Chapter 188: We were taught by the same teacher, so why did you fail the exam?
Jiang Luli sat on the podium, holding the stack of test papers tightly in his hands.
His brows were furrowed, and his lips trembled slightly, as if a string of words were about to come out of his mouth, but in the end he forced himself to swallow the curse words.
He looked up at the young faces in the audience. These eight or nine-year-olds were completely different from the mature students at Huaqing Academy. If he scolded them too harshly, it might leave an indelible scar on their young hearts. Gu Jiayue would definitely be furious if she knew.
Thinking of this, he sighed helplessly. Never mind, let him be a little dumb. The worst that could happen is that I can just spend more time and effort to teach him.
"The papers you took yesterday have been corrected. Some of you did very well. I am very pleased. I hope you will keep up the good work." Jiang Luli raised the corners of his mouth slightly, trying to make his expression look gentler, and his voice was also deliberately softened.
"Don't be sad if you didn't do well in the exam. You just started studying not long ago. Once you know where you are not good at, work hard." As he spoke, he glanced at the students in the audience, trying to convey encouragement with his eyes.
Jiang Luli was not good at comforting people, and these few words were the limit of what he could do.
If it were the students of Huaqing Academy, he would have criticized them mercilessly and made them unable to hold their heads up.
"Okay, those whose names I call out will come up to get their papers and rewards. Sun Hai, 89 points in liberal arts, 85 points in mathematics. The total score is 174 points, and the first place reward is one tael of silver." Jiang Luli raised his voice and called out the first name.
"Li Siwen, total score 161 points, second place, reward 500 Wen;"
"Gu Yuxiang, total score 150, third place, reward 100 coins."
......
In addition to the top three, the top twenty students were each awarded a brush, and the top thirty students were each awarded twenty pieces of paper. The remaining students received nothing.
An atmosphere of tension and anticipation instantly filled the classroom.
The children, who had originally only considered studying a good way to get enough food without having to work in the fields, now stared with wide eyes. They watched Sun Hai walk up to the podium and take the silver from Jiang Luli, their eyes filled with longing.
That was one or two taels of silver. In their eyes, it was undoubtedly a huge sum of money.
After handing out the test papers, Jiang Luli began the class.
He found that several students who had always been making small movements in class suddenly became much more well-behaved.
One of the little boys was fiddling with the corner of his clothes unconsciously. But as soon as he started, he seemed to suddenly remember something, sat up straight, and tried to focus on the blackboard.
Although I still occasionally get distracted and do irrelevant things, I will correct myself immediately after I realize it and force myself to listen carefully in class.
Jiang Luli raised his eyebrows and was secretly amazed. He didn't expect that Gu Jiayue's method of using rewards to motivate students was so good.
But just one or two taels of silver brought about such obvious changes in these children.
How could he know that one or two taels of silver, which were worthless in the eyes of a man of noble birth like him, were so rare for these children from poor families.
Sun Hai sat in his seat, feeling very uncomfortable, and his eyes glanced at the place where the silver was hidden in his arms from time to time.
Today he didn't even dare to go out to play in the yard. After class, he just sat in his seat and didn't even dare to go to the toilet, for fear that something might go wrong with this hard-earned reward.
Finally, school was over. He grabbed his schoolbag and ran home like the wind, not even bothering to eat.
"Mom, Mom." Before reaching the door of his house, Sun Hai shouted at the top of his voice.
Wang was feeding chickens in the backyard. When she heard her son's anxious cry, her heart skipped a beat, thinking something big had happened.
She quickly put down the dustpan filled with chicken feed and hurried out of the backyard. "What's wrong? What's wrong? Did someone bully you?"
Wang looked anxious. She pulled Sun Hai's arm and looked him up and down carefully, trying to find any signs of injury.
Sun Hai's face flushed red as he ran, breathing heavily. Since he had to hold onto the silver in his arms while running, his movements were a little awkward, and he did look a bit like he was being bullied.
"Mom, I'm fine." Sun Hai finally caught his breath and carefully took out the one or two taels of silver from his arms. He held it in both hands and handed it to Wang, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Mom, look, this is the reward the teacher gave me for getting first place in the exam."
Wang took the silver, her hands trembling slightly, her face filled with disbelief. "The teacher gave it to me? Why?"
Sun Hai raised his head and explained proudly, "Because I'm number one. Mom, do you know what number one means? Number one means the best. There are dozens of kids in our class, and I'm the best and most amazing!"
As he spoke, he was afraid that Wang Shi wouldn't believe him, so he turned around and took out the test paper from the bamboo schoolbag behind him. He pointed to the red check mark on it and said, "Look, mother, there are red check marks drawn by the teacher on it. The check marks prove that these questions are correct. Although I got a few questions wrong, I am still the best."
"I will work harder in the future and always be the top student. That way I can keep getting awards. With these awards I can continue my studies. The money my mother earns can be saved to buy medicine for grandma and my sister."
Although Sun Hai is young, he has a clear mind.
The teacher said that the first year is free, but if you want to study in the second year, you have to pay tuition.
He used to be worried about next year’s tuition fees, but now, as long as he keeps ranking first, he doesn’t have to worry about it.
The first place winner will receive a reward of one or two taels of silver. If you save this money, you can not only pay for tuition but also buy paper and pens.
When he finishes his studies, he will be able to earn more and more money. Then he can take his grandmother and sister to see a doctor. After their illnesses are cured, they will be a happy family.
"Okay, okay, our Xiaohai is so great!" Wang's eyes became hot and tears welled up in her eyes. She felt that the two taels of silver in her hand were extremely precious, as if carrying the hopes of the whole family.
