Chapter 6

Qi Lei didn’t wait for Wu Ning again.

As for Tang Yi, his exam venue was at the Third Middle School, which didn’t align with theirs.

For Qi Lei, every minute was precious now. Matters between brothers could be left until after the exam.

He went straight home, closed the door, and continued to memorize science formulas.

Unfortunately, it didn’t take long before Wu Ning and Tang Yi kicked open the iron gate again.

"Qi Stone! Are you possessed by a weasel!?" Wu Xian started interrogating right away, while Tang Yi looked terrified, "It’s too damn accurate! Come on, Brother Stone, repeat after me, tonight Dad will be generous and give me a stack of old bills."

"Quickly, repeat after me, and I’ll burn incense for you!"

After the midday break, Qi Lei was no longer as agitated, and he wasn’t about to cry. His mind was focused on studying.

He said, "I just guessed one sentence, who knew it would be so accurate? Get lost! Go do what you need to do!"

Wu Ning, however, wouldn’t let it go.

"Guess one sentence? Damn!" Wu Ning cursed, "Why weren’t you more confident? If you had been just a bit more confident, I would have believed you!"

As a result, Qi Lei didn’t react, but Tang Yi stared at Wu Ning, "You mean you didn’t believe it?"

Wu Ning froze, "I didn’t believe it! Did you believe it?"

Tang Yi chuckled, "Not really! I just couldn’t resist thinking about it on the way, so I sort of drafted it in my head?"

He added smugly, "But you can’t deny it was useful, saving a lot of trouble!"

Wu Ning almost cried again, pinning his last hope on Qi Lei, "Stone didn’t believe it either, right?"

"Didn’t believe it, just like a madman, drafted it in his head."

"Damn!" Wu Ning was utterly despairing.

Completely despairing, why did only he not get any benefit and instead suffer a setback?

He rushed into the room, "No way, I have to catch up!"

He grabbed a chemistry book and lay on the bed, "I must catch up!"

Seeing the two of them studying, Tang Yi had to join in.

He entered the room, squeezed onto the bed with Wu Ning, and started reading Qi Lei’s English book.

Qi Lei ignored them; as long as they didn’t cause trouble and disrupt his review, it was fine.

Actually, the three of them were all smart but didn’t like to study. If they were a bit more serious, their grades would improve significantly.

Like Tang Yi and Wu Ning, they just listened in class and never touched homework at home, but they could still manage mid-level grades in the class.

Especially Wu Xian, when his mom forced him to study a bit, his grades were always the best among the three.

Qi Lei was truly crazy about playing, not studying at home or at school, and that’s how he ended up.

The room became quiet, with only the occasional sound of pages turning.

The sunlight cast the shadow of grapevines into the room, creating an indescribable tranquility.

After a while, snoring sounds came from the bed.

Qi Lei turned to look; the two were sleeping soundly.

He couldn’t help but laugh; they were just three-minute enthusiasts.

He turned his gaze back and started reading a physics exercise book from the pile of books.

He didn’t write anything, just read.

He found that his progress was faster than expected; he had already memorized most of the formulas and theorems.

This wasn’t surprising, as many concepts, even if not learned in junior high, were still used in high school, so he had some familiarity with them.

So now, Qi Lei wasn’t starting from scratch; he was mostly reviewing.

For example, the [First Law of Newton], if asked, Qi Lei wouldn’t be able to answer.

But when he opened the book, "All objects remain in a state of rest or uniform motion in a straight line unless acted upon by an external force."

It’s just inertia, and it’s hard to forget after reading it once.

He picked up the exercise book, but his goal wasn’t to solve problems, but to familiarize himself with the types of questions.

Similarly, solving problems now wouldn’t be very beneficial; understanding the types of questions was more useful.

Around six o'clock, the sound of a motorcycle came from the alley. With the iron gate rattling, Qi Lei looked up and saw his parents returning.

Both Qi’s father and mother worked at the grain warehouse. The difference was that Qi Guojun was a temporary worker, while his mother, Guo Lihua, was the office director.

Qi Guojun had been in the military arts troupe when he was young and was assigned to the Shangbei Instrument Factory after his discharge.

