"She saved our child’s life. We have to show our appreciation somehow, right?"

As soon as the words were spoken, everyone immediately nodded in agreement.

"Exactly! This wasn’t just some ordinary favor. This is a life-saving debt!"

"And Shanshan is only seven! To be so calm... she’s a child prodigy."

"Right. Should we buy some gifts?"

"Supplements? Toys? Whatever a kid might like?"

"No, no, no! Giving gifts just creates trouble for the recipient! The higher-ups are cracking down hard right now. Are you trying to cause problems?"

A parent who worked in a government office quickly waved his hands in dismissal.

"If you give something expensive, they’ll see it as a hassle. If you give something cheap, it’ll seem insincere. What if someone reports them for ’accepting gifts’? With the Ling family’s status, can they afford that kind of gossip?" 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

The recent anti-corruption campaign had everyone on edge. Who would dare cross that line?

A few cases of principals being fired for accepting gifts had just been announced in their WeChat group, sending the entire education system into a state of panic.

They didn’t want to ruin someone’s career over a thoughtless gesture.

"If you ask me, giving silk banners is the safest option! One for each teacher, and one for the Ling family’s girl, too!"

The moment this idea was suggested, everyone cheered in approval.

"Brilliant! A banner isn’t worth much money; you can’t eat or drink it. Who could possibly call it a bribe?"

"When inspectors from above come, they’ll see the banners and only praise the school’s high moral standards and the harmonious relationship between the parents and teachers. It’s all positive!"

"The best part is, we can put Shanshan’s name on it too! ’For the Heroic Youngster Who Acted Bravely.’ How dignified!"

No sooner said than done.

They found the most reputable shop, ordered large, red silk banners with gold-stamped lettering, and had them sent to the school.

"For Your Devoted Care in Keeping Our Children Safe"

"A Teacher’s Kindness Warms The Heart"

Each banner bore a different message of thanks.

"It’s all thanks to the teachers that our child is okay. It was our failure for not teaching him better. We sincerely thank you for saving him!"

The parents stood at the school gate, each one beaming.

"It was our duty. You’re too kind. This is all part of our job."

The teachers’ hearts felt warm.

This acknowledgment felt more genuine and reassuring than any praise they received at the year-end review meetings.

The principal accepted the banners with a broad smile.

"For Luo Jinjie’s class to produce such an outstanding student, it definitely shows her dedication as a homeroom teacher."

"If word of this gets out, our school will become famous. Not only is our teaching quality high, but our emergency preparedness education is also top-notch."

"This will be a perfect real-life example for our future admissions brochures!"

This was a tangible honor!

If the media found out, it would be guaranteed to make the local news.

People in the office were already whispering among themselves.

"Teacher Luo’s promotion to a senior-level position is in the bag this time."

"You’re right. Her moral education work is solid, and the parents even sent banners. How could the leadership not notice?"

The banners for the teachers were logical enough, but when it came to Shanshan’s turn, things got a little comical.

A huge banner with the words "A Seven-Year-Old Hero Steps Forward, Saving a Classmate With First Aid Knowledge" was carried by two parents and unceremoniously shoved into her arms.

The banner was taller than she was and immediately tilted the moment she took it.

She looked up, her little face a picture of confusion.

"Um... can I hang this on my bedroom wall?"

The entire crowd erupted in laughter.

The news of the banners sent the whole residential community into a frenzy.

The Ling family’s patriarch, Ling Zhenkang, and Ding Qin would grab the hand of any acquaintance they saw.

They were dying to recount their granddaughter Shanshan’s heroic deed from beginning to end at least ten times.

Not only that, but Ling Zhenkang also hung the banner Shanshan brought home in the most conspicuous spot in the middle of the living room.

"Dad, don’t you think this is a bit much?"

Ling Ancai stood in the center of the living room, pointing at the banner, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"It’s not like our family has never received an award before. My older brother won a Second-Class Merit medal in the army! That’s a real military decoration! I don’t remember you being this excited back then."

