Chapter 16
It was Tu Mian who was competing, but the one who was nervous was Lin Xiaomi.
It's not like she hasn't taken students to competitions before, but she has never been this nervous. It was comparable to her state before the college entrance examination.
Tu Chenglin saw that Lin Xiaomi was a little anxious, and he also felt anxious. So when he learned that only the contestants and the instructors could stay backstage, Tu Chenglin didn't say anything and just let him stay backstage and not worry about it.
Fortunately, Tu Mian was not affected by the two of them, and she was even interested in watching other contestants compete.
When Lin Xiaomi breathed a sigh of relief and opened her eyes, Tu Mian was nowhere to be seen.
However, this situation did not make Lin Xiaomi anxious. She knew that Tu Mian was active and it was her first time here, so she must want to see how other players performed. She just had to find her before Tu Mian's competition. Maybe she wouldn't have to look for her because the kid would come back. Tu Mian was still quite sensible.
For the competition, Lin Mei prepared a white dress for Tu Mian. Tu Mian took good care of it. When watching other contestants' performances, she just stood in the corner and did not sit down.
The light couldn't reach the seat, so Tu Mian couldn't see whether the red seat was clean or not, so he didn't dare sit down.
The performances of the next few contestants couldn't be said to be unsatisfactory, but they were a little lacking in quality anyway.
Tu Mian held his face in his hands, feeling a bit impatient and wanting to go back, when the host announced, "Next contestant, Qin Yumin."
Then let’s listen to this person first and then decide whether to leave, Tu Mian thought.
A handsome boy walked onto the stage. He was wearing a black suit. Under the lights, he was enough to attract everyone's attention. At this moment, he seemed to be the center of the world.
Sitting on the piano stool, Qin Yumin took a deep breath and placed his hands lightly on the keys.
When the first note flowed out from his fingertips, Tu Mian felt that the whole world had become quiet and she could only hear the sound of his piano in her ears.
When the last note fell, the whole hall fell into a brief silence, and Tu Mian's applause broke the silence.
Her mood improved a lot. This was her opponent, how interesting.
Qin Yumin looked towards the source of the sound and saw only a very small girl standing in the corner.
He couldn't see the expression on her face, but it didn't matter, she might be a family member accompanying a contestant.
You are quite knowledgeable, Qin Yumin raised his eyebrows.
Qin Yumin withdrew his gaze, stood up and saluted the audience.
Having such a contestant in front is a challenge for the contestants behind, especially the next contestant.
Zhong Yuqi clenched her hands and then unclenched them.
It's always like this. When Qin Yumin appears, there are always pearls and jades in front, and she becomes an embarrassing tile.
What's more, in this draw, she appeared right next to Qin Yumin.
Zhong Yuqi didn't want to hear the ridicule from her cousin anymore, a hard-working pianist with no emotions but only playing skills.
If she can't get a better ranking than Qin Yumin this time, Zhong Yuqi plans to give up piano.
No matter what competition she participates in, Qin Yumin will be there. How can she reach the top with Qin Yumin there?
Always second place.
How ironic.
A confident smile appeared on his face, but upon closer inspection, it was stiff.
Under the spotlight, Zhong Yuqi gestured to the audience and then closed her eyes.
The next moment, she opened her eyes, and the melody she had practiced hundreds of times appeared again through her fingers.
Her music was passionate, unlike Qin Yumin's music which was soft and gentle like a stream. It seemed as if it was her last time to blow the trumpet and sing the praises of the beauty of music.
It was so cherished, as if she was playing it for the last time.
But the accident still happened——
"Boom"
Zhong Yuqi froze. She didn't expect that this song, which she could recite even in her sleep, would be played wrong by her at the most important moment.
The hands could not stop, and Zhong Yuqi played the whole piece relying entirely on mechanical memory.
When the last key was played, Zhong Yuqi did not recover. She stared at her fingers.
The teacher said that she had a pair of hands that were born to play the piano.
Did he really think so, or was it just a compliment based on the expensive gift his mother had given him?
Zhong Yuqi couldn't tell the difference.
It was so quiet all around that she froze in place, her head dizzy, she could hardly see what was in front of her.
Tu Mian was originally excited about Zhong Yuqi's piano playing, but she didn't expect that she would meet two such good opponents in this competition.
