Second Sister-in-law Sun Juan Wants to Take the Yanjing University Entrance Examination This Year Too (Seeking Monthly Votes)

Who knows what the mother-in-law said to her own wife, or what she said to Feng Jiamo!

Anyway, after sitting in the front courtyard for over an hour, Cheng Xuemin saw his mother-in-law return and mention that Feng Jiayou was calling for him from the back.

Realizing that the bathwater must be ready at Feng Jiamo's side, Cheng Xuemin finally got up and headed toward the back courtyard.

He saw that Feng Jiamo had already locked herself in her room and refused to show her face again.

Puzzled, he returned to his own room, only to discover that his wife was acting strangely as well.

Nothing Cheng Xuemin said seemed to work. After preparing the warm water for Feng Jiayou, let alone going inside to help take care of her, he wasn't even allowed anywhere near the bathroom!

He was locked straight out of the door, leaving Cheng Xuemin thoroughly disappointed.

It was definitely because Mother Feng had come over earlier and given the two sisters some pointers.

Yet, even if Mother Feng had advice for her younger daughter, why did it make his own wife suddenly so shy?

No matter how Cheng Xuemin tried to coax her, his wife remained shy and reserved, steadfastly refusing to let him in.

Immediately!

Cheng Xuemin could only call out to his wife from the outside, reminding her that while soaking in a large bathtub was cozy, pregnant women shouldn't soak for too long.

Actually, Cheng Xuemin knew very well that showers were best for pregnant women.

A large bathtub was fine if one was just lying directly inside, but sitting baths were strictly out of the question.

And in this era!

Which family's women didn't just use a large wooden laundry basin, pour in some hot water, and take a sitting bath?

Unfortunately, although showerheads and running water had been installed, the conditions for a proper shower were still lacking.

Unless Cheng Xuemin personally carried the boiled hot water all the way up to that three-meter-high large gasoline drum.

On second thought, he decided against it—it wasn't worth the exhausting effort!

Besides!

Compared to showering, the women preferred lying and soaking in the large bathtub, so they would just have to make do for now.

Still, it had to be brief; she couldn't soak for too long, and the hot water wouldn't allow for a long soak anyway.

On this freezing winter night, the hot water in the large bathtub cooled down quickly.

To truly enjoy a satisfying soak, Cheng Xuemin would have to be right by her side, constantly helping to add hot water.

Alas, they wouldn't even let him in!

"Don't wash your hair! I'll wash it for you tomorrow during the day!"

Cheng Xuemin shouted once more toward the misty figure of his wife inside. There were no hair dryers in this era; getting a full head of beautiful hair soaked late at night without drying it promptly would inevitably lead to a cold.

Thinking of this, Cheng Xuemin felt a twinge of regret—he shouldn't have gone to all this trouble with a fancy large bathtub.

What if his wife caught a cold because of this? That would be disastrous!

"That's about enough, hurry up and wash up so you can come out!"

After about ten minutes or more, Cheng Xuemin began urging his wife again to finish washing and come out instead of soaking, genuinely worried she might catch a cold!

Fortunately, Cheng Xuemin had closed all the windows and doors tightly, keeping the chilly wind outside.

Still, one could never be too careful.

In truth, the whole setup had been a bit too hasty and far from professional.

Otherwise, Cheng Xuemin would have put in a bit more effort to channel the warmth from the indoor heated brick bed (kang) directly into the bathroom.

That way, while it might not have been as warm as a modern bathroom heater, the bathroom definitely wouldn't have felt cold.

"Quickly come in, quickly come in! I've warmed up the inside of the quilt for you!"

When he finally saw his wife emerge from the bathroom draped in clothing, Cheng Xuemin hurriedly stepped forward to help her toward the bed.

"It's so comfortable! Xuemin, it wasn't cold at all in there, soaking feels so wonderful!"

Feng Jiayou's chubby, baby-fat cheeks were flushed with a rosy glow, looking as though they could squeeze out water.

Crawling into the quilt made it even more comfortable.

