The fragrance of agarwood lingers in the air, sometimes strong and sometimes subtle.
The aroma of tea is rich and lingering.
The ambiance is quite comfortable, but Xiao Qi feels a bit nervous when she sees Mrs. Su entering.
Mrs. Su's appearance gives off an air of competence; she doesn't seem easy to get along with.
Although Su Li repeatedly praises her mother-in-law, saying she has a gentle personality and a super good temper, Xiao Qi still feels pressured. After all, she's facing the biggest boss of the school.
Little does she know, Su Li, sitting there brewing tea, is actually more nervous, with her legs trembling even more.
Even though Mrs. Su is her own mother-in-law, Xiao Qi is genuinely afraid.
Mrs. Su comes in and sits down at the tea table.
After exchanging greetings with them, she drinks tea and chats with Aizhen.
Once Xiao Qi finishes greeting her, she sits obediently, feeling like she's in a class, not knowing where to put her hands and feet. She wishes she had a pen and notebook at this moment, so she could take notes and be less nervous.
Meanwhile, Su Li keeps herself busy, boiling water, warming the cups, wiping the table, and cleaning the tea station, so that her mother-in-law won't keep her eyes on herself.
Su Li's tea-making skills have been honed through such busyness.
She envies the class monitor at this moment. Truly worthy of being the class monitor, facing the big boss mother-in-law, she remains calm and composed.
Xiao Qi, on the other hand, envies Su Li, thinking that Su Li is really calm, not at all flustered, and continues to make tea gracefully without spilling any water.
Mrs. Su and Aizhen chat in English; both of them are elegant ladies.
Mrs. Su gives off a strong woman vibe, but her way of speaking is pleasant and not at all off-putting.
She asks Aizhen how her life has been lately, whether she's adapting well, and compliments her on her good complexion, saying she looks great.
Aizhen is the epitome of a lady, with a soft but not weak demeanor. Her posture while speaking is very graceful, and her gaze is sincere.
If Xiao Qi hadn't seen Teacher Aizhen before, she would have thought that Chu Yu is also very ladylike. Although she doesn't like Chu Yu's personality, Chu Yu looks gentle and delicate, dressed in a ladylike style. She doesn't exude any aggressiveness and always speaks with a smile. She is quite popular among the boys in the class, and she's heard that there are boys from the neighboring class who like Chu Yu as well. Even in the calligraphy club she joined, there are people pursuing her. In short, Chu Yu's appearance may not be the most beautiful, but she has numerous admirers, and she manages it quite well. She maintains a balance and doesn't cut off contact with those who have been rejected. She even looks devoted to them.
These are all dormitory gossip and observations from daily life before going to bed.
Xiao Qi thinks that Chu Yu is quite impressive. She believes this is probably what it means to be a graceful lady, someone who is hard to come by.
But when she sees Teacher Aizhen, she feels like she's comparing a genuine product to a knockoff, a seller's show to a buyer's show.
She realizes that Teacher Aizhen's smile, way of speaking, and graceful demeanor are what truly define a lady.
She possesses a gentle and elegant temperament without being evasive or ambiguous.
Just by looking at her, one can tell that Teacher Aizhen must have had excellent upbringing and a beautiful environment to grow up in. Her smile gives a sense of elegance and visual enjoyment.
Mrs. Aizhen said that she had a great time in Enhua. The environment here is excellent, and her recent food troubles have been effectively resolved, thanks to Xiao Qi.
Then she praised Xiao Qi earnestly.
Xiao Qi felt a bit embarrassed sitting on the side, listening.
"Xiao Qi is a diligent learner, with exceptional comprehension and a great sense of language. We have agreed to travel abroad together, and she is preparing for it. She also plans to learn Portuguese and French because she knows you are good at French, so I recommended her to study with you."
This led to Xiao Qi.
Mrs. Su turned to talk to Xiao Qi.
In Spanish.
"How long have you been learning Spanish, and how do you feel about it?"
Xiao Qi quickly replied in Spanish.
"I've been learning for about a month, and I feel pretty good. Aizhen teaches very well, and I admire her a lot. Learning is not too tiring, and it's relatively simple."
Mrs. Su nodded.
She remembered this girl. The impression was quite deep. In the last English speech competition, she served as a judge, and the girl's speech was excellent and sincere. At her age, she has experienced too much wind, rain, and sunshine. It's already difficult for her to be moved, saddened, or delighted by childhood matters. She has long cultivated a strong and unyielding heart.
But that time, she was actually moved by a little girl's speech, even her eyes were moist.
Later, she learned that the little girl was in the same class as her granddaughter and had scolded her own granddaughter.
