Chapter 71: Call Me Grandma, It Sounds Smoother

The old lady's voice pulled Qiao Sheng back to consciousness.

Qiao Sheng looked at her and asked, "Elder, is this Feng's Private School?"

"Yes, yes."

The old lady nodded.

Qiao Sheng pursed their lips and then asked, "Do you still accept students here? My son missed the registration deadline this year, and I …"

The old lady pulled the door open while saying, "I understand what you mean, but I can't decide on this. How about you come in with me and sit for a while; I'll go ask about it for you."

"Alright."

Qiao Sheng followed the old lady inside.

Looking around, they saw all kinds of flowers, some planted in the garden, others in ceramic pots, neatly arranged and rather cozy.

He passed through the garden.

The old lady led Qiao Sheng to a small courtyard and pointed to a nearby pavilion, saying, "Girl, go sit in the pavilion and wait."

"Mm."

Qiao Sheng walked straight over.

The old lady stepped toward a round arch not far from the courtyard.

Not long after.

The old lady returned, smiling brightly, and said, "Girl, my husband said he wants to take students, but he asked you to wait a moment; he has a few questions for you."

"So I should just wait here for him?"

Qiao Sheng asked the old lady.

The old lady nodded; after a few words with Qiao Sheng, she went to the opposite side.

Around a half‑quarter hour later.

The old lady carried a plate of pastries and a pot of tea to Qiao Sheng and said, "Girl, there isn't much to eat, but try the pastries I made and the tea I brewed."

"Thank you."

Qiao Sheng was a bit thirsty, thanked her, poured a cup of tea for themselves, and suddenly realized the old lady hadn't been served, so they poured her a cup as well.

"Elder, you should drink too."

"Alright, alright."

The old lady smiled, sat down, looked at Qiao Sheng, and asked, "Girl, how old are you this year?"

Qiao Sheng replied honestly, "Twenty years old."

"So young, how nice."

The old lady's face was full of envy.

Who doesn't like youth? Qiao Sheng felt the same.

Although Qiao Sheng's age was not as great as the old lady's, they could still quite understand her feelings.

She didn't know what to say, so she changed the subject, "Elder, are you celebrating a high birthday this year?"

"Me? I'm sixty‑one this year."

The old lady said with a smiling face.

She didn't look sixty‑one at all; she seemed more than fifty years younger than Gao Shi.

Qiao Sheng said, a bit surprised, "You don't look sixty‑one at all; if you said you were fifty‑one, I'd believe you."

The old lady burst into hearty laughter.

She laughed for a while.

The old lady looked at Qiao Sheng and said, "You're quite the talker, girl. By the way, why didn't your husband come with you?"

Qiao Sheng was silent for a moment, then truthfully told her their situation.

The old lady, upon learning this, felt a pang of sympathy, "You've had it rough. At least the child you adopted is fine; otherwise what would you do?"

"These days I think are quite good."

Qiao Sheng said with a smile.

The old lady liked people like Qiao Sheng who could smile in the face of hardship.

She, while chatting, asked Qiao Sheng's name.

She noted down the name.

The old lady also told Qiao Sheng her own name.

"Your son will study here, so we'll certainly see each other often. I won't call you 'girl' any more; I'll call you 'Qiao girl.' And you don't have to call me 'elder'—my surname is Na Lan, given name Ruo Lan. Call me Na Lan Grandma, or better yet just 'Grandma'; it sounds smoother."

(End of chapter)