Chapter Twenty-Two: The Discussion

While students attended their classes, a parallel discussion was unfolding in the office of the principal at New City No. 1 High School. After listening to the report delivered by Duan Hong, which detailed the discovery of an exceptionally gifted student at their institution, Principal Xiao Mingwei, along with the director of academic affairs and the vice principal, were filled with delight. Such a promising student must be nurtured with utmost care!

“The student wishes to skip a grade and take the college entrance exam early, correct?” After a brief exchange, the school leadership reached a consensus.

Xiao Mingwei gave his instructions directly: “The first monthly exam for the senior class is scheduled for this Saturday, right? Arrange for Wu Tong to participate in the exam alongside the seniors. If her performance remains outstanding, approve her application to skip a grade.”

If she wishes to skip a grade, the real test must be conducted.

“Waive her tuition and miscellaneous fees, refund those already paid for this term, allow her to compete for the senior class monthly exam incentives, and award her a scholarship! Wu Tong also wants to participate in competitions, correct? The provincial preliminary round of the mathematics competition is in mid-October. Give her a spot; if she excels and brings home a prize, the school will reward her generously!”

Competitions have always been the battleground of geniuses. Their school’s best result in such events was merely a provincial second prize; most were eliminated in the first round. Thus, the school’s attitude was to encourage participation without recommending excessive pursuit.

This year’s quotas had not yet been fully allocated. It was most fitting to grant one to the top student in the grade. Previously, slots were given to those ranked highly in each subject. If this student truly possesses the ability, and secures a provincial first prize, the principal himself will go to the Education Bureau to fight for a double reward.

Whether for the county’s educational achievements or their own performance evaluations, academic results are paramount. If an outstanding student can raise the school’s profile, no other institution will be able to surpass New City No. 1 High’s teaching record this year.

As long as talent is produced, every ounce of support and reward given to students is the best investment—and the surest path for school leadership to advance!

Once the proposal was finalized, Chen Qiusheng immediately informed Wu Tong.

An exam? Let the storm come; she no longer fears them!

“Thank you, teacher, and sorry to trouble you again!” Knowing what was expected, Wu Tong felt prepared—her only task was to meet the requirements with all her might.

“To have the chance to worry about you is a teacher’s pride! Never slacken in your studies—maintain your grades, and Peking University, Huaxing, all the top universities in the country will be yours to choose. They are no obstacle to you!” Chen Qiusheng reminded her earnestly.

“The school will soon organize math competition training sessions at the Minghua Building, near the sports field. From our class, you and Lin Yang will participate, using evening study hours. The focus will be on techniques for solving competition problems and reviewing past exam papers. You should attend!”

“Yes, teacher, I will work hard and prepare thoroughly!” Wu Tong nodded seriously.

“Go on, I believe in you!”

···

At noon, when school was dismissed, Wu Tong met Jin Xin and Zhao Lei, who were waiting for her at the gate. Today, she would dine at her grandfather’s house.

Both Jin Yu and Wu Jingzhong had work commitments, and, to ease their burden and out of fondness for their granddaughter, who often had no time to eat at home, Wu Tong spent most of her schooldays having lunch at the Jin household. If Teacher Jin or Comrade Wu happened to be free and cooked at home, she would eat there instead.

“Tong Tong, I heard that your sophomore year produced a monstrous talent—full marks in all five subjects, total score 733?” Zhao Lei called out with curiosity as he rode his bicycle.

Jin Xin immediately chimed in: “Is that a human score? I hear she even aced the college entrance exam papers! Today, old Jin and the others looked at us as if we weren’t even people!”

News travels quickly in school. Chen Qiusheng had gotten the college entrance exam papers from the senior class group, and Wu Tong’s grade-skipping, along with the vice principal’s involvement, had made her achievements well known among the seniors. The teachers, who had poured their hearts into their students, found it galling that a sophomore who self-studied over the summer could outperform their best. Suddenly, their own students seemed particularly disagreeable!

“He should realize, we’re not in the same league as someone like that!” The seniors, buried in mountains of books and exercises, hadn’t even had time to check the honor roll downstairs, completely unaware they were speaking to the prodigy herself.

“Brother, I am human!” Wu Tong shot Jin Xin a sidelong glance. With half their blood in common, if she wasn’t human, what was he?

“Of course you’re human, Tong Tong!” Jin Xin replied automatically, about to explain he wasn’t insulting her when he suddenly realized, “Tong Tong, wait—is it you?”

