Chapter 551: Anxiety

All credit to original author: Yi Yi Lan Xi

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In the middle of the night, Lian Fang Zhou was in a drowsy sleep when she heard a light knock and Lian Ze’s anxious voice calling: “Sister, sister! Are you asleep? Sister!”

Lian Fang Zhou’s brain woke up and she hurriedly put her clothes on, stepping forward to open the door in three steps.

Ah Jian’s door also opened, and he asked: “What’s the matter?”

Lian Ze called ‘Brother Ah Jian’ apologetically, a little sorry for disturbing him. Turning to Lian Fang Zhou, he said: “It’s Che’er. I, I heard him crying under his quilt! I asked him what was wrong but he refused to say anything. He even covered his head with the blanket.”

Exam anxiety! This child…

Lian Fang Zhou sighed silently. Thinking about it, it was no wonder than he would feel under a lot of pressure. If only he didn’t insist on taking first place to enter Master Ding’s eyes.

He was still a child after all.

“Don’t worry, I will go speak to him.” Lian Fang Zhou assured him. Thinking for a moment, she said: “Ah Ze, don’t go back to your room tonight. Share a room with your Brother Ah Jian. Go back to sleep, it’s alright.”

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Ah Jian and Lian Ze shared a look and told her to call them if she needed them. They watched her enter Lian Che’s room and then went to bed.

Lian Fang Zhou went in lightly and closed the door. Sure enough, there was a low sobbing noise coming from the bed and the quilt trembled slightly. This was one of the cotton quilts they had brought from home. It was moderately thick and very comfortable.

“Che’er.” Sitting on the edge of the bed, Lian Fang Zhou patted the blanket gently and sighed.

“Sister!” Lian Che suddenly through off the quilt and launched himself into Lian Fang Zhou’s arms. Whimpering and sniffing, he sobbed: “What should I do, big sister! I’m so scared and worried! I’m afraid I will fail the exam! Wuwuwuuuuuu…”

“It’s okay, don’t be scared, don’t be scared.” Lian Fang Zhou patted his back lightly with a soft smile. “You should be sleeping easily! Why would such a smart person like you fail? Are you afraid that you will somehow forget everything before tomorrow? If that is the case, then why cry?”

Startled, Lian Che sniffed, feeling embarrassed.

Lian Fang Zhou sighed. “Are you familiar with all the textbooks?”

“Yes!” Lian Che nodded.

“What did your Brother Sun Ming and your teacher say?”

“They praised me. They said that I will definitely get excellent grades in the exam and Brother Sun Ming said there will be no problem with me getting first place…”

“That’s fine then! Since you have prepared so well, just pull yourself together and show your best self during the test. Don’t think wild thoughts! If your mind is a mess, you won’t be able to concentrate.”

Rubbing his head, she smiled: “If you don’t get first place, it is the will of the heavens. Could it be that you will die if you don’t get first place?”

Lian Che paused and thought about this. Wasn’t this true?

Although it was good to be ambitious, the more he worried about this, the more uncertain he felt. But if he didn’t get first, was it possible that he would not live? All in all, a good grade was enough!

“Oh! Sister…” Lian Che felt very relieved. Hugging Lian Fang Zhou, he said shyly: “Sister, am I embarrassing..?”

“Of course not!” Lian Fang Zhou laughed. “This is very normal! Not just you but everyone taking the exam tomorrow will be so worried they can’t sleep! But if you get a good night’s rest, you will feel refreshed and your condition will be better than them tomorrow. You will definitely do well in the exam!”

“Really?” Lian Che’s eyes lit up.

“Of course.” She smiled.

“I will believe my sister, I am going to sleep now!” His smile was very wide and he couldn’t help but add: “But I’m still a little nervous. Could big sister stay with me for a while…”

Lian Fang Zhou laughed. “Alright! Sleep well, your sister will accompany you and leave when you fall asleep.”

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Lian Che hummed, thanking her. Laying down obediently, he closed his eyes. Lian Fang Zhou tucked the quilt in for him and stood by the bed until he fell asleep. When he was breathing evenly and deeply, she quietly got up and left.

Early the next morning, Lian Fang Zhou went out to buy breakfast and asked Lian Ze and Ah Jian to wake Lian Che up and get him ready.

The breakfast was light and she prepared water bottles, hard-boiled eggs, and soft steamed buns for Lian Che to bring in for lunch.

Fortunately, the weather was warmer now and there was no need to worry about the food getting too cold to swallow.

In this era, there was no such thing as insulated lunch boxes and thermos cups.

When they arrived outside the examination room, many people had arrived. There was a large crowd and about twenty security officers in maroon vests and black and white brimmed high hats.

Because there were officials present and this was a formal event, everyone was very cautious. Although there were many people, no one dared to make a lot of noise and the conversation was all soft-spoken.

After the piercing sound of the gong, the dean of the school sang a song and all the examinees went to line up.

“Big sister, Brother Ah Jian, I’m going in!” Lian Che said, holding his basket. It contained his lunch, pens, ink, and some inkstones.

The contrast between his small body and his basket was much bigger than the others.

“Have a good test, we will wait for you outside!”

“Take care of yourself, don’t panic!”

“Answer slowly, don’t worry too much. Write your words well and don’t pay attention to other people or their gossip!”

Lian Che accepting their advice one by one and went to line up with his big bamboo basket.

Looking around, it was obvious that Lian Che was indeed the youngest. It just happened that his section of the line was all adult men in their twenties with strong frames, making him look even more like a radish.

Lian Fang Zhou couldn’t help but sigh softly. She was afraid that people would say some sarcastic remarks, she only hoped that the little guy didn’t take them to heart.

“Don’t worry, Che’er has always been sensible and will take good care of himself.” Ah Jian said, tilting his head to smile at her. “When did you go to bed last night? When we go back to the inn, you should take a nap and sleep until the afternoon. Then we can go pick up Che’er.”

“Yes, yes, sister!” Lian Ze agreed. “Why don’t you and Brother Ah Jian go back first? I will wait here for Che’er to enter the exam room before leaving.”

“It’s fine, it’s only a short wait.” Lian Fang Zhou smiled. The three of them waiting, watching Lian Che.

Just as Lian Fang Zhou thought, as soon as Lian Che walked over, his tiny figure immediately attracted everyone’s attention.

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Lian Che couldn’t help but feel a little uncomfortable and looked back at his sister and brothers. Thinking of what his sister had said, he puffed out his chest and lined up in an orderly manner, as if nothing was wrong.

“Such a small kid is here to join in the fun!” Joked one man.

Another laughed: “That’s right! I’m afraid he’s not even old enough to memorize the Three Character Classics!”

“Hehe, maybe he’s interested in what the adults are doing? Kid, do you even know this is an exam?”

“Hey, he doesn’t look like the son of a rich family. The registration of two taels is a lot!”

“That’s right!”

“…”

The crowd chatted in low voices as they curiously sized him up.

Lian Che has a very strong temper and the more people were like this, it aroused his competitive spirit. His small body straightened and his eyes were fixed to the front, his expression calm and relaxed. He secretly said in his heart: “We’ll see!”

The crowd was surprised when he saw it and their discussion gradually became quieter.