Chapter 36

Without a doubt, this last test paper was Ye Wanqing’s.

Generally when a teacher left the test paper until the last one it was either the one who tested best or the one who tested worst, because it might need to be especially commented on or even lectured for several minutes.

As a transfer student, which situation was Ye Wanqing’s?

Most people felt it was the latter.

Sensing everyone’s lines of sight concentrated on herself, even no matter how used to storms Ye Wanqing was, her heart still “peng peng peng” sped up its beating…… After all she also rather valued the grades.

The Chinese teacher looked at the test paper in her hand and without testing everyone’s patience too much directly announced Ye Wanqing’s score: “Ye Wanqing, 98 points.”

Ye Wanqing’s heart let out a breath.

This score was not the highest and also absolutely not low. In the class it should be upper-grade results and still quite auspicious.

Yet the Chinese teacher still had words to say.

“Ye Wanqing, your comprehension questions were all done acceptably. It can be seen that your Chinese foundation is still considered not bad. Your composition was also written very well. I only deducted one point from you. However many knowledge points that should have been remembered you lost points on. The ancient poetry fill-in-the-blanks lost the most points, explaining that you are still not careful enough and your attitude is not upright enough. I hope you can quickly catch up on the weak items—know?”

In the teacher’s view things that relied on rote memorization should not lose points—they were must-get scoring points. Yet what Ye Wanqing currently lacked most was precisely this. In this aspect she had not done particularly well.

“I know, Teacher. I previously missed half a year of classes. Many knowledge points I forgot. Afterward I will work even harder.”

Ye Wanqing under the public gaze walked onto the platform. When receiving the Chinese test paper she smiled once at the Chinese teacher. Compared with the other trembling little animals in the class she was open, composed and her attitude sincere.

The Chinese teacher froze once. On the serious face also rose a smear of light smile. “Continue working hard.”

“Mm.”

After Ye Wanqing returned to her seat Jiang Lili snatched her test paper in one grab. After sweeping once she was heartbroken and pained. “Heavens! Altogether twenty points of ancient poetry fill-in-the-blanks and you actually got sixteen points wrong!”

Even like this she still had 98 points—only one point less than the highest score. Clearly Ye Wanqing’s other questions were all done not badly. And ancient poetry was the shortcoming easiest to make up. If not losing points this would be the score!

Ahhhh!

Even if the Chinese teacher did not scold people Jiang Lili already wanted to scold people. Ancient poetry fill-in-the-blanks ah! This kind of simple question—probably only Ye Wanqing would lose this many points!

Ye Wanqing helplessly said, “I’ll recite more in the future.”

Jiang Lili: “Ying……”

After distributing the test papers the Chinese teacher began explaining the test papers and consecutively taught two Chinese classes.

When the second class ended the Chinese teacher pointed at Ye Wanqing. “Paste your composition on the back wall and let the classmates in the class all look at it once.”

For a time Ye Wanqing again became the focus.

The following classes were like testing the hearts of the arts class classmates. The teachers as if having agreed beforehand actually every single time left Ye Wanqing’s test paper until the last to distribute.

After having one high score in Chinese Ye Wanqing’s following politics and history both received rather…… low scores and once again shocked the entire class.

The average score for politics was 52. Ye Wanqing 35.

The average score for history was 47. Ye Wanqing 33.

Compared with the high score in Chinese these two bright red scores for politics and history were simply naked mockery.

Both teachers criticized Ye Wanqing. When going onto the platform to take the test papers Ye Wanqing quietly listened to the lectures and with a good attitude indicated that in the future she would put in more care.

The classmates in the class looking at her also became much more complicated in their gazes. If previously there was a bit of admiration now it was full of sympathy.

Two subjects both tested badly—the top twenty of the class was truly hanging by a thread.

Of course no one said any cold words either. After all the scene of Ye Wanqing last time fiercely and sharply confronting until Yi Yuan loudly cried was still vivid before the eyes. Not a single person had forgotten.

Cannot afford to provoke, cannot afford to provoke.

—

The moment the dismissal bell for the last morning class rang Ye Wanqing nimbly began packing her stationery.

She was like this every day—go to the cafeteria early to finish eating, walk a while on campus to digest, then return and lie down to sleep fifteen minutes. Most of the noon self-study time was used for reciting textbooks.

Because her schedule was tight and she did not want to waste time she had always come and gone alone. Jiang Lili also knew her habit and every day found other little companions to eat together and hold hands going to the bathroom.

