Chapter Seventy

  The next day at more than 9 o'clock, He Qi brought three sets of estimated scores and admission guides to the Qi family. Several people gathered around the table to take a look. About an hour later, they all had a general idea in their minds. Yu Cai was the first to get up and make a phone call to her father, saying that the score was roughly the same as she had expected. Her father said he would come over in the afternoon to help her fill out her college application, and Yu Cai knew she couldn't put it off any longer, so she agreed.

  He's a bit disappointed and said that he didn't finish several big questions in the math section, so there's no hope for People's Public Law this time.

  But then he looked at his own math score and was a bit stunned, conservatively estimating that he was about the same as He Qi's, because he had done all the questions in the back, which didn't seem to be very difficult, and he seemed to have done many similar questions before. Although he wasn't very good at the multiple-choice fill-in-the-blank questions in the front, he still managed to do a rough job of guessing and filling them out.

  Three high school students, Jiashu, Fan, and He, were discussing something when Xia Yuyun called to ask about the situation. Upon learning that He Qi was also there, she said she would come over soon as well.

  About a quarter of an hour later, Xia's mother and daughter also arrived. Xia Yunyun's math test was not good either, barely passing. A group of people surrounded them discussing for half a day. As it was almost time to eat lunch, He Qi and Xia Yunyun bid farewell and left.

  Qishu looked at Qiji and said, "Ji, have you changed your mind yet?"

  The silence of forgiveness.

  Qishu saw him and seemed to have made up his mind, sighed, "Let him go, I don't want you to go that far".

  The prayer was met with no response, and the prayer book would be turned over to Yu Cai.

  Yu Cai hesitated for a moment, "Qishu Fan, I think A Shi may have his own considerations. Besides, the four years in college are just a process of learning and accumulating experience. It's easy for him to come back later."

  "Isn't it good for you to go to Xiamen with Xiao Cai? You said that night that you couldn't bear to part with Xiao Cai and the others."

  "Uh, I think Qi Shu Fan, that day Ah Shi was trying to say he didn't want to stay behind and repeat a grade alone."

  Qishu Fan looked at Yu Cai with a sorrowful and resentful expression, Yu Cai touched her nose with a sulky face, she was just telling the truth, okay?

  Qishu was silent for a moment, "Release it, is your second wish to fill the provincial capital?"

  Qí shì zhī yáo tóu, "wǒ yào qù Yúnnán".

  English Translation:

  He shook his head and said, "I'm going to Yunnan".

  Qī shū fán qiáng rěn zhe nù qì, "nà nǐ xiǎng xué shén me zhuān yè"

  Translation:

  Qi Shu Fan suppressed his anger and said, "Then what do you want to major in?"

  Archaeology

  "Then what's the point of studying such an obscure major? How many real archaeology experts are there in this world? What can you even achieve with that degree? And it's too dangerous, if you want to go to Yunnan then fine, but I will never agree to you studying archaeology."

  His face expressionless, "You don't agree but I still want to learn".

  "You think I really can't control you anymore? Why don't you try and see if you have the ability to study archaeology without my consent?"

  "What right do you have to interfere with me?"

  "What right do I have? Just because I'm your dad, and I can control you. Let me tell you, you've been so arrogant for so many years, it's enough! I absolutely won't agree to let you do that kind of thing!"

  "Unfortunately, I never thought so."

  Yu Cai started to see the father and son quarreling, with an attitude of being a bystander, after all, this was their own business, she was an outsider and shouldn't intervene. At this time, seeing Ji Shi's words come out, while on the other side, Ji Shu Fan's anger was more painful and regretful, her heart also tightened, hurriedly pulling him to sit down, "Ji Shu Fan, what's going on, say it slowly, Ah Shi might just be temporarily interested, later he may not necessarily become an archaeology expert, why are you in such a hurry?"

  Qishu's face had completely dissipated its anger, leaving only pain. With Yucai's support, he sat down and closed his eyes, trying to calm his emotions.

  Yu Cai's gaze wandered back and forth between the father and son, what had happened to this father-son pair, why would the usually cold Ji Shi say such a thing?

  The three of them fell silent, Auntie finished cooking and came out of the kitchen, asking when dinner would be served. Yu Cai stood up, "Wait a bit longer, Auntie, you go rest first, we'll call you when it's time to eat."

  Auntie also sensed that the atmosphere was off and went into her own room. Yu Cai poured a few cups of warm water onto the table and held one herself, sipping slowly.

  Time slowly slipped away, Yu Cai glanced at her watch and it was already a little late. She thought that her old father must have eaten lunch and would be rushing over now, saying he might arrive soon, she had to go back, but the mess here...

  Qing cleared her throat and Yucai opened his mouth, "A Shi, have you made up your mind?"

  The choice of that place and major was half out of interest and half to get away from the old man's influence, nodding firmly at this moment.

  Yu Cai has also experienced the hardships of studying for three years, and when she gets a headache, "A Shi, you have to think carefully, that major is not easy to learn, it's tiring and hard work, and there are almost no girls, in the future you'll have trouble finding a girlfriend".

