Jiang Zhida didn’t need to ask to know that Bai Han was telling the truth.

No wonder Second Aunt was so angry; she probably thought he had corrupted Jiang Weixian.

“Alright, I’ll take it away.” Jiang Zhida’s demeanor deflated, and he appeared somewhat disheartened.

Zhang Lu and Cen Huai’an stood nearby, looking worried, and called out to him.

Jiang Zhida waved his hand at them, forcing a smile. “I’m fine. I didn’t think things through. Second Aunt, Sister-in-law, I’m sorry.”

Chuxia also frowned.

She could still recall how Jiang Zhida had shown off when he first brought the gaming console to Jiang Grandpa’s place, but now he seemed deeply affected.

Jiang Zhida had originally meant well, intending for the children to relax a bit after studying.

He thought that after playing with the slot machine at home, their interest in it would wane.

He had regarded Jiang Weixian as having self-control similar to Cen Huai’an and Zhang Lu, but unexpectedly, Jiang Weixian had played secretly behind adults’ backs and learned to lie for money.

Jiang Grandpa spoke up, “Dazi, don’t bring things like gaming consoles here in the future. Huaying, Xiaohan, I also have a responsibility as the great-grandfather in this matter.”

Zhou Huaying looked at Jiang Grandpa but did not speak.

She now had a deep aversion to the gaming console at Jiang Grandpa’s house and felt resentment towards everyone involved.

Bai Han was more rational than Zhou Huaying and said to Jiang Grandpa, “Grandpa, Weixian is our son, Zhijie and I’s. His behavior is a failure in our upbringing and has nothing to do with you.”

It was hard to tell from Bai Han’s expression whether she was genuinely resentful.

Since Chuxia arrived, her face had remained cold and unchanged.

However, Jiang Grandpa felt uncomfortable.

Although he had tacitly allowed the gaming console, as Bai Han said, the generations between him and Jiang Weixian were too distant.

Bai Han clearly did not want anyone interfering with Jiang Weixian’s upbringing.

The atmosphere in the living room grew silent and somewhat oppressive.

Chuxia noticed Jiang Grandpa’s shoulders slumping.

“Grandpa, let me take your pulse,” she said, standing up and walking towards Jiang Grandpa, breaking the tense silence.

“I’ve been away on rural medical missions for so long and haven’t had time to check on you. How are you feeling now?”

Even little Jiang Weixi, held by Luo Peng, sensed the change in atmosphere and silently ate the candy Luo Peng had put in her mouth, not saying a word.

Noticing the shift in mood, she immediately raised her hand and said, “Aunt, I caught great-grandpa sneaking some braised pork last time!”

Chuxia looked at Jiang Grandpa, smiling wryly. “Grandpa, you haven’t been very obedient recently.”

Jiang Grandpa tried to hide his arm, but Chuxia quickly grabbed it and took his pulse. “In the past month, you’ve probably sneaked food more than once, haven’t you?”

Jiang Grandpa lowered his sleeve, still stubbornly defending himself. “Only Xi Xi saw me that time.”

Chuxia responded, “It would be more convincing if you wiped off the crumbs from your mouth.”

Chuxia guessed that before the argument between Zhou Huaying, Bai Han, and Jiang Zhida, Jiang Grandpa was likely sneaking desserts.

Jiang Grandpa hurriedly wiped his mouth and, indeed, found crumbs.

He stopped talking and looked around, avoiding Chuxia’s gaze, behaving just like a child.

Chuxia said seriously, “Grandpa, I’m not joking. You really can’t keep doing this. Your body’s functions are deteriorating. If you don’t listen to me, it could have serious consequences for your health.”

Jiang Grandpa let out a resigned “Mm,” and his shoulders drooped even further.

Soon, Jiang Zhida called the movers to take the slot machine away.

Zhang Lu showed reluctance in her eyes, lamenting the loss of one of her weekly pleasures.

She sighed and tugged at Cen Huai’an’s arm. “I wonder if we’ll ever have a gaming console again.”

Cen Huai’an replied, “Not in great-grandpa’s house.”

Zhang Lu huffed and glared at Jiang Weixian.

He knew he had done something wrong and sat beside Bai Han, looking like a frightened quail, not daring to say a word.

Chuxia didn’t know how Bai Han and Jiang Zhijie disciplined Jiang Weixian, but after the slot machine was removed, whenever she brought An’an to Jiang Grandpa’s house, Jiang Weixian was never seen.

He no longer practiced martial arts with Cen Huai’an and Zhang Lu.

While Chuxia was on her rural aid mission, Cen Zhengnian took An’an to another province for this year’s national middle school math competition.

This time, Zhang Lu and Tang Song participated again, and their school had an additional student, Liu Hongyu.

Cen Huai’an and Tang Song won first place as expected.

