One had seen people who put on airs, but never someone who acted so conceited. In their eyes, Liu Yifeng choosing this path meant he was destined to be out of place with this group of kindergarteners.
Soon, they entered the examination phase. Since the subjects were different, the exams were not held in the same classroom.
For the sake of fairness, teachers supervised the exams one-on-one, leaving no room for cheating.
Tongtong was being tested in Zhao Qing's office, as she intended to supervise him personally.
After all, he was the first to take the math test this year. If Tongtong passed, he could be cultivated in this area in the future, perhaps even admitted to the gifted class.
Her kindergarten also had a gifted class, comprising children who excelled in mathematics. At a young age, they had already learned third-grade math, and some had even participated in elementary school Olympiad competitions, not winning first place, but securing a spot in the top ten.
For a child still in kindergarten, this was already extraordinary talent.
Of course, even the most talented children required subsequent cultivation and learning. The teachers she hired were not ordinary kindergarten teachers; they were all from 918 Normal University and held master's degrees. 138 Reading Network.
This was precisely why so many parents were desperate to enroll their children in this school.
Looking at the math problems above, Tongtong sighed.
Seeing how much his father wanted him to study here, he thought the kindergarten had a very high admission threshold. Turns out, it was nothing special.
He could solve these problems with his eyes closed.
However, his reaction was misinterpreted by Zhao Qing as him being stumped. Although somewhat disappointed, she still comforted him, "It's okay if you can't solve it, little one. You don't necessarily have to study here; other kindergartens can also teach excellent children."
"Principal Mama, these problems are too easy. Can you give me something more challenging?" Tongtong asked with a troubled expression.
His words stunned Zhao Qing. She picked up the test paper and looked at it. Had there been no mistake?
Fifty-eight plus ninety-six, eighty-five minus fifty-seven, and other complex additions and subtractions were all topics introduced in kindergarten.
Even with instruction, many children couldn't master them, and quite a few students failed the math tests.
Yet, this child, who hadn't even attended the junior class, found the problems too easy.
Was he truly gifted, or had he learned to boast like his father claimed?
Seeing this, Liu Yifeng quickly said, "Director Zhao, please don't misunderstand. My son doesn't mean anything else. He genuinely finds the problems too simple. Could you perhaps give him some more difficult ones?"
He spoke sincerely, but a teacher beside him was annoyed. "Director Zhao, I think this father and son are just here to cause trouble.
Few students in the senior class can solve these problems. How could he possibly understand them?"
Zhao Qing, however, smiled. "It's rare to encounter such an interesting child. I'm curious to see how capable he is.
I will give him some problems on the spot. If he solves them, we will proceed with the enrollment procedures today, and he can officially start school on September 1st."
"Thank you, Director Zhao."
"It's no trouble at all. If he truly solves them, then I've struck gold," Zhao Qing said. She then took a clean A4 paper and her usual fountain pen and wrote ten complex arithmetic problems on it.
Her handwriting was neat, looking as if it were printed.
The problems she devised included addition and subtraction of numbers in the hundreds, as well as multiplication and division. She even included an equation as the final challenge.
However, as long as Tongtong solved the first nine problems, she would permit him to enroll, even if he couldn't solve the last one.
Tongtong took the new set of test questions and said nothing more.
Although these problems were still incredibly simple for him, he feared that if he called them easy again, Principal Mama might drive them away.
So, he picked up his pen and began writing.
He didn't even need to calculate; a glance was enough for him to deduce the answer. He finished all ten problems in just one minute.
It could have been even faster, but the last problem was an equation that required solving, thus taking a bit longer.
"Principal Mama, I'm done," Zhao Qing had just finished whispering some instructions to the teacher beside her when she heard Tongtong's voice. She was stunned on the spot.
She walked over to Tongtong and picked up the test paper to look at it.
Putting aside everything else, his handwriting was indeed very good.
To be honest, even she would need some time to do the additions and subtractions mentally.
As for multiplication and division, she would need a calculator; otherwise, she couldn't possibly calculate them on the spot.
Therefore, at first glance, she couldn't tell if Tongtong had gotten everything right. However, the equation was solved with one hundred percent accuracy.
There were detailed steps for solving it, and each step was correct, naturally making the answer correct as well.
"Director, how long has it been? How could a child solve so many complex problems? He's probably just scribbling," one teacher guessed.
She refused to believe that a child of a few years could produce mathematical problems that even elementary school students needed to show their work to solve.
Moreover, she checked the time; from when he started to when he finished, it was only a minute. Not even an elementary school student, let alone herself, could achieve this.
