Volume One, Chapter 18 Huo Chenyuan: Jiang Yu, Well Done

On the day the competition results were announced, the area in front of the bulletin board was packed with a dense, unmoving crowd.

For the past few days, rumors that the chief examiner had leaked the test questions to his stepsister—spread and embellished by Jiang Yuehua, Jiang Zhenguo, and their cohorts—had fermented into a scandalous piece of gossip known to everyone. Throughout the week, classmates had pointed fingers and whispered whenever Jiang Yu passed by.

"I’m telling you, Jiang Yu is finished! Even if she did win an award, it was gotten through cheating. It’ll be revoked, and she’ll face public reprimand!"

"Exactly, she’s so shameless! To get ahead, she actually went as far as to seduce her stepbrother! She has dragged the Huo family’s reputation through the mud!"

Listening to the cacophony of discussion, a triumphant smile that she could not suppress curled the corners of Jiang Yuehua’s mouth. She looked toward the siblings from the Jiang family beside her and, feigning concern, offered some comfort: "Yuehua, Brother Zhenguo, don't be too angry. Jiang Yu has simply gone too far! Once the competition committee announces the disciplinary results and she realizes her mistake, she will still be your sister."

Jiang Yuehua dabbed at her reddened eyes with a handkerchief, putting on a look of deep worry. Beside her, she nodded, "I don’t blame my sister. I just hope she realizes her mistake soon and stops dragging the Huo family down with her."

*This time,* she thought, *now that the Huo family has discarded her, let’s see what Jiang Yu can do!*

Jiang Yuehua had been cast out exactly like this in her previous life. If it weren't for the fact that the Jiang brothers were fools who could be easily coaxed into providing her with food, shelter, and even handing over their college entrance exam scores, she wouldn't have survived. Having lived a second life, how could she possibly choose wrong again?

No, that wasn't enough. She wanted Jiang Yu to be despised by everyone! Being rejected by the Huo family wasn't enough; she wanted to ensure Jiang Yu had no place left in the Jiang family either.

Jiang Zhenguo felt a secret thrill, his eyes filled with undisguised glee. He had come here specifically today to watch Jiang Yu lose everything and be tossed out by the Huo family like trash. Then, he would watch her cry and beg to be allowed back into the Jiang household.

Just then, the crowd stirred. The Dean of Students, accompanied by several school leaders and members of the competition committee, walked over with grave expressions. Seeing this, everyone grew excited, knowing the official decision was about to be announced.

Jiang Yuehua and Jiang Zhenguo exchanged a look; the anonymous report letters had worked!

The Dean cleared his throat, picked up a megaphone, and spoke in a solemn tone: "Regarding the recent rumors of cheating in the competition, the school attaches great importance to the matter. After joint deliberation with the Municipal Education Bureau and leaders from the Military Region, we have decided..."

He deliberately drew out his tone, his gaze sweeping over the crowd with pointed meaning. Jiang Yuehua’s heart leapt to her throat, and she trembled with excitement.

Just as everyone expected the disciplinary decision to be announced, the crowd was parted once more by a powerful presence. Huo Chenyuan had arrived. At the same time, Jiang Yu and Huo Siye reached the front of the crowd.

Huo Chenyuan’s gaze bypassed the others and landed on Jiang Yu. In his mind, he recalled the day at the library when Jiang Zhenguo had barked orders at her, and she had remained indifferent, her face bearing a calm that belied her age, as if she had heard those words a thousand times before. He thought to himself: *How scarred must a person’s heart be to build such an impenetrable fortress?*

"Sister!" Seeing Jiang Yu, Jiang Yuehua immediately acted as if she had found a vent for her emotions. Pushing to the front, she put on a sanctimonious, heart-wrenching expression. "Don't be afraid. I have already pleaded with the school and Commander Huo on your behalf. They both said that as long as you are willing to admit your mistake in public and voluntarily return the ranking that doesn't belong to you back to my brother, both the school and the Huo family will forgive you!"

Jiang Yu’s breathing felt heavy. She truly did not want the rumors to hurt the Huo family. If she were to cause trouble for Huo Chenyuan or Father Huo...

For a fleeting moment, Jiang Yu’s eyes met Huo Chenyuan’s. Her lips turned down slightly, showing hesitation. But Huo Chenyuan’s gaze was resolute; he gave a subtle, almost imperceptible nod, as if to reassure her.

Just as she was about to speak, Huo Siye stepped in front of her, angrily retorting: "Why are you everywhere? What kind of adhesive plaster are you? Why are you so clingy?"

"You..." Jiang Yuehua was left speechless. She quickly regained her composure, "I’m only doing this for the sake of the Huo family!"

"Are you some kind of busybody aunt? Why are you sticking your nose into other people's family business? Even road construction couldn't keep up with the speed at which you meddle in others' affairs!" Huo Siye was utterly merciless.

Jiang Yuehua glanced furtively at Huo Chenyuan, knowing that he was a steady man with a military rank who would never lose his composure like Huo Siye.

Huo Chenyuan swept a cold gaze over her and walked straight to the bulletin board. He took the highly anticipated score sheet from the Dean. The chairman of the competition committee immediately stepped aside respectfully.

