After unwrapping the ice cream, Tian Hongjun imitated Gou Dan and took a small bite. His eyes sparkled. This creamy ice cream was so delicious!
Tian Hongjun rarely gets to eat cream ice cream because it's quite expensive; you could buy several popsicles with that price. Usually, his mother buys him white sugar popsicles or mung bean popsicles instead.
Xia Qingqing quickly finished her mung bean popsicle and didn't urge Tian Hongjun to finish his ice cream. She waited until the two kids finished before driving them home.
"Lele, why don't you take Hongjun back to your room to read comic books? I'm going back to my room to rest too," Xia Qingqing said after parking her bicycle.
Gou Dan happily pulled Tian Hongjun back to the room, each engrossed in reading a comic book.
When he got home that evening, Tian Hongjun specifically told his mother that Xia Jiale's sister had bought him a cream ice cream that day.
Upon hearing this, Tian's mother subconsciously frowned, her tone unconsciously carrying a hint of scolding: "How could you ask someone to buy you ice cream? That's so inconsiderate of you. Is this how I raised you?"
She mistakenly thought that her son had been staring at other people while they were eating ice cream, making them feel embarrassed, so they bought it for him.
Seeing that his mother was unhappy, Tian Hongjun immediately whispered his defense: "It was Qingqing who wanted to buy it for me. She said that Gou Dan ate a lot of snacks when he came to my house, so I can't be polite to her when I go to her house."
"Really? Then it's true that Mom misunderstood you. Mom apologizes to you first, but that's just their generosity. How can you really accept it?" Tian's mother's voice softened considerably.
Tian Hongjun frowned and said with difficulty, "I did refuse, but Jiale said that if I don't eat, he won't eat my food next time he comes to my house."
More importantly, Xia Jiale had told him that good friends should learn to share, so that their relationship would be better. He also felt that the way his mother used to teach him would make him become estranged from his friends.
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Tian was completely speechless. After a long while, she said, "Alright then, next time I give you money, remember to treat them back."
"Okay, thank you, Mom," Tian Hongjun's little face finally broke into a smile again.
Then Tian Hongjun tentatively mentioned to his mother that Xia Jiale's sister had bought him comic books, wanting to see how his mother would react.
Ms. Tian was somewhat surprised after hearing this: "Your classmate's older sister is a student at Beijing University, right?"
“Yes, Sister Qingqing said that reading comic books can help us increase our knowledge and develop good reading habits,” Tian Hongjun said, his tone filled with admiration for Xia Qingqing.
Ms. Tian fell into deep thought. She had always felt that reading comic books was a waste of time and would easily interfere with her child's studies. However, the college student from Beijing University said that reading comic books was not a bad thing.
She knew that people who could get into Beijing University must have the ability, and she didn't think she was any better than the students at Beijing University.
"No, what are you trying to do by telling me all this?" Tian's mother looked at her son with a half-smile.
Tian Hongjun chuckled and said, "Mom, if I get in the top three in my class in the midterm exam, can you buy me a comic book?"
After pretending to ponder for a moment, Tian's mother said, "Okay, if you can get into the top three in your class in the midterm exam, I'll buy you three comic books."
As long as it can help her son learn, Tian's mother is willing to spend a few cents to buy comic books.
Tian Hongjun looked at his mother with surprise and delight, not expecting that she would actually agree: "That's great, thank you, Mom."
......
Zhang Hongyan knew that Xia Qingqing had bought comic books for Gou Dan again, and habitually muttered a few words: "Look at how many comic books he has in his room, why do you still buy him more? Isn't this a waste of money?"
Wouldn't it be better to use that money to buy a pound of meat?
“But I’ve seen those so many times,” Gou Dan retorted, pouting.
Hmph, this is clearly a comic book his sister bought for him, and his mom still nags about it. If he wanted his mom to buy him a comic book, there would be no chance at all.
Gou Dan felt that having Xia Qingqing as his older sister must have been a blessing in his past life, which is why he has such a wonderful sister in this life.
"You have the nerve to say that? You have so much free time reading comic books, why don't you spend more time studying? If you get the worst score in the class on the midterm exam, I'll teach you a lesson!" Zhang Hongyan glared fiercely at her son.
She always cared a lot about Gou Dan's studies. On the one hand, she thought that if he studied hard and went to university, he could get a decent job and wouldn't end up having to go back to his hometown to farm.
On the other hand, they felt it was too shameful for a younger brother to not even pass the junior high school entrance exam while his older sister was a college student.
Gou Dan was already used to Zhang Hongyan's occasional threats. He secretly made a face behind her back, while obediently replying, "Mom, I definitely won't get the lowest score. You can rest assured."
"Mom, Gou Dan studies very hard. Taking a break can improve his learning efficiency. We're not perpetual motion machines, so how can we study non-stop?" Xia Qingqing said the truth, not to make excuses for Gou Dan.
Zhang Hongyan didn't understand many principles about learning, but since her daughter had said so, she couldn't continue to object.
That being said, the warning still had to be given: "You need to get at least in the top 20 of the class in this midterm exam, or I'll spank you until your butt is swollen, you hear me?"
She didn't think this was too much of a demand. After all, Gou Dan was always the top student in his class when they were in the countryside. Now she only asked him to be in the top 20 of his class. She thought that wasn't too much to ask.
"Mmm, mmm, I heard you," Gou Dan blinked and nodded vigorously, not taking his mother's request to heart at all.
Because his goal was to be at least in the top 10 of his class, and strive to be in the top 3.
Although he only transferred here this semester, he has been able to keep up in class.
Doing homework with Tian Hongjun gave Gou Dan a general understanding of his own academic level. He was slightly behind Tian Hongjun, but with more effort, he still had a chance to catch up.
Tian Hongjun consistently ranked among the top students in his class; his level was equivalent to that of the class's top students.
Zhang Hongyan had no idea that her son already knew the truth; if he did, he would probably be even happier.
Xia Heping, who was eating attentively next to his wife, saw that she still wanted to say something, so he put a piece of food in her bowl with his chopsticks: "Alright, let's eat first, we can talk slowly after we finish eating."
Zhang Hongyan glared at him and said, "You think you're the only good person? Is the child mine alone?"
Xia Heping felt very innocent. He wanted to discipline his children, but he should be given a chance. His daughter didn't need his and his wife's help, and his son was not his responsibility.
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