Courtyard House: Starting with a 28-inch motorcycle

The lunch break bell rang, and he got up to walk towards the library. Just as he stepped out of the classroom, Su Man called out to him, "Xiao Yao! Your letter—it's from your aunt!"

A letter from Mom!

"Thanks!" He took the envelope with a swift motion; it was still warm from his body. He slipped it into his inner pocket as if he were carrying a small flame inside.

Su Man tilted her head and looked at him: "Aren't you going to open it and see? What did your aunt write?"

"I'll look at it when I get back to the dorm tonight! The library is waiting for me!" He smiled, his eyes crinkling into crescents.

Su Man was stunned—this was the first time she had seen Xiao Yao smile so unguardedly, like a child holding a candy wrapper, reluctant to unwrap it. So this eighteen or nineteen-year-old boy could also let his feelings show on his face because of a letter from home. She had lived with her parents since childhood and had never experienced being thousands of miles from home, nor had she ever felt that a letter could make one's steps feel lighter.

"You have things to do at the student council, go ahead!" She waved her hand, a smile playing on her lips as she turned away.

Xiao Yao clutched his textbook and rushed towards the library, the wind blowing into his sleeves, making him feel chilly. He planned to read through the textbook first—only then, when he entered the system space tonight, would those words truly be imprinted in his mind.

As soon as the school bell rang, Su Man was already standing under the sycamore tree at the school gate, tiptoeing and looking around. As soon as Xiao Yao came out of the school gate, she smiled and went to greet him. The two walked and talked, their laughter clear and bright, until they stopped at the fork in the road. They waved to each other, their eyes still lingering on each other.

Back home, Xiao Yao opened the envelope, a smile never fading from his lips.

My mother had already booked the train tickets—she would arrive in Beijing on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival; my parents had already made the decision. After waiting for so long, we were finally going to meet.

that's nice!

……

At the end of May, the whole class took their second diagnostic test.

After the first test, the professors reviewed the lesson overnight, focusing their teaching on the fundamentals: vocabulary, formulas, and logical chains, ensuring each element was thoroughly mastered.

These kids learn incredibly well. They master the basics in just three or four days, their eyes shining and their minds working like lightning. Like an engine that's just been filled with fuel, they can keep up and absorb even the more advanced lessons.

This time, the professors deliberately increased the difficulty level of the exam to see how high the students could go after building a solid foundation. The higher-ups were also quietly watching this test—it directly affected whether the "Young Prodigy Class" could be officially established. But none of the teachers mentioned this, fearing it would put too much pressure on the children.

Xiao Yao remained calm.

Rankings? I haven't cared about that for a long time. The system made it clear: right now it's not about competing for high or low rankings, but about laying a solid foundation and thoroughly understanding every page of the book and every problem.

The exams lasted three whole days, and coincidentally, it fell on the Dragon Boat Festival. The teachers simply gave everyone a day off to relax and rejuvenate.

The dormitory buzzed with excitement when they heard that Xiao Yao's parents were coming.

Qian Wentao leaned back in his chair and sighed, "My parents? I only see them twice a year. With the pace of research at the institute, even annual leave is like a legend—in all my years, they've never once celebrated my birthday with me."

Ji Fengnan, resting her chin on her hand, chimed in, "Like Wang Yutong, my parents work in a military-industrial unit. Their holiday shifts are even busier than their school schedules. I really envy you, Xiao Yao."

Wang Yutong silently pulled out a yellowed photograph—a family photo of him when he was three years old. He sat in the middle, being hugged by his parents, laughing carefree. He stared at the photo for a long time without saying a word.

Xiao Yao's heart softened, and she quickly changed the subject: "Don't sigh! After I see Mom and Dad, I'll bring you some delicious food—tell me what you want to eat now!"

The three of them immediately sat up straight, their eyes lighting up.

"Jingdefu's roast duck! That old brand, the skin is crispy and the meat is tender, even the class next door says it's amazing!" Qian Wentao swallowed hard.

"Roast chicken! Is that okay?" Ji Fengnan scratched his head, a little embarrassed.

Wang Yutong licked her lips: "One for each of them." Before she finished speaking, a small flame had already flashed in her eyes.

"Leave it to me!" Xiao Yao waved with a smile, slung his backpack over his shoulder, and walked out.

At the school gate, Su Man had changed into a light blue dress and was looking down at her watch. She was going to accompany Xiao Yao to pick someone up.

The letter stated: I will arrive at the station around 1 p.m.

The two went straight to the train station as soon as they left the school.

For Xiao Yao, this place was too familiar—during those years in the countryside, he would travel back and forth several times a year, and the announcements in the waiting room, the vibrations of the railway tracks, and the aroma of roasted chestnuts wafting from the end of the platform were all etched in his memory.

When I arrived, the train was slowly coming to a stop.

They stood at the exit, shoulder to shoulder.

"Son—!" A clear voice pierced the noise. Lin Wan immediately spotted Xiao Yao, raised her arm high, and smiled so brightly it was dazzling.

"Mom!" Xiao Yao ran over immediately.

"Where are Dad and my little brother?" he asked casually as he took the suitcase.

"Your dad was temporarily assigned to a mission area and can't leave; your brother got 61 on his math test, so I had him copy the wrong answers into his notebook at home." Lin Wan blinked, her smile gentle yet resolute.

Su Man's ears turned slightly red, and she softly greeted, "Hello, Auntie."

Lin Wan grabbed her hand and led her forward affectionately: "Oh my, this must be Su Man? She's so pretty!" Xiao Yao followed closely behind, dragging her suitcase, her face full of smiles.