Yet today the moment Ye Wanqing stood up Jiang Lili pulled her. “Wanqing, let’s eat together.”

Like performing magic Jiang Lili again took out two aluminum lunch boxes from the desk hole and boastfully shook them in front of her. “I said I wanted to comfort the deskmate who didn’t test particularly well. My mom then made me braised pork and sweet-and-sour spare ribs. Enough face for you?”

The front-desk Jiang Wen also turned around, pushed the glasses on the bridge of his nose, and holding the lunch box embarrassedly opened his mouth. “My family’s conditions are not particularly good. Just stir-fried one chicken and a bit of eggs.”

Ye Wanqing: “……”

Excessive modesty was pride. Was Classmate Jiang Wen being modest or proud?

The warm invitation was hard to refuse.

Although Ye Wanqing felt a bit of regret for the time she also knew both of them were of pure sincerity and did not want to let them down. Therefore she smiled and nodded. “Alright. We’ll eat together at noon.”

At this time families with conditions would all bring dishes from home themselves. At noon the cooled food was rinsed with hot water then a scoop of hot rice was taken from the school cafeteria and one could eat not badly.

Jiang Lili and Jiang Wen’s family backgrounds were not bad. Although Ye Wanqing currently did not cook herself this noon meal’s food was carefully arranged by Ge Yuan—absolutely abundant.

Looking at Ye Wanqing taking out two aluminum lunch boxes from the desk hole Jiang Lili and Jiang Wen did not take it as a serious matter.

After all their lunch boxes were full of oil and water. Ordinary classmates could not compare with them. They both held the intention of subsidizing Ye Wanqing, wanting to comfort her fragile little heart.

As a result when arriving at the cafeteria the moment Ye Wanqing opened the two aluminum lunch boxes she brought Jiang Lili and Jiang Wen the two instantly went numb.

Were they sending warmth or freeloading?

Ye Wanqing was also startled.

Ordinarily the food Ge Yuan prepared for her although abundant was abundant yet also not that crazy. Today……

One lunch box was filled with a full box of braised pig trotters. The braised pig trotters cooked oily and red were stewed soft. The moment the box was opened that soft meat skin still trembled once—looking at it made people drool continuously.

In the other lunch box side by side were packed garlic eggplant, chili stir-fried meat and red chili stir-fried fire-roasted small fish. All were fragrant-spicy appetizing dishes. Even if not wanting to eat rice upon seeing these dishes one also had the thought of moving chopsticks.

Although not freshly out-of-the-pot dishes without that rushing fragrance just looking at this refined meat-vegetable pairing and the richness of the food it was already very very not bad.

Jiang Lili swallowed once. “Heavens—so wanting to eat!”

Ye Wanqing could not help laughing. “Come. We’ll eat together.”

Her two lunch boxes were both occupied by dishes. Having no choice she could only use the lunch box lids to take a portion of rice. Hot steaming rice mixed with some small fire-roasted fish—bite by bite eaten very fragrantly.

Looking at it not only her classmates worried she would feel bad from exam failure—her family’s tall man although saying nothing still this careful gentleness had taken care of her.

Ye Wanqing felt eating together with classmates and relaxing a bit was also not bad. Jiang Lili no longer cared whether she was comforting people or taking advantage. Whatever she wanted to eat she picked—very free. Ye Wanqing also liked this lack of pretension of hers.

The three people finished one meal and all ate very full.

“I can’t do it.” Jiang Lili rubbed her stomach and hummed. “Wanqing, let’s go take a walk. Must walk enough fifteen minutes before we can slightly digest.”

This was an item Ye Wanqing ordinarily arranged. Of course there was no reason not to agree.

Jiang Wen was a boy. After eating he returned to the classroom. Jiang Lili linked arms with Ye Wanqing and walked two circles on the playground. Only then did the two walk back.

—

Although politics and history did not test particularly well this was all within Ye Wanqing’s expectations. Therefore she did not have depressed or discouraged feelings. She only adjusted the following study plan a bit, tilting more toward the subjects that needed rote memorization.

At noon Ye Wanqing simply passed in quiet silent recitation.

The first afternoon class was geography. Unsurprisingly Ye Wanqing again received a score that was not considered good—42 points.

This time the classmates in the class looking toward her became even more sympathetic. Even the always chattering Jiang Lili also did not dare make a sound, afraid saying one wrong sentence would make Ye Wanqing sad.