Zhang Lu also performed exceptionally well, winning first place, while Liu Hongyu got third place.

These awards not only brought honor but also served as a stepping stone to prestigious high schools.

Admission to a key high school isn’t solely based on high school entrance exam results.

Winning first place in the national math competition, coupled with excellent school performance, can lead to being recommended for admission without an entrance exam.

Cen Huai’an hadn’t known this before.

He found out only in May when his homeroom teacher asked him to fill out the recommendation form.

The recommended high school was one relatively close to the southern suburbs of the capital. Cen Huai’an did not fill it out.

“Teacher, I don’t want to go to this high school.”

Cen Huai’an had already learned about some high schools in the capital through Zhang Lu, as she wanted to attend the same high school as him.

Cen Huai’an hadn’t given much thought to which high school to attend before; he only had a vague idea of wanting to go to a key high school.

Zhang Lu had her father gather information on several high schools and had reviewed them with Cen Huai’an.

They didn’t involve Jiang Weixian, who had seen a significant decline in his grades.

According to Jiang Zhida, Jiang Weixian had been frequently punished by his father and was confined at home on Sundays to study.

Zhang Lu sighed after going through all the high schools. “I was hoping we could all attend high school together, including Weixian.”

Zhang Lu’s incomplete thought was understood by Cen Huai’an.

Since Jiang Weixian was still in junior high and his current performance was poor, it was unlikely they would attend the same high school.

After reading through all the high school materials brought by Zhang Lu, Cen Huai’an selected three schools and said, “These three high schools are quite good.”

“You like the same ones as I do!” Zhang Lu took a look and excitedly patted Cen Huai’an on the shoulder. “How about No. 4 High School?”

The No. 4 High School that Zhang Lu referred to had both a middle school and a high school department, and she was talking about the high school department, which was a prestigious school in Beijing.

Cen Huai’an had no objections.

After reviewing these high schools, he was even less interested in the high school recommended by the homeroom teacher.

It wasn’t about whether it was a key school or not; it was about the overall learning atmosphere and the opportunities available in the school.

As Zhang Lu mentioned, Cen Huai’an had taken a test at No. 4 High School before, and with Zhang Lu’s explanation, he was familiar with the environment and liked it.

The homeroom teacher didn’t try to persuade Cen Huai’an otherwise.

When he refused, the teacher simply put away the recommendation form, as if he had anticipated it.

“With your ability, going to this school would indeed be a waste. Wait a bit longer; there will be other opportunities.”

The research institute’s affiliated middle school had not just one recommendation spot; it was just that this high school’s spot became available first.

Cen Huai’an returned to his class and called the second-ranked student to the homeroom teacher’s office.

When he came back, the expression on the second-ranked student’s face was quite complex.

Cen Huai’an didn’t notice this.

He was focused on the challenging math test paper that Teacher Zhang had specifically given him.

It was much more difficult than the usual test papers they did, and he was prone to making mistakes if he didn’t pay full attention.

After school, Cen Huai’an leisurely packed his schoolbag.

His movements were always slow, and he usually left for home after most of his classmates had already left.

“Cen Huai’an, wait up!”

As Cen Huai’an was walking with his desk mate towards the staff quarters, he heard the second-ranked student calling him.

“Why is he calling you? Isn’t he always competing with you?” The desk mate asked in surprise, scratching his head. Suddenly, he widened his eyes, “Could it be that he’s planning to fight you because he can’t beat you in exams?”

Cen Huai’an stepped aside and glanced at him. “It’s not that complicated.”

The second-ranked student came up to Cen Huai’an and said, “I didn’t fill out the recommendation form. If you don’t want it, I don’t want it either! Don’t think that just because you’re giving it away I would be grateful. I don’t care for it!”

After saying that, the second-ranked student walked away, his arrogance clear to Cen Huai’an’s desk mate.

But he was also puzzled, “What recommendation form? What is this about you giving it away? I don’t understand.”

Cen Huai’an explained, “It’s a recommendation form for exemption from the high school entrance exam. He overthought it; I have no intention of giving it away.”

If the recommendation had been for No. 4 High School, Cen Huai’an would have filled it out on the spot.

He didn’t have the mentality of proving himself through the entrance exam.

If he could secure a spot at a high school in advance, he would have done it without hesitation.

Understanding this, Cen Huai’an’s desk mate showed a confused expression, “Why does the perennial second-place student always overthink things? You’re the top student, so of course, they would ask you first. If you don’t go, then they would ask the second student. If he doesn’t go, they would call the third student. I really don’t understand how you top students think.”

Cen Huai’an replied, “Don’t include me in that.”

Cen Huai’an just considered the recommendation for No. 4 High School and was surprised to actually receive the exemption recommendation form from the homeroom teacher.