This was a product of the large-scale production in the 1960s and 1970s. Shangbei, a small city, had a population of less than one million, and there were hardly any people who played instruments, let alone a factory, which relied entirely on the state.

The first wave of layoffs in the 1980s hit hard, and Qi Guojun became a laid-off worker.

Fortunately, Guo Lihua’s grain warehouse was a good unit, and she had worked her way up to the position of office director.

She managed to get Qi Guojun a temporary position as a warehouse manager.

The two entered the yard and first looked at Qi Lei’s room. Seeing their son studying, they were a bit surprised but didn’t react much.

Qi Guojun went straight to the kitchen to prepare dinner, while Guo Lihua went to her room to change clothes.

Qi Lei wanted to go out to greet them, but...

First, in his memory, his relationship with his parents wasn’t good during this period.

It was the rebellious phase, and with his grades, things were very tense, and they would start arguing after just a few words.

Second, if he acted obedient and sensible, his mother, with her short temper, would nag endlessly!

The primary task now was to review, and everything else could wait until after the exam tomorrow.

Guo Lihua changed into her home clothes and did a routine check of Qi Lei’s room.

At this time, Wu Ning and Tang Yi had also woken up, holding their books and looking serious.

Seeing Guo Lihua, they were even sweeter than Qi Lei, "Auntie, when’s dinner? I’m hungry!"

Guo Lihua smiled, "Wait a bit, I’ll cook you some pork ribs."

"Tsk tsk tsk!" Tang Yi smacked his lips, "Auntie is better than my own mom! My dad even complains about her cooking."

Qi Lei felt a chill, thinking, "Shouldn’t it be ‘...even dogs would complain’?"

On the other side, Tang Yi was still being charming, "Auntie, can I bring my mom over? She’s all alone at home."

Guo Lihua’s smile grew wider, "Is your dad out again?"

Tang Yi, "He eats at home once a month."

Saying this, he ran out to call his mom.

Guo Lihua tugged at Wu Ning, "Bring your parents over too, it’s been a while since we all ate together!"

"Sure thing!" Wu Ning grinned, "I’ve been waiting for Auntie to say that!"

The three of them weren’t just brothers in this generation; their parents and grandparents were lifelong friends.

Qi Lei’s grandfather and Wu Ning and Tang Yi’s grandfathers fought together in the war, forming a bond of life and death.

So when the three of them were born, the godparent relationship was established.

After sending Wu Ning and Tang Yi away, Guo Lihua didn’t leave the room. She stood behind Qi Lei, wondering, "Is he really studying?"

Qi Lei, feeling his mother’s gaze, had no choice but to turn around and force a smile, "Mom."

Guo Lihua frowned, "It’s fine."

She then went to the kitchen, sighing as she left.

It seemed to say, "What’s the point of pretending now? In the past, you wouldn’t study even if I hit you, and the more I pushed, the more you resisted."

Qi Lei understood his mother’s thoughts and felt very ashamed.

In his previous life, he was most grateful to the woman who made him grow up overnight; he was most regretful about the early deaths of his two brothers; and he felt most guilty towards his parents, who had worried a lot about him when he was young.

He buried his head in his books, determined, but this determination couldn’t be unleashed now. It made him feel suffocated, but he had to endure it.

Qi Guojun was a good cook and quickly prepared a table full of dishes.

At this time, Tang Yi’s mother, Cui Yumin, and Wu Ning’s parents, Wu Lianshan and Dong Xiuhua, also arrived.

The Wu family’s situation was similar to the Qi family’s.

Wu Lianshan was an accountant, well-known in Shangbei, handling accounts for various units in the city. Dong Xiuhua was already a deputy director at the finance bureau, overseeing a large department with considerable authority.

Both families were dominated by the women.

The only exception was Cui Yumin, a full-time housewife, but Tang Yi’s father, Tang Chenggang, was no ordinary man.

In modern terms, he was the richest man in Shangbei, and the largest private enterprise in the city belonged to his family.

Of course, later on, Tang Chenggang went astray, setting up a fireworks factory, which became even larger and more profitable.

However, an accident occurred, and it exploded, taking Tang Yi and Wu Ning with it.

The three families lived in the same alley, making it convenient to visit each other, and they lived like one big family.

Of course, even close families have things to avoid, such as the issue of their children’s education.

