Early Tuesday morning, Chen called Jiang Xiaoli and Xu Xing to his office.

He blew on the tea leaves floating in his cup, took a sip, and then slowly pointed to an application form and said, "Yesterday afternoon, I discussed it with the teachers in the academic affairs group, and we decided to respect your choice. If you two want to participate in this joint exam for the senior year, you can sign this application form to confirm."

Jiang Xiaoli signed her name without hesitation, and Xu Xing followed suit.

After they finished signing, Chen Zhe didn't let them leave. "The school considered it for a long time before agreeing to let you two participate in the joint exam. Since you're going to skip a grade, I hope you'll take this exam with 100% seriousness and strive for a good result so that others won't laugh at you."

Xu Xing nodded. "Teacher Chen, we will try our best."

Just then, a teacher from the next office called Chen out to talk to him about something.

As soon as he left, Zhao Jiawei said to Jiang Xiaoli and the others, "Since you two are going to participate in this joint exam, you must get good results. Don't blame me and Teacher Chen for putting too much pressure on you."

Yesterday, your teacher, Ms. Chen, had an argument with the senior grade teachers about your registration. Ms. Chen spoke up for you both quite a bit; otherwise, registering wouldn't have been so easy.

Jiang Xiaoli suddenly realized that Chen's expression and demeanor were a little different from usual, and now she knew there was a reason for it.

She smiled slightly. "Teacher Zhao, you're overthinking it. We don't feel pressured at all. On the contrary, we feel very warm that you and Teacher Chen are so supportive, right, Xu Xing?"

Xu Xing was suddenly called upon and said, "Yes, Teacher Zhao, we are confident in our results and will definitely not let you down."

Zhao Jiawei then smiled and said, "Yes, yes, Teacher Chen and I have great confidence in you! Okay, you can go back to the classroom now. There are still two weeks until the joint exam. In addition to studying the competition content, you should also take some time to review the knowledge points for the college entrance examination."

After the two left the office, Xu Xing was a little puzzled. "Why don't the teachers in the senior year group want the two of us to participate in the joint exam?"

Jiang Xiaoli looked at Xu Xing as if he were an idiot, "What else could it be? If it's not that they're afraid we'll lower their average score, then they're afraid we'll steal the spotlight from their outstanding students."

Xu Xing had always disliked such disputes. He sighed and said, "We must make the most of the opportunity that Teacher Chen fought for for us."

She nodded, gave him an OK sign, and went back to the classroom.

In fact, it really is just as she said.

Yesterday, Chen applied to the academic affairs director to allow the two of them to participate in the joint entrance examination. The academic affairs director was very happy to have such outstanding students this year.

However, the head of the senior grade group was very unhappy. He stubbornly believed that it was naive and presumptuous for freshmen to want to take the exam with senior students.

Chen explained that both of them were capable of taking the college entrance examination, which made the head of the senior year group even more unhappy.

He has a promising student in his class, and he feels that his student is no worse than the top students in the school. He is looking forward to using this joint exam to win favor with the school leaders.

Now that two unexpected obstacles have suddenly appeared, he naturally has to strongly oppose this behavior.

In the end, it was the head of the teaching department who made the final decision: "It's just a matter of two students taking the exam early. Let the students try it out. If their results in this joint exam are not ideal, then they should not apply for any more exams like skipping grades in the future!"

Without a second thought, Chen agreed on behalf of Jiang Xiaoli and the other girl, showing great confidence in his students!

When Jiang Xiaoli returned home from school at noon, she ran into Li Guizhi, who was returning from picking up a cake.

She gently poked her forehead. "You silly child. What kind of cake did you order? Look at what's written on it, is it even presentable?"

She chuckled and took her mother's arm as they walked home. "Mom, tell me, aren't these two lines I asked the cake decorator to write the most sincere blessings?"

Li Guizhi chuckled, "That's too blatant."

When Jiang Xiaoli got home, she opened the cake and examined it. There were two lines of text written in the middle of the fruit and cream flower decorations.

Wishing Xiao Zong boundless talent and ever-increasing wealth.

The cake decorator was very skilled, and Jiang Xiaoli nodded in satisfaction.

Li Guizhi brought the prepared dishes into the main room. She glanced at the cake and said, "If you ask me, it would be best if it just said 'Happy Birthday' on it. Look at what you had someone else write on it."

Jiang Xiaoli sat at the table, holding her rice bowl and smiling mischievously. "Mom, do you believe me or not, Zong Jiayu prefers these two sentences I asked you to write to him rather than 'Happy Birthday'?"

Li Guizhi really couldn't do anything with her. "Alright, it's already decided, so be it."

Around four o'clock in the afternoon, Zong Jia and He Dafu arrived first.

Li Guizhi was still preparing dinner, and the two rolled up their sleeves, wanting to go into the kitchen to help her.

Unable to refuse them, she casually gave them some vegetables, saying, "You two can help wash the vegetables."

Looking at the abundant ingredients in the kitchen, Dafu said, "Auntie, I've heard Brother Zong say that your cooking is excellent many times. I'm really looking forward to tonight's meal."

Li Guizhi smiled broadly, "These are just some home-style dishes. Try them tonight. If you like them, come over with Xiao Zong often, and I'll cook for you."

Pumpkin and Zhong Yuan arrived after summarizing the day's sales figures for the steamed bun shop.

Pumpkin greeted Li Guizhi with his girlfriend, saying, "Auntie, this is my girlfriend. She's the manager of our steamed bun shop."

Su Xiaoxiao has a pretty and poised appearance. "Auntie, hello! My name is Su Xiaoxiao. Let me help you. Is there anything I can do for you?"

Li Guizhi quickly stopped her, "No need, no need. You sit and chat with Nan Gua and the others for a while. I'll be done soon. Just wait and eat."

When Jiang Xiaoli got home from school, she saw that the large round table was full of people. She smiled and said, "You all came so early! Looks like you're all even more greedy than me!"

Pumpkin chuckled, "That's right! Zhong Yuan usually does things at a leisurely pace. Today, two store managers reported their data a little late, so he made two or three phone calls to urge them to speed things up, just so he could come over earlier."

Zhong Yuan scratched his head sheepishly, "Don't say anymore!"

Jiang Xiaoli smiled and spoke up for Zhong Yuan, "Brother Gua, you're wrong. Not eating enthusiastically means you have a problem with your thinking! I think Brother Yuan did a great job!"

"Haha, if you're not enthusiastic about eating, there's something wrong with your thinking. Little Pear, what you're saying is practically Zhong Yuan's motto!"

Dafu laughed out loud too. Usually when the group of them were together, Zhong Yuan was always the one who ate the most.