Chapter 90: Chapter 90: The Higher You Hold, the Harder You Fall
Sun Lixia was brimming with jealousy on the side, resentful that such a precious good like milk essence was fed to a “loss-making investment”, with no fear of shortening her life!
Her mouth dripped with sarcasm as she said, “Wow, big brother, San Ya just started school a few days ago, and look at how much stuff you’ve already bought for her? Look at Zhiwen and Zhiwu, who have been in school for many years. They eat and drink like everyone else and yet aren’t as picky as San Ya.”
Jiang Changhai listened to Sun Lixia’s sour words and sneered, “Can Zhiwen and Zhiwu compare to my daughter? My girl is the one who topped her grade, when have Zhiwen and Zhiwu ever passed an exam? Buying them anything is a waste, and besides, it’s my money that I earned. I’ll buy whatever I want.”
Upon hearing this, Sun Lixia saw Jiang Changhai stepping on her own sons to elevate his daughter, her face turning both black and red with anger, “San Ya just topped her grade this once. Kids change every day, who knows what the future holds! Big brother, you should temper your excitement, the higher you raise her, the harder she may fall.”
“Ha, sister-in-law, I’m afraid that’s going to disappoint you,” Jiang Changhai said with a proud grin, purposely not finishing his sentence to keep her in suspense.
Sun Lixia knew she shouldn’t indulge him, but her curiosity got the best of her, and she asked, “What for?”
There was a hint of uncontrollable excitement in her voice. What else could a teacher want with a parent?
It must be that the child wasn’t paying attention in school or had caused some trouble!
But Jiang Changhai laughed triumphantly, “He said, our Mianmian is learning things too quickly now. There are many things the teacher hasn’t even taught yet, and she’s already mastered them. The teacher and the principal have both said they’ve never seen such a smart child and they made a special point to remind us, as her parents, not to skimp on money but to cultivate her properly.”
Of course, that last part he added himself; after all, they wouldn’t go out of their way to the school to verify it with the teacher.
Jiang Dashan, who had been listening to Jiang Changhai’s words from inside the house, slowly came out and asked, “Did the school teacher really say that?”
“Of course, it’s true!” Jiang Changhai said with an air of confidence, his eyebrows lifted, “If you don’t believe me, you can go to the school and ask yourself.”
Jiang Dashan, knowing his character, realized he was not boasting when he saw his demeanor, “Wife, cook an egg for San Ya tonight.”
“Didn’t Eldest already buy her milk essence? Why cook eggs? We’re saving the eggs at home to trade for salt and kerosene,” Zhang Guihua trembled in protective frugality at his words.
Ever since San Ya started school, she had eaten how many eggs!
Yet Jiang Dashan spoke with finality, “One meal won’t make us poor. Cook one for Zhiwen and Zhiwu too. The kids are working their brains hard studying; they deserve to eat well.”
Though he valued his clever granddaughter who could study well, his deepest affection remained with his two grandsons; after all, the ingrained ideology of valuing boys over girls wouldn’t be easily changed.
Hearing this, Zhang Guihua reluctantly nodded in agreement, “Alright then.”
Jiang Changhai didn’t mind his nephews sharing in the benefit of eating eggs thanks to his daughter’s brilliance, sweet-talking his parents, “Dad, Mom, don’t worry, Mianmian will surely get into high school in the future, become a worker, earn money, and take care of you.”
Sun Lixia, not wanting to see his smugness after gaining an advantage, secretly glared at him before she turned with a gloomy face and went inside.
When Jiang Mianmian came home and found out her dad had bought her milk essence, her whole face lit up, “Dad, how can you be so nice, even buying me milk essence.”