CHAPTER 368: 368. DRAGON AND PHOENIX TWINS COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAM

Seeing that Chenchen didn’t treat him like an outsider at all, not refusing his gifts over trivial values, with a completely familial demeanor, Old Yang laughed heartily with his eyes nearly disappearing: "Good, good, good, I’ll be waiting for your good news. Once you’ve topped the exams and achieved the best results, there will be grand rewards waiting for you from your master!"

Listening to Lian En always talking about his master day in and day out, that shameless Feng Ju couldn’t stop bragging about his excellent apprentice at any chance.

Unconvinced, Old Yang immediately had Chenchen change his usual "Grandpa Yang" address, which anyone could call, to "Master" instead.

Although he once had a family, in the chaos and turmoil, they were long gone without a trace.

Now all alone, Old Yang, just like Feng Ju, considered his apprentice as his spiritual and financial inheritor.

Having a capitalist background and being particularly good at managing finances himself, his favorite thing was gifting anything he found good or useful to Chenchen.

As the twin sibling of Chenchen, Xinzhi frequently received all kinds of great things pushed on her along with Chenchen.

At first, Lianshan and Shuzhen refused.

They tried to stop it, send return gifts, and even offered money.

But without exception, Old Yang would retaliate fiercely.

If you talked about money, he’d act unreasonably; if you talked sense, he’d pretend to be pitiable.

Anyway, for every thousand refusals you had, he had ten thousand ways to counter them.

If really pushed, he’d argue it wasn’t gifts for the couple, but gestures to bolster his and his apprentice’s relationship. Chenchen liked it, he was willing, what right did the couple have to say what was appropriate or not?

Chenchen was fond of him, the two of them hit it off well.

As my only family and disciple, all my future possessions belong to Chenchen.

Sweating, is this a situation where having not dealt with Feng Ju, they’ve gained another Old Yang?

Lianshan was speechless, wishing he could go back and stop himself from agreeing to have his sons both take masters.

Respecting teachers is right, but how come having two sons taking masters means two people in competition with him for his sons?

But mending the boat in mid-river was too late; no matter how displeased he was with having someone in his sons’ hearts on par with himself, Lianshan couldn’t deny Feng Ju and Old Yang’s teachings, mentoring, and affection toward Lian En and Chenchen.

When they were alone and without support in their lives.

As apprentices, if Lian En and Chenchen dared to be ungrateful and accept gifts without treating the elders well, Lianshan, as their father, would not easily forgive those brats.

Capitalist Old Yang had money and was generous with it. Over time, Lianshan and Shuzhen got used to his way of doing things.

No longer wasting words on things he would never change, they just kept reminding Chenchen to treat Old Yang as a blood-relative elder and be filial to him in the future.

Chenchen remembered it well, just like his brother Lian En, considering making their master happy in old age his own responsibility.

The relationship between master and apprentice advanced rapidly, making Old Yang extremely happy.

Seeing that Chenchen truly didn’t treat him like an outsider, accepting gifts and being filial, much like a grandson might be to a grandfather, only close and affectionate without any sense of detachment. In a state of extreme happiness, Old Yang’s extravagant style of buying and gifting became even more pronounced.

No help for it, after his family’s assets were returned, he had so many antiques, shops, and houses—lack of money was never an issue!

Chenchen nodded and, after once again expressing his determination to work hard, sat down quickly to eat.

A large deep-fried dough stick, two eggs, along with a bowl of hand-rolled noodles handmade by his dad.

After devouring all of this with both symbolic and literal satisfaction, the twins boarded their big brother’s car, which once held a top student like demeanor, and sped off to the exam with the family’s constant reminders still ringing in their ears.

"Read the questions carefully and answer attentively. Don’t be nervous; don’t be careless, just try your best to perform at your natural level. I believe you can do it!" Lian En clenched his fist and made a cheering gesture to his younger siblings.

"Don’t worry, big brother, we will!" The twin siblings nodded in unison and replied in one voice.

After waving goodbye once more, the two turned smartly and marched confidently toward their respective exam rooms.

Two years in preparatory class, six years in elementary school, three years in junior high, and three years in senior high.

Fourteen years of sharpening the sword, college entrance exams, here we come!

From the sixth to the ninth of July, the exams lasted three days, and Lian En stayed by their side with water in hand for all three.

At every break, he promptly delivered cool boiled water and clean new towels.

During the lunch breaks, he would make reservations early and order a table full of nutritious, healthy, and not at all greasy dishes.

This assured that once they left the exam hall, they’d have something good to eat and still have time to rest in a booked nearby hotel room for a while.

So attentive and considerate, it made the absolutely grueling college entrance exams feel like enjoyment.

Moreover, besides the one comment at the start of the exams, he didn’t ask once in the three days until the exams ended about how they went or whether the questions were difficult.

Fearing to cause them pressure, and affecting their mood and performance.

After the siblings returned home, Xinzhi took the initiative to speak to their mother Shuzhen, who looked as if she wanted to ask but was afraid it might create pressure: "Don’t worry, Mom. Big brother took good care of us these past few days. We ate well, rested well, and were in great state. While I can’t guarantee that we’ll add two more Qing University students to the family, there’s definitely a great chance!

At least we gave it our all and performed to the best of our abilities."

And the eldest son had once said: as long as they performed to their best, Qing University was practically a sure thing?

At this thought, Shuzhen smiled with squinty eyes: "Good, good, good, my second son and eldest daughter are amazing, and the eldest son has made a great contribution too. Once the scores are out and it’s confirmed, I’ll be sure to prepare something for you."

"We’ll hold quite the feast and let everyone for miles know our family has produced two outstanding university students!" Lianshan laughed heartily, echoing in agreement.

Children’s success is a parent’s greatest achievement and comfort; they almost wanted the whole world to celebrate.

Although it seemed a bit wasteful and extravagant, their parents were rarely this happy, so Chenchen and Xinzhi only agreed.

However, Chenchen announced he would be very busy recently. After gaining enough experience and capital over many years, he has finally reached eighteen and is ready to establish his first factory in life.

From now on, departing the realm of small businesses and vendors, he will rise to become Director Lian.

And closely following that, Lian En also revealed his first.

After attending numerous art exhibitions and competitions, Lian En is finally going to hold his own personal art exhibition.

And in the upcoming fall semester, he won’t be going back to work at the high school as an unimportant art teacher with squeezed class hours.

He plans to use the proceeds from the art exhibition to open a private, specialized Chinese painting interest development school, enrolling gifted children and teenagers who love painting and want to learn painting from society at large.