Chapter Seven: The Plan

A loud slap landed on Jin Yuan’s back, the sound echoing, clearly unrestrained. The one who delivered the blow was Granny Jin, stepping briskly out of the house. Her hair was styled in an old-fashioned round bun, wrapped in a hairnet, with even her sideburns neatly pinned with black clips. She could never understand how she and Old Jin, neither of whom were the playful type, ended up raising such a mischievous youngest son.

“He deserved it, and he wasn’t even afraid of scaring Tong Tong!” Aunt Xu Meifeng, Jin Yuan’s wife, followed her mother-in-law outside, affectionately wrapping her arm around Wu Tong and inviting everyone in, laughing as she teased her husband. Xu Meifeng was a spirited woman—tall, broad-shouldered, and evidently healthy. Wu Tong had grown up in her own home, but the couple had always treated her like their own daughter, pampering her even more because she was a girl.

“Hehe…” Jin Yuan wasn’t upset. Getting slapped by his mother—was that really being hit? Absolutely not! That was simply his mother showing him love. Being teased by his wife? Well, she had a sharp tongue but a soft heart; she loved him. And since she treated her niece as her own daughter, Jin Yuan honored her as his queen.

The family chatted and laughed as they entered the living room. Wu Tong, still embraced, sat beside the elders, surrounded by the Jin family’s attentions. Watermelon, honeydew, peaches—all cut into tiny pieces, served with sweet red beans and coconut jelly. Xu Meifeng was peeling grapes, and there was a carton of big, juicy yogurt.

Wu Tong liked to mix fruit with yogurt—a little quirk the Jin family knew well. All the toppings were ready, waiting for Wu Tong to add as she pleased. If not for the household’s strict rules about cold foods, Wu Tong would have preferred the newly popular stir-fried yogurt with various toppings—a refreshing treat for hot summer days.

Once the family had exchanged affectionate greetings, Wu Tong asked about Jin Xin. “Will my brother be home for lunch?” Jin Xin was entering his final year of high school, the most crucial stage. School had started early in August for extra lessons—a last stand.

“He’ll be back. He’s commuting this year, so he’ll be home for lunch and dinner!” This year was too important—meals and living arrangements were best at home. “Do you need something from your brother? All his things are in his room; Tong Tong, just go in and get what you need.”

“I want to check if my brother’s second-year textbooks are here. I want to see what study materials he bought for that year.” Wu Tong headed straight for Jin Xin’s room, leaving the adults space to catch up. She and Jin Xin had always been close, growing up together—they were siblings in every sense.

“Tong Tong is so sensible and motivated, always thinking about her studies. Jin Xin, on the other hand, still needs someone watching over him!” Xu Meifeng sighed. She had only the one son, tall and strong, but when it came to academics, he just didn’t get it.

His grades were steady enough to reach the university admission line, but which tier he could enter depended on this year’s review and his performance in the exams—a source of endless frustration and helplessness.

Perhaps it was the parents’ own limitations at fault. Tong Tong’s parents were both college graduates, and she had always been a top student. If the two siblings were in the same grade, Jin Xin would be left far behind.

Xu Meifeng felt proud of Tong Tong, but worried about her own son. Their home was the last fallback; if the child could test into university and find better opportunities, they naturally wanted him to pursue the best.

“You all know how Tong Tong was before—she needed reminders, too. Only now has she really gotten the hang of it; if Jin Xin could do the same, it’d be wonderful!” Once that spark was lit, it was unstoppable. Her drive surprised both parents—were they worried she was too earnest, perhaps?

Of course, that wasn’t something to say in front of her sister-in-law. Otherwise, it would sound like boasting, rubbing salt into wounds.

While the adults chatted about their children, Wu Tong went straight up to the third floor. The floor was divided in two—one half Jin Xin’s room, the other Wu Tong’s.

Even though Wu Tong had only stayed at the Jin family house during holidays since starting elementary school, her room had always been kept for her.

Both rooms had the same layout: a large bedroom with a small partition—one side for sleeping, the other as a study. Wu Tong entered Jin Xin’s room and headed straight for his bookshelf.

The family valued knowledge, and all their childhood books were preserved, arranged on special shelves. Jin Xin’s possessions weren’t always tidy, but his bookshelf was reasonably organized, with textbooks and study guides stacked by grade.

Their school’s tradition was to finish all high school courses by the second year, even starting the first round of review, and the third year began with the second round. Jin Xin’s textbooks for subjects he didn’t need—like the liberal arts—weren’t at home, so Wu Tong wasn’t surprised when she found most were missing.

However, his second-year study guides were all there, along with review materials used in the first round.

Wu Tong glanced over the titles of various reference books and practice papers. She planned to buy new study guides—she had exhausted the ones at home and needed to add some advanced materials.

Previously, she had focused on foundational guides. Now, she wanted something more challenging. She had discovered the joy of learning through retaking first-year courses and had found her own capacity for self-study.

With her current abilities, simply following the teacher’s pace felt like a waste; she wanted to test her own limits. Her next plan was to start learning second and third-year content early, which meant she needed basic practice materials for each subject.

Today’s visit to Grandma’s house was the perfect chance to see what review materials her brother used. The ones from his tutoring class would be especially targeted.

Casually, she pulled out a math reference book and sat at Jin Xin’s desk to read. Modern guides were meticulous, covering everything in the textbook, with expert advice and analyses of key concepts. Wu Tong always tried to understand the material herself first, then combined it with the guide’s analysis, mastering each concept more thoroughly.

Her mind touched the Enlightenment Stele, entering a deep learning state, and Wu Tong ravenously absorbed new knowledge from the book in her hands.

Having solidified her foundations through retaking first-year courses, second-year math was not difficult for Wu Tong to comprehend. She focused intently, unconsciously pulling a pen and scratch paper from Jin Xin’s desk to work through calculations, jotting down lines of rigorous mathematical formulas.