Chapter Twelve

  "Your politics and English are much better than mine." Zuo Zhixuan came over to knock on her desk. "I know you've been reading current affairs journals, while I myself prefer literature and history. Each has their own strengths. Hmm, what's the trick to mastering English?"

  Chen Huaicheng was stunned for a moment before realizing that class had already been dismissed!

  "In the summer vacation after my junior high school graduation, I spent all my time studying high school English vocabulary and grammar. In the previous summer vacation, I copied the student's English-Chinese dictionary twice and a half, and most of them were memorized. All the high school English grammar books and exercises that can be found in bookstores have been completed by me until now, and from now on, I only need to review my notes on difficult points."

  Chen Huaicheng did not hide or show off, but simply stated the facts. However, Zuo Zhixuan and the surrounding classmates who gathered to listen were all stunned.

  "You're really..." Zuo Zhixuan didn't know what to say. "So you're determined to major in English Language and Literature, huh? F University or N University?"

  "Of course, F University is better. The train ride only takes an hour, while N University takes at least four or five hours." The current trains are really unbearable. "But it depends on how the college entrance exams go, if I don't do well then it's hard to say."

  "Foreign language classes require an oral test, how's your spoken English?" Zuo Zhixuan said this sentence in English with a slightly American accent, but still very standard and fluent. A high school student being able to reach such a level obviously received quite good special training.

  This is the first time in Chen's life to communicate with someone in English, excluding occasions where he was teaching. He has a feeling that "talking to people across from me is a testament to my good character."

  "I'm not worried about the English oral exam. This supplementary test for high school students can't be too difficult, and universities wouldn't expect high school students to have a solid foundation before enrolling... otherwise, what's the point of taking the university entrance exams?!"

  Her accent has fully recovered to her previous free and individual tone, emphasizing some very important or subtle words. Due to being infatuated with French songs for a period of time, her intonation is mixed with the tones of Continental Europe and rural London, with a hint of South Asian pronunciation. Coupled with some gestures and postures, in short, the high school students who heard her were left speechless.

  "Alright, we should head home now." She had already packed up her school bag. "See you later, friends."

  Still in English

  Mainly too excited, brain can't keep up.

  It's great to be back home and have a ready-made dinner. Since mom is away on a business trip, my dad and I had dinner at the cafeteria of his college. Chen Huisheng has already gotten her own meal card for this college and often eats dinner or even lunch there. By the way, my mom's monthly income, including bonuses, is over 10,000 yuan, which can only buy a branded canvas bag... My dad was promoted to associate professor recently, so his salary will increase too. Calculating it out, our family's income for two months can cover her annual tuition and accommodation fees. Although we can still ask our parents for living expenses, it shouldn't be too much, and definitely not enough to buy a house in expensive S city.

  So, working part-time is a must. If you can get a scholarship, then go for it. At least you'll have money for sunscreen, deep cleansing milk and coffee...

  The next day, Chen Huai didn't go to her father's college, but instead handled it at school. Dong Xuemin came over and sat down beside her.

  This girl, from the second year of high school to now, has become increasingly distant from her. Chen Huan didn't bother to study the psychology of young girls and estimated that it might have something to do with the fact that her grades were gradually slipping, sometimes even falling to around 20th place.

  "Chen Haoteng, how did you practice your spoken language?"

  "Spend time on it." Chen Huan said without hesitation. She had once thought of considering the other person as a friend, but in reality, friendships between classmates and colleagues have an expiration date. Or rather, in most cases, they don't last a lifetime.

  "You should stand in front of a mirror or wall every night, give a speech, read an essay, or sing a song. But remember one thing: you must pronounce the main words' vowels very accurately! You must get the pronunciation right. First master standard Mandarin, until it's hard to tell that you're a Chinese student speaking English... then study American or British accents later."

  Her English is not as good as some of her seniors who have studied and worked in the UK or US for a long time, but she has already surpassed the level of those who are about to die. Hmm, before death... I believe that with four more years of hard work, she can surpass the level of students from China who study abroad.

  Dong Xue-min blinked his eyes.

  "Just 20 minutes a day, read aloud an article or essay against the wall... um," seeing that the other party still looked confused, Chen Haosheng had to add another sentence, "If it's just for coping with a few minutes of oral exam, you might as well find a tutor, practice self-introduction and some descriptions about school, class, future studies."

  Dong Xue-min nodded, seeming to understand but not quite.

  。

  "Hmm, Dong Xue Min, why don't you ask a tutor who's familiar with oral exams to practice with you during the winter break?"

  Finally understood, "Uh, thank you!"

  Chen Huaixing smiled, after all, did a good deed. This person doesn't have a household registration in the city, and it's unlikely that her grades will allow her to catch up with herself within half a year, let alone take the same major. Moreover, does she think that foreign language speaking is really that easy to practice?! The meaning of foreign language is that it's basically not used in daily life, so one has to rely on hard work and diligence.

  Yeah, after sending Dong Xuemin away, Chen Hui suddenly fell into self-doubt and mental confusion: If the future belongs to young people who study abroad and return home, then what's the point of studying a foreign language literature?! Isn't it still necessary to work hard, but earn less money for food?! That's even more bitter than the previous generation!

  "Chen Huaicheng! What are you spacing out for? You didn't even put away your lunchbox... I called you several times! Class is about to start!" a classmate shouted.

  Chen Haotian jumped up.

  No way, I have to take another professional course. Or change majors and pursue a master's degree...

  "When the granary is full, one knows etiquette; when the belly is full, one knows honor and shame...... In fact, one sentence can be approached from multiple angles. With fewer choices, it's a simple question, and with more, it becomes an essay question...... You, come answer this," said the specially invited teacher for the intensified politics class, tapping on Chen Huasheng's desk, clearly annoyed by her distraction.

  "Yes, the relationship between economic foundation and superstructure. Being full and civilized are actually far apart. It's not necessarily that after being full for fifty years, one will become civilized. Uh...and then there's also the issue of cultivating civic awareness and social civilization. Different perspectives can be expressed, but these two civilizations should be the main perspective."

  "It seems that you're also thinking about the questions when you're spacing out." This great teacher was stumped by a male student's question in the second class, and now he's surprised by a female student. It looks like this international class from China is indeed full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers! "Tell me, do you think there will be any big questions about economics on this year's college entrance exam?"

  "It's definitely going to happen, the score should be at least half. Because the economic base determines the superstructure." Chen Huicheng has been doing education for many years, with pros and cons, black and white, and various ways of asking questions, although not a professional, but also not bad. A politics teacher really can't make her lose completely.

  "Alright, sit down." The deeply traumatized teacher decided never to casually call on people to answer questions again. These were all enlightened individuals, probably even their reference books and categories were of a professional level.