Chapter 354

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Protagonist:

Chai Mi

The next day, early morning.

Chai Mi woke up early, wrapped some lamb-filled dumplings, and let Chai Xiu eat a good meal properly.

Afterwards she brought Chai Xiu and went to Ganzhu'er School.

Chai Mi also knew that this person An Baoyu was rather rigid and dogmatic, upright in character, and would absolutely not accept gifts or anything of the sort.

Even a carton of cigarettes, he probably wouldn't take it either.

After all, An Baoyu originally didn't smoke.

Unlike Liu Zhanggui, who smoked wherever he went...

The road wasn't easy to walk; last night's rain was a bit heavy.

But it hadn't rained for a long time; now that it had rained, the air smelled slightly more comfortable; otherwise it would all be the smell of dryness.

Now students have started school too; the autumn harvest is much closer; this year the overall crop harvest is not bad.

Anyway, Chai Mi's family's is still pretty good.

On the way, Chai Mi kept admonishing Chai Xiu: "When the time comes, don't be nervous or anything; whatever Sister says to you, don't take it to heart; you just write whatever you know; exams are the easiest; don't overthink it."

Although Chai Mi had confidence in Chai Xiu, that was all armchair strategy; Chai Xiu was smart, but she had never studied a single day in her life; this was also her first exam ever; as for what the exam would be like, Chai Mi didn't have too much certainty either.

But Chai Xiu was still very relaxed, only muttering: "Sister, after starting school there's no freedom; don't want to go to school."

Chai Mi sighed: "When the family had no money, seeing you pitiable, I felt you not going to school would delay you. Now the family can afford to support you to study, yet you're contrary about everything. Xiu'er, let me tell you, the place we live is just this big; you can't see what the outside world is like. If you study, later you get into university, you can have more choices. It doesn't necessarily mean studying will make you a superior person, or make you earn more money, but at least it can give you more choices. Look at Song Qiushui; she's good-looking, and a good person too, but she didn't study much; then later finding a husband's family, she can't get past this one mu and three fen of land at home, with no choice at all. Do you also want no choice?"

Only then did Chai Xiu stop speaking.

Very soon, they arrived at Ganzhu'er Primary School.

This place is actually not far south of the market, and it's still inside the village; you have to turn left and right.

But it's very obvious; this primary school, in terms of scale, is much larger than the primary school in Sanjiacun where Chai Mi is.

Here a single grade has four or five classes, but San Jia Primary School only has one or two classes.

Chai Mi parked the inverted donkey outside the school, then pulled Chai Xiu into the school.

Ganzhu'er Primary School's playground was wet, retaining the breath of last night's heavy rain.

An Baoyu was right there on the playground, seemingly waiting for Chai Mi. As soon as Chai Mi arrived, he turned and led Chai Mi walking.

Chai Mi held Chai Xiu's hand, following behind An Baoyu, stepping over brick ground where standing water hadn't dried. An Baoyu's steps were steady and fast; the hem of his Zhongshan suit barely swayed.

"Director An, is the Principal in?" Chai Mi broke the silence.

Hope this Principal Xia is easier to talk to than An Baoyu, and doesn't give us the cold shoulder right off the bat.

"Mm." An Baoyu didn't turn his head, hummed a syllable from his nose, didn't stop his steps, and walked straight toward the room at the end of the corridor with the "Principal's Office" sign. He knocked three times, force neither light nor heavy.

"Come in." A slightly deep voice came through.

The door opened. Principal Xia Cengwei sat at an old office desk piled with homework notebooks and documents, around fifty years old, hair graying but combed neatly, wearing a pair of black-rimmed glasses.

Seeing Chai Mi and the others, he put down the red pen in his hand, raised his head and looked over.

"Principal Xia," An Baoyu stepped aside to let the Chai sisters enter, tone formulaic, "This is the Chai Xiu from our village's Chai Family that I mentioned to you yesterday. Over-age enrollment, wants to go straight into third grade."

Xia Cengwei's gaze swept over the restrained Chai Xiu, finally landing on Chai Mi: "Chai Xiu? Nine years old? Why only coming to enroll now?"

What's with this family? Sending such a big kid only now; can the foundation keep up? Can she catch up to third grade?

Don't tell me it's wishful thinking.

Chai Mi wasn't nervous either, meeting the Principal's gaze: "Hello Principal, I'm Chai Xiu's older sister Chai Mi. Family conditions were difficult before, couldn't afford to support her. Now the situation is a bit better, the child herself especially wants to study. At home I taught her to recognize characters and do arithmetic; the foundation is okay, so I want her to go straight into third grade, to waste fewer years."

Speaking the truth; success or failure rests on this one move.

