Destined To Love You

4

Chapter 4-Don’t cry

That afternoon after school, Zhao Nuan Cheng was arranging the forms.

She was the class’s organizing committee, any events happening in school, she would be the one responsible to recruit participants. The flyers were all on her desk.

“Countrywide Mathematical Olympiad for Primary School is officially open for registration, welcome all students to participate.”

The thing that caught Meng Ting’s eyes was the black letters in the middle of the red flyer: First place will be awarded $8000.

$8000.

Meng Ting dazed off for a second, $8000 was a lot this year, Shu Zhi Tong’s salary at the research centre was only $6000 a month.

Her family was poor, for her eye surgery, Father Shu had to run all over the place, to borrow money from their relatives. Every weekend, they would push Father Shu to settle his debts. Shu Zhi Tong could only smile back, while he apologized and complimented them, only then they would have let him pay back later.

Consequently, things couldn’t have been dragged on any longer, along with Meng Ting’s disfigured face after the incident, Father Shu only then chose the dangerous radioactive job.

Zhao Nuan Cheng didn’t notice that Meng Ting had dazed off, she continued to gossip as she packed her bags: “It was Sheng Yu Qing’s birthday party last weekend, they say that Jiang Ren didn’t even show up. But out of nowhere, she said that Jiang Ren had invited their class over to Little Harbour this weekend. Ting Ting, do you know where’s Little Harbour?”

Meng Ting shakes her head.

Zhao Nuan Cheng with her eyes bright: “I’ve never been there too, but I’ve heard that people spend at least a few thousands bucks there” she continued while pouting her lips, “Everyone knows Sheng Yu Qing just wants to show off, but Jiang Ren is so rich and generous. Well, too bad Sheng Yu Qing is that pretty, we don’t even stand a chance.”

Meng Ting looked down, and picked up the form, slowly filling in her name.

She knows the world isn’t fair, some people get to spend money lavishly, some people struggle to earn a living.

“Ting Ting, you’re gonna participate in the Mathematical Olympiad?”

“Mmhmm.”

“You’ve learned it before?”

“I learned a little of it when I was young, there are two more weeks left, I could practice and give it a shot.”

Zhao Nuan Cheng couldn’t help but admire Meng Ting

Meng Ting sighed to herself, it is $8000, even if I can’t do it, I’ll also have to make it work. Just so she could stop Father Shu from working at the radiation lab, the first thing is to not repeat the incident again, second is to think of a way to earn as much money as possible.

But she’s only 17 this year, still studying. Father Shu wouldn’t have permitted her if she was busy with other stuff and affected her studies, but competition would be different.

Meng Ting froze on the spot, looking at the Mathematical Olympiad’s flyers, she suddenly knew how to earn money.

She asked Zhao Nuan Cheng: “Beside the Mathematical Olympiad, are there any other competitions going on?”

“Yes, there’s an English Speaking Contest, but it’s during the summer holidays.”

Meng Ting felt slightly disappointed by the fact.