But when Zhong Yuqi played the wrong note, Tu Mian just felt a little sorry. She felt that this girl could get a higher score than Qin Yumin.
But after playing the wrong note, Zhong Yuqi's piano sound no longer had the original surging vitality, and only mechanical performance that laymen could not hear was left, with only technique but no emotion.
Tu Mian frowned, and when she wanted to do something, a hand grabbed her.
"You said you'd come back on your own, and it's almost your turn. Come on, I didn't put makeup on you just now, and now it seems that it won't work. Your skin is too white, and you'll look washed out under the light later."
Lin Xiaomi was also paying attention to these contestants backstage. When she saw Zhong Yuqi make a mistake, she felt a little sorry for her and was also worried that Tu Mian would be nervous after seeing it.
She found Tu Mian and pulled her backstage without waiting for Tu Mian to react.
Tu Mian had no choice but to follow Lin Xiaomi obediently.
This excuse was not made up casually, because Tu Mian was young and Lin Xiaomi didn't want to put makeup on her.
But the child had just moved very close to the stage, and the light shone on her. Lin Xiaomi looked over and saw that her face was pale. This was not acceptable.
Lin Xiaomi took out the lipstick and put it on Tu Mian, then put some lipstick on her cheeks and spread it carefully, so that her face would look flushed and look better under the light.
Tu Mian's skin is so white that sometimes people even wonder if it is because of poor health that his skin is so white. People who don't know him can't help but doubt it, which is actually a bad speculation.
But now everything is fine. His skin is fair and rosy, and he looks like a healthy and energetic child.
In the audience, Lin Xiaomi accompanied Tu Mian to recite the music score again, and then kept cheering Tu Mian up.
She didn't want Tu Mian to end up in the same situation as Zhong Yuqi. Didn't that kid practice privately many times? Of course not, so the mentality during the competition is also very important. A good mentality will allow people to take off and it will help.
When Tu Mian's name was called out on the stage, Lin Xiaomi stopped giving any instructions. All her words could only be reduced to one simple sentence: "Come on!"
Tu Mian shook his head at the young teacher whose nervousness was written all over his face. "I will play well. Teacher, please wait for me."
"Okay, teacher is waiting for you!"
Looking at Tu Mian walking up to the stage with firm steps, Lin Xiaomi breathed a sigh of relief.
She thought that this pearl, which was previously unknown to people, would break away from the clam today and show its unique brilliance to the world.
After all, geniuses are born to attract attention.
When Tu Mian sat on the piano bench, no one paid any attention to the five-year-old girl.
The judges are also tired. The contestants are still too young and not as exciting as the junior group. The only one who has performed well so far is Qin Yumin. If Zhong Yuqi had not made any mistakes, she would have counted.
After all, Suzhou has declined over the years and can now be considered a music desert.
One of the judges thought this way. He was distracted, but no one would blame him because he was not the only one who was distracted.
But at this moment, a clear yet tenacious piano sound swept across their ears.
This... The judges looked at the girl sitting on the piano bench immersed in the music in disbelief. Even the most nonchalant judge put away his contemptuous attitude.
How is this possible?
How is this possible!
Qin Yumin widened his eyes and stared at the girl on the stage.
After the competition, he actually wanted to leave. He didn't think anyone else's score would surpass his, especially since Zhong Yuqi made mistakes.
Qin Yumin thought he could tell anyone that in Sucheng, apart from Zhong Yuqi, he didn't think anyone else was worth his attention.
He believed that he would be the savior of the Suzhou piano world. Whose talent could compare to his, whether now or in the future?
But how old is this girl!
Can he play at this level at her age?
Of course not!
If he could play at this level at this age, he would not only look down on the players from Suzhou, but also the players from all over the country.
Qin Yumin's fingers dug into the flesh. He had always treasured his hands, but now he couldn't care less. His heart felt like a bowl of vinegar had been overturned, and only he knew the taste of it.
He was once evaluated as someone who would surpass his father and be better than his father in the future, but one day he would end up feeling the same bitterness as those who were not as good as him and therefore jealous of him.
Why, he is already here, why does such a person appear?
Qin Yumin fell into dizziness, his throat was dry and the taste of defeat followed him.
