The method was simple and direct, but highly effective. Xu Su noticed that after calling out every student's name just once, Teacher Wu had already memorized everyone's name and matched it to their face.
Soon, Huang Feng's name was called, and she was assigned to the front row of the fourth group, by the wall. Qian Jia, who was taller than the other two, was placed a little further back.
"Xu Su, come sit here in the fourth row of the third group."
Teacher Wu pointed, and Xu Su followed his finger with her gaze.
'Yep, it hasn't changed. It's the same seat I remember, right across the aisle from Huang Feng.'
"This will be the seating arrangement for now. If you have any issues, we can make adjustments after the first monthly exam."
Teacher Wu tapped the lectern with a new eraser, and the noisy classroom, abuzz with students changing seats, fell silent instantly. "Now, we'll select class officers. I'm a pretty democratic person, so do you all want to vote for yourselves, or should I just pick them based on your high school entrance exam scores?"
A few of the bolder boys in the class called out in response, "You choose, Teacher! We don't know each other yet."
The rest of the class agreed, telling the teacher to make the decision.
Teacher Wu nodded and opened the new student roster in his hands. "Alright then, I'll select the preliminary class officers based on your entrance exam scores. When I call your name, please stand up so your classmates can get to know you."
"First place, Xi Zirong, will be the Class Monitor. Second place, Zhou Dongdong, will be the Academic Committee Member. Third, Yang Yi, Discipline Committee Member. And fourth, Fu Zichen, Vice Class Monitor."
As Teacher Wu called out each name, a figure stood up. The top four students in the class consisted of three boys and one girl.
The only girl, Fu Zichen, had a serene expression. She was already wearing the school uniform that had been handed out that morning, freshly washed. She looked every bit the model student.
Of the four students whose names had been called, Xu Su only remembered one: the first-place student, Xi Zirong. 'And why do I remember him?'
'Because he's the top scorer in the college entrance exam for our grade!'
'He was a legendary study god. In Xu Su's memory, the guy had never once placed second. From the moment he entered high school until the college entrance exam, he never relinquished his throne as the top student in their grade. He was a treasure in the teachers' eyes and a god in the eyes of his peers.'
"The Class Monitor is essentially an extension of me. He'll manage all class affairs. If you have any conflicts with classmates, or if you need to request a leave of absence for any reason, you can report it directly to him." Teacher Wu walked over to Xi Zirong's desk, patted his shoulder, and gestured for him to sit down.
"Considering the girls might have issues they're not comfortable discussing with the Class Monitor, you can go directly to the Vice Class Monitor. During the military training period, no one may request leave without a special reason. If you have a special reason, see the Class Monitor first. He has the authority to approve short leaves of up to half a day. For anything longer, come see me."
All eyes in the classroom instantly fell upon Xi Zirong and Fu Zichen.
Xi Zirong, being tall, was seated toward the back. Xu Su turned her head with the rest of the class to look and discovered that this study god happened to be sitting two rows behind her in the same group. They were separated by only two desks.
The young man's lean back was perfectly straight. He had a refined, pleasant face and sat properly in his seat. He met his classmates' stares without a trace of shyness, leaving a good impression on anyone who looked his way.
Xu Su overheard classmates all around her whispering:
"Xi Zirong went to Experimental Middle School. I was at the same school but in a different class. I can't believe I get to be in the same class as God Xi now. I'm so blessed."
"My dad told me First High School went to great lengths to recruit God Xi. They had to convince his parents before he agreed to come. They're counting on him to win the title of top scorer in the college entrance exam. And don't ask how I remember all this so clearly... If you have to ask, it's because my dad lectures me about it every single day. It's burned into my brain..."
"...We're all students. How come he's so exceptional?"
"Compared to his brilliant academic record, being handsome is just a minor bonus for God Xi."
Xu Su: "..."
'I didn't realize the new Class Monitor had so many fans,' Xu Su thought. 'It seems like every student who attended middle school in Chang City has heard of Xi Zirong.'
Teacher Wu walked back to the podium and knocked on the desk again. The classroom instantly fell silent. "Class Monitor, come with me to pick up the daily and class schedules. The rest of you can study on your own. No whispering. Even though classes haven't officially started, mind the classroom rules. Discipline Committee Member, you'll supervise."
With that, Teacher Wu led his star student, Xi Zirong, out of the room.
In that short time, Xu Su could already see how much this decorated teacher valued Xi Zirong.
Before long, Xi Zirong returned to the classroom alone. Teacher Wu wasn't with him. The students breathed a collective sigh of relief; they were all a little intimidated by their new head teacher.
Xi Zirong was holding a few copies of the class schedule. He gave one to the student in the front row of each group, instructing, "Copy it down and then pass it back. Be quick about it."
He then picked up a piece of chalk, turned to the blackboard, and wrote: "Assemble on the sports field tomorrow at 7:30 AM. I will be taking attendance beforehand. Any leave must be requested in advance for special circumstances."
Having written this, Xi Zirong put the chalk down and turned around. The classroom was utterly silent. He spoke, "Teacher Wu said that during the ten days of military training, any student with three absences will be removed from the Rocket Class. Anyone who didn't show up tonight is considered to have one absence."
His voice had the distinct clarity of a teenage boy.
At the sound of his voice, Xu Su glanced up. The words on the blackboard, written in white chalk, were neat and tidy. The strokes were sharp and angular, clean and decisive. Just then, Xi Zirong placed the chalk in the chalk box, stepped down from the podium, and returned to his seat.
Many students were already silently crying foul on behalf of the new classmates who hadn't shown up for the evening study session. After all, Teacher Wu had previously said that attendance was voluntary and they could choose whether or not to come.
The schedule was passed back row by row. Soon, the student in front of Xu Su finished copying it and handed it over.
Looking at the first-year schedule, Xu Su heaved a sigh.
Arrive at school at 6:30 AM for a morning reading session. At 7:20, morning reading ends for breakfast. After twenty minutes of morning exercises starting at 7:45, classes would officially begin.
A two-hour lunch break.
Evening self-study started at 6:30 PM. Day students could go home at 9:30 PM, while boarding students could decide for themselves when to leave. The last person to leave was responsible for locking the classroom. Dormitory lights-out was at midnight every night.
'So it's going to be three years of grinding day and night,' she thought.
~~~~~~~~~~
After 9:30, students began to trickle out of the classroom. Before long, Huang Feng came over to ask Xu Su if she was leaving.
Thinking about how the intense military training would start the next day, Xu Su knew sleep was crucial. She nodded and put her language arts textbook inside her desk.
'Since our seats are set and the classroom will be locked, I can just leave my textbooks here.'
By the time she returned to her dorm room and finished washing up, it was already ten o'clock. All eight girls in Room 215 were from the same class. After a brief chat, they dutifully turned off the lights and went to sleep.
Huang Feng's Nokia alarm went off punctually at 6:30 the next morning.
They hurriedly brushed their teeth, washed their faces, and changed clothes. They then ran to the cafeteria, bought two steamed buns to eat, and made it to the sports field for assembly at exactly 7:20.
As they passed a row of academic buildings, they could see the sophomores and seniors had already begun their morning reading.