madnovel Chapter 38 Highlight Moments
Chapter 38 Highlight Moments
As soon as Wang Ma finished speaking, the courtyard fell silent for a moment.
Old Fang stood by the corridor, holding a bowl of porridge in his hand.
Hearing Wang Ma's words, the wrinkles on his face scrunched up, his lips moved twice, but he couldn't say a word.
He knew that Xiao Fang must have passed the exam.
But Xiao Fang didn't tell him how many points he got or what his ranking was, and he didn't dare to ask.
What if it doesn't work out?
The thought kept swirling in Lao Fang's mind; he held the bowl of porridge in his hand, but forgot to drink it.
"Old Fang, say something!"
Seeing his expression, Wang Ma became even more certain that Xiao Fang's exam results must have been mediocre, otherwise why wouldn't Lao Fang have said anything?
"How did Xiao Fang do on the exam? Sigh, in the end, no matter how she did, being able to stay at school is a good thing."
She said "good thing," but she couldn't hide the smugness in her voice.
Cui Cui stood behind Wang Ma, head down, not saying a word, her ears slightly red.
Fang Shuwen ranked ninth in the exam.
It was much better than her grades.
But she didn't intend to say it aloud.
"Wang Ma, please don't ask anymore."
Hu Da poked his head out of the kitchen, his apron still covered in flour, and smiled as he tried to smooth things over.
"It's good that Xiao Fang got in; what does it matter if his grades are high or low? Don't you think so, Lao Fang?"
"Yes, yes..."
Old Fang nodded hurriedly, a smile appearing on his wrinkled face, but it looked somewhat forced.
He lowered his head and took a sip of the porridge. The porridge was hot, but he felt a little uneasy.
Xiao Fang leaves early and returns late every day, and sometimes he still smells of sweat when he comes back.
He knew Xiao Fang was working hard, and he knew Xiao Fang had changed, but grades are something that can't be caught up in just a few days of hard work.
He was worried that Xiao Fang would not pass the assessment when there was no exam.
They passed, but I'm worried that Xiao Fang didn't do well on the test.
Seeing this, Wang Ma's smile widened, and she was about to say something more.
Just at this time,
"Old Fang! Old Fang!"
A series of hurried footsteps came from outside the courtyard gate, followed by a young servant running in, panting and his face flushed with excitement.
"Butler Chen is here! He brought quite a few people with him! He said that someone from our compound got into the elite class of the public middle school, and Master Zhao heard about it and sent him over to congratulate them."
Before he finished speaking, a group of people walked in through the courtyard gate.
Leading the group was Chen Zhong, who was wearing a navy blue long gown that was neither new nor old.
Her hair was combed meticulously, and she held two wooden boxes, one large and one small, wrapped in red silk.
Behind him followed two strong young servants, one carrying two boxes of pastries and the other carrying two bolts of bright red silk, which were quite eye-catching.
Several servants followed behind, whispering among themselves, their faces full of curiosity.
"Butler Chen...?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Ma looked at Steward Chen and the others, and her body trembled. She almost lost the composure she had just maintained.
Those who came to congratulate her on getting into the elite class were, of course, congratulating her daughter, Cui Cui.
Everyone knows that Fang Shuwen's exam results were mediocre.
Her daughter, Cui Cui, did well on the exam and got into the elite class.
"What is this...?"
"Wang Ma, congratulations!"
Chen Zhong smiled as he heard what Wang Ma said.
He immediately handed the smaller box he was holding to Wang Ma.
He thought to himself, "This Wang Ma is really lucky."
After he sent a telegram to the master that Xiao Fang had been admitted to the elite class of a public middle school with the ninth-ranked score, and that he also possessed martial arts skills that could be described as having "two bones cracking twice".
I received a reply very quickly.
Let him bring congratulatory gifts and visit Xiao Fang and his son.
Of course, because Cui Cui also passed the exam, even though she ranked fortyth.
