After the viewers applauded enthusiastically, the host instantly moved on to the award ceremony. “Now let’s invite Ms. Xiang, the overall supervisor of the Gu Huafeng Company, to current the awards to the three contestants.” 

There was nothing new concerning the awards—trophies, certificates, and flowers. Shen Shao seemed on the lady who shook fingers with him. She wore an off-the-cuff however skilled costume, and her hair was permed in a well-liked type. She seemed solely about thirty years outdated, and he or she embodied the domineering large sister power of a working lady.

“The competitors was fantastic. My son watched all the stay broadcast on TV for the previous two days.” Xiang WeiLan smiled at Shen Shao. “I hope to see extra thrilling issues from all of you sooner or later.” She’d been watching from backstage for some time and had an excellent impression of Shen Shao.

“Thanks.” Shen Shao bowed politely. He knew the overall supervisor of the Gu Company was being well mannered, but it surely was nonetheless a flattering factor to say.

Xiao Ji held his trophy with a barely stiff smile on his face. Others won’t have heard of Xiang WeiLan, however he knew precisely how a lot energy and monetary assets she represented. Within the capital, 1000’s of upper-class ladies held Xiang WeiLan in excessive esteem. That was the rationale he needed to be well mannered and courteous on the floor, regardless of how a lot he hated Gu NingZhao.

Who was it who determined to make his household inferior to others? Sometime, eventually…

After Xiang WeiLan offered the awards and took a bunch picture with a number of of the scholars, she left the stage with a gracious smile. The assistant ready under took out a jacket and put it on her shoulders, after which whispered, “Basic supervisor, the automotive is prepared.”

“OK.” Xiang WeiLan nodded. She sighed to herself as she seemed again on the three college students who remained on stage whereas reporters snapped footage. If her son had been prepared to take part within the competitors, she knew he would have been standing there.

In the meantime, Peng County erupted right into a storm after Shen Shao appeared on TV.

Peng County was a small place. Being on TV wasn’t one thing that many individuals ever thought of. To not point out that Shen Shao participated in such a giant competitors and truly gained the championship!

“Mother! Come and see, it truly is Shen Shao!” Yang HongQiang was now in his last 12 months of senior highschool. He often didn’t spend a lot time watching TV, so he didn’t know concerning the stay broadcast on Saturday. After he heard different folks speak about it, he sat down in entrance of the TV early on Sunday morning to verify whether or not the Shen Shao they talked about was the Shen Shao he knew.

His household was well-off, and so they’d not too long ago purchased a big shade TV. When Shen Shao appeared on the display screen, Yang HongQiang acknowledged him at a look.

He might hardly imagine his eyes. Though Shen Shao typically contacted him by telephone, Shen Shao didn’t return to Peng County too typically. Through the previous three years, they didn’t have many alternatives to satisfy.

Then he noticed Shen Shao on TV, standing on stage in the kind of college uniform you solely see on TV dramas, answering questions with quiet confidence. He was much more dazzling than the Shen Shao he remembered. It was like discovering that somebody you thought was from an unusual however affluent household was, in actual fact, the son of the richest man on the planet.

However the Shen Shao he remembered had at all times been like that, earnest and critical. Earlier than most individuals had been paying consideration, he’d already climbed to the next peak. Identical to when he was ranked first in his grade, then first within the county, after which was quietly admitted to Furong No. 3 Excessive College. Now he was on TV, successful first place within the nationwide arithmetic league, with the supervisor of a well-known company displaying as much as give him an award. It wasn’t that Shen Shao had modified, however his standing had already reached a stage that most individuals his age couldn’t equal.

“Shen Shao is wonderful,” Luo Qiong stated. She’d watched the competitors rigorously subsequent to her son, and didn’t even miss the commercials. When this system was over, she sighed. “We’ve lastly produced a giant expertise right here in Peng County.”

Yang HongQiang nodded with delight. “My buddy is superior. He was so decisive within the last spherical. It was unbelievable!”

“OK, check out Shen Shao, now take a look at your self. As his buddy, are you able to look him within the face with how laborious you research?” Luo Qiong slapped Yang HongQiang on the again. “I’m not asking you to go to the identical college as Shen Shao, however at the least do as effectively on the examination as different folks.”

