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

Chapter 172 High School Entrance Examination

Time flies like an arrow, slipping away unnoticed. Before they knew it, the day of the high school entrance exam stood like a milestone before Chen Yu, Shi Ning, and Shi An.

On the night before the high school entrance exam, the city's hustle and bustle seemed to be silenced, and all was quiet.

Shi Ning lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind replaying the bits and pieces of her three years of study and life.

Those nights spent studying late into the night, those classes where she and her classmates argued heatedly over difficult problems, and the times she encouraged and competed with Chen Yu and Shi An—all these memories shine like brilliant stars.

She felt both nervous and expectant. She was nervous about the upcoming exam that would determine her fate, and she looked forward to showing her skills in the exam room and bringing a perfect end to her junior high school life.

In Chen Yu's room, the desk lamp still emitted a soft light.

He sat at his desk, flipping through notebooks, the dense handwriting a testament to his hard work.

Despite having reviewed it countless times, he was still somewhat uneasy.

"I must do well on the exam and not let down my uncles, aunts, Shi Ning, and Shi An."

He silently encouraged himself.

Looking back, when he first came to this family, his grades were not ideal. It was Shi Ning and Shi An who patiently tutored and encouraged him, helping him gradually find confidence and methods for learning.

Now, he finally has the opportunity to prove his efforts.

Shi An appeared relatively calm. He stood by the window, looking at the quiet night outside, took a deep breath, and silently sorted out the knowledge points of each subject in his mind.

He knew that the high school entrance exam was not only a test of knowledge, but also a challenge to his mindset.

"Just stay calm and do your best."

He said to himself softly. Jiang Man and Qin Yishen were also busy; they were in the living room carefully preparing exam supplies for the children.

2B pencils, ballpoint pens, erasers, rulers—check each item one by one to make sure nothing is missing.

Jiang Man's eyes were full of worry and concern. "I don't know if the children will be able to perform well tomorrow. I'm really worried."

She whispered to Qin Yishen. Qin Yishen patted her shoulder and comforted her, "The children have worked so hard for so long, they will definitely succeed. Let's not worry about them, just provide them with logistical support."

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window and fell on the children's energetic faces.

Jiang Man got up early and prepared a hearty breakfast for the children, including nutritious eggs, milk, and zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) symbolizing "passing high school".

"Kids, eat more. You'll have more energy for the exam if you're full."

She smiled as she spoke, her eyes filled with loving kindness.

Shi Ning, Shi An, and Chen Yu sat around the dining table, eating breakfast. Although they didn't talk much about the exam, there was a tense atmosphere in the air.

"Keep going, we'll both get into our dream schools!"

Shi Ning raised her milk glass and said with a smile. Chen Yu and Shi An also raised their glasses and clinked them together, "Go for it!"

Their voices were full of power. After breakfast, Jiang Man and Qin Yishen accompanied the children to the examination hall.

Along the way, they kept reminding the children to carefully read the questions, answer them meticulously, and pay attention to the time.

Outside the examination hall, many candidates and their parents had gathered, each with a different expression on their face—some nervous, some expectant, and some anxious.

"Don't be nervous, just do your best. We'll be waiting for you outside."

Jiang Man hugged the three children, tears welling in her eyes. Qin Yishen patted them on the shoulder, encouraging them, "Believe in yourselves, you are the best!"

Shi Ning, Shi An, and Chen Yu took a deep breath and walked into the examination room with firm steps.

They knew this was a major challenge in their lives, and the first step they were taking towards their future.

Inside the examination room, it was so quiet that the only sound was the scratching of pens on the exam paper. Every candidate was striving for their dream.

Outside the examination hall, Jiang Man and Qin Yishen stood under the scorching sun, their eyes fixed on the examination hall door, as if they could see how the children were doing during the exam.

Their hearts were filled with worry and anticipation, hoping that the children would successfully complete the exams and achieve excellent results.

After the first day of exams ended, the children walked out of the examination room one after another.

Although Shi Ning, Shi An, and Chen Yu looked tired, their eyes revealed determination and confidence.

"how do you feel?"

Jiang Man hurriedly went to greet him and asked with concern.

"Not bad, the questions are all within our review scope."

Shi An answered with a smile.

Chen Yu nodded, "I think I performed pretty well."

Hearing the children's answers, Jiang Man and Qin Yishen finally felt relieved.

The exam proceeded smoothly over the next two days.

After each exam, the children would share their feelings with Jiang Man and Qin Yishen, and Jiang Man and Qin Yishen would constantly encourage them and cheer them on.

Finally, the bell rang, signaling the end of the last exam. Shi Ning, Shi An, and Chen Yu walked out of the exam room, their faces beaming with relief and joy.

At this moment, they knew that their three years of hard work and dedication in junior high school had become their most precious memories, and the future awaited them to begin a new chapter.

Jiang Man and Qin Yishen looked at the children with eyes full of satisfaction and pride.

They knew that regardless of the exam results, the children had already taken a solid step on their path to growth.

Shi An suddenly stopped and turned to look at her parents, her face beaming with a bright smile. She exclaimed, "Mom, we want to have hot pot tonight!" Her smile was full of relaxation and contentment after the high school entrance exam.

Jiang Man was taken aback at first, then the corners of her mouth turned up, revealing a doting smile: "Okay, let's have hot pot then, and celebrate properly for you."

Her eyes were full of love; she was happy that the children had successfully completed their exams and was happy to grant them this small wish.

Qin Yishen nodded with a smile and added, "Okay, I'll go buy your favorite ingredients: tripe, shrimp paste, and fatty beef—I'll get them all!"

His voice was cheerful, and the happiness of his family was infectious.

Upon hearing this, Shi Ning and Chen Yu also became excited. Shi Ning clapped her hands and exclaimed, "That's great! I haven't had hot pot in ages!"

Chen Yu nodded vigorously, his eyes shining with anticipation.

Jiang Man and Qin Yishen readily agreed and headed to the supermarket with their three children.

Upon entering the supermarket, Jiang Man was in charge of picking out vegetables, Qin Yishen went to find hot pot base, and the children excitedly rushed to the snack section.

"Don't just look at the snacks, come and see what you're planning to put in the hot pot!"