Shen Zizhen led a group of six children to the examination.
These six children were dressed very ordinarily, the kind that would be lost in a crowd.
However, these six children were all exceptionally good-looking.
Chi Yiyuan was a handsome young man, but standing among the Su brothers, his appearance held no obvious advantage.
It had to be said that although the Su family children grew up in the countryside, they had excellent genes.
The group chattered amongst themselves, discussing how some parts of the exam were a bit vague, and how Su Xiaotian's problem-solving approach seemed to be better.
Shen Zizhen walked among them, listening to the children's conversation, a smile on his face.
When they arrived, the entrance of the Seventh Middle School was already crowded with many people, the clamor drowning out most of the street.
Among these people, half were adults and half were children, most with anxious expressions.
Seeing the grand scene, Su Xiaotian couldn't help but tut.
So, parents accompanying their children for exams existed even back then?
Indeed, no matter the time, children were always the parents' eternal hope.
Who wouldn't want their child to be a little more outstanding?
Even amidst the vast army of examinees and accompanying parents, Su Xiaotian's group remained remarkably eye-catching.
After all, other families usually had one parent accompanying one or two children for the exam.
But here they were, six children of similar ages appearing together.
Moreover, the six children were all exceptionally good-looking, standing out from the crowd like cranes among chickens.
Many people stared at Shen Zizhen, seemingly trying to figure out what kind of person could have so many children of similar ages.
Shen Zizhen, being a teacher, was accustomed to being watched and didn't feel anything.
But the children were somewhat uncomfortable.
The brothers, not understanding why people were staring at them, began to suspect if their clothes were wrong.
Or perhaps their clothes were dirty without them noticing, or torn without them knowing?
Su Xiaotian and Chi Yiyuan stood behind them, talking, and were relatively more composed.
But ultimately, they still felt a bit embarrassed.
Shen Zizhen noticed the children's discomfort.
These children had just arrived in the capital from the countryside, and it was inevitable that they carried a sense of timidity.
When being stared at by others, they wouldn't think it was because they were outstanding, but would subconsciously assume something was wrong with them.
"Your clothes are all very neat, there's no problem at all," Shen Zizhen said with a gentle smile.
Hearing Shen Zizhen's words, the Su brothers felt much more at ease.
"It's hard not to attract attention when so many of you come to take the exam together."
The brothers understood, so that was the reason. No wonder.
Seeing the children's spirits lift, Shen Zizhen added playfully,
"When you all pass, that's when you'll truly be eye-catching. By then, there will probably be even more people staring at you than now."
Su Xiaojiu bit his lip.
He was still very worried. Could they really pass? What if they didn't?
He heard that the educational standards in the capital were very high.
They had previously studied in a middle school in the county town, where there were few good teachers.
Some teachers even made mistakes when lecturing; their level was truly inferior to Xiaotian's.
"Uncle Shen, can we pass?"
He finally voiced his concerns.
He couldn't help but worry!
This year, the second year of high school had added two new classes, a total of eighty students, with one hundred and fifty applicants.
However, the enrollment for the first-year gifted class reportedly reached seven hundred and ninety-two people, with only forty spots available.
More importantly, most of the applicants were local youths from the capital, who had countless advantages over them.
They might end up being the ones who just ran the race.
"Xiaojiu, don't you have confidence in yourself?" Shen Zizhen asked seriously.
"Uncle Shen, Xiaotian will be fine, but we are too far behind Xiaotian..."
Xiaojiu's voice grew smaller and smaller.
His academic performance had never been good; he knew this very well.
"You will also be fine. You have a clear and thorough grasp of the knowledge you should have. You were able to score a perfect hundred on the practice questions I gave you, so what is there to worry about?"
Shen Zizhen believed that the questions he had provided were definitely no easier than the content of this exam.
These children would have no problem passing this time.
It had to be said that the Su family children always brought surprises when it came to academics.
Oh, and it wasn't just the Su family children; it was the Su family adults as well.
