Reborn in 1977, I will no longer be my brother's blood bag.

Second place—

The voice of the admissions director echoed throughout the square.

At the entrance of the Education Bureau, thousands of people looked up at the same time.

The sun was already setting in the west, but no one felt tired.

Everyone is waiting—waiting for that name, waiting for the final result.

Wang Xiulan stood at the front of the crowd, unable to suppress her smile.

The top three are out. If Lin Xiuhe isn't in third place, then who could it be?

She had even started planning how to hold a banquet after returning to the village, how many chickens to kill, how many tables to set up, which relatives to invite, and who to send to inform Old Lin's family.

These thoughts sprouted like grass after the rain, growing one after another.

Someone nearby offered their congratulations in advance: "Xiulan, you've really made something of yourself this time. Second in the whole county! You're guaranteed a top university, and you'll be a government official in the future."

Wang Xiulan declined verbally, but her smile deepened: "It hasn't been announced yet, what if it isn't true?"

"No?" The person next to him chuckled. "Third place is 341, Wei Dong is 343, can they still run?"

Laughter immediately erupted from the crowd.

Wang Xiulan laughed along, her shoulders shaking with laughter.

On the other side, Zhao Xiaomei had stopped talking.

After the third place was announced, her sense of relief suddenly eased by half.

It wasn't that she didn't trust Lin Xiuhe, but rather that she couldn't understand her; she really couldn't understand her.

He ranked first in the county in the mock exam, so how come he didn't even make the top three?

Li Hongmei stood to the side, her forehead covered in sweat.

She wanted to say something, but she didn't know what to say.

Even she began to suspect that something had gone wrong with the college entrance examination.

On the other side of the square, Captain Wang stood behind the crowd with his hands behind his back, his brows furrowed.

He didn't believe it. But the list was there, the third place had already been announced, and only two people remained.

The director of the education bureau turned to the last page, glanced at the list, and then looked up.

Second place—

The entire square fell completely silent. The wind rustled through the treetops.

Some people held their breath, some gripped their admission tickets tightly, and some even stood on tiptoe, eager to see their names in advance.

The director began, "Red Flag Commune."

Boom! The crowd erupted in chaos.

Red Flag Commune! It really is Red Flag Commune!

"I knew it! It had to be Lin Weidong! Who else could it be but him! Second place is a sure thing!"

Wang Xiulan burst out laughing, even reaching out to pull her son's arm: "Weidong! Did you hear that! Red Flag Commune!"

Lin Weidong stood in the crowd, but his eyes remained fixed on the list in the director's hand.

For some reason, his heart suddenly started beating very fast, unusually fast.

The next second, the director continued reading: "Lin Weidong, 343 points."

Boom! The square erupted in cheers.

Second place! Second in the entire county!

Countless eyes fell on Lin Weidong, and applause, congratulations, and exclamations mingled together.

Wang Xiulan burst into tears: "Second! My son is second in the whole county!"

Her shout was heard throughout the entire square.

Some people applauded, some offered their congratulations, and some even gave up their seats.

At this moment, Lin Weidong became the focus of the entire audience.

But just then, someone suddenly realized: "Wait, what about the first place winner?"

The square fell silent for a moment.

Yeah, and who's in first place?

All eyes turned back to the list.

The second place has been announced, so who is the first place?

Wang Xiulan's smile was still on her face when she subconsciously looked at the first place column.

The next second, the smile slowly faded.

Because it wasn't an unfamiliar name, but a name she knew all too well.

The admissions director picked up the list, his voice even louder than before:

"First place - Red Flag Commune - Lin Xiuhe - 379 points."

The square suddenly fell silent, as if someone had pressed the pause button.

The old man selling popsicles stopped there with his wooden box in hand. Zhao Xiaomei stared with her mouth agape, forgetting to blink. Li Hongmei dropped her report card on the ground. Captain Wang slowly lowered his hands from behind his back.

A breeze blew across the bulletin board, causing the list to sway gently.

The first place column clearly displays three words: Lin Xiuhe.

379 points.

First in the county.