"Oh? Studied at home?" Xia Cengwei's brows twitched imperceptibly, clearly a bit surprised. He pushed his glasses, "Director An said you want her to take an exam to try?"

"Yes, Principal. Rules we understand; we'll follow the school's requirements; if she doesn't pass, we accept it." Chai Mi answered crisply and neatly.

The rest, we can only hope Xiu'er can strive a bit!

Xia Cengwei pondered a moment, looked at An Baoyu: "Director An, you arrange it. Third grade first semester final exam papers, Chinese and math one copy each, test in the empty classroom next door, you personally invigilate. Just test these two first; if these two pass, the rest aren't main subjects, should be able to catch up."

Since An Baoyu brought her over, have to give a chance.

But nine years old directly testing into third grade, that is fresh.

"Okay." An Baoyu acknowledged, turned and went out to get the papers.

Chai Mi squatted down, both hands pressing on Chai Xiu's small shoulders, staring into her eyes: "Xiu'er, heard that? Write according to what Sister usually taught you; don't panic; write however much you know. Remember, not passing is nothing; Sister has a way."

Chai Xiu nodded hard, little face tense: "Sister, I'm not afraid! I can do it!"

I definitely cannot fail the exam; cannot go back and face Chai Youfu's old face! I want to go to Ganzhu'er to study!

Also have to bring honor to Sister.

Although Chai Xiu has been a bit roguish recently, deep down she still listens to Sister's words.

Before long, An Baoyu came back holding two mimeographed exam papers, the ink still carrying some not-fully-dry mimeograph smell.

"Come with me." He led Chai Xiu toward the empty classroom next door.

Chai Mi watched her younger sister's small back disappear behind the door, took a deep breath, turned and said politely to Principal Xia: "Principal, then I'll just wait outside, won't disturb."

Xia Cengwei nodded, didn't speak, picked up the red pen again.

Chai Mi retreated to the corridor, leaned against the wall standing, but her heart hung suspended.

This little girl, usually quite clever; just don't drop the chain at the critical moment...

Inside the empty classroom it was quiet enough to hear Chai Xiu's breathing.

An Baoyu placed the Chinese and math test papers in front of her, then set down a sharpened pencil and an eraser.

"Exam time: one hour for Chinese, one hour for math. No whispering; raise your hand if you have a question." An Baoyu's voice was flat and emotionless as she moved a chair to sit by the podium, her expression very serious, as if the invigilator were not a child but an entire class.

Chai Xiu swallowed, picked up the math paper. The first question was the familiar "Chicken and Rabbit in the Same Cage"! Her eyes lit up, and she immediately recalled the "Assumption Method" her sister had taught her, silently mouthing "Assume they are all chickens..." as her pencil flew across the scratch paper. I can do this! Sister taught me! Once the approach clicked, the subsequent word problems and mental arithmetic seemed less frightening. She bowed her head, hearing only the rustle of pencil on paper, her speed actually faster than many third-grade students An Baoyu had seen.

An Baoyu watched Chai Xiu focus on the paper, her brow imperceptibly relaxing. She could sit still, not as restless as ordinary wild children. Her problem-solving speed was also very fast....

The math paper was finished in less than ten minutes.

Chai Xiu put down her pen, exhaled softly, her little face showing little expression, then directly flipped open the Chinese paper.

Writing Chinese characters from pinyin and making words and sentences was as easy as drinking water for her. When it came to reading comprehension, it was a short article about Little Hero Yu Lai. Chai Xiu frowned, trying hard to recall the "grasp the key points" her sister had taught her, her little brain spinning rapidly. Yu Lai is so brave... the enemies are too bad... he did it to cover Uncle Li... She organized her language, trying to write the answers as complete and clear as possible. The final essay topic was "My Dream," three hundred characters.

Chai Xiu bit the end of her pencil and thought for a moment, her eyes brightening, then she lowered her head to write: My dream is to become a teacher, cultured like Director An, knowledgeable, teaching many children to read and understand reason, never again like me, almost unable to go to school...

It was very market-like....

An Baoyu walked down from the podium, pretending to patrol, her gaze casually sweeping over Chai Xiu's paper.

The math paper was neat, the answers clear; the essay had just begun, the handwriting not top-notch, but every stroke was serious, and the intent made his heart stir slightly.

This child... is truly excellent.

Such an excellent child is simply a once-in-a-century occurrence.

Chai Mi outside the classroom felt time passing especially slowly.

She stared at the traces of the water puddle drying on the ground, her mind alternating between the image of Chai Xiu scratching her head and cheeks and Chai Xiu being mischievous.

Chai Mi sighed: This little ancestor, why is there still no movement?

Half an hour later.

Finally, the classroom door opened. An Baoyu walked out holding two papers, her expression still unchanged, but her steps seemed a bit faster.

