After staying at the Zhao family for a few days, Sheng Qianyu noticed that Qin Fang’s health had improved significantly, so she decided it was time to leave.
Qin Fang tried to persuade her to stay longer, but Sheng Qianyu declined, citing the need to study university-level subjects on her own.
The next day, Zhao Xiaoyu returned home earlier than expected.
With both Qin Fang and Zhao Daxiong at work, the house was empty. Zhao Xiaoyu went upstairs and noticed that Sheng Qianyu’s old room remained untouched, but the guest room showed signs of recent occupancy.
Seeing this, Zhao Xiaoyu’s expression softened slightly.
When her parents returned home, Zhao Xiaoyu asked tearfully, “Why did you invite Qianyu to stay without telling me? Were you afraid I’d make a scene?”
Qin Fang felt a headache coming on, but Zhao Daxiong, with his fiery and straightforward temper, spoke up first: “Didn’t you say before that we favored Qianyu too much and didn’t want her taking any of our attention? We kept it from you to keep the peace at home! Zhao Xiaoyu, let me tell you—during the few days Qianyu was here, she helped your mother with chores and cooking. She was far more sensible than you!”
Qin Fang widened her eyes in surprise and instinctively tugged at Zhao Daxiong’s sleeve. Realizing his harshness, he was about to offer some comforting words when Zhao Xiaoyu reacted even more intensely: “Dad! You’re scolding me! She’s only been back for a few days, and you’re already saying I’m not sensible! And you’re scolding me! Is it wrong for me to say you favor Qianyu? That’s exactly what you’re doing! Deep down, you wish Qianyu were your biological daughter, don’t you? Fine, I get it. I’ll leave!”
Zhao Xiaoyu stormed out of the courtyard but didn’t go far.
She knew that jealousy toward Sheng Qianyu was a lowly tactic—it would only annoy her biological parents and, over time, make them favor the adopted daughter even more. But blaming her parents was different. They would feel guilty for their partiality and try to prove their love by favoring her even more. Even if Sheng Qianyu were more accomplished, what did it matter?
She was the Zhao family’s true daughter.
Sure enough, before long, Qin Fang found her and hugged her tightly, weeping: “Xiao Yu, you’re breaking my heart! You’re my biological daughter—of course I’m on your side…”
Seeing how distraught her mother was, Zhao Xiaoyu patted her back and comforted her softly: “Mom, don’t cry. I was just upset. I have nothing against Qianyu, but the way you acted made me feel like I shouldn’t have come back at all…”
“No, no, you should have. You’re my flesh and blood, born after ten months of pregnancy! How could you not belong here?”
Only then did Zhao Xiaoyu breathe a sigh of relief. This was how it should be.
What parents wouldn’t favor their own child? If not for that nurse back then, she would have been the only child her parents ever had and raised. Sheng Qianyu’s presence… was inherently unnecessary in the Zhao family. Gradually drifting apart until they no longer had any contact would be the best outcome.
A child entering university at the age of 13, especially Tsinghua University, was rare. Sheng Qianyu had successfully been admitted after filling out her application and became a campus celebrity even before starting classes.
However, she rarely appeared in public.
Apart from attending lectures, she spent most of her time in the library. After about a year, just when people thought the provincial top scorer had faded into obscurity, she made headlines again.
She achieved perfect scores in all subjects while specializing in both agriculture and fighter aircraft.
Her progress caught the attention of senior students and researchers in the laboratory, and she was soon invited to join an experimental project team.In just half a month, she produced a small achievement that successfully caught the attention of both the Agricultural Science Academy and the Fighter Aircraft Design Research Institute. Both sides made generous promises: she wouldn’t need to stay at school at other times, and as long as she participated in the exams, she could obtain her graduation certificate.
Sheng Qianyu agonized over the decision and ultimately chose the Agricultural Science Academy.
When her mentor asked for the reason, Sheng Qianyu said, “The biggest and most urgent problem for China right now is solving food and clothing issues. Otherwise, the government wouldn’t have mobilized the Production and Construction Corps and educated youth to develop the Great Northern Wilderness. Only when the people are well-fed can they think and act clearly, and only then can more people contribute to building a beautiful future.
After the college entrance exams, I traveled around and realized how crucial the saying ‘food is the first necessity of the people’ truly is. That’s why I want to join the Agricultural Science Academy first—to tackle the fundamental issues facing China today.”
Her mentor was deeply inspired by her words and didn’t dwell on the meaning behind her phrase “I want to join the Agricultural Science Academy first.” Instead, he patted her shoulder and said emotionally, “After the national daily published your interview, I bought a copy. While some comrades criticized you for empty talk and foreigners mocked your words and actions, they all forgot you’re only 13! The road ahead is long! I believe you can achieve your goals! Don’t take the criticism from some comrades to heart! They’re boosting others’ morale while undermining our own country’s prestige! What our motherland truly lacks is ambitious young people like you! With this drive, success is inevitable!”
Sheng Qianyu usually spoke little and rarely interacted with those around her, giving her mentor the mistaken impression that she was a reclusive genius. It wasn’t until this conversation that he realized how narrow-minded his own thinking had been.
Afterward, whenever people around her mentioned Sheng Qianyu, her mentor was the first to stand up and say that this child had the right mindset, lofty aspirations, and was the future of the motherland.
At first, her mentor believed Sheng Qianyu would undoubtedly succeed. Years later, when she became a household name and a great figure, he couldn’t help but marvel at her abilities, which far exceeded his imagination.
Sheng Qianyu’s admission procedures to the Agricultural Science Academy were completed quickly, but the progress didn’t seem to go as smoothly as expected.