In the blink of an eye, it was time for the school-wide activity assembly, and the school playground was bustling with people. Everyone, including the students and teachers at the school, was curious about the competition between Class 1 and Class 13.
“Hey, can you believe it? Where did those poor students from Class 13 get the courage? Have they lost their minds that they dared to challenge Class 1?”
“You know what? The result of this competition is as clear as day. What’s there even to compare?”
“Don’t you know? I heard that there are two top students in Class 13 who were originally supposed to be in Class 1, but for some reason ended up in Class 13. So the outcome of this competition might not be so certain!”
“Even if they have those two top students, what does it matter? Don’t forget, this competition is a best-of-three match.”
“Huh? What are the three matches?”
“I know this, I know. It’s tug of war today, a knowledge quiz, and a comparison of midterm exam scores more than a month from now.”
“Midterm exam scores? Am I hearing this right?”
“Yes, that’s right. But the grading criteria are different. I heard that Class 1 needs to have the highest average scores in the grade level to win, while Class 13 requires that all students in the class pass the minimum qualifying score.”
“Is that so? But I think that in today’s two matches, each class should win one game. But in the midterm exam competition, Class 1 will definitely win!”
“Yeah, I agree.
“I think so too.”
Listening to the discussions around them, all the students in Class 13 felt a fire burning in their hearts. Why are they looking down on Class 13 like this? Yes, their class was known for having poor students, but so what? Don’t they know the word “counterattack”?
“Alright, students, calm down, calm down.” The principal, with a plump belly, stood on the platform with a smile and said through the microphone, “Today our school’s big event has turned into a competition between Class 1 and Class 13 of junior high school. I won’t talk much about it. Now, our vice principal will preside over this competition.”
The vice principal nodded to the principal and took the microphone, then said, “Alright, we will have two matches today: a knowledge quiz and a tug of war. First, let’s begin with the knowledge quiz. Each class will send three students to compete. It’s a buzzer round, and each correct answer earns one point. If a team answers incorrectly, no points are added, and the other team gets a chance to answer. The first team to score eleven points wins. Do you understand?”
The six participants nodded in understanding. Class 13 sent Luo Xiao, Ye Lan, and Jiang Li, who volunteered, while Class 1 sent three bespectacled boys who looked almost identical. Due to the similar hairstyles and school uniforms of the three, Luo Xiao, who occasionally suffered from face blindness, couldn’t distinguish between them and had to refer to them as One, Two, and Three.
“Alright, let’s have Teacher Hua come and ask the questions.” The vice principal nodded to an energetic elderly man who was over fifty years old.
Teacher Hua cleared his throat, took out his question book with his hand, and began with the first question, “Can you tell me, what are China’s first dictionary and encyclopedia?”
Before Teacher Hua could even finish saying the last word, Jiang Li eagerly raised his hand. When he saw Teacher Hua nod at him, Jiang Li immediately shifted his hopeful gaze to Luo Xiao. No choice, their class monitor was hard to approach, but the academic representative was more approachable.
Seeing Jiang Li’s ‘Come on, big brother, I believe in you’ eyes, Luo Xiao couldn’t help but twitch his lips. Okay, Jiang Li finally knew why he volunteered. Isn’t it because he’s so fast to raise his hands?
“The first dictionary in China is ‘Erya’, and the first encyclopedia is ‘Shuowen Jiezi’,” Luo Xi said to Teacher Hua.
Teacher Hua nodded in approval. “Yes, that’s correct. That’s one point. Now, let’s move on to the next question. Can you tell me who damaged the nose on the Sphinx in Egypt?
Once again, Jiang Li swiftly seized the opportunity to answer. Seeing the frustrated looks on the faces of the three boys from Class 1, the smile on his turned even brighter. Young men, come and admire my skills
Ye Lan answered the question this time. He happened to read a foreign book recently and encountered this question a few days ago. So he opened his mouth calmly and said, “It was Napoleon.”
“Well, not bad! Another point,” Teacher Hua said.
The game continued, and the score reached ten to ten points. Class 13 unexpectedly reached a tie score with Class 1. Now, as long as one of the two classes answered the question correctly, they would get one point and win. It was a matter of who would buzz in first. The two classes sat opposite each other and turned tense and nervous.
Seeing this level of competitiveness, Teacher Hua was very pleased. He was not surprised that Class 1 was able to get this result, but Class 13 could keep up with them. He also knew that two top students had joined Class 13 by accident. Nevertheless,he found it surprising because it’s often said that there is an immeasurable gap between the top students and the poor students. He just hoped that the students in Class 13 wouldn’t get too carried away.
“Alright, it’s time for the final tie-breaker question,” Teacher Hua said, adjusting his glasses. “Tell me, what relation is the son of your grandmother’s daughter’s husband’s son’s uncle’s wife’s mother’s son’s father to you?”