After geography was English. The elderly English teacher stepped into the classroom with the bell. In his hands he still held a thick stack of test papers. It was just that expression…… compared with any previous teacher was even fouler.

“Peng!”

The test papers were heavily thrown onto the platform. Then came the English teacher’s stormy reprimanding voice. “Ordinarily telling you to read more English, read more English—you left ear in right ear out. Every single one not serious! Now it’s good—in the class there are not a few who passed! The results are placed here. You are not ashamed—I am ashamed for you. Going out I am even embarrassed to say you are my students!”

“Alright—distribute the test papers!”

“Chen Tian, 20 points!”

“Zhou Yi, 25 points!”

“Oh…… Zhou Zhao is a high score ah! 35!”

“Our class’s previous first place tested how many? Let me look—also quite not bad…… 38!”

“……”

Under the English teacher’s rapid-fire score announcements all the students in the class wilted, like little cabbages pickled in a pickle jar for several days. One after another eyes dull, faces green.

As time passed the test papers in the English teacher’s hands grew fewer and fewer.

After all age was advanced. His voice was also not as resonant as at the beginning. The classmates receiving test papers later also suffered a few fewer spit nails and secretly rejoiced in their hearts.

Some people even more secretly envied Ye Wanqing. “The newly arrived classmate is just good—the spit nails sprayed are a few fewer.”

“Scolding to the last one the old stick-in-the-mud has no strength left. Definitely scolding one or two sentences and that’s it.”

“What if she tests a few points? Perhaps she will be scolded even more miserably.”

“Yes. Don’t forget there is still the saying of a final flash of light before death.”

“……”

These discussion sounds were very small yet still transmitted some into Jiang Lili’s ears.

She used her elbow to poke the calm-faced Ye Wanqing. “Are you worried or not?”

“Not worried.” Ye Wanqing smiled once.

“Then you……”

Jiang Lili had not yet had time to finish speaking when the English teacher already called Ye Wanqing’s name. The gaze he looked over with was a bit complicated. He paused a bit before saying, “Ye Wanqing, you come up!”

“Finished!” Jiang Lili felt big trouble was coming.

Other people also all used sympathetic gazes to look at Ye Wanqing, feeling this time she would die very miserably…… Look—the old stick-in-the-mud was already adjusting his breath and brewing a big move. Once going up it would be a headful of dog blood!

Ye Wanqing pressed her lips, stood up and walked toward the platform.

She actually was also a bit nervous yet being nervous was not useful at all. Whatever the result she must face it. Moreover…… she self-felt her English results should not be bad.

Walking in front of the English teacher she calmly looked toward the teacher.

The English teacher looked at her once, handed the test paper in his hand to her, and in a tone complicated with a few points of gratification said, “Ye Wanqing, 89 points!”

The moment this score came out not only Ye Wanqing froze once—the entire class also boiled.

“Wah!”

“Heavens!”

“Impossible—actually 89 points!”

“How was this tested? Was it cheating? Full marks is only 100 points ah!”

“If you can cheat out 89 points I’ll call you daddy!”

“Female hero!”

“……”

The English teacher raised a hand and pressed down. “Quiet!”

Then he restrained the anger on his face and worked hard to make himself look very mild. Kindly he said to Ye Wanqing, “Classmate Ye, your exam results this time are extremely not bad. Do you mind sharing some study experience with the classmates?”

“Ah?” Ye Wanqing froze again.

Under the classmates’ gazes of expectation or surprise or worship she seriously and rapidly thought a bit and discovered the reason her English results could be this good—half was that her language talent originally was very not bad, half benefited from her interest in watching American dramas. Therefore……

Thus she thick-skinnedly said, “Everyone says diligence can make up for clumsiness. Perhaps I spent comparatively more time. And also…… talent.”

At this time there were still no American dramas. She could not recommend everyone watch more American dramas. Moreover even if there were American dramas in such a short time it was impossible to cultivate good language sense. Mainly it was still more reading and more reciting.

She felt she counted as speaking the big truth.

The English teacher: “……”

The classmates: “……”

Ye Wanqing suddenly feeling something was not right: “……”

“Go down.” The English teacher wearily and disdainfully waved a hand.

Ye Wanqing quietly fled.

The last class was mathematics class. Compared with the English teacher’s expression the mathematics teacher’s was not the worst—only worse.

Who told the class’s mathematics results and English results to be like identical twins—ugly in the same flavor. Most people were around 20 or 30 points. The highest one Zhou Zhao only took 72 points.

