Chapter 018: The Proud Mother-in-Law Is Completely Dumbfounded (Please Keep Reading)

Feng Jiayou had been holding back her laughter as she returned to the small room she shared with Cheng Xueming. Upon entering, she found Cheng Xueming fully absorbed in his mathematics exam, so she dared not disturb him with her mirth. Yet the delight and astonishment from holding the English test paper—scored an impressive ninety-four—simply would not fade from her face.

Especially when she recalled her mother's reaction while grading the paper: the more she marked, the more shocked and bewildered she became. Feng Jiayou could barely contain her laughter. Ninety-four points! And that was after her mother, unable to find a standard reference for the English essay, deducted five points in one bold stroke. Had a professional examiner graded it, this meticulously written essay, faultless in vocabulary and structure, would never have lost so many points. But it hardly mattered now. The English score only counted for ten percent; over ninety was as good as perfect.

Judging by Cheng Xueming’s English results, his other subjects were likely strong as well. After all, Feng Jiayou had gotten into Yan University thanks to Cheng Xueming’s intensive coaching. If the student was this outstanding, how could the teacher be any less?

Impressed, Feng Jiayou quietly glanced over Cheng Xueming’s shoulder. How much time had passed? He was already tackling the fourth mathematics problem! The college entrance math exam consisted of ten essay questions—no multiple choice or fill-in-the-blank, just straightforward answers. Ten major questions, and in just over ten minutes, Cheng Xueming was on the fourth. Remarkable! Feng Jiayou silently cheered him on, careful not to disturb.

She returned to her own seat and resumed editing her manuscript. Several days had passed and she still hadn’t managed to revise the draft her mother had rejected. Earlier, emboldened by her test results, she had been asked about her progress and her mother’s anger swiftly quelled her pride. Determined, Feng Jiayou vowed that if her manuscript was rejected again by “October,” she’d swallow it whole and never write another line!

Immersed in her work, she lost track of time until she noticed four test papers piled beside her—Cheng Xueming had finished them all! Had it not been for her mother making deliberate noise outside, perhaps as a reminder, Feng Jiayou might not have snapped out of her reverie.

“Wow! Xueming, you finished so quickly?!”

Picking up the papers, she saw mathematics, physics, chemistry, and politics—all completed. Feng Jiayou couldn’t help but exclaim, “Quick, take these to Mom! She’s been pacing in the courtyard, probably waiting impatiently!”

Cheng Xueming smiled wryly. Truly a proud mother-in-law. A single English test paper had piqued her expectations, and yet Feng Jiayou, ever the dutiful daughter, had knowingly delayed delivering the rest. Cheng Xueming had noticed her pacing in the courtyard, refusing to come in and see for herself, perhaps out of pride. Unable to wait any longer, she seized the opportunity to scold her son-in-law when her eldest returned home, which finally roused Feng Jiayou from her work.

“Let her wait! You didn’t see her expression earlier, Xueming—so proud, I nearly burst out laughing!” Definitely a devoted daughter! Cheng Xueming said nothing, focusing on his final exam: Chinese.

“A math paper took you this long? And you claim he’s Yan University material?” Upon receiving the papers, Feng Jiayou’s mother, Gu Xueqing, couldn’t help but make a sarcastic remark. When Feng Jiayou had brought the English paper earlier, she’d mentioned Cheng Xueming was working on the math exam. Now it was nearly nine o’clock—over two hours had passed and only now was the math paper delivered. How weak must his math foundation be?

The shock from the English score had faded after two hours. “If he’s Yan University material, let’s check the answers first!” Feng Jiayou presented the four papers—math, physics, chemistry, and politics—raising her eyebrows in challenge.

“So many? He finished them all?!” Gu Xueqing’s sarcasm vanished, replaced with astonishment as she saw the stack before her.

“Math, physics, chemistry, and politics are done—he’s now working on the final Chinese paper!” The effect was exactly as Feng Jiayou intended; her pride and satisfaction were evident. Regardless of the scores, the speed was impressive. Her mother had assumed Cheng Xueming took hours to finish math, but now four complete papers lay before her—wasn’t that a shock?

“Speed is worthless! Yan University requires scores!” Gu Xueqing was momentarily stunned, but still retorted stubbornly as she hurried to grade the papers. Proud and obstinate as she was, she cared deeply about her son-in-law’s results, perhaps more than her daughter.

Word had spread that Gu Xueqing had accepted a country bumpkin as her daughter's husband—a man rumored to be illiterate. For someone who had been proud all her life, this was a blow. Now, when she went out, she no longer walked with her head held high, but hurried home instead. She was holding out hope that her daughter hadn’t deceived her and that her son-in-law possessed genuine ability. She did not expect him to get into Yan University or Tsinghua, but if he could at least enter a Beijing university, she would be grateful.

That was why she personally accompanied her youngest, Feng Jia Mo, to register at Yan University’s affiliated high school—to inquire about transfer and re-examination requirements. She wouldn’t have bothered otherwise, but upon learning that transfer students needed to take an exam, she had arranged for a set of mock papers to test her son-in-law's abilities. She refused to trust her daughter’s assurances alone.

Cheng Xueming, a rural man who spent his days working the earth, had little opportunity for education—how could he possibly be Yan University material? Let him take the test first.

Yet that English paper had left her stunned—a rural man, likely unfamiliar with English, had scored an astonishing ninety-four. It was truly remarkable, and now she eagerly anticipated his results in other subjects.

But after more than two hours, her daughter still hadn’t delivered the papers. Gu Xueqing suspected her son-in-law had faltered after his initial success, unable to keep up. Taking two hours for math would be disastrous in a real exam.

She never expected, however, that her daughter would suddenly deliver four papers—math, physics, chemistry, and politics—all fully answered. This reignited her pride as mother-in-law, and she could hardly wait to start grading.

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