After the results were announced, the top ten students each received a certificate of merit.
In later generations, almost everyone had one of these things, but in this era, it was the real deal that could make Mom happy for ages.
Then came handing out the papers, going over the questions, and vacation. Other than the Retake Class, all the other students could go home and help their parents prepare for the New Year.
Even the Retake Class students were not required to attend lessons. The teachers mainly provided guidance, and they were free to come and go as they pleased.
After all, high school students these days counted as half a laborer in their households. During the summer and autumn harvests, they even got time off to go home and work the fields!
After all the chaos, it was already four in the afternoon. Seeing Li Ye and the others leave the classroom, Jiang Xiaoyan hurriedly packed up her things and followed with her head lowered.
Li Ye's expression had been grim—she had seen it—but she had not gotten a chance to explain herself to him all afternoon. Now, her heart was in turmoil.
She had only meant to place tenth. How had she ended up first?
How had she ended up first?
But before Jiang Xiaoyan reached the door, Jin Shengli blocked her way.
"Jiang Xiaoyan, stay a moment. I'll go over these questions with you. You may be first, but we did these questions and you didn't. Teaching and learning go hand in hand, after all."
Jiang Xiaoyan instinctively backed away several steps, keeping her distance from the smiling Jin Shengli as if she were wary of a mud monster, afraid he would soil her pants.
Jin Shengli's smile froze, and he said awkwardly, "Jiang Xiaoyan, what