Su Manxiu was once just a farm woman, but now she had become a writer.
Even Grandma Su, upon seeing her again this time, could read newspapers.
Although she sometimes misread words, she could grasp the general meaning.
He then turned his gaze to Su Xiaotian, who was standing and talking with Chi Yiyuan.
"As for Xiaotian, if she were to take the college entrance examination now, she would probably be fine!"
Shen Zizhen looked at Su Xiaojiu, feeling a bit more heartache for the thirteen-year-old boy.
This child, ever since he started studying, had been overshadowed by a very outstanding younger sister, which was why he doubted himself.
How much of a psychological shadow had this created!
"Really?" Su Xiaojiu asked with joy.
"Really, Brother Jiu, I could pass the college entrance examination even if I took it now!"
Although Su Xiaotian didn't want to say it, she didn't want her brother to be delayed by a lack of confidence, so she said it.
This was originally just a remark to comfort her brother, but it was inadvertently overheard by someone with good intentions!
Su Xiaotian's words were overheard by a young girl nearby, wearing a white lace-trimmed shirt, a blue skirt, and black leather shoes.
The girl held her head high arrogantly, looking at Su Xiaotian with a condescending expression.
She even covered her nose with her hand in disgust.
Her demeanor suggested that Su Xiaotian had an unpleasant smell.
In fact, Su Xiaotian's current attire was not problematic.
These clothes were prepared by the Du couple after they arrived in the capital.
But the style was slightly conservative, the kind worn by ordinary families in the capital.
Such an outfit, in the eyes of this fashionable girl, was rustic! It was shabby!
Su Xiaotian didn't notice anyone staring at her. Chi Yiyuan did notice inadvertently, but he didn't say anything.
Unrelated people were not worth paying attention to.
The girl also saw the handsome young man Chi Yiyuan. With just one glance, the girl's face blushed shyly.
However, she noticed that the young man didn't look at her again.
Instead, he lowered his eyes and spoke to the shabby, poor-looking person next to him.
The girl clenched her hands tightly.
Was she not better than that shabby person? Why didn't he approach her to say hello?
The girl's heart was torn by jealousy, and she finally snorted coldly and rolled her eyes fiercely.
She couldn't help but stomp her foot, her expression showing as much annoyance as possible.
"Xiaorui!" The middle-aged man next to the girl sensed his daughter's unease and quickly called out.
Today was the exam day; there could be no mishaps!
"Dad, I just can't stand some people being so arrogant!"
The girl's tone was coquettish, feigning innocence and hatred for evil, but only she knew that the real reason for her aversion was that such a young man was willing to talk to a shabby person.
Su Xiaotian also heard the conversation between the two but paid no attention.
She didn't have that much time to get entangled with irrelevant people.
With that time, wouldn't it be better to read a book and earn money?
Now, if she read diligently for a day, she could earn six or seven yuan. Wasn't earning money good?
"Brother Yiyuan, aren't you afraid?" Su Xiaotian said softly.
Chi Yiyuan smiled faintly, "Do you think I'm like Xiaojiu?"
Indeed, he was not Su Xiaojiu.
The current Chi Yiyuan was no longer the child who had saved Su Xiaotian back then.
He was sixteen years old now, in his prime.
The girl called Xiaorui watched their interaction, her hands clenched so tightly that she didn't realize her fingernails were digging into her palms.
"Xiaorui, we just need to do our best. We don't need to pay attention to those arrogant people," the middle-aged man said, not forgetting to glance at the seemingly shabby people next to them: "After all, you won't have any opportunities to interact with them in the future!"
The middle-aged man's words, falling into Su Xiaotian's ears, made her instantly understand. She thought, how could a young girl be like that? So, this was her upbringing!
Shen Zizhen also heard it clearly, and such words made him feel uncomfortable.
But today was a big day for the children to take their exams, so there was no need to get angry over unrelated people.
Chi Yiyuan clenched his fists, and in the end, he remained silent, but the smile on his face completely vanished.
