CHAPTER 365: 365. THIS IS REALLY NOT FAVORITISM

Lian En was speechless, just feeling that his dad planned way too far ahead.

At just twenty-one by nominal age, only twenty by full years, he hadn’t yet considered things like dating or marriage in his plans.

But since his dad insisted and mom agreed, as their son, he could only let them do as they wished!

Besides, it was still snowing outside, and it was a long way before spring would come and construction could begin.

The fastest would be to lay the foundation this year, and to start building next year with the hopes that the house could be completed by autumn for people to move in, which would already be fast.

Compared to these, he was more focused on the grades and career choices of Chenchen and Xinzhi.

"Do you even have to ask? Obviously, it’s Qing University’s business school, no explanation needed. After all, I’ve aspired to be a wealthy businessman since I was little!" Chenchen said with bright eyes and no hesitation.

For the sake of this top-notch business management program in the country, he even temporarily gave up his beloved business this winter break!

All his various efforts were aimed at achieving his dream during the university entrance exams.

"Not bad, kid, you’ve really got ambition!" Lian En praised him, patting his shoulder.

Even Chenchen, who had been dabbling in small businesses since a young age and already had a calm and collected demeanor, blushed from the compliments.

He kept saying that he was still young and had a lot to learn.

After another round of encouragement, Lian En quickly asked his little sister Xinzhi about her university entrance exam plans.

Xinzhi, who had once said she wanted to apply for the literature department to become a journalist, editor, or Chinese teacher, cheekily announced, "I want to apply for the hotel management major, at the same university as Chenchen. Haha, even though it’s still a new field everywhere, it’s still more reliable being at a century-old university!"

Lian En was dumbfounded, unable to understand how Xinzhi took a liking to this major.

It wasn’t until she explained with a smile that two years ago, when their mom was pregnant with their little brother and couldn’t keep anything down, it was she and Xinyue who took to cooking to ease their mom’s nausea. From then until their mom smoothly gave birth and got through her first month postpartum, she and Xinyue spent most of their time outside of studying and homework experimenting with recipes.

Over time, she developed a great interest in cooking.

If she weren’t getting older and it wasn’t a bit late to apprentice as a chef,

With limited physical endurance, even if she apprenticed with a renowned chef, she wouldn’t become a top chef, she might have just put down her books and picked up a knife.

Fortunately, she wasn’t stubborn; after a bit of struggle, she stepped back and shifted her goal.

She decided to study the newly added hotel management major, and after graduating, open her own chain of hotels one day.

At that time, she just needed to articulate her ideas, and naturally, there would be many chefs working hard to create the dishes she wanted, wouldn’t there?

The ambitious Xinzhi was determined to steer herself toward being a strong woman, leaving Lian En quite surprised.

But upon hearing that she had already reported this to their parents and gained their support,

Lian En didn’t say anything else; he could only utilize his scholastic prowess, even as an art student, to help his younger siblings focus, solve difficult problems, and such.

Thinking that if they grasped a bit more knowledge now, they’d have a slightly better chance in the exams later.

The best would be to share good news in the summer, giving the family two more top students from Qing University.

Ever since he knew his big brother was staying home, Lian Xi felt both joy and a strong sense of anxiety. After all, as the only underachiever in the bunch, his big brother would supervise him to study whenever he had a bit of time.

But now seeing that besides going to and from work punctually, his big brother was actively helping his second brother and elder sister with their studies,

This made Lian Xi’s nervous little heart relax quite a bit, at least until early June when the university entrance exams ended, his big brother probably wouldn’t have time or energy to supervise his studies.

Thank heavens, thank heavens!

Lian Xi patted his little chest with relief, even though his dad was the official head of the household, and mom was unquestionably the highest authority at home.

Yet, he didn’t fear his parents as much; he just dreaded his noble big brother urging him to study.

Every time his big brother explained the central idea, essay structure, and the author’s intent over and over, clearer than in class,

It filled him with confidence, thinking he had conquered the humanities challenges.

But the next morning, he’d wake with his mind a cloudy mess once more!

Time and time again, always like this, he felt so full of shame and guilt, making him even more afraid of his big brother’s tutoring.

The reason being, he feared that his always kind and loving big brother would finally show disappointment, rejecting him for being dull-witted!

When even big brother Lian En paid such attention to his siblings’ university exams, there’s no way their parents, Lianshan and Shuzhen, wouldn’t be equally concerned.

To provide their two children with a quiet study environment, Lianshan ended up paying quite a bit more.

He made sure that those building the foundations for their new house followed the schedule of the two prospective examinees, starting work after they left for school and stopping before they returned home.

He’d rather spend more money and time than let construction disturb the kids’ rest and studies.

If it weren’t for the Su family’s eldest child assuring them that if they started laying the foundation in spring, the small building could be completed by autumn, shortening the construction period by a year without compromising quality.

Lianshan thought about waiting until the exams were over, as his wife suggested.

Seeing their second son and eldest daughter working like little sponges, diligently absorbing knowledge, Shuzhen, worried about their health, came up with ways to nourish them.

With nutritional meals and brain-boosting medicinal foods on rotation.

After consulting a traditional Chinese medicine doctor and understanding the dos and don’ts,

Shuzhen didn’t hesitate to use her abilities to make walnut essence, ginseng essence, polygonum multiflorum essence, and glossy privet essence — a whole range of brain-boosting and body-strengthening essences specially for her son and daughter.

All this to ensure they’d have the best physical and mental state to tackle the exams, as a mother, she spared no effort.

As for why Lian En didn’t have this back then?

Haha, it’s not that she was biased.

Because starting from first grade at four years old, since enrolling, Lian En maintained his top student status.

Though he applied to the Central Academy of Fine Arts, a top art academy in the country, it was, after all, an art school, wasn’t it?

The entry score requirements were naturally more favorable than those for Qing University or B University, making it quite manageable for Lian En.

Not to mention that back then, Shuzhen hadn’t figured out how to make these essences with her abilities, and even if she had, he wouldn’t have needed them.

But for Chenchen and Xinzhi, who, though top students, were slightly behind their big brother in top student prowess, using these genuine essences indeed improved their spirits quite a bit.

They managed to rise early and stay up late, remaining lively and energetic every day.