In Zhang Yuxi's view, Si Bao's grades shouldn't be too poor, given his solid foundation. When he transitioned from middle to senior high, his grades had always been among the best. While perhaps not as dazzling as his siblings, he was still quite remarkable. Besides, in Zhang Yuxi's eyes, all of her children were smart.

With this in mind, Zhang Yuxi began to help Si Bao with his homework. Sitting at his desk and eating the fruit Lin Feng had brought, she was in a good mood. However, as time passed, her expression grew serious. Her eyes fixated on Si Bao's homework, and her temples began to throb.

As a strict teacher, Zhang Yuxi found Si Bao's handwriting unbearable. Good heavens, since when did his handwriting get this bad? It's ugly enough to reach the heavens!

Zhang Yuxi reined in her frustration and said sternly, "Pardon me, is this a doctor's prescription, or are you drawing something? Explain yourself."

Si Bao glanced at it. "Is there a problem?"

So, he didn't get it, did he?

Zhang Yuxi stated bluntly, "Can you please write properly? Your handwriting is too ugly."

Si Bao, however, felt quite good about it. "I think it looks fine. Is it really that ugly?"

Zhang Yuxi forced a smile. "What do you think?"

Si Bao fell silent. He had enough sense to understand the warning, so he immediately began to write neatly, stroke by stroke. That put Zhang Yuxi's mind at ease.

Next was his Chinese homework. Well, what could she say? The assignment was to write a brief summary, but Si Bao had decided to summarize the entire thing in a single, sweeping sentence.

Zhang Yuxi frowned. "That's it?"

Si Bao looked surprised. "That's it. Isn't that a summary?"

Zhang Yuxi thought it over. He's not wrong… she mused, and said no more.

Moving on to English, Zhang Yuxi had thought the prescription-like scrawl of his Chinese was bad enough, but she never expected this. So English was lying in wait for me, was it? The strokes, the style… you'd think it was wrong, but somehow it also looked right. You'd say it was misspelled, but a closer look revealed no errors.

Zhang Yuxi felt a pang of pity for Si Bao's teacher. "Can your English teacher even read your writing?"

Si Bao didn't even look up. "Yeah, she can. She even said my handwriting is very... unique."

A child's handwriting starts to take its final shape in high school. Zhang Yuxi seldom checked her children's homework; they were all self-disciplined and had never given her or Lin Feng any cause for concern. She vividly remembered checking Da Bao's homework once. His writing had been horribly ugly, and she had criticized him for it. Now, Da Bao's calligraphy was excellent; he had even won first prize in the Yangcheng Calligraphy Competition with his beautiful script.

She never imagined Si Bao's handwriting would turn out like this. It must be her own negligence as a parent.

She took out her phone and messaged the teacher, figuring that if the teacher could understand Si Bao's writing, she would let it go. The English teacher replied instantly.

[Teacher]: [sends a crying face emoji] Every time I grade his homework, it takes me such a long time...

Zhang Yuxi felt for her. "I will make sure he writes much, much more neatly."

[Teacher]: [sends a grateful emoji]

The exchange left Zhang Yuxi feeling rather embarrassed. After all, she was a teacher, too; it was a case of one teacher pitying another.

"You will write properly! Make every letter clear! This is even worse than the chicken scratch from before!"

Si Bao didn't dare say a word. He could clearly see that his mother was furious. Sigh, doing homework today is so depressing.

Did she think it was over?

No. Math, physics, and chemistry were still waiting.

Zhang Yuxi: "!!!!"

She explained a problem once, he didn't get it. She explained it twice, still nothing...

Zhang Yuxi was flabbergasted. "How can you not understand? This is a key concept from the third year of junior high!"

Si Bao retorted, "Is it? I don't remember it at all."

The problem was, Si Bao's sticking point was always peculiar, turning into an endless stream of 'whys'. Zhang Yuxi felt like she was going crazy. These are all basic concepts! Why is he asking me? Shouldn't he be asking himself?

