Chapter 1031

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Protagonist:

Li Xiulan

Li Xiulan prepared a table full of fine dishes and invited Wang Xiaoqian and her parents over.

During the meal, Wang Xiaoqian's father had a few drinks, got carried away with emotion, and couldn't help but sigh:

"What a pity Xiao Hua got married so early; otherwise, once my Xiaoqian graduates, they'd be a match made in heaven in the future. I'm just saying it casually, Xiao Hua — wishing you and your wife a hundred years of harmony and an early precious son!"

Wang Xiaohua smiled:

"Uncle, you're too kind."

Li Jianjia, to the side, kept her head down eating, showing no reaction.

Wang Xiaoqian, on the other hand, watched Wang Xiaohua; at her age, she couldn't hide a thing.

That look of a young girl worshipping and admiring a man — Wang Xiaohua didn't know how to handle it, and could only hurriedly shift his gaze elsewhere.

Wang Xiaoqian's mother then said:

"Xiao Hua, if Xiaoqian goes to university in Beijing later, she'll probably have to trouble you to help look after her a bit — this child has never left home in her life!"

Wang Xiaoqian's father spoke again:

"We wanted her to apply to universities within the province so she'd be close to home and easy to care for, but she just wouldn't listen — insisted that she'd rather attend a second-tier university in Beijing than a first-tier one in the province. This foolish girl... but we won't forcibly interfere either; whatever she chooses, let it be the child's own choice!"

Wang Xiaohua didn't know what to say.

Wang Zhanggen, however, laughed heartily and said:

"Studying in-province is good. If my Xiao Hua hadn't tested into Tsinghua, I'd definitely have made him study at an in-province university. Tsinghua, Peking University — and then what? On to Zhongda Huagong! We don't know any other schools, and there's no need to go out of province to study!"

Then he also said to Wang Xiaoqian's father:

"In the future, your daughter — if she doesn't test into Tsinghua or Peking University, she might as well go to Zhongda Huagong. No need to leave the province; it's the same principle as marrying someone!"

It was obvious Wang Zhanggen hadn't caught Wang Xiaoqian's father's implication at all, which was why he blathered on so carefreely.

Wang Xiaoqian's father laughed and replied:

"This girl's grown up now, she has her own opinions! We'd best interfere less!"

Wang Zhanggen, though, said:

"Grown up my ass — high schoolers can't tell priority from triviality! After my Xiao Hua finished the gaokao, he still didn't want to apply to Tsinghua; I said I'd break his legs, and only then did he scurry off and apply to Tsinghua. Look how well he's doing now! If we'd let him run wild back then, where would this good outcome be?"

Wang Zhanggen spoke with firm conviction, cutting the figure of a very authoritative patriarch with decision-making power.

As if Wang Xiaohua getting into Tsinghua was largely due to this father of his.

Wang Xiaoqian's father, hearing this, couldn't say anything more.

Wang Xiaoqian's mother then said:

"Right now my kid's only in her second year of high school; the gaokao isn't until next June — it's still early days, let's not discuss it, let's not discuss it — afraid discussing too early will put too much pressure on the child!"

Li Xiulan chimed in with a smile at this point:

"Exactly, why discuss this! When our Xiao Hua was in high school, we never discussed which university he'd go to — wait until after the gaokao, then consider it!"

Li Xiulan's words were enough to reveal her shortsightedness; she didn't know that Wang Xiaohua had already researched the volunteer application matter for a good stretch of time before the gaokao, nor did she know that because no one guided him on the application, Wang Xiaohua hesitated and felt lost for a good stretch of time, until finally swept along by the school, the Education Bureau, the county leadership, and his own parents, he had no choice but to choose Tsinghua, and after being assigned through adjustment, ended up studying a niche major he had never once thought of attending.

Wang Zhanggen also said:

"Right, discuss which university to apply to after the exam — now it's all fill out applications after scores come out, not like before when you had to fill them before scores were out, so there's absolutely no need to rush!"

Lunch finished; because Wang Xiaoqian's father had drunk a bit, he couldn't drive back, so he had Wang Erhai help drive his car, taking their family of three home.

