Chapter 126 : Babysitting

The next morning, Qingqing woke up to the noise of people outside. Faint, intermittent voices reached her ears, causing her to instinctively cover her head with the blanket. She tried to kick Fan Yanxing, and awake to see what was happening outside, but ended up pulling a muscle in her leg and felt a sharp, spreading soreness.

Reluctantly opening her eyes, she took a moment to recover, then turned her head and noticed that the other side of the bed was empty. The blanket was cold, having been unused for some time. She turned her attention to the direction of the baby crib, which was also empty.

Confused, she rubbed her eyes and was about to get up to draw the curtains when the door to room was gently opened from the outside.

“You’re awake?” Fan Yanxing said as he reclosed the door, reducing the noise from outside.

“Just woke up,” Qingqingnodded and then asked curiously, “Who’s here? Where’s jiayu?”

Fan Yanxing walked over, kissed her on the forehead, then retrieved a set of clothes from the wardrobe and placed them by the bed. He continued dressing and explained, “Officials from the Education Bureau, the county, and even reporters from the local news are here.”

Qingqing was a bit stunned by the number of visitors, realizing that her results had indeed attracted significant attention. She hadn’t expected such a turnout on the morning after the results were announced.

“Jiayu woke up around five or six this morning. I took him out for a walk and bought some breakfast. When we came back, the house was already full of guests. Your mother was busy hosting them in the living room, so I came to call you back to bed.”

Given the large number of people outside, Qingqing didn’t linger in bed any longer. She quickly got dressed, and Fan Yanxing handed her a gray turtleneck sweater that covered the noticeable marks on her body.

As Fan Yanxing went to fetch some water, Qingqin gfinished freshening up and then opened the door to leave the room.

The living room was crowded with visitors. When they saw Qingqing enter, they all stood up in unison, craning their necks to get a good look at the top student in the province.

Originally, they had planned to visit the second-place student’s home after leaving the top student’s residence, but upon reviewing the information, they found that the addresses of the top and second-place students were quite similar. Driven by curiosity, they ended up here instead, only to find that the top student’s family consisted only of her mother and her partner!

When they saw Qingqing, they were astonished by her appearance and demeanor, and even more so by Fan Yanxing’s. The scene was filled with astonishment, which quickly turned into a buzz of excitement.

Was it possible for fate to be even more biased?

A sudden silence fell over the room, leaving Qingqing somewhat puzzled. She smiled and spoke up to break the awkward quiet. Her comment successfully ended the strange silence, and the lead visitor extended his hand to introduce himself.

The living room was lively with conversation, mostly about the college entrance exam. Many were particularly interested in Qingqing’s study methods. After all, everyone had friends or relatives who had taken or would take the exam, and such a close-up opportunity to gain insights was not one to be missed.

After some time, the visitors began to inquire about which school Qingqing was applying to. They all hoped that she would choose a school within the province, as information was easily shared these days. Many of them, having never even left their village, knew very little about the chances of getting into schools outside their region.

Thus, students in the province generally prioritize applying to local schools. Being close to home and having a better chance of getting in were key advantages. If they could secure admission to one of these top local schools, it would be quite an achievement.

However, Qingqing’s plans were bound to disappoint these visitors. Her and her family’s goal was clear, they aimed for top universities in the capital city. Before the exams, they were confident in her abilities and filled out applications for several of the country’s top-ranked universities.

Initially, her family had some apprehensions, worried she might not pass. But given the unexpectedly high scores, receiving the acceptance letters was now a certainty.

After chatting for a while, Fan Yanxing invited the visitors to stay for a meal, but they politely declined.

As they were leaving, Qingqing was already feeling hungry. Fan Yanxing quickly reheated the breakfast she had bought earlier, cooked an extra fried egg, and served it. The delicious aroma made Qingqing’s mouth water, and she devoured the food almost greedily before heading out to play with Jiayu.

“Really, it’s thanks to you, Qingqing. This is the first time I’ve seen so many important people,” said Ma Xiuzhi, handing a rattle to Jiayu with a smile. She suddenly recalled something and, annoyed, slapped her forehead. “Oh no, I meant to ask about your brother’s results as well.”

Noticing Ma Xiuzhi’s anxious expression, Qingqingalso felt a sense of urgency. “Do you want Fan Yanxing to accompany you back? He can help carry these things.”

The family had brought many items, including various foods, daily necessities, and two thick red envelopes as rewards.

After finishing her meal, Qingqinglooked at the envelopes and estimated that they likely contained over a thousand yuan.

“It’s still early, you might catch the last train if you head back now.”

Fan Yanxing agreed, and just as he began to gather his things, there was a knock on the door. Someone was calling for Ma Xiuzhi on the phone.

