“I don’t want you to overexert yourself.”

After saying this, Jiang Cheng squatted down and began to massage Teacher Lü’s legs with just the right amount of pressure.

“Please listen to me explain.”

Teacher Lü wasn’t angry and simply nodded, signaling Jiang Cheng to continue.

Jiang Cheng began to explain.

“Teacher Lü, have you ever considered that I might not need one-on-one, targeted, round-the-clock teaching?”

“In my opinion, there’s a difference between a prodigy and a genius. A genius might require your wholehearted dedication to education, but for a prodigy like me, a more hands-off approach has its own unique benefits.”

Teacher Lü stared at Jiang Cheng without blinking.

“I suspect you’re finding a way to compliment yourself.”

Jiang Cheng feigned exaggerated surprise.

“I being that subtle, and you still noticed?”

Teacher Lü couldn’t help but laugh.

“You, get up now. It wouldn’t look good if someone saw you like this.”

“Why not? This is called respecting teachers and honoring the elderly. If anyone dares to criticize me, I’ll have a good debate with them.”

Teacher Lü helped Jiang Cheng to her feet and said with deep emotion, “With that mouth of yours, I believe you could win any argument.”

“Alright, you make a good point. Since you can teach yourself the entire book, it proves you have your own methods. I shouldn’t try to micromanage you.”

“It’s not micromanaging; it’s your appreciation for talent, your deep and loyal love for our country!”

Teacher Lü was deeply moved.

Jiang Cheng continued, “Teacher Lü, I truly need your guidance. How about this: besides assigning me homework, I’ll walk with you every evening, and you can give me some extra lessons along the way.”

Teacher Lü thought seriously for a moment before shaking her head.

“It’s too dangerous for you to go back too late at night. It would be best if you could come earlier.”

“Sure, I’ll arrive at school by 5:10.”

Jiang Cheng agreed readily, and Teacher Lü, being a straightforward person, nodded in approval.

“Tomorrow, I’ll handle some paperwork for you. It will take about ten days to half a month. Foreign books can’t just be taken home casually.”

“Teacher Lü, you always think more comprehensively than I do. Thank you!”

Jiang Cheng wasn’t joking around; she expressed her gratitude sincerely.

The person before her was someone who had made real contributions to the continuity of education.

Jiang Cheng helped Teacher Lü downstairs and, after seeing someone come to pick her up, bid her farewell with a sense of relief.

After seeing Teacher Lü off, Jiang Cheng turned to Grandma Shen and the other three, who were all looking at her with curiosity, waiting for an explanation.

With a helpless expression, she said:
“It’s not a big deal. On the first day of Russian class, I performed so well that Teacher Lü said I was a rare language genius and offered to give me extra lessons. I just couldn’t refuse.”

Grandma Shen: Only Jiang Cheng could make the truth sound so infuriating.

Uncle Wang: That sounds a bit like showing off? Surely, I must have misunderstood. Xiao Jiang isn’t that kind of person.

Shen Xing: Sister’s “modesty” is starting again!

Shen Yue: Sister is so beautiful!

After a bit of light-hearted bragging, Jiang Cheng chatted with Uncle Wang for a while before heading home with Grandma Shen and the others.

The walk home was filled with laughter and joy, as always, combining education with entertainment.

Jiang Cheng also mentioned to Grandma Shen that she wouldn’t be back for dinner the next evening.

“Learning is important, but you can’t skip meals. People need food to stay strong. Missing a meal makes you hungry.”

Grandma Shen genuinely cared for Jiang Cheng and was already thinking about how to send her food the next day.

“Grandma Shen, I’m not skipping dinner; I just won’t be back to eat.”

Jiang Cheng interrupted Grandma Shen’s thoughts, saying, “The recycling station has a cafeteria at noon. I’ll just pack an extra portion for dinner.”

“I wouldn’t let my smart brain go hungry.”

Grandma Shen, who had been worried, instantly rolled her eyes.

She had worried for nothing!

Even if there were no cafeteria, this girl would find a way to get a free meal.

The four of them arrived home and did a quick wash-up.

Before bed, Jiang Cheng studied until 11 PM as usual.

She went to bed at 11 and woke up at 4:30 AM to continue studying and do her morning exercises.

Around 6 AM, Jiang Cheng came out of her room carrying a bag of rice.

Inside was the millet she had saved over the past few days.

Every day, a pound of millet appeared in her space, and the bag now held four pounds in total.

“Grandma Shen, let’s use this to make porridge in the mornings. When it runs out, I’ll buy more.”

Grandma Shen opened the bag and lifted it.

“This is too much.”

“It’s not too much. I don’t have a food ration, so I can’t keep eating yours.”

Grandma Shen wanted to refuse, but one look at Jiang Cheng told her she wouldn’t win the argument.

“Wait a moment.”

Grandma Shen wiped her hands on her apron, went into the house, and came back out.

“Take these. If you don’t, we won’t eat.”

In Grandma Shen’s hand were a few industrial coupons, each neatly pressed, showing how much their owner cherished them.

“How could you think that? Do I look like someone who would refuse?!”

Jiang Cheng quickly took the coupons, her face lighting up with a smile.

“Now I have coupons too.”

Grandma Shen looked at Jiang Cheng with exasperation. “That mouth of yours.”

Jiang Cheng hugged Grandma Shen’s arm affectionately.

“I’m just teasing you. Laughter keeps you young. Don’t you feel happier now?”

The smile on Grandma Shen’s face was the answer.

After breakfast, Jiang Cheng walked with Shen Yue and Shen Xing, telling them she wouldn’t be back for dinner that evening.

Like Grandma Shen, the two kids were worried she might go hungry, but after Jiang Cheng explained, they felt reassured.

The three parted ways, and Jiang Cheng spent another busy morning at the recycling station with Sister Wang.

At lunch, Jiang Cheng didn’t buy dinner right away, waiting to see if there would be leftovers after everyone else had bought their meals.

If there weren’t any, it didn’t matter—she had her space, so she wasn’t worried.

After finishing lunch, Jiang Cheng washed her lunchbox and returned to the cafeteria.

She happened to see five steamed buns left on the steamer.

Perfect.

She bought things mainly to have a legitimate reason for being full, but in reality, she had plenty of variety in her diet.

“Sister Kong, I’ll take two of those buns.”

“No!!”

A sharp refusal came, and Sister Kong quickly turned around, spreading her arms protectively, her posture tense and fearful.

When she saw that Jiang Cheng hadn’t reached for the buns herself, Sister Kong relaxed slightly and awkwardly explained, “These are for Old Li, the night watchman.”

“Oh, I see. Is there anything else left?”

Jiang Cheng asked casually, and Sister Kong’s nerves eased a bit.

“I can spare you one bun, and there’s some leftover stir-fried cabbage.”

Jiang Cheng bought the bun and the leftover cabbage.

Back in the office, Jiang Cheng didn’t mention what had just happened and continued to diligently check the accounts.

Sister Wang, watching Jiang Cheng’s focus and efficiency, couldn’t help but feel more and more satisfied.

If only she had a city household registration.

But then again, a city registration didn’t necessarily mean someone was good. Her matchmaking instincts began to itch again.

At 4:30 PM, Jiang Cheng said goodbye to Sister Wang and ran off to night school.

Twenty minutes later, she arrived at the school.

After catching her breath for a few minutes, she ate her dinner in ten minutes and appeared at the office door right at 5:10 PM.

“I don’t believe anyone is that good.”

A muffled male voice came from inside, but Jiang Cheng’s hand, ready to knock, didn’t waver.

“Knock knock—”

Sigh! It’s time for another round of unintentional show-off.

But she liked it.