Poor Student in the Class

When the female teacher laid eyes on Tang Qiao, her brows furrowed. Her gaze fixed on the book in Tang Qiao's arms, and upon seeing the 'University Chemistry' textbook, her slender eyebrows knitted even further. "You shouldn't rush ahead in your studies out of greed. If you neglect to build a strong foundation and only focus on pretense, your prospects won't be promising," she admonished. Then, without looking at Tang Qiao further, she approached Uncle Zhang and inquired, "Have the Year Two Mathematics materials arrived?"

Tang Qiao shook her head and paid no attention to the female teacher's words. On the contrary, Uncle Zhang leisurely sipped his tea and remarked, "The young girl appears quite dedicated. She's not worthless."

Tang Qiao, who was in the process of returning the book to its original spot, looked up in surprise. She hadn't expected Uncle Zhang to speak up on her behalf.

The corners of the female teacher, Yan Ping's, lips pressed together, clearly displaying her displeasure. Nevertheless, she couldn't be bothered to argue with the librarian. She repeated her question in a curt tone, "Have the materials arrived?"

"We have them," Uncle Zhang replied while leaning back in his chair. "They arrived this morning. Ask someone to get it."

This minor incident concluded quietly, and Tang Qiao borrowed a few more books before returning to the classroom.

Meanwhile, Yan Ping returned to the teacher's office and, after taking a sip of water, ascended to the second floor where other teachers' offices were located. Lu Heng, a portly middle-aged chemistry teacher with thinning hair, had arrived early that day. After grading his students' homework, he sat in his office chair and stretched his neck. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Yan Ping entering and greeted her politely.

Lu Heng and Yan Ping weren't particularly familiar. But out of the former's expectation, the latter approached him. "Mr. Lu, I came here specifically to speak with you." 

Lu Heng was puzzled. Yan Ping was the homeroom teacher for the top class and taught mathematics, while Lu Heng taught chemistry to the regular class. Their interactions were typically limited. Other teachers in the office also watched curiously as the two conversed.

"Is Tang Qiao a student in your class?" Yan Ping inquired directly.

"Yes, she is. Why do you ask?" Lu Heng replied, his recollection of Tang Qiao quite vivid.

Yan Ping then recounted the events that had transpired in the library, her disapproval evident in her words. "Tang Qiao's performance in Chemistry is quite poor, yet she's aiming too high by studying university-level chemistry. Mr. Lu, you should intervene. Students should concentrate on their studies. Although she's working hard now, her grades could still improve. She shouldn't continue to be the underachiever in the class, dragging down the overall average."

Lu Heng's expression darkened. The Chemistry scores for Sophomore Class 9, known as Tang Qiao's class, were widely known to be the second lowest in the last exam.

A teacher suddenly interjected, "Tang Qiao? Isn't she the student who was filled with mathematical theories, leaving Lin Qingyu speechless?" They had all heard about the incident where Tang Qiao had rattled off numerous mathematical terms, leaving Lin Qingyu dumbfounded. Initially, they had been puzzled by how Tang Qiao, with her poor grades, knew so much. Now, it was common knowledge that her grades were subpar, yet her academic aspirations remained high, as she had even embarked on university-level readings.

One teacher shook his head and offered a wry smile to Yan Ping. "Students nowadays set high standards for themselves, though they often underestimate their true capabilities. Lin Qingyu from your class is a fine example; she is diligent and steadfast."

At the mention of Lin Qingyu, Yan Ping's typically stern countenance softened with a rare smile.

Academic achievement was of paramount importance to her, and in Lin Qingyu, she saw the epitome of a model student, someone she took great pride in.

Lu Ren's expression grew even more sour, his ire directed at Tang Qiao.

Another teacher set aside the lesson plan and vented indignation. "I can't fathom why Mr. Wen would recommend a student like her for the school's Mathematical Olympiad selection."

Wen Guanjie, the head of the Mathematics department, had taught for decades and was exceptionally skilled. He could have chosen to teach the top-tier students, but he had a unique penchant for teaching the regular class. Wen Guanjie firmly believed that no student should be left behind, and this dedication to students with weaker academic standings earned him immense respect among his colleagues.

However, the teachers were genuinely perplexed about why Wen Guanjie had shown such favoritism toward Tang Qiao in the Mathematical Olympiad selection.

"Yeah, Tang Qiao only scored five points on her last math test," remarked one teacher with a disdainful curl of the lips. During the grading process, the Mathematics department was astonished to discover that a student had achieved a mere five points.

"I inquired with Mr. Wen about this, and he claimed that Tang Qiao was one of his specially selected hidden talents," Yan Ping added, her eyes half-lidded as a disdainful smile crept across her lips.