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Upon hearing that Wang Zhenguo could be revived, Ma Fenqing and Zhu Qiyu would readily agree not just to one condition, but to multiple conditions.
After seeing the two nod in agreement, Wang Qian glanced at Wang Zhi, who was hiding behind the door, shooting her a fierce look. She was someone who always hid in the shadows, unable to face the light.
“Dad, use all your strength and hit him hard,” Wang Qian’s actions could be seen as a form of retaliation. Though hitting someone to wake them up didn’t require this much force, she insisted that Wang Zhenhe exert all his strength.
Having just finished dinner, Wang Zhenhe was brimming with energy. Upon hearing his daughter’s request, he pulled his hands back and struck with full force. There was a series of slapping sounds. Ma Fenqing and Zhu Qiyu closed their eyes, unable to bear watching. However, after enduring the forceful strikes from Wang Zhenhe for some time, Wang Zhenguo slowly began to regain consciousness, despite being aware of the events of the past two days. However, he couldn’t fully wake up, feeling as though someone was choking him, preventing him from awakening.
“Mom, I’m hungry,” were Wang Zhenguo’s first words upon regaining some consciousness. Instead of expressing gratitude, he wanted food. Wang Zhenhe didn’t dwell on this, as he had already succeeded in reviving him. “You take care, Fourth Brother. I’m leaving.”
The people in the Wang family were preoccupied with Wang Zhenguo, and no one came out to see Wang Zhenhe off. Wang Qian, displeased, muttered to herself, “Dad, look at your wonderful family. They received help, yet they can’t even say thank you. They are truly disappointing. Fortunately, we don’t live with them. Otherwise, they’d drive us to our wits’ end. How did you end up being born into such a family?”
Wang Zhenhe simply smiled and held his daughter’s hand. “Qianqian, just consider them as neighbors or passersby. We help others without expecting gratitude in return. As long as we have a clear conscience, there’s no need to worry. In the future, as long as they don’t provoke us, it’s fine. If they dare to cause trouble, your dad will handle it.”
As they left the house, they saw Wang Deshan returning with a basket of grass. Upon hearing the news of his youngest son’s awakening, he excitedly dropped the basket and rushed into the house. Wang Zhenhe sighed, left the items in the courtyard, and then departed with his daughter.
The news of Wang Zhenguo’s awakening spread throughout the village like wildfire. Families with ill members followed Wang Zhenhe’s example and tried to wake them up. However, these individuals and Wang Zhenguo were all in a weakened state despite being awake. In the evening, according to a prearranged agreement, Zhu Qiyu and others sneaked out to the grave that had been dug up and began burning paper money and chanting.
After a series of events, Wang Zhenguo and the others eventually recovered, leading to a period of solemnity among the villagers.
In September, Wang Qian started school along with Mingyuan. Upon seeing the other children in the classroom, she had prepared herself for some adjustment. However, when a classmate wet themselves during the lesson and burst into tears, she felt regret. Wang Qian, who initially didn’t want to attract attention, now had to reconsider whether her decision was right.
Enduring the morning, she returned home and announced her decision, “Mom, I want to skip a grade. I want to be in the same class as my brother. I can’t continue in first grade. Those crying children give me a headache.”
Zhang Lan, finding her daughter’s behavior amusing, said, “Qianqian, they are the same age as you, and some are even a year older. How did they become ‘little children’? I know you are mature, but being in the same class as your brother, don’t you think it’s a bit young for your age?”
Listening to the mother and daughter, Zuo Zhanshan turned to Chen Minghai and said, “Old Chen, your educational methods are quite successful. Everyone wants to skip a grade. However, Qianqian, you should know that the school is a small society. Interacting with classmates can teach you about social relationships. Will you be able to get along well with the older children if you skip a grade?”
Zuo Zhanshan wasn’t worried about anything else; he just felt she was too young. Skipping too many grades at once would attract too much attention. “Qianqian, how about this? You can join the third grade this time. That way, we won’t stand out too much. What do you think?”
It was at this moment that Wang Qian realized her decision had been hasty. The other children in the family were already studying at a higher level, and skipping too many grades would definitely attract attention.
“Grandpa Zuo, I understand. I’ll go to the third grade as you suggested. If I decide to take the college entrance exam later, and if I don’t pass in the first year, I can repeat a grade and then take the exam. This way, I can buy some time,” Wang Qian said, demonstrating her understanding of the situation.
Seeing the young girl understanding his point, Zuo Zhanshan said to Wang Zhenhe, “Zhenhe, this afternoon, accompany the children to talk to the teacher.”
The parents were naturally delighted that their child was excelling academically. However, they were concerned about the implications of skipping too many grades on their child’s normal development. When they heard that their daughter had agreed to join the third grade, Wang Zhenhe readily approved.
