“How come I didn’t see her when I came back?” Sister Zhai Hua seemed busier than her.

  Miao Jing revealed a sheepish smile. “Your Sister Zhai Hua did not return to the camp, but she has been quite busy recently. Dongzi has been asking Hua Hua out very often to watch movies or have meals. I am having a headache now. She has gone out with Dongzi so many times. Hua Hua always has a look of revulsion whenever I mention Dongzi’s name in front of her. The problem is that she never rejects Dongzi whenever he asks her out. There is also something that I can’t quite figure out. The time they spent together outside never exceeds four hours.”

  As such, had Hua Hua and Dongzi taken a liking to each other? Were they in a romantic relationship?

  Qiao Nan patted Miao Jing’s hands. “Mom, don’t be anxious. As of now, it is still quite hopeful for the two of them. Dongzi has been living in America for more than twenty years. It’s a good thing that Sister Zhai Hua is still willing to interact with him. You should be more worried if they are in a hurry to get married. If they interact with each other for a longer time, we can also find ways to observe Dongzi more.”

  Qiao Nan felt that they should take things slowly regarding marriage. It could not be rushed.

  It was hard to understand some people even after knowing them for a few years. As such, it would not be a wrong move to observe someone for a longer period of time.

  “Miao Miao, what are you holding in your hands?” Old Master Zhai asked curiously. After his daughter-in-law called his granddaughter-in-law downstairs to have a meal, Old Master Zhai sighted the red booklet in his daughter-in-law’s hands.

  The old master had aged and his eyesight was not as good as before. He had presbyopia. However, Zhai Yaohui and Zhai Hua had very sharp eyes. They immediately sighted the golden words ‘certificate award’ printed on the red booklet that Miao Jing was holding.

  “What else could it be? Nan Nan received the first-prize scholarship in the school. I specially brought it down for all of you to see.” Miao Jing was elated. She left Qiao Nan’s side, ran to the table, and opened the red booklet to show everyone Qiao Nan’s name and the words of the first-prize scholarship in the red booklet clearly.

  “Huh, school-based first prize scholarship?” Zhai Hua’s eyes lit up more. She was keener than Miao Jing. “Qiao Nan, what do these words mean?” Why was there the word ‘school-based’?

  Zhai Yaohui was secretly taken aback. “Nan Nan, do you know how many people from your cohort received this scholarship?”

  “Uh……” This was a difficult question for Qiao Nan. She did not pay attention to this at all.

  Xu Shengnan told Qiao Nan so much information, but in Qiao Nan’s world, she was already content to have received a scholarship. As to how many words were printed on the red booklet, she was completely unaware. “In my impression, not many in the school.”

  \r \r \r

  Naturally, Xu Shengnan was the one who told Qiao Nan this.

  Qiao Nan was not sure. Hence, she did not mention Xu Shengnan’s name, lest Xu Shengnan become implicated.

  “Definitely not many.” Miao Jing interrupted. “Nan Nan told me that if she receives this scholarship a couple more times, she will have the chance to study abroad for free.”

  When Miao Jing said that, the three generations of the Zhai family were further taken aback.

  Old Master Zhai carefully took the red booklet and looked at it. “It’s really…… not easy.”

  Zhai Yaohui also gave Qiao Nan a look of encouragement. “You’re doing very well. Keep it up. Also, don’t give yourself too much pressure. For things such as grades, just let nature takes its course. You just have to do your best, learn well, and strengthen your knowledge foundation. These are the most important things.”

  Looking at the red booklet in Old Master Zhai’s hands, Zhai Yaohui’s eyes were shimmering.

  When Qiao Nan was still in junior high school, he had heard Zhai Sheng and Zhai Hua speak about Qiao Nan’s matter. At that time, he already knew that Qiao Nan was a very diligent child who always strived for excellence.

  He never expected that the child that he had heard about and forgotten at that time would become his daughter-in-law one day.

  In addition, he also did not expect that Qiao Nan’s results would still be so exemplary after entering the best college in the country, although she had always been outstanding when she was in junior and senior high school.

  One had to know that the top place in the college was much more valued than the top place in junior and senior high schools.

  He knew that Qiao Nan was good at her studies and adopted a serious attitude. However, he had never expected Qiao Nan’s grades to be so outstanding.

  This daughter-in-law of his was definitely cut out for studies.

  “Hahaha, it’s a good thing. Come, let’s celebrate with some wine.” Old Master Zhai was elated. He looked cheery and radiant. Even the mustache around his mouth curled up.

  His grandson was so smart, and his granddaughter-in-law seemed to be a little more capable than his grandson.

  Under normal circumstances, his great-grandchild whom they would give birth to would be a genius.

