~
Memories of the past welled up in Liang Shixian's heart, leaving him dazed.
Elementary school.
"Mom! Dad! I got elected class monitor!"
That day, six-year-old Liang Shixian came home with his backpack, excited to share the good news with his parents.
His mother gently took his backpack and ruffled his hair. "What a good boy!"
Liang Shixian said shyly, "Mom, don't call me 'good boy' anymore! I'm the class monitor now. I have to be more dignified."
His parents burst out laughing.
"Dignified?"
His father picked little Liang Shixian up and sat him on his lap. "Then tell me, son. What does a class monitor do?"
"The class monitor is the best person in the class! The best kid! All my classmates are jealous of me!"
"Well, being the best person and the best kid isn't wrong, but that's not all there is to it." His father said, "Being class monitor means taking responsibility. Do you know what kind of responsibility?"
"I do! Collecting homework!"
"That's one thing, but not all of it." His father smiled. "For example, when your classmates run into trouble, the class monitor has a responsibility to help them. When they're upset, the class monitor has a responsibility to cheer them up. When they're in danger, the class monitor has a responsibility to protect them. Son, being outstanding by yourself isn't true excellence. True excellence is being someone the people around you genuinely like and respect.
"The class monitor's responsibility is to help the whole class become outstanding."
Little Liang Shixian seemed to understand, but not quite.
His mother gently tapped his father and chided him, "There you go lecturing again! Can't you say something to make our son happy?"
His father smiled and looked seriously at little Liang Shixian. "Son, do you want to