Translator: imperfectluck Editor: Kurisu

  Back when Zhang Fan took his college entrance exam, he was supposed to predict his own score, and fill in his desired major and college for applications. Then, he would wait for his exam grade and the college acceptance letters. But in Zhang Jingshu’s time, the system had been updated slightly. You would first wait for your exam results, and then fill in your desired major and colleges for your applications. This reduced the amount of unpredictability.

  Zhang Jingshu was now finished with her examination. While waiting for grades, they weren’t really in the mood for other things, so Zhang Fan took Shao Hua and Jingshu out around Lan City every day. But, Lan City was just like every other city, except that it was slightly bigger, with better districts.

  Jingshu hadn’t gotten any chances to go out on vacation before due to her family’s poor financial condition while she was growing up. Zhang Fan and Shao Hua took her to the nearby Shaanxi province on vacation. Zhang Fan’s parents refused to go, so they could only set out as the three of them. They went to see the Terracotta Army, Mount Hua, the place where Concubine Yang showered, and so on. Shao Hua also purchased several sets of clothing for Jingshu as the latter typically wore her high school uniform. Jingshu hardly had any fashionable clothes at all. She had actually saved all the money that Zhang Fan sent her as if she was a little squirrel!

  Zhang Fan didn’t mention anything to his parents about buying a home for them here or them coming to Chasu City. It wasn’t the time yet.

  The college entrance examination grades were finally announced. Jingshu truly was a top-class student. Her score was 670, although it still might not be enough for her to go to Tsinghua or Beijing University 1 .

  Zhang Fan’s parents only knew that Jingshu had gotten a high score, but had no idea which colleges to recommend her to apply to. Zhang Fan checked the average score requirements per college, and rather reluctantly said, “Couldn’t you have done just a little better? If only you could have gone to Tsinghua or Beijing University! Sigh! Your score is just slightly below their requirements, sigh!”


  “You should be satisfied already. Go and secretly chuckle in your bedroom? Why pretend like this? Jingshu’s score is really amazing already. Although it might be difficult for her to go to Tsinghua or Beijing University, Jingshu really can pick any college that she wants apart from these two.” Shao Hua pushed Zhang Fan away and embraced his sister.

  “Haha, sigh, I won’t say anything about there being zero hope, but it seems like so much of a pity not to apply for Beijing or Tsinghua University. But if you apply for them, it’s still so worrisome. Sigh! Jingshu, how about you just apply for Beijing University anyways? And if they really don’t accept you, you could just try again next year and retake the college entrance exam. How about it 1 ?”


  “Should we listen to your brother?” Zhang Fan’s mother asked her daughter.

  “Let’s forget it. I already did better than my average this year. I might not even do as well next year. I heard that our province’s S University has a talented student recruitment plan, where students with more than 600 points on the college entrance exam can enter special classes. How about I go attend S University like my brother did?” Jingshu didn’t mention one additional thing: that S University would be willing to provide her with full scholarship for her grades!

  “Alright, I can instantly tell what you’re thinking from that look in your eyes. Now that your exam result is out, let me also tell our parents and you about my plans,” Zhang Fan said after glaring at Jingshu.

  “Say things properly! Why be so mean to Jingshu?” Shao Hua truly liked Jingshu. The latter was considerate and kind, and understood the hardships of adults. Jingshu really seemed like a nice girl.

  “It’s like this. I’ve been doing quite well in the border province, and have some money of my own now. I made all of the money properly. Shao Hua can testify for me. Jingshu, pick a good college. You don’t need to worry one bit about the college tuition. I want you all to come back to Chasu City together with me and Shao Hua. I also have a home there that’s almost finished with its renovations.”


  “That won’t do. It’s fine as long as you and Shao Hua are living well. No need to mind us. We’ll be able to collect our government retirement pensions soon. The supermarket’s business is also doing quite well. When you have children, your mom can go over there to help you take care of the baby. Besides, you guys also have your own lives to worry about. How could we possibly let you pay for all of Jingshu’s expenses?” Zhang Fan’s parents were worried that Shao Hua would be unwilling.

  “Sir and Ma’am, although it’s not my place to get involved in your family affairs, please still allow me to speak. Both of you are getting older. It’s Zhang Fan’s and my responsibility to take care of our elders. Besides, who else is supposed to pay for Jingshu’s tuition expenses if not her older brother?”


  Shao Hua’s words caused Zhang Fan’s parents to fall silent. They were the type who were willing to argue with their son, but not their potential daughter-in-law.

  “Look at you guys worrying. I really do have a good income right now, along with a home and a car. This isn’t something that you need to hurry and decide on. We’ll still be here for quite a while. Dad, you and Mom should talk things over. For today, let’s just think about what college Jingshu should attend.”


  “Brother, I want to study finance!”


  “Yep, that’s a good major. But where will you go to study it?”


  “For economy and trade, how about going to Shanghai University? A large city like Shanghai will also be useful for Jingshu to develop herself in the future. Jingshu, all you need to worry about are your studies. Your brother is right, we’ll take care of everything else for you, so there’s no need for you to worry about anything else. Since you’re so smart, you should work hard at studying. If I could have obtained such a high score back on my college entrance exam, I probably could have woken myself up with my laughter while dreaming!” Shao Hua made a joke at the end to relax the atmosphere. Otherwise, it would seem as if Jingshu had actually failed the exam with how tense everyone was.

