BXBX NOVEL Chapter 794: Anticipation
Su Bing nodded, but didn’t say much. Seeing this, Li Hua didn’t press further. She was the last to board the car, sharing a brief embrace with Gu Zi before stepping in.
As the car started, Li Hua and the others waved their hands, cheerfully bidding Gu Zi and the kids farewell. “Gu Zi, don’t just stand there. Your brother doesn’t need you to see him off. Go inside quickly.”
Gu Zi watched the car drive away with a smile, then led the children back into the house.
Su Li, driven by curiosity, asked Su Bing, “Brother, you were in the backyard for quite a while. What were you doing?”
Gu Zi looked at the two brothers, also curious about the answer to this question. However, she wouldn’t ask Su Bing. If he didn’t intend to share, asking wouldn’t help. The only response she would get would be one meant to placate her, not his true thoughts.
As expected, Su Bing brushed off his brother’s question with a vague answer. “The school is preparing for various competitions. I was considering whether or not to sign up.”
Su Li couldn’t help but admire his brother’s focus. His mind was always on serious matters, never on frivolous pursuits. Su Li hadn’t considered that with his brother’s intellect, the decision to participate in a competition wouldn’t require much thought. It could be decided in the blink of an eye.
But Su Li didn’t realize this. If he had, he wouldn’t be Su Li. He turned to Gu Zi and started a discussion. “Mom, should I sign up for the competition? But I’m worried I won’t even pass the preliminary round. It’s so frustrating.”
Gu Zi knew she couldn’t rely on Su Li to ask the right questions, so she didn’t take it to heart. She casually responded to Su Li’s concerns. “That’s easy. Just sign up for something you’re good at. The important thing is to participate. Remember, the school’s competitions aren’t just about academics like math, foreign languages, and astronomy. There are also competitions for hobbies like chess, martial arts, and music.”
Su Li, however, wasn’t excited. He said, “But in the eyes of parents, aren’t academic competitions the most prestigious? Mom, I want to make you proud, just like my brother.”
Gu Zi ruffled his hair, offering words of encouragement. “When did I ever tell you that I only care about academics? Su Li, I sent you to this school to discover and explore all aspects of yourself. Just like your brother excels in academics, he can choose to participate in math or foreign language competitions, earning honor and applause with his knowledge.
“And you, you can choose something you’re good at, like martial arts, music, or painting. If you participate in these competitions, I’ll be looking forward to it. If you can earn your own honor in these competitions, I’ll be proud. So, sign up for something you enjoy without any worries.”
Upon hearing her words, Su Li felt as if he were basking in the sun, his face breaking into a joyous smile. Overwhelmed with excitement, he embraced his mother, exclaiming, “Mom, I understand now!”
After the weekend, the two brothers returned to school. Gu Zi had packed their school bags with small snacks and special treats sent by Su Shen. She intended for them to share these treats, to foster interaction with their classmates. However, she refrained from giving specific instructions, leaving the decision to the brothers.
Su Bing, who was not particularly fond of snacks and disliked eating them in the classroom, made a special trip to the second-grade classroom area in the morning. He sought out Jiang Nuan and handed her the bag of snacks, expressing his gratitude for the gift she had given him earlier.
Jiang Nuan was delighted upon receiving the snacks, carefully tucking them away. “Brother Su Bing, there’s no need to thank me. Moreover, these snacks look delicious. Thank you for giving them to me. I’ll keep them safe and eat them slowly.”
Su Bing watched as Jiang Nuan carefully stored the snacks. He didn’t understand why she was so careful, but he didn’t want to say anything unnecessary. After patiently waiting for Jiang Nuan to finish speaking, he turned and left. He needed to return to his class to prepare for the morning reading session with his classmates, as he had been elected as the class representative for foreign language.
As for Su Li, although he loved snacks, he was no longer the naive country boy who would drool at the sight of food. He would eat some himself, but he would also share with his classmates to solidify his status among his peers. As soon as the first class ended, Su Li pulled out some beef jerky and began to show it off.
“This was sent by my father from the capital. It’s only available there, not here. It’s delicious and fragrant, with a five-spice flavor and a spicy flavor. Try some and see if it’s good. My favorite is the five-spice flavor.”