The township head and the deputy secretary in charge of education had come. Neither had arrived empty-handed: they brought two suitcases, a hard-sided leather one measuring a meter by eighty centimeters, and a semi-soft fabric carry case measuring sixty by forty centimeters. Both were very practical.
These were the kinds of suitcases people commonly used for long journeys back then.
Township Head Qi Xianzhi smiled and said to Li Jianguo, "This is wonderful news, an honor for our township! Old Ma told me that since our township was established, she's the first to get into Renmin University, and the first to get into a prestigious university in Yanjing. She deserves a reward!"
Deputy Secretary Ma Youde, who oversaw education, also smiled. "Exactly! You've done a fine job educating your children! I heard that Li Juan's younger brother got into First Middle School this year too, with excellent grades. He's another promising youngster!"
Flushed with excitement at the township head's and deputy secretary's praise and approval, Li Jianguo hurriedly invited the two leaders to sit down at the banquet. Only then did Xu Chengjun rush over and join them.
Li Long went to the courtyard to the south to find Li Juan. With both leaders here, they had to meet the young woman at the center of it all.
Li Juan was sitting at a table with her classmates, chatting about what had happened over the past few days. Seeing Li Long hurry over, she quickly stood up.
"Juan, come with me for a moment. The township head and deputy secretary are here, so you should meet them. Don't worry, just say hello, then you can come back and keep your classmates company," Li Long said.
"All right." Li Juan agreed, then said a word to her classmates and followed Li