The Su brothers were the same.
Each of them clenched their fists.
They felt it was because they were too weak; if they weren't so weak, why would they be looked down upon like this?
Su Xiaotian didn't know that these few words from the father and daughter had set a new goal for these young boys.
And it had shaped their future.
Just then, the school gate slowly opened.
"The school gate is open, let's go quickly," Su Xiaotian said happily, pulling Chi Yiyuan's hand.
The girl named Xiaorui felt even worse seeing Su Xiaotian openly holding Chi Yiyuan's hand in front of everyone.
"Shameless!" She wished she could spit at Su Xiaotian.
"Children, study hard, I'll wait for you outside!" Shen Zizhen's expression had also softened considerably.
"Uncle Shen, you don't need to wait for us at the school gate," Su Xiaotian said, seeing Shen Zizhen's unmoving posture.
"After it's over, come find me here. I'll take you there, and I have to wait to take you back." Shen Zizhen was insistent.
The exam was only for one day, and his only task for the day was to pick up and drop off the children for their exams.
He wouldn't abandon the children, especially after encountering such a malicious father and daughter.
He couldn't possibly leave the children alone here.
Seeing Shen Zizhen's stubbornness, Su Xiaotian knew he wouldn't leave before they finished their exams.
"Uncle Shen, go sit and rest under that tree over there. We have two subjects in the morning, which will take nearly three hours."
Shen Zizhen thought it made sense, so he nodded, "I'll wait for you under that tree. Come find me at the tree when the class is over."
Meanwhile, the middle-aged man beside them, Xiaorui's father, had already sent his huffy daughter into the school. When he looked back, he saw Shen Zizhen again.
He sized up Shen Zizhen from head to toe. After confirming that Shen Zizhen didn't have a single valuable or high-quality item on him, he let out a cold snort.
Such a shabby family, and they dared to upset his precious daughter!
This disdainful snort was unconcealed, and Shen Zizhen heard it clearly even with his back turned.
But they were just strangers, why bother?
Shen Zizhen had experienced various things over the years, and his mindset had long since become much calmer.
He didn't bring a small stool, so he found a stone under the tree and sat down on it with a handkerchief as a cushion.
Then, Shen Zizhen casually took a book from his bag and began to read it with great interest.
He had actually read books in the Red Heart Brigade over the years.
But back then, he could only read secretly, not openly like now.
Now that he could finally read openly, Shen Zizhen wished he could read for twenty-four hours a day, absorb knowledge, and make up for the losses of the past few years.
The man watched Shen Zizhen take out a book and read, becoming even more resentful.
What was he pretending for?
Anyone dared to consider themselves a scholar!
Xiaorui's father wanted to see what book Shen Zizhen was reading, but because of the distance, he couldn't see clearly.
Shen Zizhen ignored him, and he couldn't approach Shen Zizhen either, so he stood nearby, looking around.
After about ten minutes, Xiaorui's father suddenly realized that it was indeed a mistake not to bring anything when he came today.
With nothing in his hands, standing there to pass the time was very arduous.
At this moment, he envied Shen Zizhen; at least he had a book to pass the time.
There were many parents waiting around. Some held their work, such as balls of yarn, busy with needle and thread.
Some gathered in twos and threes, chatting happily.
Standing alone under the tree, he looked out of place.
He couldn't just wait foolishly for three or four hours, could he?
But going home now was clearly impossible.
Suddenly, his gaze fell on the bag placed next to Shen Zizhen.
It was evident that there were more books in this bag.
"Lend me a book to pass the time!"
Although the man looked down on Shen Zizhen, he decided to condescend and ask to borrow a book.
However, his tone was still condescending, lacking any politeness of asking for help.
Shen Zizhen glanced up, as if he hadn't seen anything, and continued to bury his head in his book.
Xiaorui's father didn't expect Shen Zizhen to be so arrogant and ignore him.
He had never been so disregarded before; it was infuriating.
