Last year, Cen Huaize miscalculated his exam scores and failed to be accepted.

This year, he could only repeat his studies, and logically, Xi Wang should follow the same approach as last year.

Jiang Shengnan felt a bit uneasy.

Chuxia shared the same thoughts as Jiang Shengnan.

Two days later, Cen Zhengshi’s family arrived, and Jiang Shengnan instructed them to take a taxi to the rest home.

The courtyard now belonged to Chuxia, and Jiang Shengnan wouldn’t let them stay there.

It was only temporary; Jiang Shengnan’s place still had rooms available, and it would suffice to inform the staff at the rest home.

When Jiang Shengnan welcomed Cen Zhengshi’s family inside, Xi Wang wore a smile and had no objections about staying at the rest home, even though she really wanted to stay in the courtyard.

After two days, Jiang Shengnan finally understood why Xi Wang had been smiling since arriving in the capital; she had a favor to ask from her and Cen’s father.

Xi Wang knew that Cen Zhengshi’s elder brother worked at the Ministry of Education.

Although he was now retired, he still had connections that could help.

“Mom, look at Xiaoze’s grades, and Xinxin’s too. The education level in our city is really lacking. Since you’re in the capital, they can only rely on you!”

Jiang Shengnan’s expression wasn’t pleasant; she looked at Cen’s father, hoping he would speak up.

Xi Wang was even more afraid of him.

“According to your logic, no one from your city has been accepted into university. It doesn’t matter where they study; it depends on whether they are willing to learn and have the ability to learn well. If they don’t want to learn, they won’t do well anywhere!”

Xi Wang’s face stiffened: “Dad, Xiaoze and Xinxin used to go to the Northwest every year. You know their personalities; how could they not want to learn, Dad…”

Before Xi Wang could finish, Cen Huaize stood up suddenly: “Mom, I’m not transferring to the capital.”

Cen Huaxin followed, saying, “I won’t transfer either.”

Xi Wang shot the two children a glare, signaling them not to speak out of turn: “Adults are talking; children shouldn’t interrupt.”

Cen’s father responded: “Why would you transfer them without asking their opinions? Besides, there’s only one semester left. Are the textbooks and learning progress the same in your city as in the capital?”

Xi Wang was taken aback by the question; she hadn’t thought of that.

She just felt that everything in the capital was better and that Cen Huaize and Cen Huaxin would do well there.

Cen Huaize replied, “It’s not the same. Mom, I’ve mentioned before that if I transfer to the capital, I’ll have to adapt again. I only have one semester left; my grades might even get worse in the capital.”

Cen Huaxin nodded in agreement: “Mom, I asked my classmates, and the textbooks in the capital are different from ours. I’d have to learn everything again if I transfer.”

Cen’s father turned to Xi Wang: “Do you still insist on transferring the kids?”

Xi Wang frowned: “But the capital teaches better than our city! Otherwise, how would Zhang Lu and An An have such good grades and win national competition medals?”

Cen’s father replied, “Your province also has students who have won national mathematics competition medals. Why isn’t Xiaoze one of them? There are students in the capital who also can’t get into university. Why don’t you look at those students? You only focus on Lu Lu and An An; they’re the best high school students in the capital, but your city has excellent students too!”

Xi Wang felt embarrassed and speechless; she didn’t want to admit there was a gap in ability between Cen Huaize and Zhang Lu, Cen Huai’an.

However, Cen’s father and Jiang Shengnan firmly disagreed with transferring Cen Huaize and Cen Huaxin.

They didn’t want to, either.

After Cen Zhengshi learned that his parents disapproved, he joined in urging Xi Wang, and she finally gave up the idea.

Xi Wang felt uncomfortable herself.

During the New Year, she sent the two kids to play with Cen Huai’an and the others, asking what they studied in the capital.

Cen Huaize and Cen Huaxin didn’t want to go.

They were studying high school material; what else could they learn?

