Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
After she grew up, would she be able to meet a man as good as the men in the Zhai family? Once she thought of great-grandpa, San Bao couldn’t help but think about master grandpa.
Every year, when San Bao thought about these two elders, she could only rely on photos to remember them.
“What’s wrong?” Qiao Nan laughed lightly as she touched San Bao’s black hair. “Haven’t you always said that you’re no longer a child and have grown up? If the younger brothers see this, they would laugh at you.” San Bao especially liked to be the boss in front of the younger children. As there were a number of children born later than her and Fang Ling Ling was a younger sister, San Bao was completely satisfied with the role of a ‘big sister’.
San Bao rubbed her face in her mother’s arms and said, “I don’t want to grow up today. I just want to become smaller. Mom, although I’ve already graduated from primary school, I haven’t entered junior high school yet. Strictly speaking, I’m still a primary school student. What am I if not a child?”
San Bao had completely neglected the fact that they had already gone through the registration process yesterday. San Bao said that unless she was already in a junior high school class, she wasn’t considered a junior high school student. She wanted to be a primary school student for the last time today.
In the face of her daughter’s coquettish behavior, Qiao Nan hugged San Bao and didn’t push her aside. In the blink of an eye, the three of them were going to study in junior high school. Qiao Nan couldn’t carry the three children up as early as seven to eight years ago. Seeing that she still had the opportunity to hug them, she was going to hug them more.
“Grandpa, are you here to send us to school as well?” On the day that the triplets were formally in junior high school, Qiao Dongliang had rushed to the Zhai family’s house early in the morning to send them to school. After coming to the capital, Qiao Dongliang had placed all his focus on the three children.
When Elder Lin and Old Master Zhai were alive, they had taken away a lot of the triplets’ attention. Qiao Dongliang was even jealous over this. However, when the both of them were gone, Qiao Dongliang was especially sad. It was difficult for him to get through that sad period, and he became a more competent grandfather.
For instance, Qiao Dongliang wanted to send the triplets to school now. Ding Jiayi, who had been in the capital for a while now and had been receiving living expenses from Qiao Nan monthly, was nonchalant. In the three to four months she was in the capital, she had never once appeared in front of the three children.
As such, the triplets liked Qiao Dongliang, their maternal grandfather. However, they didn’t have much impression of Ding Jiayi, their maternal grandmother.
“Yes, today’s an important day for the three of you, who are going to junior high school. Grandpa must be here.” Qiao Dongliang nodded. “Let’s go. Grandpa and your mother will send you to school.” He wasn’t a good father, thus he wanted to be a better grandfather.
After the two elders had passed on, he was more approachable than the retired Chief Zhai and had more time to spend on the three children. As such, compared to Zhai Yaohui, their paternal grandfather, Qiao Dongliang was better liked by the children and was closer to them.
Seeing Qiao Dongliang’s excited look, Qiao Nan shook her head helplessly. “Dad, are you really coming along? There are a lot of cars sending their children to school now. It’s very cramped. Even if I send them earlier now, there might not be space in front of the school’s entrance.”
“I’ll go. Why not? I know you’re sending them early. Didn’t I arrive early as well? Let’s stop talking and hurry up. Otherwise, you yourself might be late for work after sending the children to school.” Qiao Dongliang was not only supportive of the triplets’ studies but also of Qiao Nan’s career.
His daughter had become the minister of foreign affairs. People generally couldn’t imagine how proud Qiao Dongliang was in his heart, even if Qiao Nan’s achievements today had nothing to do with him. From the start to the end, not only was he not of help to Qiao Nan, but he also hindered her as the stupid wife he had married and his badly-taught eldest daughter had caused her trouble from time to time.
Thankfully, the end result was good.
“However, Nan Nan, are you really going to let the three children live in the school hostel so early?” Qiao Dongliang asked blankly when he was in the car.
“Yes,” Qiao Nan, who was focused on driving, replied. “If they don’t stay when they should in junior high school, they would have to do so in high school as well. Since they have to stay sooner or later, let them start from junior high school. It’s good to train them early.”
“Why would they need training? You have sent the three children to the army every summer and winter vacation for their father to train them. Isn’t that enough? I didn’t want to say this about you, but it was still alright to do so for Da Bao and Er Bao as they were boys. However, San Bao’s a girl. See? Every time they come back from the army, they would become darker. Thankfully, she’s fair-skinned like you. Otherwise, what would you do if she’s tanned? Our triplets are so good-looking, but they have been burdened by this tanned skin.”
When it came to his grandchildren, Qiao Dongliang was no longer as passionate about the army as compared to when he was young. He felt that the three children were still young, and it was too tiring and tough for them to be in the army at such a young age. This wasn’t beneficial to their growth.
At this time, the fair-skinned San Bao was naturally the focus of Qiao Dongliang’s care.
Er Bao, who had become tanner, grinned, revealing his white teeth. A stark contrast was formed, and this sight pierced Qiao Dongliang’s eyes. Qiao Dongliang, who doted on his grandchildren, couldn’t bear to take a second look.
“Don’t be mischievous!” Da Bao patted Er Bao. It was obvious their maternal grandfather wasn’t happy, yet Er Bao was still being mischievous. “If you continue to be like this, I’ll tell Dad so that he can teach you a lesson when he’s back. Don’t forget who was the one who refused to come back from the army every time!”
Er Bao smiled at Da Bao, trying to please him. “Don’t be so serious. I’m just joking and wanted to tease grandpa. Don’t tell Dad anything. He’s a wife-protector. Every time Mom treats me better, he would feel jealous. If you tell Dad that I bullied Mom, wouldn’t he play me to my death?” Once he thought of how protective his father was of his wife, Er Bao was so frightened that he shivered.
1
“Be more honest if you’re afraid.” When Da Bao was chatting with Er Bao, they had both kept their voices low. No matter how foolish he was, Er Bao was still his birth brother. Da Bao had to take care of him, didn’t he?
Da Bao had really unleashed his power. Er Bao shrank his neck and said, “Honest? Aren’t I honest enough? Can I be even more honest?”
“Hahaha…” San Bao, who witnessed the whole scene, hugged her stomach as she laughed. “I think nothing’s happier than watching Er Bao play the fool.” Er Bao was ridiculous. No wonder Mom always said that Er Bao was cheeky. It would be best for him to enter the entertainment industry.