Right now, they were sleeping in the master bedroom of the back courtyard. The room was very spacious, featuring a built-in kang bed placed right alongside the nanmu wood bed they had brought over.

When the weather was cold and the kang needed to be heated, they would sleep directly on the inner kang bed; when it wasn't cold, they would sleep on the outer nanmu wood bed.

"Comfortable, is it? It's going to be even more comfortable in a little while!"

Cheng Xuemin desperately wanted to crawl right into the quilt with her on the spot, but he managed to hold back.

Today was a major moving day, and Cheng Xuemin had done the heavy lifting, so he definitely needed to wash off the grime before getting onto Feng Jiayou's bed.

"Have you lost your mind?! Keep your voice down, will you? Jiamo is sleeping right outside!"

Feng Jiayou basically understood everything in a split second now. Remembering her mother's warning from earlier, her face flushed crimson as she spoke.

"Right, right, right, keep it down, keep it down. Let me go wash up first!"

Assuming his wife only wanted him to keep his voice down, Cheng Xuemin figured tonight was still a go.

However, after he finished washing and returned, he was instantly dumbfounded at the sight of the two separately made beds.

"Xuemin, from now on you'll sleep on this bed, and I'll sleep on the inner one!"

"Wait, wife, what's going on here?!"

Looking at the distinctly separated beds, Cheng Xuemin was utterly bewildered. Surely they weren't going to sleep in separate beds on the very first night of their housewarming celebration, were they?

"That's just how it is!"

What else could Feng Jiayou say?

She certainly couldn't tell her husband that her mother had come over specifically to instruct them to be cautious and exercise restraint.

This period was the most dangerous time, and her mother had warned them both not to do anything rash and to endure it for now.

On the spot, Feng Jiayou had blushed and argued repeatedly, telling her mother that she and her husband hadn't been doing anything of the sort lately, urging her mother not let her imagination run wild.

Even so, given her mother's warning and the fact that Feng Jiamo was living outside their door, they truly needed to be a bit more careful from now on.

Besides, her mother had also said that once Feng Jiamo passed the college entrance examination and moved into the school dormitory, and by the time she herself gave birth, no one would disturb the couple anymore.

So for now, she had to listen to her mother, and Feng Jiayou had even resorted to a drastic measure: sleeping in separate beds.

"You can't be serious, right? Wife, I'm supposed to warm your bed at night, aren't I?"

Cheng Xuemin still wanted to brazenly squeeze his way in.

"No need, no need at all! I have the kang bed, and the quilt inside is already nice and warm!"

"Besides, you used to be busy writing manuscripts all the time—who was warming whose bed back then?"

Feng Jiayou refused to fall for it, even bringing up the bed-warming argument.

Back when they were living at the other place, there was no kang bed, and Cheng Xuemin had to write manuscripts every night, so she was always the one who went to bed first to warm it up before he joined her!

So, how could her husband have the nerve to bring that up?

Therefore, it wasn't necessary before, and it was even less necessary now, because the kang under her was burning and keeping her warm.

"I'll change, I'll change!"

"Wife, from now on I'll write my manuscripts right here on this kang bed, and I'll dedicate myself to warming my wife's bed every single day, alright?"

Did moving into a new house actually turn out to be a mistake?

Back when they slept in the east wing room, far away from the main house, the couple could do whatever they pleased.

And now look!

After moving into such a large courtyard, they actually had to sleep in separate beds—was this what he spent money on?

"Tomorrow, tomorrow, wife! Today is our joyous day, how can we sleep in separate beds?"

"A housewarming is a joyous occasion too!"

...

After moving into the new house, Cheng Xuemin's daily routine returned once more to writing manuscripts and screenplays, occasionally switching gears to draw picture-story books and comic strips.

Feng Jiayou joined in on the drawing as well. Her current skill level was fully ready for independent work; the next time Cheng Xuemin went to Old Pan's place to submit manuscripts, he could also ask for a sample draft to bring back so she could try her hand at it.

Drawing comic books as an expectant mother was actually somewhat beneficial for prenatal education.