One must know mathematics was a full score of 120 points.

Because the mathematics teacher was in the prime of life his combat power was also extremely strong. Specifically manifested in him scolding people for more than ten minutes without stopping. Only when distributing to the last test paper did the aura on his body suddenly sink.

The last test paper unsurprisingly was still Ye Wanqing’s.

The mathematics teacher’s gaze straightly looked toward Ye Wanqing.

All gazes once again concentrated on Ye Wanqing. Many people successively guessed in their hearts—this time would Ye Wanqing welcome a violent storm or warm care?

“Ye Wanqing……” The mathematics teacher as a man who scolded people very mightily had no hobby of keeping people in suspense. He directly opened his mouth and sonorously and powerfully said, “Full marks!”

“How so…… ah?! Full marks?!!!”

“Ahhhh!”

“Full marks!”

“How is it possible?!”

The class once again exploded. This time even livelier than when Ye Wanqing received the high score of 89 in English.

Full marks ah—what concept was full marks?

Mathematics was 100 points plus 20 points of additional questions. With that difficulty of the additional questions even at the student-strongest No. 1 Middle School when taking exams not a single person had ever received full marks!

Yet Ye Wanqing achieved it!

Seeing Ye Wanqing walk in front the mathematics teacher also held the same purpose as the English teacher, wanting students to exchange more among themselves. Very mildly he asked, “Ye Wanqing, your results are very good. Can you speak a bit about your study insights and experiences for everyone?”

Yet what the mathematics teacher never expected was that the moment he opened his mouth below instantly rose a stretch of wailing and miserable cries. Every single one cried even more miserably than just now and even carried the weak strength of having been chased by vicious dogs for several streets.

“Don’t ah—I don’t want to be struck again!”

“Talent—all talent!”

“Diligence can make up for clumsiness.”

“Ahhhh! Spare us!”

“……”

“What is this situation?” The mathematics teacher’s face was full of confusion as he looked toward Ye Wanqing.

Ye Wanqing smiled gently. “This…… actually regarding mathematics study I truly have a bit of shallow experience that I can share with everyone.”

After all she was also a person who had taught for more than twenty years!

—

The single-subject results came out. The total ranking also quickly came out. The moment the dismissal bell rang it was pasted by Teacher Zeng on the back wall of the classroom.

Ye Wanqing’s several subjects added together altogether were 417 points. Because politics, history and geography dragged the leg too much her score was not considered high. Yet ranking once in the class it was solidly in the top ten.

With her results she solidly could enter university.

The moment school ended quite a few classmates surrounded over.

“Classmate Ye, the mathematics experience you shared in class I didn’t understand too clearly. Can you speak with me in more detail again?”

“This question—can I trouble you to explain it for me a bit?”

“English…… how to cultivate language sense? Truly only relying on talent? Ying ying ying……”

There were still some who used inducement. “Classmate Ye, I have super detailed knowledge-point sorting for politics, history and geography that I can share with you for free. Are you willing to lead me a bit in mathematics?”

The moment this person opened his mouth the others instantly found direction and simultaneously loudly shouted.

“I also have—I also have!”

“My politics, history and geography results are better. The knowledge points I summarized are the most detailed. Classmate Ye choose me!”

“Choose me—choose me!”

Ye Wanqing surrounded in the middle by a group of people could not even move her footsteps and could only awkwardly stand at her seat.

She could not go out. Jiang Lili sitting inside even more could not move…… Yet she did not mind at all. Sitting on the chair both hands cupped her face. A pair of eyes extremely worshipfully looked at Ye Wanqing—simply emitting light.

“Everyone quiet a bit!” After deep consideration Ye Wanqing opened her mouth. “Only the last two months remain. Everyone needs to make the final sprint. And the subjects each person is good at are different. I can help everyone in mathematics and also need everyone to pull me a bit in politics, history and geography. This way I suggest everyone can go to evening self-study together, study together to increase study efficiency, mutually check for omissions and fill gaps. What do you think?”

Ye Wanqing herself sorting the politics, history and geography knowledge points could also sort them out. Yet this needed time and what she currently lacked most was time. Therefore everyone progressing together was better.

Moreover with more than twenty years of teaching experience actually studying together with many people the atmosphere was thick and sometimes higher in efficiency than studying alone.

Just having this opportunity she proposed it.

The moment this method was proposed many people instantly nodded.

“Okay ah.”

“Seems not bad.”

