Chapter 751 It Is a Matter of Getting Used To It
At the sight of the usually uninhibited s.h.i.+ Qing revealing a sense of panic, although Qiao Dongliang was not very sure of what was happening, he nodded. “Fine, come in and help me wash the vegetables. Zhai Sheng, watch television on your own. You don’t need me to entertain you, right?”
Sensing that Qiao Dongliang sounded a little sour in his last few words, Zhai Sheng gave a nod. He then took the remote controller, switched on the television, and lowered the volume. “We’re one family. Uncle Qiao, don’t need to be so polite. Let me know if you need my help with anything.”
If s.h.i.+ Qing did not enter the kitchen, Zhai Sheng would surely show his filial piety and try to improve his father-in-law’s impression of him.
However, s.h.i.+ Qing was a step quicker than him in stepping into the kitchen. Hence, it was no longer appropriate for Zhai Sheng to do that. He might as well remain in the living room to watch television so that there was no reason to pick on him.
Qiao Nan was keeping Miao Jing company and listening to the latter’s woes. Miao Jing said that Zhai Hua was not sensible and Wei De was not presentable. On the other hand, s.h.i.+ Qing was carefully threading and following behind Qiao Dongliang to avoid being alone with Zhai Sheng, whereby she would feel uneasy.
Soon after, one hour had pa.s.sed and s.h.i.+ Peng was back home, bringing some food with him. “Zhai Sheng, you’re here?”
Zhai Sheng could not hide his thoughts from s.h.i.+ Peng. Hence, he did not need to put up any pretense in front of s.h.i.+ Peng at all. “It’s not strange that I’m here. I have to keep a tighter rein on my wife.”
“You don’t have confidence anymore?” Hearing this, s.h.i.+ Peng felt that it was so rare. Since the first day he met Zhai Sheng, Zhai Sheng was such a blessed child. Hence, he was so proud. Although he did not look extremely sn.o.bbish on the outside, that cold and aloof look in his eyes distanced him from others and exuded a sense of nonchalance. He was indifferent to others.
Hence, it was rare that Zhai Sheng would be so concerned about someone. s.h.i.+ Peng could not help feeling that this was hard to come by.
“That’s because I didn’t meet someone that I like previously.” Zhai Sheng did not have any sense of embarra.s.sment at all. He seemed so frank and fearless. “Nan Nan is very good. I like her very much. If I let Nan Nan slip away, I most likely can only be a monk in this life.” Precisely, it was because she was the only one. There would be something wrong with his brain if he did not keep a tighter watch.
“…” Zhai Sheng looked so decent as he was saying these mushy words. s.h.i.+ Peng s.h.i.+vered and had gooseb.u.mps all over.
The more s.h.i.+ Peng was affected, the more enthusiastic Zhai Sheng was. He was sitting in a relaxed manner. “Zhai Hua is muddleheaded now. She found someone that could not make it. So, the Zhai family has to depend on me for the next generation. Without Nan Nan, this mother, it’s useless with just me, the father, alone.”
“Enough.” The corners of s.h.i.+ Peng’s mouth stiffened and curved. “I’m your master, not Qiao Nan. Leave these words for Qiao Nan.”
“If you’re not my master, I couldn’t even be bothered to tell you these. This is to make sure that you’re clear about Nan Nan’s importance to me. It’s also to let s.h.i.+ Qing understand the situation. s.h.i.+ Qing has to be in the same school as Nan Nan when they apply for admission to college.”
They could be in a different course or major but they had to be in the same college and in the same location!
s.h.i.+ Peng immediately spat out that mouthful of water that he had just drunk. “Why are you so confident that Qing Qing and I will definitely agree to this unreasonable request of
yours?”
Zhai Sheng was smiling with certainty. “Didn’t s.h.i.+ Qing grow up much when she’s with Nan Nan? But it’s still not enough, right? Don’t tell me you don’t have such plans. We’re master and disciple. I may not be able to guess other people’s thoughts but I’m still able to guess that of yours. Nevertheless, out of the traditional virtue of respect for master, I don’t mind bringing this matter up first to let master have a way out. Take it that I, your disciple, am asking you for a favor.”
“…” s.h.i.+ Peng was both angry and pleased. He was pleased that Zhai Sheng, this disciple, was truly outstanding. He was the best amongst all the soldiers that he had taken under his wing. There was no other like him.
Undeniably, s.h.i.+ Peng did have such intentions.
Qiao Nan’s grades were good and his family’s Qing Qing’s grades were on par as well.
Given the situation of the two ladies, it was not difficult for them to be admitted to the same college but study different courses and majors.
Anyway, a good college offered much flexibility in the selection of courses and majors. This intention was not forced and not hard to realize. s.h.i.+ Peng had been considering for some time the most suitable college that was in accordance with the two children’s interests and future careers.
At this juncture, s.h.i.+ Peng already had an answer in his heart.
“We’ve been master and disciple for years. I think we do have this little bit of chemistry.” Zhai Sheng gave a toast to s.h.i.+ Peng with the cup of water in his hands.
“I guess so.” s.h.i.+ Peng returned the toast to Zhai Sheng, implying that he agreed with Zhai Sheng’s words.
The reason he let his daughter follow Qiao Nan closely was to let her learn more from Qiao Nan.
Zhai Sheng wanted s.h.i.+ Peng’s daughter to be admitted to the same college as Qiao Nan as he wanted her to help keep a watch on Qiao Nan. This was in case there were too many ‘wolves’ that were similar to him at college. If there were any hiccups, Qiao Nan would be taken away by another ‘wolf’.
At that time, just as what Zhai Sheng had said just now, he would have to be a monk for life.
This was the disciple that he liked most and was proudest of. s.h.i.+ Peng felt that he had to do Zhai Sheng this favor.
Anyway, Qing Qing did not have the slightest feelings for Zhai Sheng anymore. Qing Qing would not feel troubled at all to help keep a watch on Qiao Nan on behalf of Zhai Sheng.
Most likely, without their conversation, given how much Qing Qing liked Qiao Nan, she might even take the initiative to do that. “When Qiao Nan and you are really married, remember that you owe my family’s Qing Qing a big red packet. She can’t do this for you for nothing.”
s.h.i.+ Peng spoke out to request for benefits for s.h.i.+ Qing.
“This is not an issue. When s.h.i.+ Qing has decided about her future career path, I will certainly not refuse to help her as long as it’s within my means. The day that Nan Nan and I get married, the big red packet will not be missing. At most, we’ll double the amount.”
“Settled.” There was a red packet. The talks were easier.
Qiao Dongliang and s.h.i.+ Qing, who were bringing the dishes out, were speechless with anger once again. In particular, Qiao Dongliang’s face turned green, as if he had stepped on dog p.o.o.p.
He, the father, had not even spoken out about who his daughter was going to marry in the future. Why did these two ‘outsiders’ have to make the decision first?
If he could do so, Qiao Dongliang wanted to chase not only Zhai Sheng but also s.h.i.+ Peng out of the house. All of them did not have any self-awareness at all!!
s.h.i.+ Qing, who had been ‘abandoned’, consoled Qiao Dongliang with empathy. “Uncle Qiao, don’t be angry. You’ll be fine after getting used to it.” She, too, was not aware that the college entrance examination had yet to commence, but there was already a direction in her college studies. She only had one direction: Qiao Nan.
Qiao Dongliang was quietly angry as he let out a sigh. He was holding himself back from splas.h.i.+ng the plates of cooked dishes on those two ‘outsiders’. “You’re used to it?” Could one be used to this kind of thing?