The Story of Chen Guihua

Chen Guihua was very pretty. She was the village belle and had been that way since she was young. In the past, she was not a joke in the eyes of others, let alone a fool. Instead, she was the most promising person in all of Guihua Village, as she was one of the few high school students in the village that had even participated in the college entrance examination. She was only waiting for the admission letter to be issued to become the only college student in the village.

Every villager who passed by Chen Guihua’s house would ask her with concern if her results were out. They would also tell their children to learn from Chen Guihua. At that time, even if Chen Guihua wore washed-out clothes, she was still a golden phoenix in the eyes of others. Of course, it pressured all the children her age too. In such a poor place, Chen Guihua was too outstanding, and her excellence made others who stuck to the rules breathless.

However, when the college entrance examination results were out, and Chen Guihua unexpectedly failed the exam, everything changed.

Chen Guihua could not understand how she had done so badly. She sat on the hillside and watched the sunset, unable to accept it. She decided to repeat her studies and take the exam again.

When the people in the village found out that Chen Guihua had not been accepted into university, they were just surprised at first. Then, there were rumors…

“I heard she usually cheats on her grades.”

“Didn’t they say she’s in a relationship with multiple boys in school?”

“I’ve already said that she can’t do it. A young lady stays at home and gets married early to give birth to a son. Why did she have to spend money to go to school? In the end, It was a waste of time and money. It’s not like she’s young anymore too, so what good family could she marry into? Moreover, the Chen family has been poor farmers for generations. How could a golden phoenix fly out of the chicken nest? The Chen family is so troublesome. It’s no wonder they’re so poor…”

Everyone laughed. This made Chen Guihua and her family feel depressed and ashamed.

As for Chen Guihua, she flipped open her book and began to revise. She was determined to get good grades next time and go to the university of her dream. She wanted to shut up those who looked down on her. She was diligent, hardworking, and full of confidence as she took the college entrance examination again the next year, waiting for her dream to take off. However, she was met with another round of despair.

Her results were even worse than the previous time. She looked at her score in disbelief.

Chen Guihua wanted to check her grades, but she was just an ordinary person. One who was so poor that she could only change her life by reading. She tried all the methods she could think of but still could not check her results.

What Chen Guihua did not know was that every time she did well, her results would become someone else’s results. The life she had worked so hard for would be stolen by someone else!

Chen Guihua once again sat on the hillside, watching the setting sun. She was silent and quiet, like a beast refusing to admit defeat. She was determined to take the test again. However, with her snobbish appearance during the college entrance examination, the malicious intent that originally lurked in the dark instantly came and devoured her.

Shi Qiang, a gangster from the same village, squatted on a dead tree by the roadside with his brothers. He whistled as he watched her walk by, his eyes obscene. “Chen Guihua, I heard you didn’t pass again. I’m afraid you, the golden phoenix, won’t be able to fly out.”

The others instantly laughed.

These people’s mocking laughter was ear-piercing and ruthlessly stabbed Chen Guihua’s pride and shame.

Chen Guihua only ignored them. She knew they were not the same. She had her own dreams. Shi Qiang, who had dropped out of school long ago, would not understand, and she did not need him to understand.

However, Shi Qiang shouted and laughed the most arrogantly. Slowly, those in the village who were suspicious, those who were watching the show, and those who had ill intentions all had different looks in their eyes. They were like different needles, stabbing into Chen Guihua’s sensitive and proud heart.

It was her parents who were the last straw. When she said she wanted to repeat her studies, her parents strongly opposed it. “There has never been a college student in our village. If others can’t pass the exam, neither can you. Guihua, give it up. While you’re still young, I’ll find you a good family!”

Father Chen also said, “We know you’ve worked hard. However, you don’t have the fate to do so. If you really don’t want to get married, then go out and find a job.”

Chen Guihua did not understand why her parents were like this. They had always supported her. That day, they had an intense argument. In the end, Chen Guihua decided to earn money for herself so that she could repeat her studies.