Daddy Wants to Play a Game with You

Screening healthy volunteers, signing informed consent forms, discussions by the Medical Ethics Committee... the necessary preparations for the Phase I clinical trial of Triazatrisiloxanes are proceeding in a tense but orderly manner.

Spring is here, flowers are blooming, and all things are coming back to life.

A major event has been put on the agenda for the Shen Family.

Shen Nuo Fei will turn 5 years old this August, and she should be starting primary school.

In China, most children start primary school at age six. But Shen Nuo Fei is not an ordinary child; she started primary school a year early without being rejected.

Shen Nuo Fei's elderly parents have already chosen a school for her: the Capital Second Experimental Primary School.

The selection of Second Experimental Primary School was based on a comprehensive consideration of many factors, the most important of which was that this primary school is one of the best in Beijing.

Second Experimental Primary School is located in Xicheng District, while Shen Nuo Fei's household registration is in Haidian District.

Household registration isn't really an issue, since most students at Second Experimental Primary School are from outside the designated school district or are students enrolled through a joint construction program.

As is customary, primary school students transitioning from kindergarten to primary school start their studies on September 1st. In the spring before the start of primary school, Second Experimental Primary School conducts an entrance test for students transitioning from kindergarten to primary school.

The entrance exam is very important, and Shen Qi's whole family is taking the upcoming entrance exam extremely seriously.

"Nofi, my good daughter, my little fairy, you're about to start elementary school. When you start elementary school, you'll be a big girl... Stop eating snacks and listen to Daddy." Shen Qi and Ou Ye provided Nofi with a year of home education, covering everything from mathematics to Natural Science, from literature to art.

Shen Qi has reason to believe that Nofi, with her solid foundation, will thrive in primary school and blossom into a valuable asset to the nation.

"Mmm, I'm listening." Nophie quickly swallowed the cookie, then sat up straight, placing her small hands on her thighs. Her gentle and dignified posture revealed the demeanor of a scholarly family and a well-bred young lady.

"Nofi, the primary school you'll be attending is Second Experimental Primary School, which is also in Xicheng District. It's not far from your kindergarten, so you'll be quite familiar with the area. Second Experimental Primary School will have an entrance exam for you, and I hope you can pass it smoothly, okay?"

Okay.

"Next, Dad will play a role-playing game with you. Dad will play the role of a teacher from Second Experimental Primary School, and you will play yourself. The game begins. Hello, little friend, what's your name?"

Shen Nuo Fei replied matter-of-factly, "My name is Shen Nuo Fei."

"Okay, Shen Nuo Fei, please write the three characters 'Shen Nuo Fei' on the paper." Shen Qi nodded and placed the pen and paper in front of Nuofei.

Shen Nuo Fei picked up her pen and wrote her name. All three characters were correct, but there was a problem with the strokes of the character "Fei".

Shen Qi immediately corrected and personally demonstrated the correct operating details. "Nofi, you need to correct this old problem of yours. The vertical stroke of the character 'Fei' should be written from top to bottom, not from bottom to top."

Many preschool children can write quite a few Chinese characters; however, like Shen Nuo Fei, a common problem among them is that the stroke order of Chinese characters is reversed.

Good habits should be cultivated from a young age, and Shen Qi pays attention to every detail.

Under her father's forceful correction, Shen Nuo Fei finally wrote the stroke order of the character "Fei" correctly.

Shen Nuo Fei wiped her sweat. "Ugh, my name is so hard to write. Dad and Mom both have two characters, why do I have three?"

Shen Qi argued logically, "Come on, your name is very simple, isn't it? Shen Nuo Fei only has 28 strokes in total. I remember that little boy from your kindergarten very well, his name was Qu Rui, and the character 'Qi' alone has 29 strokes."

Nofi said sympathetically, "That little madman, Qu Rui, can't write his own name. He's gone mad."

For some inexplicable reason, Shen Nuo Fei swayed the rhythm of things.

Shen Qi steered the conversation back on track. "We've gone off on a tangent. Let's continue our role-playing game. I'm the teacher, and you're the student. Here's the question: Two little pockets, carried with you every day; if one is missing, people will laugh their heads off. What is this everyday item?"

Nophie pondered for a moment, then replied, "Are they socks?"

Yes or no?

"Yes, they're socks."

"Correct. Next question: What is eighteen plus twenty-six minus thirty-one multiplied by two?"

Unlike when she wrote the word "fei" in the wrong stroke order and thought about riddles for a long time, when faced with arithmetic problems, Shen Nofei felt no pressure.

Shen Nuo Fei quickly did the mental calculations and soon gave her answer, "Twenty-six."

These kinds of continuous calculation problems are beyond the curriculum for children who are transitioning from kindergarten to primary school but have not yet started primary school.

Shen Nuo Fei quickly calculated the correct answer in her mind, demonstrating her exceptional talent in mathematics.

Of course, it's also because her parents taught her well.

Shen Qi used role-playing simulations to let Shen Nuo Fei experience the atmosphere of the entrance test for Second Experimental Primary School in advance.

In the following days, Shen Nuo Fei reviewed the question bank for the primary school entrance exam under the guidance of her parents.

On a bright and sunny morning, Shen Qi and his family set off, taking Nofi to the Second Experimental Primary School.

Today is Shen Nuo Fei's entrance exam day.

Besides Shen Nuo Fei, many children who are about to turn six years old, as well as their parents, also attended.

Shen Nuo Fei looked around excitedly. "Wow, so many children! It's so lively!"

Shen Nuo Fei's tone amused Shen Qi and Ou Ye: "You're a child too, you're the youngest here."

The entrance test for primary school at Second Experimental Primary School consists of sections on mathematical thinking, language thinking, general knowledge, physical fitness, and talent, and is conducted in the form of an interview.

In the morning, teachers from Second Experimental Primary School were in charge of the interviews, and the children entered the room one by one to be interviewed.

All those who came for the interview were students from the co-construction program; students within the designated area could directly enroll in Second Experimental Primary School without an interview. Shen Nuo Fei drew number 5, and she would be the fifth person to enter the room for her interview.

While Shen Qi and his family were waiting for their interview, a man approached them.

The man stared at Shen Qi, quite surprised and delighted.

The man had an upright appearance, thick eyebrows, and large eyes; he was clearly not an ordinary person. Shen Qi asked, "Brother, are you a parent too? Is your child here for an interview?"

"Yes, my daughter is inside undergoing the test; she's number 2." The man glanced at the door of the interview room, then refocused his gaze on Shen Qi. He extended his hand in a handshake gesture. "I've been observing you for a long time. You must be Academician Shen Qi?"

"It's me, hello." Shen Qi shook hands with the man and asked, "Which department are you from?"

"I am Xu Zhenming from the editorial People's Daily Newspaper Office. It's quite a surprise to meet Academician Shen and Professor Ou here." The man who identified himself as Xu Zhenming from the editorial office of the People's Daily Newspaper Office then politely shook hands with Ou Ye.

"So it's Editor-in-Chief Xu, a pleasure to meet you." Shen Qi had sensed earlier that this man had an unusual air about him; after all, he was a cultured person, and naturally possessed a certain scholarly air.