During the "Peng Peng Ball" competition, there were constant bouts of laughter. The game itself was simple: within a set time, push an opponent's pair of partners out of a ten-meter diameter circle to win.
The difficulty lay in controlling the ball's momentum and avoiding a fall. If one stumbled, they'd roll out of the circle without any help from the opponent.
At this moment, another pair, who fell immediately after entering the arena, were still bouncing around on the ground. Their antics were incredibly comical and amusing.
Unexpectedly, the two didn't bother trying to stand up. They simply adjusted the direction of their "space ball" and, following its rotation, careened towards their opponents who were watching from the sidelines.
This maneuver completely bewildered the opponents who were confident of victory. Before they could react, they were sent flying out of the circle.
The other opponent was similarly knocked out of the circle using the same method.
Seeing this on the field, Chen Lan knew it had to be either Wen Kai or Wen Qi. This was a trick they'd discovered while practicing with the space ball.
The audience below was stunned by this display. Only when the referee, Xiang Xi, blew his whistle did everyone snap back to attention, erupting into thunderous applause and cheers.
Chen Lan's attention, however, was elsewhere. She was eager to know who the girls partnering her two younger brothers were. But they were a bit far, and the contestants were all wearing helmets, making it impossible to see clearly.
Just then, Chun Ni and Jia Hui arrived with water for Chen Lan and the others. Chen Lan, surprised, exclaimed, "Chun Ni, why are you here? Why aren't you competing? Let your brothers deliver the water; you should go and participate in the competition."
Chun Ni set down the teapot she had brewed for her uncle and aunt, pouring them tea as she replied, "Mother, I did compete. I fell as soon as I got on, and then I bounced myself out. I was eliminated so confusedly."
The uncle suddenly burst into laughter. "So, it was you, Chun Ni, who fell as soon as you got on and bounced yourself out!"
Chun Ni continued pouring tea, "Yes, Uncle, it was me. As soon as I went up, I hadn't even figured things out when I was eliminated."
The uncle said, "Playing with this requires some skill. You can't just use brute force; you need to be clever, or it's easy to trip yourself up."
Taking a sip of the tea Chun Ni offered, the uncle asked, "Who came up with this competition idea? It's very interesting. It exercises the body and also requires strategic thinking. Was it your mother?"
Jia Hui, while handing her grandmother tea brewed with linden honey, chimed in, "It was my third sister's idea, inspired by Mother's fashion magazines. Mother helped perfect it."
The uncle nodded in understanding. "I knew it! Only your mother could pull something like this off."
Meanwhile, the competitions on the field were in full swing. The old mother quietly asked, "Jia Hui, tell your grandma, who are your two uncles partnering with?" Sudan Novel Network
Jia Hui replied, "Grandma, I really don't know. I was watching the competition but didn't pay close attention. My uncles are probably with the same partners as during practice. Generally, whoever they practice with, they'll partner with during the competition. Grandma, what's up?"
The old mother said, "During practice, they were partnered with your eldest and second sisters. Your eldest sister is here, so where is your second sister?"
Jia Hui pointed to the side. "Second Sister and Third Sister went to get tea for Grandma and Great-Aunt."
Chen Lan gently patted her mother's hand. "Mother, don't worry. Once the competition is over, we'll know."
The old mother nodded and said no more, continuing to watch the field with her sister-in-law. Both were intently watching the competition, discussing it animatedly and cheering loudly for the contestants.
Although the age of participants was limited for this year's fun sports meet, there were too many contestants. As a result, all the events combined took three full days.
As soon as the competition ended, before Chen Lan could even look for her, Aunt Zhao arrived at their house. Chen Lan and her mother warmly welcomed Aunt Zhao inside. It was inconvenient to talk with people coming and going in the living room, so Chen Lan, carrying freshly brewed linden honey tea, took Aunt Zhao and her mother to the guest room.
As soon as Aunt Zhao sat down, the old mother impatiently asked, "Aunt Zhao, have you found out anything?"
Chen Lan immediately said, "Mother, don't worry. Let Aunt Zhao rest for a bit, have some tea, and then she can speak slowly."
Aunt Zhao smiled and said, "It's nothing. This little walk is nothing! Little Lan's mother, don't rush, listen to me slowly. From my observations over the past few months, your eldest son Wen Kai seems to get along well with that educated youth named Zhao Qian, who shares my surname. When no one else is around, they talk and laugh together. I think there's something between them. Otherwise, why would they put on a stern face and pretend not to know each other when people are present?"
The old mother and Chen Lan nodded simultaneously, finding Aunt Zhao's words quite reasonable. When the three girls lived at their home, the two brothers seemed to talk very little with the three educated youths, at most just nodding. Chen Lan had thought there was no spark between them and no chemistry. So, she hadn't thought about it in that direction.
So that's how it was. She hadn't expected things to develop this way. The old mother clasped Aunt Zhao's hand and asked eagerly, "Auntie, is it true? Are Wen Kai and Zhao Qian really talking and laughing?"
Aunt Zhao replied with great certainty, "It's absolutely true. I've seen it several times. They were talking and laughing, and every time, your Wen Kai would watch Zhao Qian enter her home before heading back."
The old mother joyfully clasped her hands together, muttering, "Buddha bless, Buddha bless. This child has finally opened up."
She then asked, "Lan'er's auntie, what about our second son, Wen Qi? Does he have any girl he gets along particularly well with?"
Aunt Zhao thought for a moment and said, "Regarding Wen Qi, I'm not sure yet. Because every time, he goes with Qi Yu Jie to find Song Wan and Chen Shu Min at the school. I can't go inside when they get to the school. However, during the sports meet, he partnered with Song Wan. I think the two of them have a promising future. I'll observe them carefully for a while longer and give you a definitive answer then."
The mother and daughter expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Aunt Zhao.