Born in the 1980s, she was remarried and became a stepmother; a cold, rough man doted on her, pinchi

Chapter 126 Successfully Entered the First Middle School

As Jiang Man and Qin Yishen eagerly awaited the announcement of Shi An and Shi Ning's college entrance exam results, the day finally arrived.

Warm sunlight streamed through the dappled, water-stained glass windows, gently illuminating the slightly worn but impeccably clean and tidy fabric sofa in the living room.
The patterns on her hair were the elaborate designs popular in that era, gleaming faintly in the sunlight, as if silently telling the story of bygone years.

Jiang Man sat on the edge of the sofa, leaning slightly forward. He gripped the worn-out push-button telephone in his hand as if it were a rare treasure. His eyes were fixed on it, his fingers trembling slightly with tension. He mechanically pressed the redial button every now and then to check his grades.

Qin Yishen paced back and forth on the cement ground, his shoes making a soft "rustling" sound as they rubbed against the surface. He wore a slightly faded shirt, the collar buttoned up neatly. Although he tried his best to maintain composure on the surface, his back was straight, but his eyes, like flames that could not be hidden, revealed an undisguised tension and anticipation.

“It’s working! It’s working!”

Jiang Man suddenly raised his voice and shouted excitedly, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement.

Upon hearing the shout, Qin Yishen rushed to her side. Their gazes were drawn together by a magnet, locked onto the telephone.

When the exhilarating news came from the other end of the phone—that Shi An and Shi Ning's scores were as dazzling as stars, far exceeding the admission score of the top high school—they were stunned, as if frozen in place, their minds blank, seemingly unable to believe the facts before their eyes.

Immediately afterwards, joy surged forth like a flood bursting its banks, and the two erupted in a deafening cheer.

"That's wonderful! The kids are amazing!"

Jiang Man stood up excitedly, her whole body brimming with energy, and hugged Qin Yishen tightly, her eyes filled with joyful tears.

Qin Yishen hugged her tightly, a proud smile spreading across his face, a smile as warm as the spring sun that could dispel all the gloom in the world.

"These two children have truly lived up to our expectations! Their hard work these past few days has finally paid off."

He was filled with emotion, his voice trembling with a barely perceptible sob.

After calming down a bit, Jiang Man, as if afraid of missing some precious moment, immediately ran to her neighbor's house and borrowed his black and white television to check her grades on TV.

At that time, the two children were playing happily at their classmate's house, and laughter echoed in the room.

The neighbor's black and white television screen was small and had static, but when Shi An and Shi Ning's scores were clearly displayed on the screen, Jiang Man's joy was reignited.

Once home, she quickly dialed Shi An and Shi Ning's numbers to tell them the long-awaited good news.

After hanging up the phone, Jiang Man and Qin Yishen immediately began to enthusiastically discuss how to celebrate this extraordinary and important moment.

"Tonight I must cook a lavish feast for the children to reward them for their hard work these past few days."

Jiang Man said firmly, her eyes shining with maternal love. Qin Yishen nodded vigorously in agreement, looking at Jiang Man tenderly and saying, "I'll go buy groceries now. You stay home and rest well, get ready. Don't overwork yourself, honey, after all, this is something worth celebrating."

After saying that, he pushed his old but shiny bicycle, with a bamboo vegetable basket hanging on the back seat, and hurried out the door.

Arriving at the bustling farmers' market, Qin Yishen plunged into the crowd and began carefully selecting ingredients.

He moved between the stalls, his eyes like a precise detector, carefully examining every piece of pork rib and every fish.

He clearly remembered that Shi An loved to eat braised pork ribs with a bright red color and a fragrant aroma, while Shi Ning had a special fondness for sweet and sour carp that was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. So he specially selected the freshest pork ribs from the many stalls. The pork ribs were pink and tender with clear texture. There were also lively carp, swimming vigorously in the basin and splashing up crystal-clear water.

In addition, he carefully selected a variety of fresh vegetables and tempting fruits that the children liked, and had already planned to make several refreshing and delicious side dishes and colorful fruit salads. Meanwhile, Jiang Man was also busy at home like a tireless spinning top.

She first thoroughly cleaned the house from top to bottom and inside to outside, wiping down every corner of the furniture, leaving no dust untouched.

After cleaning, she took out a beautiful set of tableware with a large peony pattern that hadn't been used for a long time from deep inside the cabinet. The tableware shimmered with a warm luster under the light.

She carefully wiped it clean with a soft cloth, making every pattern and every crevice spotless, preparing to give the children a big surprise.

Then, she tied on the floral apron embroidered with lace, and like a warrior about to go into battle, she went into the kitchen and began to get busy.

She stood in front of the stove, focused on simmering the sauce for the ribs. The sauce bubbled and steamed in the pot over low heat, and the aroma gradually filled the air. When preparing the sauce for the sweet and sour carp, she strictly followed the proportions, adding each ingredient precisely. Her eyes revealed professionalism and seriousness, and she did every step with extra care, as if she were sculpting a precious work of art.

Time flies like a galloping horse, and before we knew it, it was evening. The sky was dyed a magnificent orange-red by the setting sun, and the evening glow was like a huge painting.

Shi An and Shi Ning held hands and skipped home like two happy little deer.

As soon as they opened the door, the rich aroma drew them in like an invisible hand.

"Wow, it smells so good!"

Shi Ning took a deep breath, a happy smile spreading across her face, and said cheerfully.

"It must be Mom making us something delicious. No one can cook for us like Mom."

Shi An said with a smile, her eyes full of anticipation.

The two entered the living room, and the completely renovated decor filled them with surprise and delight.

The originally simple living room was carefully decorated by Jiang Man, with colorful crepe paper garlands hanging in the corners, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

The beautiful tableware on the table shimmered with a captivating glow under the lights.

Just then, Jiang Man came out of the kitchen, still smelling of cooking, and said to them with a smile, "My darlings, welcome home! Come and see, I've prepared lots of delicious food for you today, all of which you've been asking for."

Shi An and Shi Ning walked into the kitchen and saw the stove full of delicious-looking dishes. Their eyes widened and they couldn't help but cheer.

The braised pork ribs were a bright red color and glistened with oil; the sweet and sour carp was beautifully presented, with the sweet and sour sauce evenly poured over the fish, emitting an enticing sweet aroma; and the several plates of refreshing and delicious side dishes were arranged in colors like works of art.

"Mom, you're amazing! These are all our favorite foods! You're the best mom in the world!"

Shi Ning hugged Jiang Man tightly, as happy as a little koala. Jiang Man smiled and patted her head, saying gently, "As long as you're happy. Today is a day worth celebrating. You've been admitted to the top high school. This is the result of your hard work and the pride of our whole family."

A short while later, Qin Yishen returned carrying two large bags full of groceries. Seeing the children, his smile broadened even further, like a blooming sunflower.

"Congratulations, my darlings, on getting into your dream schools! This is an honor you deserve."

As he spoke, he took out two beautifully wrapped little boxes from his pocket and carefully handed them to Shi An and Shi Ning. "These are gifts from your parents. We hope you will continue to work hard and pursue your dreams in your new school."