Chapter 1207
True Friends
Chapter 1207 True Friends
Tan Shanyun took a sip of water: "Say less. Their family is different now."
"What's the difference?" Wu Yunzhen muttered. "His family only has two granddaughters, and they've already died out. I have three grandsons, why would I be afraid of her?"
“Pengpeng is a year older than Tan You,” Tan Shanyun said, glancing at Tan Shanqin and then at the boy Tan Zhipeng beside Tan Shanqin. “Pengpeng has heard about it too, hasn’t he?”
Tan Zhipeng lowered his head somewhat ashamed: "I've heard about it."
Tan Deji lit a cigarette: "What did you hear?"
Tan Shanyun: "Tan You went to participate in a national math competition. In the entire J province, Tan You was the only one who won first prize. I heard in town that the city and school awarded a total of 11 yuan."
Wu Yunzhen gasped: "So many?"
"Pengpeng didn't participate in the competition. If he had gone, would that brat have had a chance?"
Tan Zhipeng smiled wryly: "Grandma, you overestimate me. I usually only pass math at best, and I don't even qualify to participate in this competition. In the previous midterm exam organized by the city, Tan You got the highest score in the city by just two points short of a perfect score."
“Even though we’re not in the same grade, I’ve heard of her. She’s quite famous in the city schools.”
Tan Shanqin: "So it seems like Tan Deming's family is about to rise up?"
"Pretty much. She's so good at studying, how could she be bad in the future?" Tan Shanyun took a deep breath: "She's only 14 at most. If I had known she was this capable, I wouldn't have fallen out with her last time."
Wu Yunzhen pouted: "She's just a brat. Can't we just say a few nice words to her later?"
Tan Shanyun glanced at Tan Shanqin, who immediately instructed, "Don't say that. She managed to send Second Uncle to our house last time, so she's not someone to be trifled with. In the future... let's keep our distance for now. And don't pick fights with Wang Hunu all the time."
Wu Yunzhen retorted, "When did I ever argue with her?"
Cao Xiaojing: "Didn't you often argue about the land before?"
Wu Yunzhen fell silent; naturally, she couldn't go against her son's wishes. Now, no one was on her side, but she couldn't bring herself to treat Tan Deming and Wang Hunu with the same courtesy.
Although Tan Deji and Tan Deming are not related by blood, Wu Yunzhen and Wang Hunu are sisters-in-law. It is rare for sisters-in-law to get along well; everyone wants to put the other down.
Tan You ignored the lawsuit in Tan Deji's family and stayed at home with Tan Yue. The next morning, she received a call from Tan Tao, who said he wanted to celebrate her getting first place in the national college entrance examination.
Tan You smiled knowingly: "Okay, then you and Tan Qin come back to your hometown. Tan Yue and I will stay there. When you come, please bring back some ingredients for me so I don't have to go to town to buy them."
"Okay, my sister and I will be there in a bit." Tan Tao liked that Tan You didn't stand on ceremony with him, so he agreed and went shopping with Tan Qin.
Tan Tao's father overheard and asked, "What's wrong with Tan You? Are you celebrating?"
Tan Tao glanced at his father: "Tan You got the national first prize. You wouldn't understand even if I told you. Just know that Tan You is very good."
"Get lost," Tan's father laughed and scolded, "How could I not know how amazing Tan You is? The banners at her school haven't been changed for months, how could I not know how amazing Tan You is?"
“It’s even better now,” Tan Tao replied. “My sister and I are going to Tan You’s house for lunch. You and Mom can help me prepare the ingredients first, and we’ll come back to set up our stall in the afternoon.”
“Okay,” Tan’s father said with some concern, “Tan You won an award, shouldn’t we give her a gift?” “This is between us, don’t worry about it,” Tan Tao said, “If everything is about money, our family will owe Tan You a lot, I know how much I owe her.”
Tan Qin nodded vigorously. After exchanging some instructions, the two went to the market to buy groceries and arrived at Tan Deming's house with bags of groceries before nine o'clock.
At that moment, Tan You was looking at math competition problems; she was indeed destined to be busy and could never sit still. Tan Yue was playing a simplified version of a matching game on the table; both of them were quietly doing their own thing.
As soon as Tan Qin arrived, she started smiling non-stop at Tan You. She wasn't good at saying nice things, she just kept smiling and holding Tan You's hand. Tan You's heart softened at her smile, and she finally patted Tan Qin's hair: "How's business lately?"
"Successfully," Tan Qin leaned on Tan You's shoulder, "I bought crabs today to celebrate your award!"
"Great!" Tan You glanced at the ingredients; they were all expensive. Besides the crabs, she also saw various small seafood items, suggesting that Tan Tao had spent a considerable amount of money today.
Tan Tao didn't show any reluctance after the major hemorrhage: "You've worked so hard this time, you need to come back and take good care of yourself. Are you going out to take exams again?"
"The next training camp will be in the capital next March," Tan You said, peeling an orange. "There were 60 students in this training camp, but only 6 will make it to the national team. If we make it to the national team, we'll go abroad to compete next July."
Tan Tao blindly praised, "With your abilities, you'll definitely be able to stay."
Tan You chuckled: "I also hope to stay. After all, I've come this far, and I don't want to be eliminated."
Tan Qin said very seriously, "You definitely won't be eliminated, you're so amazing!"
Tan You smiled, realizing that despite the many people she had been welcoming and seeing off these past few days, she had rarely been truly happy. The only people who were genuinely and unconditionally happy for her were her family, Yin Xiu, Gu Qiuxia, Cao Haiyan, and then Tan Qin and Tan Tao.
Seeing how genuine the smile on Tan You's face was, Tan Deming couldn't help but chuckle. He knew his granddaughter could distinguish between pretense and sincerity, which was good. With a few true friends, he wouldn't have to worry about his eldest granddaughter being too lonely in the future.
After exchanging only a few words, Tan Tao naturally squatted down by the well to process the small seafood. Tan You and Tan Qin weren't idle either; the three of them sat around the well, talking quietly.
Tan Zhipeng passed by the road on the east side several times, but no one in the courtyard called out to him. Tan You had his back to the gate, but Tan Tao saw him and recognized him. Would he call out to him?
Of course not.
Tan Zhipeng had no choice but to go home.
"Tan Zhipeng," Tan Tao whispered to Tan You after noticing Tan Zhipeng had left out of the corner of his eye.
Tan You said nonchalantly, "We weren't familiar with each other to begin with, so it would be quite awkward to meet suddenly. I don't need many friends, just a few of you are enough."
Tan Tao's eyes narrowed with laughter: "That's great, Tan You, you're still the same as before, you haven't changed at all."
“Of course I won’t change,” Tan You tapped Tan Tao on the head: “Those who become arrogant and complacent won’t go very far.”
Tan Tao nodded and said, "By the way, now that the weather is getting cooler, more people are coming to my stall to eat mala tang (spicy hot pot), and fewer people are eating mala ban (spicy mixed salad)."
“That’s great,” Tan You said, resting her chin on her hand. “I hope you can earn more money and buy a house in the city soon.”
“Our whole family is thinking the same thing right now,” Tan Tao said, his eyes filled with anticipation as he talked about the future: “When my sister and I buy a house, we’ll definitely save you a room at home.”
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