Chapter 58 Chapter 58 Kneel down
You see, even the teacher thought what he said was outrageous.
But that day Aunt Lu said that she didn't like studying either.
But according to Zhao Zimo's observation, although Aunt Lu doesn't like studying, she can learn anything once she learns it.
For example, literacy.
They all attended the literacy class. While others hadn't yet learned all the characters, Aunt Lu had already started trying to draw inferences from what she had learned and draw vivid cartoons based on the literal meaning.
So Zhao Zimo felt that people’s IQs must be different. At least for him, he was not as good as other students in studying.
"Don't call the parents." Zhao Zimo said in a low voice with some sadness: "Teacher, I really listened to what you said carefully, but..."
"No buts."
Teacher Ning's expression grew serious. "I'll give you one last chance. If you still rank second to last on this final exam, I'll have to call your parents. Besides, I'm not calling your parents to criticize you, but to help you. Do you understand?"
"……cannot."
Teacher Ning was so angry that she immediately flew into a rage. She picked up the ruler and was about to hit him, but she held back and put it down. "You're young, so if you don't understand, then don't worry. Your parents will understand in time."
“…”
There is nothing but silence.
Teacher Ning was a little helpless. "That's a good name. It really suits your personality."
Zhao Zimo's name was given by his biological parents. Later, he followed Zhao Zhanming and changed his surname on the household registration, but his name remained unchanged.
But what Zhao Zimo didn't expect was that Zhao Zhanming later had his own son and actually gave him a similar name to his.
"Zhao Zimo!! I'm here!"
Jiang Tiezhu waved at Zhao Zimo from a distance. When he arrived, he saw that Zhao Zimo looked very bad, so he put his arm around Zhao Zimo's neck and said, "Did Lao Ning scold you again? Don't take it seriously. He scolded me even more harshly. Besides, I'm the last one to fill the gap for you."
Zhao Zimo shook his head: "Teacher Ning didn't scold me much, but... he asked me to call my parents."
"puff……"
Jiang Tiezhu's eyes widened. "This is worse than getting scolded! I've been called to the police station before. My dad beat me up at home before I came, and my mom beat me up at home after I came. My butt was almost broken. These are my biological parents, but you have a stepmother. If they really call the police station, I think you're doomed."
Zhao Zimo rolled his eyes and said, "Is it as scary as you say? I've never seen Aunt Lu be so cruel. Let alone hitting people, I've never seen her scold a child."
"That's all an illusion. Alas, even if I tell you, you still won't understand."
"You say that as if you understand everything."
"Of course I have been beaten more times than you have. I have plenty of experience."
"That's because you're disobedient and always rank last."
Jiang Tiezhu folded his arms. "You're burning bridges, aren't you? Without me, the last-place student, here, wouldn't you be at the bottom? I'll tell you why I have experience. It's because I understand adults. Adults are like that. When your grades don't concern them, no one cares. But if they have to call your parents and lose face, you're screwed."
Zhao Zimo was skeptical, "Is it really that serious?"
"Of course. I remember you said before that the children raised by your stepmother all had good grades. Now that you're ranked last, she must have been resentful for a long time, but it didn't affect her, so she didn't make things difficult for you. If she calls the parents this time, she'll lose face and complain to your dad. She'll definitely punish you!"
“…”
Zhao Zimo frowned, and the few freckles on his face moved. It took him a long time to utter three words, "Not really."
"Why not? You trust your stepmother so much."
"Aunt Lu isn't really a stepmother. After all, I was adopted by my father."
"Alas." Jiang Tiezhu sighed deeply and patted Zhao Zimo on the shoulder. "You, you, it's really not easy. You're not a biological child. If it were me, I would run away."
"I'm not running."
Zhao Zimo shook off Jiang Tiezhu's hand and said, "Aunt Lu has been here for a year. Although I am young, I can tell that she is not a particularly cruel person."
"Who says people who beat children are bad people?" Jiang Tiezhu muttered. "I don't mean any harm, but what are you going to do?"
"I don't know. Let's take the exam first and see the results after we're done. Anyway, Lao Ning said..."
Zhao Zimo suddenly laughed out loud, "Lao Ning said that if I get the second-to-last place in the exam again, she'll call my parents. I'll go home and review and try to get the third-to-last place. She probably won't go back on her word."
"That's a loophole. Okay, then I'll try to stay in last place and not hold you back."
Jiang Tiezhu looked proud.
Zhao Zimo was a little amused, but also a little worried, "Will your parents beat you this time?"
"Didn't you see that Lao Ning doesn't care about me anymore?"
Jiang Tiezhu raised his eyebrows proudly. "After the last parent-teacher conference, my parents realized I wasn't cut out for studying, so they told Lao Ning that after the third year of junior high school next year, I'll stop going to school and go learn some skills, like beauty and hairdressing. Who knows, Lao Ning might even need me to cut his hair in the future."
"Zhao Zimo, I feel like your family is just too worried. Look at the students at the bottom of our class. Their families have basically discussed with the school what they will do in the future. Studying isn't the only way. If we can't continue studying, we can just find another way to live. My dad even asked around, and he said that the more you study, the more trouble you have..."
