Chapter 376
The first subject was Chinese, which required the most writing.
Next was Math, which required scratch paper.
However, the school usually provided scratch paper to prevent cheating.
But to be safe, Zhou Yueshen felt he should prepare some in advance.
He rummaged through the desk but couldn't find a scratchpad.
Si Nian had a habit of working at her vanity table, where she also kept some books.
He bent down and opened the cabinet door. There was no paper or pen inside, but rather a new bankbook.
Zhou Yueshen paused.
Si Nian came out of the shower, drying her damp hair with one hand. She was wearing a silk nightgown. The warm orange light from above cascaded down, bathing her in a gentle, tangerine glow.
"Zhou Yueshen, what are you doing?"
Zhou Yueshen straightened up and turned around, his dark eyes falling on her.
Her hair had grown a bit long, draping wetly down her back.
Zhou Yueshen held up the pencil case in his hand. "You have your exam tomorrow. I prepared some things you'll need. Take a look and see if anything is missing."
Si Nian stepped forward, still rubbing her hair, and peeked inside. It contained all kinds of pens, rulers, and erasers she would need.
They were all brand new.
Even the pencils were sharpened, with beautifully neat cuts.
It looked as if they had been sharpened with a mechanical sharpener.
She looked at it for a moment and smiled. "That's pretty much everything."
Zhou Yueshen zipped it up and set the pencil case aside.
Then, he reached out, took the towel from her hand, and began drying her hair for her.
"Are you nervous?"
Si Nian replied calmly, "Not nervous."
Hearing this, Zhou Yueshen chuckled softly. "Go to sleep early tonight. I'll take you there tomorrow."
Surprised, Si Nian looked up at him. "You're not going to work tomorrow?"
During the day, Si Nian occasionally liked to put on a little makeup. It wasn't very obvious, but it gave her features a striking, almost aggressive beauty.
After her shower, she looked entirely soft. Without makeup, her skin was as smooth as a peeled egg, and her long eyelashes were clearly visible when Zhou Yueshen looked down.
Zhou Yueshen looked at her for a few seconds before speaking.
"Work isn't as important as your college entrance exam. I've already let the factory know."
He didn't really have anyone around him taking the exam.
But he remembered when the army had a literacy campaign; since he was illiterate back then, he was sent to study.
At that time, they studied and took exams just like regular students.
He wasn't that particular himself, but later, when Yu Dong went to take the military academy exam, he saw Yu Dong's entire family go to support him.
For such an important event, of course they had to be there for her.
Thinking of this, Zhou Yueshen suddenly stopped what he was doing.
He walked over to the table and took a square box out of a bag.
He walked back and handed it to Si Nian.
"This is a gift for you."
"A gift?"
Surprised, Si Nian reached out to take it. As she opened it, a faint fragrance drifted into her nose.
She was pleasantly surprised. "Perfume?"
Zhou Yueshen gave a slight nod. "Yu Dong went on a business trip to Hong Kong a few days ago, and I asked him to bring it back. I don't know if you'll like it."
Si Nian sniffed it and said joyfully, "It's my favorite red rose scent."
Because she usually loved taking petal baths and bought rose-scented body wash, she always had a faint fragrance lingering on her.
Zhou Yueshen didn't really know what women liked, but when Yu Dong asked if he wanted him to bring anything back this time, he suddenly realized something.
Si Nian always loved using fragrant things. When she came home, the whole house would smell sweet, and she even used petals in her baths.
So he figured she would like perfume.
Seeing her sweet smile, Zhou Yueshen's sharp features softened. He reached out to pat her head and chuckled softly, "As long as you like it."
Si Nian nodded immediately. "Thank you."
Although the original owner of this body was only nineteen, still young, and rarely used things like perfume.
But Si Nian herself was a mature woman. In her past life, perfume was her absolute favorite.
In this era, wearing perfume was a bit extravagant, especially since she had been living in the countryside before.
Over time, she had simply stopped using these things.
She never expected Zhou Yueshen to suddenly gift her a bottle of perfume.
Looking at the brand, it was imported too.
Si Nian said, "On the day my results come out, I'm going to wear my prettiest dress and put on this perfume!"
Zhou Yueshen smiled and said okay.
A tiny bottle of perfume had invisibly drawn the two of them closer once again.
Si Nian sat in the man's lap, letting him dry her hair while she opened the perfume to smell it again. It was a very subtle fragrance, without any hint of artificial essence or additives—light and elegant!
This man was so silly. He gave it to her right away without even noticing the price tag on the back.
Such a small bottle of classic French perfume actually cost two hundred yuan.
He was really generous.
A man willing to spend money on his woman would always score big points in her book.
