Qiu Tianming wasn't one to be arrogant. He glanced at the female comrade standing to the side with her head down and handed her a test paper.

"Give it a try, one hour is enough."

Although Liu Xiuling graduated from high school, she spent her days thinking about how to dress up and what clothes to wear to make others envious, so she was really not good at her studies.

I was still a little resentful. My older brother hadn't even contacted the bank, so why was I made to take the exam? Wasn't it supposed to be a direct pass?

There was no other way but to answer the questions on the side. But when I saw so many calculations involving the last digit, I immediately chickened out. I picked and chose, doing only the easy ones, and I couldn't do the word problems at all.

Liu Aimin watched from the side. Although he was far away, he could still tell that his eldest daughter couldn't do anything, and he was furious.

Liu Xiuling dawdled for an hour before standing up to hand in her paper.

Qiu Tianming glanced at it and said, "I'm sorry, your grades are not good enough for admission."

"Why? My older brother is Liu Jingze."

"Oh, who's your older brother? You're not good enough for that."

"Then why were Liu Jingxiang and Ma Li accepted?"

Liu Aimin strode over in a few steps, trying to pull Liu Xiuling away.

"Wait a moment, comrade. The woman just questioned our recruitment process because of Liu Jingze's connections. So I'll show you the test papers of Liu Jingxiang and Ma Li that you mentioned."

After Qiu Tianming finished speaking, he stood up, went to the filing cabinet, took out the two people's files, and took out the exam papers from them.

"Look carefully yourself. You and Ma Li did the same questions. Look at her test paper, and then look at yours."

Liu Aimin released Liu Xiuling and saw the two exam papers on the table. He felt utterly humiliated.

My daughter-in-law's test paper had beautiful handwriting and was completely correct. Even my eldest daughter's test paper didn't have as neat and beautiful handwriting as Liu Jingsong's. Moreover, she only answered one-third of the questions, and the other half were wrong.

He suppressed the anger that threatened to erupt on the spot and looked at his daughter.

Liu Xiuling stared at the two test papers as if she had been humiliated, then suddenly turned and left.

Liu Aimin nodded to Qiu Tianming and then went out.

Liu Jingxiang and his wife had already gone home. The father and son remained silent, looking rather dejected.

When she got home, she saw Ma Li pushing her child around in the yard. Liu Xiuling ignored her greeting and went back to her room.

When the family saw this, they all knew what had happened; it hadn't worked.

Liu Jingxiang gave Ma Li a look, and the two of them pushed the child into the house.

At lunchtime, Liu Xiuling sat quietly to one side, holding her bowl. After she finished eating, she put down her bowl and was about to leave when the old lady called her back.

After everyone in the family had put down their bowls and chopsticks, he said, "Aimin, tell me about your results in the bank exam."

"Grandma, Xiuling didn't pass the exam."

"Oh! Even having Jingze's connection doesn't work?"

Liu Aimin found it difficult to speak, but he couldn't refuse to answer the old man's question.

"Grandma, Xiuling's answer was really not ideal."

Okay. I understand.

Liu Xiuling, what do you say?

"Grandma, I have nothing to say."

"Well, it's not that your family didn't give you a chance, it's that you're not good enough. So, put away your little schemes."

Also, your acupuncture is finished, so you can drink the herbal medicine at home. Don't go out anymore. If you really can't stay home, Jingxiang, pick out some books for your sister to read at home.

After giving her instructions, the old lady left, leaning on her cane.

Hu Aifen's mouth was full of firecrackers, and now her mouth is full of toothaches.

The next morning, Liu Jingxiang and his wife went to work, leaving the child in the old lady's room.

Zhang Hongmei sent a lot of tonics, milk powder, children's fabrics, and small toys.

"Sir, Madam said that if you are too busy, she will send someone over."

"Go back and tell Hongmei that there are enough people at home. Also, tell her to come over tomorrow afternoon."

"Yes." Su Chen drove back.

"Mother, what do you need Hongmei for?"

"It's nothing, it's just that I need to talk to her about leaving, this girl sometimes overthinks things."

Liu Changhe's family nodded. "That girl overthinks things, and she's unwilling to say anything."

After listening to Su Chen's words, Zhang Hongmei called the old lady.

"Grandma, I'll go home after school the day after tomorrow and ask my aunt to make me dumplings, the kind with chives and eggs, and lots of eggs."

"Understood. Make sure you take care of the child."

"Yeah, they don't contact me at all now, they're happy as long as they see me at night."

Actually, Zhang Hongmei was afraid that the old man would overthink things.

At noon today, Liu Aimin didn't even bother to eat the rice and stir-fried dishes; he rode his bike to deliver food to his son and daughter-in-law.

As Ma Li ate the home-cooked meal, she said, "Jingxiang, Mom and Dad are so wonderful."

"Yes, we must be filial to our parents in the future."

When I got home in the evening and finished dinner, I said, "Mom and Dad, you don't need to deliver it to us. We can cook for ourselves at the bank."

“It’s alright. There aren’t many people at the bank, so there’s definitely no cafeteria. You’ll have to cook for yourselves. You’d be better off coming home to eat. Your dad just wants you to rest more, that’s why he’s bringing you food. When we go back to our hometown, you can do whatever you want.”

The young couple didn't say anything more, but they truly felt the love and care that the elders in the family had for the younger generation.

The next day at noon, they first cooked dumplings for Jingxiang and Mali and sent them over, while the rest of the family waited for Hongmei.

"Grandma, I brought some pig's head meat. Would you like to try it later?"

After the family finished eating, they didn't gather together. Zhang Hongmei accompanied the old lady back to her room.

“Hongmei, I called you here to tell you that I’ve decided to go back to my hometown in October.”

"Grandma, why are we going back?"

"Even if I die, I want to die in my hometown."

"Grandma!"

"Isn't this normal? People get old, sick, and die. Don't overthink it. Jingxiang and his wife, and Jingze, are still here."

"What about the eldest sister?"

"Go back and find her an honest and decent man to marry."

"Grandma, my eldest sister won't agree."

"If you don't want to, then leave. There's no place for her in this house anymore."

Zhang Hongmei didn't know how to explain it; the old lady had a very strong temper and couldn't tolerate even the slightest imperfection.

"Alright, since you've made up your mind, I won't try to persuade you anymore. I'll find a chance to go back and see you."

"No need. It's too much trouble for you to go back. You can go back to see me off when I die."

"Grandma, isn't this what they mean by 'wanting to care for your parents but finding them gone'?"

"That's not true. I will live well and try my best to see these young ones get married and have children."

"Okay, you must take good care of yourself."

“Hongmei, I will send it back to you when Chongyu turns four.”

"Okay, I'll make the arrangements."

Time flies, and it's already June. Soon it will be Cai Qingyang's one-month birthday.