  At the thought that his future great-grandchild would be so clever and quick-witted, Old Master Zhai, as if he had taken tonics, looked like he was in the pink of health. He also could not close his mouth and stop smiling.

  Zhai Hua looked at Qiao Nan with envy. “Qiao Nan, how did your brains grow? Do you have any secret formula? Teach me.” In terms of academic grades and brains, Zhai Hua took her hat off to Qiao Nan. Even if they were to be tested on the judgment of character, Qiao Nan was also better than her.

  “Since I was a child, I have never attained such good grades.” Amongst the group of ‘top scorers’ in Peking University, Qiao Nan could continue to be the top scorer. She had a solid capability.

  Facing the praise from the Zhai family, Qiao Nan was overjoyed but she felt more awkward. “Sister Zhai Hua, you can do it too if you work harder. I can only say that I have spent more time and effort in studies than most people. I am also more focused. I didn’t win with my intelligence. Most probably, I won in terms of attitude.”

  Qiao Nan dared not make it a big deal. She was the only one who knew in her heart that she had received this scholarship after much difficulty.

  There was also one more thing……

  “Mom, when are you going to put it down?”

  When she said that, Qiao Nan felt like covering her face.

  She was not a three-year-old child who could not wait to proudly announce to everyone that she had received a first-prize scholarship.

  Qiao Nan’s initial plan was to put away the certificate and store it properly. Who would have known that her mother-in-law would sight it?

  When she was coming downstairs, Qiao Nan was too concerned about finding out from her mother-in-law about Zhai Hua’s situation. She did not even see her mother-in-law conveniently carry the certificate in her hands when they walked out of the room. In the end, her mother-in-law even displayed it in front of the family.

  “Qiao Nan, have you finished eating? I wish to have a chat with you.” After Qiao Nan received continuous praise from the elders at the table, Zhai Hua quietly mumbled into Qiao Nan’s ears.

  Qiao Nan nodded but she did not question further. After putting away her bowl and chopsticks and expressing that she would be going back to her room, Qiao Nan went upstairs. Zhai Hua followed closely behind.

  At the sight of Zhai Hua’s guilty-looking back view, Old Master Zhai snorted. “She is already of this age, yet still so childish. She is growing backward.”

  Did Zhai Hua think that she could keep this matter from others?

  Zhai Yaohui was calmer. “If Zhai Hua doesn’t do anything foolish, that person is just asking for humiliation even if he chased Zhai Hua to the capital.” He would just be a clown making a fool out of himself.

  Old Master Zhai was not pleased. “What do you know? This kind of p is the most annoying.”


  1127 Eating out of Hand

  “If it were a few decades ago, I could kill him in one gunshot. He is committing the huge crime of playing rogue!”

  “Old Zhai, father is right. I am not worried about other matters. Wei De came to the capital because of Hua Hua. What if he keeps appearing when Hua Hua is attending matchmaking sessions or dates with other guys?” If that really happened, Hua Hua could really forget about marrying in this lifetime.

  “We don’t need to be afraid of this.” Old Master Zhai looked calm and composed. “The blind dates that we find for Hua Hua will not be cowards. Hua Hua is already of this age. Many people in society have already divorced, not to mention having dated before. If this person gives up on Hua Hua because of Wei De’s appearance and pestering, this kind of lousy goods can forget about being the son-in-law of the Zhai family.”

  Wei De was very annoying, but from a certain perspective, he had become a touchstone.

  Until now, Old Master Zhai firmly believed that there was no hurry. His granddaughter could take her time and she would still be able to find a good man that she fancied to get married and have kids with.

  “What? Wei De came to the capital?” When they were upstairs, Qiao Nan raised her voice and shrieked when she heard Zhai Hua’s confession.

  “Shhh. My little ancestor. I specially chatted with you upstairs because I don’t want the three ‘masters’ downstairs to know about this.” Zhai Hua quickly covered Qiao Nan’s mouth. After confirming that Qiao Nan had calmed down, Zhai Hua then released her hands. Her own face was in a grimace. “Tell me. What should we do about this matter? I am so vexed. I am suspecting more and more if my eyes have been blinded by a ghost in the past. Otherwise, why would I have taken a liking to a thing like Wei De?”

  Although only about two months had passed, Zhai Hua had been busy with Zhai Sheng and Qiao Nan’s wedding. She was so occupied that she had forgotten about Wei De.

  Now that she mentioned Wei De, Zhai Hua had a feeling that it had happened so long ago.

  After confirming that Zhai Hua was filled with annoyance and disgust when she mentioned Wei De and that there were no longer any feelings, Qiao Nan felt much more at ease. “Do you still remember my previous advice to you? Who has not loved a few scums before in their lifetime? As long as you don’t forget how lousy Wei De is, you don’t need to worry about other matters.”