Though he was slapped with “parental affection”, Yang HongQiang’s pleasure was undiminished, and he threw himself into his research. He figured that with Shen Shao’s grades, 9 out of ten he’d most likely go to Hua U or Jing U within the capital. In spite of everything, these had been the 2 most well-known colleges in China.

As for him, possibly he might contemplate a college that was affiliated with Huaguo College or Jingcheng College?

Shen Shao had no concept that his look set off waves in Peng County. After the competitors was over, he and the group from his college attended a farewell banquet held by the organizer.

A lot of the dishes served on the banquet had been specialties of the capital, and so they tasted scrumptious. Shen Shao loved the meal and ate a little bit extra to pad his abdomen.

“This time, the college allotted some exercise funds for you. Tomorrow we’ll spend a day within the capital. Don’t miss out if there’s something you wish to eat or purchase,” Vice Principal Yao stated with a smile. “Subsequent time you come to the capital, it’ll be at your individual expense.”

Shen Shao gained the championship in a televised broadcast, which was an ideal credit score to the college. Prior to now few years, their No. 3 Excessive College skilled straight defeats by the hands of Jingcheng No. 1 Excessive College. As we speak, after a number of consecutive years, they lastly reversed course. All the academics and college students of the college felt a little bit proud. In the event that they encountered Jingcheng No. 1 Excessive College at different tournaments sooner or later, they’d have extra confidence.

“I’m going to purchase some roast geese,” Zeng Ping stated, pushing again his glasses. “Earlier than I left, my mom informed me to not deliver again the rest, simply get a couple of Peking roast geese.”

“Meals is the primary necessity of the folks. I’ll purchase some roast geese too.” Zhang Li turned to take a look at Shen Shao. “Shao Ge, what do you wish to purchase?” After the competitors, Zhang Li quietly considered Shen Shao considerably like a Jianghu boss. Each time she known as him “Shao Ge”, Shen Shao felt like Zhang Li was utilizing it as his Jianghu title.

Shen Shao didn’t have dad and mom, however there have been some folks near him, so he nodded. “I’ll purchase some roast geese, too.”

“OK, because you’ve already determined, return to your rooms and get some relaxation. We’ll begin early tomorrow morning.” Vice Principal Yao was elated. When he checked out Shen Shao, he thought every little thing concerning the boy was spectacular. He couldn’t assist however want Shen Shao was his personal son.

When Xiang WeiLan returned house, it was already late at night time. She felt a little bit drained and rubbed her eyes. When she seemed up, she noticed a younger man standing on the steps. She seemed nearer and stated with some uncertainty, “NingZhao?”

Gu NingZhao got here down the steps, poured a glass of milk, and handed it to Xiang WeiLan. Then he sat right down to the facet and checked out her.

“I went to the award ceremony in the present day. That’s why I needed to keep a little bit later.” She seemed on the wall clock. It was already eleven at night time, so she sat down beside Gu NingZhao and requested with concern, “Why aren’t you asleep but? Don’t you’ve gotten college tomorrow?”

Gu NingZhao shook his head. The corners of his mouth moved, as if he wished to say one thing to Xiang WeiLan, however in the long run, he simply stared at her purse and didn’t converse.

“What’s the matter?” Xiang WeiLan sensed that one thing wasn’t proper along with her son. “Is one thing mistaken?”

“No. Good night time.” Gu NingZhao stood up, then turned and went upstairs. Xiang WeiLan felt confused. What was the matter along with her youngest son?

Early the following morning, Shen Shao and his group took a bus to go to the traditional imperial palace buildings within the capital. Though loads of the location wasn’t open to the general public, there was greater than sufficient for a prolonged stroll.

Particularly, lots of people had been amazed to see the jade ornaments and antiques within the palace museum. They wished they may put their fingers contained in the exhibition cupboards and take these treasures house with them, to show them by the top of their mattress and admire them intimately day by day.

“Every part’s so lovely,” Zhang Li stated. She couldn’t disguise her pleasure as they walked out of the exhibition corridor. “And it’s all so beneficial.”

Zeng Ping was speechless for a second. “Why do you solely care how a lot cash it’s price? It’s about tradition and conventional craftsmanship. Do you even get it? So vulgar.”

