A fat man who was reborn from the dead? He transforms into a perfect male god in a week.

Zhang Linghua took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain calm, and put on a fake smile:

"Wow, Xiao Chen has changed a lot, I almost didn't recognize him."

"However, Xiulian, being handsome alone is not enough; a man also needs ability."

She then changed the subject and began to get to the "main point":

"Xiao Chen is a senior in high school now, right? The college entrance exam is in two months. How are your grades? They're not still at the bottom of the class like before, are they?"

The sarcasm in his tone was impossible to hide.

Jiang Jianguo and Wang Xiulian exchanged a glance, neither of them speaking, but both wore smiles.

That smile... was somewhat meaningful.

Jiang Chen didn't say anything, just quietly watched Zhang Linghua perform.

"If you ask me, Xiao Chen needs to work on his grades!"

Zhang Linghua said to herself, "It's not easy to get into university these days, especially a good one."

"Jiang Ran just happened to be back from the provincial capital. He's a freshman at Binhai Industrial University and just took the college entrance exam last year, so he has experience."

She pulled Jiang Ran aside: "Jiang Ran, as the older brother, you should teach your younger brother more, share your learning experience, and see if you can help him improve his grades so that he can at least get into a third-tier university or a vocational college, so that he doesn't end up not even being able to go to university."

Jiang Ran felt a little embarrassed and pushed up her glasses: "Mom, Xiao Chen, he..."

"What do you mean 'him'? Your younger brother's grades aren't good, shouldn't you, as the older brother, help him out?"

Zhang Linghua interrupted him, then looked at Wang Xiulian, "Xiulian, don't you think so? Let Jiang Ran mentor Xiaochen more; maybe Xiaochen can score a few more points on this year's college entrance exam!"

Wang Xiulian finally couldn't hold back any longer.

She smiled, a radiant smile:

"Sister-in-law, we appreciate your kindness, but Xiao Chen is doing very well now and doesn't need Jiang Ran's guidance."

"Excellent grades?" Zhang Linghua raised an eyebrow. "How good? Average in the class? Or enough to get into a second-tier university?"

Wang Xiulian shook her head: "Neither."

"So Xiao Chen's goal is..."

Tsinghua and Peking Universities.

Two words, light and airy.

But it exploded in Zhang Linghua's mind like a bomb.

"Tsinghua... Tsinghua University?"

She paused for two seconds, then suddenly burst out laughing, doubled over with laughter, "Xiulian, you're not kidding, are you?"

"Tsinghua and Peking Universities? Those are the top universities in the country! No one from Jiangcheng has gotten into them in the past few years!"

"I know," Wang Xiulian said calmly, "that's why Xiaochen said he wanted to take the exam."

"you……"

Zhang Linghua's smile vanished, and her tone turned sharp, "Xiulian, are you talking nonsense?"

"Or have you been fooled by Xiaochen? He knows he won't get into Tsinghua or Peking University, so he made up a lie to make you happy?"

"My son, Jiang Ran, scored 588 points in the college entrance examination last year, which is the best result in the village in more than ten years, and he only got into a first-tier university."

"What level is Xiao Chen at? He used to be at the bottom of the class! Now he can get into Tsinghua or Peking University? He must be dreaming!"

She became more and more agitated as she spoke, spittle flying everywhere:

"I've heard that some students nowadays, who are afraid of being scolded by their parents for poor grades, forge report cards and even hire people to impersonate teachers to call their parents and lie that they did well on the exam!"

"Did Xiao Chen do the same? Don't be fooled by him!"

Jiang Jianguo spoke at this moment, his tone calm:

"Sister-in-law, Xiaochen's report card is real, and the teacher's phone number is real too."

"His homeroom teacher called him personally and said that Xiao Chen would definitely get into Tsinghua or Peking University this year, barring any unforeseen circumstances."

"I don't believe it!" Zhang Linghua said firmly. "Unless I see the evidence with my own eyes!"

Wang Xiulian sighed and took out a stack of things from her bag:

"Sister-in-law, look, these are Xiaochen's report cards for the last two monthly exams. Both were full marks of 750."