“At home looking at books one wants to sleep. Studying together perhaps efficiency is a bit higher.” Looking at others so serious oneself wanting to sleep always felt a bit of crisis sense—wasn’t it?

“Classmate Ye, I’ll participate one.”

Ye Wanqing took out a notebook from the schoolbag. “Those wanting to sign up—we all register one by one. Starting tomorrow evening self-study you bring your politics, history and geography notes for me. Tonight I’ll go back and summarize the methods of studying mathematics. Tomorrow evening self-study I’ll bring them for you to look at.”

“Alright!”

The matter was simply decided like this. Ye Wanqing also felt it very not bad.

—

Coming out of the school gate Ye Wanqing at one glance saw Ge Yuan’s tall and big figure waiting at the entrance. Because she delayed some time Wei Jun and Wei Hong were also waiting at the school gate and currently speaking with Ge Yuan.

“Brother Yuan!”

Ye Wanqing called once. While waving she quickly walked toward Ge Yuan with a brilliant smile on her face.

Ge Yuan turned his eyes and looked once. The stone hanging in his heart finally fell down.

“How was it?” He naturally took the schoolbag from Ye Wanqing’s hand. “Looking at your appearance—still okay?”

“Pretty not bad. Although politics, history and geography lost many points my Chinese, mathematics and foreign language all tested very not bad. As long as in the following two months I recite politics, history and geography more entering university is not a problem.”

“Then that’s good!” Ge Yuan’s black eyes lit up. After the happiness in his heart there was even more urgency.

In comparison Wei Jun and Wei Hong were simply happy without any psychological burden. Even the naturally shy Wei Jun smiled extremely brilliantly—very happy for Ye Wanqing.

To celebrate Ye Wanqing testing out not-bad results the evening meal was eaten very abundantly. Old Zhong even personally went into the kitchen and made one dish—just that the taste could not be demanded too much.

After eating Ye Wanqing spoke of the matter that starting tomorrow she would go to evening self-study at school.

The little-ghost-with-big-guts Ge Yue actually was the first to worry. “At night it’s dark dark. Scary oh. There are monsters catching people.”

Ge Yuan bent a finger and gave Ge Yue a chestnut knock. Immediately he indicated, “I’ll go pick you up.”

“Mm.” Ye Wanqing pressed her lips into a smile.

She did not say any polite words because she knew between the two of them there was no need for politeness.

—

After discussing well with the school including Ye Wanqing altogether eight classmates the next day began evening self-study.

Ye Wanqing took out the mathematics experience she had seriously summarized and also successfully harvested one after another politics, history and geography knowledge points sorted very not badly. This made her feel the harvest was quite abundant.

However one matter exceeded her expectations.

She thought Ge Yuan saying he would pick her up was only coming to school at nine in the evening on time to pick her up. Unexpectedly he came over in the evening. Not only did he bring some chilled melons and fruits over for her—he also used the bicycle to carry a bulky electric fan over.

“Brother Yuan, where did this electric fan come from?”

“Obtained from the coastal area. Cost me quite a bit of effort. Originally thinking of giving you a surprise. Thinking you would study here in the evening I dragged it over here for you.”

“This is so troublesome.”

“For you to use—not troublesome.” Ge Yuan raised his eyes. His eyes were full of smiling meaning.

Ye Wanqing: “……”

Taking advantage of no one noticing she secretly kissed once on her family’s tall man’s ear. “Brother Yuan, thank you.”

“……Mm.”

The electric fan blowing the classroom instantly became much cooler—more comfortable than studying in the daytime. The classmates one after another thanked Ge Yuan. Ge Yuan smiled and waved a hand.

After he walked a stretch of distance and turned his head to look once he discovered quite a few people in the classroom speaking with Ye Wanqing as if teasing her or making a fuss about her. Looking at it they were speaking of him and her.

Yet Ye Wanqing responded with a light smiling meaning. Suddenly she raised her head and looked toward his direction. Seeing he was also looking at her the smile again suddenly became a few points more brilliant.

In his heart one warm feeling rose. Ge Yuan could not help also smiling once.

Walking out of the teaching building Ge Yuan did not like agreed go home and come again at nine. Instead he directly found a flower bed downstairs and sat down. Taking out a flashlight and a book he simply sat on the flower bed and began looking.

The knowledge on the books for him was a bit obscure. After all he had not studied much. Starting from the beginning learning was a bit strenuous. Yet he still worked hard looking—even mosquito bites he did not care about.