In the car, Wang Xiaoqian's father sat in the passenger seat, Wang Xiaoqian and her mother sat in the back, and Wang Erhai drove with full concentration.

Wang Xiaoqian's father suddenly remarked:

"Say, how come your younger brother got married so early? He hasn't even finished university yet — truly unexpected."

As he said this, he wore an expression full of regret.

Wang Erhai was a bit at a loss whether to laugh or cry, and could only echo:

"I also think marrying too early isn't good, but my Third Brother has his own mind, and Dad and Mom quite like his wife too, so they got married."

Wang Xiaoqian's mother gossiped:

"Say, who is your Third Brother's wife? What's her background?"

Wang Erhai replied:

"She's my Third Brother's high school classmate."

Wang Xiaoqian's mother hurriedly asked again:

"University — did they go to the same university?"

Before Wang Erhai could answer, Wang Xiaoqian's father said:

"How could that be? She obviously married up to Wang Xiaohua — in our county town, Wang Xiaohua's the only one who tested into Tsinghua!"

Wang Erhai answered truthfully:

"Right now my Third Brother's wife is studying in Guangzhou, at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies — that's also a pretty good university."

"Oh oh, I see..." Wang Xiaoqian's mother nodded, then hurriedly said: "Then isn't that a long-distance relationship? How hard that must be to endure! Can they endure it!"

Wang Erhai gave a dry heh-heh laugh:

"They can endure it, I reckon — I see they're deeply in love."

Wang Erhai saw Wang Xiaoqian and her parents home, had a sip of tea at their place, sat for a little while, then said goodbye and left.

The moment Wang Erhai left, Wang Xiaoqian hid in her room and burst into tears.

Wang Xiaoqian's dad and mom couldn't help but exchange a glance, both sighing incessantly.

They knew their daughter's mind too well.

Their daughter's current good grades were all supported by one belief: the hope of getting into a university in Beijing and studying at university with Xiao Hua.

That was her motivation for striving, which was why her grades had advanced by leaps and bounds.

But Xiao Hua was already married now, so would she still have the motivation to study?

This made Father Wang and Mother Wang unable to help but worry.

Wang Xiaoqian's father gave Wang Xiaoqian's mother a look:

"You go persuade her; no matter what, she absolutely cannot neglect her studies because of this!"

Wang Xiaoqian's mother went to the bedroom door and knocked on the door:

"Xiaoqian, Mom wants to tell you, you must not give up on yourself!"

From inside the room came the sound of Wang Xiaoqian throwing a tantrum:

"What's the point of continuing to study? I might as well go out and work in a factory!"

Hearing these words, Wang Xiaoqian's mother knew the situation was somewhat serious, and hurriedly advised:

"Child, you must not do such a stupid thing; you still have plenty of opportunities!"

Wang Xiaoqian lay on the desk, sobbing, and did not answer her mother's words.

She felt she no longer had any opportunities.

Others were already married, so what opportunities were left?

Wang Xiaoqian's mother continued to persuade her:

"You also heard Xiao Hua's second brother say that Xiao Hua and his wife are in a long-distance relationship, and long-distance relationships are very hard to persist in; these days, getting married doesn't mean you can't divorce, so you really still have plenty of opportunities!"

For her daughter's studies, Wang Xiaoqian's mother could be said to have exhausted her efforts.

She knew her words were very improper in outlook, but for her daughter to be able to continue maintaining motivation to study, she could only say such words.

After all, she was already in her second year of high school, and the college entrance exam was approaching next year; they certainly couldn't let their daughter lose her motivation to study at this time, could they?

Anyway, no matter what she was studying for, as long as she had that motivation, and could get into a good university in the future, then as her parents, they must raise both hands in approval!

Originally, this visit to Xiao Hua's home was also to increase Wang Xiaoqian's motivation to study, but unexpectedly it backfired, and they never expected Xiao Hua was actually already married!

Actually, deep down they did not think their daughter could be with Xiao Hua, because they knew their daughter had limited aptitude, and even if she tried her hardest, it was impossible for her to get into Tsinghua University!

However, for their daughter to be able to get into a good university, they still encouraged their daughter to bravely pursue him!