As the end of the year approached, everyone was busy in their own way. Mo Xiaoman focused on her studies, attentively taught by Teacher Fan and Mr. Cheng. The other teacher tutoring her in English was one of their former students. Xiao Man revealed just enough of her existing knowledge to make the English teacher's job a breeze, and in a single semester, she completed the entire year's textbook.
Teacher Fan and Mr. Cheng were very pleased with her. They said that while they had seen naturally gifted students before, she was the first girl to reach this level. At this rate, they felt, skipping a grade to enter high school would be no problem at all.
Two days before winter break, Teacher Yu and her husband returned to her parents' house with their son, Mao Mao, in their arms. They cooked a wonderful meal and invited a few of their students over for a gathering, a sort of farewell before the girls headed home for the holidays.
