Chapter 106: A Pleasant Summer Vacation (Second Update—Please Vote!)

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“Please wait a moment!” Yang Tian turned around and whispered to Zhu Wenkai, then resumed loudly chatting with Lang Ping. Actually, Lang Ping found it quite puzzling today. Why would Yang Tian suddenly call him and talk about such strange things like having tea? If it weren’t for the good relationship between Yang Tian and the Zhang family, would a respectable deputy mayor even pick up a call from an ordinary high school student and listen to him ramble on for so long?

At the last banquet hosted by Zhang Xiuxiu, Lang Ping had given his direct line to everyone at the table for easier contact. Although Yang Tian wasn’t a high-ranking official nor a member of the Zhang family, since everyone else got the number, he couldn’t just leave Yang Tian out. Thus, Yang Tian had Lang Ping’s contact information.

It wasn’t that Lang Ping looked down on Yang Tian; on the contrary, he admired the student, thinking him clever and mature. He had assumed such a kid wouldn’t bother him with trivial formalities, so Lang Ping was a bit surprised when Yang Tian called unexpectedly today. He could only respond with smiles and guesses in his heart, wondering if Yang Tian needed his help.

Unexpectedly, after chatting nonsense for over ten minutes, Yang Tian hung up. Lang Ping was stunned for a moment, then shook his head with a smile.

“Director Zhu, do you have any business?” After leaving Zhu Wenkai waiting for over ten minutes, Yang Tian pretended to be confused and walked over with a smile.

Actually, Yang Tian had planned the call to Lang Ping in advance. Before his rebirth, he often saw news in the papers of Zhu Wenkai and Lang Ping together. Lang Ping was very capable and currently deputy mayor; a year later, he would be the party secretary of Binhai City.

Zhu Wenkai was close to Lang Ping because he was climbing the ranks through him. But Zhu Wenkai had no special connection to Lang Ping, relying only on lavish gifts and flattery to grab hold of this powerful branch. Hearing that Yang Tian was close to Lang Ping, Zhu Wenkai naturally wanted to immediately change his attitude toward Yang Tian and deepen his ties to Lang Ping through this connection.

Yang Tian had anticipated this, which was why he deliberately called Lang Ping. Since he dared to stride into the education bureau director’s office, he must have a way to get help.

“You’re close with Mayor Lang?” Zhu Wenkai probed cautiously, knowing not to be naive in official circles.

“Sort of. We’ve had meals together and attended some city events,” Yang Tian answered casually.

“Oh, I see! Actually, Lang and I have known each other for years. Since you’re friends with him too, I’ll definitely help you out—consider it doing him a favor. Now, tell me, what’s the situation with your sister?” Zhu Wenkai was momentarily surprised, then spoke sincerely. Although he was reluctant to believe the kid had such close ties with the deputy mayor, in officialdom, it’s better to err on the side of belief to avoid future regrets.

“It’s like this. My sister’s grades are very good, but she only scored 530 on the high school entrance exam. I want you to check her exam papers to see if there were any mistakes in grading or score tallying,” Yang Tian returned to the point, feeling secretly amused. It turned out that nowadays, knowing a government official was so important.

“Checking papers and scores... Ah, Yang Tian, age-wise, I’m practically your uncle. Let me speak frankly. I know what you want. Your sister scored 530 and can only get into the Second High School, but you want her in the First High School, right? That’s controlled by the admissions office; I can’t directly intervene. Of course, if you really want to do something, ‘uncle’ will help!” Zhu Wenkai spoke in official jargon.

“Heh, Director Zhu, you misunderstood. I just want to check the papers, not alter the final scores!” Yang Tian understood Zhu’s meaning. Actually, many people pay to change their entrance exam scores each year. Zhu Wenkai only benefits indirectly and rarely intervenes directly for money.

“Oh, alright then. I’ll have someone check for you!” Zhu Wenkai’s tone softened, then he chuckled.

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After some trivial chatter with Zhu Wenkai, Yang Tian went home. Sure enough, within a few days, the Victory Middle School’s academic affairs office called Yang Xueling, saying there had been an error in tallying her entrance exam scores. Sixty points were mistakenly left out from math and science, so her actual total score was much higher.

Quite a few students had similar errors. It was said that after Yang Tian’s inquiry, many students had their scores corrected.

Yang Xueling became the top scorer at Victory Middle School, with Zhang Xinyu in second place. Both were ultimately admitted to Binhai First High School, making both families very happy.

During the summer vacation, Zhang Qiang and his wife were busy with the textile factory’s branch affairs and couldn’t take Zhang Xinyu out, so Zhang Xinyu moved in with Yang Tian’s family, sharing a room with Yang Xueling.

