Bab 24: Slow toto wins the race

"An Xiulan, I can see you know formulas but when it comes to applying them, you go all blank," Teacher Jin said after she failed to solve another sum. "Can you share your problems with me?"

"I get confused when I have to write statements in Chinese in mathematics," An Xiulan murmured, "I'm not used to it."

"Okay, if I explain this sum to you in English will you understand this?" Teacher Jin questioned her.

"Perhaps, "An Xiulan answered.

Surprisingly, when he explained it to her in English, she got it instantly and even showed him by solving the next sum. It wasn't surprising to him as he had long understood her problem with mathematics.

"You can understand things easily but your problem rests in the Chinese language," Teacher Jin sighed. If it was America, she would have scored pretty good marks as the curriculum there was different from China. "You are not used to doing every subject in Chinese."

"Actually, sir, I understand Chinese may be more than English but my brain recognises English first," An Xiulan said. "I find Chinese secondary. Like if my reflex actions had language, it would be in English. It is the language I grew up with. I can't give its place to Chinese in my head. Does it even make sense?"

"It's confusing for sure, "Teacher Jin said with a smile. "But I can understand your problem. I told you several days ago that I will ask a student to help you with your weakest subject. I have been waiting for him but he hasn't been coming to school for a week. Once he attends school, I will ask him to help you with Chinese. And if you can understand his method of tutoring, I will talk to your parents to hire him as a tutor."

"Is he a good student?" An Xiulan couldn't help but ask.

"He scored second top marks in the entire class Ten, "Teacher Jin said, giving her a look.

"Why would he agree to help me in my studies? Aren't students too busy with studies?" An Xiulan asked. If he was a top student, shouldn't he be engaged in his studies?

Teacher Jin heaved out a sigh and went on, "His guardian wants us to help him in socialising with the other students. Apparently, all he knows is studying and studying. He doesn't have a place for anything except studying in his life. So, his guardian wants us to put him in the tutoring programme where he can study as well as interact with other students by tutoring too."

"Okay," An Xiulan agreed. What was the worst that could happen? She had very thick skin. She wouldn't get embarrassed by getting tutored by a boy her age.

"An Xiulan, you have to work hard," Teacher Jin tried to motivate her to study. "Don't think about leaving Class Ten K by scoring high in the exam."

"Why would I?" An Xiulan asked. What she wanted to ask was would she be able to pass two monthly tests?

"The mentality of good students is to leave class Ten K because it's notorious in the whole school," He replied with a sigh. Compared to other students in class Ten K, she had a positive attitude toward learning.

"So should I stay in that class?" An Xiulan inquired.

"Do you know why Class Ten K students have the lowest score in exams but they never fail?" Teacher Jin couldn't help but ask.

An Xiulan shook her head. If class K was the dumbest class in the entire school, why do they only score least in the exam and not fail?

As much as she had heard, Jingyuan High school is famous for setting one of the toughest question papers.

"Because every student is put in a specific class according to his/her calibre," Teacher Jin began saying, "Class Ten K is suitable for you now. The students are good to you and you are absolutely fit for the study programme of that Class."

After taking a pause he continued, "Teacher Wang is one of the best teachers for English in the entire school but the other classes are used to other's methods of teaching as his methods are peculiar just like him. The higher-ups have seen Class Ten K adjusting to his method and so he was put in that class as the English teacher. If you genuinely want to improve, don't show any haste in leaving class Ten K. The curriculum and teaching methods of Class K suits you the best for now."

"Teacher Jin, the students were saying that the best teachers are sent to the best classes," An Xiulan shared her problem. She had seen that

"Best teachers are sent to classes," Teacher Jin nodded his head. "It's right. But who are the best teachers? A teacher who is best for Class Ten K can't be best for class Ten J or a teacher best for class Ten A can't be best for class ten K either."

An Xiulan stared at the teacher for a moment. Why did the teacher's words seem a lot like that scumbag actor who said, 'You may be the best choice, but you are not the best choice for me.'

Never mind.

"But if I scored well in the test, wouldn't I be sent to other sections?"An Xiulan inquired.

"With your condition, do you think you can even pass the test even with passing marks?" He was callous with words.

An Xiulan pursed her lips. This was also right. But she was studying, okay. It wasn't her fault that she didn't understand everything. She was just slow. But it was always the slow toto that won the race. And she was that slow toto.

She patted herself mentally and grinned. 'I'm a toto. I'm bound to win the race.'

"Alright," Teacher Jin closed the books. "I will talk to that student if he comes to class today. For now, the extra class ends here. I will see you in the class. If you have any problems, you can ask me anytime."

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