The only minor flaw was that his sister-in-law, Feng Jiamo, would wander in from time to time, asking how to solve this math problem or that physics problem.

Diligence in reviewing and preparing for the college entrance examinations was certainly worth encouraging, but Cheng Xuemin wasn't her head teacher...

What left Cheng Xuemin dumbfounded was that no sooner had he muttered this complaint in his mind than Feng Jiayou brought up that previous idea again, instantly turning Cheng Xuemin into her younger sister's 'head teacher'.

"Wife, do you really think this will work? Will Second Sister-in-law actually quit her job and take my classes at home?"

Feng Jiayou had acted on a whim, or perhaps she genuinely felt sorry for her second sister-in-law.

She had actually cleared out the main hall of their back courtyard, set up a blackboard in the front, and turned it into a home classroom.

She proposed that Cheng Xuemin tutor her second sister-in-law and younger sister Feng Jiamo right here in an intensive preparation for this year's college entrance exams.

Feng Jiayou had mentioned this once before, probably on the day the Yan'd High School affiliated tutoring class exam results were released, right?

She had brought it up to her second sister-in-law back then, suggesting that her husband Cheng Xuemin spend two hours every evening tutoring both her and Feng Jiamo together.

After all, Feng Jiayou herself was living proof—she had only gotten into Yan'd University thanks to the intensive, cram-style tutoring from her husband.

Moreover, back then, there were less than three months until the exams, coinciding with the busy spring farming season when they still had to do farm work during the day and only had a tiny slice of evening time for tutoring.

That was why Feng Jiayou had such immense confidence in her husband's capability and standard!

Besides, there was still half a year left before this year's college entrance exams, offering far more favorable conditions and time than when she was in Chenggiawan Village.

Therefore, she believed her second sister-in-law and Feng Jiamo would definitely be admitted to good universities under her husband's tutoring!

Yan'd University!
Feng Jiayou kept emphasizing that she wanted to get into Yan'd University as well.

Though with her current standard, it might be a bit touch-and-go, but with her brother-in-law's tutoring, it would be an absolute certainty.

As for her second sister-in-law, Sun Juan.

Feng Jiayou's plan was for her second sister-in-law to quit her job directly, abandoning the bus ticket seller position her maternal family had arranged for her.

She could just stay at home and prepare for the exams with peace of mind.

However, upon hearing Feng Jiayou's suggestion, Cheng Xuemin was skeptical that she could persuade her second sister-in-law to quit.

After all, the general environment was just like this!

With millions of educated youths returning to the cities and all waiting for job assignments from above, securing a guaranteed job was no easy feat.

"How could she not?!"

"Xuemin, don't let Second Sister-in-law's quiet demeanor fool you, she has high aspirations!"

Feng Jiayou knew that her second sister-in-law didn't actually like being a bus ticket seller; her dream job was to be like her mother-in-law, addressed respectfully as 'Teacher Sun'!

"Alright, then wife, you arrange it! I should be fine on my end anyway!"

Cheng Xuemin nodded. Actually, he didn't particularly mind cultivating a couple more top graduates from Yan'd University for the family.

And given Cheng Xuemin's proficiency, coupled with the decent academic foundations that the second sister-in-law and younger sister already possessed,

an intensive, cram-style tutoring session really could make sending them into Yan'd University a distinct possibility.

After all, with the precedent of his own wife Feng Jiayou right there, it was definitely worth a try.

Sure enough!

When the whole family gathered together that evening, while Cheng Xuemin and Feng Jiayou were eating in the front courtyard, his wife brought up the matter.

Upon hearing it, Father and Mother Feng immediately praised the idea, calling it a wonderful thing. Younger sister Feng Jiamo cheered on the spot, having zero objections.

As for Second Sister-in-law Sun Juan, hearing her sister-in-law bring the matter up again left her looking utterly astonished.

Feng Jiayou had mentioned it previously, back when she suggested her husband spend two hours every night providing remedial tutoring.

At the time, Second Sister-in-law Sun Juan had been deeply tempted, especially since Feng Jiayou's successful example was right there before her eyes.

