The college entrance exams back then were all quite simple. Howard Thorne wasn’t dumb; he just didn’t like to study. But as long as he applied himself, a year and a half would surely be enough time.

Tang Xiao’nan had been planning to slowly whip her older brothers into shape, but she hadn’t even made a move and they’d already started studying on their own initiative. That saved her the trouble.

"Xiao’nan, are you telling the truth? Our family is going to have four university students? Did a deity tell you that?"

Phoebe Huxley was so ecstatic she didn’t know which way was up. ’If we really have four university students, I’ll definitely slaughter a pig for a grand banquet, announce it to the whole of Clearspring Township, and piss that damn bitch Phoenix Golding right off.’

The corner of Tang Xiao’nan’s mouth twitched. ’Looks like I’ll never be able to shake this "reincarnated deity" persona,’ she thought. ’But that’s fine. From now on, no one will doubt my words just because I’m young. What I say, the deities say. Who would dare disbelieve?’

"I dreamed that my three older brothers were wearing big red flowers and riding huge horses. Our family was setting off firecrackers, and Grandma and Grandpa were setting up a banquet."

Tang Xiao’nan just said she had dreamed it, which made everyone believe her all the more—especially Byron Thorne and Raina, who were grinning from ear to ear.

Wearing big red flowers, riding a tall horse, setting off firecrackers, and holding a banquet... wasn’t that the same as becoming the top scholar in the imperial exams? Good heavens, it was a sign of great fortune for the Thorne family! The ancestors were truly showing their favor!

"Jim, study hard! If you get into university, your uncle will give you a big red envelope!"

Goldie Thorne excitedly slapped Jim Thorne hard on the shoulder. ’From now on,’ he thought, ’if anyone dares to call my nephew a good-for-nothing, I’ll go smash their windows in the middle of the night! I’ll make sure they can never have kids!’

Jim Thorne just grinned foolishly, his confidence suddenly skyrocketing. The deities had given his sister a sign, so he was sure he could get into a university in the future. He’d been studying with Old Master Tate recently, and Jim was starting to think that studying wasn’t actually that hard. His teacher had even praised him several times for his well-done homework. ’Getting into a university can’t be that hard, can it?’ he thought.

"Let’s focus on Howard first. He has his college entrance exams in a year and a half. Phoebe, keep a close eye on him at school. Ask his teachers to pay more attention to him. And Felix, you get some meat to send to his teacher. Howard has been in school for over a decade, and you don’t even know his teacher’s name. It’s disgraceful!"

Byron Thorne looked at his eldest son, dissatisfied. ’He’s far too careless about his child’s education,’ he thought. ’We have so much meat at home, yet it never occurred to him to send some to the teacher. Everyone’s short on meat these days, especially city folks. With ration coupons for just one kilogram of meat a month, what can they even eat?’

"Well, he was always getting criticized by his teacher before, so it would just be embarrassing for me to go. Why not have Frederick send it? Come over to our place and get some meat in a bit. I have to work every day, so I don’t have the time," Felix Thorne said with a chuckle, not at all bothered about parting with the meat.

As long as his son had a promising future, he didn’t mind not eating meat himself. Giving it to the teacher was the right thing to do.

"That won’t be necessary," Frederick Thorne said with a smile. "I already give gifts to Howard and Patrick’s teachers for the holidays, and Lana usually keeps in touch with them as well. There’s no need to send meat specially." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Felix Thorne and Phoebe Huxley were both surprised. They never imagined that Frederick would be more attentive than they, the boy’s own parents, were. They felt a pang of shame, their expressions turning awkward. They hadn’t known about this at all.

"Why didn’t you say anything? That must have cost a lot of money, right?" Felix Thorne asked.

"What’s there to talk about? Howard and Patrick are my own nephews. Besides, it wasn’t much money. As long as they turn out well, all that matters is that they look after me and Lana in the future."

Frederick Thorne’s tone was casual, but he stressed his last sentence, and his gaze held a deeper meaning. Felix Thorne understood at once and said with a serious expression, "Of course. The way those three boys treat me and your sister-in-law in the future is how they’ll have to treat you two. If they dare to be unfilial, I’ll chop their legs off!"