1239 Many Seniors
In short, the harmonious and wonderful life in the Zhai family turned into a pool of filth in the mouths of some peculiar people. This was truly reflective of the idiom ‘apple of Sodom’.
This group of people, in particular, was waiting to see Qiao Nan’s situation after the school term began.
Qiao Nan had been awarded the first-prize scholars.h.i.+p from Peking University every time. In addition, it was school-based first-prize scholars.h.i.+ps. If she did not receive it this time, who else besides the Zhai family could be blamed for this?
For the sake of carrying grandchildren and great-grandchildren earlier, they had ruined Qiao Nan’s future. Qiao Nan was a student but she could not even take care of her own studies. This matter alone would cause a dent in the reputation of the Zhai family.
One was responsible for his own life. Miao Jing did not want to feel angry. Her family was leading a good life, and this was more important than the exaggerated or untrue accounts of others.
However, when one heard too many of such disgusting rumors, who would not feel vexed and upset?
Even Old Master Zhai and Zhai Yaohui did not expect Qiao Nan to be awarded any scholars.h.i.+ps after missing half a semester of cla.s.ses. Miao Jing had also extinguished her desire to encourage Qiao Nan to get a scholars.h.i.+p so that she could retort those people.
Hence, without Qiao Nan’s knowledge, the elders of the Zhai family had s.h.i.+elded all the piercing and sarcastic rumors from Qiao Nan. This was such that Qiao Nan could concentrate on her studies and take care of the triplets. The elders would shoulder the rest of the pressures.
Three to four months had pa.s.sed, and Miao Jing had almost forgotten about this matter. Never did she expect that this good daughter-in-law of hers would give her such a good opportunity again.
Who said that there was no scholars.h.i.+p? Yes, there was not only a scholars.h.i.+p but also a second-prize one!
There were many college students in their residential area, and many college students had already graduated as well.
Everyone could go and ask around. Did everybody do as well as Nan Nan after entering a good college such as Peking University? Right, if they had entered a comparable college, let’s not talk about first-prize scholars.h.i.+ps. Let’s talk about achievements based on the number of scholars.h.i.+ps received.
Miao Jing’s eyes lit up as she flipped open the red booklet. After confirming the contents, she looked as proud and arrogant as a little rooster and dashed outside with the book.
Qiao Nan, who had just confirmed the books that she needed, was stunned. “What is wrong with Mom?” Were they not chatting well earlier? Why did she feel so emotional suddenly? She even took away the second-prize scholars.h.i.+p that she received for her last semester of studies?
Qiao Nan scratched her head, feeling puzzled and confused. She could not figure it out even after thinking.
Since it was something that she definitely could not figure out, Qiao Nan, who adopted the att.i.tude of ‘laugh and grow fat’, was not troubled. She held the books that she borrowed today and immersed herself in a sea of knowledge.
A typical person could not be compared to such a self-aware and self-disciplined top student like Qiao Nan. They would not be able to predict her accurately either.
Holding on to Qiao Nan’s second-prize scholars.h.i.+p, Miao Jing mercilessly, openly, and atrociously boasted to the neighbors who were always jealous. Looking at their gloomy faces that were as listless as frozen eggplants, she felt so proud ever. “This daughter-in-law of mine is really good in everything. Anyway, in my eyes, I can’t find any shortcomings in my daughter-in-law. That said, I have to praise my son. There is an ancient saying ‘the husband of a virtuous wife seldom suffers misfortune’. I take my hat off to my son for his judgment in choosing his wife!”
Miao Jing was making a strong inference with her words.
Zhai Sheng had married the right wife. Miao Jing rode on Qiao Nan’s glory and avenged the previous insults to the Zhai family. Qiao Nan did the family proud again. In addition, the sons of a few families that liked to badmouth the Zhai family also recently got married.
However, the women that they married were simply complicated and foul. As such, she could not understand why these people felt rightful and confident about discussing the Zhai family matters.
She could not figure it out. Although it was the 21st century, a new China and contemporary society, some values would not change so much. Yet, they dared to marry any Tom, d.i.c.k, and Harry into the family. Weren’t they foolish?
Nan Nan’s family background was a little lackl.u.s.ter but it was unlike those of the daughters-in-law of these families. They were celebrities famous for certain matters. No matter what, Nan Nan was also a good-natured child and an offspring of veteran revolutionaries.
Fine, let’s not talk about veteran revolutionaries. One could also say that Nan Nan was a beautiful daughter from a humble family, no?
Even if they did not marry the daughters of prominent and wealthy families, they did not need to…
At the thought that the dramas in the homes of these few neighbors were more spectacular than those in the television shows, Miao Jing could not be bothered to say anything.
They refused to lead peaceful lives. Instead of thinking about how to manage the affairs in their home, they talked about mundane matters of other people’s families. They really had too much time to spare.
The truth that Miao Jing spoke and Qiao Nan’s second-prize scholars.h.i.+p were like slaps in the faces of these people. Miao Jing, who got the kick out of venting out her anger, came back striding in large steps, lifting her head and chest like a victorious little general.
Qiao Nan’s quiet and inconspicuous att.i.tude of handling matters left a deep impression on people from the same social circle. They felt that this daughter-in-law of the Zhai family was not just all talk and no action. She was the hands-on type who was hard to come by.
The more this was the case, the more these people could not understand Qiao Nan’s personality. They misunderstood her and said things that were opposite from reality.
This kind of quiet and silent people were actually the most horrible ones. It had the same effect of saying ‘a barking dog never bites’.
Regardless of the case, that daughter-in-law of the Zhai family had missed half a semester of cla.s.ses and given birth to triplets before returning to school, yet she still received a second-prize scholars.h.i.+p. As a result, Qiao Nan’s name had become more resounding and prominent in the social circle. She has strongly established her presence.
One could stop saying that it was useless to do well in the studies or that it was better to have a good father rather than learning mathematics and sciences.
During the time of the children’s studies, if one were to have both—a good father and outstanding academic performance—that was also a capital that the parents could use to chat about. Who would not be pleased that their children were good in their studies?
In addition, Lin Yuankang had moved to the house beside that of the Zhai family. A few months had pa.s.sed. Unless one was dumb or blind, they would receive some information: The so-called lady from the countryside was, in fact, the last disciple of Lin Yuankang. The latter had just been invited by the central government to return to the capital last year.
If the daughter-in-law of the Zhai family was a country b.u.mpkin despite having Lin Yuankang as her master, what were those self-proclaimed high-status and prominent ladies considered then?
Someone that they had looked down on was actually more outstanding than their own daughter. What would have become of their own daughter then?
As such, after knowing the relations.h.i.+p between Qiao Nan and Lin Yuankang, the smart ones had already shut up and no longer attacked the Zhai family’s ‘loopholes’ using Qiao Nan’s family background.
Lin Yuankang was carrying Er Bao, who was smiling in a silly and happy manner, in one hand and checking Qiao Nan’s homework with his other hand. After some time, he nodded with satisfaction. “You’ve done quite well. Your research is very comprehensive. In the future, if you lack any books, just get your seniors to buy them. If anyone dares to disobey you, let me know. I will help you teach them a lesson.”