Ma Xiuzhi ran downstairs to answer it. As soon as she said “Hello,” Wang Xiaomei’s excited voice came through the line, “Shuqiang got accepted! He got accepted!”

Hearing this, Ma Xiuzhi’s face lit up with excitement, and she quickly asked if Huang Yali had been accepted as well.

However, Wang Xiaomei’s voice was subdued as she replied, “She missed the cutoff by just a few points. Yali was crying this morning, but she decided to continue studying and try again next year.”

From the change in Wang Xiaomei’s tone, the family had already guessed the outcome. Hearing it confirmed made them feel sorry for Huang Yali, but they also decided to take some time off to visit and support her.

Ma Xiuzhi reminded Wang Xiaomei to buy some vegetables, and once she was assured that this would be taken care of, she happily ended the call.

Qingqing then called Qu Qingying to share the news. Upon hearing that Qingqing’s family would be returning to Beijing at the beginning of the next semester, Qu Qingying was so excited that her voice trembled. She immediately offered to help tidy up the house so that they could move in directly.

The next morning, when Qingqingand Fan Yanxing went out, they discovered that the local newspaper had acted quickly. An article about Qingqing’s family appeared on the front page, featuring a report on their achievements.

The office was abuzz with colleagues gathering around to congratulate Qingqing and offer their best wishes. Many were eager to learn from her success, forming a long line for advice. Since Qingqingwas eager to take leave to return home, she promised to write a summary of her experience later, which allowed her to leave.

After taking leave, Tian Fengchun also offered his congratulations. They chatted for a while before Qingqing hurriedly returned home.

At her family’s house, there wasn’t much to clean up, but since Jiayu had accumulated more things, Qingqing had to pack everything into bags. It was quite exhausting, and with the start of the school year approaching, she needed to help clean up and then head out.

They first picked up Xiao Jinhua and Qu Anming from the guesthouse and then went straight to the bus station. After a bumpy ride, Qingqing felt quite tired. Jiayu was well-behaved during the journey, sleeping and eating as needed, which reduced the family’s burden.

When they arrived in the village, the sound of firecrackers greeted them.

“Welcome back, esteemed guests!”

Historically, the villagers have held academic achievements in high regard and even reverence. Knowing that Qingqing and Fan Yanxing had achieved such impressive results, and that they were returning to their home village, naturally filled everyone with pride and honor.

The scene was a mix of astonishment and joy, and as the firecrackers went off, Qingqing covered Jiayu’s ears while looked around curiously.

Qingqing first let Fan Yanxing carry Jiayu into the house, and she stayed behind to chat with the locals.

The villagers, seeing the transformed young woman before them, could hardly recognize the lazy and arrogant girl she used to be.

Through conversations with the village head, Qingqing learned that this year, the village had the most students in the county’s top schools, with four of the top ten students in the province being from her family herself, Fan Yanxing, Xu Qiao, and Su Jinchuan.

Since the results were announced the previous day, several newspapers and city leaders had visited the village to offer their congratulations.

The reputation of there village quickly spread far and wide.

After such a long time without any significant attention or good news, the village leader and local education officials decided to hold a grand celebration, arranging a banquet with a hundred tables to honor the achievements and provide an opportunity for the village to showcase its success. They also wanted to give the students a chance to share their experiences and serve as role models, which the entire village supported enthusiastically.

Qingqing and Fan Yanxing agreed to the village leader’s invitation and were allowed to return home.

Upon entering the house, Qingqing first comforted Huang Yali, who, although initially disheartened, had come to terms with her situation. She was determined to turn her disappointment into motivation, seeking advice from successful individuals in her family to find the best study methods and prepare for next year’s exams.

The family was more than willing to help, offering all the support they could.

In the evening, Ma Xiuzhi prepared a feast with a variety of dishes that everyone loved. The table was filled with delicious, aromatic food, and the family enjoyed eating and drinking together, creating a very happy atmosphere.

During her stay in the village, Qingqing found it to be the most comfortable and relaxing time she had experienced recently. Jiayu had grown taller and enjoyed running around the yard, playing joyfully. However, after a few days, Qingqing noticed that Jiayu had gotten noticeably tanned, turning from a chubby baby into a darker-skinned child.

This concerned her, but Fan Yanxing was less worried, feeling that the tan made the child look less pretty, which is sometimes considered more fitting for a boy. However, their relief was short-lived as reality quickly proved otherwise.

After returning to the city, Jiayu’s complexion lightened again, and with time, his features became more distinct and refined, transforming into a truly adorable little boy.

Qingqing made a point of hugging and kissing Jiayu every day, cherishing every moment as it made her mood significantly brighter.

By the end of the month, the admission letters finally arrived, marking the imminent departure of Liang’s family from Changbei Province.