He glared at Shen Zizhen angrily and spoke again, "Did you hear me? Lend me a book!"
Shen Zizhen said coldly, "Can someone of your caliber understand a book like this?"
It was a waste to give such a person a book!
Xiaorui's father was stunned by Shen Zizhen's words.
He was a leader in the education bureau, and this man actually said he couldn't understand books. Wait, what else did he say?
That his character was poor?
"Comrade, why are you speaking so harshly?" Xiaorui's father said, his face flushing red.
Shen Zizhen was impatient to talk to such a person; it would only lower his own status.
"Are you mute?"
Shen Zizhen still didn't speak, only turned his body slightly, his disdain evident.
Xiaorui's father was clearly angered by Shen Zizhen's behavior, and he spoke without thinking.
"Do you believe me or not, I'll make sure none of your children can pass this time!"
The words were spoken hysterically, with a hint of smugness.
His demeanor was as if the children Shen Zizhen brought had already failed.
Shen Zizhen didn't want to deal with this madman, but because the children's exams were mentioned, Shen Zizhen still glanced at him.
He looked up coldly at the man looking down at him, wanting to see what kind of fool would say such a thing!
Stimulated again by the contempt and coldness in Shen Zizhen's eyes, Xiaorui's father finally lost his composure.
"Do you know who I am? Let me tell you, I am a leader in the education bureau. How dare you insult me and disregard me!"
After hearing this, Shen Zizhen thought to himself.
A leader in the education bureau? He indeed had the ability to sabotage the children's exams.
It seemed this matter needed to be handled more carefully.
He couldn't let the children suffer because of such a shameless person.
As the two argued, people around them, whether chatting or working, stopped and gathered to watch.
Gawking was human nature!
A few people who had intended to intervene gave up when the man claimed to be a leader in the education bureau.
Children needed to go to school, and it was better to offend anyone but a leader in the education bureau!
The surrounding people were unwilling to meddle, only watching.
Some even cast pitying glances at Shen Zizhen.
Why was this person so stubborn? A few soft words would have solved it.
Shen Zizhen ultimately didn't speak but was calculating whom he should go to about this matter.
Xiaorui's father saw that Shen Zizhen still didn't speak and became even more annoyed.
"You have such a bad temper!"
Shen Zizhen smiled faintly and then said, "You have such poor character!"
"You..." The man's face turned red with embarrassment!
The surrounding people, hearing their conversation, couldn't help but chuckle.
But fearing retribution from the self-proclaimed education bureau leader, they only covered their mouths and laughed.
"You just wait!" Xiaorui's father left in a huff, not even waiting for his daughter.
Shen Zizhen watched the annoying person leave and prepared to reopen his book.
An old man next to him couldn't help but pat Shen Zizhen on the shoulder.
"Comrade, this is not good. The children's exams are a big deal. If he really plays dirty, wouldn't that harm the children?"
"Elder, thank you. I believe there is fairness and justice in this world!" Shen Zizhen said firmly.
Hearing Shen Zizhen say this, the old man shook his head helplessly and murmured, "Still too young!"
It wasn't that the old man was overthinking; judging by their clothing and demeanor, there was a difference in the living standards of the two families.
Even if that person wasn't a high-ranking leader in the education bureau, as long as he was from the education bureau, he couldn't do good deeds, but doing bad deeds was not difficult.
Shen Zizhen smiled again and said, "Elder, I understand what you mean. Don't worry, I have a way!"
The old man smiled after hearing this and said, "It's good that you have a way. Don't let it affect the children's exams."
The two chatted casually like this.
When the old man saw that the book in Shen Zizhen's hand was actually an agricultural monograph, he was even more surprised.
"I didn't expect you to be so learned."
"I dare not claim to be learned; I just enjoy researching these things!"
"It's not easy, not easy at all. It's good to enjoy researching agriculture!" the old man sighed, "Only when the crops grow well can we have enough to eat!"
Thank you all for your support, muah, love you all! Your support is the driving force for Time, and I will work hard to write!