After returning home, Xie Wan'er went to her room and found the competition problems she had studied before. Her brother had bought them for her, but because they were too difficult and not suitable for her age, they had been gathering dust in the closet.
"Hey, these are some practice problems I looked at before. If you can understand these concepts, your grades might skyrocket. I'm going to teach you, so don't say I was just making empty promises. Okay, go study on your own now. I'm going back to my room."
Several thick exercise books, seemingly brand new, showed no signs of being touched, as if they had just been taken out. Opening them, the content did indeed begin with the concept that one plus one equals two, but something seemed off later on. Congratulations on learning one plus one equals two; now please calculate the area of the shaded region in this problem.
It felt just like learning what one plus one equals, and then you could build a rocket.
This is not a book that a ten-year-old can understand at all; it's just a joke on her.
Xie Qingqing stroked the book, a determined light shining in her eyes. This book was definitely useful, but she couldn't understand it right now. Once she solidified her foundation, she would be able to understand its contents.
Thinking of this, she took out her first-grade textbook and then took out all the test papers she had done over the years. She wanted to do the questions she got wrong repeatedly to figure out where she went wrong.
It's a very clumsy method, but for her right now, it's also the simplest method.
Xie Qingqing didn't know about tutors or extracurricular classes, and Madam Xie had no interest in nurturing her seemingly foolish daughter. She could only rely on herself.
She studied until it was time for lunch, when the maid came to call her, and only then did she go downstairs.
"Mom, my sister couldn't do a lot of questions today. I taught her for so long, but she still couldn't learn them. I'm so tired." Xie Wan'er stood next to Madam Xie, shamelessly acting spoiled and talking nonsense.
Aside from spouting a bunch of nonsense, all she did was give out a few obscure books. The only one who taught Xie Qingqing how to solve the problems was Zhang Yan.
But would Madam Xie believe her? Of course she would believe Xie Wan'er. Wan'er was so well-behaved, had such good grades, and was so obedient. How could she lie?
"Your sister isn't very bright. If she can't learn it, don't worry about her. Don't exhaust yourself, or your mother will feel sorry for you."
"Mom, didn't you say that sisters should help each other? Wouldn't it be pitiful if my sister didn't get into university? I also want my sister to have good grades." Xie Wan'er is truly a good younger sister, wholeheartedly devoted to her older sister and selflessly dedicated to her.
Madam Xie was so moved that tears welled up in her eyes. "Silly boy, your sister's future has nothing to do with you. If she fails the exam, it's because she's stupid. Don't worry about her. You're not well. What if she makes you sick? What will I do then?"
The mother and daughter displayed their affection as if no one else was around, as if no one in the world could shake their bond and no one could interfere.
Xie's father, standing to the side, looked at Xie Qingqing, who had remained silent. He first frowned in displeasure, then scolded her, "Your sister is so good to you, don't you have any gratitude at all? Don't always be like a block of wood, knowing nothing. What kind of person are you, always with your head down? Can't you be more lively and likable like your sister?"
Xie Qingqing obediently raised her head, but still showed no emotion.
Children living in loving families are naturally loved by everyone, and are sure to be lively and quick-witted. They are bold and full of energy because no matter what they do, there is always someone to back them up.
But what about her? She lived in a suffocating world, surrounded by unkind people, and frequently subjected to beatings. Knowing no one would speak up for her, she swallowed all her grievances. She dared not complain, for fear that complaining would result in no one caring or even stronger retaliation.
Is this what she wanted?
Xie Qingqing really wanted to ask them if Xie Wan'er could have grown into the person she is today if she had lived in such an environment.
But she didn't dare ask, because she knew the answer.
Mrs. Xie would feel very sorry for her and scold her for being wicked. Mr. Xie, on the other hand, would say, "Don't keep bringing up the past. Look forward now; those things are in the past."
Ha, what a ridiculous world.
Xie Wan'er, arm in arm with Madam Xie, gave Xie Qingqing a provocative smile, secretly gloating. So what if she was their biological daughter? She was just a country bumpkin, no match for the years of affection they had built together.
When she was little, her older brother bullied her. To get her parents' attention, she resorted to tricks several times. The results were very satisfying; they discovered her brother's schemes and gave him a stern reprimand. From then on, she knew that she could get what she wanted through underhanded means, and she had to get it.
However, as she grew older, her brother became kinder to her. Perhaps her childish behavior stemmed from feeling that her father's affection had been stolen and that it was unfair.
Moreover, the brother disliked his rustic sister, which is why they were a family, and Xie Wan'er was destined to be excluded.
At the dinner table, the Xie family members all behaved quite well, except for Xie Qingqing.
She didn't dare get up to reach the vegetables she couldn't reach, so she could only silently eat the plate of greens in front of her and keep shoveling rice into her mouth. She didn't dare waste any food, so she ate the last grain of rice in her bowl, and then she hesitated for a moment.
"Dad, Mom, I'm done eating." She was actually still a little hungry, but she didn't dare to say it.
Mr. Xie nodded, acknowledging her behavior. "Go upstairs and study after you've eaten. Study hard, and even if you can't beat your sister, at least bring home some good grades. Don't come in last place again; no one in our family has ever come in last."
Of the two children they raised, one went to a competition, and the other was also among the top students in his class. Only this one came back later and didn't fit in with the family.
"I understand," Xie Qingqing replied listlessly, and silently walked upstairs.
Seeing her leave the table, Xie Wan'er smiled even more. "Mom, I want to eat those ribs, but I can't reach them. Can you help me get them?"
"I knew you liked ribs, so I specially asked the aunt to make them for you. Here, have some more." Madam Xie specially brought the ribs to her so that she could pick them up.
Xie Qingqing, who hadn't left yet, walked with a hesitant gait, a bitter taste in her mouth. After quietly wiping away her tears, she walked upstairs with even greater determination.
She will prove herself. One day, she will get good grades and show them that she can be a good child too.
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