My IQ has been increasing year by year.

The next two days were truly agonizing.

The results won't be available for another two days.

The team can't go back these next two days; they have to wait in the provincial capital.

On the first day, to prevent everyone from getting stuck in the guesthouse and overthinking things, Lao Zhao insisted on taking everyone to the provincial museum.

"Go look at antiques and broaden your horizons."

That's what Lao Zhao said.

When we got to the museum, the atmosphere was almost like visiting a grave.

Everyone followed the guide like zombies.

The commentator was speaking with great enthusiasm.

"This bronze ding (tripod cauldron) dates back to the Warring States period..."

Wang Yang followed behind, his eyes glazed over, muttering to himself.

"That power theorem...did I use it incorrectly?"

Zhao Chen didn't look at the exhibits; he kept staring at every student in school uniform who passed by.

"Hey, look at that one, isn't that from No. 3 Middle School? He looks so sad, looks like he didn't do well on the exam either."

His only pleasure now is finding others like him who are even worse off than himself.

Nan Xiaoyun and Lin Xiao followed Chen Zhuo the whole time.

Although Chen Zhuo comforted the two girls, they were still uneasy.

I walked up to a counter selling souvenirs.

Lin Xiao stopped and stared blankly at a string of wooden beads in the counter.

"Want to buy?" Chen Zhuo asked.

"no……"

Lin Xiao shook her head, her voice very soft.

"I want to bring my mom a gift... If I don't win the award, will she scold me less if I bring her a gift?"

Chen Zhuo felt a pang of sadness.

These are the good students from ordinary families in this era.

Bearing the expectations of the entire family, even the escape route in case of failure must be carefully prepared.

"Buy it."

Chen Zhuo took out his wallet.

"I'll treat you, consider it a good luck charm."

"No, no..."

"Take it."

Chen Zhuo bought two wooden pendants and gave one to each of them.

"This is called a lucky charm. If you hold this, the examiner's hand might slip and they'll give you two extra points."

The two girls held the not-so-delicate wooden bead, their eyes reddening again.

"Team leader... thank you."

"Don't thank me. Go back and study hard. Don't stop doing your homework just because you have beads."

The next night.

The last night before the results were released.

No one could sleep that night.

Old Zhao and Old Zhou simply couldn't sit still.

The two old men paced back and forth in the corridor, smoking one cigarette after another, making the corridor smoky and unpleasant.

It is said that the results list will be posted on the bulletin board of the Provincial Experimental High School at 9:00 AM tomorrow, and each team leader teacher will also receive a specific score sheet.

In room 306.

The boys are all gathered here.

The lights were off, and everyone lay in bed or sat on the carpet.

In the darkness, only a few heavy breaths could be heard.

"Team leader."

Zhao Chen turned over, and the bed creaked.

"If I don't win an award... I won't go to high school. I'll go to vocational school and learn to repair cars."

"You have to learn physics to repair cars."

Chen Zhuo leaned against the headboard and replied indifferently.

"Engine principles, electrical circuit repair—which of those doesn't require a brain? You think vocational high school is easy?"

"...Then I'll go sell roasted sweet potatoes."

"Even selling sweet potatoes requires accounting. Are you good at addition and subtraction?"

Zhao Chen fell silent.

After a while, a soft laugh came from the darkness.

It's Wang Yang.

"Zhao Chen, you're just trying to escape reality. The team leader is right, you have to use your brain in everything you do."

"Alright, stop daydreaming about the future."

Chen Zhuo interrupted them.

"Go to sleep. If you can't get up tomorrow morning, I'll leave you all at the guesthouse and go check the results myself."

On the morning of the third day.

As soon as it was dawn, Lao Zhao and Lao Zhou left.

They are going to the Provincial Experimental High School to get their results.

Before leaving, Old Zhao gave Chen Zhuo some special instructions.

"Keep an eye on them, don't let them wander off. Just wait in the lobby."

8:30.

Nine o'clock.

Time is like a stretched-out noodle, sticky and impossible to pass.

In the lobby of the guesthouse.

The eight students from the No. 1 Middle School of the city were sitting in the sofa area.

Nan Xiaoyun and Lin Xiao held hands, their palms were sweaty, and their knuckles were white from clenching their fists.

Wang Yang was circling around the pillars in the hall.

Three circles to the left, three circles to the right.

Muttering to himself:

"May Buddha protect us, may God protect us, may Einstein protect us..."

"Could you please stop spinning?"

Li Hao covered his forehead.

"I'm already dizzy, if I keep spinning I'll throw up."

9:20.

The glass doors of the guesthouse were pushed open.

A gust of wind blew in.

Old Zhao and Old Zhou rushed in.

They really rushed in.

