Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Cancellation of the College Entrance Examination
"My house!"
Jin Manqing's hands were shaking with anger, and his face suddenly tensed up. "Of course it's mine. I brought it home for my son yesterday."
"Auntie, this was drawn by my mother."
Lu Yao had sharp eyes. After she finished speaking, she immediately saw the album in Meng Bin's hand. "Auntie, look, this was also drawn by my mother. She tore it from our album."
Meng Bin is one year older than Lu Yao. Lu Yao said she wanted to take it, but after thinking about it, she looked at Meng Bin seriously first.
"Although my mother drew this, it's in your hands now. Can you lend it to me for a while?"
Although Lu Yao has a naughty personality, she was also taught to be very polite.
Meng Bin obviously liked the album very much. At first, he wanted to put it behind him, but when he saw Lu Yao jumping in front of him like a little rabbit, the next second, the pictures were handed directly to Lu Yao.
"Thanks."
“You’re welcome…”
Before she could finish her words, Lu Yao had already run off. "Look! My mom drew this! This is the pinyin for 'aoe'. I always couldn't remember it before, but now I can remember it!"
"That's what Sister Wei's kid likes, so I tore it off for him!"
Jin Manqing gritted her teeth and spoke quickly, "Sister-in-law Wei, have you forgotten? When we met yesterday afternoon, your Meng Bin kept pulling my Xiao Shuai to look at the picture album."
Wei Xiuhua didn't nod, but frowned. "That's true. We have a lot of control over things in the military families' compound, and picture books and novels are rare. It's rare to find a child who's different, so naturally he'd like it. But didn't you tell me yesterday that you drew this?"
There are military wives from big cities like Shanghai and Beijing in the family compound, but since everyone comes to Hua City for their families, they all treat the military family compound as their home. However, Jin Manqing is the only one who thinks he is superior.
There is nothing wrong with her being alone normally, but she has to make sarcastic remarks to others when she has nothing to do in order to highlight her own extraordinaryness.
Wei Xiuhua knew her character and did not have a good impression of her, but the picture album was indeed novel and interesting, and the children liked it. When they heard that the picture album was from Jin Manqing, they could not help but praise Jin Manqing in front of everyone.
Jin Manqing, who usually worries about having no place to show off his superiority, naturally enjoys the feeling of being looked up to by others.
And no matter how aloof she was, she would feel proud if she could talk to Mrs. Wei for a few more words.
So the conversation got louder and louder.
At first she just took it out for her children to play with.
Later on, it became a painting she drew with her own hands.
In the end, Jin Manqing simply said that one of her grandfathers on her mother's side was a master of calligraphy and painting. She had been influenced by him since she was a child and did not learn much, but because of her extraordinary talent, she was able to paint effortlessly.
At one time, many military wives who had previously had opinions about her had changed their minds to some extent.
It turns out that Jin Manqing does have some real talent and knowledge.
Can--
But looking at the current situation, it turns out that the "real talents and knowledge" that Jin Manqing was praised for might just be her bragging!
"I……"
When asked by Wei Xiuhua, Jin Manqing nodded stiffly for the sake of face: "Yes, of course I drew it. My great uncle was invited to the palace to draw pictures before. Isn't it easy for me to draw a few cartoons?"
"Mom, look how guilty she looks when she lies."
Before Lu Qinghe could speak, the cute Lu Yao had already shouted bluntly.
Compared to Jin Manqing's panic, Lu Qinghe seemed much calmer. If she hadn't just stood up for the child, she wouldn't even have raised her voice much.
"Stop talking nonsense, little girl!" Jin Manqing glared at her.
Lu Qinghe protected Lu Yao behind him and glanced at Jin Manqing calmly. "This matter has caused a lot of controversy, but getting to the bottom of it couldn't be simpler. Jin Manqing, you said you drew it, so could you draw another one for us right here?"
Jin Manqing rubbed his fingers and rolled his eyes. "Do I need to prove it to you? Besides, painting is art. Do you understand art? Art requires inspiration."
"inspiration?"
Lu Qinghe laughed: "Do you need inspiration from just these few cartoon characters?"
“That’s why I said you don’t understand art!”
"Okay, then let's not talk about that. Draw a new one. The first one I remember was the character for sun, Yang, with a sunflower holding a pencil underneath. This doesn't require any inspiration, right? Draw it again and we'll see."
Jin Manqing's expression turned even worse. "I told you, I don't need to prove it to you. Even if it's been drawn, you still need to feel it."
"Hmph, I don't think you drew this at all." Wei Xiuhua snorted coldly.
The military wives who had gathered together to chat yesterday afternoon were also nearby, and Wei Xiuhua, led by her, were all a little angry.
