My College Teacher is My Children's Mom-Chapter 774: With money, what can’t you buy?
Three handsome guys were bustling about in the kitchen while Zhou Cuilan and the elders went out with some relatives. This year’s New Year celebration seemed a bit quieter than usual.
Zhang Yuxi stood up. "I’ll go get some fruit for Xiao Bao and the others. That child studies for so long every day; I’m worried she’ll strain her eyes."
After bringing the fruit to them, Zhang Yuxi came back out.
Tonight, dinner was served more than an hour later than usual. Since Xiao Bao wasn’t allowed to have snacks, she could only eat proper meals. She normally ate at a set time, but by now, she had probably eaten her umpteenth strawberry.
Finally, the dishes were served. Hmm, stir-fried tomatoes and eggs, twice-cooked pork, and a sour cabbage vermicelli soup.
The couple was shocked, and even Xiao Bao cried out, "Just three dishes? For so many of us... that’s not enough, is it?"
Shao Yang didn’t know how to cook; he was just helping out. Si Bao didn’t know how either, but he spent his time slacking off and chatting with them instead of helping. Only Da Bao was cooking!
As for the sweet and sour spare ribs and braised fish... well, Da Bao admitted he had failed halfway through making them.
Si Bao coughed lightly. "Well, it’s not a total loss. The portions are big, right? Why don’t we just make it rice with toppings?"
What a clever idea from such a little rascal.
And so, on the evening of the fourth day of the New Year, they all had a meal of assorted toppings over rice. The food tasted decent and the portions were generous, so that was that.
Si Bao, feeling mischievous, went to check on Xiao Bao and see how her studies were progressing.
San Bao gave Xiao Bao a thumbs-up. "Xiao Bao is very smart. She picks up new study methods quickly."
Si Bao was unconvinced and pouted. "Let me see!"
Xiao Bao huffed, "Fourth Brother, when are you and Sister Yi getting married?"
Si Bao glanced at her. "You’re just a kid. Why are you worrying about so many things? Just mind your own business."
Xiao Bao snatched her notebook back. "Fourth Brother, you’re such a jerk! Now that you have Sister Yi, you don’t dote on your little sister anymore."
"When did I ever not dote on you?"
"You just don’t! I’m not your little princess, your cute little darling, anymore!"
"Hey, I think you’re being unreasonable now!"
"I am, I am! Unless you go buy me some barbecue, I won’t believe you still care about me."
So that’s what this was all about.
Previously, Xiao Bao had gone with her friends to eat from a street stall. The result? She spent the whole night running to the bathroom, her little face pale. Zhang Yuxi had forbidden her from eating at street stalls, and that, of course, included barbecue. It was punishment for not listening! She had been told time and again not to eat that stuff, but she just wouldn’t listen.
"You could ask San Bao to buy it for you," Si Bao suggested.
"She’s on a diet. She doesn’t eat after a certain time at night."
"Fine. I didn’t eat my fill tonight anyway. I’ll go buy it."
How could the smell of barbecue go unnoticed? As soon as Zhang Yuxi came downstairs, she smelled it. After a quick investigation, she zeroed in on Si Bao. What else can you say? A mother knows her child best.
Zhang Yuxi didn’t find Si Bao in his room, but she heard a commotion from San Bao’s room. She opened the door and looked inside. Good heavens. Si Bao, San Bao, Da Bao, Xiao Bao, and Shao Yang—all five of them were gathered around, eating barbecue.
Zhang Yuxi paused. "Save some for your dad and me."
Si Bao had bought plenty, so he gave his mother a little of everything. Before she left, Zhang Yuxi reminded Xiao Bao to eat in moderation.
But when she walked into the bedroom, she saw her husband, who had finished his book, running on the treadmill. Suddenly, the barbecue in her hands lost its appeal. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂
Zhang Yuxi turned around and brought the barbecue back to the kids. Under their puzzled gazes, she trudged back to her room. She really wanted that barbecue, too!
