"You're spouting nonsense! Who here didn't do well?"
The young man shouted angrily, refusing to back down.
Tang Xiuxia's face darkened, and she glared at him.
"Shut up!"
The middle-aged man reprimanded his son and then turned to apologize to the two of them again.
Seeing this, Tang Xiuxia was a little unsure of what to do.
If this father and son pair were unreasonable, it would have been simpler.
She had raised her son alone to adulthood; without some capability, how could she withstand the gossip?
In her early years working at the garment factory, she had often had to contend with women who loved to gossip behind others' backs, and she had never been at a disadvantage.
She hadn't argued much in recent years, but her foundational skills were still there.
"You're really something else. Do you know that Qin Tian is the top student in our Grade Three at Yucheng No. 4 Middle School? Why would he lie?"
A girl sitting at a nearby table suddenly spoke up in support, looking at the young man with disdain.
The girl was also a Grade Three student at Yucheng No. 4 Middle School and naturally knew Qin Tian. Hearing an outsider male making such a fuss and mocking her school's legendary figure, she couldn't stand it.
Upon hearing this, the young man was instantly stunned.
Parents and students in the restaurant who didn't know Qin Tian cast astonished glances his way.
Qin Tian gave the girl a grateful smile and then looked at the young man, saying, "Don't shout so loud. We don't know each other. Whether you believe it or not has nothing to do with me. Venting your frustrations is enough, but don't go too far! Not everyone is your dad, accustomed to indulging you."
The young man stood up angrily.
"What are you doing? Sit down!"
The middle-aged man suddenly roared.
The young man gritted his teeth, snorted with unconcealed reluctance, and sat back down.
"Mom, it's alright now, let's eat," Qin Tian said, smiling as he served his mother some dishes.
Tang Xiuxia nodded with great relief and continued eating.
"Daughter, is that the top student in your grade?"
The girl's mother asked curiously from beside her.
"Yes, it's Qin Tian from Class 10 that I told you about before. He's a legend at our school. In the last two mock exams, he scored over 740, almost full marks in every subject," the girl said, her voice filled with excitement and adoration.
Like the young man, this girl had also deliberately increased her volume.
"Over 740?"
The girl's mother's eyes widened in shock. "Doesn't that mean he can get into Tsinghua or Peking University?"
"Our homeroom teacher said that as long as it's a top university in the country, he can choose any of them," the girl said with a smile.
The surrounding people listened and looked at Qin Tian with disbelief.
Qin Tian remained composed, putting down his phone. He picked up his bowl and ate heartily with the dishes.
Tang Xiuxia's mood brightened considerably, and a proud smile involuntarily appeared on her face.
As for the young man, while surprised, he didn't believe what the girl had said.
Over 740? Was she kidding him?
The highest score in their grade in the last mock exam had just barely exceeded 700, and that was because the test had been easier!
Just then, a boy from another experimental high school in the restaurant suddenly remembered something and said with a surprised expression, "So he's Yucheng No. 4 Middle School's Qin Tian! Dad, I've heard our class teacher mention him too. A really awesome student!"
"You've heard of him?"
"Yes, not just me, many students at our school have heard of him. Let me tell you..."
The boy enthusiastically recounted the deeds of this super score-controlling genius from No. 4 Middle School to his father.
The surrounding parents and students listened, engrossed.
Even the resentful young man, however unwilling to believe it, realized that this might actually be true. He also recalled that after the third mock exam following the May Day holiday, their homeroom teacher had mentioned someone like this from No. 4 Middle School.
Thinking of this, he lost his appetite.
Qin Tian and his mother, however, ate heartily.
After eating their fill, they paid the bill and left the restaurant.
On the way back, Tang Xiuxia couldn't help but laugh and tease, "I didn't realize you were so famous that word spread to other schools?"
Qin Tian smiled calmly and nodded, "It's alright. Actually, I'm a very low-key person, but I can't help it. I don't know how it got out."
"Heh..."
Tang Xiuxia was amused and playfully smacked her son's back with her hand. "Got a bit boastful again, haven't you?"
Qin Tian pretended to wince in pain and shook his head. "No, no, there's nothing to boast about. I don't care!"
"Heh, look at you being silly, who do you take after!"
"Of course, I take after Mom. Who else would I take after?"
"Don't, I'm not as boastful as you are."
"Really? Are you sure?"
"Enough nonsense, let's hurry back and sleep."
"See, you get flustered when you can't win the argument."
"Watch your ears!"
"No, no, I was wrong, I was wrong!"
...
...
Qin Tian breezed through the afternoon math exam, the science comprehensive the next day, and the final English test.
As before, as long as the answer sheet wasn't filled incorrectly, there were basically no issues. Moreover, he had been more cautious during the college entrance examination, and after finishing each exam early, he had carefully checked his answer sheet.
His luck was incredible; the friend sitting behind him also benefited greatly. Especially in the last English exam, he could glance and copy five or ten questions. This guy was experienced too, first using a pencil to record on scratch paper, with "1234" corresponding to options "abcd." After a few quick glances, he filled in his answer sheet and then erased the marks. His English score, which was originally in the 60s or 70s, was now easily over 100. This was even with his essay being poorly written, otherwise, he would have soared.
Xue Qian was also a thoughtful person. After the English exam, he insisted on giving Qin Tian an opportunity to express his gratitude. His father had learned about the situation and specifically arranged a considerable reward for him. Upon learning that Qin Tian already had plans for a dinner, Xue Qian decisively patted his chest and stated he would join, and he would treat them to this meal. Qin Tian couldn't refuse and agreed, giving him his phone number.
Subsequently, everyone went home briefly to get ready. The agreed-upon time was 7 PM, and the location was a popular crayfish stall in Yucheng.
Back home, Qin Tian spent some time watching TV and chatting with his mother, who was in a cheerful mood.
"Mom, what do you want for dinner tonight? Should I cook?" Qin Tian asked his mother, tilting his head. In the past few days, his mother had been responsible for washing rice, cooking rice, preparing ingredients, and then calling him, the "chef," to cook. After eating, they would clean up the dishes together. Their division of labor was clear, and their coordination was seamless.
"Aren't you going to a gathering? Forget it, I'll just make myself some noodles later."
"Then I'll see if I can pack something for you later?"
"No need. It's not you treating, are you going to pack leftovers from someone else's treat? Isn't that embarrassing?"
"I have thick skin, so it's not embarrassing!"
"I think it's embarrassing, okay? It's almost time, hurry up."
"Alright, I'm leaving then!"