Happy and Carefree

The bus bringing the children back arrived at the entrance to Second Experimental Primary School, where parents waiting nearby claimed their children.

"Mom, Dad, I got 100 points!" Shen Nuo Fei announced the good news to her parents at once.

"Wow, Nuo Fei, well done!" Shen Qi ruffled his daughter's hair in approval and encouragement.

"Wow, Nuo Fei, well done!" Ou Ye echoed Shen Qi's exact words. Women who studied math were a little short on vocabulary.

"Nuo Fei is a promising child," Teacher Liu said objectively.

"Cadre Liu, we're counting on you to help Nuo Fei build a solid foundation in elementary math." Shen Qi and Teacher Liu went way back, and he stuck with the old form of address, calling the older man Cadre Liu.

"Shen Qi, what do you and Ou Ye hope for Nuo Fei?" Old Liu asked.

"She'll be fine as long as she's happy," Shen Qi replied.

Old Liu said, "When other parents say that, I don't quite believe them. But when you say it, I do. So, Shen Qi, what do you hope for yourself?"

Other people wouldn't have asked Shen Qi that, but Old Liu was different. He had once coached Shen Qi on the Olympic Math national team.

Shen Qi never forgot his teacher's kindness. "I hope I can retire before I turn forty."

Old Liu shook his head. "The country and its people won't let you retire before you're forty."

Shen Qi smiled. "They will."

Shen Qi and Old Liu chatted and laughed together, their conversation warm and familiar. The other teachers, parents, and children watched them.

Off to the side, a parent asked his child, "Shen Qi's daughter took the fifth-grade group's preliminary round. Did she get a perfect score?"

The child was Ye Wushuang. He nodded. "I've spent