Transmigrated as the Villain Boss's Precious Darling-Chapter 152: The Old Flame is also a Green Tea

Most families couldn’t afford lard or white sugar, so they could only bring along dry pickled vegetables. The taste was certainly nothing special, but no one complained. It was already a huge deal for their families to be able to send them to school at all, so they could endure eating pickled vegetables every day.

Occasionally, students from more well-off families would bring steamed pork with pickled vegetables. Howard Thorne and Patrick Thorne came from such a family. Not only did they bring meat, they also had some money with them to buy dishes from the cafeteria. In every aspect except for their grades, the two brothers were the envy of all their classmates.

But as the new school term began, the brothers found themselves thinking differently.

Before school started, the brothers had spent a few days studying with Tang Xiaonan at Old Master Tate’s, and the experience had a profound impact on them.

Their little sister’s ability to grasp new concepts was far superior to theirs. She spoke English more fluently than they did, and even that good-for-nothing brat, Jim Thorne, was secretly improving. He could even recite the Song of Solar Terms now.

(In the 1970s, schools did not teach English, nor was it on the college entrance exam. Only foreign language majors were tested on English.)

Howard and Patrick Thorne were deeply shaken. They were the big brothers, yet the two youngest in the family were more impressive than them. ’How mortifying!’

"Did our little sister ask about our exam scores last night?" Howard Thorne asked, not entirely sure.

"Mmm. You didn’t tell her, and neither did I." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

The brothers exchanged a helpless look. Why was their little sister suddenly so interested in their grades? In the past, all she cared about was food, clothes, and fun, but now she seemed to have lost interest in all of it.

"Let’s pay more attention in class."

Patrick Thorne reminded him. He had already resolved to work harder. He couldn’t just fudge the answer the next time their little sister asked about his grades, could he?

Howard Thorne’s smile was even more resigned. The moment class started, he’d get drowsy; the teacher’s voice was the most soothing lullaby. The instant class was over, he’d be wide awake and full of energy. ’He wanted to be a good student, he really did, but his body just wouldn’t cooperate!’

"Next time our little sister asks about your grades, will you have the guts to tell her you’re second to last in the class?" Patrick Thorne asked with a disdainful look.

He, at least, consistently hovered around twentieth place. His big brother, however, was perpetually second to last.

The student in last place was a true simpleton; circumstances simply didn’t permit one to rank worse than second to last.

Howard Thorne’s expression shifted. He really couldn’t face that fact. He, the eldest brother, ranked second to last. What authority would he have left with his younger siblings?

’Nope, this won’t do. I can’t keep sleeping in class. I’ll have to ask my deskmate to jab me with a compass if he sees me dozing off.’

Tang Xiaonan had no idea that her casual question would have such a great impact on her two brothers. She was now in a classroom herself, together with Amanda Chapman. Thanks to Tang Xiaonan’s persistent efforts, Phoebe Thorne had agreed to let Amanda attend school with her. Back in Wraven, Amanda Chapman had never been to school.

First-grade teachers had to teach both language arts and math. To Tang Xiaonan’s surprise, her teacher turned out to be Phoenix Golding. She didn’t recognize her at first, but then she saw Ulysses Spann call the new teacher "Mom" and realized this was Felix Thorne’s old flame, Phoenix Golding.

Ulysses Spann was Jacqueline Spann’s younger brother, and he was in Tang Xiaonan’s class. Jacqueline was in the third grade. The school was in Xavier Village, a walk of several miles. Phoebe Huxley had prepared lunch for Tang Xiaonan, which could be eaten after being steamed hot on the school’s stove.

Upon seeing Phoenix Golding, Tang Xiaonan finally understood why Felix Thorne had never been able to forget her.

Compared to the burly and formidable Phoebe Huxley, the delicate and gentle Phoenix Golding certainly had what it took to remain unforgettable to a man. In fact, Phoenix Golding was even prettier than her own daughter, Jacqueline Spann. Jacqueline didn’t resemble Phoenix Golding much at all; she took after her father, Vernon Spann, and lacked her mother’s refined features.

Phoenix Golding spoke softly and was always smiling. She had a pleasant face that easily won people over, so it was no wonder she was so popular in the village. But Tang Xiaonan disliked the woman from the very first glance. ’She radiates a bitchy aura from head to toe. A classic green-tea bitch.’