Rebirth 08: A Happy Life Begins in Elementary School

This system is amazing!

Honesty and integrity are paramount in business!

Li Zhao thought the exchange rate would be higher than 25 points this time, but he didn't expect it to be a restock.

The progress was even smoother than expected, but Li Zhao was not overjoyed.

This conversation with He Shuyao stirred up many thoughts in his mind.

It also answered a question that had been looming over him like a dark cloud: make money, achieve financial freedom, and then what?

Spend money extravagantly and be a playboy? Eat delicacies? Buy luxury cars and mansions?

These are certainly happy things, and they form the foundation for achieving even greater happiness.

But if these are the happiness that Li Zhao is pursuing, then he wouldn't have been unhappy in his previous life.

A truly fulfilling life requires far more than just these things.

Back in the classroom, Li Zhao felt refreshed, and even when he sat down, his back was straighter.

People are happy when they are happy.

However, it's a bit strange.

Why didn't Chen Nian complain?

Because Chen Nian was engrossed in doing his homework.

"Old wine, are you going to fight tooth and nail to get out of ninth place?"

"right."

Concise and to the point, Chen Nian maintained his focus on the assignment.

Li Zhao was stunned.

Has this kid been provoked by me?

"So sudden?"

"I can't keep falling behind you forever," Chen Nian said softly. "You've suddenly become amazing. You're first in the class, so strong in math and English, and you're even saying things I can't understand... I can't keep putting off my homework."

Li Zhao suddenly remembered that after Chen Nian was admitted to New Taipei First Senior High School, he had said to Li Zhao with mixed feelings, "I thought you would get into New Taipei First Senior High School no matter what."

At first, he just thought it was Chen Nian regretting that they couldn't go to the same junior high school, but now, looking back...

Wasn't Chen Nian always striving to be in the top three of his class?

The academic performance of elementary school students is not significantly different. Sometimes, the difference between the top ten and the top three in a class is just a matter of a single moment or a fluctuation in performance.

Chen Nian, who has consistently ranked ninth, is probably also looking forward to proving himself in a more challenging exam.

However, Li Zhao, whom he had always regarded as his goal to surpass, went to take the entrance exam for New Taipei Experimental School.

"Phew..." Chen Nian let out a long breath and slowly closed the notebook. "Finally finished before class."

Just as Li Zhao was about to praise him for his focused learning, he leaned over with a curious look on his face and asked, "What were you and Shuyao whispering about just now?"

"...It wasn't a private message, I went to apologize to her."

"Huh? Oh... about before?"

"right."

"Ah..." Chen Nian immediately felt embarrassed.

"Once we've talked it out, there's no problem."

"Then there shouldn't be any problem."

"How so?"

"Shuyao has been watching you the whole time."

Li Zhao didn't turn around, but instead reached out to grab the pencil case. He Shuyao immediately looked down at the textbooks on her desk.

Then Li Zhao turned around and shrugged at Chen Nian.

"I'm not lying to you!"

"Alright." Li Zhao patted him on the shoulder. "It's good that our relationship is back on track. Don't you want to know why I came back so late?"

"I know," Chen Nian said, covering his mouth with his hand, his voice barely audible, "You're going to participate in the national English competition finals!"

How did you know?

"I asked Shuyao. But don't blame her, she told me not to tell anyone, and I promise I'll keep it a secret."

"Am I not human?"

"You...I...she..." Chen Nian's mind went blank.

"Okay, just keep it a secret."

Chen Nian nodded repeatedly, but his attention was immediately drawn to the exam paper in Li Zhao's hand. "What's this?"

"There's a past national competition final exam paper, and also a preliminary exam paper."

"Let me see?"

He Lin interrupted Chen Nian as she entered the classroom. He stuffed the test paper into his drawer and went to the Chinese class first.

Since Li Zhao consecrated his knowledge, Chen Nian has been observing Li Zhao more closely, wanting to learn about the "advanced knowledge system" that Li Zhao mentioned.

Li Zhao must have some unique learning methods.

For example, Li Zhao is now completely ignoring the homeroom teacher's lecture content, and is instead looking at the teaching materials in his hand, which are...

