ALL NOVEL
Chapter 31
Chu's Dad and Chu's Mom were not at home. Chu Yang was bored at home and noticed Chu Luo only had a couple sets of clothes. So she suggested, "Let's go shopping in the city and buy you some clothes. Also...let's get you a study guide. You're in 8th grade, right? Which high school do you want to apply to?"
When Chu Luo heard buying clothes he didn't want to go, but a study guide? Then let's go. The two got dressed and headed out.
First they took a three-wheeled car to town, then transferred to a bus from town to the city - quite the hassle... Chu Yang thought to herself that in the future they'd have to earn money to buy a car, one with four wheels for the whole family. That way they wouldn't have to deal with so much hassle when going shopping or traveling.
They really needed to earn money!
After a little over an hour, the two finally arrived in the city. After getting off the bus it was about noon. Chu Yang took Chu Luo straight to a restaurant to eat lunch together.
Before entering, Chu Luo looked at the fancy restaurant and said, "Let's just eat at a roadside food stand. This place looks really expensive."
Chu Yang walked right in, "I want to eat here."
Chu Luo: ...Okay then.
After ordering, Chu Luo looked at the menu. Twenty yuan for a vegetable dish, a few dozen yuan for a meat dish! And a seat charge of 5 yuan per person! The seat charge alone could buy him a meal at school.
Chu Yang didn't expect him to order - one look and you could tell this was a kid who rarely came to the city. Indeed Chu Luo very rarely came to the city. Usually he only came for school competitions, exams, etc. During his time off he was mostly home studying or helping around the house - an altogether filial and hardworking kid.
Though it was strange the book never mentioned Chu Yang having a little brother.
Chu Yang ordered a vegetable dish, pineapple sweet and sour pork, a fish with pickled cabbage dish, rice, and more.
As soon as the dishes came out Chu Yang started eating, then urged Chu Luo, "Hurry up and eat, eat more, this stuff is so expensive."
Chu Luo muttered, "You're the one who ordered the expensive stuff." But he didn't dare say it out loud.
Chu Luo had formidable eating prowess. Chu Yang ate one bowl of rice and was full, but Chu Luo ate two huge bowls of rice and finished all the side dishes, eating up every last pickled cabbage. He drank a whole pot of tea.
Drinking so much tea of course meant that Chu Luo soon had to go to the bathroom. Meanwhile Chu Yang went to settle the bill, which totaled 152 yuan.
After eating, Chu Yang took Chu Luo to the city's shopping center. They walked and stopped along the way while Chu Yang showed Chu Luo various clothes. Each time Chu Yang picked out some clothes and asked Chu Luo, he would say "They don't look good."
So then Chu Yang just started grabbing clothes for him to try on without asking. Seeing Chu Luo come out in well-fitted clothes, Chu Yang thought that her family's looks were truly stunning - dressed up, Chu Luo could totally be his class's campus hunk.
"Looks great, let's get it!"
With his shopping desire piqued, they bought Chu Luo two new outfits, a pair of brand name shoes, and a fitted jacket.
Chu Yang also wanted to take Chu Luo to a watch shop to buy him a watch, but Chu Luo hurriedly stopped her. "That's good enough, I already have a watch. We spent so much money today already."
Chu Yang said, "But I have money!" She had an income now after all.
Chu Luo said, "Still, that's enough. We still need to buy books too."
Chu Yang then remembered, "Oh right, I almost forgot."
The two then made for the bookstore. Chu Yang asked directly, "Which subjects are you weakest at? Tell me your final exam scores for each subject."
Chu Luo scratched his head. "80 for Chinese, 118 for Math, 117 for English...96 for Biology."
Chu Luo: ...Wow, not bad in everything besides Chinese.
"Why is your Chinese only 80 points?" Chu Yang was very serious. Chu Luo's sister studied Chinese Literature at A University, yet his Chinese was only 80 points!
Chu Luo said, "...I'm bad at writing essays and reading comprehension."
Chu Yang had an incredulous look on her face. "What??? Why can't you write essays? Isn't writing just something you do with your hands? Can't you just write an 800 character essay in half an hour, speedily cranking them out?"
Chu Luo: ...That's just you. In their class, everyone preparing an essay takes at least an hour, including reviewing reading materials and planning out ideas. But Chu Luo didn't dare say this out loud.
Chu Yang then said, "Forget it. I'll tutor you on it when we get back. For now let me grab a few books for you to check out. You'll also need to read more books and texts in the future for more knowledge and insights - without that you can't write good essays. Let's get you a book of model essays - you can imitate what others have written. You'll also need to look at prose and poetry selections, and cite and reference more from them. I'll subscribe you to a newspaper and some magazines, which you'll need to start reading regularly going forward."
Chu Yang chattered on and on. Her brother only getting 70 points in Chinese? Failing score! Absolutely unacceptable!
Chu Luo: ...Didn't dare say anything.
On the other hand, Chu's Mom and Dad were sitting awkwardly in the living room listening to someone talk. In the living room sat Wang Uncle, Wang Auntie, and some other relatives.
Chu's Mom's maiden name was Wang Yijiao.
Everyone in the living room was chatting away, while Chu's parents couldn't get a word in. Suddenly Wang Auntie asked, "Yijiao, how come your Chu Yang and Chu Luo didn't come?"
Chu's Mom smiled, "The kids went out to play."
Wang Auntie grinned and said, "They really went out to play? Or could it be they don't like coming over? Though I guess so, you guys live in the village...forget I mentioned it. By the way, didn't your Chu Yang get admitted to A University? I say, what's the point of girls studying so much? You should have her find a rich boyfriend on campus.
Then have the boyfriend give you guys some money to renovate your house and make it a little nicer. Or hey, someday he could buy you all a place in Jing City - that would be great right? Oh yes, I heard big bosses these days don't really like female college grads. In my opinion, your Chu Yang could also find an old boss to be a little honey to. She could still support your Lin Sheng well in the future."
Chu's Mom was so angry her hands shook. She stood up, pointed at Wang Auntie and yelled, "What nonsense are you spewing! Honey, let's go!" Then stormed out. Chu's Dad was also very angry but followed her out.
Wang Auntie was also angry, and said to Wang Uncle, "See how your little sister is acting? She came over with just a small gift then flies off the handle at a few words! Was I wrong? Girls shouldn't study so much to begin with. Better to marry early - at least then she could get bride money for your Chu Luo right?"
Wang Uncle nodded. "You're right, forget them."
Wang Auntie then quickly said to the others, "Sorry for that, my little sister is so hot-tempered...anyway, let's get back to our conversation from earlier."
Chu's Mom sat behind her husband on the motorbike, now feeling a bit regretful for losing her temper. But she had been so furious!
"Do you think the kids will ask why we went back so early?" asked Chu's Mom.
Chu's Dad was also super angry, but what could they do. "I'm sorry dear, it's still because I haven't amounted to much."
Chu's Mom hugged him tight. "It's not your fault at all, it was clearly my sister-in-law who...forget it. Let's try not to go over much in the future. We'll just send some money - after all my mom always favored boys over girls."
The two were worried about how to explain it when they got home, but when they arrived the two kids were not home...