Si Nian wanted to laugh.

In fact, after hearing what Zhou Tingting said, she couldn't help but think there might be some truth to it. After all, the education in the city is much better than in the countryside; otherwise, why would everyone be so desperate to move to the city?

In rural elementary schools, they barely teach English, which makes it hard for students to keep up when they go to middle school in town. This is also why some kids struggle with certain subjects. No matter how smart they are, they still need proper guidance.

The two children are indeed smart. For example, Zhou Yue Dong has consistently excelled in such an environment, but the effort he's put in has been many times that of others.

With the right conditions and a sharp mind, it's a winning combination.

But Si Nian also had to admit that truly capable people excel no matter where they are. After all, strong individuals never complain about their circumstances.

Of course, these were just her thoughts for now. After all, the children were still young, and if she hastily sent them into a completely unfamiliar environment, it might backfire.

Si Nian planned to wait until they were in middle school before finding a better school for them. Currently, even in ordinary schools, elementary English education is mostly basic, so she figured she could teach them enough to keep up.

As she walked out, she saw the two children practicing their handwriting at the table. They didn't have their own desks or chairs, so they did their homework in the living room every day. Zhou Yue Dong, even at a young age, paid attention to his posture, sitting straight on a small stool. The younger one, however, was either lying down or kneeling, trying out every possible position.

Worried that he might develop vision problems at such a young age, Si Nian walked over to him. Meanwhile, Zhou Tingting was busy in the kitchen, sweating profusely. She hadn't cooked with firewood in a long time and was struggling just to get the fire started.

Thinking that she couldn't possibly do everything by herself, Zhou Tingting rushed out to find Si Nian. "Sister-in-law, can you help me start the fire?"

But Si Nian seemed not to hear her, as she was busy guiding the children.

"Xiao Han, go get a chair and sit properly. You should stand and sit with proper posture; the way you're sitting now isn't good for your eyes, and you might end up nearsighted."

"Xiao Dong, you've been practicing for too long. Taking breaks is important for your physical and mental health."

"And look at Yao Yao—play when it's time to play, and study when it's time to study. This drawing is really good! With such talent at a young age, you're sure to become a great artist one day."

Yao Yao, who was scribbling with a pencil on paper, blushed with pride when she heard her mother's praise. Her little chest puffed up as she held up her drawing for Si Nian to see.

Yao Yao was growing up quickly, soon to be three years old. She could understand most things, even though she still spoke with some difficulty. But she was getting better every day.

Though she was still young, she knew that her older brother was good at studying, her second brother could make everyone laugh, and even Shi Tou, another child, was well-liked. She felt like she was the only one who couldn't do anything—not even speak properly.

Now that she was good at drawing and had been praised by her mama, Yao Yao was overjoyed and became even more enthusiastic about her drawing.

She proudly held up her drawing, her big round eyes looking up at Si Nian. "Mama, for Mama~~" she said.

Si Nian glanced at the drawing and replied, "Yao Yao, you're amazing!"

Yao Yao immediately broke into a smile, revealing her little white teeth.

Just then, Zhou Yue Shen came downstairs, his gaze soft as he watched the scene unfold.

Zhou Tingting had been standing there for quite a while, but no one paid her any attention. It was as if her words had been ignored entirely.

Fuming with anger, Zhou Tingting felt as though she might faint and was tempted to flip the table in frustration. However, when she noticed Zhou Yue Shen coming down, she remembered her goal and held back.

Looking at Zhou Yue Shen and Si Nian, she raised her voice and said, "Big Brother, Sister-in-law, Xiao Yang is your own nephew. The year is almost over, and it's time to send him to the foreign language elementary school. You both have money, so you should help out a bit and get him into the school. When Xiao Yang grows up, he'll be grateful and take care of you."

Si Nian hadn't expected that Zhou Tingting still hadn't given up. She responded bluntly, "Aunt, you aren't even helping us send Xiao Dong and Xiao Han to school in the city, yet you want us to pay for your son to go to a foreign language school? Where in the world is there such a good deal?"

Zhou Tingting's face darkened, and she gritted her teeth, saying, "If I had the money, do you think I wouldn't send him?"

"Well, if you don't have the money, then why are you pretending to be well-off? If he can't learn in the city, do you really think he'll do better in another school? Sometimes, you can't just blame the environment when someone isn't bright, Aunt. Look at our Xiao Dong and Xiao Han—they're studying just fine in the countryside, aren't they?"

Upon hearing their mother's praise, the two little ones at the table immediately raised their voices.

"Mama, I'll study hard! We're good kids who love learning."

"Yeah! When I grow up, I'll earn money for Mama, and for Papa too."

Si Nian, feeling a sense of pride, said, "That's wonderful. You're all such good children, just like I taught you to be."

The two children beamed with joy, and even Zhou Yue Dong, usually calm and composed, showed a rare sparkle in his eyes as he eagerly joined in the conversation with his brother.

"Mama, when I grow up, I'll be a boss like Dad and hire someone to take care of you."

Zhou Yue Dong said this with great seriousness.

The younger child immediately chimed in, "I want to be a soldier and fight in wars. If anyone dares to bully Mama, I'll shoot them!"

He said this while waving his little fist in the air.

Yao Yao, unable to fully follow her brothers' conversation, got excited seeing them so animated. She clenched her tiny fists and babbled enthusiastically.

Noticing everyone looking at her, she quickly ran over in her little slippers, holding up her drawing for Si Nian to see, as if to show she was serious about learning to draw.

Si Nian thought to herself that this little girl might have a quiet nature in the future, perfect for studying the arts. Whether it's singing or painting, Si Nian would support whatever Yao Yao took an interest in.

She had already planned out the children's futures:

1. Guide her reserved eldest son toward a bright future as a scientist who cares for the people, aiming for top universities like Tsinghua or Peking University.

2. Cultivate her second son's athletic abilities, potentially leading to a career in sports or military service to bring glory to the country.

3. Nurture Yao Yao's artistic talents, whether in painting, singing, or any other interest she might have.

Smiling, Si Nian said, "One day, Yao Yao will surely become a great artist!"

The second child, hearing Si Nian praise his sister again, hurried over and exclaimed, "Mama, I want to be a great artist too! I'll draw pictures for you and give them to you!"

Si Nian was delighted, her face beaming with joy. "So, you're not going to be a soldier anymore?"

The second child hesitated, then said, "I'll do both. I'll hold a gun in one hand and draw with the other. I can manage!"

Si Nian burst into laughter at his response.

Zhou Tingting, seeing that everyone was once again ignoring her, felt as if she was about to explode with anger. She was increasingly relieved that she had married and moved to the city instead of staying in the countryside as her brother had suggested. A few more days here, and she would have been driven mad!

She stomped her foot in frustration, but no one noticed. However, she didn't dare to offend Si Nian or Zhou Yue Shen, fearing they might send her away. So, swallowing her anger, she turned and headed back to the kitchen, where she noisily clanged the pots and pans.

Despite her frustration, Zhou Tingting ended up preparing a large, elaborate meal. She had to admit, her cooking skills were good, and she felt a sense of pride. She was certain that her brother and his children had never had such a lavish meal before. After all, she had learned these recipes specifically to please her husband and mother-in-law after getting married.

She held her head high, eagerly awaiting their amazed reactions. However, when the children came over and realized that the food wasn't made by Si Nian, they immediately looked disappointed.

They wanted to eat the food their mom made. To them, Mama's cooking was the best.