Miscellaneous Poems on Rural Life in Four Seasons (No. 31)

Chen Nian was completely baffled.

Isn't this something fifth graders memorize? Li Zhao is usually very good at dictation, so why is he reciting this now?

Chen Nian could only silently memorize it, and then suddenly it struck him like an electric shock—this is what they call "reviewing the old to learn the new"!

As expected of Li Zhao, he's already ahead of his time and looks back!

At this moment, Li Zhao thought to himself: Who the hell is Fan Chengda?

He only remembered the famous passages; there was still a lot to memorize in elementary school Chinese, which was the heaviest learning task in his short semester of elementary school.

Li Zhao, a primary school student, actually enjoyed listening to He Lin's lectures. He felt that this homeroom teacher not only taught the texts but also told some interesting stories.

But now, even if Li Zhao wasn't listening attentively, he still found it awkward no matter how he listened.

He Lin is essentially mixing in her own agenda, adopting a superficial approach, drawing sustenance from low-brow literature, and focusing on making herself sound sophisticated and knowledgeable.

They would immediately start quoting "Chen Yinque, the master among masters," mentioning him once in each of the several classes, yet never actually quoting a single word he had ever said; when discussing Lu Xun, they would emphasize that Lu Xun was extremely harsh and essentially a destroyer of traditional culture...

They are now talking on the stage about how deeply Xu Zhimo loved Lin Huiyin, to the point that he never married.

Li Zhao frowned upon hearing this, wondering which of them, Xu Zhimo or Jin Yuelin, would be more anxious if they knew this in the afterlife.

What's even more disheartening is that she went overtime because of this.

However, many classmates seemed to enjoy it and didn't seem to care.

Ma Yingying is a prime example; look at how she nods her little head—she can practically send Morse code.

On the contrary, when He Lin started telling stories, He Shuyao took out her extracurricular book, "Yilin".

Well, it's not that great...

He Lin actually loves to show off and has a poor sense of responsibility. Although she is the homeroom teacher, she doesn't really consider the students in her class.

The words of a homeroom teacher have a significant impact on shaping the values ​​of elementary school students.

In order to finish telling the love story of Hu Shi that He Lin thought it was, she deliberately dragged it out until Huang Keyun, who had arrived at the classroom early, appeared.

"Huh? Hasn't Teacher He finished speaking yet?"

He Lin suddenly raised an eyebrow, cheerfully invited Huang Keyun to the stage, and stopped talking about her deep affection for Xu Zhimo, turning her attention to Li Zhao.

Oops……

"Teacher Huang has some good news to share with everyone about the National Primary School English Competition."

Li Zhao's expression immediately turned serious.

Huang Keyun visibly tensed up and became embarrassed. She gave He Lin an awkward smile, then glanced at Li Zhao and panicked even more when she saw Li Zhao's dark face.

"Teacher He, this is inappropriate..."

"If there's anything inappropriate, then let me say it," He Lin said with a smile. "Thanks to Teacher Huang's special efforts, Li Zhao has successfully represented our sixth grade (1) class and made it into the finals of the national English competition!"

The whole class erupted in uproar.

"Let's give a round of applause to Li Zhao! We hope Li Zhao can bring honor to our Grade 6 (1) class!"

The applause started sporadically, but then grew louder and more unified under He Lin's lead.

Huang Keyun looked puzzled and helpless.

Li Zhao stood up and, amidst the expectant gazes of He Lin, the nervousness of Huang Keyun, the bewilderment of Chen Nian, and the confusion of He Shuyao, said loudly:

"To correct you, some of the original participants withdrew from the competition. I happened to get a perfect score on the last test, which showed some noteworthy ability. The school wanted to achieve good results, so they included me. I wouldn't dare say I'm bringing glory to the class. We can applaud when we win an award by chance."

The whole class was dumbfounded.

He Lin frowned.

"Also, let me correct you, Professor He. Xu Zhimo died in an accident in 1931. The one who remained unmarried for life because of Lin Huiyin was the philosopher Jin Yuelin."

He Shuyao took a deep breath and felt better.