Chapter 17: The Upcoming Second Mock Exam
Seeing Xu Ming hadn't responded for a moment, Wang Qingtao sat down on the chair and continued their previous conversation.
"You have a great talent for math, but it's a shame you were too lax in your studies the past two years and couldn't show it. Otherwise, I would definitely support you in participating in the Math Competition to take another path and secure a Recommendation Quota for a Key University."
"But for now, just focus on preparing for the National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao)."
"If your Gaokao results are really unsatisfactory, you can always retake it after another year of study."
His words were genuine, showing that he was truly putting himself in Xu Ming's shoes and planning for his future.
Xu Ming listened patiently, then confidently declared.
"Thank you for your concern, Teacher Wang. I will work hard to review my lessons and improve my scores in the other subjects."
"I definitely won't let you down in this Second Mock Exam."
"As long as there's progress, that's a good thing," Wang Qingtao said with satisfaction. "Take these textbooks and head back to class quickly, don't be late for the next lesson."
"Yes, Teacher."
Xu Ming nodded without ceremony, then picked up the several copies of 'Five Years' Gaokao, Three Years' Mock Exams' from the desk and turned to walk towards his classroom.
Wang Qingtao watched Xu Ming's retreating figure until he completely disappeared from sight before retracting his gaze, unable to stop himself from sighing. A hint of regret still lingered on his face.
With only three months left until the Gaokao, purely relying on review, even if he could improve his score, it would be limited.
Perhaps he could eventually hit the cutoff score for a first-tier university, but getting into Qinghua University and Yanda University was still a distant dream.
Otherwise, if two promising students from his ordinary science class could get into top universities, he wouldn't feel so lacking in confidence when he met Cui Zhibang again.
Xu Ming didn't know what his Homeroom Teacher was thinking. After returning to the classroom, he examined the 'Five Years' Gaokao, Three Years' Mock Exams' in his hand.
Aside from Physics, which he had already bought, all the other subjects were there.
In terms of price alone, it was almost two hundred yuan.
Even though he would have to return them to the school after the Gaokao, for now, they were a significant help.
Chemical equations were easy to grasp, but the knowledge points involved still required a lot of time to memorize, especially in Biology, with its molecular cells, genetic evolution, and various other contents that needed rote learning.
If he only looked at textbooks, he'd have to summarize and categorize everything himself, which was far slower than reviewing with these study guides.
"What did the Homeroom Teacher want with you?"
At this moment, Qian Hong couldn't suppress his curiosity and asked in a low voice.
Hearing this, Xu Ming first looked up at the Chinese teacher on the podium, then pointed to the textbooks in front of him and explained.
"The Homeroom Teacher gave me these textbooks and told me to review thoroughly. He also said the Second Mock Exam is coming soon."
"Looks like the Homeroom Teacher has high hopes for you," a smile appeared on Qian Hong's lips.
No sooner had he finished speaking than he continued:
"'Five Years' Gaokao, Three Years' Mock Exams'—I saw them at Xinhua Bookstore before. At the time, I thought my grades didn't really need them, so I just put my money back in my pocket."
"I heard a lot of people in the city buy them."
"I don't need Math right now, you can take a look at it first," Xu Ming said, handing over a Math book.
Qian Hong didn't decline this; he took it and immediately opened it to study.
So, during Chinese teacher Sun Zhiqiang's class, the two of them respectively looked at Math and Chemistry.
Among them, Xu Ming's expression was exceptionally serious.
【After diligent study, your [Chemistry] Level has increased, gaining 3 Subject Experience.】
……
Time, like a wild donkey, raced on relentlessly.
In a blink, it was the weekend.
During the last self-study session of the morning, Xu Ming was working on past Biology questions from 'Five Years' Gaokao, Three Years' Mock Exams'. While gaining Subject Experience, he also familiarized himself with the question types and improved his accuracy.
With the Second Mock Exam approaching next week, he wanted to take this opportunity to gauge the results of his diligent review over the past period.
And after these past few days of review, his Chemistry experience had already met the requirement. He just needed to catch up on Biology, and then his Chem-Bio discipline could reach Level 1, and he was very much looking forward to drawing new Entries again.
【After diligent study, your [Biology] Level has increased, gaining 2 Subject Experience.】
Not long after.
Turning his head and seeing that dismissal time was approaching, Xu Ming stopped what he was doing and directed his gaze to the panel in front of him.
He checked the experience value in the Chem-Bio discipline section.
【Chem-Bio: Lv0 (94/100)】
"Today's results are pretty good, it should reach Level 1 very soon."
He muttered quietly to himself, then began packing up the items on his desk.
Entering March, temperatures were gradually rising.
Taking advantage of the few hours of rest on Sunday, he planned to go back home to change into a thinner quilt and clothes.
Qian Hong, on the other hand, lived in town and could only take the rural passenger bus home after the Second Mock Exam finished on the weekend.
Having learned from his previous experience, when the dismissal bell rang, Qian Hong didn't invite Xu Ming to the internet cafe again. And before Li Wenhui could even mention the evening roll call, he sprang out of the classroom like a cheetah.
Xu Ming was already used to this. After leaving class, he went straight to his dorm room.
He spread the thick cotton quilt's cover underneath it, then tied it diagonally into a bundle, carrying it over his shoulder.
As for the urea sack on the bed board, he didn't bring it out to "battle" yet, as it was reserved for packing books after the Gaokao.
At noon, under the sun, the warmth was already noticeable. Xu Ming didn't plan on carrying the quilt all the way back, so after leaving the school gate, he started looking for a pedicab outside.
However, just as he was about to wave to an elderly driver, he heard a familiar voice from nearby.
"Driver."
"I'll get off on the road to Xinhua Bookstore. Is three yuan okay?"
He immediately looked in the direction of the voice and saw Chen Lu, also carrying a transparent plastic bag containing a quilt, standing beside a red pedicab with a canopy, haggling over the price with the elderly driver seated inside.
"You've got stuff there too, it'll be at least four yuan."
Xu Ming knew Chen Lu lived in the county, but he hadn't expected it to be coincidentally near Xinhua Bookstore.
On the same street as her family's Wonton Shop.
Thinking of this, he no longer hesitated and walked directly over to call out to the driver.
"Grandpa, we're both going the same way. Five yuan, will you take us?"
"Fine, get in," the driver peered at Xu Ming, then waved his hand, looking somewhat reluctant.
A smile curved Xu Ming's lips upon hearing this. He immediately tossed his quilt onto the seat, then turned to look at Chen Lu.
"Do you want me to help you put it in?"
Chen Lu was startled by the sudden shout from behind her, then relaxed upon seeing it was Xu Ming.
She didn't refuse to share the ride, given the price Xu Ming had negotiated, but she insisted on putting her own quilt in herself.
"I can do it."
Finally, the two sat facing each other in the pedicab's carriage, with a quilt piled next to each of them.
Although they were classmates and had interacted a few times recently, perhaps due to the cramped space, neither of them felt comfortable starting a conversation on the way, even subtly avoiding eye contact.
They both looked out at the asphalt road.
However, the midday temperature was already high, and with items piled next to them, they quickly started to sweat.
(End of chapter)