When Chuxia handed in her application form, the head teacher looked at it with the same disbelief as Jiang Zhida.

“Is this what you really want to fill out?”

Chuxia nodded, her expression calm and her eyes resolute. “The program I want to study is best at this university.”

The head teacher glanced again at the list of medical schools, all in the capital, and was tempted to grab a pen and correct Chuxia’s choices.

With such high scores, she could potentially be the top student in the city!

It seemed a waste to not apply to those top universities.

But he could only respect Chuxia’s decision. “If you’ve thought it through, then that’s fine.”

At this moment, the principal jogged back into the classroom, sweat on his forehead. He didn’t even bother to wipe it off before entering, followed closely by the school principal.

“Chuxia, have you completed your application?”

The principal panted heavily, wiped his sweat, and looked down at the application form on the head teacher’s desk.

“Yes, it’s done.”

As soon as Chuxia finished speaking, the principal’s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the application form on the desk, even rubbing his eyes to make sure he wasn’t seeing things.

“Imperial Capital Traditional Chinese Medicine University?!”

The principal looked at Chuxia, “Did you make a mistake?”

The principal’s loud voice drew the attention of other students who were also discussing their applications.

They looked at Chuxia in surprise.

If they had Chuxia’s score, they would undoubtedly apply to prestigious universities like Jinghua or Jingyan, but Chuxia hadn’t applied to either!

Although Imperial Capital Traditional Chinese Medicine University was a key university, it was still a tier below Jinghua and Jingyan.

They couldn’t understand Chuxia’s choice.

The principal walked over, took Chuxia’s application form, and reviewed the schools and programs she had chosen.

Aside from the schools, the programs were all the same.

She set the application form down and looked at Chuxia. “Do you want to study Traditional Chinese Medicine?”

Chuxia nodded. “I decided to go to university to study this program.”

The principal could see the seriousness in Chuxia’s eyes and understood that she was someone who wouldn’t easily change her mind once she had set her goal.

She said, “If you’re sure, that’s fine. The school supports every student’s choice.”

“Principal!” The head teacher’s face showed urgency, wishing he could stop the principal from talking and persuade Chuxia to choose a different school immediately.

But the principal wouldn’t let the head teacher speak and led him out of the classroom.

“Principal, why aren’t you making Luo Chuxia change her application? She could potentially get into Jinghua or Jingyan!”

“She won’t change,” the principal said flatly. “Even if she doesn’t apply to Jinghua or Jingyan, if her exam score is as high as we estimate, it will still bring honor to the school.”

The head teacher sighed in resignation.

With the principal saying this, there was nothing he could do.

Chuxia’s estimated score and her choice of university quickly spread among the students who were reviewing their answers and filling out their applications.

Who didn’t know other students from different classes, especially those from the same hometown?

With Chuxia’s high estimated score, her choice not to apply to the best universities seemed both puzzling and regrettable.

Wang Chaoxi was also filling out her application.

Her estimated score was sufficient for Jinghua or Jingyan, but following the head teacher’s suggestion to reduce by 20 points made her frown as she considered whether she should take a risk.

As she wrestled with the decision in her mind, she overheard students discussing Chuxia’s score and application choices.

Wang Chaoxi thought she must have heard incorrectly.

She turned to the person talking and asked, “Did you say Luo Chuxia’s estimated score and her application choices?”

The person looked at Wang Chaoxi’s face with a puzzled expression and repeated what they had just said. “Is there a problem?”

Ignoring the two discussing students, Wang Chaoxi quickly turned and ran out, leaving the two classmates even more confused about her abrupt departure.

Wang Chaoxi dashed out of the classroom and headed straight to Class 3 where Chuxia was.

At that moment, Chuxia was about to leave the classroom and head back to the staff quarters when Wang Chaoxi stopped her at the door.

Wang Chaoxi leaned on her knees, panting, and called out to Chuxia, “Wait…! Hah! Wait a minute!”

Chuxia stopped and looked down at Wang Chaoxi, puzzled about why she was being stopped, wondering if there was something else after the exams.

Wang Chaoxi finally caught her breath, looked up at Chuxia with intense eyes, and asked in a hushed voice, “Your estimated score is 578?”

Chuxia nodded.

“And you didn’t apply to Jinghua or Jingyan?”

Chuxia nodded again, raising her eyebrows, waiting for Wang Chaoxi to continue.

“Why?” Wang Chaoxi looked at Chuxia with a puzzled expression.

She was struggling to get into the university she wanted, yet Chuxia could easily get into any top university but chose not to.

Wang Chaoxi was genuinely confused.

Seeing Wang Chaoxi’s confusion, Chuxia realized that Wang Chaoxi had always considered her a rival, while Chuxia had never seen her that way.