Xi Wang kept insisting, and they had no choice but to go.

When Cen Huai’an and Zhang Lu heard this question, they exchanged strange glances.

Zhang Lu replied directly: “Language, Math, English, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Politics. Don’t you study these subjects?”

“Yes,” Cen Huaize said, “they’re the same. My mom always thinks you guys teach better in the capital.”

Cen Huai’an said, “How good the teaching is depends on the teacher, not the city.”

Every high school has excellent teachers and average ones.

Cen Huaize said, “If my mom understood this logic, that would be great.”

His tone was a bit flippant, but he no longer had the bad habits of fidgeting and slouching. The military training over the past few years had helped him and Cen Huaxin a lot, changing them for the better.

Cen Huai’an glanced at Xi Wang, feeling no fondness for her. He turned away, saying, “You can tell her.”

Cen Huaxin sighed: “My mom won’t listen.”

But thankfully, the New Year was still peaceful.

Grandpa Jiang was unwell at the moment, so who would dare provoke him?

The Jiang family could be fierce with him.

Xi Wang wasn’t so foolish as to offend everyone around her.

She was someone who knew how to flatter people to make them happy when she needed something from them.

After the New Year, Xi Wang asked Cen Huaize and Cen Huaxin once more.

Both were strongly opposed to transferring schools.

Moreover, as Cen Huaize’s school was about to start again and Cen’s father wasn’t helping, she had no choice but to take the kids and Cen Zhengshi back.

Chuxia learned from Jiang Shengnan only after they left about Xi Wang’s intentions for returning to the capital for the New Year.

She simply couldn’t understand Xi Wang’s reasoning: “Xiaoze’s critical period is next semester. Isn’t she afraid that if she transfers him now, his studies will suffer even more?”

If she truly wanted to transfer, she should have made that decision when he repeated his studies last year.

Even if a transfer was possible, the textbooks from the two cities were different, and transferring would only hinder learning, not improve grades.

Jiang Shengnan fiddled with the kumquat tree on the table and said, “She probably heard some relative from her maternal family say something and thought it sounded good. Don’t worry about her. How does the tree I pruned look?”

Jiang Shengnan had no hopes for this daughter-in-law to be filial; she only hoped that she would create fewer problems and preferably not come to the capital often.

Chuxia put aside her analysis of Xi Wang and walked over to take a closer look: “I think it looks beautifully pruned.”

She didn’t understand how to arrange bouquets or do flower arrangements, but from Chuxia’s perspective, this potted tree was pleasing to the eye from any angle.

Jiang Shengnan smiled happily, “You’re not just flattering me, are you?”

“Not at all. Mom, you can let Dad see if it looks good.”

“No need,” Jiang Shengnan said while tidying up the fallen leaves on the table. “I trust your taste. Your dad wouldn’t notice anything.”

---

Cen Huai’an participated in two phases of training with the national training team, and just like last year, the final phase announced the six candidates for the IMO competition.

Cen Huai’an was among them, as was Tang Song.

Tang Song could be considered a dark horse; among 60 candidates, he was ranked tenth, but in the second phase of training, he managed to score in the top six on his first exam, showing rapid improvement.

Cen Huai’an naturally knew how Tang Song studied—besides sleeping, he studied and practiced problems, even holding his math Olympiad mistake collection during meals. His effort was astonishing.

Zhang Lu said to Cen Huai’an, “Tang Song seems to be studying like crazy!”

Cen Huai’an replied, “That shows his goal is more than just a national qualification.”

Zhang Lu’s eyes widened. “He wants to participate in the IMO?”

Cen Huai’an confirmed with a nod.

Zhang Lu felt both surprised and unsurprised: “Tang Song is like you, enjoying the challenge.”

Thus, when Tang Song was selected for the IMO, Cen Huai’an felt it was only natural. He had a talent for mathematics and had put in much more effort than the average person, so it made sense for him to qualify.

