Chapter 146 The Eternal Second Place (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
The area outside the house was crowded with onlookers, all eager to see what was happening inside.
The leaders did not send them away, but let them stand outside.
"Xu Qingmo, I heard you've been studying hard lately, and Zhang Yan is a good teacher. I happened to have some free time today, so I came to see how your studies are going." The leader spoke very sincerely.
This contradicts what is being said outside.
The group outside couldn't help but praise, "He truly lives up to his reputation as a leader; his words always command respect."
"I remember Xiao Li saying something different. Did the leader misunderstand?"
"You're so slow on the uptake, no wonder you've been stuck in the same place."
"I was just saying something, why did you have to resort to personal attacks?"
"Shh... The boss has spoken, everyone keep your voices down."
Inside the room, Zhang Yan gave a somewhat dry laugh. In front of the leader, he opened the book in his hand and also asked Xu Qingmo to open her textbook.
Xu Qingmo did not open it, allowing Zhang Yan or the leader to randomly check her learning knowledge.
Zhang Yan asked his supervisor to do a spot check, and the supervisor asked if he had learned all the pinyin.
Xu Qingmo nodded.
The leader asked if I could write it.
Xu Qingmo nodded again.
Immediately, she took out a pen and paper and quickly wrote down all the pinyin, both fast and accurate.
The leader looked at Xu Qingmo in shock. Only a little over a week had passed, and she had already learned all the pinyin that others needed to learn in a whole semester.
Zhang Yan couldn't help but say, "Boss, you can also ask Xu Qingmo some Tang poems to test her."
Leader, "Do you know how to 'Sympathize with the Farmers'?"
Xu Qingmo, "Hoeing the fields at noon..."
Xu Qingmo pronounced each word clearly and distinctly, and the onlookers couldn't help but recite along.
Finally, Xu Qingmo wrote the poem down on the paper and also wrote the author's name.
The leader's eyes lit up. "A genius! He's practically a little genius!"
Xu Qingmo pulled Zhang Yan aside, "Actually, it's all because of Zhang Yan...the teacher taught him well."
This was the first time Zhang Yan had heard Xu Qingmo call him "teacher," and he pointed at himself with a look of surprise, "You called me teacher?"
Xu Qingmo rolled her eyes at him and didn't say anything more.
Zhang Yan chuckled like a complete idiot.
"Zhang Yan is indeed a good teacher, but your learning ability is definitely stronger, Xu Qingmo. You have truly surprised me." The leader decided to nurture Xu Qingmo well, believing she would achieve even greater success in the future.
The news that Xu Qingmo was a child prodigy spread quickly, reaching Wang Jing's ears. Many people gathered around her, praising her for her good fortune and how wonderful her daughter was.
Wang Jing received praise from these people, and Shen Jiang was also praised.
Many people went from not understanding at the beginning to being full of envy now, and they all feel that Shenjiang has found a treasure.
As soon as Luo Zilan returned, she heard that news about Xu Qingmo had spread throughout the army.
She snorted, not finding Xu Qingmo anything special.
They're still just as annoying.
"Luo Zilan, you don't look well. Is it too hard working on the front lines?"
"Yes, there are so many wounded and not many doctors. I'm busy every day, and no one says I'm having a hard time. I'm just a little kid who learned a few ancient poems and played with some explosives. You people act like you're ignorant and think it's all novel, while the people who actually made contributions are forgotten."
Luo Zilan's words were filled with dissatisfaction; every sentence revealed her discontent.
“Luo Zilan, what you said is incorrect.” Jiang Jingjiang suddenly appeared and categorically refuted Luo Zilan’s words.
"Brother-in-law, what brings you here?" Luo Zilan stood up, looking somewhat awkward.
The person who was talking to Luo Zilan greeted Jiang Jingjiang when he arrived and then left.
Luo Zilan was still somewhat afraid of her cousin-in-law, who was always fair and impartial and would not show favoritism based on their relationship.
Unfortunately, her words were overheard, and she was bound to be scolded.
"I heard you came back from the front lines. The leaders asked me to come and see if you needed anything and to check on you. I just got here and heard what you said. If people with ulterior motives hear this, what will they say about us behind our backs?"
Luo Zilan felt uncomfortable, and Jiang Jingjiang scolded her as soon as they met.
She was seething with anger, trying her best to suppress her inner turmoil.
“Brother-in-law, things aren’t as serious as you think, and I’m just telling the truth. You don’t need to worry so much.”
"Say less of that in the future. Xu Qingmo is highly regarded by the higher-ups now," Jiang Jingjiang advised Luo Zilan one last time.
Luo Zilan bit her lip and finally couldn't help but say, "Brother-in-law, I know you've always cared a lot about your reputation and don't want anyone to have anything to say about you. But have you ever thought about how my cousin died? Is your reputation really that good?"
Luo Zilan stared intently at Jiang Jingjiang, each word a twang of her thoughts, the surging memories leaving Jiang Jingjiang speechless for a moment.
Luo Zilan pointed to the sign at the door that said, "It's getting late. Although you are my cousin-in-law, I am all alone. It's not good for you to stay here any longer; it will affect my reputation."
Jiang Jingjiang was put on the defensive, and Luo Zilan clearly wouldn't listen to his advice.
"I've said everything I needed to say. If you continue to be stubborn and refuse to see the truth, you'll only end up hurting yourself."
"Whatever happens to me afterward is none of your business, and you don't need to worry about it."
Jiang Jingjiang left Luo Zilan's room in a huff. He encountered several people outside who greeted him, but he could only force a smile.
Luo Zilan found everything displeasing and overturned everything on the table onto the floor.
Meanwhile, news that Xu Qingmo was a child prodigy spread rapidly.
Zhang Yan was also praised because of Xu Qingmo. Although he had made contributions before, none of them were as honorable as the one he received by standing next to Xu Qingmo.
The leader left satisfied, while Zhang Yan was still grinning foolishly.
Xu Qingmo coughed twice, which caught Zhang Yan's attention.
"Keep practicing your horse stance. Your skills aren't quite there yet," Xu Qingmo reminded her.
"Xu Qingmo, do you think that with all this hard training, I can surpass your father in next year's King of Soldiers competition?"
"If you can't surpass them, you'll always be number two."
Zhang Yangang had just settled into a horse stance when he stood up again, and asked in bewilderment, "Why can't I surpass you? I've learned some new skills from you."
“My father is not only hardworking, but he is also extremely talented. Although you are also very good, you are still far behind him,” Xu Qingmo commented objectively.
Zhang Yan was frowning. He thought that becoming Xu Qingmo's apprentice would definitely turn the situation around, but he didn't expect that he would still have to be his eternal second-in-command.
No, he wasn't willing to accept it.
"How exactly does one become a top soldier?" Zhang Yan humbly asked.
Xu Qingmo patted her stomach. "I'm hungry. I'll go home and eat first. Maybe I can think of a solution after I've eaten."
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