Chapter 1126 Great Praise

“How come I didn’t see her when I came back?” Sister Zhai Hua seemed busier than her.

Miao Jing revealed a sheepish smile. “Your Sister Zhai Hua did not return to the camp, but she has been quite busy recently. Dongzi has been asking Hua Hua out very often to watch movies or have meals. I am having a headache now. She has gone out with Dongzi so many times. Hua Hua always has a look of revulsion whenever I mention Dongzi’s name in front of her. The problem is that she never rejects Dongzi whenever he asks her out. There is also something that I can’t quite figure out. The time they spent together outside never exceeds four hours.”

As such, had Hua Hua and Dongzi taken a liking to each other? Were they in a romantic relations.h.i.+p?

Qiao Nan patted Miao Jing’s hands. “Mom, don’t be anxious. As of now, it is still quite hopeful for the two of them. Dongzi has been living in America for more than twenty years. It’s a good thing that Sister Zhai Hua is still willing to interact with him. You should be more worried if they are in a hurry to get married. If they interact with each other for a longer time, we can also find ways to observe Dongzi more.”

Qiao Nan felt that they should take things slowly regarding marriage. It could not be rushed.

It was hard to understand some people even after knowing them for a few years. As such, it would not be a wrong move to observe someone for a longer period of time.

“Miao Miao, what are you holding in your hands?” Old Master Zhai asked curiously. After his daughter-in-law called his granddaughter-in-law downstairs to have a meal, Old Master Zhai sighted the red booklet in his daughter-in-law’s hands.

The old master had aged and his eyesight was not as good as before. He had presbyopia. However, Zhai Yaohui and Zhai Hua had very sharp eyes. They immediately sighted the golden words ‘certificate award’ printed on the red booklet that Miao Jing was holding.

“What else could it be? Nan Nan received the first-prize scholars.h.i.+p in the school. I specially brought it down for all of you to see.” Miao Jing was elated. She left Qiao Nan’s side, ran to the table, and opened the red booklet to show everyone Qiao Nan’s name and the words of the first-prize scholars.h.i.+p in the red booklet clearly.

“Huh, school-based first prize scholars.h.i.+p?” Zhai Hua’s eyes lit up more. She was keener than Miao Jing. “Qiao Nan, what do these words mean?” Why was there the word ‘school-based’?

Zhai Yaohui was secretly taken aback. “Nan Nan, do you know how many people from your cohort received this scholars.h.i.+p?”

“Uh…” This was a difficult question for Qiao Nan. She did not pay attention to this at all.

Xu Shengnan told Qiao Nan so much information, but in Qiao Nan’s world, she was already content to have received a scholars.h.i.+p. As to how many words were printed on the red booklet, she was completely unaware. “In my impression, not many in the school.”

Naturally, Xu Shengnan was the one who told Qiao Nan this.

Qiao Nan was not sure. Hence, she did not mention Xu Shengnan’s name, lest Xu Shengnan become implicated.

“Definitely not many.” Miao Jing interrupted. “Nan Nan told me that if she receives this scholars.h.i.+p a couple more times, she will have the chance to study abroad for free.”

When Miao Jing said that, the three generations of the Zhai family were further taken aback.

Old Master Zhai carefully took the red booklet and looked at it. “It’s really… not easy.”

Zhai Yaohui also gave Qiao Nan a look of encouragement. “You’re doing very well. Keep it up. Also, don’t give yourself too much pressure. For things such as grades, just let nature takes its course. You just have to do your best, learn well, and strengthen your knowledge foundation. These are the most important things.”

Looking at the red booklet in Old Master Zhai’s hands, Zhai Yaohui’s eyes were s.h.i.+mmering.

When Qiao Nan was still in junior high school, he had heard Zhai Sheng and Zhai Hua speak about Qiao Nan’s matter. At that time, he already knew that Qiao Nan was a very diligent child who always strived for excellence.

He never expected that the child that he had heard about and forgotten at that time would become his daughter-in-law one day.

In addition, he also did not expect that Qiao Nan’s results would still be so exemplary after entering the best college in the country, although she had always been outstanding when she was in junior and senior high school.

One had to know that the top place in the college was much more valued than the top place in junior and senior high schools.

He knew that Qiao Nan was good at her studies and adopted a serious att.i.tude. However, he had never expected Qiao Nan’s grades to be so outstanding.

This daughter-in-law of his was definitely cut out for studies.

“Hahaha, it’s a good thing. Come, let’s celebrate with some wine.” Old Master Zhai was elated. He looked cheery and radiant. Even the mustache around his mouth curled up.

His grandson was so smart, and his granddaughter-in-law seemed to be a little more capable than his grandson.

Under normal circ.u.mstances, his great-grandchild whom they would give birth to would be a genius.

At the thought that his future great-grandchild would be so clever and quick-witted, Old Master Zhai, as if he had taken tonics, looked like he was in the pink of health. He also could not close his mouth and stop smiling.

Zhai Hua looked at Qiao Nan with envy. “Qiao Nan, how did your brains grow? Do you have any secret formula? Teach me.” In terms of academic grades and brains, Zhai Hua took her hat off to Qiao Nan. Even if they were to be tested on the judgment of character, Qiao Nan was also better than her.

“Since I was a child, I have never attained such good grades.” Amongst the group of ‘top scorers’ in Peking University, Qiao Nan could continue to be the top scorer. She had a solid capability.

Facing the praise from the Zhai family, Qiao Nan was overjoyed but she felt more awkward. “Sister Zhai Hua, you can do it too if you work harder. I can only say that I have spent more time and effort in studies than most people. I am also more focused. I didn’t win with my intelligence. Most probably, I won in terms of att.i.tude.”

Qiao Nan dared not make it a big deal. She was the only one who knew in her heart that she had received this scholars.h.i.+p after much difficulty.

There was also one more thing…

“Mom, when are you going to put it down?”

When she said that, Qiao Nan felt like covering her face.

She was not a three-year-old child who could not wait to proudly announce to everyone that she had received a first-prize scholars.h.i.+p.

Qiao Nan’s initial plan was to put away the certificate and store it properly. Who would have known that her mother-in-law would sight it?

When she was coming downstairs, Qiao Nan was too concerned about finding out from her mother-in-law about Zhai Hua’s situation. She did not even see her mother-in-law conveniently carry the certificate in her hands when they walked out of the room. In the end, her mother-in-law even displayed it in front of the family.

“Qiao Nan, have you finished eating? I wish to have a chat with you.” After Qiao Nan received continuous praise from the elders at the table, Zhai Hua quietly mumbled into Qiao Nan’s ears.

Qiao Nan nodded but she did not question further. After putting away her bowl and chopsticks and expressing that she would be going back to her room, Qiao Nan went upstairs. Zhai Hua followed closely behind.

At the sight of Zhai Hua’s guilty-looking back view, Old Master Zhai snorted. “She is already of this age, yet still so childish. She is growing backward.”

Did Zhai Hua think that she could keep this matter from others?

Zhai Yaohui was calmer. “If Zhai Hua doesn’t do anything foolish, that person is just asking for humiliation even if he chased Zhai Hua to the capital.” He would just be a clown making a fool out of himself.

Old Master Zhai was not pleased. “What do you know? This kind of p is the most annoying.”