  “Wait…… Do you mean that you bumped into Wei De when you were out on a date with Tian Dong? Wei De followed you? Did he speak anything in front of Tian Dong?” Wei De refused to give up. That meant he had not given up hopes on Sister Zhai Hua. He still wished to become the son-in-law of the Zhai family.

  \r \r \r

  After Zhai Hua and Wei De had broken up, the Zhai family, including Qiao Nan, no longer paid attention to Wei De. They just let him perish at his own course.

  However, the Zhai family knew in their hearts that Wei De’s life was definitely not good.

  He did not have money and connections. Most importantly, besides sweet-talking Zhai Hua, he did not have any other capability. The only thing left of him was his most ludicrous ambitions.

  A person like Wei De could only buy lottery tickets every day and wish to run into one-time good luck. If Wei De could strike it rich, no one would starve to death in this world.

  The more Wei De behaved in this way, the more no one looked up to him.

  On the contrary, if Wei De could appear like a man in front of the Zhai family, even if it was in the fit of pique, the Zhai family would say that he had some backbone.

  “He did not utter a word. He was just fixing his eyes on and glaring at Tian Dong and me.” Zhai Hua was extremely sullen. “If Dongzi was not by my side, I would have run up to him and given him a beating. How dared he appear before me? Has he forgotten that when I just found out that his younger sister in his hometown was actually his wife who had borne a son for him, I nearly shot him dead?”

  He was really not afraid of death!

  Qiao Nan touched her chin. “What is Tian Dong’s reaction?”

  To the Zhai family, Wei De posed a threat all because of Zhai Hua’s attitude.

  Now, Zhai Hua’s expression looked as if she had seen a smelly worm whenever she mentioned Wei De. Qiao Nan could completely cast Wei De aside and ignore him.

  Until now, Wei De still could not cause any waves in the Zhai family.

  “I didn’t pay attention to that.” Zhai Hua looked a little lost. At that time, she was only occupied with being angry with Wei De, this shameless guy. She did not have any impression of the reaction of Tian Dong, who was standing by her side.

  “When Tian Dong sent you back, did he behave oddly?”

  “No. He looks almost the same as usual.”

  Qiao Nan’s eyes swirled a little. “There is no hurry in this matter. We will wait and see for a few days.”

  Zhai Hua scratched her head. “Wait and see for a few days? What do you mean?” Did they need to wait for something?

  “Do you mean that Wei De may still come knocking at our doors?”

  “That’s for sure.” Qiao Nan patted Zhai Hua. “He won’t give up without creating a din and causing you to be left on the shelves. After marrying you, his hard life will be shortened by fifty years. After marrying you, his life will come into place and be fulfilling instantly. Do you think he will give up? Right, you have seen Wei De today. How is he?”

  “Nothing great.” Zhai Hua’s tone was full of disdain. “Can we not talk about him anymore? Each time I mention him, I can’t help thinking how stupid I was half a year ago. He can kick up a fuss as he wishes. He may even be of some help to us. I find some people quite annoying too. If they leave because of Wei De, this will save me a lot of trouble.”

  Qiao Nan held her chin and did not comment on Zhai Hua’s words. “Let me ask you then. Did Wei De’s appearance help you chase Tian Dong away?”

  Zhai Hua was heartless in her reply. “Wei De just appeared today. I am not even sure if he knows about Wei De’s matter. Will he not leave after he finds out about it?” Even if he did not leave now, he might cleverly scram as far as possible as soon as he found out.

  Although her chat with Qiao Nan could not resolve some practical problems, at the very least, Zhai Hua did not feel so panicky now.

  After settling her own matters, Zhai Hua started to be concerned about Qiao Nan’s situation. “Right, how are you doing in school? Did anyone bully you?”

  “If I say yes, are you going to take revenge for me?”

  “Why not?” Zhai Hua laughed like a ruffian. “It’s not as if I have not studied before. The children nowadays are very scheming and domineering. They also get jealous very easily. Zhai Sheng is not at home. If anyone dares to bully you, of course I have to help him protect you.” Who did not open their eyes and dared to bully the Zhai family? She had to deal with them.

  Qiao Nan smiled sweetly as she leaned her head on Zhai Hua’s shoulders. Her soft and gentle demeanor made Zhai Hua’s face turn red. Zhai Hua was having goose bumps all over. She pushed Qiao Nan away uneasily. “Scram, scram, scram. Stop using this tactic on me. Do you treat me as Zhai Sheng?”

  It was no wonder Zhai Sheng liked Qiao Nan so much. When Qiao Nan was acting coquettish, even a woman like her could not help feeling soft and numb.

  She already felt this way. No wonder Qiao Nan had Zhai Sheng ate out of her hands.