What is an Olympiad math class?
Hearing Zhou Qiqi's question, Deng Cuixiang paused with her chopsticks, looked up at her, and was clearly puzzled.
Zhou Qiqi was stunned for a moment, but quickly realized that she had often heard people talk about math olympiad classes when she was a child, and subconsciously assumed that every parent knew about it.
On second thought, China's science education started late. People had only just started to have enough to eat after the reform and opening up. Things like the International Mathematical Olympiad were nowhere to be seen yet. So where did the concept of "Olympiad math" come from?
Zhou Qiqi quickly explained.
"Um, I misspoke. I meant to say a math competition class, the kind where you can participate in math competitions later."
Deng Cuixiang placed a large piece of steamed pork on Xiang Hai's plate, pursed her lips, and said...
"Xiang Hai's math teacher mentioned this before. I specifically called the G City Children's Palace to ask, and they said that only middle school students can participate. Xiang Hai is only in fourth grade now, so he is not old enough."
Zhou Qiqi suggested.
“I think you can take your child there and try it yourself. Just asking won’t do any good. Xiang Hai’s abilities might even be better than those of an average junior high school student.”
"Okay, tomorrow is Saturday, I'll take the kids there tomorrow."
Deng Cuixiang always took Xiang Hai's studies to heart. Before she finished speaking, she had already made up her mind and turned to ask Qi Qi.
"By the way, didn't you say last time that you wanted Zhouzhou to learn to draw? The Children's Palace has drawing classes too, why don't we go and ask about it together?"
Zhou Qiqi gently shook her head.
"No, I've already entrusted this matter to Teacher Fei."
Her gaze swept over Zhouzhou sitting beside her, a hint of heartache flashing in her eyes.
Places like children's palaces have many children, most of whom are strangers, so they're not really suitable for Zhouzhou right now.
Teacher Fei also loves painting and knows many people in this field. Zhou Qiqi asked her to help find a suitable teacher for Zhouzhou, preferably a female teacher, to teach Zhouzhou painting one-on-one.
I'm willing to pay more money, since her uncle has money anyway.
"Indeed, although I am a rough man and don't know anything about painting, I can really feel the emotions in Zhouzhou's paintings. This child has the potential to learn to paint."
Deng Cuixiang spoke softly, picked up a few slices of beef shank, and gently placed them into Zhouzhou's bowl.
After the meal, Battalion Commander Jiang put on his apron and went to wash the dishes.
Just as Zhou Qiqi was about to take Zhouzhou home, Deng Cuixiang saw them to the door, when suddenly Xiang Yang jumped out from behind the door.
He put his hands behind his back, looked at Zhouzhou with bright eyes, and suddenly opened his palms.
"Aunt Zhou brought us beef to eat, and I also brought Zhouzhou grapes."
A small, purple grape lay in his palm, its skin still glistening with fine water droplets.
"Oh, are the grapes on the vine ripe? They were still green when I watered them yesterday!"
Deng Cuixiang immediately realized what was going on. She quickly walked to the grape trellis on the right side of the yard and stood on tiptoe to examine it closely.
"Huh, there isn't one..."
She fiddled with a few bunches of green grapes, her fingertips brushing against the tender vines, her brow furrowed with confusion.
Xiangyang squeezed next to her, looked up and pointed to the top of the grape trellis, "It's over there!"
"You little rascal, you climbed my grape trellis again?"
Deng Cuixiang pretended to pat his head, but it was just a feint.
She moved a wooden stool, stepped on it, and found a small bunch of ripe grapes in the spot where the sun was pointing.
Deng Cuixiang stood with her hands on her hips, raised her eyebrows and glared at her son, her tone carrying a hint of reproach.
"After two years of planting, it finally bore fruit. I haven't even had a taste, and you, of all people, have picked the reddest one to present as a treasure. What can I say about you, you little rascal?"
Her tone was unfriendly, her face was stern, and she looked genuinely angry. Zhou Qiqi's heart skipped a beat, and she was about to try to persuade her when she saw her eyes darting towards Zhou Qiqi, the corners of her eyes slightly curved.
"but..."
"That's not wrong. I'll give you the second reddest one too, Qiqi, your family should try it first..."
As she spoke, she gently pinched a grape between her fingertips and placed it in Zhou Qiqi's palm, to which Zhou Qiqi reproachfully said.
"Sister Cuixiang, you scared me to death! I thought you were angry just now!"
Deng Cuixiang smiled with her lips pursed and gently nudged her arm.
"Silly girl, how could I be angry with you? Try it, and Zhouzhou too, you two try it together!"
Fresh grapes have tender green stems and a layer of even white bloom on their surface. If you get close, you can smell a faint fruity aroma.
Zhou Qiqi and Zhouzhou exchanged a glance, each rubbed the grape skin with their fingertips, and put the grapes into their mouths.
I thought it would taste sweet, but the moment I bit into the flesh, a sour and astringent taste suddenly rushed to my tongue.
"Ouch...it's so sour!"
The two of them vomited immediately.
Zhou Qiqi frowned and inhaled sharply, while Zhouzhou stuck out her pink little tongue and kept exhaling, like a kitten whose mouth had been pricked by a fishbone.
"Hahaha! You fell for it, didn't you?"
Seeing the two of them like this, Deng Cuixiang finally couldn't hold back her laughter and took out two fruit candies from her pocket.
"Quickly, one for each of us, to sweeten our lips!"
The grapes she propagated in her yard were late-ripening longan grapes. In the first two years, they were still in their juvenile stage, with the vines still developing and not enough nutrients left for the fruit, so they generally did not bear fruit.
It usually takes until the third or fourth year, when the plant has fully matured, before it can bear fruit.
Deng Cuixiang took good care of the grapevines and fertilized them diligently. The vines bore fruit the following year, but the fruit was definitely very sour and inedible.
"I've already picked a batch of grapes and put them all in compost. I used the compost from the grapes to fertilize the vegetable garden a couple of days ago. I'll have to pick the rest of this batch and compost it too."
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