understood the tricks involved. Sometimes, being placed at the beginning or highlighted in some way meant being given special attention, which usually increased the chances of success. If that were the case, she would have to come up with another plan.

Coincidentally, Su Youfu's name had been specially marked. What had initially been a whimsical idea for Liang Huaying now seemed like a real possibility. Indeed, he had passed two rounds of screening, and Su Youfu was truly a background-less farmer.

Liang Huaying conducted an investigation and confirmed that Gumula Village was truly impoverished, consistently ranked as the poorest village year after year. The village had never produced any famous individuals, and Su's family had a simple background, all of them being farmers.

Neither Sheng Juanhua nor Su Youfu were aware of the twists and turns behind the scenes. They had limited exposure and preferred to listen to those more knowledgeable.

Liang Huaying gave them their tasks, and they diligently fulfilled them.

Once they were dressed appropriately, they set off for the designated location, which was the square in front of the Culture Palace.

Upon arrival, they found a considerable crowd. Su Youfu felt a bit uneasy, while Sheng Juanhua, carrying a small bag, appeared more composed. She had entrusted Xiao Qi's father with bamboo weaving, and Sheng Juanhua was not in the least bit afraid since he was skillful with his hands despite being inarticulate.

They were skilled at crafting things.

Liang Huaying was nowhere to be found, so they went to the registration area first.

The registration required signing their names.

Both Sheng Juanhua and Su Youfu signed their names.

Sheng Juanhua felt a bit embarrassed upon seeing her own handwriting, thinking it wasn't very pleasing.

Su Youfu felt the same.

Both of them had limited education.

While signing, Sheng Juanhua couldn't help but think that in the future, she should perhaps learn more about culture, at the very least, improve her handwriting and recognition of characters.

After signing their names, the staff members guided them to their seats.

To their surprise, they were seated in the front row. Su Youfu noticed a camera not far away, causing his hands and feet to tremble nervously, his face stiffening.

Sheng Juanhua was also nervous, but as she thought about Liang Huaying, that big sister was definitely not nervous. She reached out and held her husband's hand, saying, "Don't shake, don't be afraid. Think about it, our Xiao Qi has been on TV several times and isn't afraid at all. You're her father, so you can't be afraid."

Su Youfu nodded vigorously, his hand trembling even more while being held by Xiao Qi's mother.

Sheng Juanhua was actually nervous too, her palms sweaty.