After playing the last note, Tu Mian almost couldn't come back to his senses.
She stood up and bowed to the audience.
For a long time, no one responded.
Tu Chenglin was a little anxious. He couldn't hear anything, so he could only observe the expressions of the people around him: shock, disbelief, surprise... In short, it was a good result, right?
He couldn't decide for a moment how his daughter performed in the eyes of professionals.
But this did not prevent him from being the first person to applaud Tu Mian. It was precisely because he did not understand him that he had fewer aftertastes than others.
In an instant, the hall was filled with thunderous applause, and people who had come to their senses spared no effort in cheering for Tu Mian.
The judges looked embarrassed.
This score is not easy to get.
Tu Mian is slightly inferior to Qin Yumin in terms of technique, but her rich emotions and natural artistic beauty are beyond Qin Yumin's reach.
Or doesn’t the ability to compare the two itself represent an attitude?
The Yueming Cup children's group has expanded its age limit to 5 years old. Isn't it just to discover talents?
Qin Yumin was lucky, his talent was unquestionable, but he was also unfortunate, as he met a big devil in his generation.
Almost everyone is certain that as long as this girl does not indulge her talent, she will go much further than Qin Yumin and see much more scenery than Qin Yumin.
The judges no longer hesitated, as such a score was worthy of their expectations.
After Tu Mian walked off the stage, Lin Xiaomi hugged him and said, "That's great! You're really great! The teacher is proud of you!"
It is difficult to describe the feeling when I heard Tu Mian playing the piano live. She is really a competition-type player. She is stable and can perform beyond her expectations. She not only meets the expectations of the teacher, but also satisfies the ears of the audience.
How fortunate I am to be Tu Mian’s teacher!
She was sure that Tu Mian would win the prize. As long as there was no dark horse emerging, the first place would only be between Tu Mian and Qin Yumin.
Lin Xiaomi wanted to kiss Tu Mian right away, but Tu Chenglin also came over. She couldn't do that in front of the parents. She had to be as steady as a teacher so that Tu Chenglin would trust her to take good care of Tu Mian.
Tu Chenglin did what Lin Xiaomi wanted to do. He kissed Tu Mian on the cheek and said, "Our Guo'er is great! You performed really well. Daddy is proud of you."
Tu Mian also laughed, and when her father stood up to talk to Lin Xiaomi, she quickly reached out and wiped her face again and again.
Patting the head and face is the most she can accept.
She is already in the fourth grade, not a first grader!
But thinking of what his mother said, that family members should care for each other and that his father was just expressing his love, Tu Mian chose not to wipe his face in front of him.
Tu Chenglin didn't notice Tu Mian's little action. He thought: Could that talented violinist perform as well as Tu Mian when he first went on stage?
Tu Chenglin's nose was almost pointing up in the air. Lin Mei was right. He shouldn't look for any reference. The path Tu Mian was going to take was destined to have no reference.
"I just don't know if Xiao Mian will get first place." Lin Xiaomi expressed her concerns.
People have desires and are never satisfied with the present.
Originally, Lin Xiaomi thought it would be great if Tu Mian could win the award, after all, she spent much less time studying than others. But now, Lin Xiaomi is not satisfied with just winning the award.
Who would want to be second if you can get first?
Tu Chenglin's heart was also apprehensive, but he still tried to comfort her: "It's already great. Guo'er is still so young. If you can't get it this time, there's always next time. You will get it eventually."
Having said that, Tu Chenglin also has hope in his heart.
So when the announcement came on stage that Tu Mian was the first in the Suzhou Division, Tu Chenglin punched the sky hard, great!
Unlike the three happy people, there was a gust of cold wind here in Qin Yumin.
His teacher was unwilling to accept this: "You're not any worse than that girl. Are the judges crazy? They're targeting you just to be different! No, I'm writing a letter of denunciation!"
“That’s enough!”
Qin Yumin pursed his lips. The teacher was frightened by him and stopped saying anything. He was a student of Qin Yumin's father, so he could only swallow his anger towards Qin Yumin.
The wound on his palm that he had scratched himself was aching slightly, and Qin Yumin stared at his palm in a daze.
His premonition came true, and she indeed became the first.
