"Uh huh, not a genius, not a genius. We work hard and strive to be down-to-earth, okay?" Wu Liguo paused, then laughed heartily. What a clever, smart, and adorable little guy, no matter how you look at it, you can’t help but love him. Hearing this little guy calling his mom over and over, it was clear he was taught more by Shuzhen, his niece. Later, he would have his daughter and son-in-law properly seek advice from Shuzhen about parenting. Not that the future grandson, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter would be as smart as Little Lian’en, but they should be at least close! Just like that, with Little Lian’en’s excellent performance and Wu Liguo’s assistance, no, his action bypassing the principal and making decisions was practically stepping beyond his role. Fortunately, Du Xuanxuan and Wu Yinghong were good sisters, knowing his relationship with Wu Yinghong, she always respected him like an elder and wouldn’t bicker over trivial matters. In short, with the end of the summer vacation for Little Lian’en, he would directly enter first grade at the start of the new semester and proudly become a little student, which was practically set in stone. Watching him come back home, endlessly bragging and showing off his son in various ways, just short of praising him to be unique in the heavens and earth, Shuzhen found herself quite astonished: wasn’t it said that Du Xuanxuan, Principal Du, was the most impartial, principle-driven person? If he wasn’t old enough, even if the emperor’s uncle came, there would be no reasoning, just wait quietly for next year with no discussion. But now, where’s the principle? If Uncle Wu made the decision, would you just feel embarrassed to refuse? But since it’s set in stone now, Shuzhen couldn’t possibly go back on it and not let Lian En attend school. Looking at his excited little rosy cheeks, she reminded him: "You’re about to become a proud little student, so you must follow the rules of a student: Respect your teachers, be kind to classmates, and go to classes daily. No matter if it’s winter or summer, when it’s time, you have to get up early and go to school. Got it? The road you chose, you have to grit your teeth and stick to it no matter how hard it is. You can’t complain, regret, or even quit. Otherwise, there’s a chance that this proud little student becomes a laughingstock no-good loaf around!" Little Lian En nodded solemnly: "No complaints, no regrets, not becoming a laughingstock to embarrass mom and dad!" Otherwise, if mom doesn’t think he’s much of a prodigy now, he’ll be even less valued if he becomes a joke. Lian En was terrified. He didn’t want to be the pitiful little cabbage who only drinks soup while his little brother eats noodles. Well, little brothers and sisters are young, they can eat more delicious treats, parents can pamper them a bit more. But he also wanted his mom to sweetly hug him and call him her good son. Even though, in that way, he looked less like a little child. But if it was his mom, Lian En didn’t see a problem. While Shuzhen was teaching her child, Lianshan happily slaughtered a chicken to make braised chicken pieces for his ultra-smart elder son to celebrate. At dinner, Lianshan picked up a big chicken leg with his chopsticks and placed it in his son’s bowl: "Here, my eldest son performed exceptionally well today, Principal Du and Grandpa Wu admitted him exceptionally. So, here’s a big chicken leg as a reward, celebrating my son becoming a proud little student." Thinking of that sweet voluntary kiss earlier, Lianshan felt infinitely warm inside. But speaking out this way would surely bring ridicule from his wife and lessons from his son, affecting his image as a father and husband. So he tactfully shifted the conversation to praise Little Lian’en’s outstanding performance. Smart as he may be, he’s ultimately a four-year-old Little Douding, who completely misunderstood, thinking his dad only cared about his good grades. From then on, the little guy studied hard after starting school, becoming a mini-intellect with doubled diligence, meaning he was a scholarly genius in no time. In all kinds of tests and exams thereafter, Lian En rarely ranked below first. The more he heard his dad proudly boasting to others about how clever and studious his son was, predicting great potential, that they were counting on him for the future, Lian En became more and more delighted. Hence, he devoted his utmost energy to studying, aiming to become the biggest pride in his parents’ hearts, and the role model among his siblings. Though not able to be overly fond due to his potentially traitorous nature, as a mother, Shuzhen responsibly took care of what was necessary. With Lian En about to start school, she made him new clothes. She bought the most fashionable canvas backpack of the time with a yellow star on it, printed with the words ’Red Lands of the Country’. The metal pencil case was filled with pencils, an eraser, a ruler, and a small knife for sharpening pencils. She also bought several of the four-line three-grid, field grid, and small square books used by elementary students. When Lian En received the backpack, he was overjoyed, jumping up and down and hugging Shuzhen, constantly praising her as a good mom. He cherished it daily, longing to show it off by carrying the new canvas backpack when school starts, making the other kids envy him. Yet, before he could anticipate school starting, he saw Grandpa Wu rush over to his house: "Shuzhen niece, hurry, hurry over to your sister-in-law’s place. She’s gone into labor, it seems she’s about to give birth. Going to the hospital might not make it, so might as well give birth at home. Your brother already called the midwife over to the house. Can you go with Hong Ying to help a bit?" Is Auntie about to give him a little brother? Lian En’s eyes shone brightly, a few days ago while playing with the older kids, he was curious about where babies come from. Some said they were found in the woods, exchanged for work points, or perhaps dug out from a manure heap. With all kinds of answers, he insisted babies were born by moms, they were parents’ treasures. But when asked how they were born, he was stuck. Now Auntie was about to give birth, if he followed, wouldn’t he get to see how it’s done? But Shuzhen, in her hurry, didn’t wait for the little guy to plead to be brought along, she was already out the door like a gust of wind. Feeling for his wife, Lianshan quickly pushed the bicycle, riding hard to reach his sister-in-law’s house as fast as possible. After showing some concern for sister-in-law briefly, he wasn’t at ease with her dealing one-on-three alone at home, so he quickly returned. Upon entering the yard, he saw his elder son looking at him with full anticipation, saying straight up: "Dad, Dad, good Dad. Take me to Auntie’s place, I want to see my little brother earlier. Earlier than Jiezi brother and Jiajia sister!" Reasonably, Lianshan refused. All the chaos over there, bringing a little one would just add to the trouble. But his elder son gave him a smack right on the cheek, and reason flew the coop, leaving home in an instant.