Chapter 154

As the college entrance examination approached, everyone’s mood became increasingly tense, except for Su Xiaoxiao, who became more and more relaxed. Su Xiaoxiao had been preparing for this day for ten years, even in her previous life, she had fought her way through big and small exams until she graduated from graduate school. So, her mindset was very good.

Han Cheng had always had a habit of studying and had also participated in the college entrance examination and entered university. His mindset was also stable, especially since his exam time had not yet been announced; he was just preparing himself at all times.

Fantuan, this young teacher who taught older comrades, conquered them on the first day of class. They deeply felt the meaning of the phrase “the one who learns without interruption is the teacher.” Despite being a youthful teenager with a voice still immature, not even reaching puberty, he could flawlessly teach them with a fluency in pronunciation identical to that of a recorded tape.

They felt ashamed, but they also admired him, feeling proud that their country had such powerful young people. They could already imagine what it would be like when each of these powerful youths grew up to become adults like Fantuan and participated in the college entrance examination, entering higher education institutions to contribute to the country’s development.

Su Xiaoxiao and Han Cheng occasionally went to teach them. Both of them were versatile and able to teach every subject, so they focused on explaining the questions they got wrong in the mock exams, becoming invincible with their combined knowledge and reasoning.

………………..

In the town of Qingfeng in December, this southernmost coastal town still had good weather that could be managed with just a coat.

On the 11th day of December, the sky was clear, without a cloud in sight, making it a warm and sunny day.

On this day, the gate of the college entrance examination, which had been closed for ten years, finally opened for the 5.7 million examinees.

Fantuan got up early and wanted to take his two younger brothers to the state-owned hotel to buy breakfast. Xiao Roubao was unwilling to get up. Hearing that his older brother wanted to buy him deep-fried dough sticks and dates, he got up with all his strength. With his eyes closed, he climbed onto his brother’s back.

Xiao Doubao, who was over seven years old, had shed his baby fat, though he wasn’t thin. He really couldn’t carry the chubby Xioa Roubao on his back.

Fantuan couldn’t bear to see it and squatted down to let his youngest brother climb onto his back instead.

“Xiao Roubao, you really need to eat less. If you eat so much, Big Brother won’t be able to carry you.”

Xiao Roubao rubbed his eyes and said, “Big brother, I only ate a little bit.”

Fantuan patted and weighed the little meatball on his back and said, “When we start winter vacation, you have to get up and exercise with us. Then, I won’t care how much you eat.”

“Brother, Xiao Roubao fell asleep. Why don’t you let him continue sleeping, and the two of us just go there ourselves?” Xiao Doubao had always been the most caring towards his brother. Seeing him sleeping soundly on his big brother’s shoulder, he couldn’t bear to disturb him.

Fantuan said, “Xiao Roubao can be mischievous, but he shouldn’t develop a habit of laziness. It’s okay; when he smells the fried dough sticks later, he’ll wake up.”

Xiao Doubao nodded. “Should we go wake up our sister?”

Fantuan shook his head. “She’s a girl; it’s okay to be a bit delicate.”

The three brothers arrived at the door, and Zhuzi was already waiting there. “Let’s hurry while the adults are still asleep. Xiao Roubao hasn’t woken up yet?”

Fantuan patted the chubby meatball on his back again. “He’ll wake up if there’s food.”

As dawn broke, the four kids arrived at the state-owned restaurant with their red envelopes and lunch boxes.

Zhuzi said to the waiter, “Could you please give us ten fried dough sticks and twenty eggs? Put three fried dough sticks and six eggs in one box and the rest in another.”

Xiao Roubao sniffed the aroma of fried food and instantly woke up from his drowsiness. He wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth with his chubby hand, kicked his short legs, and said eagerly, “Big brother Zhuzi, we also want dried dates.”

Fantuan sighed. “Let’s add two more dried dates.”

The waiter at the state-owned restaurant knew them and smiled as he picked out the biggest and best items for them. “Luckily, you came early. Today is the day of the college entrance examination, and many people will come early to buy fried dough sticks and eggs. It’s considered lucky to eat one, signifying a perfect score. If you come late, you might not be able to buy any.”