"Hey." Sun Hai scratched his head, then ran into the house like a happy little rabbit. "Sister, sister, I got first place in the exam today."
Sun Hai's voice was clear and loud, echoing in the village, and the Gu family next door could hear it clearly.
Grandma Gu was sitting in the yard knitting slippers. When she heard Sun Hai's shout, her hands paused and her expression became a little gloomy.
She put down the insole in her hand, frowned and asked, "Where's Gu Yuhe? Why hasn't he come back yet?"
Mother Li sat aside, carefully observing her mother-in-law's expression. After a moment's hesitation, she said, "Maybe she's on duty?"
"Hmph! You must have done poorly on the exam and are afraid to come back." Grandma slammed the table heavily, her tone full of dissatisfaction.
We are from the same village, why can Sun Hai and Goudan do so well in the exam?
Is it because the food is different?
"Starting tomorrow, make two coarse flour pancakes for Gu Yuhe every morning." Grandma said firmly.
She felt that this must be the reason. Sun Hai and Goudan's families lived in poor conditions and could only eat coarse flour pancakes every day, while her family's living standards had improved a lot recently, and Gu Yuhe hadn't eaten coarse flour pancakes for a long time.
Maybe that's why Gu Yuhe can't learn well.
Li's mother nodded quickly and replied, "Okay, I'll make it for him myself from tomorrow and I promise not to add any fine flour."
Gu Yuhe, who was still showing off to his classmates at school for having won a reward of 500 Wen, had no idea what kind of "dietary adjustment" would be waiting for him in the future.
Today's Taohua Village seems to be shrouded in a special atmosphere, destined to be different from usual days.
On the small roads in the village, there are children running happily everywhere, and their laughter can be heard one after another.
"Mom and Dad, look, this is the pen the teacher gave me as a reward." A child excitedly waved the pen in his hand and showed it to his parents.
"Grandma, this is silver, the teacher gave it to me as a reward." Another child held his grandmother's hand, his face filled with pride.
"Grandpa, come and count how much money there is. Only the second place winner can get this much." Another child shouted.
The adults' responses were also filled with joy. "Oh, my son is really amazing," said a mother with a broad smile.
"Buddha, could my grandson be the reincarnation of Wenquxing?" An old lady clasped her hands together excitedly and looked up at the sky.
"Master, hurry up and tell our ancestors the good news! Our Wang family is going to have a top scholar."
"Boss, quickly take the money and go to Butcher Zhang's house to buy some meat. I want to reward our son today."
Of course, where there is joy there is sorrow, and where someone laughs there is someone crying.
On the small road at the entrance to the village, Sandan was clutching his butt as he ran desperately forward. His mother, holding a stick, was hot on his heels. "We were all taught by the same teacher, so how could Ergou get second place? And you got last?"
The mother chased after him and cursed angrily.
"You still have the nerve to eat meat? Eat meat, eat meat. You look like meat to me."
Sandan ran while crying, feeling very aggrieved.
He was resentful. Li Ergou was so unfair. They went to school and played together every day, so why did he get second place?
It would be fine if I just got second place, but why should I count money at his doorstep?
That’s five hundred coins.
Can Li Ergou count them clearly?
Woo woo woo, the more he thought about it, the sadder he became, and he decided not to be friends with Li Ergou anymore.
The bustle in the village didn't seem to affect Gu Huangan.
He and Mr. Gu Sanye now live in a small room at the entrance of the school, which is specially reserved for them, the grandfather and grandson.
Master Gu San was responsible for ringing the school bell every day to remind everyone to go to and leave classes, and Gu Huangan was studying in the school.
At night, the grandfather and grandson would guard the door of the school together to prevent anyone with bad intentions from entering.
Gu Huangan knew in his heart that this was just an excuse made by the headmaster because he felt sorry for them.
Someone as powerful as Master Huzi also lives in the school, so why does he need grandpa to protect the school?
He looked at the silver coin on the corner of the table and secretly made up his mind to study hard, achieve something in the future, and repay the headmaster's kindness.
The sky gradually darkened and night fell quietly.
Mr. Gu Sanye walked slowly into the room holding an oil lamp.
Seeing his grandson still reading seriously under the dim light, he felt both relieved and a little sad. He was relieved that his grandson was so hardworking and motivated, but sad that he was incompetent and let his grandson work so hard at such a young age.
"Huang An, it's late, go get some rest. You'll ruin your eyes if you stay up late." Master Gu said softly.
Although he said this, he still walked over and carefully brightened the oil lamp in front of Gu Huangan.
"Okay, Grandpa, you take a rest first. I'll rest after I correct the last two questions." Gu Huangan raised his head, smiled at his grandfather, then lowered his head and continued to concentrate on the book in his hand.
Although he managed to get first place this time, he did not get full marks.
So he silently copied the wrong questions three times, thinking that he would not make the same mistake again next time.
Remembering what the teacher said about Zhang Chuyan getting 100 points in both exams this time, he felt nervous and secretly started to compete with him.
On a blank piece of paper, he carefully wrote Zhang Chuyan's name and score first, and then wrote his own name and score.
Looking at the difference of nineteen points, he stood up, grabbed two grains of rice from his lunch box, and stuck the paper on the wall in front of him.
He stared at the paper on the wall for a long time, his eyes revealing firm determination.
Next time, he will also get a perfect score!
Today, the entire Taohua Village is destined to be in turmoil.
This exam, like a stone thrown into a calm lake, caused ripples and planted the seeds of hard work and dreams in the children's hearts.
It also makes the future of this small village seem to have more possibilities.
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