Jiang Li was ready to answer the moment he heard the question, but he hesitated for a moment because of the confusing relationship, so he made a mistake and the opportunity slipped away. Class 1 got the chance to answer. Seeing the confident look of the Class 1 participants, he patted himself hard on the head. Why did the chance to answer the question slip at this critical moment? It’s time to drop the chain!
Just as they expected, after the participant from Class 1 said two words, their classmates quickly began to celebrate. Because they all knew that this was the correct answer. On the other hand, the students in Class 13 were all in a low mood.
Looking at the sudden shift in the mood, Ye Lan and Luo Xiao exchanged glances. Then Ye Lan encouraged their classmates below, “Come on, let’s focus. We have the tug of war competition next. Are you all going to lose the next match?”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Li clenched his fist and exclaimed, “No, we will win the tug of war! Class 13 will win!”
“Class 13 will win! Class 13 will win!” echoed the students of Class 13. This was just one of the three games, and they hadn’t forgotten that it was a best-of-three match. For the honor of Class 13, they were determined to win the remaining two matches.
Class 1 students’ spirits were also lifted by the challenge from Class 13. They all shouted, “Victory belongs to Class 1! Class 1 will win!”
As the atmosphere became more charged, students from other classes joined in with cheers and support for both Class 1 and Class 13. Hearing the shouts around them, the students of Class 13 realized that they had supporters from other classes as well.
Amidst the cheers, the tug-of-war competition between the two classes officially began. Using the same best-of-three format, Class 13 was determined not to let Class 1 win any of the three matches.
Because of the loss in the previous match, everyone in Class 13 was burning with anger. For these three games, Class 12 will never let the other side get one more victory!
The whistle blew, and the competition began.
“Class 13, go! Class 13, go!”
“Class 1, go! Class 1, go!”
The participants turned red with effort, giving their all and shouting words of encouragement to each other. Although Class 1 fought with all their might, they couldn’t match the physical strength of Class 13, a group of wild kids who were used to physical activities. As a result, Class 13 won the tug-of-war game as they vowed, securing the second match.
After the intense tug-of-war, both classes were exhausted and slumped on the ground, but they all smiled when the results were announced. Class 1 had shown impressive strength, which surprised many, and Class 13 was not as academically weak as the rumors suggested. They were loyal and united.
Regardless, not only did the students of the two classes have different perceptions of each other, but even other audiences, including teachers and students, were deep in thought.
The principal and vice principal standing on the podium looked at each other. It was very good, their plan seemed to be working.
“Ahem, both classes have won one game in these two matches. The deciding game will be determined by your midterm exam scores. We hope for good results then!”
“Class 13 will definitely not lose!”
“Class 1 will definitely not lose!”
Class 1 and Class 13 students looked at each other and declared at the same time.
Huh, just wait and see!
After this, the students returned to their classrooms. He walked to the podium and looked at the excited students below and said, “I’m very satisfied with your performance today as your class teacher. However, we still have a tough battle ahead. Although I really hope you can win, your grades…”
Well, apart from those two, the rest of them who used connections to enter the class had slightly… worse grades. But people can improve. Haven’t you heard the saying that even Lu Meng, after three days of separation, should be treated with admiration?
Moreover, they still have more than a month to prepare for the midterm exam. They wouldn’t lose to those bookworms!
Luo Xiao and Ye Lan watched their classmates, who were easily motivated by their class teacher’s banter, and couldn’t help but shake their heads. When did this group of notorious troublemakers become so simple and easy to deceive? Something was off with the situation.
“Luo Xiao, it’s all up to you now!” Wang Kai, who was sitting in the front row, suddenly turned to Luo Xiao and said with a serious expression.
After a moment of surprise, Luo Xiao nodded gently. Good, he agreed. The other students in the class heard the small talk between the two and said loudly, “Class monitor, we need your help to get good grades!”
“Mr. Class Monitor, please lead us!”
“Defeat Class 1!” Jiang Li suddenly said.
After a moment of silence in the classroom, several voices also sounded: “That’s right, defeat Class 1! Class President, let’s defeat Class 1 together!”
Ye Lan, whose emotions were starting to rise again, heard the voices of his classmates. There was an obvious teasing look in Ben’s eyes. He glanced at Luo Xiao beside him and nodded in agreement. “Well, let’s defeat Class 1 together!”
“Let’s defeat Class 1 together! Defeat Class 1!”
He squinted his eyes and looked at it, then reached out and touched his chin. Well, not bad, they are all a group of good kids who can be honed! In the mid-term exam competition, who will win? We will find out then!
Lucien On ABRWF Chapter 43.2