Xiao Roubao struggled to get down, took the dried date from the plate, and started munching on it, squinting his eyes as he said, “Dried dates are the best!”

The waiter was always fond of the ever-smiling Xiao Roubao, so, he secretly brought him a bowl of soy milk. “Have it with this soy milk, don’t choke,” she whispered.

Xiao Roubao reached out, smiled ear to ear, and said, “Thank you, big sister!” Even though they were of auntie age, he intentionally called them big sisters because he found that people were happier when he called them that.

Fantuan couldn’t help but feel speechless as he watched his little brother. He was indeed a clever little ghost.

When Fantuan was young, he also had the gift of gab and could talk to anyone. Xiao Roubao surpassed him by being able to chat with anyone for hours.

The waiter laughed even more heartily. “My son is the same age as you. Auntie is getting old, and you still call me Big Sister?”

Xiao Roubao took a sip of the sweet soy milk and shook his head. “Not old, not old. Big sister is young and beautiful.”

The waiter laughed heartily and said, “Is this enough? Want some more?”

Xiao Roubao felt a bit embarrassed. “How could I accept more?” But his eyes spoke differently; they were filled with longing.

The waiter waved her hand: “It’s okay, it’s just one more sip of soy milk.” She then added another spoonful for him.

Xiao Roubao thanked her and passed the soy milk to Xiao Doubao. “Brother, you drink. It’s sweet.”

Xiao Doubao didn’t really want to drink. “You have it, I won’t drink it. After finishing, let’s hurry home. We want to surprise Mom and Dad. If we’re late, they’ll be up making breakfast.”

Xiao Roubao said, “That’s great, I can have two breakfasts!” Then he leisurely started drinking the soy milk.

Xiao Doubao saw that he was really wasting time, so
 He simply took his soybean milk and drank it in one gulp.

Recently, Su Xiaoxiao started to also put some pocket money into Xiao Roubao, and this little guy even went to find Uncle Lao Hu to buy meat. 

Xiao Zhuzi handed breakfast to Fantuan and, without a word, carried the little guy home.

He squirmed and screamed on Xiao Zhuzi’s back.

At the door, Xiao Zhuzi reminded Xiao Roubao, “You’ve eaten one dried date; leave the other one for your sister. You can eat deep-fried dough sticks and eggs.”

Xiao Roubao also cared for his sister and wouldn’t forget to share good things with her. “I know, Big Brother Zhuzi, you’re so naggy.”

Xiao Zhuzi pinched his cheek. “If that’s the case, next time I won’t carry you.”

Xiao Roubao hugged Fantuan. “Big brother, carry me!”

Fantuan couldn’t help but lift up the chubby Xiao Roubao and say, “Alright, let’s go in with Brother and take out the bowl. We need to set up a ‘perfect’ breakfast before Mom and Dad wake up. Zhuzi, you should hurry back too, or Aunt Yali will be awake.” ^[1]The ‘perfect score’ breakfast is the one with one fried dough stick and two eggs on a plate, creating “100”

The kids cooperated and set up six ‘perfect score’ breakfasts on the table before Su Xiaoxiao and Han Cheng woke up, along with six bowls of milk. It looked quite spectacular.

Su Xiaoxiao and Han Cheng were startled by this battle as soon as they left the room.

Xiao Roubao ran over and hugged his mother’s thigh, holding his little head high and smiling, saying, “Mommy, my big brothers and I went to buy you a “‘perfect score’ breakfast” early in the morning. Both you and Dad must get perfect scores today!”

Su Xiaoxiao bent down hugged Xiao Roubao, and gave him a kiss. “Mom wants to thank you all, but today only Mom is taking the test, Dad won’t take the test so soon.”

The kids didn’t know that the exam dates for college entrance exams and postgraduate entrance exams were different, so they thought they were on the same day.

Fantuan said, “It’s okay, anyway, today our whole family will eat ‘perfect score’ breakfast today!”

Su Xiaoxiao put down Xiao Roubao. “Okay, after a perfect meal, our whole family will take perfect exams.”