It was understandable that Wang Chaoxi was confused.

“My preferred program isn’t available at those two universities.”

Wang Chaoxi didn’t expect that to be the reason. “If Jinghua and Jingyan had the program you wanted, would you apply to them?”

“Maybe” Chuxia replied.

Wang Chaoxi gave Chuxia a deep look. “I understand now.”

She quickly ran off, leaving Chuxia both amused and perplexed.

Wang Chaoxi had come specifically to ask about her college choices and seemed to care about her opinion.

Jiang Zhida, observing Wang Chaoxi running away, touched his chin and asked, “Cousin-in-law, is she your friend or your rival?”

“Neither,” Chuxia said. “Just a classmate from the same school.”

And after graduation, they would part ways, possibly never meeting again.

Jiang Zhida said “oh” and didn’t dwell on it.

He was more interested in getting Chuxia to have some carp noodle cakes.

They went to the restaurant recommended by Chenchen’s mother.

It was much cooler inside compared to outside, with a green ceiling fan blowing a pleasant breeze rather than hot air.

Jiang Zhida put down his fan and stood under the air stream of the ceiling fan, his face showing visible relief. “Finally, it’s a bit cooler. Why is it so hot today?”

Chuxia pulled out a chair and sat down. “It’s the days of summer, the hottest time of the year, of course it’s hot.”

She too felt the heat, which was stifling and uncomfortable.

Chuxia remembered the delicious dishes they had last time.

Given their appetite, they ordered four dishes, including the essential carp noodle cake.

When Jiang Zhida tasted the carp noodle cake, his eyes lit up. “The noodles are sweet and sour with a crispy texture, and the fish is fresh and tender. No wonder it’s a famous dish—it’s truly deserving of its reputation!”

Chuxia didn’t say much, but a passing waitress proudly added, “You have a good eye for quality.”

She then brought a pot of good tea for their table.

Chuxia enjoyed the meal but felt a bit regretful that she couldn’t bring her son, Jiang Huai’an, along.

Before leaving Liangzhou, Chuxia had packed up everything at home with Jiang Zhida’s help and shipped it all to the capital. For items that couldn’t be shipped, like the bed, cabinet, and coal stove, she first asked Bangzi and Sister Li if they wanted them.

Sister Li took a small bed and a cabinet, and Bangzi took the rest.

Chuxia wasn’t sure how much money Bangzi made, but she knew he wasn’t short on funds now.

With everything cleared out, including a box of books belonging to Cen Zhengnian, the house was left empty except for her luggage.

Jiang Zhida followed Chuxia’s instructions without questioning.

After everything was packed up, he looked at the empty house and asked, “Cousin-in-law, are you not planning to live here anymore?”

“Mm,” Chuxia replied. “I’ll be studying in the capital from now on and don’t know when I’ll be back. I plan to return the house to the factory.”

That was only one reason.

The Luo family was still in disarray due to Luo Xiaomei’s situation.

Chuxia’s smooth high school exam results were partly because Luo Xiaomei was causing a commotion at home, insisting on being with her chosen partner.

The nearby textile factories were all affected by Luo Xiaomei’s antics, including her hunger strikes and elopement attempts.

Everyone around knew about the Luo family’s situation.

Chuxia didn’t dig into details, but she heard people discussing it while walking down the street, and Sister Li had filled her in on the full story.

Once Luo Xiaomei’s issues were resolved, the Luo family would likely want the house Chuxia had.

Chuxia didn’t want any further entanglement with them and decided to return the house to the factory.

The Luo family wouldn’t dare to make trouble with the factory.

When Chuxia went to see the factory manager and handed over the keys, the manager showed surprise and did not immediately accept them.

“The house was allocated to you. You’re passing your job to a relative, so the house doesn’t need to be returned,” he said.

Everyone knew who would take over Chuxia’s position, but Chuxia didn’t mention that the successor wasn’t a relative.

She smiled and said, “Since I won’t be living in the staff quarters anymore, it’s a waste to leave the house vacant. It’s better to allocate it to a worker in greater need.”

The factory manager looked at Chuxia and found her serious expression a bit unbelievable.

It was rare for anyone to voluntarily return their allocated house unless the entire family was dismissed or relocated.

Most long-time employees would pass their job to their children and continue living in the assigned house.

Chuxia was the first to return a house voluntarily.

However, having an extra house wasn’t a bad thing for the factory.

Many young married couples were waiting for house allocations.

The factory manager smiled and said, “Comrade Luo, your sense of responsibility is commendable! If every worker had your attitude, we wouldn’t have to worry about housing issues.”

Chuxia smiled and said nothing in response.

When the factory manager eventually accepted the key, he chatted with Chuxia, reminding her not to forget about the Textile Factory even after leaving.