Feng Jiayou had made it into Yan'd University precisely because of her husband's intensive tutoring.

So if Second Sister-in-law Sun Juan had such an opportunity, she naturally wanted to seize it.

Yet, upon hearing that it would involve going to her room every night for two hours of tutoring, she hadn't known what to say.

And so the matter had been delayed!

She had assumed the couple had forgotten all about it. Moreover, Sun Juan was proud-spirited; feeling that relying on others was worse than relying on oneself, she had resolved to work hard on her own to pass the exams and vowed not to drag the Feng family down.

She truly hadn't expected her sister-in-law to bring it up again at this moment.

"I think Jiayou's suggestion is wonderful!"

"From now on, Juan, you stay at home with Jiamo and prepare for the exams with peace of mind!"

"As for the bus ticket job, I'll go talk to your mother later. Now that the policies are favorable, you must hurry and pick up whatever you missed!"

Seeing that her second daughter-in-law was shy and hesitant to respond, knowing what she was worrying about, Mother Feng made the final decision right then and there.

"Alright! I'll listen to Mom!"

Second Sister-in-law Sun Juan replied to Mother Feng with a voice choked with emotion.

"This should have been done long ago! Jiayou, you should have thought of this sooner! Back when the Yan'd High School tutoring class exams were held, you should have had Xuemin help tutor her then!"

Mother Feng added another remark, wondering why she hadn't thought of it earlier.

If she had thought of letting Xuemin tutor Juan at home back then, Juan might have passed the transfer entrance exam along with the others.

"Heh heh, is that my fault?"

Feng Jiayou rolled her eyes. How was it that her kind intention ended up meeting with complaints?

Besides, would saying it back then have made any difference?

Back then, just how much contempt did you, this mother-in-law, hold for your peasant son-in-law?

"I'm not blaming you! I'm saying this is a good thing, a very good thing!"

"From now on, Xuemin, you'll just have to work a little harder!"

Mother Feng beamed with joy, unable to hide her happiness, and offered another word of praise to her son-in-law Cheng Xuemin.

Cheng Xuemin responded with a few polite remarks.

With Second Sister-in-law quitting her job to prepare for the exams at home, would he, the brother-in-law, have it hard?

Not at all!

Because of the second sister-in-law's return to the domestic sphere, Cheng Xuemin was thoroughly emancipated from his role as the househusband.

Usually, he had not only to take care of the midday meals for Feng Jiayou, Feng Jiamo, and the two little ones, but also help look after Feng Liqin and Feng Liwen, which genuinely used to drive him crazy with trivial chores.

Now that the mother of the two little ones had returned to the family to look after the children and cook the midday meals, Cheng Xuemin couldn't possibly be more relaxed.

As for the tutoring!

Actually, Cheng Xuemin did very little lecturing; he had them do plenty of practice, launching a full-scale sea-of-questions tactic.

Whenever they encountered types of problems they couldn't quite grasp, Cheng Xuemin would help them summarize, analyze, and explain those specific question types.

And frankly, at the junior high school level, just how many question types and knowledge points were there to summarize?

Aside from the sea-of-questions method, it was mostly rote memorization, which didn't require any clever tricks and didn't take up much of Cheng Xuemin's time either.

In any case, setting aside two time slots a day was more than enough!

Thus, Cheng Xuemin stayed cooped up at home, stepping outside for nothing. Aside from tutoring the three women of the household, he spent his time writing manuscripts and drawing comic books.

As for the shifting winds and clouds outside, his mother-in-law, father-in-law, and eldest brother-in-law would mention them briefly at the dinner table when they returned home each day.

To Cheng Xuemin's surprise, even though tomorrow was New Year's Eve, he received word from his mother-in-law that Old Wu wanted to receive him in Zhonghai tomorrow.

He was instructed to report to Old Wu's place in Zhonghai tomorrow morning!

With New Year's Eve right upon them, why would Old Wu be looking for him? Judging by the joy on his mother-in-law's face, it had to be good news.

No hesitation—even if it were New Year's Day, he had to go!