He recalled Wu Tong’s dazzling feat—finishing both sophomore and senior mathematics in two days. It was entirely possible.

With a screech, Zhao Lei was so startled by Jin Xin’s speculation that he nearly lost control of his bike, braking sharply. “Come on, guys, don’t scare people like that!”

People can be frightened to death by other people!

“What’s wrong? Can’t it be me?” Wu Tong raised an eyebrow. If they dared doubt her, her brother would be facing two extra papers today. In the past two weeks, she had mastered all high school material; her brother’s special training could now begin.

“Sure, absolutely! If anyone can do it, my sister certainly can!” Jin Xin, ever alert, replied with conviction.

But on the way home, both brothers in adversity felt as if their futures were dimmed—his little sister was the one who achieved those otherworldly scores! It seemed they were destined for greatness, whether they liked it or not.

Upon entering the Jin household, dinner was served immediately. The two elders called the children to eat; today, Jin Yuan was busy at the shop and wouldn’t be joining them.

“What’s wrong? Sleepwalking? You look as wilted as frostbitten eggplants!” Xu Meifeng emerged from the kitchen with a pot of yam and pork rib soup, eyeing Jin Xin, who was trailing behind Wu Tong with slumped shoulders. Clearly, he was suffering from some shock.

No one knows a child better than their mother.

“Tong Tong...” Jin Xin rallied himself, ready to extol Wu Tong’s achievements.

Wu Tong, a step behind, stepped on his foot and took over: “Brother is a little stunned; I’ll tell you all about it later.”

“Alright, Tong Tong, have some soup first!” As long as her son wasn’t fighting at school, Xu Meifeng let the siblings sort out their own affairs.

Twenty minutes later, with an hour left for rest, the siblings headed upstairs.

“Brother, come, let’s discuss something.” Wu Tong pulled over a chair and sat with Jin Xin at the desk, her expression solemn.

“What’s wrong, Tong Tong?” Seeing her serious look, Jin Xin paused his attempt to open his book. He was still reeling from the shock and ready to redouble his efforts.

Though he had suspected this day would come after witnessing Tong Tong’s stellar performance, Jin Xin hadn’t expected it to arrive so soon, and so spectacularly.

“Today, I told the school I wanted to skip straight to senior year and take the college entrance exam early, so I’ll be in your cohort. I’m quite interested in mathematics and intend to pursue research in this field. After some investigation, I found that the best math program in the country is at Peking University—that’s my goal.”

Wu Tong outlined her plans carefully, then softened her tone: “Brother, I’ve hardly ever left our county before. I’d be completely unfamiliar with the capital city, and honestly, I’m a bit anxious. Why don’t you aim for the same university and keep an eye out for me, so I won’t be bullied?”

She needed to give her brother extra motivation. He wanted to do well, but in his previous life, unforeseen circumstances prevented him from reaching his potential. This time, she was determined to help him fulfill his dreams.

Jin Xin scratched his head, looking aghast. “Well... Sister, Peking University? You’re really daring to dream for your brother! That goal is rather high—I might break myself trying to reach it. We need a bit of self-awareness here; you can pick any university you want, but me? If I work hard, maybe I’ll barely qualify somewhere.”

“Hey, brother, as long as you’re willing to cooperate, I’ll handle all the extra tutoring. We have a year—let’s go for it! So, will you cooperate willingly, or does the whole family have to enforce it?”

Wu Tong laughed, half pleading, half threatening. With her brother beside her in revision, she refused to believe she couldn’t get him into a good university next year.

“Let’s give it a try!” Jin Xin decided it was better to cooperate willingly than to be forced. He never doubted Tong Tong could summon the whole family for enforcement.

With Tong Tong’s perfect scores in math, English, and science as his tutor, he ought to make a leap! He had already planned to study hard; now he just had a bit more to carry—he’d grit his teeth and persevere, like a true man.

Aiming for the same university might be too ambitious, but surely, if he gave his all, they could at least end up in the same city.

“Good brother! With some spare time, let’s start with math—I’ll give you a crash course.” Wu Tong smiled, pulling out scratch paper and beginning with the entire framework of high school mathematics, then branching into its structure. With limited lunchtime, she started by reviewing the section on sets.

Now that he’d boarded her ship, he wouldn’t be allowed to disembark until they reached the far shore!