If anyone wants to say that they are not convinced, Qin Yumin is definitely one of them, and anyone standing here will feel the same.
He had a connection with the piano before he was born into this world. His father often played the piano for him when his mother was pregnant.
His father is a famous pianist in China and the pride of Suzhou. However, his father's achievements are limited to the domestic field and he has not gained world-wide fame. This is an unspeakable secret in his father's heart and a lifelong regret.
He placed his hopes on Qin Yumin. What he couldn't do, he hoped his son could do.
Piano, piano, and piano. Since Qin Yumin was born, all he could see was the piano.
He didn't have any of the toys that ordinary children had; music was his only playmate.
If it weren't for compulsory education, Qin Yumin probably wouldn't be able to go to school. His father would teach him at home to prevent him from learning bad things from kids outside.
Qin Yumin, who carried his father's hopes, did not disappoint him. He never won second place in any award he participated in.
This is the first time!
Tears are more honest than deceiving your own heart.
"Click"
Tears dripping onto the ground, how embarrassing, Qin Yumin thought.
"Woo woo woo"
A louder cry came from his ears. Qin Yumin didn't care about his own crying. He wanted to see who the owner of this voice was who sounded more aggrieved than his own.
It was Zhong Yuqi who was crying. She noticed Qin Yumin looking at her and glared back at him without any hesitation.
"What are you looking at! Haven't you seen other people cry?"
After being interrupted by her, Qin Yumin was no longer sad. He seldom cried, and the tears were gone. He looked no different from the arrogant and proud guy he usually was.
"Yeah, yeah, I've never seen the middle child cry."
I don’t know if it’s because of their aura or other reasons, but they always bicker after every competition. Both of them are very sharp-tongued and naturally won’t hold back their fighting spirit.
"Eternally the second best? Now it's time to change the name of the eternal second best, right? Don't you think so? Second best, Qin Yumin."
"puff"
An invisible knife pierced Qin Yumin's heart.
But he is not one to give up easily.
"Oh? Second place isn't bad either. At least it's better than those who can't even get an award, right? Don't you think so, Zhong, Yu, and Qi?"
Zhong Yuqi reached out and wiped away her tears. "A good woman doesn't fight with a man. I can't explain myself to someone like you. Bye! Never see you again!"
"Alas, only women and villains are difficult to raise."
Qin Yumin was in a much better mood, at least his verbal skills had not diminished.
At this time, he only regarded Zhong Yuqi's words "never see you again" as a momentary angry remark, and secretly laughed at her for crying like this just because of a momentary mistake. He completely forgot that he had just won the second place and cried secretly.
During the award ceremony, Lin Xiaomi took out her lipstick and gave Tu Mian another coat of lipstick, while advising him, "Smile happily later. The teacher will keep this photo as a souvenir."
Of course, Lin Xiaomi wanted to cherish the photo of Tu Mian winning the award for the first time.
Tu Mian remembered Lin Xiaomi's instructions. She was very funny when taking pictures. It was definitely the time when she smiled the brightest.
After taking the photos, it was time to leave. When Tu Mian was about to leave the stage, a voice called her.
"I was watching your performance just now. You played really well. You're so talented to be able to play so well at such a young age."
Tu Mian looked at the girl in front of her and her smile faded. In this situation, should she comfort the other person?
Tu Mian was a little nervous. What did his mother say? Oh, it was: "You play very well, too. You will do better next time. And your hair is so straight, so black and straight! It's so beautiful!"
The best way to comfort someone is to change the subject. This will neither make the winner proud nor help the loser change his or her mood.
Mom, you are a god! Everything you teach is so useful!
On this day, Tu Mian's admiration for Lin Mei deepened.
Zhong Yuqi was stunned. It's not like she hadn't heard compliments before. Some people said she played the piano beautifully, some said she was cute, and some said she was smart...but this was the first time someone complimented her hair.
Are all geniuses so different? Even when it comes to complimenting others!
Zhong Yuqi didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but at the same time, she was a little curious: "Really? Thank you. Your hair looks great too, the color is so beautiful."
In Zhong Yuqi's eyes, Tu Mian's hair looked like a doll's.
Just now when watching Tu Mian playing the piano, Zhong Yuqi discovered that under the stage lights, Tu Mian's hair was caramel color, the same color as her favorite doll's hair, and as curly as the doll's.