In the afternoon, Wang Zhenhe accompanied Wang Qian to meet the principal. Liu Sulan had been pleased to hear about Wang Qian’s enrollment earlier that day, so it was quite surprising for her to receive a request for a grade skip later the same day.
“Wang Qian, are you sure about wanting to skip a grade? This isn’t a trivial matter. Grade skipping requires passing an exam, just like your siblings had to,” the principal said, expressing some doubt about the exceptional intelligence of all the children from one family. Wang Qian firmly expressed her determination.
“Principal, I am very certain and confident. If my siblings could pass, so can I,” she replied.
The class teacher, Xu Mingda, looked at the young girl before him with curiosity. He picked up a notebook and proposed, “Principal, how about this? If Wang Qian can solve this problem, we won’t need an exam. We can admit her directly.”
Liu Sulan glanced at the problem, her expression a mix of puzzlement and hesitation, before ultimately agreeing.
Upon seeing the problem, Wang Qian couldn’t help but curse inwardly. She thought the teacher’s actions were unfair and inappropriate, as the question was more suited for a fourth-grade level. She felt it was unjust to put a young child through such a test and was taken aback by the teacher’s approach.
For Wang Qian, the problem was a piece of cake. While solving a linear equation might pose a challenge for a typical child, she had the advantage of her two lifetimes of experience, coupled with her grandfather’s teachings. With a few swift strokes, she wrote down the answer.
“Teacher, is this okay?” she asked.
Wang Qian’s speed was astounding. Before they knew it, she had already begun to solve the equation. Seeing the answer she provided, both Xu Mingda and Liu Sulan took a serious look at her. “Welcome to the third grade. I am your class teacher, Xu Mingda. You can call me Teacher Xu,” he said.
With Wang Qian’s enrollment settled, there was nothing for Wang Zhenhe to worry about at the school. Seeing his daughter impress the two teachers, he felt elated on the way home.
During the afternoon class, Xu Mingda paid particular attention to Wang Qian’s every move. He couldn’t fathom how such a young child could solve such a complex problem. He had intentionally tried to challenge the young girl, but to his surprise, her aptitude for learning exceeded his expectations. He deliberately asked questions during the lesson, but none of the material seemed to trouble Wang Qian.
As a teacher, having a promising student filled him with joy. He believed that this young girl was no less capable than her older siblings, Mingcheng and the others, who were already sources of pride for the school. Now, he had another student who could make him proud.
Especially at this moment, there were few students like the Wang siblings who were dedicated to their studies, so Xu Mingda inwardly resolved to nurture this girl well.
After school, Mingyuan and Zuo He waited outside the classroom to walk home with Wang Qian. Xu Mingda had noticed a few heads outside the window, so he promptly announced the end of the school day.
Wang Qian tidied up her small backpack and stayed in the classroom. She wasn’t in a rush to leave, considering the crowded hallways and the potential for getting pushed around. Seeing her unhurried manner, Mingyuan and the others felt a bit anxious. “Qianqian, I’m outside. It’s okay. Take your time coming out,” Mingyuan reassured her.
As she saw Mingyuan and the others coming to fetch her, Wang Qian finally put on her backpack and joined them. “Brother, why did you finish school so early?”
Zuo He took her backpack off her shoulders and put it on his own. “We had a test in the afternoon. We finished early and came to wait for you. How are you adjusting? Has anyone been bothering you?”
Worried that his sister might encounter trouble, Mingyuan bombarded her with questions. “It’s okay, brother. I had a good day at school, and no one bothered me. If someone does, I’ll definitely tell you.”
With four protective siblings now, who would dare to bully her?
On their way home, they unexpectedly ran into their father, Wang Zhenhe. He had some concerns as he had just arranged for his daughter to skip a grade, worrying that the older students might bully her. Growing increasingly uneasy in the mountains, he rushed over after work to check on her.
“Dad, are you here to pick me up?” Wang Qian was genuinely surprised to see her father. Seeing his smiling nod, she joyfully leaped into his arms. “Dad, you’re the best. It would be great if you could come and pick me up every day.”
Wang Qian was a bit greedy, but Wang Zhenhe chuckled. “Sweetheart, don’t you still have your brothers? If I came to pick you up every day, who would earn money to support all of you?”
Holding onto her father’s neck, Wang Qian helplessly said, “Then you should keep earning money for us, or else we won’t have any money to pay for our tuition.”
As they crossed a small stream, Wang Qian and Mingyuan picked some grass to bring home for the pigs. The pigs had grown significantly, thanks to the efforts of Mingyuan and the others.
“Bro, when we slaughter the pig this year, make sure Mom cooks some extra meat for you. You guys are the real heroes; the pigs have grown so big thanks to you. Isn’t that right, Dad?”