Old Zhao's usual composed demeanor was completely gone.

His prized briefcase was tucked under his arm, his tie was askew, his face was flushed, he was sweating profusely, and his glasses were fogged up.

Old Zhou was panting heavily as he ran, clutching a few sheets of red paper in his hand.

Everyone suddenly stood up.

My heart almost stopped for a moment.

Seeing the expressions on the two teachers' faces, no one dared to speak.

It was fear, but also anticipation.

Old Zhao rushed to the center of the hall, bent over, supported himself on his knees with his hands, and gasped for breath.

"Old...Old Zhao..."

Wang Yang's voice trembled as he took a step forward.

"H-how...how did it go? Were we...completely wiped out?"

Old Zhao suddenly raised his head.

His eyes were bloodshot, but they were bloodshot with excitement.

His mouth stretched into a wide grin, revealing his back teeth—a wild, uncontrollable ecstasy.

"Cover up my ass!"

Old Zhao roared, his voice cracking.

"Our No. 1 High School... has exploded!!"

"What exploded?" Zhao Chen jumped in fright.

"Scores! Rankings!"

Old Zhou chimed in from the side, laughing and coughing as he held up the red paper in his hand.

"Number one! We're number one!"

Old Zhao pulled Chen Zhuo over.

"Chen Zhuo!"

He pointed at Chen Zhuo, his fingers trembling.

"Perfect scores in both Math and Physics! First in the province! Double champion!"

"My God!"

Double perfect score!

The head of the marking team at the provincial experimental school has gone mad; he made three copies of your paper and is circulating them around!

This problem-solving approach is even more standard than the standard answer!

"boom--"

The hall was silent for a second, then erupted in chaos.

Everyone looked at Chen Zhuo.

Chen Zhuo sat on the sofa, adjusted his glasses, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

Fortunately.

They didn't embarrass adults.

Even the death of that rice cooker from its past life had some value.

"Then... what about us?"

Nan Xiaoyun asked in a tearful voice, tears already welling up in her eyes.

She was genuinely afraid that Chen Zhuo would get a perfect score, while she wouldn't even receive a consolation prize.

Old Zhao took a deep breath, calmed himself down, picked up the red paper, and read aloud:

"Wang Yang! First Prize in Mathematics! Ranked 18th in the entire province!"

"Aww—"

Wang Yang screamed and jumped up. In that instant, he forgot that he was in a guesthouse and a public place.

He grabbed the pillar next to him and started banging his head against it.

"I won first prize! I won first prize! I can go to school!"

"Li Hao! Second Prize in Physics!"

"Zhang Wei! Second Prize in Physics!"

The two boys from the physics group hugged each other, and Li Hao burst into tears.

Although I didn't win the first prize, the second prize is enough!

A second prize is enough!

That damn rice cooker almost killed them!

"Nan Xiaoyun! Second Prize in Mathematics!"

"Lin Xiao! Second Prize in Mathematics!"

The two girls burst into tears the moment they heard the name.

Nan Xiaoyun covered her mouth and cried so hard that she squatted on the ground and couldn't get up.

No need to burn books anymore.

No more having to deal with parents' cold faces.

That string of lucky beads really worked!

"Zhao Chen! Liu Kai! Third Prize in Mathematics!"

"Hahaha! I won a prize! I won a prize!"

Liu Kai laughed so hard his eyes disappeared.

"I can ask my mom to buy me a new computer when I get back! I won't have to sell roasted sweet potatoes anymore!"

All members received awards.

This is a miracle.

In a year when the questions were incredibly difficult, a high school in a prefecture-level city had all its students win awards, including one student who was a double champion.

Old Zhao's eyes reddened as he looked at the group of crazy kids.

He walked over and hugged Chen Zhuo, who was still sitting on the sofa.

He patted his back hard.

"Good lad... good lad..."

Old Zhao's voice choked with emotion.

"Thank you, really."

He knew that if Chen Zhuo hadn't been keeping things in check in the group these past few days, these kids would have already broken down.

It was Chen Zhuo who carried the team to the finish line.

Chen Zhuo was being squeezed so tightly by Lao Zhao that he could hardly breathe.

He looked around at his teammates, some crying and some laughing.

Looking at the tears on Nan Xiaoyun and Lin Xiao's faces, and at Wang Yang's face filled with ecstatic joy.

He smiled.

This feeling is really great.

Because this is the purest form of happiness.

It is a real reward earned through sweat and hard work.

Outside the window, the provincial capital was bathed in sunlight, streaming through the glass door and illuminating everyone's faces.

At this moment, all the repression, fear, and torment turned to dust.

so good.

......

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year in advance, all the best, and peace and safety.

May you have a prosperous New Year!