Tu Mian held Zhong Yuqi's hand: "I am Tu Mian, I like you very much."
Sure enough, she could never guess what Tu Mian would say next.
But it's not bad.
Zhong Yuqi held Tu Mian's hand firmly and said, "My name is Zhong Yuqi, and I like you too."
If all geniuses were like Tu Mian, Zhong Yuqi would like to make friends with geniuses.
Friends, made.
Little flowers bloomed in Tu Mian's heart.
Zhong Yuqi is a very good girl. As long as the other party is not arrogant, she never lets her words fall on the floor.
Through chatting, Zhong Yuqi knew that they were not in the same elementary school. This was normal. If they were in the same school, Zhong Yuqi would not have known about this until today. However -
"What? You're in fourth grade this year?"
No way! Not only is he so good at playing the piano, but he's also so smart!
Does it mean that a genius is proficient in everything?
Zhong Yuqi can solve this problem by herself. Qin Yumin is also a genius, but she has not seen how outstanding Qin Yumin's performance is.
She used to think that being talented in one area was enough and that she would be loved by God.
Why is this girl so unreasonable? Does God favor her like this?
If Zhong Yuqi didn't want Tu Mian to think of her as a weird person, she really wanted to study Tu Mian carefully. Why was this girl so capable?
When Zhong Yuqi wanted to pretend, she could still do it. Tu Mian didn't see Zhong Yuqi's indignation, she just thought: "Yes, my school allows skipping grades." She classified it as a school problem.
This isn't a question of whether the school allows skipping grades, right? Zhong Yuqi wanted to hold her forehead.
As expected, her aura is incompatible with that of a genius!
Zhong Yuqi was a little angry that she didn't know the consequences of talking to him.
But the next moment, Tu Mian grabbed her loosened hand.
"Can we play the piano together in the future? I really like your playing. It's a completely different style from mine. I really want to play the piano with you."
This must be a lie, right?
Zhong Yuqi almost thought that Tu Mian was teasing her, but the emotion in her eyes was so sincere. Besides, she was only 5 years old, how could she lie?
Zhong Yuqi's heart softened.
She touched Tu Mian's head and said, "I'm sorry, I don't plan to continue playing the piano."
"What!"
The one who spoke even faster than Tu Mian was Qin Yumin, who was eavesdropping nearby.
How could he not care? One was the opponent he had always recognized, and the other was the opponent he would challenge next. When the two of them came together, it was hard for Qin Yumin not to care.
But he never expected that Zhong Yuqi actually said that she would never play the piano again.
Why? Just because of one mistake? Am I going to give up the piano I love so much?
"Why? I shouldn't have said that. It was just a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes. Can't we just come back next time? It's a little too early to give up!"
At this time, Qin Yumin began to reflect on whether what he had just said had angered Zhong Yuqi and made her want to give up the piano.
"Qin Yumin, you won't understand." Zhong Yuqi didn't want to argue with Qin Yumin now.
She is so tired.
How could someone like Qin Yumin understand her?
Ordinary people who are limited by their talents, have mountains they can never climb, a sea they can never see the end of, and themselves they can never defeat.
She had walked so far to get here, but none of this belonged to her. Applause was reserved for the winners, and she was just an ordinary person with ordinary talent who gave him applause.
"But the music you play is full of emotion. Do you really want to give up?"
Tu Mian didn't know what happened between the two of them, she just felt sorry.
She is a sensitive child and can always capture the emotions expressed by others.
Tu Mian could hear the loss and unwillingness in Zhong Yuqi's voice when she said "I don't plan to continue playing the piano."
She is still unwilling to give up. How can she bear to give up?
Looking at Tu Mian, whose eyes were full of her, Zhong Yuqi smiled.
She was wrong, Qin Yumin would understand her.
Zhong Yuqi reached out and pinched Tu Mian's face.
"Not everything requires persistence, Tu Mian. My mother always said that only when you give up can you gain. Perhaps, giving up the piano is not a bad thing. Besides, this doesn't mean that I will never get involved in music again. Maybe you will see me on another stage next time."
Girls always seem to mature earlier than boys of the same age, and they have already understood what they really want.
