Chapter 4
At five o'clock in the morning, before the alarm clock rang, Li Ming had already opened his eyes in the darkness.
My brain felt like it was filled with lead, incredibly heavy, and my eyelids were so sore I could barely keep them open with my fingers. Yesterday's intense studying had caused this young body, long unused to such activity, to protest vehemently. Every muscle was screaming with exhaustion, yearning to be embraced by the warmth of my bed.
"No..." He gritted his teeth, using his willpower to fight against his physical limits. His parents' haggard faces flashed through his mind, as did the despair of freezing on the streets in his previous life. That chill that almost froze his bones instantly dispelled all his drowsiness.
He sat up abruptly, fumbling for his cold clothes, his movements clumsy and stiff. The pre-dawn chill of early spring was intense; the cold wind seeping in through the cracks of the dilapidated window sent a shiver down his spine. He picked up the half-full glass of cold water he'd left on his desk the night before and gulped it down. The icy sensation shot from his throat to his stomach, instantly waking him completely.
At 5:05, he was already sitting at his desk, his English vocabulary book open. Under the dim light of the desk lamp, the distorted letters looked like jumping tadpoles. He forced himself to concentrate, quietly and repeatedly reciting and spelling them.
From the next room came the heavy snoring of his father, Li Jianhua, and the soft turning of his mother. The whole house, the whole city, was still immersed in sleep. Only in his room, a solitary light shone, like a lone beacon on a vast sea.
This extreme pressure has immediate effects, but it also brings serious consequences.
During the second period in the morning, the history teacher was passionately analyzing the significance of the Hundred Days' Reform on the podium, but Li Ming felt like his head was a mess. The teacher's voice seemed to come from a distant horizon, indistinct and unclear. He tried hard to keep up, his pen unconsciously scribbling on his notebook, the handwriting crooked and illegible even to himself.
Sleepiness surged like a tidal wave, assaulting his defenses one after another. He desperately pinched his thigh, trying to stimulate his nerves with pain, but the effect was diminishing. His eyelids drooped incessantly, and his head nodded rhythmically.
Finally, in a moment, his willpower collapsed. His head slumped downwards, his forehead nearly hitting the table. Although he instantly snapped awake and sat bolt upright, this small movement did not escape anyone's notice.
Class teacher Chen Guohua.
He happened to be patrolling the classroom, silently observing the situation through the small window at the front door. Li Ming's obvious "kowtowing," and his forced yet still exhausted appearance after waking up, clearly caught his eye.
Chen Guohua frowned slightly. He was deeply impressed by Li Ming's recent "abnormal" behavior. The incredible math problem-solving he had demonstrated the day before yesterday, and the subsequent feedback from other teachers that "Li Ming seems like a different person, spending all his free time reading," had all made him pay more attention to this once unremarkable student.
But this enthusiasm seems a bit... excessive.
During the break between classes, Li Ming excused himself by saying he had a stomachache and asked the class monitor for leave. He then lay down on his desk, trying to catch up on sleep as quickly as possible. Even ten minutes was a precious respite for him.
However, he hadn't slept for long before he was gently woken up.
Looking up, I saw the serious yet concerned face of my homeroom teacher, Chen Guohua.
"Li Ming, come to my office for a moment."
Li Ming's heart sank slightly, and his drowsiness vanished instantly. He silently got up and followed Teacher Chen out of the noisy classroom.
The teachers' office was filled with the smell of tea and old books. Most of the other teachers were not there; only Chen Guohua sat behind his desk.
He didn't speak immediately. Instead, he picked up the enamel mug on the table, slowly took a sip of strong tea, and then looked up at Li Ming, who was standing in front of the table, looking somewhat awkward.
“Li Ming,” Teacher Chen’s voice was not loud, but it had a penetrating quality, “tell me the truth, what have you been doing at night lately?”
Li Ming lowered his head, his fingers unconsciously clenching slightly. He couldn't reveal the secret of his rebirth, nor could he fully confess his "devilish plan"—it sounded too shocking.
