October 10th

  There are still many trivial things before the middle school entrance examination, and even teachers begin to repeatedly mention the excellent ones from previous years, because they didn't see one side of the paper, and finally they couldn't even get into an ordinary high school.

  Gu's mother also cut out various scientific recipes from newspapers, striving to provide nutrition while not using greasy foods that children can't digest.

  Before the exam, people can be roughly divided into two categories. One is that they have worked hard enough in their daily lives and have always maintained a tense attitude, but as the exam approaches, they become more and more relaxed. The other is more unfortunate, usually having a group of lazy people during peacetime, but before the exam, they are worried about this and that, and the tension increases day by day, even eating and sleeping cannot be stable.

  Fortunately, Gu Xiang was the former one.

  It's been almost ten years since the middle school entrance exam, and she doesn't have any impression of it anymore. She only remembers that at that time, she performed relatively well and her score barely exceeded the admission line of the city's No. 1 Middle School.

  She has worked hard for this life, if she doesn't get good results in the exam, then so be it.

  Anyway, for her, a good middle school entrance exam score is just icing on the cake. What's more important than family?

  As long as she can live happily with her mother, she is content.

  Of course, Mrs. Gu didn't think so. She heard some rumors from somewhere and went to a nun's house to ask for an iron nail, wrapped it in red paper, and let Gu Xiang put it in her pants pocket.

  Gu Xiang was speechless. There's something called a metal detector in this examination room, and everyone has to be scanned with it before entering the exam room.

  Teacher Jiang had previously reminded them not to bring coins in, and if they needed to carry money, they should exchange it for paper bills in advance to prevent the detector from beeping and the invigilating teacher from asking them to take out their pockets for inspection.

  Gu Xiang really didn't want to take out an iron nail in front of people, how embarrassing.

  Fortunately, after explaining, Mrs. Gu also understood and put her mind at rest.

  ...then in less than two days, he asked her for a piece of red cloth and insisted that she tie it around her wrist.

  It was also her mother's wish, and it was also for his peace of mind that Gu Xiang finally accepted.

  The day before the exam suddenly rained, reducing a lot of summer heat.

  The next morning was overcast and gloomy. As soon as Gu's mother got up, she felt that something was not quite right. The weather was so stifling that it made people feel uncomfortable.

  Gu Xiang actually thinks it's better without the sun, although it's a bit stuffy now, but maybe it will rain later, so it won't be hot during the exam. What she can't stand most is when her arm sweats while writing questions and sticks to the table, and when she picks it up after a while, there are wet marks all over.

  She didn't want her mom to send her off, but apparently this was unavoidable.

  Gu's mother had written a sign at the entrance of the store two days earlier, saying that they would be closed for business during the college entrance exams, just so she could accompany her.

  She took a small electric car to the school gate and felt that her mother was more nervous than she was, not saying a word all the way, obviously unlike usual.

  "Yaya, don't rush, write slowly, okay? Mom knows you can do it." Before sending her to school, Gu's mom also encouraged her.

  The first exam in the morning is Chinese language, and there's definitely enough time for it.

  Gu Xiang nodded and said: "I already know, you've said it several times. Go home and rest, don't wait outside anymore."

  "Mom Guo agreed, 'I'll be right back, I'll prepare lunch for you.'"

  "Don't come too early either, I'll definitely be out at 11 o'clock. If you come early, you'll just have to stand outside and wait."

  The two of them exchanged a few simple words and then Gu Xiang headed to the examination hall with her backpack on.

  They are the test site of Hua Lu Middle School, and the vast majority of people take the exam in their own school, which is also a major advantage. Before the exam, they can find their seat by looking at the exam number in the school. At that time, Teacher Jiang specially arranged a class meeting to let them find the examination room and location.

  The school was quiet, even though many people had arrived early, everyone was bowed their heads doing their own thing.

  The atmosphere was a bit heavy, but it didn't affect Gu Xiang's usual reading and reviewing.

  She was still looking at her own notes, and her notes had developed to the point where each subject had two thick volumes. Just one subject would have estimated 200-300 pages. However, because they were written by herself, when reviewing them she didn't feel cumbersome, but rather got twice the result with half the effort.

  This effect is something that her classmates who later took her notes absolutely did not have.

  The pre-exam preparation bell rang soon, and the invigilating teacher came in with a sealed file bag. Everyone was asked to put their schoolbags and study materials on the outside desks, only allowing one transparent pen bag and a transparent plastic cushion to be brought in. At the same time, they lined up in front of the classroom and were tested with metal detectors before returning to their seats.

  After a series of procedures, the teacher checked all the desks and soon there was a bell ringing, it was time to hand out the volume.

  At this time, two teachers began to put the test papers into the empty desks of the students one by one from left and right. Only after they were all distributed did they allow them to take them out and read them.

  Of course, when reading the volume, except for writing the name, it is absolutely impossible to move the pen again. You can only answer the volume after the final bell rings.

  After this incident, even someone like Gu Xiang was made somewhat nervous, let alone other classmates.

  Fortunately, after she really started doing questions, she wholeheartedly devoted herself to the big questions and naturally forgot about being nervous.

  From the beginning to the end of understanding, Gu Xiang didn't stop at all. The questions were all within the scope of the exam outline, and she felt that she answered them quite easily. When it came to the composition question, "Write about a favorite ancient great person",

  Gu Xiangcai put down his pen and tapped on the draft paper for a while.

  She prefers to be conventional and get a mediocre to slightly above average score. So she doesn't plan on writing recklessly, just write about the characters that have appeared in the textbook.

  Of course Sima Qian and others are definitely over-written, but Gu Xiang finally decided to write about Yue Fei.

  Although it is still to be verified whether Qin Hui was as treacherous as described in historical records, Yue Fei's loyalty and dedication to the country, as well as his unyielding spirit, are indeed worthy of study by later generations.

  Of course, it's also because this kind of passionate writing is what those teachers who grade papers like.

  After finishing writing, it was just past 10:20, and there were still 40 minutes left before the end.

  There's nothing much to check for Chinese composition, just take another look at the questions and see if there are any typos, twenty minutes is more than enough.

  But in the end, Gu Xiang still waited quietly until the bell rang and the invigilating teacher came to collect their papers.

  After all the test papers have been handed in, the invigilating teacher counts them and only then can everyone leave the examination room.

  Following the crowd to the school gate, I saw a group of parents stretching their necks waiting from afar.

  They had just gone out and hadn't found their family members yet when they were pulled by the parents in front of them to ask: "Is Chinese difficult? Is there enough time?"

  Some shy classmates were too embarrassed.