Chapter 1 — My grandmother tore up my admission notice, and tore up my status as a Thien Kim Hao Mon

No one in my family has ever gone to college in three generations. However, I became the valedictorian of the whole province in the university entrance exam. The day the admission notice was sent, my grandmother, who always treated me like a treasure in the palm of her hand, grabbed it and tried to tear it to pieces. My father held the sickle and stood in front of me, shouting harshly:

“If I don't destroy it, I'll be as good as not having this daughter today!”

Even my mother, who was lying on the hospital bed, cried and pushed me away:

"Nim Niem, don't go to school. If you go, our whole family will be finished!"

In my previous life, they locked me in the old house behind me, and eventually died of hunger and thirst in despair. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day I received my admission notice. This time, I must know. What they fear in the end is the university... Or is it my name? My grandmother gave me an old fountain pen.

“Nien Niem, when you go to college, I will buy you a new one.”

She smiled gently as always.

“That's right, have you received your admission notice yet?”

I tightened the envelope in my pocket, my fingertips unconsciously tensing. I'm back. Back to the day I became the valedictorian of the entire province. In my previous life, no one in my family had ever gone to college in three generations. My parents opened a small breakfast restaurant in town. My grandmother, who is over seventy years old, still accepts paper box stickers every day to earn extra money. I advised them. That I don't study anymore. Go to work early to help your family pay off debt. But the people who oppose the most fiercely are themselves.

"Our family is poor, but we cannot help but have the will to progress."

"You can rest assured to study, your parents will take care of money."

“Our family must have a university student.”

But from the day the admission notice was sent... Everything changed. I gave the envelope to my grandmother. The moment she saw the school name and achievements on the notice, the smile on her face immediately disappeared. Her hands tightly grasped the edges of the paper. Then use force to tear it. I rushed forward and snatched it back.

"Grandma! What are you doing?"

She stared at me. Strange eyes as if looking at someone completely unfamiliar.

“Nim Niem, this school cannot study.”

“Tear it up.”

"Why do I have to tear it up? I'm the valedictorian in the whole province! Isn't it my grandmother who wants me to pass the exam the most?"

Grandma suddenly rushed forward.

“I told you to tear it up!”

I took two steps back. His back hit the edge of the table hard. At that moment, the door was pushed open. My father walked in carrying a bag of flour.

“Mom, what are you doing to Niem Niem?”

Grandma pointed straight at me, her voice trembling.

“He got first place in the exam.”

Dad was stunned.

“What first class?”

“Top valedictorian in the whole province.”

The bag of flour fell to the ground. The anger on Dad's face instantly turned into fear. He turned and ran straight into the kitchen. A moment later, he brought out the sickle he still used to harvest rice.

“Lam Niem, give me the admission notice.”

I can't believe it.

“Dad... are you crazy too?”

Mom was woken up by a noise. She grabbed the door frame and walked out.

"Mr. Lam, why are you threatening her with a knife?"

Dad was still staring at me.

“He was the top valedictorian in the whole province.”

Mom's hand that was clinging to the door frame suddenly slid down. She looked at me. Tears immediately fell.

“Nien Niem, listen to mother, don't go.”

“Mom, what's wrong with everyone?”

Grandma locked the door. Dad blocked the window. Mom sat down on the edge of the bed and cried bloom.

“We can't let him leave this house.”

Dad said coldly:

“Lock up in the back house first.”

Grandma nodded:

“The back house is locked very securely, the windows are also sealed.”

I rushed towards the door. Dad grabbed my arm tightly.

"Dad! Dad, let me go! I don't need everyone to pay tuition. I can apply for allowance and work part-time on my own!"

Grandma angrily scolded:

“What do you know!”

Mom turned away.

“Nim Niem, don't blame mom.”

The three of them joined forces to push me into the back house. The inside was filled with old furniture and musty blankets. The door is locked from the outside. I banged on the door until both hands went numb.

"Dad! Mom! Grandma! Let me go!"

No one answered. In my previous life, for three days in a row they didn't give me a drop of water. On to the fourth day. Grandma just brought in a bowl of porridge. I rushed to ask her why. She put the bowl of porridge on the ground.

“If I don't make it as valedictorian... how good would that be?”

Dad stood behind her. Cold voice.

“If you want to blame, blame your bad luck.”

Mother cried and said:

"Don't ask anymore. Knowing the truth will make you even more miserable."

But in the end... I still couldn't wait for the answer. I died in that house back there. Open your eyes again. My grandmother was still standing in front of me, smiling her familiar gentle smile.

“Nien Niem, where is the admission notice?”

I quietly stuffed the envelope deeper into my shirt.

“I haven't received it yet.”

The smile on her face stopped for a moment.

“Didn't the post office say it would be delivered today?”

“I remembered the wrong date.”

“Then let's show you the appointment letter.”

“There is no appointment.”

Grandma reached out to pull me back.

“Nien Niem, since childhood you have not known how to lie.”

I stepped back.

“My friend called me out.”

She smiled again.

“Let's eat and then go.”

“Don't eat.”

I turned around and ran away. As soon as I reached the beginning of the alley, I reflexively touched my pocket. Empty. My whole body stiffened. The admission notice has disappeared. I immediately turned around. Grandma is standing in front of the yard gate. In her hand was a yellow-brown paper envelope. She tore the seal. I frantically rushed back.

“Give it back to me!”

Grandma saw clearly the words inside, her lips immediately turned pale.

“The valedictorian of the entire province... is truly the valedictorian of the whole province...”

I snatched back the admission notice and turned around and ran away. Behind, grandmother screamed:

“Lam Niem, you are not allowed to go to school!”

People in the alley heard the movement and stuck their heads out to see. As I ran, I shouted loudly:

"Help! My grandmother wants to tear up my admission notice!"

Neighbor Aunt Chu quickly stopped her grandmother.

"Mrs. Hua, what are you doing? Isn't it a good thing that she passed college?"

Grandma stared at me.

“It can't go.”

“Why can't you go?”

She gritted her teeth:

“It's not worth it.”

Surprised noises were immediately heard around. I knelt on the ground, holding up the admission notice.

“Grandma, please explain clearly.”

"From childhood to adulthood, I always listened to everyone. Before dawn, I would wake up to study and help clean the restaurant at night."

“Everyone used to say that as long as I passed college, the Lam family would have hope.”

“Now that I passed, why do you want to cancel it?”

Grandma walked step by step towards me.

“Let's go home and talk.”

“No, say it right here.”

She lowered her voice:

“Damn brat, don't force me.”

I raised my head to look at the neighbors are gathering in increasing numbers.

“Everyone heard it.”

Grandmother's face immediately became ugly. She reached out to pull me up. Aunt Chu was right in front.

"If you have anything to say, don't move your hands or feet."