"Hualian, even if you’ve earned some money, you should save it. When school starts next year, Xiao Yue and Xiao Jun’s tuition fees won’t be small," Elder Mrs. Zhang hurriedly pushed the money back.
Zhang Hualian held Elder Mrs. Zhang’s hands, and earnestly said, "Mom, I’ve already set aside money for the tuition fees, you don’t have to worry about it, please just take this money."
"This..." Elder Mrs. Zhang thought for a moment and no longer argued, accepting the money and then said, "Hualian, if you’re short on money in the future, remember to tell Mom."
"Sure." The smile on Zhang Hualian’s face deepened as she thought to herself that she must cook the noodles well to retain more customers, so that in the future, the family could earn more and more money.
It was a rare moment for mother and daughter to be together; the words they wanted to share seemed endless. While talking, they made lunch, and time unknowingly passed by.
Tang Yue and Tang Jun were playing military chess in the yard. She was particularly weak at this game, having lost several rounds in a row, to the point that Tang Jun didn’t even find it interesting to win anymore.
"Sis, are you really that bad, or are you just messing with me?" Tang Jun asked contemptuously after winning the fifth round, while packing up the chess pieces, "Sis, your grades are so good, how can you not understand military chess, why do you always get confused?"
"Tang Jun, one more game, I guarantee I’ll get it this time." Tang Yue did have a good memory, and after her rebirth, it became even better, but when she looked at the various ranks in military chess, she just felt dizzy.
"No more playing." Tang Jun packed up the chess set and said, "I’m going to the neighboring house to play with Mingzi."
She really wasn’t losing on purpose; it was just that her normally prideful memory got mixed up with the ranks...
Being despised, Tang Yue decided to just sit in the yard and enjoy the sun. With Grandma, Mom, and Uncle in the kitchen, they naturally didn’t need her help. She might as well bask in the sun and think about drawing more clothing design drafts when she had time.
"Xiao Yue, it’s cold outside, take this brazier to warm up." Tang Zhengde brought the brazier to Tang Yue who was sunbathing. He had been talking to Zhang Huafeng just before, and as soon as he came out, Elder Mrs. Zhang had given him the brazier, and without a second thought, he handed it to Tang Yue who was in the yard.
"Dad, I’m not cold, the sun feels really comfortable," Tang Yue smiled and refused.
Tang Zhengde placed the brazier in front of her and said, "I’m going to see if there’s anything I can help with. You stay warm by the fire, don’t catch a cold."
"Thank you, Dad." Tang Yue didn’t refuse and sweetly responded, watching Tang Zhengde’s retreating figure, she felt he appeared especially tall.
"Tsk tsk tsk." The voice of Zhang Min came from behind her. She walked up, looked down at her from above, imitating her tone, and sweetly said, "Dad, I’m not cold, the sun feels really comfortable."
Tang Yue’s expression darkened.
Zhang Min continued, "Didn’t you say before that you would never acknowledge her as your father in this life? Calling him ’Dad’ so effortlessly now, I don’t know who that is, sounds pretty smooth."
Zhang Min looked at her with contempt and disdain, her gaze seeming to say ’Tang Yue, your words mean nothing’.
"He’s my mom’s husband, her spouse. What’s wrong with me calling him dad?" Tang Yue answered calmly. She and her cousin Zhang Min were at odds. If she remembered correctly, last time when she was admitted to Wangjiang First Middle School, this is what Zhang Min said to her: "Tang Yue, you really don’t know what stroke of luck you stumbled upon to actually get into Wangjiang First Middle School."
Zhang Min’s expression at that time, she still remembers it clearly—the disdain and incredulity, as if the fact that she was admitted to the First Middle School was something miraculous.
"There’s nothing wrong with that, but I wonder who was it that said he’s your stepfather, not your biological father." Zhang Min loved to see Tang Yue upset, deliberately saying things she knew Tang Yue didn’t like to hear, "I heard from Xiao Jun that you’re the top student in your grade. You didn’t cheat, did you?"
"Zhang Min, I’m human, I have feelings too. Dad is kind to me, and I’m kind to him." Tang Yue stood up, not liking the feeling of looking up to talk to others. She paused, then continued, "If one could cheat their way to number one, why don’t you give it a try?"
Tang Yue was slightly taller than Zhang Min, her figure a bit more slender. She said, "Zhang Min, you should focus on your revision instead. It would be embarrassing if you don’t get into First Middle School next year."
With that said, without looking back, Tang Yue walked into the kitchen. She kept telling herself that Zhang Min was just a naive young girl. In her two lifetimes combined, she was already in her fifties or sixties; there was no reason to stoop to the level of arguing with a young girl, or it would be beneath her dignity.
Upon entering the kitchen, the thick aroma of chicken soup wafted out. A pot of braised pork was simmering, its savory scent pervading the entire kitchen.
Elder Mrs. Zhang and Zhang Hualian were each busy with a task—one rolling out dumpling wrappers, the other wrapping dumplings.
"Grandma, let me help too." After washing her hands, Tang Yue joined in wrapping dumplings, her favorite food. Therefore, she was quite good at it. Wary of arousing Zhang Hualian’s suspicion, she first imitated Zhang Hualian and made an ugly dumpling. After a few tries, Tang Yue’s dumplings resembled pretty crescent moons.
"Xiao Yue is really impressive. These dumplings look great," praised the grandmother.
Zhang Hualian also expressed her surprise, "Xiao Yue, I really didn’t expect this. You don’t usually spend time in the kitchen, yet you wrap dumplings so well."
"Mom, I’m your daughter. You make them look so good, it would be embarrassing if mine were too ugly," Tang Yue replied with a giggly smile, "In my opinion, it’s all thanks to Grandma’s well-rolled wrappers. Without that, the dumplings wouldn’t turn out to be this good-looking."
"Oh, our Xiao Yue has such a sweet mouth." Elder Mrs. Zhang listened with utter delight.
"Brown-noser." Hearing Tang Yue’s words, Zhang Min muttered in her heart and also went into the kitchen to learn how to make dumplings. The more she tried, the uglier they got. Observing Tang Yue and her Aunt Zhang Hualian effortlessly shape the dumplings beautifully with a simple pinch was frustrating.
When the dough reached her hands, it seemed to defy her commands, her hands clumsier than her feet.
"Xiao Min, don’t worry. It’s okay if the dumplings aren’t pretty, as long as they are sealed tight and don’t break apart," Elder Mrs. Zhang said, eager to comfort her upset granddaughter.
"Grandma, I’m sure I can make them look nice," said Zhang Min, her competitive spirit flaring up. She refused to lose, let alone admit that her dumplings were worse than Tang Yue’s.
Tang Yue pursed her lips and chuckled quietly at Zhang Min’s childish insistence on competing with her in dumpling making.
In the end, even when all the dumplings were wrapped, Zhang Min still couldn’t best Tang Yue.
Feeling rather embarrassed, Zhang Min could only say, "Grandma, I will definitely be able to make good dumplings next time."