jdhmnovel Chapter 218 College Entrance Examination
Chapter 218 College Entrance Examination
After dinner, as is customary, the two eldest daughters accompany their father, Zhaoyuan, for a half-hour walk.
Zhao Yuan firmly believes that allowing children to rest and exercise after meals not only helps relax the brain but also aids in the proper digestion of food.
Therefore, he absolutely forbade his two daughters to immediately immerse themselves in their studies after finishing their meals.
Zhao Yuan and his two daughters left their home and headed towards the nearby park.
The park is neither too big nor too small; a brisk walk around it takes about half an hour.
Along the way, the father and his two daughters chatted and laughed. Zhao Yuan seemed to be casually talking to his two daughters, but in reality, he was intentionally or unintentionally trying to get information out of them so that he could better understand their daily lives, their joys and sorrows, and the troubles of growing up.
When they returned home after their walk, their two younger daughters had already finished their chores and were happily playing in the yard!
Now, the task of washing dishes at home has fallen to these two little ones.
This is a family rule established by Zhao Yuan—every child must undertake a certain amount of housework. In this way, it can cultivate the children's sense of responsibility and self-reliance.
After returning from their walk, the two eldest daughters went straight into their room without delay and began to diligently do their homework.
At this moment, Zhao Yuan, who had been busy all day, finally had a moment to rest. He and his wife, Lin Fangfang, went to the yard and sat quietly, watching the children play with tender eyes.
The couple were each busy with their own things, either reading books or fiddling with handicrafts, and occasionally exchanging a few words about their children.
Time slipped away quietly in this warm and peaceful atmosphere.
Before we knew it, time flew by, and the highly anticipated moment of the college entrance examination arrived in the blink of an eye.
On July 6, 1988, sunlight filtered through the dappled leaves and dappled the earth. This day was of great significance to Zhao Zhaodi—she was about to embark on a crucial moment in her life: the college entrance examination.
The night before, on July 5th, a subtle and tense atmosphere permeated the entire family.
Zhao Yuan was even more anxious than Zhao Zhaodi, who was about to enter the examination hall.
Recalling the time he took the college entrance examination, he couldn't help but sigh at how quickly time flies.
However, despite his inner turmoil, Zhao Yuan knew he had to stay calm and not let his tension pass on to his daughter, so he tried his best to maintain a calm and composed demeanor.
He carefully checked all the items Zhao Zhaodi needed for the college entrance examination over and over again, from the admission ticket and stationery to the water cup, not daring to overlook any detail.
Meanwhile, the rest of the family tried to maintain a normal daily routine.
As usual, Zhao Nana and Zhao Yina quickly washed the dishes after dinner and finished their homework before playing and chasing each other in the yard. After dinner, Zhao Yuan, as always, took Zhao Zhaodi and Zhao Laidi out for a walk to digest their food.
After returning from their walk, the two sisters went back to their desks and buried themselves in their studies, continuing until their usual bedtime.
And so, this seemingly ordinary yet subtly mysterious night quietly passed.
The next morning, as the first rays of dawn pierced through the clouds, Zhao Yuan and his wife Lin Fangfang were already up and busy at work.
Lin Fangfang went into the kitchen to carefully prepare breakfast for Zhao Zhaodi.
She skillfully cooked two round, smooth eggs and made a bowl of steaming noodles.
According to an old custom in my hometown, eating a bowl of noodles with two eggs on the day of the exam is believed to ensure that the examinee achieves a perfect score.
Early in the morning, before the sun had fully risen, Zhao Zhaodi woke up from her sleep on time, just like always.
She quickly finished washing up and prepared to face the challenge of the new day—the college entrance examination.
At the breakfast table, the family sat together, the atmosphere somewhat solemn, yet filled with anticipation.
Zhao Yuan watched his daughter eat breakfast silently, his eyes full of concern.
Soon after breakfast, Zhao Yuan started the car and took Zhao Zhaodi to the examination venue.
The father and daughter didn't exchange many words along the way, but they both felt a deep sense of importance about the exam.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Xu Shuhui and Lin Fangfang had already arrived at a temple in the suburbs.
Following the customs of their hometown, they devoutly lit incense and candles, clasped their hands together, and prayed silently. They murmured prayers, asking God to bless Zhao Zhaodi so she could perform well in the exam and achieve excellent results.
Meanwhile, Zhao Laidi at home is busy taking care of her younger sisters, Zhao Nana and Zhao Yina.
Not only did she have to entertain the two little ones, but she also had to prepare lunch for the whole family. Despite the heavy workload, Zhao Laidi never complained and did her best to shoulder this responsibility.
Finally, the crisp sound of the school bell broke the tranquility of the campus.
The morning exams have come to an end.
Before long, a large number of students surged toward the school gate like a tide.
Their faces displayed a variety of expressions: some students frowned, looking worried, seemingly dissatisfied with their performance in the exam; others smiled, their eyes revealing confidence and ease, presumably having done well; and still others remained calm and composed, making it difficult to guess their true thoughts.
Zhao Yuan stood anxiously at the school gate, looking around and trying to find his daughter in the crowd.
Finally, he saw Zhao Zhaodi's familiar face.
Zhao Yuan strode forward, gently patted his daughter's shoulder, said nothing, but simply took her hand and walked towards the car parked by the roadside.
On his way to the car, Zhao Yuan couldn't help but ask softly:
"Zhaodi, how did you feel about the exam this morning? Were you nervous?"
Zhao Zhaodi raised her head, smiled slightly at her father, and replied:
"Dad, I'm not nervous at all! I know all the questions, and it went pretty smoothly."
Hearing his daughter say that, Zhao Yuan felt a little relieved. He nodded and encouraged her, "That's good. Keep up the good work this afternoon!"
Afterwards, the father and daughter got into the car together and headed home.
"It's alright. The college entrance exam wasn't much different from usual. It was just that when the bell rang during the first exam, my hand trembled slightly when I was writing my name, but that feeling disappeared quickly. I was in pretty good shape all morning!"
Zhao Zhaodi answered with a smile, not in a hurry.