They booked a room at the military guesthouse, and after Xiao Yao helped his mother settle in, the three of them went out.

It was the Dragon Boat Festival, and the streets were bustling with people, colorful flags were waving, and the fragrance of mugwort mixed with the aroma of zongzi leaves floated in the air.

Su Man linked arms with Lin Wan, walking with perfect ease, as if they had practiced it a thousand times. It turns out that women's love of shopping knows no age.

As Xiao Yao walked, his arms were covered with bags—candied cakes, sachets, colorful ropes, a string of candied hawthorns… He could barely lift his arms.

Lin Wan suddenly pointed to the sign ahead: "Jingdefu! It's the same old taste, let's go in and satisfy our cravings!"

Su Man nodded immediately, like a well-behaved little sparrow, responding to whatever Lin Wan said.

Xiao Yao rubbed his sore shoulders and sighed with a smile, "Mom, you're truly my savior."

When the roast duck is served, the crispy skin wraps around the tender meat. Dip it in the sauce, roll it up, and your mouth will be filled with its aroma.

After the meal, the three of them went to the Su family's house and presented the carefully prepared gifts one by one.

"In-laws!" Upon seeing Lin Wan, Su's mother greeted her with both hands. "The children aren't officially married yet, but I'll call her that for now, it sounds so dear!"

"That's a good call! It warms my heart." Lin Wan took her hand in return and patted it gently.

"You're all so busy with work, yet you take the time to visit the children. How could we possibly trouble you to come all this way?" Su's mother smiled, her eyes crinkling.

"We're all family, no need to be so polite," Lin Wan said with a smile, shaking her head. "Besides, the two families will cook next to each other, that'll make life warmer."

"It's my fault for being so clumsy with words! Come inside quickly, the food just came out of the pot, what perfect timing!" Mother Su said, pulling Xiao Yao along as she called out, "Child, put the things in the kitchen!"

Xiao Yao carried the gift box into the kitchen, and when she came out, the living room was filled with laughter.

The two mothers chatted enthusiastically, their conversation inevitably revolving around their two children: one diligent and steady, the other bright and intelligent; one driven and ambitious, the other thoughtful and meticulous. In those difficult years, they had carved out a path for themselves, getting into university—they had earned their children immense pride. Now that life was better, and the two had started their own families, the mothers could finally relax and enjoy a few years of peaceful retirement.

That evening, I took my mother back to the guesthouse. There were no rooms available there—the old building was under renovation, and the original residents had all moved to the new barracks.

The next day, the Dragon Boat Festival, the family celebrated a lively festival at the Su family home.

In the afternoon, Xiao Yao and Su Man accompanied Lin Wan back to the train station.

As the luggage was loaded onto the train and the doors closed, Lin Wan waved to them through the glass.

The train drove away, leaving only the sound of the wind on the platform.

"Xiao Yao, don't be sad," Su Man said softly. "Your aunt and uncle said they're processing your transfer order and you'll be back soon."

"It's not sadness, it's just...reluctance." He gazed in the direction the railway tracks stretched out, his voice very soft.

On the first day after the holiday, the results of the last exam were posted.

The class average score jumped significantly, and no one fell behind. They are truly smart and hardworking children; once they have a solid foundation, their progress is like bamboo shoots sprouting in spring.

Even those who were weak in one subject managed to hold on—their weakest subject scored just above 90; and almost everyone got full marks in Xiao Yao's best subject.

As a result, the rankings were densely packed together throughout the exam—several people had the exact same score, and even if there was only a one-point difference, their ranking would plummet by three or four places.

Xiao Yao narrowly defeated Wang Yutong, who came in second place, by a single point.

Last time, he was overtaken by Qian Wentao by a single point, but this time he has finally firmly secured the top spot.

But Xiao Yao, standing in front of the report card, didn't show much of a smile on her face.

He knew in his heart that the first two times were just warm-ups. This time, the whole class was on high alert and showed their true abilities. There was even a competitive atmosphere in the air.

The competition among gifted students is never about who runs the fastest, but about who can persevere, stay focused, and endure the longest.

The professors flipped through the grade sheets, their brows relaxed, and they nodded frequently.

These students certainly did not disappoint: they are bright, quick-witted, and have great potential. As long as they are willing to work hard, their chances of making a name for themselves in the future are far higher than those of students in ordinary classes. When the school leaders made the decision to form this class, they did not take any detours at all.

The happiest of all was Professor Chen.

While Xiao Yao's victory was gratifying, what warmed his heart even more was the outstanding performance of Wang Yutong, Qian Wentao, and Ji Fengnan.

The sheer determination and comprehension displayed by those young faces made this veteran physics teacher, who had taught for decades, slap his thigh in exasperation.

Upon hearing this, the other professors immediately became interested and offered to mentor the four students.

Professor Chen remained calm and waved his hand with a smile: "Take them on? Of course! Who wouldn't be happy to cultivate talent for the country? But—they'll definitely spend more time with me in the lab. After all, in physics, you can't go far just by theoretical deductions; real experiments are the only true measure. Don't you agree?"

Professor Li raised an eyebrow and said half-jokingly, "Old Chen, what you're saying sounds high-sounding, but it's really just 'being in a privileged position.' Be careful, or people will talk behind your back."

"How could I have selfish motives? I'm just guiding these promising talents onto the right path!" Professor Chen laughed heartily, his tone resolute. "I've made up my mind about these four children—they're destined for greatness."