Xu Family, lively and warm.
Another Xu Family, however, was noisy and clamorous.
The issue started because of Xu Zhiyuan trying to get into college.
"Zhiyuan, you can definitely get into college this year, right?" Zhao Juxiang had felt it was possible last year, but she waited in vain for the admission letter. This year, she began hoping early.
"Mom, I think I can." Xu Zhiyuan, after repeating a year, had significantly improved his grades, giving him more confidence.
As Zhao Juxiang heard this, she instantly cheered up, saying, "Our Xu family is going to have a college student."
"Nian’an and Nianhua will definitely get in too," Xu Zhiyuan said, pursing his lips.
"Them, how could they possibly get in?"
Upon hearing this, Zhao Juxiang was displeased, and with only the two of them around, she didn’t bother to conceal her feelings, saying, "Zhiyuan, it’s fine if you get in; forget about them, but make sure they don’t outshine you."
"If you ask me, your uncle’s family turned their backs on us once they got a bit of money, just because they opened some damn furniture factory! What’s so great about that?"
"And your aunt, working at the Chili Factory, just because she made some money? Her eyes are high in the sky now!"
"I heard Nianji is selling some bean sprouts, who knows how much that’ll bring in?"
"Hmph, how could they compare to you? You were born to be college material, they don’t have such good fortune. Don’t look at how well they are doing now; who knows what the future holds?"
"You know your big brother works at the canned food factory, and he’s the director!"
Zhao Juxiang demeaned the Xu Qinghe family to the dust, but when she mentioned her eldest son Xu Zhihao, her words were filled with pride and contentment.
"Mom, our uncle’s family is doing well; we should be happy for them. Also, Nian’an and Nianhua’s grades are really good." Xu Zhiyuan couldn’t help but correct her, his mom always disliked seeing others do well.
As Zhao Juxiang heard this, she immediately disapproved, saying, "Zhiyuan, you shouldn’t be boosting others’ morale!"
"It’s true," Xu Zhiyuan pouted. If it hadn’t been for Nianhua getting so many papers and teaching them foreign language techniques, their grades wouldn’t have improved so much.
"Xu Zhiyuan, are you even my son?"
Zhao Juxiang started bickering over this. Xu Zhiyuan, not wanting to argue, returned to his room to read, while Zhao Juxiang continued shouting about how she had wasted her efforts raising this son.
Xu Zhiyuan read his book, wishing he could stuff cotton in his ears. Although he didn’t like being overshadowed, it was a fact that Nian’an and Nianhua’s good grades, which also helped him improve, were true. Otherwise, his chances of getting into college this year would have been slim again!
"Auntie." Ma Xiuhong approached with a cake and some malted milk, saying, "It’s been a long time since I saw you, Auntie. I brought some snacks, I hope you like them."
Zhao Juxiang looked at the cake and malted milk, her smile crinkling her eyes even more as she said, "You shouldn’t have brought anything, too formal!"
Although she said that, Zhao Juxiang didn’t hesitate at all in accepting the gifts.
"Of course, Auntie isn’t lacking these, but it’s just a small token of my appreciation," Ma Xiuhong said with a pleasing smile, deliberately mentioning her sister-in-law, Zhao Juxiang’s sister, to bring them closer.
Zhao Juxiang understood her intentions, taking the initiative to say, "Xiuhong, the last time I spoke to Zhihao about working at the factory, they didn’t need people, but next time there’s an opening, I’ll tell you first."