She then took out several newspapers: "These are Jiangzhou Daily and Jiangcheng Daily. The front page headline reports that Xiaochen achieved a perfect score in all four subjects in the provincial capital's four-subject competition, won four provincial first prizes, and was selected for the provincial team for the competition."

Zhang Linghua snatched it away and started flipping through it.

On the report card, the bright red "750" was particularly glaring.

Jiang Chen's photo and the report were clearly displayed in black and white in the newspaper.

Her expression changed, but she remained defiant:

"It's fake! It's all fake!"

"Transcripts can be forged, newspapers can be forged! What can't be faked online these days?"

"My son, Jiang Ran, lives in the provincial capital. If Xiao Chen is really that capable, he must have heard of him!"

"Jiang Ran, have you heard about Xiao Chen winning the award in the provincial capital?"

Jiang Ran hesitated for a moment: "Mom, I'm already in college, and I don't usually pay much attention to high school competitions..."

"Look! Never heard of it before!"

Zhang Linghua cried out, grasping at a straw, "This is fake! Xiulian, Jianguo, you've been fooled by Xiaochen!"

She became more and more animated as she spoke, as if she had seen through everything:

"Xiao Chen must have gotten such bad grades and was afraid of disappointing you, so he came up with all these tricks! You actually believed him? That's hilarious!"

Wang Xiulian and Jiang Jianguo didn't say anything, they just looked at her with...sympathy in their eyes.

Jiang Chen finally spoke, his tone calm:

"If Aunt doesn't believe me, she can check online. The four-subject competition is organized by the province, and it's been reported in the news."

"Or have my cousin ask his classmates at Binhai University. The competition is held at Binhai University, so they'll definitely know."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ran hesitated for a moment before taking out her phone.

He didn't really believe Jiang Chen could be that good... First place in four provincial competitions? And a perfect score? Are you kidding me?

But judging from Jiang Chen's calm demeanor, he didn't seem to be lying.

He opened his browser and typed in "Jiangnan Province, Four-Subject Competition, Jiang Chen".

The search results popped up.

Article 1: "Jiang Chen, the prodigy of Jiangcheng No. 3 Middle School, achieved a perfect score in four subject competitions, setting a new historical record!"

Article 2: "The first person in the history of Jiangnan Province's competitions! Jiang Chen swept the provincial first prizes in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology!"

Article 3: "Professor Hou Weidong of Binhai University personally invited Jiang Chen, but Jiang Chen declined the offer of admission through the guaranteed admission program!"

Jiang Ran clicked on the first item and quickly browsed it.

The more she looked, the paler her face became.

The report detailed Jiang Chen's achievements: 300 in math competition, 300 in physics competition, 300 in chemistry competition, and 300 in biology competition—all perfect scores, all provincial first prizes, and all selected for the provincial team.

It also included a photo... which showed Jiang Chen on the podium.

There are also comments below:

"Is this guy cheating? All four competitive modes maxed out?"

"I heard that Professor Hou Weidong of Binhai University wanted to take him on as a student, but he refused!"

"Tsinghua and Peking University are practically guaranteed; with these results, it would be an injustice if they didn't make the national team!"

Jiang Ran's hands were trembling slightly.

He then clicked on the third report.

It details Professor Hou Weidong... He's a leading figure in the chemistry field in Jiangnan Province, a candidate for academician! Yet, at the competition, he personally invited Jiang Chen to be admitted to the Chemistry Department of Binhai University, promising him a combined bachelor's, master's, and doctoral program, and personally supervising him.

As a result, Jiang Chen... refused.

The reason given was: "I want to learn more about other things."

Jiang Ran felt a buzzing sound in her head.

Hou Weidong...

That's his idol!

Last year, his biggest wish was to apply to the Chemistry Department of Binhai University, and his biggest wish was to study under Professor Hou Weidong.

As a result, his score was far from enough, so he could only go to the neighboring industrial university.

But now, Jiang Chen has casually rejected the opportunity that he so desperately wanted?

The difference...

Jiang Ran raised her head and looked at Jiang Chen.

His short, chubby cousin, whom his mother used to compare him to and always mocked, was now standing there quietly, with a calm expression and indifferent eyes.

It was as if refusing the offer of admission to Binhai University was just a trivial matter.

"Jiang Ran, have you found anything?" Zhang Linghua urged. "Is it fake? I told you it was fake!"

