Chapter 126: Youth Is Wonderful ④
Nie Qiu smiled, “Then it’s settled. Uncle, you can’t go back on your word!”
Nie Aiwen chuckled, “How could I go back on my word? As long as you get into Provincial First High School, wherever you want to go, whatever you want, as long as it’s not to outer space, and what you want isn’t a private jet, if Uncle has the ability to give it to you, of course, I’ll give it to you!”
“Don’t spoil the child too much. Qiu Qiu, how are you talking to your uncle?” Nie Aifang, who was arranging chopsticks with Li Mingxue, reprimanded Nie Qiu.
Nie Qiu stuck out her tongue at Nie Aifang, “Uncle said he would give it to me.” She had never experienced being spoiled like this, nor had she ever acted so shamelessly. She didn’t need to consider whether her words were appropriate or if they fit her status. She didn’t need to look at the opinions of those around her. As long as Nie Aifang and Nie Aiwen looked at her like this, she would unconsciously indulge in this sweet atmosphere, sinking deeper.
She felt like a child, doted on by her mom and uncle, just like that. Even Nie Aifang’s feigned warning was filled with sweet indulgence. That feeling was so good. So this was what it felt like for a child from an ordinary family to be doted on by their elders. She had never felt it before.
At this moment, she felt a sense of elation. If only this moment could last forever. The exam reward promised by her uncle, her mom’s scolding with affection, it all felt so beautiful.
Her parents had been living apart before she was born, and they divorced when she was two years old. She had never known what it felt like to be doted on and loved.
Before, she had seen a child living downstairs. His mother would always follow him, telling him to wear an extra layer of clothing so he wouldn’t catch a cold. But the child would always complain, always saying, “Can you stop being so annoying?” “Can you just stop talking?” “What are you nagging about? I know.”
Before, she hadn’t felt much. Only now did she realize how unappreciative that child was. This was something she had always desired but could never attain!
Li Mingxue, who was arranging bowls and chopsticks with Nie Aifang, looked up when she heard Nie Aiwen talking about rewards for getting into a certain school and asked in surprise, “Graduating junior high next spring? Isn’t that the same year as Xiao Kai?”
“Mm,” Nie Qiu nodded with a smile. “Didn’t you already know?”
“But I didn’t know your grades were so good, eighth in the entire grade!” Li Mingxue said with a smile.
“How can I teach you if my grades aren’t good?” Nie Qiu mouthed the words to avoid Nie Aifang scolding her for being impolite again.
Li Mingxue smiled. That’s right, they were both in the third year, and studying together should be even better, right? This way, their progress should be faster. Those who studied well would consolidate their grades, and those who didn’t could learn knowledge. This should be better, right?
Besides, she had witnessed Nie Qiu’s English. Xiao Kai had mentioned wanting to find a tutor who was good at English. Nie Qiu’s English was quite good; she could converse fluently with a university student, so she should be able to handle a junior high student’s English… right?
Thinking this, Li Mingxue smiled, “Nie Qiu, are you free on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoons?” She remembered her younger brother had make-up classes every Saturday and Sunday. Only Friday, Saturday, and Sunday didn’t have evening self-study sessions. This was because most boarding students would go home on Friday afternoons, and students in the first and second years of junior high didn’t have classes on Saturdays and Sundays.
Nie Qiu was a little confused but still nodded, “Yes, I’m free!”
“It’s like this, I have a younger brother, he’s a junior high student like you, and his grades aren’t very good. We’re planning to hire a tutor for him… How about… you teach him?” Li Mingxue looked at Nie Qiu expectantly, “How about it? The tutor fee will be the same as for a formal university student tutor!”
“It’s not about the tutor fee, I… I really… can I?” Who would hire a junior high student as a tutor?
Before, Li Mingxue had only asked her to be a tutor because her English was good. Because she was a junior high student, her English was still good, so Li Mingxue valued not just her English talent but her learning methods. But if she were to truly find a tutor, it was unlikely anyone would want a junior high student as a tutor. Thinking about it, it seemed impossible.
“Yes, you can! Why not? How will you know if you can’t try?” Li Mingxue said with a smile. “Don’t worry, our family won’t owe you money…”
“It’s not about the money, I…”
“Yes, it’s not about the money.” Nie Aiwen interrupted Nie Qiu before she could finish. She looked at Li Mingxue and said with a smile, “I agree to this. There’s no need for a tutor fee. The children will progress together. Qiu Qiu’s grades aren’t that great either, and perhaps there are things your brother understands that my Qiu Qiu doesn’t!”
Li Mingxue immediately became happy. She looked at Nie Aifang and served her a piece of spicy fish, saying with a smile, “Thank you, Sister.”
Nie Qiu immediately became dejected. She could have earned money…
After dinner, Nie Aifang still tidied up the bowls and chopsticks and went to the kitchen to wash the dishes. Nie Qiu went out to see the guests off. When they reached outside the residential area, Li Mingxue turned around and pinched Nie Qiu’s cheek, “Alright, alright, don’t look so dejected. Don’t worry, we will definitely give you the tutor fee.” Children often want to buy many things, but parents don’t understand these needs, often thinking that children asking for money to buy things is unreasonable, or that they are buying unnecessary items. Although she studied management, she was also very interested in psychology. Abroad, parents are very good at satisfying their children’s needs, asking them what they truly need. As long as the requests are not unreasonable, parents will try their best to satisfy them. Chinese education, however, is too rigid and conservative. In the eyes of parents, everything other than academic matters is considered unreasonable.
She knew Nie Qiu was a very opinionated person, so it was reasonable for her to have private savings, just like… when she hired her as a tutor, she paid her.
“I’m not dejected, I’m just worried I won’t teach well.” （ Nie Qiu’s face was pinched flat, and her mouth was a little unclear. She raised her hand and pulled Li Mingxue’s hand away, using her tongue to move her cheek, which felt a little sore.
As soon as Li Mingxue heard Nie Qiu say this, she couldn’t stop laughing. Holding her stomach, she laughed so hard she could barely speak, “Hahaha, Nie Qiu, you… you… you’re too funny, hahaha…”
Nie Qiu and Nie Aiwen looked helplessly at Li Mingxue, who was laughing harder and harder, and finally couldn’t help but chuckle.