"I really thought you were capable, but it turns out you were just bragging."
"I don't know what's so superior about it, bah!"
Jin Manqing was anxious, "No, I didn't! I..."
"If you don't want to prove it, that's easy. I can't let the children suffer injustice, so I'm willing to prove it."
Lu Qinghe stared at her indifferently and continued, "I have a few similar pictures at home that I haven't had time to give to the children. You can go and see them now."
"That doesn't mean you drew this..."
"Okay, then let's go to the school. The teacher saw my child bringing a picture book to school half a month ago."
“…”
Lu Qinghe pressed on, "If you still think it's not working, why don't we just ask the kids, ask your Xiaoshuai, and then ask your Section Chief Zhou to see if they've ever seen you drawing at home!"
Of course not.
Zhou Xiaoshuai had long forgotten to cry, and followed Jin Manqing in fear and panic.
Lu Yao raised her hand. "I've seen it before! My dad has seen it too!"
"Yes!" Zhao Zirui plucked up his courage and tried his best to support his sister.
As soon as Lu Qinghe said this, looking at Jin Manqing's face which had already turned blue and red, anyone could figure out what was going on.
"How shameless! You act like a young lady all day long, but it turns out you just like to pick up things from the street. I think your ancestors weren't painters, they were garbage collectors."
"She wasn't doing that to pick up things, she was clearly doing it to save face."
"If you want others to look up to you, you have to have the ability yourself!"
"You have no ability but still pretend to be arrogant and boastful. Now you've been slapped in the face."
"I've never seen Jin Manqing so embarrassed before. I've disliked her for a long time. It feels so good!"
“…”
As the discussions continued, Jin Manqing's face became uglier. She glared at Lu Qinghe and tried to save some dignity.
"You can just draw what you want. What's so great about it? I, I don't even like it!"
"What do you think you picked up?"
Lu Qinghe glanced at Zhou Xiaoshuai who was curled up in a ball behind him, and felt sorry for him. But when he saw his own Zhao Zirui crying like a harlequin cat, who had been sad for a long time yesterday, he finally spoke.
"Not only did you pick it up, but you also had to flatter yourself by using your stolen 'skills' as a favor in front of your child. You're just pretending, but what about your child? The painting he liked turned out to be stolen by his mother. Aren't you afraid that he will be sad and upset, and that you will teach him bad things in the future?"
Zhou Xiaoshuai couldn't hold it in any longer and burst into tears again with a "wow".
While crying, she broke free from Jin Manqing's hand, turned around and ran home.
Jin Manqing stomped his foot in anger and pointed at Lu Qinghe, "You haven't even graduated from elementary school, what can you teach a child? Bah!"
"Being educated and well-educated is good, but being educated doesn't mean you're a good person."
Wei Xiuhua was watching from the side, and her face suddenly darkened.
"There are many people like me in our military families' home who have never been to school, but as long as they are upright, they can still raise excellent children. Although I didn't talk much to you before, I just thought you were truly educated and capable, and just liked to be alone because you were arrogant. Now I know that you are just empty-headed and pretentious!"
Jin Manqing was stunned for a moment.
She quickly explained: "Sister-in-law Wei, I didn't mean to laugh at you, I was talking about Lu Qinghe."
"You still have the nerve to say that about her? I think you should apologize to Lu Qinghe!"
Yu Lili added, "That's right, she almost tripped the kid just now!"
"Apologize!"
Lu Qinghe crossed her arms and said, "Jin Manqing, we are all in the same courtyard, and I don't want to make things too awkward, but I don't have any grudges against you. If you are just being mean to me for the sake of face, then you really should apologize."
Jin Manqing's words aroused the indignation of the crowd. The country's literacy campaign had only been going on for a few years, and it was already a good thing that everyone could recognize the words. Yet, they were still being ridiculed like this. It was a bit annoyed to see this. She gritted her teeth, lowered her head and apologized helplessly.
She not only apologized to Lu Qinghe, but also apologized to other military wives who had never been to school.
The matter was settled, and Wei Xiuhua brought the child to Lu Qinghe.
"No matter how much they quarrel, the children will continue to play as they please. But as adults... I may not be well educated, but I know that some people may wear clean clothes, but they are not as clean as their hands, feet, and minds. Come on, Xiao Lu, I'll go to your house to look at the picture album."
"Hey, I'll go too."
"Let's go together."
In an instant, the intersection was empty, and only Jin Manqing was standing there with tears in her eyes. After a while, she wiped her face and left with her head down.
Behind the crowd, Meng Bin also followed Wei Xiuhua.