The more Si Nian thought about it, the happier she became—even happier than if Zhou Yueshen had just handed her cash. Of course, she used to care more about money, but now that she wasn't lacking it, she started valuing these emotional comforts.
She couldn't help but look up and kiss the man on the chin, saying, "Thank you."
Zhou Yueshen paused for a moment, then chuckled softly. "Let's dry your hair first."
She needed to sleep early tonight.
The location of the college entrance exam changed every year, and all candidates were scattered to prevent acquaintances from cheating.
She heard it was at the No. 1 High School last year, and this year it was at the No. 2 High School.
Because of this, the first and second-year high school students were given days off to make room for them.
Si Nian was quite lucky. Students assigned to test here from other schools who lived far away had to arrange accommodation and so on.
During the exam period, no one wanted to travel too far, so students who lived far from home chose to board or find a nearby hotel.
Not a single minute or second could be wasted.
Many students even agreed to share a room to save money.
Si Nian lived quite far away too, but after Zhou Yueshen said he would drive her back and forth these few days, she dropped the idea of finding accommodation.
The primary school was also on break these two days, so the whole family rallied around Si Nian. Even the Jiang family next door constantly checked in on her.
Grandma Jiang even brought over a lot of food, telling her to rest, and if cooking was too much trouble, they could just go eat at her place.
Si Nian naturally declined, because Yu Dong's restaurant happened to be located not far past the No. 2 High School, less than a ten-minute drive away. Zhou Yueshen had already pre-ordered her meals there for three days.
This way, she wouldn't have to run around, and eating would be convenient.
For the exam, comfort was key. The weather was hot, and to avoid heatstroke, Si Nian changed into a simple yet beautiful dress and tied her hair into two braids, making her look youthful and vibrant.
Her bag was a rather large crossbody bag. She had bought it specifically when she was a teacher because she had to carry a lot of things every day.
Now, she used it to carry her stationery.
Breakfast was made by Zhou Yueshen himself: millet porridge, soup dumplings, eggs, and milk.
Simple and nutritious.
Si Nian was dressed so youthfully and radiantly that Li Yanhong, who came over early in the morning to deliver documents, couldn't help but take a few extra glances. Was this really how the factory manager's wife dressed at home?
She greeted Si Nian and hurried off after delivering the documents. With the factory director away, she, as his assistant, was as busy as a dog.
Walking out, Li Yanhong couldn't help but mutter to herself that she couldn't be blamed for mistaking the wife for the director's daughter. With that outfit, anyone would call her an innocent high school girl.
It really wasn't her fault for getting it wrong back then!
Even though the director never brought it up, seemingly letting it go, sometimes he still seemed quite annoyed with her.
Li Yanhong shivered. For the sake of this high salary, there was nothing she couldn't endure.
Keep it up, working girl!
Pumping herself up, Li Yanhong's eyes turned resolute as she marched toward the breeding farm like she was going to her doom.
The kids didn't understand how important the college entrance examination was. Right now, they were eating the porridge their dad cooked, drinking milk, and laughing out loud while watching TV.
Only Zhou Zedong and Zhou Yueshen wore serious expressions.
Even Zhou Zedong, who usually spoke very little, was unusually talkative today.
While talking, he took out the stationery he had prepared the night before from his schoolbag, piece by piece.
"Mom, did you bring your pencil case?"
"Mom, I have sharpened pencils here."
"Mom, this ruler is new, take it to use."
"Mom..."
"Alright, alright, Little Dong. Your dad has already packed all these for me. Keep them for yourself," Si Nian said with a smile.
Zhou Zedong's hand paused, and he looked up at his dad.
Zhou Yueshen also looked back at him.
In the end, Zhou Zedong pursed his lips and put his things away.
After breakfast, the whole family got into the car together.
Because he was taking Si Nian, Zhou Yueshen had washed the car beforehand, making it sparkling clean.
It looked brand new.
There was no odd smell at all.
In the passenger seat, there were fruits, tissues, and snacks.
As if he was terrified she might go hungry.
Si Nian felt like she wasn't going to take the college entrance exam, but rather to ascend the throne.
She wanted to laugh, yet felt incredibly warm inside.
In her past life, when she took the exam, her family placed too much pressure and high hopes on her. Every day they pushed her to study hard, and no one cared about how she felt.
There was even an accident during the exam period. Because she was too nervous, she got a stomachache, which caused her to score poorly in English, her best subject.
Although she eventually got into a prestigious university, she didn't enter with the best grades.
Her parents still brought this up on the phone years after she started working.
But right now, Zhou Yueshen was just afraid she might feel even a trace of nervousness.
It was so nice.