  Qí shì looked at her and said, "You don't support either?"

  "I think Yunnan is a pretty good place, but archaeology is really too cold. The things you learn, if you don't work in the field of archaeology in the future, are not very useful, and it's also difficult to achieve anything if you do work in the field of archaeology."

  "I don't want any results."

  "Ah Xi, have you made up your mind?"

  Qǐ shì zhī zài dù diǎn tóu, yù cǎi zhàn qǐ shēn, "nà me, hǎo ba, nǐ gēn nǐ bà hǎo hǎo shuō shuō, bú yào zài rě tā shēng qì, wǒ xiān zǒu le".

  Translation:

  Qishizhi nodded again, Yucia stood up, "Alright then, you go and talk to your dad properly, don't make him angry again, I'll leave first".

  Qí Shì looked at her and asked, "Are you angry?"

  Yu Cai's expression softened with a smile, "A Shi, I'm not angry, it's just that he's your dad, and everything can be discussed slowly. Your words earlier hurt his heart."

  A hint of ripples appeared in her eyes as she said, "He is not."

  Yu Cai sighed and said, "A Shi, remember, the only people we can hurt are those who love us." After finishing speaking, Yu Cai didn't look at him again, turned around and entered the house to pick up her backpack and start changing shoes.

  Qibook Fan also stood up, "Xiao Cai, I'll send you back".

  "No need, it's convenient to take a taxi here, you and A Shi have a good talk, you've been soft for so many years, suddenly becoming tough is useless."

  Qishu Fan smiled and said, "Xiao Cai, didn't you say you were going to Tibet to study at first? How did you change your mind?"

  Yu thought for a moment and decided to tell the truth, "Actually, it's mainly because of my physical condition. My family has a genetic history of bronchitis, if I go there and stay for four years, it may ruin my health for the rest of my life."

  "I thought you'd say your parents wouldn't let you go so far away."

  "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to mislead you, but I think that as I grow up, I will eventually have to leave my parents."

  "Xiao Cai, what do you want to learn?"

  "Politics, history, Chinese are all fine, as long as it's not English geography, I'm willing to learn."

  "Then can you consider politics as your first choice?"

  Yu Cai looked at him with a smile that was not quite a smile, "Dear public servant, I hope you're not implying that you'll secretly help me in my future career".

  "Sometimes taking advantage of one's position is no big deal."

  Yu Zai slowly walked back to the living room, "I have to admit, your proposal is very compelling. After all, being a mediocre person who just goes through the motions was once something I deeply desired."

  Qishu raised an eyebrow, and Yucai suddenly laughed softly, "Originally I should have accepted your proposal 100%, but now, I think I have to decline your kindness".

  "Why?"

  "It's complicated, you don't need to know and wouldn't be interested anyway."

  "Xiao Cai, I hope you think carefully."

  Her lips curled up in a sarcastic smile, previously she had envied others for having such relationships, but now that she had one herself, she no longer felt the need.

  Qibook frowned as soon as he saw Yucai's smile, "Xiao Cai, I think you should understand the severity of the situation".

  "Dear Uncle, I think no one understands me better," because she had gone through the painful experience of job hunting everywhere.

  "If you accept it, your future path will have fewer twists and turns."

  "Believe me, I'm quite clear about this, I really have to go, my dad should be here by now."

  "Xiao Cai——" Qi Shu wanted to speak but stopped.

  Yu Cai raised an eyebrow, "Being hesitant and unclear isn't your style."

  "Xiao Cai, I know I'm being unreasonable, but I hope you can stay in the provincial city."

  Yu Cai Leng hummed a cold sound and sat down, calming her emotions for a moment before speaking in a chilly tone, "Qi Shu Fan, I hope you understand what you're saying."

  "Xiao Cai, I know it's too much to ask, but I really hope you can stay."

  Yu Cai looked at him with a sarcastic gaze, "Do you want me to stay behind or use me as an excuse to leave Ah Shi behind?"

  "I hope both of you can stay."

  "I can tell you for sure, Ah Shi will never change his mind because of me."

  "Qishu said after a moment of silence, 'I still hope you can stay'."

  "Pray, I'm not as noble as you think. If I really agreed to stay, there must be something in return for what I give up. I'm afraid you can't afford what I want."

  "What do you want?"

  Yu Cai suddenly lost her energy and said dejectedly, "No matter what you offer me, I won't agree to stay".

  "Xiao Cai——"

  Yu Cai interrupted him, "Qishu Fan, Ah Shi has grown up. If you feel lonely, you can have another child."

  "Xiao Cai!" Qi Shu furrowed his brow.

  Yu Cai stood up again, "Qi Shu Fan, you should know the significance of these four years in my life, so I don't want you to make such impolite requests again. Qi Shi, take care of yourself and remember to eat breakfast." Yu Cai put his arm around Qi Shi's shoulder and hastily left.

  Qishu Fan suddenly stopped in his tracks, wanting to intercept her.