But this time, Xiao Fang also gave him twenty silver dollars.
"Although the main family of our Zhao family has moved to Shenghai, the master still keeps the elders in the family in mind. This time, someone from the family passed the exam and entered the elite class of the public middle school. When the master found out, he specially instructed me to send a congratulatory gift."
Wang Ma took the small wooden box, ran her fingers along the red silk twice, and smiled like a chrysanthemum.
"Oh dear, Steward Chen, you're too kind! Master still thinks of us servants even while he's in Shenghai, it's truly... truly..."
She was so excited that she was almost incoherent, and she couldn't help but feel guilty. The last time her master gave Xiao Fang a fountain pen, she thought to herself that her master was blind.
I didn't expect it to be such a big deal this time.
The master is such a good man.
Thinking of this, Wang Ma quickly turned her head and waved to Cuicui, raising her voice several octaves:
"Cui Cui! What are you standing there for? Come here quickly and thank Butler Chen! Take all those pastries and silks!"
Cui Cui was stunned for a moment, a hint of unease flashing across her face. Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but Wang Ma pulled her close.
"You silly child, are you overjoyed? Butler Chen personally came to deliver our congratulatory gifts—what a show of respect!"
Cui Cui stumbled a step as her mother pulled her along. She opened her mouth, her voice barely audible, "Thank... thank you, Butler Chen."
Wang Ma had already gone to greet the two servants behind her, reaching out to take the two bolts of silk.
"Oh my, this silk is really good stuff, from Shenghai, right? It looks so smooth..."
Old Fang stood to the side, holding a bowl of porridge, his cloudy eyes filled with envy.
He glanced at Fang Shuwen furtively, feeling a pang of jealousy and guilt.
When someone else's child does well on a test, the master sends people over to congratulate them.
My son, Xiao Fang, also passed the exam, but his grades...
He dared not think any further, and lowered his head to take another sip of porridge. The porridge had already cooled down and tasted bland and tasteless.
Hu Da leaned against the kitchen door frame, rubbing his hands on his apron, his gaze falling on the two bolts of bright red silk, and he couldn't help but click his tongue.
"Wang Ma really got to shine this time. That girl, Cui Cui, has really brought honor to the family."
"It's a pity about Xiao Hu; his grades were top-notch back then."
His voice wasn't loud, but everyone in the courtyard could hear it.
When Wang Ma heard this, she straightened her back even more, and the smile lines on her face almost squeezed out of wrinkles.
"Hu Da, you're right. Our Cuicui has been sensible since she was little. Now that she's in the elite class, what will happen to her in the future..."
"Wang Ma".
Chen Zhong's voice wasn't loud, but it steadily and clearly cut off Wang Ma's words.
He stood still, not following Wang Ma forward. His smile remained unchanged, but his tone carried a more unquestionable seriousness.
"Don't rush to move your things."
Wang Ma's hand had already touched the silk, but upon hearing this, she paused, turned her head, and looked puzzled.
"Butler Chen, what's wrong?"
Chen Zhong pointed to the pastries and silks being carried by the two servants, his tone unhurried:
These things are not for you.
The courtyard was quiet for a moment.
Wang Ma's smile froze on her face, her fingers still resting on the silk, as if someone had pressed the pause button on her whole being.
"Butler Chen, what...what do you mean by that?"
Her voice sounded a little strained.
"Not for us? Then what you just said..."
"What I meant was, 'Someone in the government passed the exam and got into the elite class of a public high school.'"
"That makes sense. My daughter Cuicui got into the elite class. If it wasn't for us, who else could it be for?" Wang Ma asked, puzzled.
Chen Zhong, sitting opposite her, looked past Wang Ma and landed on the boy in a light blue school uniform not far behind her.
"These things aren't for Cuicui, they're for Fang Shuwen."
As soon as he finished speaking,
The courtyard was completely quiet.
Even the sound of water boiling in the kitchen almost stopped.