By the time the three of them reached Yanling County, it was already evening.
They stayed at the guesthouse beside the County People's Hospital.
Early on the morning of August 10, staff responsible for the medical examinations were already at the hospital entrance, registering candidates and having them fill out forms.
After Song Ning registered, the staff member looked over the name she had written again and again.
Then he grabbed her.
"It's her! It's her!"
Song Ning's heart jolted.
Only then did she hear the staff member continue shouting:
"Quick! Go tell the director! The provincial top scorer is here! Comrade Song Ning has arrived!"
The nearby staff dropped what they were doing and ran off.
The commotion made it look as though they had caught a wanted criminal.
Only then did the staff member clasp Song Ning's hand and shake it vigorously.
"Comrade Song Ning! Congratulations! Congratulations! It's only been a few years since the college entrance examination was reinstated, and our county has already produced a provincial top scorer! This is an honor for our Education Bureau!"
Other staff members heard the news and gathered around.
They all held out their hands to shake Song Ning's.
For a while, Song Ning found herself on the receiving end of an endless stream of congratulations.
The director of the County Admissions Office hurried over at the news, pushed through the crowd in a few long strides, and eagerly seized Song Ning's hand.
"Comrade Song Ning! You've finally appeared! We're so proud of you! You've brought tremendous honor to Yanling County!"
Song Ning kept smiling as she shook everyone's hands in turn.
The first round of congratulations had barely ended.
Reporters from the provincial newspaper carrying cameras and staff from the County Publicity Department arrived at the news.
They had