Zhong Yuqi patted Qin Yumin on the shoulder and said to Tu Mian with a smile, "If you don't mind, just keep defeating this guy from now on."
Qin Yumin snorted and shook off Zhong Yuqi's hand. He didn't need to ask Zhong Yuqi any more questions.
He won't give up just like that.
In terms of talent, he may not be as good as Tu Mian, but in terms of persistence, he will not lose to Tu Mian. It is still uncertain who will make it to the end.
"Finally got rid of him. Oh, my mom is here. Tu Mian, are you interested in taking a picture with me?"
"certainly!"
Faced with her daughter's request, Zhong Yulan would certainly not refuse.
The two little girls, one tall and one short, one with straight hair and one with curly hair, posed according to Zhong Yulan's instructions and took the first photo of the two of them together.
Tu Chenglin and Lin Xiaomi were watching from the side, feeling a little greedy, but since it was someone else's camera, they didn't feel comfortable mentioning it.
Zhong Yulan is a businesswoman and is good at observing people's words and expressions. Naturally, she can easily tell what these two people are thinking from their expressions.
She could see that Zhong Yuqi liked Tu Mian very much, and what Zhong Yuqi liked was what she, Zhong Yulan, liked.
Zhong Yulan warmly invited the two to come over and take a photo together.
So Tu Mian took photos with Tu Chenglin and Lin Xiaomi respectively, but this time he was holding the trophy in his hands.
There happened to be a photo studio outside where they could develop the photos, and the group then parted ways.
Tu Chenglin treasures this trophy so much that he can't wait to kiss it.
Tu Mian didn't understand: "I've already won first place, is this still important?"
Kids are like that, they don't understand anything. Tu Chenglin silently shook his head.
"This is the first trophy our Guoer has ever won. Of course Dad has to keep it." As he spoke, Tu Chenglin thought, "I'm going to buy a cabinet to store your trophies. You're bound to have more and more trophies in the future, so you'll need a cabinet to store them. It's both beautiful and practical. We have to keep these trophies well so that everyone who comes to our house can see your trophies."
Although Tu Mian didn't understand why this was necessary, he said: "And my sister's cabinet."
"Okay, okay, let's buy two cabinets. When people come to our house and see the certificates and trophies in those cabinets, that will be my most glorious moment."
Whenever Tu Chenglin thought of that scene, he would wake up laughing in his dreams.
Tu Mian didn’t understand why adults took these things so seriously. To her, since she got first place, she was first and didn’t need anything else to crown her.
"Dad will take you to open a savings account later, and all your bonuses will be placed in it."
The prize money for the piano competition is still quite high. Even the first place in the division can get a lot. The registration fee seems insignificant in comparison.
Open a passbook? Cool!
Her family never hid the family’s financial situation from her. Tu Mian even knew how many passbooks the family had. She had been dissatisfied before because she didn’t have one, but now she wanted one too!
She looked up at Tu Chenglin: "Where should I put it?"
"Who will keep it? I'll give it to you when you're a little older. You're still little now, and Daddy's afraid you might lose it."
In fact, I was afraid that Tu Mian would take it out and spend it recklessly. This kid is very cunning. As long as he knows the password, he will always find a way to take it out.
In Tu Chenglin's opinion, Tu Mian was only five years old, what did she know about money? However, if the child wanted to have some money, he could give her some pocket money every week like her sister did.
It is normal for primary school students to have pocket money. They spend some money on snacks with friends. Tu Mian never asked them for money before, but now he thinks he can actually give them money. The child may feel sorry for the money and want to save money.
As for this money, Tu Chenglin wanted to save it, and not just this money, but also all the bonuses Tu Mian would get in the future. He would give it to her when she grew up, which would be more useful than giving it to her now.
Of course, they will pay the registration fee for Tu Mian to participate in the competition. As parents, they will not be greedy for their children's money.
When Tu Chenglin saw the bonus in the report, he was so moved that he wanted Tu Mian to get it and save it for himself, and then pretend to be casual and tell others about it. How cool!
Tu Mian lowered her head in disappointment. One day, she would be like the protagonist in the novel her sister read and say to her sister, "Here is my passbook. Feel free to use it."
She will grow up one day and buy lots of novels for her sister to read.
