âSomethingâs the matter, Grandma?â Shu Yan noticed that the old lady just kept on staring at her but didnât say anything.
âOh, nothing. We will be neighbors from now on. Câmon by my place when you have time,â said the old lady kindly to Shu Yan.
âI will be sure to go over when I have time.â Shu Yan responded to the old lady and took off.
Shu Yan had no idea what the old ladyâs thoughts are but Feng Zeyuâs thoughts was what was important. Never mind that the old lady wasnât even his real grandmother; even if she was, Shu Yan still wouldnât try to force herself to appease her if she was difficult to get along with.
The two kids were home already and they immediately rushed up to Shu Yan when they saw her and asked whether the flowers and green onions that they had planted in the afternoon had survived. Tianbao wanted to go water them but was stopped by Shu Yan.
âItâs almost dark outside. We will go tomorrow morning.â Shu Yan went inside her room and showered before she came back out in clean clothes. âItâs almost time for final examinations. Howâs your studying coming along, JingJing?â
JingJing was a good student and had more or less caught to the others in her class in just one semester. She had been doing well in all three of the major classes, especially in literature, and could more or less earn full scores in them. She no longer needed to have after school tutoring in literature or mathematics. English was the only subject that she still needed help with. In addition, she was also taking dancing and piano lessons. According to the instructors in the after-school programs, JingJing was talented in playing the piano and had suggested for Shu Yan to stop her dancing class so she could focus on the piano.
Nevertheless, JingJing enjoyed dancing more so Shu Yan did not force her into giving up on dancing in order to focus on piano. It was said that interest is the best teacher. That was so true. She was taking classes because she was interested in them, right? So why not let her take whatever lessons that she enjoyed? Shu Yan would be happy as long as JingJing could maintain her interest.
âWe had the mock examinations a while back. I should be fine but I will study hard.â JingJing showed her papers from her mock examinations to Shu Yan. Literature â 98. English â 99. Mathematics, a little lower at 95.
âOkay, we will go have some fun after your examinations.â Shu Yan never needed to worry about JingJingâs studying.
âYay! Where are we going, Mom?â asked Tianbao happily.
âLetâs go to the beach. You have never been.â Travelling west wasnât too difficult during this time period but many of the places hadnât been built yet and maybe somewhat primitive still. Some of them wouldnât even have roads built yet. They may as well go and stay a few days by the ocean.
Of course, if Feng Zeyu had better ideas, that would work too.
The two children were very happy at the idea of travelling, especially when neither of them had seen the ocean before. They went to bed very late from being too excited.
Shu Yan was woken up by Tianbao early next morning.
âWhy arenât you sleeping?â Shu Yan looked at the time and it wasnât even 5 oâclock yet.
âWake up, Mommy. We have to go water the plants.â Seeing that his mother was lying back down, Tianbao quickly grabbed her.
Shu Yan moaned loudly. She had brought this upon herself.
âWe donât need to do this early, do we?â Shu Yan tried to negotiate with Tianbao.
âMom, you were the one who said the early birds get the worms. Thatâs why we need to get out of bed early. The flowers and the green onions would thirst to death if we go too late. Hurry up. Hurry up.â
Naturally, Shu Yan didnât believe what he was saying. He just wanted to go and check on the flowers.
âHurry up, Mommy. We are going to be late.â Tianbao was impatient after he was done with breakfast but Shu Yan was still slowly enjoying hers.
âAlright. Alright. Letâs go.â Shu Yan gulped down her milk and brought the kids with her to water the plants.
When they arrived, they saw that Feng Zeyu, too, had woken up and was practicing martial arts.
âWhat are you doing, Uncle Fang?â The smart kid knew exactly that Feng Zeyu was practicing martial arts. He only asked that because he wanted to join in for the fun.
âI am working out. You want to learn?â
Tianbaoâs eyes lit up. âYes!â
âThis is no easy fast. Are you sure you can keep going with it?â Feng Zeyu felt that Tianbao should be able to.
âYes!â Tianbao nodded forcefully.
Shu Yan gave Tianbao a sideway glance, smiled and said, âDonât listen to him. He will probably cry and want to quit after a day.â
âMom, donât underestimate me. I am good!â said Tianbao, feeling wronged.
âOh? Is that so? Mommy doesnât believe you though,â said Shu Yan purposefully.
âOf course. Tianbao is good. I will start practicing martial arts with Uncle Fang tomorrow.â
âOkay, I am marking this down. If you canât do you then you are a puppy.â