Jiang Ran took a deep breath and handed over the phone:

"Mom...it's true."

"What?" Zhang Linghua was taken aback.

"Jiang Chen really did get first place in four provincial competitions, and even full marks," Jiang Ran said in a hoarse voice. "Professor Hou Weidong even wanted to recommend him to Binhai University, but he refused."

"There are reports all over the internet, and my classmate confirmed it too."

Zhang Linghua snatched the phone and stared at it with wide eyes.

The text is in black and white, and the photos are clear.

She looked at it again and again, flipping through it repeatedly, her face turning from red to white, from white to green, and finally as black as the bottom of a pot.

"This...how is this possible..." she murmured, "He used to...be at the bottom of the class..."

"Mom, stop talking," Jiang Ran tugged at her. "Let's go back."

So embarrassing.

Just now, his mother was nagging him to ask her for advice, but it turns out that the other person is a provincial champion in four competitions and a potential candidate for Tsinghua or Peking University. He, a college student from a first-tier university, is not even worthy of carrying the other person's shoes.

Zhang Linghua, however, was still unwilling to give up, stubbornly insisting:

"What if... what if it's a duplicate name? Or is the website mistaken?"

Jiang Ran couldn't take it anymore and lowered her voice:

"Mom! The photos are all here! It's Jiang Chen! Can you please stop embarrassing yourself?"

Zhang Linghua was stunned when her son yelled at her.

Looking at Jiang Ran's ashamed and indignant expression, and then at Wang Xiulian and Jiang Jianguo's ambiguous smiles, she finally realized that she had really lost face today.

The sense of superiority built up over the past decade or so crumbled into pieces at this moment.

"I...I suddenly remembered I have something to do at home, so I'll have to go now!"

She left with those words, turned and walked away, her steps faltering, almost tripping over the threshold.

Jiang Ran quickly chased after him, glancing back at Jiang Chen before leaving with a complex expression.

There was shock, envy, and a hint of... self-consciousness.

……

Watching the two leave in a disheveled state, Wang Xiulian finally couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Jiang Jianguo also shook his head and smiled:

"This sister-in-law... she's still the same after all these years."

"But today was truly satisfying!" Wang Xiulian breathed a sigh of relief. "In the past, she would always try to put Xiao Chen down every time they met, but today she finally got her revenge!"

Although the grandparents didn't fully understand, they knew their grandson had been praised, and they were overjoyed.

"Xiao Chen is really something! He's even in the newspaper!"

"I always said my grandson is smart. He used to be playful, but now that he's putting in the effort, he's immediately improved!"

Grandma took Jiang Chen's hand: "Come on, Grandma's going to kill a chicken for you! Let's celebrate properly today!"

"Yes, kill an old hen and stew a fish," Grandpa laughed. "Such good news should be known throughout the village!"

Jiang Chen quickly stopped him, saying, "Grandpa and Grandma, there's no need to go to such trouble..."

"No trouble at all! No trouble at all!" Grandma said happily. "My little grandson is so successful, we must celebrate!"

She turned to Jiang Jianguo and Wang Xiulian and said, "You two, hurry up and go to the next village to bring Xiaochen's maternal grandparents over! Let's have a meal together to celebrate today!"

"Oh, and we must also mention it in the village along the way, so that those who used to say Xiao Chen was good-for-nothing can hear how amazing my little grandson is now!"

Jiang Jianguo and Wang Xiulian exchanged a glance and both smiled.

"Okay, let's go right now!"

Jiang Chen: "..."

He seemed to see that after today, his legend would spread throughout the village.

but……

[Ding! You have received +1 Amazing Points!]

[Ding! You have received +1 Amazing Points!]

[Ding! You have received +2 Amazing Points!]

……

Hearing the system notifications constantly ringing in his ears, Jiang Chen's lips curled into a smile.

Okay, fine, let's promote it then.

After all, you can gain a lot of amazing points from this, and it can also make your parents happy.

He went inside. His grandfather had already brewed tea, and his grandmother was busy in the kitchen.

The sun shines brightly outside the window, and chickens and ducks roam freely in the yard.

Reborn, he rises to godhood, protects his family, and slaps the faces of the snobbish...

This feels really good.

……