Director Chen warmly drove Lin Xiaohe and Lin Jingqiu back to Hengshan Village.
“It’s very rare for the Federal Central Military Academy to have specially admitted students. You are the first from our Sixth Stellar Ring! That’s truly remarkable.” Director Chen had staked his future, even his life and livelihood, entirely on Lin Xiaohe.
As long as Lin Xiaohe successfully entered the Federal Central Military Academy, the position of Deputy Director would be his for the taking.
Director Chen switched the flyer to autopilot mode, turned around, and looked at Lin Xiaohe with a beaming smile.
“I pulled some strings and found out that the practical exam you’re taking consists of six rounds. But don’t worry too much. The assessments for military academy cadets are handled by the military districts, so there are safeguards in place regarding life safety.” Military academy cadets were rare top students, and the military districts naturally cherished them.
Director Chen gave Lin Xiaohe a meaningful wink. “The first round of the exam is administered by our Sixth Stellar Ring Military District. You know what that means.” Grading your own people, of course, meant they could be as lenient as possible.
Lin Xiaohe felt a wave of relief and played along adeptly. “Thank you for your guidance, Director Chen, and for the government’s care and support.”
Director Chen laughed heartily. Having already helped Lin Xiaohe so much, a little more wouldn’t hurt. “Our college admissions office has policy preferences for military academy cadets. If you get into the Federal Central Military Academy, the Education Bureau will award you 1 million star credits.”
“According to regulations, you receive this reward only after formally entering the academy. But considering your special circumstances, I will apply to the bureau for pre-approval of this award.”
Lin Xiaohe’s eyes widened, filled with immense gratitude. This was an enormous favor!
Director Chen was very pleased with her reaction and continued, “Examinees need to prepare their own weapons and equipment for the practical tests. If you need anything, I can ask the Patrol Equipment Department. They have a lot of decommissioned gear we could borrow.”
Lin Xiaohe was genuinely moved. Regardless of Director Chen’s motives, the help he offered was tangible and exactly what she urgently needed.
Why was it so hard for students from Wasteland Star to get into military academies? On one hand, personal physique and education levels fell short. Another major reason was poverty.
A common, second-hand (or more) electromagnetic gun cost as much as 100,000 star credits. The cheapest calcium-plated mecha started at 5 million star credits.
You couldn’t possibly face the practical exams with just a rundown mecha and a single electromagnetic gun, could you?
“Director Chen, my gratitude towards you is like a mighty river, flowing endlessly. I won’t say more. True feelings aren’t measured by words; it’s all in this clear water!” Lin Xiaohe opened her bottle of purified water and gulped it all down.
Seeing this, Director Chen laughed, his eyes crinkling into slits. “Oh, you child, so sincere! I didn’t do this for your thanks. I simply couldn’t bear to see talent go to waste.”
Lin Xiaohe’s words were as sweet as honey, spoken from the heart. “There are always exceptional talents, but those who recognize them are rare. Director Chen, you act solely for the public good, with noble character. Yet I cannot accept your help with a clear conscience. I will remember this great kindness and will repay you in the future.”
Director Chen was overjoyed, looking at Lin Xiaohe with more affection than he would his own son. See? A specially admitted student was different—perceptive, understanding, and grateful!
Hadn’t he done all this precisely for that final promise?
Government flyers were indeed different, much faster than taxis. In less than half an hour, they arrived at the entrance of Hengshan Village.
Lin Xiaohe and Lin Jingqiu warmly invited Director Chen in for a meal, but he politely declined.
“Time is tight. The first round of exams is in seven days. I need to hurry back and complete the paperwork.” Whether it was approving the reward or borrowing a mecha, procedures had to be followed. The whole process would take at least two or three days at the fastest.
Lin Xiaohe insisted several times, but Director Chen wouldn’t change his mind. A meal could be had anytime. Delaying the exam was absolutely out of the question.
The two sisters stood at the village entrance, watching Director Chen leave. “Director Chen is really a good person,” Lin Xiaohe said.
Lin Jingqiu nodded. Once the flyer was completely out of sight, she reached out and ruffled Lin Xiaohe’s hair. What a sneaky girl, being so capable yet hiding it even from her family, making her think she had truly failed the university exams for nothing.
Lin Xiaohe’s hair was tousled into a bird’s nest. Looking at her sulking second sister, she felt both amusement and helplessness. Ah, well. What was a hairstyle compared to a sister who had been through life and death with her?
Hand in hand, they walked slowly back home.
The Lin house was packed, filled with everyone from Hengshan Village. With no room left inside, some simply brought stools and sat by their neighbors’ doors. The atmosphere was livelier than New Year’s.
“Oh, Xiaohe is back!” Aunt Hua turned her head and shouted into the house, “Lin Tiesheng! Your daughter is back!”
Before Lin Xiaohe could even enter, she was surrounded by villagers.
“Xiaohe, you got into the Federal Central Military Academy! Which department?”
“It must be the Mecha Department! Xiaohe could defeat so many mechas; it’d be a waste not to go into that department.”
“The Engineering Department is good too! Xiaohe’s weapons were surely assembled by herself, just like her dad.”
The villagers chattered noisily, trying to curry favor with Lin Xiaohe. It was as if they had never ostracized the Lin family or gossiped behind their backs all these years.
“Alright, alright! Everyone, head back now. My granddaughter has been tired all day and needs proper rest.” Grandma Lin strode out, hands on her hips, her head held high and looking quite proud.
The villagers didn’t jeer at her as they might have before. Instead, they echoed, “You’re right. Xiaohe, rest early. We’ll come see you tomorrow.”
Grandma Lin, holding Lin Xiaohe with one hand and Lin Jingqiu with the other, led them inside under the villagers’ envious gazes and closed the door.
“Second sister! Little sister!”
“Jingqiu! Xiaohe!”
“Oh, my dear granddaughters!”
As soon as Lin Xiaohe and Lin Jingqiu entered, they were enveloped in a group hug by the Lin family.
Lin Chiyang cried uncontrollably. “It’s all my fault. I’m not a good big brother. If I had gone to the government hall with Jingqiu, none of this would have happened.”
Lin Xiaohe was the shortest in the family. Smothered in her big brother’s hug, she felt she could hardly breathe. “Big brother, if you had been there, you and second sister probably would have both been taken.” Her brother might have mental health issues, but he was handsome—a very good-looking guy with a unique spirit.
Lin Jingqiu nodded in agreement.
Dad Lin, sitting in his wheelchair, was just a tad shorter than the standing Lin Xiaohe. “Xiaohe, are you hurt anywhere?”
Grandma Lin immediately wanted to take them to the bedroom to check.
Lin Xiaohe waved her hands repeatedly. “I’m fine.”
Lin Jingqiu smiled shyly and pulled a handful of popcorn from her pocket. Of course, delicious things should be shared with the family!