  “Is the finance major at Shanghai University strong?” Zhang Fan inquired.

  “What do you think? Shanghai is an economic hub of China, and Shanghai University is a top-ranking college. Of course its finance major will be good!” Although Zhang Fan was now an expert on medical matters, he was only slightly more knowledgeable than his parents on other matters.

  “Jingshu, what do you think?”


  “It’s okay with me, just……”


  “No need for any ‘just……’. Pick the best school that you can. Go there and ask about the professors. Pick the best professors that you can. Don’t worry about anything else.” Zhang Fan settled matters with this! In the end, Jingshu applied for Shanghai University as her primary choice.

  Zhang Fan’s parents were unwilling to go to Chasu City. They didn’t want to be a burden on Zhang Fan and Shao Hua. Plus, their little supermarket was slightly profitable, so they didn’t want to give it up.

  Zhang Fan couldn’t do anything about this. It wasn’t like he could force his parents to leave. In that case, he decided to purchase a new home for them. He really didn’t want his parents to live in such an old apartment anymore. Jingshu would soon be gone for college. Both of his parents’ bodies had minor problems. It would be difficult for them to even go out and buy medicine in this poor part of town with not a single pharmacy nearby.

  Zhang Fan, Shao Hua, and Jingshu toured all of Lan City together. Jingshu had a better understanding of Lan City than Zhang Fan did. She knew quite well which places were better to live in. In the end, they chose a home that was 90 square meters. This home had a good surrounding environment, and was close to the nearest hospital and supermarket. This home cost 2,300 yuan per square meter, for a total price of 207,000 yuan 1 !

  Zhang Fan had already made Jingshu secretly take the family register and their parents’ identification cards.

  He didn’t hesitate at all. He simply discussed it a little with Shao Hua and Jingshu, and then paid the full price for the home in full without taking out a loan. This new apartment home was on the 13th floor, with elevators. The benefit of paying off the price in full was that there was a free parking spot as an additional gift! This was only possible because Lan City was still a smaller city. This wouldn’t at all be possible in the biggest cities.

  Next up was renovating the new apartment. Zhang Fan’s parents didn’t know anything about renovation, and he was scared that they would be scammed, so he signed a contract with a proper and well-known renovation company for simple renovation. The total cost for renovation was 60,000 yuan.

  Back at Zhang Fan’s parents’ apartment home, Shao Hua handed over the documents for the new apartment home in Zhang Fan’s parents name. Zhang Fan and Jingshu didn’t dare to give them the documents, as they were scared of their father’s anger. But with Shao Hua giving the documents over, he would have to bear it even if he got angry.

  “Sir, Ma’am, if you’re unwilling to go to Chasu City, we won’t feel reassured, because the environment here truly isn’t good. Just look, there’s not even a single doctor’s clinic nearby here. Both Zhang Fan and Zhang Jingshu will be thousands of kilometers away soon in the future. In order to let them be able to work and attend school without any worries, we decided on our own to purchase a new apartment home for you. The money’s already been paid in full, and a renovation contract has been signed already. We’ll be leaving in a few days, so at that time, you’ll have to go over there every day to watch over the renovation!”


  “This! Just how much did all this cost? Both of you have only started working recently!” Zhang Fan’s mother said with great worry.

  “Ma’am, you should understand your son best. He’s truly skilled, so rest assured. You must properly watch over the renovation. Otherwise, there might be some places that break or some uncomfortable places right after you move in.”


  “It’s all so expensive! You spent more than 260,000 yuan!”


  “The apartment home was slightly more than 200,000 yuan, and they even gave us a free parking spot. When more people live in that area, you can rent the parking spot to someone else for a good price. The renovation cost 60,000 yuan,” said Zhang Fan.

  “I know how to read the prices on the paperwork! You didn’t even discuss anything with us. Why spend 60,000 yuan on the renovation!? Your uncle could have done a proper job for just 20,000 yuan!” Zhang Fan’s father scolded him.

  “Our uncle isn’t even capable of making a cabinet with doors that close properly. Of course he can’t do a good job! Besides, all the money has already been paid. There’s a little bit of distance between here and the new apartment home, so I’ll buy an electric scooter for you tomorrow for convenience.”


  “No need. I’ll ride a bike, which is good exercise.”


  This was the conversation between an adult son and aging father. The former was already making his own decisions, while the latter was unwilling to admit to getting old! Things would have been different had Jingshu been the one talking, as Zhang Fan’s father favored his daughter. He never scolded Jingshu over anything, and listened to everything she said.

  But, Zhang Fan’s mother favored her son more. Even though her daughter was truly excellent as well, she constantly complained while spoiling Zhang Fan severely. Zhang Fan’s mother would never scold him!

  Zhang Fan felt quite relaxed now that this had been accomplished. He still had 90,000 yuan remaining in his bank account. This included the 50,000 yuan from Shao Hua that she had gifted him.

  It was now finally time to leave Lan City and return to Chasu City. Since there was still quite some time before Jingshu needed to go start her studies at Shanghai University, Zhang Fan talked it over with his family and took Jingshu with him back to Chasu City. He wanted to let her have some fun there.

  Besides, this way, Jingshu would pass by Lan City again while on her way to Shanghai University.