They came for dinner, and it was a crucial time for the high school entrance exam, but at the table, they didn’t mention how the exams went or what to do next.

The two families knew that Qi Lei was a headache for Qi Guojun and Guo Lihua, and no one wanted to add to their worries at this time.

Besides, the children hadn’t finished the exams yet, and talking about it now wouldn’t be good for them.

So, everyone pretended it wasn’t happening, chatting about neighborhood gossip and workplace trivialities as usual.

The more they did this, the more Qi Lei felt uncomfortable, blaming himself for his past lack of effort.

His parents were actually very talkative and outgoing, but since he started junior high, they talked less and smiled less.

In short, when adults gathered, they first compared their children.

And not just among the three families, but among the neighbors, Qi Lei was the least promising.

It was all his fault.

He secretly vowed that this time, he would never let it happen again!

After a quick dinner, Qi Lei went back to his room to study until around eleven.

Guo Lihua came to check on him twice and couldn’t help but advise, "It’s late, go to sleep?"

She didn’t dare to insist strongly but had to coax him.

Qi Lei closed his book and gave his mother a complex look, "Okay, I’ll listen to Mom."

Guo Lihua finally smiled, holding back for a long time, watching Qi Lei get into bed. Just before turning off the light, she finally said, "Don’t worry, it’s fine even if you don’t do well."

...

——

The next morning, Qi Lei woke up at 5:30, washed his face in the yard, and sat at his desk.

Guo Lihua, hearing the noise, came over in her coat. Seeing her son up so early to study, she was very worried.

She went back to the room and nudged Qi Guojun awake, "He’s studying hard again! What’s going on?"

Qi Guojun stared at her for a while, confused, and finally said, "He’s growing up and knows what’s important. What’s the big deal? Why are you so nervous?"

Saying this, he turned over and wanted to go back to sleep.

Guo Lihua glared at him, clearly dissatisfied with Qi Guojun’s dismissive attitude.

After a long while, she said, "If he can reach the general high school line, can Chenggang find someone to send him to the Second High School?"

The Second High School and the Experimental High School were the only two key high schools in Shangbei.

Qi Guojun, facing her, "Chenggang? He’ll make you pay the price. No way!"

Among the three families, the Qi family was the worst off. Tang Chenggang wasn’t short of money, and Wu Lianshan made a lot from accounting. Only the Qi family had two working parents.

But they didn’t want to trouble others; they had to live their own lives.

Qi Guojun thought for a moment and said, "How about we forget it? Let’s see where he ends up!"

"If we ask for help, we’ll spend a lot on favors, and the price is over ten thousand. If we spend all our money on this, what about the food factory?"

Guo Lihua clenched her teeth, thinking for a long time, and finally sighed, "Let’s forget it. Wherever he ends up, he’ll go there!"

She understood Qi Guojun’s point; no one knew what their son was like. He might be good today but bad tomorrow.

Even if he got into a key high school, if he didn’t study well, it would be a waste of time.

She tightened her coat, frowned, and muttered, "We really need to focus on the food factory. If we miss this opportunity, it’s gone."

"But..." She looked at Qi Guojun, "Can you handle it if we take over the factory?"

Qi Guojun was silent for a moment, feeling a surge of frustration.

After a while, he said, "Let’s give it a try. We have to take a chance!"

Guo Lihua accepted his words, "Yes, we have to take a chance."

Although they had no hope for Qi Lei’s studies, they never stopped worrying.

Thinking that Qi Lei had no chance of excelling academically, what would he do in the future?

So, this couple, who had lived on fixed salaries for half their lives, started thinking about doing business.

Wasn’t it to leave more for Qi Lei in the future?

Just then, a subsidiary of the grain warehouse, a food factory, was to be restructured, meaning it would be leased out, with自负盈亏.

The couple decided to use their savings to lease the food factory. At least it would be a business, and they could make some money.

Qi Lei didn’t know his parents’ plans, focusing on last-minute cramming. After breakfast at around seven, he headed straight to the exam venue.

These two days, all his efforts were on the science subjects, which he hoped would boost his score.

The exam was about to start.

...

——

Ps: Weasel: The chief of the four great spirits in the north, revered and always responsive, capable of reaching the realm of terrestrial immortals.

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