Huo Chenyuan’s cold, sharp gaze swept across the audience, his voice ringing out with authority: "In view of the false rumors circulating after this competition, which have seriously affected the credibility of the event and the reputation of certain students, a joint investigation by the Municipal Education Bureau and the Military Region has been conducted. It has been decided that I, the chief examiner of this competition, Huo Chenyuan, shall be fully responsible for announcing the results and clarifying the situation."

He paused, his gaze landing like a physical weight upon the now-pale faces of Jiang Yuehua and Jiang Zhenguo. His thin lips parted, and he read the first name:

"First place, Jiang Yu."

*Jiang Yu? Impossible!*

Jiang Zhenguo was the first to cry out: "How is that possible? She only ever learned by stealing my study materials. She couldn't possibly know these questions!"

Several students immediately echoed him: "That's right! You can't just announce the name; we want to see the scores! We demand to see the exam papers!"

"And the draft papers! Maybe she memorized the questions in advance!"

"Yes! We want fairness!"

The Dean looked at Huo Chenyuan, who gave a slight nod. The Dean produced the exam paper and the drafts. "Student Jiang Yu, first place, perfect score!"

*A perfect score?! Are you kidding me?*

Jiang Zhenguo and Jiang Yuehua’s expressions froze instantly. They scrambled to grab the paper to check it. Every answer was correct—truly, every single one!

The committee chairman stepped forward and said: "Furthermore, regarding the allegation that Huo Chenyuan leaked questions to Student Jiang Yu privately: upon investigation, the questions I provided were three technical challenges drafted by the Military Region’s Logistics Department regarding existing industrial and agricultural production equipment in our country—far exceeding the scope of this competition's syllabus."

He took a paper and pinned it firmly to the center of the bulletin board with a crisp *thud*. It was Jiang Yu’s answer sheet.

"Take, for example, this calculation regarding the compression ratio and wear rate of precision parts for the Dongfanghong-54 tractor diesel engine, intended to provide theoretical data for the technical upgrade of aging equipment."

"This is a problem combining theoretical practice and mathematical engineering—an innovation in our new agricultural and industrial reforms. There are no similar examples currently in existence, so there is no possibility of any leak or plagiarism!"

In her previous life, Jiang Yu had spent ten years working with these cold machines. Their parts and structures were etched into her very bones.

"Of the nearly one thousand candidates in the city, most of whom are children of officials, none had any concept of these frontline production challenges. Only Student Jiang Yu correctly solved all three problems. Her approach exceeded the standard of a high school student and provided a brand-new direction for solving a technical problem for our military region."

The crowd felt their breath hitch. At this moment, the Dean added:

"As for Student Jiang Zhenguo, your score is 65, placing you 317th in the city. There is no possibility of Student Jiang Yu stealing your handwriting or copying your work."

The person who had been laughing at the joke turned out to be the joke itself!

"Did you hear that?! Did you all hear that, you bastards!" Huo Siye’s roar finally thundered, deafeningly loud. "My sister took first place on her own merit! You bunch of trash and waste who only know how to spread rumors in the gutter! Now, right now, apologize to my sister!"

"Impossible!" Jiang Zhenguo could only repeat the word blindly. He had always believed it was his notes that gave Jiang Yu a chance to learn! She had only gotten to see books because she was tagging along with him! And Jiang Yu would always hand over all the materials she organized to him for free. How had it reversed?

Jiang Yu was the one who got first place, and he was just a 317th-place student using her notes? This was impossible! Jiang Yu couldn't be this smart! She was just a laborer who drove tractors!

The students began to look at Jiang Yuehua and Jiang Zhenguo with disdain. Jiang Yuehua could no longer bear it; she grabbed Jiang Zhenguo, desperate to flee.

Huo Chenyuan blocked their path, his expression stern. "Regarding the report letters, anonymous reporting of active-duty officers is a serious matter. You will be held legally responsible for false accusations."

Jiang Zhenguo’s legs went weak with fear. *Legal responsibility?* His good life hadn't even started yet! He didn't want to go to jail!

Jiang Yuehua thought of how her brother was destined for success soon; nothing could go wrong now. She whispered into Jiang Zhenguo’s ear, "Brother, we must know when to bend. Just apologize to Huo Chenyuan. There will be plenty of chances for revenge later."

"Jiang Yu is only being sheltered by the Huo family for now. She will definitely show her true colors soon; she can't keep up this act for long!"

Jiang Zhenguo thought to himself that a wise man doesn't fight when the odds are against him. Though reluctant, he bowed his head to Huo Chenyuan.

"I'm sorry."

"Not to me," Huo Chenyuan said.

Jiang Zhenguo clenched his fists, turned to Jiang Yu, and gritted his teeth. "I'm sorry."

At that moment, something inside Jiang Yu was stirred. This apology was something Jiang Zhenguo had owed her for a long, long time. Her eyes grew moist as certain memories overlapped with the scene before her.

Huo Chenyuan personally took out the certificate and handed it to Jiang Yu. Seeing her complex expression as she reached out, he naturally reached over and patted her head.

"Well done."