The examination rooms had been assigned in advance, so Si Nian just needed to head straight there.
When she arrived, the school gate was packed with people.
A huge crowd of parents led their children, giving them instructions as they walked.
Because the college entrance exam was held here, almost all the nearby street vendors had gathered. The entrance of No. 2 High School had turned into a commercial street with rows of snacks that dazzled the eyes.
Si Nian also saw Brother Chen and his crew. A group of kids was crowded around them buying pancakes.
These kids were smart; they went wherever the business was booming.
They would probably make quite a bit over these few days.
Si Nian looked at her eldest son.
She wondered if he had called them over.
Sure enough, Brother Chen and the others soon spotted the family.
While busy making pancakes, they didn't forget to raise their hands and greet them: "Brother Dong! Hello, Brother Dong's mom!"
"Good luck, Auntie!"
"Auntie will definitely ace the exam!"
The other two also raised their spatulas and cheered.
These kids had eaten the food Si Nian sent them before, so now that they knew she was taking the college entrance exam, they naturally wanted to cheer her on.
Other people instantly turned their heads to look at Si Nian.
Si Nian couldn't help but smile; they were really an interesting bunch of kids.
Hearing the voices, Zhou Zehan finally reacted and said with a smile, "Mom, Big Brother, look! Brother Chen and the others are here too."
Zhou Zedong didn't even want to reply to him. They had already finished their greetings, and you're only reacting now?
It was still early, an hour before the exam, yet so many people had already arrived.
Si Nian decided to take a stroll with Zhou Yueshen and the kids.
It was rare for the whole family to go out together so neatly.
"Mom, look, sugar figures! The sugar figures you bought for me before."
Seeing someone making sugar figures, Second Child pointed in pleasant surprise.
He still remembered that last year, his mom had given him his very first sugar figure.
But before he could look longer, his attention was drawn to an uncle selling cotton candy nearby.
"Wow, so this is how cotton candy is made. It's so pretty!"
Yaoyao was also stirred up by her brother, her eyes unable to take it all in.
Seeing the cotton candy, she immediately squeezed in, clinging to the table with her second brother to watch the uncle make cotton candy.
Watching the cotton candy being bought by someone else, she immediately pulled on Zhou Zehan and said, "Second Brother, Yaoyao wants one."
Zhou Zehan wanted one too, but he had no money.
He had given all his secretly saved money to his big brother.
But thinking of something, his eyes lit up. He turned around, tugged at his dad, who was holding hands with his mom, and raised his head to say, "Dad, my sister says she wants to eat cotton candy."
He wasn't lying; his sister really did say she wanted to eat it.
Zhou Yueshen stopped, looked down at his sparkling eyes, and then glanced at his daughter clinging to the vendor's table. He took out a ten-yuan bill from his wallet, handed it to him, and said in a deep voice, "Watch over your sister."
Dad was the most generous. Little Han pleasantly grabbed the ten-yuan bill and immediately took his sister to buy cotton candy.
In no time, the two kids were holding cotton candy in one hand, sugar figures in the other, and carrying candied haws.
By the time Si Nian noticed, the two kids had already eaten until their mouths were shiny and sticky.
She couldn't help but laugh, "Eating so much sugar again, be careful of toothaches."
With a mouth full of sugar stains, Second Child said unconvincingly, "No, I didn't eat any. I bought all these for my sister."
Si Nian pinched his little cheek. "Your sister can't eat this much either. Alright, I'm confiscating these for now. We'll save them for tomorrow."
Zhou Yueshen rubbed his nose and changed the subject, "It's getting late, let's go inside."
Si Nian smiled and nodded, also wanting to go to the examination room first to check out the situation.
Family members were allowed to enter the school grounds, but they couldn't enter the classrooms.
The seating arrangement was based on the previous year's exam scores. Since Si Nian had no previous scores, she was placed at the very back.
Her examination room was also in the last classroom, Class 10.
That meant everyone assigned here was either a poor student or a repeater.
They were from all sorts of schools.
By the time they went over, there were already many people there.
Both parents and teachers were present.
So Si Nian's family of several people didn't stand out.
However, just as the group stood still, they bumped into some acquaintances.
It was actually the Si family and Lin Sisi!
Si Nian was speechless. To run into them here of all places—it really was a small world for enemies.
Lin Sisi had obviously seen their family too. Seeing Zhou Yueshen and the kids following Si Nian, she almost couldn't recognize the children, who had changed so much after not seeing them for a year.
Her smile paused, and she stepped forward to greet her.
But soon, her gaze was drawn to something else.
Lin Sisi ran over with a look of pleasant surprise. "Fu Yang, what are you doing here!"