Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Qiao Nan and the four children had already left the school. However, the matter of the triplets leaving the examination hall a few minutes earlier had generated a discussion among many of the parents.
“Mom, you’re not asking us how we fared in the exams?” After returning home, Qiao Nan busied for an hour before the dumplings were ready to enter the children’s tummies. After eating and drinking to their fill, Er Bao stood close to Qiao Nan and looked at her curiously. “All the other parents seemed to be very concerned.”
“I am concerned too.” Qiao Nan smiled as she poured a cup of water for Er Bao. “Er Bao, drink more water. It’s good for your body. Mom does not ask because I trust you all. The three of you usually perform so well at home. When you are in kindergarten, you often come home with little red flowers. I believe that your performance won’t be too poor when you go to primary school.”
This was a cognitive bias that a mother had toward her child.
Er Bao was pleased. “That’s true. Grandma said that Dad did very well in his studies, and so did you, Mom. You’re top scorer of the college entrance examination. As your children, how can we perform too badly?” Since the day they went to kindergarten, the triplets often heard their grandmother telling them the situations of their parents when the latter were schooling.
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Upon hearing that their parents were so good at their studies, the triplets quietly made up their minds. As their parents’ children, how could they perform badly and make their parents lose face? Since their parents were good at their studies, they would certainly be good at it too. They would do wonderfully in their studies.
Er Bao felt very pleased with himself after taking the school entrance examination today. “Mom, during exams next time, I will definitely work hard to achieve the top place.”
“No, you’re second!” San Bao suddenly called out. “The top place is mine.” Grandmother had said that she resembled her mother the most. Hence, she had to be like her mother and attain the top place, being the top scorer!
Er Bao raised his eyebrows. “This first or second place, it doesn’t count when you or I say it. We will know when the results are out.” Er Bao was so cunning. He knew that San Bao was the only lady in the family, and all the elders asked him to give in and take care of San Bao. It was fine for other matters but not his grades.
Instead of fighting with San Bao and receiving his grandfather’s beatings when San Bao cried, he might as well just speak the facts.
Da Bao stood up, held Xiao Bao’s hand, and tugged San Bao’s hand. “We’ve rested enough and should take our nap. Otherwise, Xiao Bao can’t endure any longer.” When Er Bao and San Bao were discussing their grades, Xiao Bao, who was the youngest, had already gone into his usual routine, nodding off like little chicks feeding on grains. He almost fell headlong off the sofa.
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Da Bao could only carry Xiao Bao for a short distance. However, if he were to carry Xiao Bao upstairs like an adult, it would be too difficult. Da Bao knew his own limits. He would not force himself to do something that he could not. Anyway, Xiao Bao was already old enough to climb the stairs on his own. It was not necessary for someone to carry him up.
“Brother Da Bao.” Xiao Bao leaned softly on Da Bao, speaking and yawning at the same time, even closing his pair of little eyes. He was completely following Da Bao and not even looking at the direction.
Da Bao pursed his lips. “We’re going up the stairs now. Be good. Walk yourself. I can’t carry you.”
“Okay.” Xiao Bao mumbled and reluctantly opened his eyes. His stubby legs seemed to have eyes grown on them. Without the need for Da Bao to teach him, when the tip of his shoes touched a blocked path, his other leg would automatically lift higher and walked up.
Xiao Bao was short and had short legs, yet he wanted to shut his eyes and walked as he slept. That speed of his was almost equivalent to that of a snail crawling. Clearly, Da Bao could go upstairs within a minute, but to accommodate Xiao Bao, he accompanied Xiao Bao up the stairs, taking a step at a time.
Er Bao and San Bao, who were bickering earlier, snorted at each other. They then ran after Da Bao and Xiao Bao upon seeing the situation. Their mother had told them that at this age, they had to eat, sleep, and play more. In that way, they could grow better and faster.
“Faster, Xiao Bao. I will go upstairs and be the first one to sleep.” Er Bao was a cheeky one since he was a child. As he grew older, he developed a little more humorous and silly side. Er Bao belonged to the type that could tease someone to confusion.
Xiao Bao was very young and could not take spurring on. Initially, he was in a daze. As soon as he heard that they were going to compete and Brother Er Bao was overtaking him, aiming for his first place, he opened his eyes widely. He flung Da Bao’s hand away and looked at Er Bao, his eyes shining. Seeing that Er Bao was really at a higher step than him, without a word, Xiao Bao crawled upstairs using both his hands and legs. Both Da Bao and San Bao could compete for the first place but not Er Bao.
“Come, come. Faster.” Er Bao did not mind watching the fun grow. Clearly, he could reach the top of the stairs earlier but he purposely made himself quicker than Xiao Bao by two to three steps. Thereafter, he stood and hurried Xiao Bao. Moreover, Xiao Bao especially liked to fall into Er Bao’s trap. He was climbing enthusiastically.
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Da Bao quietly retracted his hands. Facing the sleepy and rogue Xiao Bao, Er Bao had more ways than him.
After successfully fooling Xiao Bao to the top of the staircase, with Xiao Bao gamboling into their bedroom and pouncing onto his little bed, Er Bao looked at Da Bao smugly, as if asking ‘Look at how good I am. Without my help, you could wait for Xiao Bao to climb up the stairs for half a day.’
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Stiffness was written all over Da Bao’s expressionless little face. He seemed as mature as a little old man. Even Elder Lin had more expressions than him. That impenetrable look made Da Bao the one among the triplets who resembled Zhai Sheng the most. After hearing Er Bao’s boast, Da Bao’s eyeballs swirled. He opted to hide the truth and didn’t utter a word. He would let Er Bao, this younger brother, feel happy for a while more.
Was it because he did not have any solution?
At this moment, as long as Er Bao turned his head and looked at the expression of their mother, who was sitting downstairs, he would know that this was not a matter of having no solutions but a matter of whether the solution was acceptable.
“This Er Bao.” True enough, Qiao Nan’s expression did not look good. Xiao Bao was only three years old. He was very small and his height was not much taller than that of the staircase step. Xiao Bao liked to follow the triplets. As he had seen the triplets ascending the stairs on their own, he insisted on doing the same at all times. Just from the looks of Xiao Bao dozing off and shutting his eyes, Qiao Nan might as well go over and personally carry him upstairs.
Fortunately, Da Bao was sensible and knew how to hold Xiao Bao’s hands, while carefully accompanying him to ascend the stairs slowly and step-by-step. Out of trust for Da Bao, Qiao Nan did not bother about the situation. Unexpectedly, with Er Bao’s spurring, Xiao Bao climbed up the stairs like a puppy crawling. Qiao Nan’s eyes and heart almost leaped out at the sight of this.
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