Chapter 149.1

The crowd paused for a moment. They knew Comrade Su had no obligation to help them, but they all came knocking, still hoping Su Xiaoxiao would relent.
Shitou’s sister said: “Yes, we know Comrade Su Xiaoxiao is not obligated to help us, we just hope that comrades can help each other and progress together. We still hope Comrade Su Xiaoxiao can help us.”

Fantuan said, “You just have to study, right? My mom has to take care of four children, work, cook for us, do housework. She’s busy every day until late at night before she has time to study. Do you want my mom to sacrifice her sleep to help you review your homework? When you all get into college, if my mom is exhausted, are you going to compensate me with a new mom?”

This…..

Everyone looked at each other, it seemed like Comrade Su was quite busy. Were their demands a bit unreasonable?

Su Xiaoxiao actually felt a little amused and embarrassed. When the twins were little, she was especially busy. Fantuan had been easy to raise since childhood, and as the twins grew older, they were mostly taken care of by their three older brothers. She didn’t have much to worry about. Her work in the propaganda department wasn’t too demanding either. She did most of the cooking, but the rest of the household chores were shared by the whole family. She actually did less, and if you counted carefully, she still had quite a lot of time for studying.

But, of course, she cannot dismantle her son’s act.

Han Cheng parked his bicycle in the yard and glanced at everyone. “All of you usually don’t take time to study, and only come to seek help at the last minute. Have you ever seen how my wife usually studies, and how my children study? What do you have to compare with them?

What do you think the college entrance examination is? How many candidates have been waiting for ten years to get into college? With just over a month left until the college entrance examination, why do you think you can get into college by just reviewing for a month? My wife hasn’t stopped studying for ten years. Even on the day she gave birth, lying in the hospital bed, she didn’t put down her books. How dare you ask her to put down her books to teach all of you?

If you can keep up with my wife’s learning progress, it’s called learning together, discussing with each other, and making progress together. If you don’t even have this basic foundation, then go back and lay a solid foundation. If you can’t even pass the test that my son, who hasn’t even graduated from elementary school, can pass, then I welcome you to learn from my wife and progress together with us. If you can’t even do this, then stop hanging around my house saying such embarrassing things.”

Xiao Fantuan looked up at his father in bewilderment. “???” 

Dad, you can’t be serious, can you? Even if I’m smart, I can’t possibly pass the high school entrance exam, right?”

After hearing Han Cheng’s words, everyone blushed and lowered their heads. They had indeed panicked and lost their senses upon hearing this news. They wanted to grasp onto Su Xiaoxiao as a lifesaver to pull them ashore as soon as possible, without considering their own abilities. They felt that as long as they met the requirements, they could take the college entrance exam and have hope of going to university.

If someone else had said this, they might have questioned it, but Han Cheng was a legitimate university student who had passed the college entrance exam. Even he said it wasn’t easy, so the college entrance exam wasn’t as simple as they thought.

But to say they couldn’t pass the exam that even his son, who hadn’t graduated from elementary school, could pass? That was a bit too much.

A boy bent over and apologized, “I’m sorry, Director Han, Comrade Su. Hearing about the resumption of the college entrance exam made us dizzy, and we just wanted to find the most capable person to help us out. We didn’t think much about it. I didn’t mean any harm, and I’m so sorry for bothering you.”

Han Cheng said, “If you really want to study, I suggest you go back to high school. There are relatively fewer people attending high school these years, and some classrooms in the high school section are vacant. You can talk to the principal and see if you can have a separate college entrance exam class set up for you, as long as it doesn’t affect the current high school graduates’ college entrance exam. Even if it’s not possible, I believe the school will make proper arrangements for you and assign qualified high school teachers to tutor you.”

The people looked at each other. This was indeed a good solution. The boy who had just apologized had always admired Han Cheng and boldly asked, “Director Han if the principal agrees since you’re a university student and don’t have to take the college entrance exam, could you spare some time to come and teach us?”

Han Cheng nodded, “If the organization has such a need and arrangements are made, I can cooperate. But please, don’t block my door anymore, and don’t disturb my wife.”

Everyone was overjoyed. The Han family was indeed intelligent, so it didn’t matter who taught them.

Xiao Shitou’s sister said, “Let’s go talk to the principal immediately.”

Han Cheng frowned, “You should discuss and send a few representatives. Don’t all rush over like a swarm. Things don’t work that way.”

Shitou’s sister said, “We know, not everyone will go.”

There were still some people who were unconvinced. “Director Han, if we really can surpass Fantuan in a test, will you really allow us to study with Comrade Su?”

Although they had put down their books for so many years, Fantuan was also known for being smart. But no matter how smart he was, he was just an elementary school student. They really didn’t believe they were worse than an elementary school student.

Han Cheng glanced at him and looked at his own son, “What do you think, son?”

Fantuan blinked. Why did Dad really think he could pass these serious high school graduates? Didn’t Dad know his level? Did Dad know he peeked at his high school textbooks? But he was so busy serializing during the summer vacation that he barely had time to read even junior high school textbooks, let alone high school ones. He didn’t study at all; he couldn’t understand them either.

Fantuan panicked, “Dad, I haven’t studied high school courses, how can I take the test?”

Han Cheng said, “Then you go and study for a week. If they can’t even pass someone like you who hasn’t studied high school textbooks, it proves how poor their foundation is, and you save them from daydreaming.”

