The next day, Zhai Sheng saw Qiao Nan frowning again when she came. “Didn’t I ask you to rest properly at home yesterday, why did you come again?”
“I, I, I’m alright now.” Qiao Nan tiptoed on the ground as she took frequent peeps at her chair through the corner of her eyes.
Yesterday, her pants were in a mess, this chair…
When she peeped at the chair, it seemed to be very clean. Qiao Nan secretly let out a sigh of relief. “Brother Zhai, you don’t need to worry about me. I am alright. Perhaps it was because I took better care of my health this year. Brother Zhai, you’re so caring. Sister Zhai is very fortunate.”
Brother Zhai knew so much, it must be because he took care of his own sister.
In the past, she heard from someone that a brother with a younger sister is the most gentle brother in the world, and a sister with a younger brother is definitely the most bad-tempered sister in the world.
Sister Zhai had a younger brother like Brother Zhai who was so warm and caring, it was really a blessing for her.
Zhai Sheng pursed the corners of his lips, then pulled out the chair beside him. “If you don’t have anything else on, then sit here and read your books, don’t waste time.”
Qiao Nan’s little face was rosy, Zhai Sheng could see for himself if she was really alright or pretending to be fine.
After confirming that Qiao Nan was fine, of course, Zhai Sheng would not insist on making her leave.
Qiao Nan, who was just swearing that she was alright, felt her legs wobble at the sight of that chair.
The reason why she came to the Zhai family so early this morning was not to read books. She was so worried that she had stained the chair in the storeroom. That would have been embarrassing. So, she came early today and was prepared to clean the chair secretly if she had dirtied it.
When her embarrassment faded after a few days, she would then come to the Zhai family again to read.
Never did she expect that Brother Zhai was here so early.
“Why are you standing there in a daze, sit down.” Seeing that Qiao Nan looking silly and not moving, Zhai Sheng frowned and chided her a little.
“Oh!” With Zhai Sheng’s summon, Qiao Nan’s mind was in a blurry state as she took a seat beside Zhai Sheng. She sat in the same posture as she did yesterday.
Seeing that the two chairs were placed so close to each other, there was a flash of confusion in Qiao Nan’s eyes.
If not for the fact that she knew that Brother Zhai was a decent and ethical man, if it were others, she would definitely say that the other party was deliberately taking advantage of her or playing dirty tricks. A boy and girl, from the age of seven, should not be seated together. There was no need for the two chairs to be placed so closely together.
However, the person in front of Qiao Nan was Zhai Sheng, so she dispelled any such thoughts.
“It’s the Lunar New Year’s Eve today, let me say something.” In a blink, the year is coming to an end. Tonight, the Qiao family had prepared a feast for dinner and Qiao Dongliang looked especially radiant. “Our family… ”
At the thought of money, Qiao Dongliang’s expression changed, “Although we do not have much money left, as long as our family of four are healthy, and illness and disaster do not strike, these are the things that cannot be exchanged with wealth. So I wish everyone better health in the coming year, and wish Zijin and Nan Nan better grades in your studies!”
Now, besides Qiao Nan, Qiao Zijin’s academic performance also became more consistent. She was often ranked seventh or eighth in the class.
Of course, it would be the best if Qiao Zijin’s grades could improve further, otherwise, as long as she continued to maintain them, Qiao Dongliang was also very satisfied.
Although he did not have a son, but his two daughters were so capable and were a hundred times stronger than the son of many other families. This made Qiao Dongliang feel very contented. “Zijin, Nan Nan, here’s a red packet for you, keep it and spend them slowly.”
Qiao Dongliang took out two red packets from his pocket, and gave his daughter one each.
“Thank you Dad!” Receiving the red packet, Qiao Zijin smiled instantly.
“Thank you Dad.” Qiao Nan did not decline. She held the red packet tightly, all the learning materials that she had now were all from Brother Zhai.
If not, with the family condition of the Qiao family, she would not be able to buy even one book even if she scrimped and saved everyday.
“Mom, how about you?” Qiao Zijin received a red packet but was not satisfied. She looked directly at Ding Jiayi smilingly. “Mom, I fared so well in this exam. You didn’t give me any reward.”
“Who said there isn’t a reward.” Ding Jiayi looked at Qiao Zijin, half amused and angry. “Where did the new clothes that you are wearing come from? That was bought for you with your Mom’s hard earned money after staying up for a few nights to do manual jobs.”
When she said this, Ding Jiayi’s tone was filled with pride.
“Mom… these are two separate matters, I want a red packet during Lunar New Year.” Qiao Zijin reached out her hands before Ding Jiayi and insisted on a red packet.
“Fine, will Mom not give you any?” Having teased her elder daughter enough, Ding Jiayi took out a red packet that was similar to that of Qiao Dongliang and passed it to Qiao Zijin. “Don’t waste it.”
“Thank you Mom, you’re so good!” After receiving the red packets, Qiao Zijin smiled. Putting together the money from the two red packets, she should be able to buy the bracelet that she had her eyes on while shopping for clothes previously…
She only had one set of new clothes. Hence, she must definitely buy something else to grace any occasion.
Ding Jiayi and Qiao Zijin was so happy, but Qiao Dongliang’s expression turned gloomy. Qiao Nan continued to have her meal without any expression on her face.
Throughout the whole dinner, Ding Jiayi behaved as though she had Qiao Zijin as the only daughter, as if Qiao Zijin was her daughter while Qiao Nan was not.
Qiao Nan was used to this, but Qiao Dongliang was not.
Qiao Dongliang took a few deep breaths, put down his chopsticks and returned to his bedroom without a word.
“Hey, what are you doing, we have not finished our reunion dinner.” At this juncture, Ding Jiayi was stunned as she had not reacted to the situation, she did not know why Qiao Dongliang was acting crazy again.
After Qiao Dongliang made a trip to the bedroom, he soon came out and had another red packet in his hand. “Nan Nan, take this, both you and your sister will have two red packets, no one should have less.”
If Ding Jiayi had not gone overboard, Qiao Dongliang was still willing to tell a white lie on behalf of Ding Jiayi, and said that Ding Jiayi had left Qiao Nan’s red packet in the bedroom.
However, Ding Jiayi’s blatant behavior already showed that she did not have a care, Qiao Dongliang could not even be bothered to cover up for her.
Just as his younger daughter had said, she was no longer a three-year-old kid, she understood many things. This layer of shroud was only useful in deceiving himself.
“Thank you Dad.” Qiao Nan pursed her little mouth and smiled. She took the red packet from Qiao Dongliang’s hands as fast as she could.
Ding Jiayi had just raised her hand to snatch the red packet from Qiao Dongliang’s hands but she was not as fast as Qiao Nan, so she could only watched helplessly as the second red packet fell into Qiao Nan’s hands. “Old Qiao, didn’t you say that we don’t have a lot of money, why did you give her two red packets? Qiao Nan, pass me the red packet, Mom will save it up for you. No, you’re still young, you don’t know how to manage your money.”
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