Chapter Thirty-Four: Glory

The academic genius is formidable, extraordinary, truly not just an ordinary person! Achieving a perfect score in the mathematics competition is something no one even dares to dream about, something beyond imagining, and yet it has unfolded in reality—a miracle! The students of Class One, Grade Twelve Science, all looked at Wu Tong with reverence, and those standing before her parted like the Red Sea, smiling as they opened a path for her.

“Boss, please, go up and accept your award!”

Their admiration was heartfelt—how could anyone be so brilliant, and this person was their own classmate! They had personally witnessed her dazzling ascent to the top, now shining as bright as the midday sun!

“Thank you,” Wu Tong murmured her gratitude as she walked to the stage.

At the head of the class, Luo Zhenping, unable to contain his joy, gave Wu Tong a thumbs-up and escorted her to the edge of the stage. “The teacher is truly proud of you!”

Guided by the teacher, Wu Tong stood beside the principal. Xiao Mingwei, brimming with spirit, declared, “Wu Tong, congratulations! Xincheng No. 1 High School is proud of you!”

He paused, then continued, “Now, please welcome Director Sun from the Education Bureau to present the award to Wu Tong!”

Director Sun, waiting nearby, strode onto the stage, smiling as he shook hands with Xiao Mingwei and Wu Tong, looking at Wu Tong kindly. This was a moment of glory for the county’s education sector. “Wu Tong, I hope you continue to strive forward. Xincheng is proud of you!”

He turned and placed the medal around Wu Tong’s neck, handed her the certificate, and then brought forth two red plaques, giving them to her one by one. One was marked with a scholarship of 2,000 yuan, the other with 3,000 yuan. The difference, besides the amount, was in the bottom right corner—Xincheng No. 1 High School and Xincheng Education Bureau, indicating the sources of the rewards.

With so many items, Xiao Mingping and Director Sun kindly helped Wu Tong hold the scholarship plaques. The teacher prepared for photography adjusted the camera, capturing this classic moment.

This photo would be archived by the school and featured in the local newspaper, letting the entire county know of the school’s glory.

When everyone returned to the classroom, teachers and students noticed that the school’s electronic bulletin board had already replaced its usual information with a congratulatory message: “Congratulations to Wu Tong from Grade Twelve Science Class One for achieving a perfect score of 300 in the National High School Mathematics League provincial round, winning first place and the provincial first prize…”

It was likely that the rolling display at the school’s main entrance would soon show the same message, and perhaps a banner would be hung. The joy of Xincheng No. 1 High School was now known throughout the county.

“Do you have a bank card? The scholarship will be deposited directly. It’s not safe to carry cash around. All expenses for your participation in the national Olympiad will be covered by the school,” Luo Zhenping stayed behind to explain to Wu Tong.

“This year’s National Winter Camp for Middle School Students and the Chinese Mathematical Olympiad, or CMO, will be held in Hainan. You’ll first gather in the provincial capital, where the Provincial Mathematics Society has arranged for a teacher to lead you. The event is from December 13th, lasting five days. All you need to do is focus on the competition!”

“Yes, teacher. Thank you to the school!” Wu Tong expressed her gratitude, knowing that the expenses for traveling to Hainan were considerable. If the school was willing to cover them, it was a blessing. Traveling to Hainan for the competition, including accommodation and transportation, would easily cost three or four thousand yuan—a significant sum for her family, whose combined income was about the same.

She had applied for an ID card during her high school entrance exam, and after turning sixteen, immediately opened her first personal bank card. She remembered the number clearly and wrote it down for Luo Zhenping.

Luo Zhenping smiled and gently patted Wu Tong’s shoulder. “If you want to thank us, then bring more honor to the school! Your results in the provincial competition made the teachers proud. We hope you’ll create another miracle in the Olympiad!”

Originally, for this year’s selection, the provincial team had arranged training, but considering Wu Tong’s exceptional results, she only needed to join them at the set time. The training materials would be faxed to the school so Wu Tong could practice with real competition questions. If she had difficulties, she could call for help—a considerate arrangement.

Wu Tong nodded firmly. “Teacher, I will do my best!”

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With Jin Xin as a witness, news of Wu Tong’s award was immediately relayed home. The whole family was overjoyed, unsure how to express themselves.

Jin Yongqing waved his hand, inviting everyone to his place to celebrate the child.

Jin Yuan was at the shop, chatting with an old customer and waiting for their car. When he received messages from his father and son, he was so excited he waved his hand, telling the customer to do as he pleased—today he’d offer thirty percent off, because he had to go home.

The old customer, familiar with Jin Yuan, thought something had happened to the Jin family and asked with concern, “Is something wrong? Need a hand?”

To his surprise, Jin Yuan boasted proudly, “It’s a great occasion—my girl won first place in the provincial math competition! I’m going home to celebrate with her!”

With that, he strode out of the shop, opened his car door, and sped home.

“When did he have a daughter?” Those left behind were puzzled, having only heard that Jin Yuan had a son.

The old mechanic tending the cars replied, “It’s the boss’s sister’s child. The boss has raised her as his own daughter since she was little.”

“Tsk tsk… This girl is really outstanding—first in the province! If my kid could even pass, I’d be content, never mind first in the province!” The customer clicked his tongue. If his child were so impressive, giving him such pride, he’d be even more smug than Jin Yuan…

On his way home, Jin Yuan went straight to the county’s largest market, loading up his car with boxes of Wu Tong’s favorite fresh delicacies—cherries, cream strawberries, kiwifruit, snake apples. Beef, lamb, fresh fish and shrimp—he spared no expense, filling the back seat, trunk, and even the passenger seat to the brim.

When Wu Tong returned home at noon, the family had already prepared a sumptuous meal, and a two-tier fruit cake stood at the center of the table. As she entered the living room, Jin Yuan and Wu Jingzhong set off confetti cannons.

“Congratulations, Tong Tong, on winning first place! You’re amazing!” Colorful confetti shot out, filling the moment with festive ceremony.

The whole family celebrated joyously. After the meal, Xu Meifeng and Jin Yuan together handed Wu Tong an elegantly packaged red gift box.

“Uncle, aunt… this…” Wu Jingye and Jin Yu, the couple, hadn’t reacted yet, but Wu Tong immediately recognized it as a phone box.

Before Wu Tong could finish, Xu Meifeng interrupted her, “Tong Tong, you’re the best. You’re not allowed to refuse. Big sister, you can’t stop us this time either!”

After Jin Yuan returned home, he and Xu Meifeng discussed what gift to buy for the child’s celebration. Previously, her aunt had always opposed buying a phone, but this time they insisted on getting one for Wu Tong. “Our Tong Tong is going so far for the national competition, all the way to the southernmost part of the country! Without real-time communication, how could we be at ease?”

If it weren’t for the team leader and the precedent of no parents accompanying participants, they would have wished someone could go with Wu Tong! The child had always grown up under their watchful eyes—who among them had ever traveled so far?