"National Day lay down on the big bed, rolled around a couple of times, closed his eyes, and sighed, ’How long has it been since I slept with you all?’Zhang Guoqing laughed and gave him a pat on the butt, ’You’re not that little anymore, you’re even taller than your mom when you stand up. Why aren’t you sleeping, what are you doing here?’
National Day closed his eyes and stayed silent.
Seeing this, Zhang Guoqing ignored his silly son and went about changing into his pajamas.
Behind him, National Day said softly, ’Dad, I want to tell you a secret.’
’Oh, go on.’
’Could you use a normal tone? With that dismissive attitude, can we father and son still have a good time?’
Zhang Guoqing shook his head with a smile, then turned around to look at him, ’Go ahead, I’m all ears.’
’Forget it, forget it, just because you’re my old man.’ National Day said, then suddenly perked up, sat up, and glanced mysteriously towards the door.
Seeing his son acting up again, Zhang Guoqing watched him with interest. He really considered that rascal to be heaven-sent joy.
’Dad, do you know why my brothers insisted on going to military school?’ National Day paused, ’Because there are too many girls at the local universities; they’re scared of those messy romances.’
Upon hearing this, Zhang Guoqing burst out laughing. You know what, that might actually be true.
’Your eldest son is good, right?’
’Yeah, not bad.’
’More than just good, such a caring son.’
Zhang Guoqing glanced at him, ’Come on, what do you want your old man to help with?’
’If my brothers aren’t home, I’ll be so lonely.’
’What’s loneliness anyway?’
Upon hearing this, National Day immediately jumped off the bed and snuggled up next to him, ’Dad, can we, father and son, stop playing riddles? Let me keep a few more dogs.’
’See, how straightforward it is to talk like this.’
’I’ll take that as a yes.’
Zhang Guoqing nodded with a smile.
Zhou Jiao came out of the bathroom, hearing her son’s words, she asked in surprise, ’Agree to what?’
National Day ran over in a few steps, hugged her, gave her a loud kiss on the cheek, then ran out playing while laughing, ’Good night, Mom.’
Seeing this, Zhang Guoqing laughed and cursed, ’This rascal! He’s grown up and still acts so cheekily.’
Zhou Jiao laughed watching her son leave, ’What were you two playing at?’
’He uses wanting more dogs as an excuse to give us different kinds of comfort, didn’t you notice?’ Zhang Guoqing took a dry towel and pulled her down to sit on a chair.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Jiao pursed her lips, ’Just now, Ping’an and Liu Yi were chattering in my ear, how could I not notice? Forget it, don’t think about it too much.’
Zhang Guoqing gently dried her hair. That’s right, things will work themselves out. Every problem in this world can find a way to be solved.
Once the deep night passes, dawn will still come, the sun will still rise from the East.
December 10th, the first day of high school entrance exams in Beijing.
On this day, Beijing, in winter, seemed particularly lively. Students of various ages, levels, and backgrounds flocked to the test sites.
And it was at this time, without waiting for my footsteps, that this year’s winter started...
On exam day, Zhang Guoqing took leave from work to personally drive three students to the exam venue. Ping’an and Liu Yi had special circumstances; their test site was for military personnel only.
Zhang Guoqing noted that the three kids seemed not a bit nervous. It was his wife whose expression remained calm and composed, though her straight back seemed never to relax.
Actually, from his point of view, there was really no need to be nervous.
Not just that his sons could memorize anything easily, even his wife was capable of compiling review books. If history really changed, what would talented people need to fear?
He was just waiting to receive the college acceptance letters for three sons.
After sending the kids into the test site, Zhang Guoqing and Zhou Jiao didn’t head home; they waited outside National Day’s test venue.
Hearing the bell ring, both of them breathed a sigh of relief while simultaneously chuckling.
——They finally experienced the first-time feeling of sending their children to participate in the entrance exams.
Despite the biting cold wind, Zhang Guoqing pointed to a distant military vehicle with his finger. He was a tough guy, not afraid of the cold, but his wife was different, she was too delicate.
If it wasn’t that Zhou Jiao wanted to know the exam paper level first-hand, he’d have planned to take her home for warmth first, then come back to pick up the kids.
Zhou Jiao shook her head at this. Though it wasn’t handy to have parents waiting at school gates at this time, it wasn’t entirely unheard of. Staying near the kids, while overhearing some gossip, wasn’t bad.
Outside, in plain clothes, Zhang Guoqing chatted in the cold wind, while inside, National Day faced his exam paper, raised an eyebrow, then quickly answered the questions.
This exam was way too easy for National Day.
After half an hour, he checked on the proctor and decided to wait a bit longer before submitting his answers, lest he affect other students’ moods.
Honestly, why is he so kind?
National Day was almost moved to tears by his own actions.
Finally, once there was some movement, he promptly followed it by submitting his paper and left the room.
After leaving the exam site, National Day hadn’t walked far before he spotted his parents waiting outside.
And Zhang Guoqing also saw his youngest son. He just knew his son would submit early; given his level, he felt there wasn’t any real issue.
Speaking of the kids’ language skills, he was confident that very few people nationwide could be as fluent in as many languages as his own kids.
From afar, he saw the tall father at the gate waving his hands vigorously; National Day immediately raised both hands to wave back, running out with a laugh.
Once he reached his parents, he complained, ’Why are you still waiting outside? It’s so cold!’
Zhou Jiao grabbed his hand and turned, ’Alright, hurry back to pick up your brothers.’
’Mom, you and dad don’t need to come this afternoon. What if you catch a cold with the weather this cold?’
Concerned that his upcoming exam would be distracted by herself, Zhou Jiao hurriedly agreed.
Once all three were in the car, Zhang Guoqing joked, ’Hey, you’re in good spirits. How’d the exam go?’
’Of course, this kind of test is child’s play. Maybe I’ll accidentally come first.’ National Day said proudly, chin up.
’With today’s political exam, I’m quite confident in my future postgraduate tests.’
Today morning politics, afternoon arts take history and geography, science takes physics and chemistry. Tomorrow morning math, afternoon language. Third day add optional test, foreign language is not compulsory.
In the back seat, Zhou Jiao couldn’t tolerate her son’s bragging and squinted at him, ’Son, you’re a bit arrogant.’
’Haha... Mom, you don’t know; let me tell you...’
Zhou Jiao listened to her son discuss each test’s topics and his answers, with the father-son duo chatting away, smiling happily without interrupting.
Back home, Zhang Guoqing watched as the three brothers, upon reuniting, began whispering and arm-in-arm, heading inside, whispered to his wife, ’How was it?’
Zhou Jiao instantly showed a radiant smile, ’As usual.’
Zhang Guoqing chuckled and shook his head. He was certain, a few old guys wouldn’t change the course of history, his wife was truly worrying for nothing.
Chapter 1181: 1054: The College Entrance Examination in Progress
7 min read