When Tang Song heard his name among the selected candidates for the IMO, he let out a long breath, and a joyful smile spread across his face: he did it!

The IMO competition would still take place in July, during which Cen Huai’an and the others would be taking their college entrance exams on July 7, 8, and 9.

Of course, the students eligible for the IMO were all students who could be exempt from the college entrance exams; they didn’t have to take the tests.

Besides Cen Huai’an and Tang Song, the others chose to be exempt. Cen Huai’an and Tang Song would still take the exams.

Fortunately, the IMO competition would be held from July 13 to July 24, allowing them to finish their exams before heading to the UK for the competition.

Cen Huai’an and Zhang Lu both had their exam venues in the Dongcheng District but not in the same location, and the other students had their venues separated as well.

The school arranged for students to stay in dormitories near the exam venues, which had been vacated by third-year students who went to different exam locations.

Chuxia discussed with Jiang Zhiguan that the two children needed to stay somewhere better; some student dormitories didn’t even have fans, and with the hot weather, it would be unbearable to stay there.

During the summer at the Fourth High School, Cen Huai’an, Zhang Lu, and Jiang Weixian all moved to Yunmengze. After a night’s sleep, they woke up drenched in sweat.

Chuxia and Jiang Zhiguan checked nearby hotels and booked one that had air conditioning and very good facilities.

Of course, the price wasn’t cheap; it was usually a place for wealthy people, with few ordinary visitors.

Zhang Lu exclaimed, “Wow!” in surprise when she saw her room, joyfully jumping onto the big bed and exclaiming, “So comfortable! Mom, I love you so much!”

Cen Huai’an also found the accommodations pleasant, feeling warm inside as he looked at Chuxia.

By this time, Cen Huai’an had grown quite tall, a little taller than Cen Zhengnian, and Chuxia had to sit down to touch his head.

“Don’t be nervous for the exam. You have an IMO gold medal; any school will want you.”

“Mm.”

Cen Huai’an wasn’t nervous; compared to the math Olympiad questions, the college entrance exam questions seemed far too easy for him.

The only discomfort he felt was the stifling heat in the exam room.

Opening the window didn’t help, and he couldn’t turn in his paper early until the last 15 minutes, which felt torturous for someone like him who had already checked his answers multiple times.

Chuxia and Jiang Zhiguan accompanied them throughout the exams, while Cen Zhengnian and Jiang Wei also booked a room to stay nearby.

Cen Zhengnian directly asked Yan Hemen for leave; he couldn’t miss such an important event as his son’s college entrance exam.

Jiang Zhiguan urged Jiang Wei to leave, saying two people weren’t necessary, but Jiang Wei wouldn’t listen.

However, the two men saved Chuxia and Jiang Zhiguan some trouble; they could drive daily to Grandfather Jiang’s house to pick up the meals specially prepared for Cen Huai’an and Zhang Lu by Jiang Shengnan and Aunt Li for the exams.

Chuxia and Jiang Zhiguan worried about cleanliness, especially in summer when ingredients spoiled easily, and some vendors might use spoiled food.

Eating at home felt more reassuring; they ate what they usually did without needing extravagant or greasy dishes, as that could lead to an upset stomach.

Aside from feeling hot during the exams, Cen Huai’an and Zhang Lu didn’t suffer otherwise.

Since the hotel was close to the exam venue, they could take a nap during lunch, which made other students envious.

After three days of exams, Cen Huai’an and Tang Song didn’t have time to rest at home before immediately joining the coach and four other candidates on a flight to the UK.

The UK was adjacent to Huaguo, and the local customs and culture were quite different from those of Huaguo.

It was Cen Huai’an’s first time abroad, and he found the different cultures fascinating, strengthening his desire to travel.

Before the exams began, Cen Huai’an sought his teacher’s permission to walk around the hotel and look at the scenery outside the window.

“Isn’t the scenery in our country nice?” a male voice with a UK accent suddenly came from behind Cen Huai’an.