"Don't say that. My dad always says that learning more knowledge is always a good thing." Zhao Zimo disagreed. "It's just that we can't learn it. My dad...my dad said that we have to go to school even if we can't learn it. Only after we enter high school can we have the opportunity to go to military school."
"You really want to join the army."
"...I don't know. My dad has always said that. I don't mean my current dad, but my previous parents. They thought the same way."
"Is that so? Well, there's nothing we can do about it. After all, it's their last wish, but... are you willing to do that?"
Zhao Zimo shook his head.
"Don't know or don't want to?"
“Brother Zimo!!”
When I reached the fork in the road, someone suddenly called out from behind.
Zhao Zirui and his friends had just finished school and were walking home together. When they saw Zhao Zimo, Zhao Zirui was the first to wave.
Jiang Tiezhu touched his nose and said, "I'm going home now. We're not going the same way. See you at the exam."
"Um."
After saying goodbye to Jiang Tiezhu, Zhao Zimo didn't want to stay, but when he saw his brothers and sisters running towards him with their short legs, he couldn't bear to turn around and leave. He waited until they came over before going back together.
"I won't be hanging out with you guys these next two days," first-grader Meng Bin explained, his head bowed. "I have a test the day after tomorrow, and I need to study at home. If I don't do well, my dad will beat me with a belt."
"hiss……"
Lu Yao shuddered in fear. "Is it that scary? Wouldn't someone be broken by a belt? Meng Bin, if your dad hits you, remember to run to my house. I'll protect you."
Meng Bin chuckled. "I'm a head taller than you, why would I need your protection? Besides, my dad only beats kids with poor grades. I've always been in the top three in my class and have never been beaten!"
He said this and puffed out his chest proudly.
Lu Yao seemed to be lost in thought. "We haven't even taken the preschool exam yet. We don't know how our grades will be when we start elementary school next year. Lu Yang, do you think our dad would hit us?"
Lu Yang and Zhao Zirui were both a little worried.
Zhao Zirui shrank his neck.
Lu Yang shook his head, "Dad doesn't know, but Mom won't."
"That's right, Mom will protect us anyway!"
"But you can't be too bad." Lu Yang tilted his head and looked at Lu Yao, "If you are too bad, I will punish you."
"Bah, I won't."
After hearing this, Zhao Zimo remained silent.
How bad is too bad? Like him?
From the next day until the end of the final exam, Zhao Zimo was extremely silent. When he got home, he either reviewed or locked himself in the room and refused to come out.
Zhao Zhanming wanted to talk to Zhao Zimo several times during this period, but because he was busy with exams, he didn't mention it for the time being.
The remaining few younger ones had their summer vacation directly because they didn’t have to take exams.
When the weather gets hot, Lu Qinghe becomes easily sleepy and lacks energy. All day long, he either lies down to rest or goes to the Propaganda Department to draw while enjoying the fan.
The children had been having fun for several days, just laughing and playing in the military family compound, so Lu Qinghe didn't refuse them and insisted on staying at home.
Until the day when the final exam results came out, the atmosphere at home was a little solemn.
"What does it mean to call parents?"
Lu Qinghe had just returned from the Propaganda Department when she saw several of the family's children squatting in the yard, looking flustered and nervous, and carefully listening to the conversation inside with their ears perked up.
Zhao Zhanming's voice sounded particularly serious.
"I've mentioned your test scores several times, but you've always brushed them off. I was afraid you were stressed, so I've been focusing on just reminding you. Your aunt also mentioned tutoring, but you disagreed and didn't force me to go. Now you're calling your parents again... Zhao Zimo, besides studying, what else do you want to do? Have I been too lenient with you lately, or do you want to be grounded again?"
"It's nothing else..."
Zhao Zimo's voice trembled. "My teacher said it was my grades. I've been at the bottom of the class for the entire semester. He wanted to ask if I had any plans other than going to school."
With a "bang", Zhao Zhanming slammed his hand on the table, "Kneel down!"
This was the first time Lu Qinghe saw Zhao Zhanming get so angry that the little ones outside were so scared that they shrank their necks.
Lu Qinghe frowned and walked in quickly. "Don't be anxious. There's no rush for the child. Let's find out the truth first."
Zhao Zimo's legs trembled and he immediately knelt down.
"This child really disappoints me." Zhao Zhanming frowned, and it was unknown what he was thinking about, his tone was particularly heavy.
"Old Zhao, you should come in with me first."
Lu Qinghe pulled at Zhao Zhanming's clothes, but Zhao Zhanming didn't move at all. After a while, he sighed and emphasized again that Zhao Zimo should kneel down before going into the house with Lu Qinghe.
Arriving at the bedroom, Zhao Zhanming's brows were still furrowed. "I know you're soft-hearted, but now's not the time to be soft-hearted, Qinghe. You don't know how much trouble he caused me when I first brought him home."
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The author has something to say: The next chapter will be updated in the evening~
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