Xiao Tangyuan rubbed her eyes and stepped out of the room. Xiao Doubao went to hold his sister’s hand, while Xiao Roubao handed a dried date to his sister with a smile, and said, “Little sister, after eating this dried date, you’ll smile every day.”

Xiao Tangyuan smiled sweetly and said, “Thank you, third brother.”

Xiao Roubao poked his sister’s dimples and took her other hand: “Let’s go wash our faces, brush our teeth, and then we’ll have a perfect score.”

“What’s a perfect score?” Xiao Tangyuan was the only one in the family who didn’t know.

When it came to food, there was nothing Xiao Roubao didn’t know. “A fried doughnut stick with two eggs is a perfect score. From now on, we can have perfect scores for exams too!”

Breakfast today was served half an hour earlier than usual. After breakfast, Su Xiao had time to braid her little daughter’s hair.

There was no exam center in Qingfeng Town; it was located in the county’s No. 1 High School, just on the other end of the bridge, about an eight-minute drive away.

Yali arrived after having the “perfect score” breakfast her son had prepared. She seemed much more relaxed, her nerves having eased considerably. She had been anxious and sleepless the night before, but seeing her son set up three perfect scores. 

‘Mom, on my first day of school after staying at my Aunt Su’s house, Aunt Su bought us this ‘perfect score’ breakfast. Since then, whether it’s exams or homework, Fantuan and I always get perfect scores. Mom, no matter how many points you score, you will always be perfect in my heart.’ hearing his words melted her tension away.

Yali was moved to tears, and she kept thanking her son. After Zhuzi finished speaking, she felt relaxed. She was determined that if she didn’t pass this year’s exams, she would try again next year. She had to get into college to be a good example for her son and be his perfect mother.

“Xiaoxiao, thank you for raising Zhuzi so well. I never imagined I would have an angelic son like him.” 

Han Cheng drove them there, and only when Yali got into the car did she mention what Zhuzi had said.

Su Xiaoxiao said, “We won’t take credit for that. You and Old Zhang have good characters, which is why you raised such a well-behaved son. Zhuzi is naturally like this. He’ll grow up to be a gentleman. I’ve never seen him lose his temper.”

Yali said, “I think he’s too mature for his age. Boys should be lively like Xiao Roubao.”

Su Xiaoxiao was speechless. Xiao Roubao was undoubtedly the most mischievous of all the children she had raised, but he was also likable. It seemed like everyone adored Xiao Roubao—elders liked him, his brothers doted on him, and even Xiao Tangyuan would indulge him. It was quite peculiar.

Before they knew it, they had arrived at No. 1 High School.

Han Cheng rubbed Su Xiaoxiao’s head and said, “Go in. If I finish work late, Old Zhang’s security guard will come pick you up. Remember not to be nervous. Just stay calm.”

Su Xiaoxiao nodded, “Go back now, we’re not nervous.”

Han Cheng squeezed Su Xiaoxiao’s hand. It was inconvenient to hug her with people coming and going, but Han Cheng wanted to encourage her with a hug.

The middle and high schools of County No. 1 High School are all located in the same school, all of which have been converted into examination rooms. Today, it was crowded with people. There were so many people taking the college entrance exam this year that Yali, who had performed in rural areas for years and seen even larger crowds, couldn’t help but be amazed. “Xiaoxiao, there are so many people taking the exam this year, right? Is this the only exam center in the county?”

Su Xiaoxiao shook her head, “There must be more than one exam center. I don’t know how many people are taking the exam this year, including the students who have been delayed for ten years and the fresh graduates. Let’s not worry about others, let’s just focus on ourselves. Do you remember the deep breathing exercise I taught you?”

Yali nodded, “Don’t worry, I’m not nervous.” Yali took a deep breath. “Xiaoxiao, let’s do our best, for ourselves and to set a good example for our children. Let’s go!”

Su Xiaoxiao made a fist and cheered herself and Yali on, “Let’s go!”

The two great and outstanding mothers, filled with excitement, entered the sealed college entrance examination room with 5.7 million examinees nationwide. Countless destinies would be rewritten on this day.