After the tutoring session, both mother and son were utterly exhausted.

Feeling that she had a long and arduous road ahead of her, a fatigued Zhang Yuxi stood up. "Go to sleep. And clean up this room. It's too messy, and it's ruining my mood."

Si Bao was mentally drained, too. It feels like I've been going to school for nothing.

Lin Feng came over and saw the look on her face. "What's wrong?"

The next second, Zhang Yuxi completely lost it and launched into a tirade.

"What's wrong? Do you have any idea how terribly your son writes? His Chinese homework... it's barely better than chicken scratch.

"You've seen a doctor's prescription, right? It's exactly like that! You can't make out a single thing he's written.

"And his English! Let me show you the message from his English teacher. I feel so sorry for her!

"And physics! Oh my god, he asked *me* what alternating current is! Can you believe it? He asked me!

"Chemistry, hahaha, that was even more ridiculous..."

At first, Lin Feng didn't find it funny, but Zhang Yuxi's expression was just too hilarious to watch.

She lightly pounded on his chest. "I'm about to die of anger because of your son, and you're laughing! You're still laughing! That's it, you've gone too far!"

Lin Feng stifled a laugh. "So, are you still going to tutor him?"

Zhang Yuxi glared. "Of course I am!"

「The next day」

Zhang Yuxi sat in the same spot, watching Si Bao.

"What are you looking at me for? Do your homework."

Si Bao said bluntly, "Mom, you sitting here is stressing me out."

Zhang Yuxi's face was devoid of expression. "Less talk. Do your homework."

Si Bao sighed and got back to writing.

Zhang Yuxi stood beside him, constantly reminding, "Write neatly... write neatly..."

"I'm asking you, isn't this a basic question? Why did you get it wrong? Tell me, why is the answer A?"

"Um, well, because... therefore..."

"Heh. That sounds convincing on the surface, but it's complete nonsense."

"!!!"

Mom, please don't be like this! I'm scared!

「On the third day」

Zhang Yuxi was back to venting about her son, whining about how hard tutoring was.

"Haven't you heard? Before tutoring, it's all motherly love and filial piety. During tutoring, it's chickens flying and dogs jumping."

Zhang Yuxi found absolutely nothing to laugh about.

She recalled watching those videos of parents tutoring their children. She'd laughed at them, thinking how well-behaved her own kids were. No need for her to tutor them, what bliss! But as it turned out, that day was bound to come. Tutoring is so hard... It's just so, so hard... He's my own son, and he's already so grown up. I should take it easy on him. But I really, really want to smack him! Aaaargh!

Lin Feng tried to soothe her. "Why don't I take over?"

Zhang Yuxi refused. "I'm a teacher. I can handle it."

Seriously? I'm a teacher, how could I not handle my own child?

The result was a resounding slap in the face from reality.

After a week of tutoring, Zhang Yuxi was more on the verge of a breakdown with each passing day. Tutoring the students in her class had never been this exhausting; she was even starting to question her existence.

You can't say Si Bao is dumb. He has plenty of ideas, lots of little tricks up his sleeve. And his homework... it's manageable. At least once he gets something, he catches on quickly and masters the concept. But it just gives me a splitting headache. The moment I see him doing homework, my head starts buzzing.

Seeing the aggrieved look in Si Bao's eyes, Zhang Yuxi started to feel she was making a mountain out of a molehill. My standards are probably just too high.

But just as she was thinking this, Si Bao delivered another heavy blow.

"Write out the math, physics, and chemistry formulas from memory."

These were all key points from yesterday, so it shouldn't be a problem, Zhang Yuxi thought.

As it turned out, Si Bao's written response was a complete and utter mess.

Zhang Yuxi was so furious her chest ached. "Check it again. See if you've made any mistakes."

The moment Si Bao heard that, he knew he must have gotten something wrong. He checked carefully and found several errors.

"Check it again."

"This is your last chance. Check it."

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