Chapter 275 - 268: Auditor
Just as Tang Yuxin was about to leave, a few students stood in their way.
“Tang Yuxin, um…” One student spoke rather sheepishly, “Could we join you guys to study? I know that you guys revise at home. We’ll not disturb you, we just want to listen from the side.”
“Yes,” another hurriedly added, “We will not interrupt you. Even if you want us to keep a distance, it’s fine.”
Tang Yuxin turned to Xu Miaomiao and the others, “What do you think?”
Xu Miaomiao bit her lip.
“Okay, we’re normally studying together, just like in school. As long as you don’t make too much noise and maintain peace, you’re welcome to join us. It’s more lively with everyone together.”
The eager gazes of her classmates were hard to refuse. Thankfully, they had their own space now, so it wouldn’t disturb the adults. Otherwise, she really wouldn’t dare to extend such an invitation.
“Rest assured, we will keep our promise.”
A few students made prompt promises. Of course, they all valued this chance to improve. Lin Yile was their role model; after all, her grades also improved significantly after studying with Tang Yuxin and the rest.
Just to improve their grades and get into college, even if they have to sit on the floor, they’re willing to do so.
However, when Xu Miaomiao agreed, they didn’t expect that fifteen students would show up. Counting the four of them, half the class had arrived except for those who lived far away or those who couldn’t leave the school premises.
Almost everyone who could come did arrive.
When these students arrived at the Xu Family’s residence in droves, it gave Mrs. Xu quite a shock. However, seeing the faces of the children eagerly greeting her as “Auntie”, it tugged at her heartstrings.
Being a parent isn’t easy, but neither is being a child.
Five or six students could sit comfortably at a table. Any more would not have been convenient. So, the arriving students had to sit on their backpacks, and they really did as promised, sitting quietly, careful even with their breathing.
Mrs. Xu bought fruit and offered it to the students.
Of course, the students didn’t dare to eat, but Mrs. Xu insisted.
The next day, Mrs. Xu discussed it with Mrs. Lin and bought a larger table. Now, twenty-odd children could sit at once. It was hard to buy such large tables, so they bought several identical square ones. They put these tables together, making the area larger, with enough space to seat nearly twenty students.
The students didn’t come empty-handed on their afternoon return visit. They brought fruit, eggs, and rice; one student even brought a live hen, its wings flapping wildly, squawking loudly and dropping droppings everywhere.
Mrs. Xu was caught between laughter and tears, thinking about these children.
Mrs. Xu initially refused to accept these offerings, but the students insisted. Understanding their intention, she recalled how she would have gladly offered her own pillow when her daughter, Miaomiao, studied with Tang Yuxin. Reluctantly, she accepted the gifts, which all eventually ended up in the students’ stomachs.
Mrs. Xu decided to slaughter the hen and prepare a soup for the children. The soup was enough for everyone to have a bowlful.
Seeing the enormous rectangular table set up in the living room, the students felt a sense of warmth. Now, they finally had somewhere to sit. They could study here with Tang Yuxin and discuss questions together.
Having attended the study sessions, they felt more at ease during the day’s classes. Everything seemed to click into place with newfound understanding, making even their most dreaded classes enjoyable and their least favorite teachers more tolerable.
Indeed, once you come to love learning, everything else falls into place. But without that love, everything feels miserable. This was how Xu Miaomiao felt in the past; she was energetic while watching TV, but the moment she opened her books, she felt like napping.
Most students in the class attended Tang Yuxin’s study sessions, and didn’t mention it to anyone else. It wasn’t exactly secret but treated as their little secret.
When the midterm exams of the second semester rolled around, Tang Yuxin remained at the top of the year, but surprisingly, the whole class significantly improved their grades. More students made it to the top hundred in the school, and the majority moved forward in the ranking.
The teacher, Mrs. Jin, was deliriously happy. If this trend continues, with improvements every semester and after every exam, then maybe a miracle could happen during the college entrance examination. Her dream was that the entire class would make it to college, making her teaching career worthwhile.
What a great honor that would be, more precious than anything money could buy. A miracle that can only happen at a specific time, place and under certain circumstances.
And indeed, this miracle was not far from their reach.
Almost twenty students studied together each day at the Xu residence. After a few days, the children would bring something with them, and their parents started handing over food expenses to Mrs. Xu. The students ate their meals here, digesting by the time they reached home.
If they waited until they got home to eat, it would be too late, and not good for their health, as Tang Yuxin had pointed out. Thus, Xu Miaomiao and the others followed this routine.
As a result, they all enjoyed good health, their faces free from pimples, avoiding the usual problems adolescents face during puberty.
They also enjoyed drinking the herbal tea prepared by Tang Yuxin; female students found it particularly helpful in easing their monthly discomfort. Painful menstruation gradually decreased as well. Everyone enjoyed this herbal tea, but it was only for girls.
Even if we don’t bring up the other benefits, just the medicinal properties of the herbs alone are worth it.