A few days later, Tu Yin and Lin Mei also returned from North City.
Tu Mian hadn't seen her mother and sister for several days, so when she saw them standing in front of her, she belatedly felt the longing for them.
She trotted over and hugged Lin Mei.
"Mom, I miss you so much, so much."
Then she ran towards Tu Yin, who picked her up without hesitation. She happily kissed Tu Yin on the cheek.
"I miss you too, sister. I especially want to see you."
Tu Yin put Tu Mian down and gently rubbed his hair: "I miss you too, Guo'er. Come and see what your sister brought you from North City."
This time in the North City competition, Tu Yin won the silver medal and received prize money. She kept a part of it for herself and spent the rest on buying gifts for her family.
Especially the things I bought for Tu Mian, there were really a lot of them.
As a political center, the North City is much more prosperous than Su City, and the things sold there are more diverse and more beautiful.
Tu Yin was overwhelmed by the choices. She wanted to buy everything she saw. She always felt that this one would suit her sister, and that one would suit her sister too.
She bought Tu Mian several little skirts, as well as toys and snacks.
Almost half of her luggage was filled with gifts for her sister.
But her favorite is the doll she bought from a small vendor. She thinks the doll's hair looks very much like Tu Mian. Tu Mian holding "Tu Mian" is so cute that her heart melts just thinking about it.
When he saw the gift, Tu Mian looked a little sad.
"Sister, I didn't even buy you a gift."
Seeing the child's uncomfortable look, Tu Yin smiled: "Then buy it for me next time when you go out for a competition, okay? This time I bought things because I was going out of province, so I must bring something for you. Next time you go out of province, bring something for me too, isn't that fine? Besides, why do we need to be so clear about the distinction? You are just too sensible. You don't have to be so sensible. I prefer you to be more comfortable."
Tu Mian nodded, her eyes swept across the pile of gifts, and she secretly made up her mind that she would save money well in the future and buy many gifts for her sister when she got out.
Seeing the sisters getting along so well, Tu Chenglin nodded secretly, and told Lin Mei about the idea of buying a cabinet that he had mentioned to Tu Mian before.
"Want to buy a cabinet to store your trophies? That's great, but you'll have to work hard organizing it later. It'd also be nice to open a savings account for Guo'er. Children should take money seriously from a young age, knowing how to spend and save. Just like you said, give Guo'er some pocket money every week so she can learn how to manage her own money. As for the money for the cabinet, I'll give it to you later."
Tu Chenglin would give his monthly salary to Lin Mei, who would then provide for his household expenses. All the money in the family was with Lin Mei. Facts had proved that Lin Mei was better at using money and making money than Tu Chenglin. Tu Chenglin would feel more at ease when the money was with Lin Mei.
Tonight, Lin Mei wants to sleep with Tu Mian. She hasn't seen her daughter for several days and she misses her daughter. It is the first time she has been away from her daughter for such a long time.
Touching Tu Mian's head again and again, the flickering outline under the moonlight made Lin Mei feel at ease.
"Just now at dinner, when I heard your dad say how wonderful you were, I felt a little disappointed. I can only hear about such a wonderful Guo'er from your dad, and I haven't seen it with my own eyes. And I haven't bought you a piano yet, so even if you wanted to listen, you can't. But when I think about it carefully, I feel even more wronged. Coming to a family like this, you happen to be such a capable child, so I have to let you down in many things. But you can achieve this. If you go to a better family, you will get more and better things that I can't give you. As your daughter, I really let you down."
The fact that the child could make a big splash in such a family and perform better than those children from wealthy families made Lin Mei a little sad. She was confident and generous in public, but she was as sad as a child in front of her daughter.
Tu Mian held Lin Mei's hand, and the warmth of her palm was transferred to Lin Mei's hand.
"Don't feel wronged, Mom. Being your child is the luckiest thing. The love you give me is irreplaceable. Mom loves me, and I love you too."
Having a child like this makes life worthwhile.
Lin Mei hugged Tu Mian, patted her back gently, and coaxed her to sleep like she had done countless times before.
With his mother's company, Tu Mian fell asleep quickly.
Lin Mei couldn't sleep. She thought she should try harder. Love cannot be left with only grievances. She loved Tu Mian, so she wanted to give Tu Mian the best, and Tu Mian deserved the best.