“What’s the matter with being vulgar?” Zhang Li requested indifferently. “Who on this world isn’t vulgar.”

When Shen Shao heard them argue, he chuckled, then checked out his watch. “It’s previous two within the afternoon. Are you guys hungry?”

Zeng Ping determined that he was too dignified to argue with an ignorant schoolgirl, so he went together with Shen Shao’s change of subject. “I’m fairly hungry.”

Zhang Li, in the meantime, thought she shouldn’t decrease herself to argue with a bookworm like Zeng Ping. She seemed to the facet and stated, “I see a restaurant over there. Ought to we get some dinner?”

“OK, what do you guys wish to eat? It’s my deal with in the present day,” stated Vice Principal Yao. He smiled when he noticed the quarrel between the younger folks was over. “Let’s go. We’ve nearly seen sufficient. We will store after dinner.”

After the meal, when Shen Shao was window purchasing on the sidewalk, he noticed loads of posters promoting the World Cup. He was a little bit startled to appreciate that the lads’s World Cup would begin in two months. If he remembered accurately, this World Cup can be thrilling, accounting for 3 spots on the checklist of the highest ten largest upsets within the historical past of the lads’s recreation. It was a uncommon achievement.

“Shao Ge, are you going overseas to observe the event?” Zeng Ping noticed Shen Shao wanting on the World Cup poster. “A few of my family members run a journey company. In case you’re , I can ask if they’ve any bundle excursions for the World Cup.”

Shen Shao smiled and shook his head. “No want. I used to be simply wanting on the posters. I’m not planning to go to Simi Nation.”

It was true that he had a normal curiosity in soccer, however he was principally questioning if he might make some cash by predicting the end result of the matches.

In his earlier life, he paid loads of consideration to this event as a result of the Chinese language crew participated within the last. He had obscure reminiscences of the outcomes of most of the video games. However it appeared like on this nation that kind of for-profit playing wasn’t allowed?

Perhaps, after the school entrance examination, he might take into consideration touring overseas?

TL Notes:

quiet confidence – 胸有成竹 – have a well-thought-out plan, stratagem, and so on; a well-regulated thoughts; get all of it collectively; have a card up one’s sleeve; confident, purposeful, decided

Meals is the primary necessity of the folks – 民以食为天 – Meals is the God of the folks. (idiom); Folks view meals as the first want. / Meals first, moral niceties second

Jianghu – 江湖 – “rivers and lakes” – all corners of the nation / the milieu during which wuxia journey tales happen (cf. 武俠｜武侠) / (in late imperial occasions) the world of touring retailers, itinerant medical doctors, fortune tellers and so on / distant areas to which hermits retreat / part of society working independently of mainstream society, out of attain of the legislation / demimonde / (in fashionable occasions) triads / secret gangster societies / the underworld

Shen Shao felt like Zhang Li was utilizing it as his Jianghu title – from 沈邵都觉得张莉在叫江湖扛把子 – Shen Shao felt like Zhang Li was calling him a Jianghu gang chief – The unique appeared repetitive

World Cup – 世界杯 – The 2002 FIFA World Cup was hosted by South Korea and Japan and was the primary to happen in Asia. The event had a number of upsets and shock outcomes (Wikipedia)

soccer – 足球 – AKA soccer

Transliterated names, locations, and titles—new on this chapter:

Ms. Xiang – 向女士 – Xiàng nǚshì

normal supervisor – 经理 / 总经理 – Alternatively: director, managing director / CEO

Gu Huafeng Company – 顾氏华风企业 – Alternatively: Gu Clan/Household Huafeng Firm

Xiang WeiLan – 向卫兰

Hua U – 华大 – Appears to be an abbreviation of Huaguo College

Jing U – 京大 – Appears to be an abbreviation of Jingcheng College

Huaguo College – 华国大学 – AKA China College

Jingcheng College – 京城大学 – “Capital Metropolis College”, most likely a reference to Beijing College, the main college in China

Simi Nation – 思密国 – More than likely refers to South Korea (思密达 – sī mì dá – slang, used on the finish of a sentence to imitate Korean speech (loanword from Korean verb ending “seumnida”)