After registering, Xia Minmin, who hadn't brought any books, could only stare blankly at her desk with her head down.

Gradually, the classroom seats filled up, and rustling sounds began to fill the air.

Tang Meng couldn't hold back any longer. Upon hearing the bell, she grabbed Xia Minmin and ran outside.

Tang Meng said, "I never expected Class One to be so depressing. We're having such a tough time. How are we going to get through the next three years?"

Xia Minmin said, "Talk less and do more. Study hard at school. I just checked, and most of the students in the class brought their books. They are really diligent."

More and more students were in the restrooms, and the noise from their conversations grew louder.

"Have you heard? There will be a placement test for the start of the new semester tomorrow."

"I've heard about it. Otherwise, I wouldn't have brought the book today."

"You're just trying to cram at the last minute."

"There's nothing I can do. You know our class teacher, Ms. Lu, is known as the Abbess of Extinction."

"Master Miejue, hasn't she been teaching the third year of junior high for the past few years? Why is she teaching the first year today?"

"I don't know, maybe I'm just tired from teaching junior high students."

"Then you're finished. It's really not easy to survive for three years under Abbess Miejue."

"Yes. After we registered, everyone in our class sat in the classroom in complete silence; not a single person dared to speak."

“Our class is much more active than yours. Nobody reads books; everyone is chatting.”

Do you think everyone in our class is a bookworm?

"Possibly. Your class is probably in the top 30 of the Shenzhen junior high school entrance exam."

Xia Minmin and Tang Meng left after washing their hands, but they also overheard an important piece of information.

"What should we do about Xiaomin? She has her placement test tomorrow!"

Tang Meng seemed very anxious. She hadn't reviewed any elementary school material this summer and had been previewing junior high school material.

Xia Minmin said, "Since we're here, let's make the best of it! Anyway, we're already in, and they can't kick us out of class just because of one placement test. We just need to do our best."

Back in the classroom, Teacher Lu had already arranged for the students to bring the books back, and the brand-new books were piled up on the teacher's desk.

When the school bell rang, Teacher Lu counted out the textbooks and placed them in the first row, then had the students pass them around.

The new book smelled strongly of ink as Xia Minmin flipped through it.

Teacher Lu patted the podium and said, "Everyone, please be quiet and listen to me."

The students below the podium put down their books and looked up at Teacher Lu.

"Today we're going to have a diagnostic test. The content will be based on sixth-grade and seventh-grade material. This is just a diagnostic test and won't have any impact. If it were a monthly exam, the bottom five students in the class would be punished."

Many students looked troubled; it was really tough being in Class 1.

Teacher Lu continued, "The punishment is that the bottom five students will have to do all the cleaning for the whole class for a month. If you don't want to clean, then you'll have to work hard."

The students looked at each other, still not daring to speak or discuss.

"If you have nothing to do, keep reading. There are no classes today. Remember to come for morning self-study at 7:00 tomorrow and don't be late. The person who is late is responsible for cleaning our class's assigned area. Until a second person is found to be late, he will be responsible for cleaning the assigned area."

Upon hearing this, the classmates couldn't help but start discussing it.

"Teacher, is it correct to understand it this way? If someone is late tomorrow, and no student is late for the next three months, then the person who was late has to clean for three months?"

Teacher Lu nodded, "It's like a game of musical chairs. If you can't put the flower down, you can only keep running."

"Today we will appoint class officers, who will be assigned based on their academic performance."

"Students whose names are called, stand up so everyone can recognize your faces."

"Class monitor Xia Minmin."

Upon hearing Xia Minmin's name, the rustling sounds in the classroom grew louder.

After Xia Minmin stood up, she heard some classmates whispering.

"This is her. She looks no different from us."

"Only 7 years old? How come he's so tall?"

"I'm so envious. She's probably the only one who doesn't have to worry about placement tests."

Upon hearing this, Teacher Lu glanced across the class and immediately fell silent.

“Next, let’s talk about Vice Class Monitor Liu Dan, Academic Committee Member Xi Ang… Class leaders should set an example and not start talking themselves.”

"Class monitor, I checked and you live nearby. From now on, you'll be in charge of locking the door every morning and evening. After the school bell rings at noon, come to my office to get the class key."

"If you have nothing else to do, you can read. You can go home after the school bell rings at noon."

"Class monitor, please sit on the podium to maintain order and write down the seating chart, then post it on the podium. That should be the general seating arrangement for this semester. But if any of you misbehave, I will move your seat to the side next to the podium."

Upon hearing that their seats would be placed next to the teacher's podium, the students all looked terrified; no one wanted to sit under the teacher's nose.

This is just like a ghost story.

After finishing her speech, Teacher Lu tidied up the podium and left.

Xia Minmin, the newly appointed class monitor, sat on the podium.

Xia Minmin took six sheets of draft paper and placed one on the desk of each student in the first row.

"Everyone, write your names down in the order of your seats before coming up."

After a morning of fussing, the school bell finally rang at noon.

Xia Minmin and the other students couldn't wait to pack their bags and get ready to go home.

“Other classes are so much better; you can just sign up and leave. Unlike our class, we’re forced to stay until noon before we can leave.”

"That's what they call the treatment of Class One students."

"What if I can't fit all these books in my backpack?"

"Just put it in the desk! The class monitor locks the door every day anyway, so no one's going to steal the book!"

"The person who is least worried about being late is probably the class monitor, who has to come to open the door this early every day."

"What should I do? I love sleeping in. I was always late when I was in elementary school. I guess I'll be responsible for cleaning the assigned area this term."

"That's great. You've worked so hard to relieve the whole class of this burden. You're truly a good comrade in our class."

The other students had all left, and Xia Minmin returned from Teacher Lu's office with the key.

Tang Meng patted Xia Minmin's head, "Poor child, you'll have to come to school an hour earlier from now on."

"Do you want to come with me?"

Tang Meng hesitated for a moment, then said, "Alright then, I'll go along with you. I'll start studying with you as soon as possible and try to improve my ranking by five places in the monthly exam. I don't want to be cleaning the classroom for a whole month."

Xia Minmin said, "Teacher Lu's move is too ruthless. It's very difficult for our class to improve by five places! In order to avoid cleaning for a month, I guess everyone will study like crazy."

Tang Meng was also very worried. She was in a real bind and didn't have much time to prepare. She needed to rank at least 25th in next month's monthly exam in order to escape the fate of cleaning.

After leaving school, Tang Meng did not linger outside the school and went straight home to review her lessons.