Chapter 40 – “Then I’ll Try Hard to Make You Love Chemistry”:
Peng Mingyu slowly read out a few single-digit scores, then pushed his glasses: “What can I say about you all? Single digits? Even with your eyes closed, you shouldn’t score this low.”
The class fell silent.
As Peng Mingyu continued reading, he paused: “Your class has one high score this time.”
Everyone held their breath waiting for his next words.
“Jiang Qian, 98 points.”
Peng Mingyu looked puzzled after reading: “Jiang Qian is a new transfer student, right? The name isn’t familiar. Please stand up so I can meet you.”
Seeing Jiang Qian stand, Peng Mingyu smiled brightly: “Very good, very good! Jiang Qian did extremely well. This physics test was difficult – I even got one multiple choice question wrong myself.”
The class burst into applause.
“That’s amazing!” “She’s truly Class Three’s golden girl, not Class One’s!” “If I got that score, my dad would bring me snacks while I play games!” “If I got that score, my dad would call me ‘sir’!” “Now that’s something!” “…”
Xu Si noticed his calm seatmate’s ears turning pink.
Yang Shikun turned to Jiang Qian: “That’s incredible, Jiang!”
Jiang Qian replied softly: “Thank you.”
Class 17 was more excited about her high score than if they’d scored well themselves.
Zeng Qi was full of regret, muttering to her seatmate: “I sat right next to Jiang during the exam. I really regret not looking over more.”
“Such a great position and you didn’t look?”
“If I’d known, I would have twisted my head off and put it on her desk to copy.”
Zeng Qi added: “But I did copy the Chinese multiple choice. I figured a girl would be good at Chinese.”
“Well, at least you copied one subject.”
While the class was still discussing, Fang Zixin suddenly appeared at the door. He nodded to Peng Mingyu, then entered and announced: “The math scores are out. We’ve made history with an unprecedented high score.”
“Jiang Qian scored 145 points. As far as I know, even the top students in advanced classes only scored 148.”
“Let’s give her a round of applause!”
The class erupted in enthusiastic applause again.
After Fang Zixin left, the biology teacher arrived.
“This time…”
Before she could finish, the class chimed in: “There’s a high score in our class, it’s Jiang Qian, right?”
The biology teacher paused, confused: “Oh? Has someone already told you?”
“No.”
“Then how did you know?”
The class answered in unison: “Because several teachers before you already said so.”
The biology teacher said “Alright then” and continued: “I’ll project the scores on the screen, take a look yourselves.”
The chemistry teacher was a man named Zhang Runfa, just one character different from Zhou Runfa. When he first started teaching Class 17, his self-introduction was: “I’m Zhang Runfa – Zhang as in bow-maker Zhang, Runfa as in Zhou Runfa.”
Because of his humor, even though Class 17’s chemistry scores weren’t good, they were quite active in his class.
Today he wore a formal suit. As soon as he entered, students asked: “Are you getting married?”
“No, just went on a blind date. How do I look today?”
The class unanimously replied: “Handsome!”
Zhang Runfa laughed and said: “I’m here to make an announcement.” He continued: “Could our new transfer student Jiang Qian please identify herself?”
Jiang Qian stood up again: “That’s me.”
“Jiang, do you dislike me?”
Jiang Qian was stunned, then earnestly shook her head: “No, your classes are quite interesting.”
Zhang Runfa stroked his chin: “Other teachers say you excel in their subjects, but not in my chemistry class. This makes me feel quite defeated, Jiang.”
Jiang Qian paused before saying: “I just don’t like chemistry.”
“Am I not handsome enough, Jiang?”
Jiang Qian looked at him seriously and evaluated: “You are, very handsome.”
“Then I’ll try hard to make you love chemistry.”
Jiang Qian nodded: “Okay.”
“Sit down, good child.”
As soon as she sat, someone asked: “Teacher, what did Jiang Qian score in chemistry?”
“It’s nothing compared to her other subjects, but higher than most of you – 62 points, passing grade.”
Everyone: “…”
Maybe they shouldn’t have asked. Even in subjects she didn’t like, the top student still outperformed many of them.
In the teachers’ office:
“Congratulations, Teacher Fang. I heard your new student scored in the top ten in several subjects, even first in English.”
Fang Zixin was beaming: “Yes.”
“Though I heard she has some weak subjects.”
Zhang Runfa couldn’t help adding: “Yes, Jiang doesn’t like chemistry. It makes me question my personal charm.”
Fang Zixin laughed it off: “But she still passed.”
Zhang Runfa nodded: “True, I’ll work hard to make Jiang love chemistry.”
Yang Shikun calculated Jiang Qian’s scores on paper: Math 145, Chemistry 62, Biology 95, Physics 98, English 150, totaling 550 points. He couldn’t help exclaiming: “Even without Chinese, Jiang scores 200 points higher than me. There really is a gap between people.”
Hao Ming: “More like her math and English alone equal your six subjects.”
Yang Shikun: “…”
It hurt, but it was true.
During break, Yang Shikun ran to check the top scores in the advanced classes, excluding Chinese. After asking around, he found the highest was 568.
He ran back excitedly and told Jiang Qian: “Jiang, I asked around – the highest score in other classes is 568, only 18 points higher than you. You might make the top ten, then Chen Song would have to apologize to Teacher Fang!”
Jiang Qian’s pen paused. She caught the last part: “Let’s wait for the last subject’s results.”
Yang Shikun, being a loudmouth, soon announced the other classes’ highest scores to everyone. The class immediately erupted like boiling oil.
“Jiang is amazing!” “If Jiang scores high in Chinese, Chen Song will have to apologize to Teacher Fang!” “550 without Chinese – I’d be happy to get 550 with two Chinese scores combined.” “The Chinese scores aren’t out yet, but I’m already nervous!”
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