She's also smart, so why isn't she making progress? She had to attend preparatory courses to study at Enhua, and her grades in the preparatory courses were terrible. She was let in by turning a blind eye.
Fortunately, in the mid-term exam, her granddaughter's grades were not bad. She didn't fail any subjects and ranked in the middle of the class. Based on her previous study habits, she definitely couldn't achieve this result, which indicates that she has been making efforts in the past six months.
She called her over and praised her a few words and asked about the reason.
Unexpectedly, she hesitated and said it was influenced by the class study committee.
This deepened Su Shuyu's impression.
She also looked at the school's official website and found that there were occasional news about this little girl.
Some time ago, the little girl actually participated in a fancy horse racing competition and won the championship.
She was a bit surprised. This horse racing was different from ordinary projects, and it was very costly. How could an ordinary student have the conditions to learn this?
Later, she chatted with Xiao and learned that she actually went to Xiao's horse farm with her roommate to work and study for tuition. She was discovered to have a great talent for horse riding, and Xiao even specially hired a horse riding coach for her. Then she participated in the competition and won the championship.
It's unbelievable, but the little girl trains very hard in normal times, and she remains humble and calm. Even after winning the equestrian championship, she still diligently does the cleaning and bathing of the horses as before.
It's rare for Xiao to praise someone, but he has a very high opinion of this little girl. She does things diligently and to the extreme, and she will succeed no matter what she does.
So Su Shuyu is very interested in this little girl. When Aizhen mentioned it, she agreed immediately.
Aizhen was a very romantic girl, but she wasn't one to meddle in other people's affairs. The English people were actually quite aloof, yet she took the initiative to help that young girl ask if she had time to teach French. Su Li knew Aizhen's elder and it was at the request of Aizhen's elder that she looked after Aizhen.
Even with ordinary people, Su Li would give face and pay a visit. She never expected that it would be the young girl who caught her interest.
The young girl had great talent and reminded her of herself when she was young.
But she was even more clear-headed and sensible than she was at that age. Su Li had faced countless setbacks and only then did she understand some of the truths of survival.
However, this young girl, at just 17 years old, remained humble and composed, not swayed by extravagance and allure.
Even after participating in the ostentatious horse racing competition, showcasing luxury brands and receiving endless praise, she wasn't captivated. Instead, she returned to school right after the race, diligently and earnestly focusing on her studies. Su Li greatly admired this quality.
When she was a young girl, she didn't possess this kind of composure and made many detours. It wasn't until middle age that she awakened to the importance of striving to improve oneself. Although it wasn't too late at that time, she had already missed out on too much and experienced too much hardship.
Seeing a young girl who may be able to achieve what she couldn't, she felt genuinely happy.
Su Li switched between Japanese, Korean, English, and Chinese as she chatted with Xiao Qi.
It was more like a question and answer session, where Su Li asked a question and Xiao Qi answered. Whatever language Su Li used, Xiao Qi responded in the same language.
As Su Li brewed tea, Su Li's eyes rolled around, wanting to record this scene and see how the class monitor would battle the great demon king. However, she didn't dare to, and being able to witness the spectacle in person was already good enough.
Aizhen didn't know Japanese or Korean, so she simply smiled and drank tea while occasionally exchanging a few words with Su Li.
Xiao Qi actually felt a lot of pressure. It truly felt like an exam, but luckily, this test was within the syllabus.
Although Mrs. Su asked herself questions in different languages, they were all languages she knew. It was as if Mrs. Su knew how many languages she could speak. But that thought flashed by and disappeared.
Hearing Mrs. Su ask why she wanted to learn French.
This time it was in English.
Perhaps it was to ensure that everyone could understand.
Xiao Qi replied in English.
When she was planning, she had also thought about this question: Why learn French?
Why is it that everyone thinks of France as a very romantic country?
Perhaps it's because France is an old developed country with abundant resources, leading to a flourishing culture. As a result, there are numerous works related to this country.
At present, Xiao Qi is exploring the world through books. She hasn't been to those places, but she has read about them in books. They are familiar to her— the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Palace of Versailles, Notre Dame Cathedral, the small towns of Provence, and so on. Each place seems to have its own story, its own legend.
With so many stories and legends, how can one not be moved?
She was only 17 years old, and she wanted to explore the world, to understand her place in it. She wanted to learn many languages to gain a better understanding of the world and comprehend its complexities.
Xiao Qi answered earnestly, "I want to learn French to broaden my horizons and gain knowledge."
"And then?" Su Shuyu continued to ask.
Broadening horizons and gaining knowledge, that's a good answer, but what comes next?
Once you have the knowledge and experience, what is your ultimate goal?
Xiao Qi paused for a moment, without hesitation, and calmly replied, "To broaden my horizons, gain knowledge, and then become a useful member of society."