Having solved the problem and vented their anger, Lu Yao, Lu Yang and Zhao Zirui were obviously in a very happy mood.
Especially Lu Yao.
Meng Bin looked at Lu Yao, who was jumping around, with a look of confusion on his face. He wanted to speak several times, but no words came out.
Instead, Lu Yao remembered something. When they were almost home, she reached out and handed over a few paintings. "Yes, I said I borrowed them. I'm a man of my word!"
Meng Bin was stunned and hesitated. "This is a painting by your mother. Can I have it?"
"I don't know." Lu Yao was very frank. She turned her head and looked at Lu Yang again. "Lu Yang, can I take it?"
"Ask Mom."
"oh."
Lu Yao ran to the front with her short legs and talked to Lu Qinghe, who nodded.
"It's not a rare thing. I drew it for my children to play with. Since everyone likes it, I'll make more of it later. After my children have seen it, I'll pass it around to everyone."
I thanked everyone who came with children, especially the mothers of children with poor academic performance.
Lu Yao handed a few drawings back to Meng Bin. "Lu Yang, Zhao Zirui, and another Zhao Zimo have all looked at them. Take a look. When you've learned how to draw, give them to other children. But remember to praise my mother."
Meng Bin nodded and took it in his hand seriously: "I will! Um...what grade are you in? Why have I never seen you in school?"
Lu Yang spoke first: "We are six years old, but we are still in preschool. How old are you?"
"Seven years old."
"Then our campuses are different, so we won't see each other."
Meng Bin thought for a moment and then said, "Then it's okay. You can come and play with me."
"all right."
Lu Yao agreed with a smile, then turned around and was attracted by the sandbags that other children were playing with in the yard. She turned around and ran away without paying any attention.
Lu Yang knew how to take care of people. After seeing Lu Yao leave, he called Zhao Zirui and also greeted Meng Bin.
There are many children in the family compound, and with Lu Yang as a mediator, several friends soon started playing together. But if you look closely, you will find that among the four or five children, they are all about the same age, but the leader is always little Lu Yao with two pigtails.
-
At the westernmost end of the military family compound, there is a row of small two-story single-family houses, where the families of officers above the rank of division commander live.
When Wei Xiuhua took her child home and greeted her neighbors, many people caught a glimpse of the picture album in Meng Bin's hand.
Within two days, the news spread throughout the military district - the new mountain daughter-in-law of Captain Zhao's family was not just an ignorant woman, but was smart and ambitious. Especially Lu Qinghe's painting skills, which even reached the military district's cultural and political work group.
"Who is the woman you went out with a few days ago...Zhao Zhanming's wife?" Commander Meng suddenly asked when he returned home that day.
"Xiao Lu? Lu Qinghe?"
Wei Xiuhua reminded: "Xiao Lu is fine, what's wrong with her?"
"Nothing. There's a meeting today. The Cultural Affairs Group said the Propaganda Department is short-staffed, and someone mentioned this little Lu. It doesn't have much to do with me, but I was very curious. How could she, from a mountainous area, have such talent? I heard she could even be used in textbooks with her drawings for literacy. Are you just bragging?"
“I’m not bragging.”
Wei Xiuhua fed her child while talking to her husband, even telling him about Jin Manqing.
After listening to this, Commander Meng nodded and said, "It's a great honor for our Military Family Academy to have such a talent."
"If the publicity team is hiring, why don't they just ask Xiao Lu?"
Commander Meng frowned. "It's going to be over in the next two days, but I don't know the specifics. I'm afraid I'll say something inappropriate. I don't care about that. I just listen to the political commissar constantly mentioning it to me. It's giving me a headache."
Wei Xiuhua perked up, "I'll take you there. We're more familiar with each other."
"Then you can contact Old Wang from the Propaganda Department later."
"Well, actually, if Xiao Lu is willing, it would be nice for him to be a teacher in school."
Commander Meng did not respond, but lit a cigarette. The next moment, Wei Xiuhua drove him to the balcony. He could only take two puffs and then hurried back in.
"Xiuhua, even though we're close, don't make it too obvious. That Xiao Jin just heard what you said, so don't make it look like you're forming a clique."
"Who formed a clique? She apologized in a bad manner. Don't worry, after all these years, I still don't understand. Normally, if we meet, I won't avoid talking to her. Although I don't like her, I know my limits."
"Well, but don't get too close. His family lives in a big city. Things are getting a bit turbulent up there lately. I heard they've started checking the backgrounds of all the officers one by one. You should be aware of this."
Wei Xiuhua sensed something was wrong and asked, "What happened?"
"I'm not sure yet, but...it seems like the college entrance exam will be cancelled next year."
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