Wang Shuang wasn’t one to admit fault easily, so when she spoke up, it startled Mr. Wang.
It was only the first day of the late-night snack stall’s opening, and Wang Shuang had already been hit by the harsh realities of society?
Mr. Wang wanted to press for details, but Wang Shuang refused to elaborate, turning her head to gaze blankly out the window, lost in thought, who knows about what.
A similar scene unfolded between Qin Jiao and her father, Mr. Qin, though Qin Jiao was more open than Wang Shuang. She recounted the day’s events in detail, candidly acknowledging Xie Qian’s excellence:
“Xie Qian’s the same age as Wen Ying, I’ve no idea how his family raised him, he’s incredible!”
Winning through family background wouldn’t have fazed Qin Jiao so much.
But Xie Qian relied on his intellect, and Qin Jiao admired smart people!
“Wen Ying’s clever too. Xie Qian only started explaining, and Wen Ying already grasped the specifics. I even reckon Wen Ying could’ve come up with the same idea, she just didn’t rush to show off.”
Qin Jiao let out a string of praises, then admitted sheepishly, “There are so many clever people in this world, yet I used to think too highly of myself. I never said it out loud, but I always felt I could get anything I wanted. Turns out I was just a frog at the bottom of a well. Dad, I finally understand why you sent big brother to uni out of town. Without leaving Rongcheng’s comfort zone, neither he nor I could see how vast the world really is!”
Mr. Qin’s heart melted.
“Jiaojiao, hearing you say this makes me so proud! Self-reflection will help you grow. Knowing how to reflect will benefit you for life—more than getting top marks in class or the year ever could.”
Qin Jiao blushed at the praise, and Mr. Qin chuckled, “Xie Qian and Wen Ying’s brilliance is for their parents to take pride in. You’re my daughter, Qin Xianming’s daughter. They’ve got their strengths, and you’ve got yours. Promise me you’ll never underestimate your own abilities or belittle yourself.”
Qin Jiao nodded firmly.
Mr. Qin grew even more excited about Wen Ying’s little snack stall.
He didn’t care how much money it made. In the process of “starting a business,” the kids would face problem after problem, and entrepreneurial success was all about solving them.
He was more eager to see how much Qin Jiao would grow in two months.
Realising Wen Ying had spearheaded this, Mr. Qin felt both admiration and gratitude toward her.
Business folk tend to be a bit superstitious, and Mr. Qin now firmly believed Wen Ying was blessed with great fortune. Since she’d entered his orbit, she’d helped the Qin family in ways big and small, intentionally or not.
He reckoned Wang Jun felt the same.
A girl with neither family clout nor stunning looks, yet able to win over both him and Wang Jun—that was no ordinary lass.
Mr. Qin never judged someone’s future by their background. In the twenty-plus years since reform and opening up, society had changed at breakneck speed—practically overnight.
Riding this wave, how far could a girl from a small city go? No one could predict.
Mr. Qin was now brimming with curiosity about Wen Ying’s parents. Raising her so well with limited resources must’ve taken immense effort.
But their hard work was worth it—Wen Ying would surely make them proud one day!
…
Li Mengjiao climbed into the car, her mum fussing over whether she was tired. Li Mengjiao’s mood was a bit low.
Her mum instantly felt for her, “If you’re too knackered, take tomorrow off. If you don’t go, there’s still the others.”
Li Mengjiao shook her head.
“I’m tired, yeah, but I still want to go. Mum, I feel so daft. Qin Jiao’s so clever, and since Uncle Qin’s brilliant, I can accept that. But today I realised Wen Ying’s clever too. They understand stuff I haven’t a clue about. You always say Qin Jiao’s two years older, so she knows more, but Wen Ying’s my age! Her family’s pretty average, so why’s she so smart?”
Her mum’s heart ached.
“You’re not daft at all! You can play the piano, dance—can that Wen Ying do those? Everyone’s got their strengths. Her family’s ordinary, so if she wants a good life later, she’s got to rack her brains now. You’re different. Your dad and I work hard so everything we’ve got will be yours—we don’t want you to struggle too much.”
Li Mengjiao sank into thought.
What’s struggle?
With her parents around, she’d never end up hawking stalls to survive. Joining Wen Ying and the others with the snack stall was just for fun, a bit of excitement.
But did she really want to accept her fate, admit she wasn’t as clever as other girls, and live a cushy life under her parents’ wing?
Ten, twenty years down the line, Qin Jiao and Xie Qian would surely climb into elite circles. Wang Shuang might make it with effort, and if Wen Ying stayed this sharp, she could squeeze in too.
And her?
Stuck in some cushy office job her parents arranged, spending her wages like pocket money, living without worry, watching Qin Jiao and the others shine on a bigger stage… The thought of being left behind sent a shiver down Li Mengjiao’s spine.
She didn’t want that life!
She knew her grades were average—however hard she tried, she’d never be a top student like Qin Jiao. As her mum said, she could play piano, dance, even sing decently. She had plenty of skills, but none she’d mastered.
Li Mengjiao felt lost, unsure where to direct her efforts.
Until she figured that out, she wasn’t about to ditch the snack stall with Qin Jiao and the others!
…
Wen Ying and Xie Qian were picked up by Lin Lin.
If Wen Ying were running the stall alone, she’d just sleep in the rented flat nearby, no need to trouble anyone for a lift.
Lin Lin heard they’d given away over fifty kilos of crayfish and kept praising them. Wen Ying perked up, “Miss Lin, Xie Qian’s the real star. He pulled off something today that stunned us all!”
She briefly recounted Xie Qian’s feat, and Lin Lin’s lips curved upward.
The Xie family had poured resources into raising Xie Qian, and here he was, using his talents on a little stall—overkill, to say the least.
The Xie family might not be chuffed.
But Lin Lin didn’t care!
Far from prying eyes, she didn’t mind if the Xie family approved. Xie Qian was her cousin, and she just wanted him to enjoy the ease and joy of making friends.
Him putting effort into a tiny snack stall showed he was having fun, didn’t it?
Wen Ying praised Xie Qian, so Lin Lin turned it around and praised Wen Ying.
Though Xie Qian didn’t join their mutual flattery fest, Wen Ying sneaked a glance and noticed his lively eyes—he was happy. When Xie Qian was in good spirits, his eyes sparkled with life, a little secret Wen Ying chuckled over to herself.
That good mood lasted until she got home.
In the living room, Chen Ru and Wen Dongrong sat side by side on the sofa, poised like a tribunal.
Wen Ying’s spirits sank as if doused with cold water.
Exhausted after a long day, she really didn’t want to argue with her parents. Forcing a smile, she said, “Mum, Dad, why aren’t you asleep? Worried about me? No need—Miss Lin drove me back.”
Miss Lin!
And that boy Xie Qian, right?
Chen Ru badly wanted to ask Lin Lin how, as a teacher, she lacked the sensitivity to keep a boy and girl so close without any concern.
Chen Ru was keen to switch Wen Ying’s tutoring spot, but Wen Dongrong strongly disagreed. Before Wen Ying returned, the couple hadn’t settled their debate!
