Vera Xavier knew that although Zachary Preston held a position of considerable power, he was as incorruptible as they co. He never accepted gifts, and all the family’s expenses were paid from his salary.
His salary wasn’t low, but it had to support such a large family. He usually gave his paycheck to Rona Langdon to manage the household expenses as soon as he got it, so he didn’t have much spare cash. This five hundred yuan must have been his personal savings that he’d been putting aside for a long ti.
In both her past life and this one, this was the first ti she had ever felt such warmth from her father. Her eyes grew moist. Without ceremony, she put the money in her pocket. "Thanks, Dad!"
"You silly girl, there’s no need to be so formal with your dad," Zachary Preston said softly. "The college entrance exam is just over a month away. Since you’ve chosen the path of education, you should study hard. It’s okay if you don’t get in this year. The worst that can happen is you repeat the year and try again."
Zachary Preston had always been a stoic man. He didn’t talk much and often wore a stern expression. In her past life, Vera Xavier had been a little afraid of him and wasn’t close to him.
At this ti, it wasn’t uncommon for students to repeat a year of high school to retake the exam. However, those were usually the children in whom the family had placed great hopes. In the Preston Family, she was, in the end, just an outsider. Add to that her previously abysmal grades, and the fact that he was still letting her study—and even allowing her to repeat a year—was the greatest form of indulgence.
Hearing him say this now made her feel even more strongly that she had missed out on so much in her past life. Her eyes welled up slightly. "Dad, don’t worry. I will definitely get into a university this year. I won’t let you down."
Zachary Preston just smiled at her promise, assuming she was just trying to reassure him. He didn’t take it to heart. He was well aware of her academic record; it would be a miracle if she got in even after repeating a year.
Vera Xavier saw the expression on his face and knew he didn’t believe her. She just smiled back. After all, given her past academic record, his disbelief was only natural.
During breakfast, Zachary Preston said to Rona Langdon, "Later, I want you to return the entire betrothal gift from the Kane Family."
This sentence made Rona Langdon fly into a rage. "This is clearly the Kane Family’s fault! Why on earth should I return everything?!"
"Even if it is the Kane Family’s fault, we can’t keep their things!" Zachary Preston slamd his chopsticks down on the table. "If it’s not ours, we can’t keep a single cent of it!"
Rona Langdon’s heart ached at the thought. Being forced to give back sothing that was already in her hands was excruciating. But since Zachary had spoken, she didn’t dare disobey.
So, she directed her anger at Vera Xavier. "You wasteful thing! You do nothing all day! You’re more of a hindrance than a help. After this college entrance exam, you’re going to get a job!"
Vera Xavier asked, "What if I get into a university?"
"You? Get into a university?" Rona Langdon sneered. "That’ll happen when the sun rises in the west."
Vera Xavier looked at her and asked, "But what if I do?"
"If you can get into a university, I’ll call you my ancestor!" Rona Langdon scoffed.
In this era, getting into a university wasn’t as easy as it would be a decade or so later. There weren’t many universities to begin with, and only top-tier students could get in. Even in a large city like Crestfall, the number of students who matriculated into universities each year was limited.
Vera Xavier smiled and said, "That won’t do. You’re my mother; how could I have you call your ancestor? Just prepare five thousand yuan for my tuition and living expenses instead."
At the ti, a year’s university tuition was only about three to four thousand yuan. The remaining one thousand or so would be enough for living expenses for a sester.
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