CHAPTER 197: 196: STRIKE (FIFTH UPDATE)

Ye He Ping came home when Bai Hehua was cooking in the kitchen, while Bai Xue was reading the newspaper. Seeing her husband return, she got up and put away the newspaper.

"Why are you home so late today?" Bai Xue didn’t need to guess where he’d been; she knew he’d gone to school, her tone was tinged with sourness.

Every time her husband came home, he’d go to school first before coming back, making her wonder what this family meant to him. But knowing her husband’s temper, Bai Xue could only speak quickly and didn’t dare say anything else.

"Went to see Lingzi." When Ye He Ping sat down, he noticed his younger daughter coming out of the West Room, asked her about her studies, and then spoke about the main topic. "Lingzi needs to take the college entrance exam this year, don’t really act like she’s not your daughter. When you have time, cook something good and send it to her at school. I see Lingzi has gotten even skinnier than at New Year. Besides, every time I come home Bai Hehua is cooking, what awareness can you gain from reading the newspaper every day?"

Not praising the daughter, but criticizing oneself for being bad.

Bai Xue’s face turned unpleasant, and Ye Qian exclaimed, "Sister is going to take the college entrance exam, that’s amazing! Sister will definitely pass! Mom, Dad is right. How about this, from now on you make delicious food for me, and I’ll bring it to sister."

Being pulled by her daughter and seeing her daughter’s pleading eyes, Bai Xue reluctantly nodded.

Ye He Ping saw his younger daughter being sensible and praised his wife, "Look at Ye Qian; you’re a mother, yet you’re not even as good as a child."

"Alright, alright, I’m the worst in your eyes. I’ll go cook, you father and daughter chat away." Bai Xue didn’t want to sit there fuming and got up to go to the kitchen.

Bai Hehua was afraid her aunt would take out her anger on her after hearing uncle’s words, so she hurriedly said as someone came in, "Aunt, the vegetables are cut, I’m not good at frying them, I was waiting for you to fry them."

The two stood in the kitchen, and these words could be heard by Ye He Ping sitting in the living room.

Thinking that her husband heard and wouldn’t think she spent her days idle letting her niece cook, Bai Xue looked at her niece more favorably, "You go tidy up the bowls and chopsticks, I’ll fry."

Bai Hehua responded with a smile, and then took the bowls and chopsticks to the living room.

In the living room, Ye He Ping was talking with his daughter about her studies, "If you don’t pass the entrance exam this time, have you any plans?"

Ye Qian lowered her hands, fiddling with her fingers, "Dad, have I disappointed you again?"

"Silly child, the most important thing is you, don’t bother about the family’s feelings, your health is poor, don’t stress yourself." Seeing his daughter had no confidence in herself, Ye He Ping couldn’t help but feel disappointed, but his daughter being ill wasn’t something that could be forced. "If there’s anything, talk more to your mom, don’t keep it to yourself. As for your sister’s matter, frequently advise your mom, your sister has been studying hard this year, now taking the college entrance exam, I think she’s constantly pushing herself to learn."

Ye Qian felt uncomfortable seeing her father care so much for her sister, but outwardly she had to appear understanding and considerate. Finally, they waited for dinner time, and Ye Qian let out a breath of relief.

After dinner, when the two children went back to their rooms, Bai Xue asked about Shen Bin’s matter, "What’s going on? Weren’t they agreed earlier to date? Even the family came for a visit, and were even seen embracing by Ye Ling, how come after going back to the base, they disagree? Who does he think he is, does he think Hehua is desperate for him? He’s from the countryside and divorced, Hehua is eight years old, yet she doesn’t hold it against him, and somehow, he disagrees. This person looks simple and honest at first glance, but has quite high standards."

Ye He Ping furrowed his brows, "If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work, don’t keep thinking about it or hold a prejudice against Shen Bin, marriage is like that; if it doesn’t work, it shouldn’t become enmity."

"You’re talking without getting to the point, nothing can be relied on from you." Bai Xue grumbled, "So this matter is just settled like this? Could it be Ye Ling that girl is messing around in this matter, otherwise how did only she bump into this and then things don’t work out?"

"What nonsense are you saying? Ye Ling can’t meddle in this matter. This should not be brought up again." Ye He Ping, if not for leaving face for the wife and niece in the East Room, would have long revealed the truth.

Though Shen Bin was from the countryside, he was young and had reached a position of company commander, showing his potential, also having leader’s interest, even enough for leaders to personally inquire about his marriage, which showed their fondness for him. Bai Hehua was still a girl after all, but too small-minded and uneducated, lacking common communication with Shen Bin. Nowadays, when finding a partner, isn’t it about having common language and mutual understanding; unlike in old times where they sometimes didn’t meet until the wedding day.

The wife didn’t understand this, only using rural thoughts, thinking Shen Bin was divorced, but not considering whether that was a problem. Despite Shen Bin’s past marriage, he didn’t have children, making him akin to a young fellow.

Bai Xue and her husband parted unsatisfactorily once again; however, this incident spurred her to start seeking suitors for her niece, only to find it’s not easy. People, upon asking and knowing there’s no formal job, no longer inquire further, making it hard to pursue the matter.

Ye He Ping didn’t say much to his wife; during the two days at home, he mostly went out, returning to school on Monday. That same morning, the news about Ye Ling taking the college entrance exam spread, and the first to be unhappy was Zhao Guodong.

During break, Zhao Guodong directly approached Ye Ling, "Why didn’t you say earlier you were taking the college entrance exam? Are you just leaving us behind?"

It felt like betrayal.

Ye Ling looked at him helplessly, "Even if we take it together, can we attend the same college? You all are aiming for college, but I’m not, in the end, we’d still be separated. Besides, even if I take it, there’s no guarantee I can pass, so I didn’t mention it."

Ye Ling was buried in studies daily, not necessarily able to pass, not to mention him.

Zhao Guodong understood but still felt bad, remaining subdued all day, until after school, he caught Zhang Linong outside to speak a few words, causing Zhang Linong to look up seriously, sigh, and finally nod in agreement.

The next day at school, before the morning self-study, Zhang Linong pulled Ye Ling out, "Dongzi and I discussed it, and we want to take the college entrance exam with you together."

"What?" Ye Ling was startled at first, then said, "No way, during the entrance exam I helped with tutoring because I could estimate the questions, but this is the college entrance exam and is different from the entrance exam. You haven’t even studied the books from sophomore year, how can you take it? This definitely won’t work."

Zhang Linong wasn’t worried, "We still have two months, don’t we? Besides, we’re just giving it a shot. If we don’t pass this year, we’ll try next year. But if we luckily pass, that’d be great." (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to go to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations, monthly tickets, your support is my biggest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)