Chapter 197: Foresight
Gu Jiaojiao carefully reviewed the exam paper, finished the questions in just half an hour, and then double-checked her work. She felt confident she hadn’t made any mistakes.
She figured time was almost up, so she didn’t hand in her paper early. Instead, she glanced around the room.
She saw that Sheng Yueyue had not only stopped writing but was also beaming. The smile was a little unsettling, but then again, Sheng Yueyue was always peculiar and unpleasant.
Gu Jiaojiao didn’t pay it much mind. Instead, she thought to herself, ’Someone who’s been reborn really does have an advantage over everyone else.’
’Sheng Yueyue has already been through the college entrance exam once, so it’s perfectly normal for her to finish before anyone else.’
The bell rang, signaling the end of the exam. The girls headed for the restroom in groups, sticking with their close friends as usual.
The boys, on the other hand, gathered to discuss the questions on the exam. When Zhang Mingyu and Dong Qiming saw Gu Jiaojiao approaching...
...they flanked her and asked, "Cousin Jiaojiao, how do you think you did?"
"I think it went okay, but that’s just my gut feeling. Nothing’s certain until the results are released."
"I feel pretty good about it too. A lot of the questions were ones we’ve drilled before. Anyone who studied hard should get a good score this time."
Zhang Mingyu said with a wide smile. Still thinking about the test, he began comparing answers with Gu Jiaojiao.
By this point, Sheng Yueyue didn’t have any close friends among the students, but with Song Dan and her little follower around, she wasn’t alone.
Seeing her in such a good mood, Song Dan asked, "Sister-in-law, you must have done really well on the exam, huh?"
"Of course!" Sheng Yueyue declared brazenly.
"Congratulations, Sister-in-law! You’re a relative who will surely bring great honor to the Song Family!" Song Dan’s follower chimed in with flattery.
Sheng Yueyue was delighted to hear this. She smiled and said to the girl, "You’re Dandan’s good friend, aren’t you? Here’s some money. Go buy yourself a popsicle after school lets out."
"Oh, wow! Thank you, Sister-in-law!" Song Dan’s follower nodded, thanking her profusely.
Song Dan felt this boosted her own prestige, and the three of them laughed uproariously.
The bell rang again before long. The day’s exams—the liberal arts comprehensive test and the English test—were over. The science exams were scheduled for the next day.
At that moment, no one was thinking about scores or results. Every student, having given it their all, headed for the school gate.
They knew their parents were outside, waiting eagerly for them, some even holding snacks.
And indeed, the parents outside hadn’t left the school gate for a moment, but they weren’t just standing around idly.
They were a bundle of complex emotions—anticipation mixed with anxiety, but above all, a deep hope that their children had earned good scores.
The wait was agonizing.
So, the parents gathered and started chatting amongst themselves to pass the time.
A woman from a song and dance troupe asked Mrs. Sheng, "How does your daughter usually do in school?"
Mr. Sheng, for his part, had to work and didn’t have time to wait at the school gate.
"She’s usually quite diligent. My husband and I aren’t expecting incredible scores; we’ll be happy as long as she can get into a university."
"That’s wonderful. My child is just hopeless. He always dawdles when it’s time to study. It’s so frustrating."
"I know, right? I’m pretty sure my son has just given up on school! He never studies hard."
"I feel the same. Our daughter’s personality gives me a headache. All she does is play all day, and her grades are terrible."
"Oh, come on, listen to you. Everyone knows your child is diligent and loves to study. She’s always one of the top students in every exam."
"Exactly! And look at Captain Ren’s adopted daughter, Gu Jiaojiao. Does she ever seem to do anything but play? Yet when has she ever not gotten a perfect score on an exam?"
"It’s true! My son says she gets a perfect score on every mock exam. She even got a perfect score on her language arts essay once. She’s just incredible."
"Your methods for raising children are really something, Mrs. Sheng. I heard from my son that Gu Jiaojiao was first in the whole school on several mock exams."
"Alright, that’s enough talk. The children are about to come out," Madam Song said, clearly displeased.
The parents were all chattering about their children’s futures. It was clear they all desperately hoped their kids could get into a good college.
But the one thing Aunt Song hated hearing about was Gu Jiaojiao’s academic success, which suited Mrs. Sheng just fine.
She was deeply conflicted. She hoped Gu Jiaojiao would do well, but at the same time, she didn’t want Gu Jiaojiao’s scores to be better than her own biological daughter’s.
The other parents exchanged glances and wisely fell silent, all turning to wait quietly for the students to emerge.
"Dad, Mom, you’ve been waiting out here this whole time? The sun is so strong. Let’s hurry home," a thoughtful student said.
Another student shouted from a distance, "Mom, I’m dying of thirst! I can’t walk another step! Did you bring me anything?"
"I did, I did! Son, drink slowly. Have your dad give you a ride home on his bicycle."
When Sheng Yueyue saw Mrs. Sheng waiting, she walked over with a bright smile. "Mom, where’s Dad?"
"Your dad went to work. Yueyue, are you tired? Here, have some water before we head home."
"I can’t believe Dad. My college entrance exam is such a huge deal, and he couldn’t even bother to take a single day off," Sheng Yueyue whined.
She was complaining because she had seen both Old Sir Gu and Mr. Gu waiting at the gate for Gu Jiaojiao.
Even though the two men had changed into new clothes, it couldn’t wash away the stench of pig manure that clung to them.
Sheng Yueyue pinched her nose, hopped onto her mother’s bicycle, and rode off without giving Grandpa Gu or Mr. Gu so much as a single glance.
The moment Gu Jiaojiao walked out of the school gate, she saw her grandfather and father standing on either side of Su Shuochi’s wheelchair.
She walked over cheerfully. "Grandpa, Dad, Shu Ci, the sun is so strong. Are you thirsty?"
"Jiaojiao, we brought water. Here, this is for you," Su Shuochi said, pulling a water bottle from his backpack and handing it to her.
Gu Jiaojiao took a few big gulps. "Grandpa, Dad, did you happen to see Sheng Yueyue just now?"
"Nope. I was watching for you the whole time. Jiaojiao, you’re the prettiest one of all your classmates."
Grandpa Gu said cheerfully. In truth, he had seen Sheng Yueyue, and had seen her pinch her nose at the sight of him.
But he didn’t care one bit. ’No one is as pretty as my granddaughter,’ he thought, ’and certainly no one is as brilliant.’
’Good thing I had the foresight not to let my eldest grandson come along. He might have fainted from anger again, and that would have been terrible luck!’
Gu Jiaojiao pushed the wheelchair with Grandpa Gu on her left and Mr. Gu on her right, their cheerful laughter filling the air as they walked.
「At the Su family home」
Su’s mother and Mrs. Gu had already prepared a bountiful meal. "Jiaojiao, you’re back! Are you tired?"
"Not at all. They were all questions we’ve drilled before, so it wasn’t difficult."
Gu Jiaojiao saw no need to be overly modest with her family.
Everyone had great faith in Gu Jiaojiao’s abilities. During the meal, they all kept putting more food into her bowl.
"Jiaojiao, here are your favorite sweet and sour pork ribs. Eat up."
"Jiaojiao, here’s that fish you like so much. I’ve already picked out all the bones for you. Have some more."
"Grandpa, Dad, please eat, too! My bowl is already piled high like a mountain."
Gu Jiaojiao said helplessly as she looked at her overflowing bowl.
"Jiaojiao, are you still going to give Song Zijie and the others their acupuncture treatments this afternoon?" Mr. Gu asked.