651. The Examination (6,400 extra words)

For many students at St. George's Elementary School, the fifth-grade exams were a crucial opportunity that could determine the course of their lives.

Passing meant they could advance straight to the middle school division. Even if they chose to leave school, an elementary education might not be as valuable as a middle school one, but they could still find work that paid enough to support a family. In the Golden Oak Kingdom, there were no laws specifically protecting child laborers, and situations like this were common in many factories.

But if they failed, their parents would often be unwilling to pay another year of tuition. Most of them could only return home in dejection and shoulder the responsibilities that had been theirs all along. Years or even decades later, the gap between them and their classmates might have become as vast as heaven and earth.

On the day of the exams, Jamie and Madam Sterling had both slept poorly, but they had been careful not to make a sound.

With Wu Ming's outstanding grades, they hadn't had the slightest reason to worry. But for some reason, they still felt uneasy and couldn't sleep.

"Here, eat a little more!"

At breakfast, Madam Sterling deliberately added a lightly browned fried egg to Wu Ming's plate, without mentioning the exams at all.

"Do your best!"

When Jamie and Wu Ming left together, Jamie finally patted Wu Ming on the head. "I'm sending you to the middle school division no matter what. The same goes for your younger brother and sister. If you can't make it this year, then next year. If not next year, then the year after!"

Jamie's tone was utterly resolute.

Wu Ming curled his lip. "It's only an exam... Instead of worrying about me, you should worry about Brandon and