He paused, then added another sentence.

"That ’Bringing Glory to the Nation’ banner has been hanging in the center of the wall for over a decade, right? And now look at it, shoved into a corner to collect dust?"

Ling Zhenkang stood before the new banner, his hands clasped behind his back, squinting as he examined it from side to side.

"What do you know?"

He turned and glared at his son.

"How old is Shanshan?! You think I don’t remember what you boys were like as kids? Always causing trouble, climbing walls to raid birds’ nests, scaring the neighbor’s chickens so much they stopped laying eggs! You and your brothers gave your mother and me nothing but headaches!"

The more he spoke, the more worked up he got, until he was jabbing his finger at Ling Ancai’s forehead.

"If you boys had been half as well-behaved as Shanshan when you were young—if you’d been methodical, polite, and responsible—your mother and I would have woken up laughing from our dreams!"

Standing nearby, Ling Zhiwei was thoroughly enjoying this and quickly jumped into the conversation.

"Grandpa is absolutely right! When Dad and his brothers were kids, they were really something... tsk, tsk. Grandma told me that Dad used to sneak rice from home to trade for candy. When he got caught, he blamed it on my second uncle!"

"You brat!"

Ling Ancai’s face darkened, and he raised his foot as if to kick him.

"Is it your turn to speak? Your elders are here, and you, a junior, are airing the family’s dirty laundry?"

Ling Zhiwei scurried back to dodge.

"Whoa, Dad, I was wrong! I’m so sorry! I shouldn’t have exposed your past. Spare me!"

The living room instantly filled with boisterous laughter.

That evening, Ling Zhiyan, Ling Zhiyu, and the others returned one by one.

The moment they pushed open the door and entered the living room, their eyes were drawn to the banner hanging high on the wall.

They exchanged glances, barely stifling their laughter.

"Well, well. Look at this spectacle. Anyone who didn’t know better would think we have an Olympic champion in the family," Ling Zhiyu muttered under his breath.

But his words had barely left his lips before Ling Zhenkang heard him.

"What? You have a problem with it?"

Ling Zhenkang’s face fell.

"Shanshan earned this award on her own merit. Why can’t I hang it wherever I want? Which one of you, in your entire lives, has ever brought such a great honor to this family?"

After the torrent of criticism, the grandsons couldn’t even lift their heads.

This time, however, the daughters-in-law were present, standing behind their husbands and sons.

Seeing their men and children being scolded until they wished the ground would swallow them whole, they didn’t dare say anything, but a sour feeling began to well up inside them.

They had always thought it was perfectly natural for elders to dote on the youngest, on the grandchildren. Wasn’t every family like that?

But now, thinking about it calmly, something felt wrong.

’It’s true that Shanshan was raised by the Ling family, but she isn’t their biological kin.’

’Ling Ancai and Ling Zhiwei are the true roots of the Ling family, the ones who will carry on the family line.’

’But now?’

’A single banner is enough for the old man to scold his own sons and grandsons into disgrace while putting a child with a different surname on a pedestal.’

The sisters-in-law exchanged a subtle glance.

Some were quick-witted and began calculating silently.

’No matter how much the old couple favors her, Shanshan’s surname isn’t Ling.’

’To put it bluntly, she’s just an adopted girl.’

’When she grows up, she’ll eventually marry into another family and become an outsider.’

’All this generosity and doting now... won’t she just take that affection with her to a family with a different name in the future?’

’Giving her a generous dowry would just be for the Ling family to save face, nothing more.’

’For a family like the Lings, it’s not really a significant loss.’

Shanshan was perceptive. The moment her aunts’ expressions changed, she noticed it immediately.

Those aunts had entered the house smiling.

But as soon as they heard the harsh words being thrown around, their faces instantly fell.

Shanshan stood in the corner, still clutching a piece of candy she had just been given.