The fragrance of agarwood lingers in the air, sometimes strong and sometimes subtle.
The aroma of tea is rich and lingering.
The ambiance is quite comfortable, but Xiao Qi feels a bit nervous when she sees Mrs. Su entering.
Mrs. Su's appearance gives off an air of competence; she doesn't seem easy to get along with.
Although Su Li repeatedly praises her mother-in-law, saying she has a gentle personality and a super good temper, Xiao Qi still feels pressured. After all, she's facing the biggest boss of the school.
Little does she know, Su Li, sitting there brewing tea, is actually more nervous, with her legs trembling even more.
Even though Mrs. Su is her own mother-in-law, Xiao Qi is genuinely afraid.
Mrs. Su comes in and sits down at the tea table.
After exchanging greetings with them, she drinks tea and chats with Aizhen.
Once Xiao Qi finishes greeting her, she sits obediently, feeling like she's in a class, not knowing where to put her hands and feet. She wishes she had a pen and notebook at this moment, so she could take notes and be less nervous.
Meanwhile, Su Li keeps herself busy, boiling water, warming the cups, wiping the table, and cleaning the tea station, so that her mother-in-law won't keep her eyes on herself.
Su Li's tea-making skills have been honed through such busyness.
She envies the class monitor at this moment. Truly worthy of being the class monitor, facing the big boss mother-in-law, she remains calm and composed.
Xiao Qi, on the other hand, envies Su Li, thinking that Su Li is really calm, not at all flustered, and continues to make tea gracefully without spilling any water.
Mrs. Su and Aizhen chat in English; both of them are elegant ladies.
Mrs. Su gives off a strong woman vibe, but her way of speaking is pleasant and not at all off-putting.
She asks Aizhen how her life has been lately, whether she's adapting well, and compliments her on her good complexion, saying she looks great.
Aizhen is the epitome of a lady, with a soft but not weak demeanor. Her posture while speaking is very graceful, and her gaze is sincere.
If Xiao Qi hadn't seen Teacher Aizhen before, she would have thought that Chu Yu is also very ladylike. Although she doesn't like Chu Yu's personality, Chu Yu looks gentle and delicate, dressed in a ladylike style. She doesn't exude any aggressiveness and always speaks with a smile. She is quite popular among the boys in the class, and she's heard that there are boys from the neighboring class who like Chu Yu as well. Even in the calligraphy club she joined, there are people pursuing her. In short, Chu Yu's appearance may not be the most beautiful, but she has numerous admirers, and she manages it quite well. She maintains a balance and doesn't cut off contact with those who have been rejected. She even looks devoted to them.
These are all dormitory gossip and observations from daily life before going to bed.
Xiao Qi thinks that Chu Yu is quite impressive. She believes this is probably what it means to be a graceful lady, someone who is hard to come by.
But when she sees Teacher Aizhen, she feels like she's comparing a genuine product to a knockoff, a seller's show to a buyer's show.
She realizes that Teacher Aizhen's smile, way of speaking, and graceful demeanor are what truly define a lady.
She possesses a gentle and elegant temperament without being evasive or ambiguous.
Just by looking at her, one can tell that Teacher Aizhen must have had excellent upbringing and a beautiful environment to grow up in. Her smile gives a sense of elegance and visual enjoyment.
Mrs. Aizhen said that she had a great time in Enhua. The environment here is excellent, and her recent food troubles have been effectively resolved, thanks to Xiao Qi.
Then she praised Xiao Qi earnestly.
Xiao Qi felt a bit embarrassed sitting on the side, listening.
"Xiao Qi is a diligent learner, with exceptional comprehension and a great sense of language. We have agreed to travel abroad together, and she is preparing for it. She also plans to learn Portuguese and French because she knows you are good at French, so I recommended her to study with you."
This led to Xiao Qi.
Mrs. Su turned to talk to Xiao Qi.
In Spanish.
"How long have you been learning Spanish, and how do you feel about it?"
Xiao Qi quickly replied in Spanish.
"I've been learning for about a month, and I feel pretty good. Aizhen teaches very well, and I admire her a lot. Learning is not too tiring, and it's relatively simple."
Mrs. Su nodded.
She remembered this girl. The impression was quite deep. In the last English speech competition, she served as a judge, and the girl's speech was excellent and sincere. At her age, she has experienced too much wind, rain, and sunshine. It's already difficult for her to be moved, saddened, or delighted by childhood matters. She has long cultivated a strong and unyielding heart.
But that time, she was actually moved by a little girl's speech, even her eyes were moist.
Later, she learned that the little girl was in the same class as her granddaughter and had scolded her own granddaughter.