Lin Feng had a sharp nose and caught the scent. "Are the kids eating barbecue?"
Zhang Yuxi glumly hummed in agreement, glancing at Lin Feng’s trim figure. She was about to get depressed!
Lin Feng didn’t notice. "Are you having any?"
Zhang Yuxi shook her head.
When Lin Feng came out of the shower, he saw Zhang Yuxi doing yoga. Lin Feng had helped condition her body well; as long as she didn’t binge or overeat, she wouldn’t gain weight.
He glanced over again. "It’s almost time for bed. What made you decide to exercise?"
Zhang Yuxi simply said it was good for her health.
This year, because Xiao Bao needed to study hard, the family was very accommodating. They didn’t go on any big trips, just took some strolls locally.
If there were any other changes, it was that Liu Bo had a new girlfriend. An Lan also had a suitor! Liu Bo was successful in his career, and his children were old enough to start their own families, so he felt no pressure about remarrying. As for An Lan, it was even simpler. She was wealthy, beautiful, and had no children.
Resting her chin in her palm, Zhang Yuxi listened to An Lan talk about her new boyfriend. He was a CEO, five years her junior. He was decent-looking, but Zhang Yuxi scoffed internally. She casually sent An Lan a picture of Lin Feng.
An Lan was crestfallen. "How can he compare to Director Lin? Your husband is an ageless wonder."
"When you two walk down the street, people might mistake you for his mother."
That was a bit harsh!
Zhang Yuxi chuckled. "You don’t need to worry about that. All that matters is that I look younger than you."
An Lan laughed. "Oh, I’m not worried. It doesn’t matter if you look younger than me. Can you compete with Director Lin? Hahaha!"
Free from the constraints of marriage, An Lan was starting to resemble her old self again. That last comment angered Zhang Yuxi so much that she hung up the phone.
That hit too close to home. She was, after all, older than Lin Feng! And... she was fast approaching that hurdle. In just a few more months, she would be saying goodbye to her monthly cycles for good. After that, the aging process would only accelerate. Zhang Yuxi had never had anxiety about her looks before, but now, in her later years, she was developing it.
The cause of all this, Lin Feng, remained completely oblivious, his daily life proceeding as unchanging as ever.
In the blink of an eye, the New Year holiday was over. The children had to return to their respective careers. Before they left, the couple expressed their hope that the older children would also get married soon and have a baby or two.
---
Next up was Xiao Bao’s exam. Since she was skipping a grade, she had to take a test at school before the new semester began. If she passed, she was in. This recent period of high-pressure studying had made Xiao Bao realize that learning wasn’t so difficult after all. In fact, she found it quite challenging and exciting!
The results were available the day after the test. She had passed!
"Yay!" Xiao Bao gestured to an imaginary crowd. "Dad, Mom, did you see that? Aren’t I amazing? Am I the GOAT or what?"
Her parents played along, clapping enthusiastically. "Amazing, absolutely amazing!"
Xiao Bao threw her head back and laughed. "I’m going to call Fourth Brother! Hahaha, no, I’m going to video call him."
She made the video call, and the little drama queen immediately put on a show. "Fourth Brother... I didn’t pass... boo hoo hoo..."
"You didn’t pass? Hahaha, don’t cry, it’s fine. Just try again next time... Hahaha..."
Was he serious with that laughter?
Once Si Bao had had his fun, Xiao Bao turned the tables on him. "Hahaha, I tricked you! I actually passed everything! Hahahahaha!"
Caught completely off guard, Si Bao’s smile froze on his face. He really thought she couldn’t do it!
Xiao Bao giggled. "You have to keep your promise, Fourth Brother! I’m hanging up now, bye!"
Next came the time for Xiao Bao to claim her reward! Of course, that meant money! With money, was there anything she wanted that she couldn’t buy?
When school started, Xiao Bao became a student in the second semester of the sixth grade. For her former teacher, it was all too sudden. How could a student skip a grade over a single holiday break? Meanwhile, her former classmates were heartbroken...