Yang Tian and Huang Juan also decided to make the most of this summer vacation with Yang Xueling and the others, as this might be their last summer in Daliushu Village.

With Yang Xueling entering high school and Yang Bao and his wife going to work as factory managers at Zhang Qiang’s textile branch in Binhai, the Yang family planned to move to the city. By early August, Yang Bao and his wife would likely look for a house in the city.

Seeing Yang Bao’s move, the Huang family also planned to enter the city. Their jujube business was becoming more standardized, so Huang Biao wanted to buy a house in the city for the family, hiring someone to manage the orchard and visiting occasionally.

Thus, this summer became especially bittersweet, with everyone reluctant to part and eager to create lasting memories.

“Brother, I’m so grateful to you. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have gotten into First High!” Yang Xueling sat on a big rock by the Bailang River, dipping her small feet in the water and gently splashing the surface.

A large willow tree shaded her from the setting sun, while Yang Tian and Huang Juan stood side by side leaning against the tree.

“It’s because you did well. Otherwise, I couldn’t have helped!” Yang Tian smiled. Even if Yang Xueling hadn’t gotten into First High, he would have paid to get her admitted. “Brother, Sister Juan, what should we do this summer vacation?” Yang Xueling asked sweetly.

“We’ll do whatever you want!” Huang Juan replied cheerfully.

“I’ve always had one wish—to collect a full set of Little Raccoon Water Margin cards. But from elementary school until now, I’ve only got eight! Soon I’ll be in high school, so I can’t play with childish stuff anymore. If I could collect a full set before high school starts, that would be wonderful! I’d treasure them and look back on them in ten or twenty years. That feeling would be so beautiful!” Yang Xueling was enchanted talking about the Water Margin cards.

Yang Tian and Huang Juan exchanged smiles. The Little Raccoon Water Margin cards were indeed fascinating. Yang Tian remembered them: a full set included 108 common hero cards, 72 special holographic cards, 36 gold cards, and 36 silver cards.

Before his rebirth, Yang Tian had tried collecting them but never completed a set despite eating many packs of the noodles that came with the cards. Eventually, he gave up.

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But hearing Yang Xueling now, he suddenly felt the cards held great sentimental value. They symbolized a vast childhood joy. Collecting a full set was extremely difficult, which was why these cards left a deep imprint on this generation’s childhood memories.

“Alright then, this summer vacation we’ll focus on collecting the Water Margin cards and definitely get you a full set before summer ends!” Yang Tian declared.

“A full set? How many packs of Little Raccoon noodles would that take?” Huang Juan asked in amazement. If one box could yield a full set, they could buy one box; two boxes, then two. But realistically, one or two boxes wouldn’t cut it. If their luck was bad, even ten boxes might not be enough.

“Yes, Brother, I’m just saying! I’ll be starting high school in the second half of the year, and tuition will cost a lot. We can’t waste family money on this anymore! When we grow up and have our own money, we can collect them then!” Yang Xueling said sensibly.

Yang Tian smiled without replying. He could see the disappointment in her eyes. Having been given a second chance at life, he wouldn’t let her feel that way again.

Besides, he knew that in a few years, Little Raccoon noodles would no longer include Water Margin cards. The cards would become a childhood dream for many, with full sets selling for up to 500 yuan online. He didn’t want Yang Xueling to regret missing out.

Since she wanted the cards so badly, he would make sure she got them!

That evening, when Zhang Xinyu heard about the Water Margin cards, she jumped up excitedly. She had been collecting the cards for a long time and already had thirty-two, more than Yang Xueling. She spoke with fascination about wanting to complete a full set and treasure it.

The next morning, Yang Tian called Huang Juan and took Yang Xueling and Zhang Xinyu into the city. The girls rode in a car, while Yang Tian rode a motorcycle with Huang Juan following behind. The four arrived in Binhai together.

The three girls thought Yang Tian was taking them to have fun in the city, but they never imagined he was taking them straight to the Little Raccoon noodles’ general distributor in Binhai.

When Yang Tian asked the sales manager to immediately bring out one hundred boxes of Little Raccoon noodles, everyone was stunned.

“You want to buy one hundred boxes? May I ask which city you manage? I’ll register you with your city and give you a discount!” the sales manager said, surprised but then formal as he led them to the warehouse.

“Xiao Tian, you want to buy one hundred boxes? Where did you get so much money?” Huang Juan was shocked, while Yang Xueling and Zhang Xinyu gaped in amazement and surprise. One hundred boxes should be enough to collect a full set, right?

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