Therefore, she naturally assumed Tongtong had written random answers, otherwise, how could he be so fast?
"Teacher, before the answers are revealed, I hope you won't disparage my son!" Liu Yifeng said displeasuredly.
"Hmph, this is the truth. If your son truly solved them correctly, I will apologize to him. If he's wrong, then please leave our kindergarten right now!" the female teacher retorted.
She was the teacher who had stopped Liu Yifeng at the door earlier. She had expected the principal to reprimand her, but since she said nothing, she assumed Liu Yifeng and the principal weren't close acquaintances.
She probably just used some connections to get here, so she had nothing to fear.
Besides, this father and son pair were exaggerating all along, which was truly annoying.
Zhao Qing remained silent. She quickly walked to her desk and began calculating with her calculator.
"One hundred and thirty-five plus two hundred and fifty-six equals three hundred and ninety-one. Correct.
Six hundred and seventy-six minus three hundred and eighty-four equals two hundred and ninety-two. Also correct.
And fifty-five multiplied by sixteen equals eight hundred and eighty-eight. Correct."
...
The only sound in the office, besides the calculator, was Zhao Qing repeatedly saying "Correct."
All nine problems were solved correctly, not a single one was wrong.
Even using a calculator, it took her over a minute, not including the final equation.
This meant that Tongtong's mental calculation ability was faster than a calculator. Realizing this, she exclaimed, "Little friend Tongtong, you are simply a genius! You are more remarkable than any child I have ever known."
The female teacher looked on in disbelief. "This... how is this possible?"
Zhao Qing immediately became displeased. "Teacher Wei, why is it impossible?
Little friend Liu Tongtong completed the problems right before our eyes, and it only took him a minute.
Even if he cheated, he would need someone who could solve these problems within a minute. I doubt anyone in the entire kindergarten could do that.
Don't you wish our kindergarten could recruit such a genius child?"
Teacher Wei shook her head repeatedly. "Director, you've misunderstood. It's just that this is truly unbelievable. How did little friend Tongtong manage it?"
Zhao Qing also wanted to know. She turned her gaze to Liu Yifeng. "Mr. Liu, is your son so good at math because you hired someone to teach him from a young age?
I'd like to know who this teacher is who taught Tongtong math. I want to hire them with a generous salary."
Regardless of how long this teacher had taught Tongtong, even if it was since he could speak, their abilities would be extraordinary.
Because Tongtong could mentally calculate so many problems in such a short time, he surpassed over ninety-five percent of students nationwide, and even university students and teachers.
She herself was a graduate of a prestigious university and had studied science in high school, yet she still couldn't perform such mental calculations in such a short period.
It was quite embarrassing that she was outperformed by a little toddler.
Therefore, she was determined to hire the teacher who taught Tongtong math, even if it cost a lot of money.
However, Liu Yifeng's next words completely shattered her composure. "Director Zhao, my son has no teacher. He learned it all himself."
Zhao Qing almost couldn't stand. She said emotionally, "Wh-what? No teacher taught him?"
"Indeed, no teacher taught him. Furthermore, my son is not only good at math, but his paintings are also comparable to those of a master," Liu Yifeng added.
Zhao Qing's heart felt overwhelmed. Such incredible mathematical ability had already been too much for her.
Now, to hear that his paintings were comparable to a master's – was this child a monster?
To verify Liu Yifeng's words, she immediately took out a new piece of paper and a pen and placed them in front of Tongtong. "Tongtong, can you draw a picture for Principal Mama?"
Tongtong asked innocently, "If I draw a picture, can I study here?"
Although he felt he could study anywhere, he didn't want to disappoint his father.
Zhao Qing chuckled upon hearing this. "Even if you don't draw well, you can still study here. After all, your math skills are excellent!"
Tongtong nodded, as if he understood, but not quite. It was good that he could study here.
He then picked up his pencil and began sketching.
Zhao Qing stood beside Tongtong. At first, she couldn't figure out what he was drawing. It wasn't until the entire outline emerged that her eyes widened like saucers.
If she wasn't mistaken, little friend Tongtong was drawing her.
And they had only met for the first time. Yet, he could capture her likeness so vividly, especially her eyes. Her very essence was brought to life through his drawing.
Heavens, this wasn't just a genius; he was a genius among geniuses.
What a treasure her father had introduced her to! He was so extraordinary.
She would have to thank him profusely when she returned.
She was determined to take this child, even if it meant waiving all tuition fees to keep him in her kindergarten.