“I…I’m studying at home.” He chose to tell part of the truth.
"How much have you learned?" Chen Guohua pressed, his eyes piercing.
"Around eleven o'clock... I guess." Li Ming gave a vague answer.
"A little past eleven?" Chen Guohua put down his teacup, making a slight clinking sound. "Look at you now, sunken eyes, pale face, dozing off in class! Is this how you're supposed to be studying until past eleven? Li Ming, it's good to work hard, but pushing yourself to the limit like this is putting the cart before the horse!"
His tone became stern: "You are at the age where you are growing rapidly. Lack of sleep will not only affect your ability to concentrate in class during the day, but in the long run, your health will collapse. What will you talk about when you start studying? What will you talk about when you take the high school entrance exam?"
Li Ming pursed his lips, offering no rebuttal. He knew Teacher Chen was right, but he had no time. He could only resort to this almost barbaric method to catch up on what he had fallen behind in.
Seeing Li Ming's silent yet stubborn demeanor, Chen Guohua's stern gaze gradually softened, revealing a complex emotion: doubt, scrutiny, but above all, a heart that cherished talent.
He had taught for many years and seen countless students. Some were intelligent but lacked effort, while others worked hard but had limited talent. But someone like Li Ming, who seemed to have suddenly grasped the essence of things and unleashed such astonishing willpower, was extremely rare. It wasn't just effort to pass exams; there was a kind of unwavering determination in his eyes that Li Ming couldn't fathom.
He sighed, his tone softening: "I don't care what happened to you, or what reasons you have for needing to do well on the exam. But remember, the method is more important than blindly working hard."
He opened the drawer, took out several notebooks with yellowed pages and curled edges, and handed them to Li Ming.
"These are my math, physics, and chemistry notes and collections of common mistakes I compiled when I taught the previous graduating class. There are also some 'clumsy methods' and 'quick tricks' that I summarized." Chen Guohua looked at Li Ming with a serious expression. "Take this back and look at it. Pay special attention to the parts I marked in red. If there's anything you don't understand, feel free to ask me anytime."
Li Ming was stunned. He stared at the notebooks filled with his teacher's hard work, his throat feeling like it was blocked by something. He hadn't expected that instead of scolding him, Teacher Chen would offer such substantial and invaluable help.
“Teacher Chen, I…” His voice was choked with emotion.
"Stop with the 'I-I-I'." Chen Guohua waved his hand, interrupting him. "Here. Remember my words: balance work and rest. Health is the foundation of everything. I don't want to see you collapse before you even get to the exam hall."
Holding those heavy notebooks as he walked out of the office, Li Ming felt his heart filled with something warm and solid.
He knew that Teacher Chen had not only given him a few notebooks, but had also lit a guiding light on his almost obsessive and frantic journey, telling him that there was more than one way to work hard.
This is not only recognition, but also a weighty expectation.
Back in the classroom, he carefully opened Mr. Chen's math notes. Inside, there was not only a clear and organized summary of key concepts, but also in-depth yet easy-to-understand analysis of various question types, and "common pitfalls" and "quick-fix techniques" highlighted in red pen. These were exactly what he needed right now! They could greatly improve his review efficiency!
He greedily absorbed the essence of the notes, like parched seedlings receiving timely rain. With these "secret manuals," his "devilish plan" seemed to be able to be adjusted, becoming more scientific and efficient.
However, he also clearly realized that Teacher Chen's attention and help were a double-edged sword. This meant that he could no longer give up easily; every bit of progress and every setback he made would be noticed by his teacher.
The burden on his shoulders seemed heavier. But the direction he was heading in also became clearer.
When he got home from school, he found that his father, Li Jianhua, did not immediately pick up the wine bottle as usual. Instead, he sat at the dining table with the draft paper filled with daily plans that he had left in the living room the night before.
Li Jianhua lowered his head, looking at the densely packed schedule on the paper. His fingers unconsciously traced the words "5:00 AM," and he remained silent for a long time.
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