Chapter 17: The Performance Begins

And Jiang Changhai, who couldn't hear his daughter's true feelings, was still showing off proudly, "Did you hear? My Mianmian said she can get into high school."

Sun Lixia curled her lips and said without a word, "Whether she can get in or not isn't up to her; it's about the exam results."

Knowing a few poems isn't anything special; she might not even pass the middle school entrance exams.

"We can talk about it later. Everyone, if you've had enough rest, let's get back to work," the village chief put down his bowl and stood up to call out.

Jiang Mianmian quickly said, "Dad, you go work, I should go cut pig grass."

If she stayed longer, she truly feared her father would boast even more.

"Remember to take your straw hat when you go back," Jiang Changhai laughed heartily as he got her up from the ground, clearly in a very good mood.

He wanted to enjoy being admired a bit longer, so for the time being, he wasn't going to go home and laze around.

Zhang Guihua spoke up, "San Ya, go dig up some wild vegetables by the river before you head back."

She had originally wanted the lazy girl to go to the fields and help Zhaodi pick up rice ears, but now that her granddaughter had brought some prestige to the Old Jiang Family, it could be overlooked.

"Mmhmm," Jiang Mianmian nodded fervently, as long as she could keep her distance from her dad.

Zhang Guihua continued, "Zhiwen, Zhiwu, you two go take cover from the sun by the river first, and then come back later to carry the grain."

She doted on her two grandsons but still made them help with the work during their holidays, afraid of raising another lazy person.

So the three children headed to the river, followed by other children from the village, mostly boys of course.

Zhao Xiaojuan looked at the group of kids playing by the river, then at her three daughters, sweaty from head to toe, her heart clenched tight with pain.

But aside from a few families, it was the lot of all the girls, at least the mother-in-law hadn't been cruel enough to make seven-year-old Zhaodi cut the rice.

Jiang Changhai was still chatting away to his biological mother, "Mom, you see? Mianmian was not being lazy before; she was going to listen to Aibao read and study."

"I see, I see. Now get back to work."

After a while, someone suddenly yelled out, "Not good, Changhai's daughter has fallen into the water!"

Jiang Changhai, who had been joking around while fishing, heard this and immediately dropped his sickle and ran toward the river, "My Mianmian!!"

With his tall stature and long legs, he ran so fast that he actually jumped into the river before the others working there, coming face to face with his daughter who had just surfaced.

Jiang Mianmian was first stunned, then said cheerfully, "Dad, there's something in the river—"

"Quick, close your eyes and pretend to faint," Jiang Changhai whispered in a low voice, swiftly interrupting his daughter.

Without saying another word, Jiang Mianmian closed her eyes and "fainted."

Then she felt her father lift her to the shore and lay her on the soft grass before he began his performance.

"My daughter, you must be alright!" Jiang Changhai's face showed panic and grief as he wailed at the top of his lungs.

The sound made everyone around feel for him, and an experienced person quickly reminded, "She must have choked on water, press down on her chest to get it out!"

We can't let that smart mind get ruined by water.

Jiang Changhai pretended to gently press on his daughter's chest, "Mianmian, my daughter, quickly open your eyes and look at Daddy!"

"Cough cough—"

Jiang Mianmian, figuring the time was about right, gradually came to, weakly calling out, "Dad~"

Her father, with a face of excited joy, held her tight in his embrace, "My daughter, you almost scared your dad to death!"

"It's good you're okay, it's good you're okay."