She's also smart, so why isn't she making progress? She had to attend preparatory courses to study at Enhua, and her grades in the preparatory courses were terrible. She was let in by turning a blind eye.
Fortunately, in the mid-term exam, her granddaughter's grades were not bad. She didn't fail any subjects and ranked in the middle of the class. Based on her previous study habits, she definitely couldn't achieve this result, which indicates that she has been making efforts in the past six months.
She called her over and praised her a few words and asked about the reason.
Unexpectedly, she hesitated and said it was influenced by the class study committee.
This deepened Su Shuyu's impression.
She also looked at the school's official website and found that there were occasional news about this little girl.
Some time ago, the little girl actually participated in a fancy horse racing competition and won the championship.
She was a bit surprised. This horse racing was different from ordinary projects, and it was very costly. How could an ordinary student have the conditions to learn this?
Later, she chatted with Xiao and learned that she actually went to Xiao's horse farm with her roommate to work and study for tuition. She was discovered to have a great talent for horse riding, and Xiao even specially hired a horse riding coach for her. Then she participated in the competition and won the championship.
It's unbelievable, but the little girl trains very hard in normal times, and she remains humble and calm. Even after winning the equestrian championship, she still diligently does the cleaning and bathing of the horses as before.
It's rare for Xiao to praise someone, but he has a very high opinion of this little girl. She does things diligently and to the extreme, and she will succeed no matter what she does.
So Su Shuyu is very interested in this little girl. When Aizhen mentioned it, she agreed immediately.
Aizhen was a very romantic girl, but she wasn't one to meddle in other people's affairs. The English people were actually quite aloof, yet she took the initiative to help that young girl ask if she had time to teach French. Su Li knew Aizhen's elder and it was at the request of Aizhen's elder that she looked after Aizhen.
Even with ordinary people, Su Li would give face and pay a visit. She never expected that it would be the young girl who caught her interest.
The young girl had great talent and reminded her of herself when she was young.
But she was even more clear-headed and sensible than she was at that age. Su Li had faced countless setbacks and only then did she understand some of the truths of survival.
However, this young girl, at just 17 years old, remained humble and composed, not swayed by extravagance and allure.
Even after participating in the ostentatious horse racing competition, showcasing luxury brands and receiving endless praise, she wasn't captivated. Instead, she returned to school right after the race, diligently and earnestly focusing on her studies. Su Li greatly admired this quality.
When she was a young girl, she didn't possess this kind of composure and made many detours. It wasn't until middle age that she awakened to the importance of striving to improve oneself. Although it wasn't too late at that time, she had already missed out on too much and experienced too much hardship.
Seeing a young girl who may be able to achieve what she couldn't, she felt genuinely happy.
Su Li switched between Japanese, Korean, English, and Chinese as she chatted with Xiao Qi.
It was more like a question and answer session, where Su Li asked a question and Xiao Qi answered. Whatever language Su Li used, Xiao Qi responded in the same language.
As Su Li brewed tea, Su Li's eyes rolled around, wanting to record this scene and see how the class monitor would battle the great demon king. However, she didn't dare to, and being able to witness the spectacle in person was already good enough.
Aizhen didn't know Japanese or Korean, so she simply smiled and drank tea while occasionally exchanging a few words with Su Li.
Xiao Qi actually felt a lot of pressure. It truly felt like an exam, but luckily, this test was within the syllabus.
Although Mrs. Su asked herself questions in different languages, they were all languages she knew. It was as if Mrs. Su knew how many languages she could speak. But that thought flashed by and disappeared.
Hearing Mrs. Su ask why she wanted to learn French.
This time it was in English.
Perhaps it was to ensure that everyone could understand.
Xiao Qi replied in English.
When she was planning, she had also thought about this question: Why learn French?
Why is it that everyone thinks of France as a very romantic country?
Perhaps it's because France is an old developed country with abundant resources, leading to a flourishing culture. As a result, there are numerous works related to this country.
At present, Xiao Qi is exploring the world through books. She hasn't been to those places, but she has read about them in books. They are familiar to her— the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Palace of Versailles, Notre Dame Cathedral, the small towns of Provence, and so on. Each place seems to have its own story, its own legend.
With so many stories and legends, how can one not be moved?
She was only 17 years old, and she wanted to explore the world, to understand her place in it. She wanted to learn many languages to gain a better understanding of the world and comprehend its complexities.
Xiao Qi answered earnestly, "I want to learn French to broaden my horizons and gain knowledge."
"And then?" Su Shuyu continued to ask.
Broadening horizons and gaining knowledge, that's a good answer, but what comes next?
Once you have the knowledge and experience, what is your ultimate goal?
Xiao Qi paused for a moment, without hesitation, and calmly replied, "To broaden my horizons, gain knowledge, and then become a useful member of society."
