Chapter 277

"Will Emily pass the exam this time?" Mr. Johnson overheard his coworkers discussing the college entrance exams in the workshop, his heart pounding with unease.

"They say this year's test is even harder than last year's." His colleague's words only deepened Mr. Johnson's worry.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Johnson was cooking in the kitchen when her spatula suddenly stilled. "Henry, I heard from Aunt Wang next door that years ago, someone stole another student's identity to get into college..."

Clang! Mr. Johnson's enamel mug slipped from his hand and hit the floor.

"Look at all those certificates on the wall." Mrs. Johnson pointed at the yellowed awards, her voice trembling. "Emily was always top of her class. How could she fail twice in a row?"

Mr. Johnson stared at the certificates, his fingers shaking slightly. Their youngest daughter might be a bit spoiled, but she had never given them trouble with her studies.

"Write to Emily—now!" He stood abruptly. "Tell her to check with her school. If that doesn’t work, go straight to the education bureau!"

This was a matter that could shape her entire future. College graduates were highly valued, and the Johnson family had never had one.

Mrs. Johnson abandoned the dishes and rushed to pen the letter. The scratch of her pen was hurried, the handwriting uneven with urgency.

Meanwhile, Emily Johnson knelt beneath the grapevines, completely unaware of the brewing storm. As someone from the 21st century, she never imagined that in this era, even college admission results could be stolen.

"Mommy, the grapes are turning purple!" Little Tommy stretched on his tiptoes, eyes fixed on the clusters of glistening fruit.

"Just wait two more days. They’ll be even sweeter when they turn dark purple." Emily ruffled his hair. These two grapevines were her pride, secretly nurtured with treasures from her space.

Michael Stone walked in, a hoe slung over his shoulder, and chuckled at the sight of his wife and sons obsessing over the vines. "You three planning to stare these grapes into ripening?"

At dinner, Michael shared village gossip. "Charles is engaged to a girl from Lopez Village. Samuel still refuses to meet any matchmakers..."

After the meal, Emily took a stroll along the golden-lit ridges of the fields. In the distance, Daisy Miller waved at her, her rounded belly prominent.

"Congratulations! You're expecting?" Emily eyed her swollen abdomen in surprise.

Daisy grinned. "Five months along! My mother-in-law won’t even let me step into the fields now." She lowered her voice. "Margaret Lee went into early labor—pushed by that widow sister-in-law of hers. She had a son, but they say she might not conceive again..."

The evening breeze carried the scent of rice seedlings, but Emily shivered suddenly. A strange premonition settled over her—something big was about to happen.