Chapter 282: The Decision

Chapter 282

“By the way, I asked Mrs. Zhou to tell you to bring the kids over for dinner last night. How come you didn't come over? You can't still be standing on ceremony with Old Madam, can you?” Old Madam looked at her impatiently, her gaze full of resentment.

Knowing that this was what she had originally come to talk about, Xia slid over to sit next to Old Madam and hugged her arm coquettishly, “Granny, don’t you know me well? When have I ever stood on ceremony with you? I came over today to talk about this too. If you want me and the kids to come over and accompany you anytime, just say the word. As for eating together, I’d rather not if I can manage. If it ever gets to be too much for me, I’ll speak up myself without you having to tell me. Just don’t complain that I'm bothering you when the time comes.”

Old Madam's face darkened. "Are you afraid of upsetting your sisters-in-law?"

She was not like Zhou Nan. Old Madam had lived her whole life only seeing people try to get on her good side.

Even after all these years Zhou Nan had been married into the family, she only enjoyed Old Madam’s high opinion because of her years of hard work and service.

As for her daughters-in-law, who would dare upset her? She would make life difficult for anyone who tried.

She had told Zhou Nan long ago that grandchildren have their own fortune and not to get too involved with the young ones’ affairs.

Especially with many sons, helping everyone would be too much, and what seemed fine now might go awry in the end.

But Zhou Nan never listened, always saying that she was still able while the children had it hard, so she should help however she could.

Old Madam had no power over her, so she stopped interfering.

Seeing that Old Madam had misunderstood, Xia quickly shook her head. “It’s not because of others. I know Granny cares for me, but I’m a grown woman now.”

Old Master spoke up from the side. “If the child doesn’t want to, don’t force her. We live close by, so if she doesn’t want to cook she can just call out and come over anytime.”

Only then did Old Madam relent. Xia stayed and chatted for a while before heading home.

......

The news that the high school entrance exam was being reinstated had already spread through streets and alleys since October 21, 1977. Radios, loudspeakers, televisions; they were all broadcasting the joyous news.

The streets were filled with people cheering and celebrating, newspapers sold out everywhere.

Xia turned off the radio at home, a delighted smile on her face.

Guo Momo ran in holding Little PingAn, shouting as soon as she entered, “Auntie, did you hear? They’re bringing back the college entrance exam!”

Little PingAn was still the name Xia had jokingly suggested. Pei JianGuo had named the child Pei Yuhao, but Xia said it would be better to call him PingAn (peaceful and safe), hoping the child would have a smooth path ahead.

Indeed, as Xia said, many of the students admitted in the first college entrance exam brought children to class. Children over two years old were reasonably well-behaved, and the mute Little PingAn certainly wouldn’t be disruptive.

Pei JianGuo was unreliable. Marrying him hadn’t improved Guo Momo’s life one bit, thoroughly demonstrating that living poorly wasn’t all the wife’s fault. He bore greater responsibility himself.

Guo Momo still needed to establish herself to ensure their future.

“Really? Can I... Can I really?” Guo Momo didn’t disbelieve her. She just didn’t dare believe.

Every time she thought her fortune had turned, reality always revealed she was on the way to another hell instead.

If she could turn back time now, she would probably rather have gone down to the countryside than married Pei JianGuo.

She didn’t regret it. She hurt for her child.

“If you really want to give it a try, wait until I can find a chance to ask my second brother. He understands more than us,” Xia said.

“Thanks for helping ask around for me then, Auntie.” Hope rekindled in Guo Momo’s heart. “Oh yes, if possible, could you also help ask if there are any spare high school textbooks and review materials? It’s been years since I graduated. No idea how much I still remember.”

Luckily she had been a good student back then, always seeking knowledge to change her fate. So while the other students were out and about, she was earnestly studying. She would even ask teachers privately when she didn’t understand something. All her teachers had liked her a lot.

Indeed, Guo Momo was an extremely hardworking student. Unfortunately, whether in the past or present, her progress was always shackled by her family circumstances.

Xia said, “Sure, there’s a set of high school textbooks on my desk that my second brother got for me to read a couple years ago. I finished them long ago. Go ahead and take a look if you need.”

“Auntie, are you planning to take the college entrance exam too?” she even wondered if Xia had known about it early on. Otherwise why start preparing years ago?

However, Pei JianGuo had also mentioned a few sentences, saying that little aunt had never been to school before, and had only gone to literacy classes for a few days.

But she didn't think so. She often came over and often saw ZhiXia reading and writing, so even if she hadn't been to school before, she must have studied hard later.

"Of course, this is a great opportunity, and I also want to take the opportunity to improve my education level, so that I won't always be laughed at for never having been to school." ZhiXia laughed at herself self-deprecatingly. In recent years, she had heard such words quite a lot, especially when she went out with Pei Jing, many people pointed at them from behind and said, "Look, that's Old Pei's third son. His wife was brought back by the An family. I heard that she hadn't even gone to school in the countryside and couldn't recognize a single character. Apart from having a pretty face and being able to give birth, I don't know what Pei's third son saw in her."

At this point, ZhiXia couldn't help feeling glad that at least she had a decent face and looked quite good, and could still be praised by others for being pretty.

As for being able to give birth, that really wasn't something within human control.

"That's great, then we can review together, and I can also..." She was about to say that her grades were good before, and she could teach her, but she remembered that little aunt had already finished high school textbooks, and probably already understood what she didn't know.

After all, the An family had two high school teachers, and she heard that little uncle was also an outstanding student. She was not lacking people to teach her.