"Director An, how is it?" Chai Mi immediately went up to meet her, her heart in her throat.

An Baoyu did not answer directly, only saying: "The papers are graded; I'll take them to Principal Xia. Come with me."

Chai Mi followed An Baoyu back into the principal's office.

Xia Cengwei held Chai Xiu's paper, his finger pointing at the essay page, his brow tightly furrowed yet carrying a strange gleam. Seeing them enter, he took off his glasses, rubbed his brow, and when he looked at Chai Mi again, his gaze was completely different.

"Comrade Chai Mi," Principal Xia's voice carried obvious surprise and a hint of excitement, "your sister... is she really self-taught at home?"

Chai Mi's heart thumped; could it be too bad? "Yes... yes, Principal, is it... did she fail?" It's over, it's over, the boast is exposed, now she really has to go back to herding cattle...

"Fail?" Xia Cengwei seemed to have heard a joke; he pushed the Chinese paper toward Chai Mi, pointing at the essay, "Look for yourself!"

Chai Mi looked doubtfully; the essay "My Dream" had handwriting not particularly neat, but clear and legible. The content was simple yet sincere, especially the sentence "teaching many children to read and understand reason, never again like me almost unable to go to school," making her nose tingle slightly.

The reading comprehension answers were also on point. Looking at the math paper, red checkmarks filled it, and even the slightly difficult final extension problem was done correctly.

"Math 100, Chinese... especially this essay, good intent, clear expression; for a child who has never stepped through a school gate, it's simply incredible! Reading comprehension far exceeds peers!" Principal Xia's tone became excited, looking at An Baoyu, "Director An, what do you think?"

An Baoyu nodded, still concise, but her tone carried a rare warmth: "Solid foundation, clear thinking. Especially the essay, with genuine feeling and smooth logic. Directly enter third grade, no problem. She can keep up."

This child is indeed material for studying; that thirst for knowledge is written between the lines.

"And, I won't be stingy in saying, Chai Xiu finished these two papers in almost only half an hour, the fastest I've ever seen. This child's talent... if well taught, she is absolutely a good seedling."

Chai Mi was stunned; immense joy like a tide instantly submerged her, her suspended heart heavily landed, almost laughing out loud.

She made it! She really made it! Xiu'er, this girl, truly brings honor to me!

"Thank you, Principal! Thank you, Director An!" Chai Mi's voice carried irrepressible excitement, and she hurriedly bowed, "Then... then Xiu'er..."

"Let her come in!" Xia Cengwei smiled, putting his glasses back on, "Student Chai Xiu, welcome to becoming a third-grade student of Ganzhu'er Primary School!"

Chai Xiu was called in, her little face red from nervousness and excitement.

Hearing the principal's words, she abruptly raised her head, her eyes shining amazingly, looking at her sister as if she couldn't believe it.

Chai Mi nodded vigorously at her, the corners of her mouth raised high.

See, sister didn't lie to you; hard work leads to a way out!

"Thank you, Principal! Thank you, Director An!" Chai Xiu imitated her sister, thanking them crisply, then couldn't help asking softly, "Then... then when can I come to school?"

"Tomorrow! Tomorrow is the new semester registration; bring your new schoolbag and go directly to Class 1, Grade 3 to find Class Teacher Wang!" Xia Cengwei waved his hand, then said to An Baoyu, "Director An, take them to get the textbooks and school uniform slips; the procedures can be handled later."

"Okay." An Baoyu agreed; as she turned, a faint smile seemed to flit across her serious mouth.

She is a good seedling, worth cultivating well.

Walking out of the principal's office, Chai Mi looked at her younger sister beside her, holding brand-new textbooks, her little face shining; she waved her hand generously: "Come on, Xiu'er! Sister will treat you to a popsicle! With cream!"

"Really? Sister, you're the best!"

Afterwards, Chai Mi and An Baoyu went to get fourth-grade textbooks and school uniforms, and also handled the enrollment procedures.

"Director An, isn't it third grade?"

An Baoyu's stern face actually smiled a little: "The exam was the third-grade final exam paper, so just skip a grade to fourth grade. Your little sister can keep up with the class."

Chai Mi was finally relieved.

Of course, in this era, student records and such were not computer-networked; they were handwritten, and then stamped with an official seal.

So Chai Xiu's enrollment procedures were not very complicated.

Chai Mi paid some miscellaneous school fees, book fees, and several yuan for extracurricular practice fees, and then also received some castor bean seeds.

It was said to let students learn the value of diligence and frugality in study.

"Come on." Chai Mi bought a popsicle and handed it to Chai Xiu: "Today you brought honor to sister; sister won't shortchange you. I'll stew pork ribs for you at noon."