Han Cheng looked at the person and said, “If you really want my son to participate in the test, give him a week to cram and let the high school teachers set the questions.”

Han Cheng sneered at them, saying they were aiming too high. Plus, Fantuan said he hadn’t studied high school textbooks at all, so the person immediately became tough, “Since Director Han looks down on us so much, then let the high school teachers set a test. When the time comes, your whole family can participate in the test. I really want to see whether it’s us aiming too high or you being arrogant, what do you say?”

“Yeah, Director Han, we know your whole family is smart. If we can’t pass you and Comrade Su, we’ll accept it. But if you say we can’t even beat an elementary school student, I really can’t accept it.”

“Right, I can’t accept it either. We’re at least high school graduates, how can we be worse than someone who hasn’t even studied high school textbooks?”

Han Cheng said, “I just casually mentioned it to teach my son a lesson earlier. I’m sorry if I offended you. Fantuan has indeed glanced through high school textbooks before. Didn’t I mention that I’m planning to let him study for a week? My son is indeed a bit arrogant, always thinking he’s smarter than everyone else. Since that’s the case, let’s have the high school teachers set the questions. If the school can’t accommodate so many people, they also need to screen out some individuals. You can go.”

Poor Xiao Fantuan: “?????” 

Dad, when did I become so arrogant? You’re really trying hard to keep these people from bothering Mom, but does it make you look good when your son loses face?

Su Xiaoxiao raised her hand to her forehead, bewildered by how things had evolved into this. Comrade Han Cheng was quite something. His son was only ten years old, and furthermore, he didn’t study diligently every day. After just a week of studying lessons from high school textbooks, he would promptly proceed to take exams alongside other high school graduates. It was astonishing how he had come up with this idea.

“Sorry everyone, Han Cheng is joking with everyone. Let’s all part ways,” Su Xiaoxiao said.

Those who were unconvinced naturally disagreed, saying, “What joke? We are serious. Comrade Su, we expect you to participate in the test when the exam papers are released. We want to know the gap between us and you. Director Han, we hope to see you there too.”

The male student who revered Han Cheng said, “We’ve only graduated for a few years and have forgotten all the knowledge from textbooks. Director Han graduated from the university for over a decade. Isn’t it a bit too much to ask him to participate in a mock exam?”

“Not at all,” Han Cheng said. “Since you all insist, I’ll go. Let’s just disperse.”

The male student hesitated, “But Director Han…”

Han Cheng and little cubs from his family entered the door, and he picked up his daughter with one hand from Zhuzi’s back and closed the door without looking back.

Xiao Roubao, who was led in by his second brother, turned around and blinked his big eyes at everyone. “Shouldn’t you bring gifts when you visit someone’s house? When I visit others, I bring sweets.”

Everyone: “…??”

Unable to contain her laughter, Su Xiaoxiao rubbed Xiao Roubao’s head. “Why don’t you tell them how you bring one and come back with a pocketful?”

Xiao Roubao looked back at his mother in disappointment when he saw that not a single person had reached into their pockets to give him candy, Xiao Roubao withdrew his gaze and looked at his mother. “Mom, that’s because Auntie Zhouyi and Brother Xiao Yu love me.”

Su Xiaoxiao said, “Alright, Mom has stewed pig’s trotters today. Let’s go wash our hands with your brothers and wait for lunch.”

Xiao Doubao, who had just lost two baby teeth and hadn’t been talking much lately, suddenly blinked his shiny eyes and asked Su Xiaoxiao, “Mom, can I also take the exam?”

Su Xiaoxiao was momentarily surprised, then smiled, “That’s high school knowledge, Xiao Doubao hasn’t learned it yet. Let’s not join in this excitement.”

Xiao Doubao asked again, “What if I study with Brother for a week?”

Su Xiaoxiao said, “Xiao Doubao, listen to Mom. learning requires gradual progress. Brother has studied junior high school knowledge, so he has a certain foundation and can at least understand high school textbooks. But Xiao Doubao is only in third grade. Even if you’ve studied fifth or sixth-grade knowledge, it’s not enough. Let’s take it step by step, okay?”

Xiao Doubao understood, nodding disappointingly. “Okay, Mom, I got it.”

Su Xiaoxiao held Xiao Doubao’s hand. “Our Xiao Doubao is very smart. Look, your brother is older than Xiao Doubao, but he also finished elementary school before starting junior high, right? Did you notice Dad using the term ‘eating a date whole’ just now? We mustn’t just rush through things; we must thoroughly learn the basics. Don’t think that simple foundational knowledge is useless. As they say, a tall building starts with a solid foundation. Only when the foundation is laid well can the whole building be sturdy, and then we won’t fear any tricky questions.”

It was only now that Xiao Doubao squinted and said, “Mom, I understand. I’ll make sure to lay the foundation well!”

Su Xiaoxiao touched the child’s head and said, “What a good child, Mom’s stewed pig trotters today are very soft and tender. Xiao Doubao can eat more.”

During his tooth-changing period, Xiao Doubao was not very fond of eating meat, most of which ended up in Xiao Roubao’s belly. Xiao Doubao liked eating pig trotters. Su Xiaoxiao purposely stewed them to be soft and glutinous today so that Xiao Doubao could eat more.

Xiao Doubao grinned. “Thank you, Mom!”