Life at home seemed to have returned to normal. Everyone was the same as usual, going to work to earn money and studying at school, everything was no different from usual.
But Tu Mian felt a little lost.
After skipping a grade, she seemed to have few friends.
Things are different now compared to the first grade when her classmates admired her and her teachers liked her.
The fourth-grade students, the oldest of whom are 11 years old, are no longer at the age where they are happy just by eating a piece of candy. They are at the age where they know how to get more candy.
And Tu Mian is like an alien.
She was much younger than them, yet such a child received the care of all the teachers and the attention of the parents.
They always say, "Look at Tu Mian, he's younger than you and scored higher than you. How do you study every day? And you still have the nerve to say you work hard, but are you really working hard? Think carefully about how to pass the exam!"
They seem not to see that the difference between Tu Mian and their own children cannot be made up for by hard work. Some people are destined to be first, and those behind them will never catch up no matter how hard they try.
In this case, how many children would like Tu Mian?
For them, who already had a competitive spirit and had a four-year relationship foundation, Tu Mian's arrival brought misfortune.
The homework book disappeared inexplicably, and the originally lively atmosphere became quiet due to Tu Mian's approach. No one would ever want to sit at the same table with her...
A child's malice can hurt people.
No one was willing to accept her, and all her classmates were ostracizing her. Even if someone wanted to show some kindness, they couldn't do it because no one wanted to be the next person to be excluded.
But Tu Mian is not a person who will just accept things passively.
If her homework book is missing, she can tell the teacher directly, and the teacher won’t scold her. Since Tu Mian always loses her homework books, it’s okay to just let her not do it. As long as she learns the skills and her grades don’t drop, it’s fine. After all, homework is for grades.
If getting close to others will make them look disgusted, then don't get close to them. When Tu Mian wants to talk to someone during break, she will run to the first grade to play with Li Qiming and others. Not only will she not lose her old friends, but she can also satisfy her social needs.
As for not having anyone to sit at the same table with her, that's even simpler. It's better to be alone. Tu Mian won't be affected by her deskmate, and the empty table can be used to store her own things. How great is that.
In this way, Tu Mian was able to resist the malice of the outside world by herself and did not tell anyone, so that her family did not notice that the child was isolated, and the teacher just thought it was a common problem for geniuses.
Isn’t it said that many geniuses discriminate against people around them because they can’t keep up with their thinking?
They dismissed the situation as a stroke of genius.
But even though Tu Mian had a good digestion, she always felt lost when she occasionally looked out the window and saw the birds calling their friends.
Birds, birds that fly freely, birds that are free and unrestrained, will also have friends around them.
She just watched as the birds fluttered happily in the spring, and the sound of the teacher's lecture in her ears stopped at some point.
What brought Tu Mian back to his senses was the bursts of applause.
What's going on?
Tu Mian looked towards the podium and saw Qin Yumin wearing their school uniform.
Her eyes widened suddenly. How could he appear here?
Qin Yumin had obviously been looking at Tu Mian. When Tu Mian turned his head to look at him, he grinned, and his fangs were exposed. However, because they were a bit sharp, they looked like shark teeth, too sharp, just like him.
He waved at Tu Mian: "Hi."
Then he turned to the teacher at the podium and said, "Can I sit next to Tu Mian?"
"Of course, Tu Mian just happens to have never had a deskmate."
Qin Yumin sat next to Tu Mian.
"Please give me more guidance in the future, deskmate."
Tu Mian was somewhat happy, but she always considered herself a steady person and did not want to expose her immaturity.
So she just greeted Qin Yumin calmly.
"Aren't you surprised to see me? My dad was shocked after I lost last time, so he transferred me here. He wanted me to learn more from you. Besides, we'll go to the national competition together, so we should get to know each other first."
"Yeah, okay, we can practice together."
Qin Yumin smiled after getting a satisfactory answer.
He transferred here voluntarily.
His father said that there are always people better than him, and the reason he didn't make much progress was because he didn't have a good opponent. He should go to Tu Mian, understand her, learn from her, and then surpass her.
He loves piano more than anyone else, how could he be defeated by a competition?
He also has talent, he just met someone more talented.
So what?
Victory will eventually be his.
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