Chapter 628
Desperate Elementary School Parents
Chapter 628 Desperate Elementary School Parents
In the spring of 1998, the spring breeze was gentle, and the flowers were in full bloom.
The opening theme of the evening news broadcast started playing on the television.
Guo Xiaoqiang was doing his homework on the coffee table when the clattering sound of stir-frying came from the kitchen. The aroma of the food wafted into the living room, making his mouth water.
Guo Lidong had just finished get off work and was changing his shoes when he looked up and saw the female host on the Changhong TV speaking clearly and articulately.
"...The US government announced today that it will impose comprehensive economic sanctions on East Asia. The Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls (COCOM) has been upgraded, banning the export of all semiconductor equipment and precision machine tools to East Asia. Gingrich has pushed Moody's to downgrade East Asia's sovereign credit rating to junk status, blocking international financing. Most-favored-nation status has been revoked for East Asia, and a 100% tariff has been imposed on textiles and toys. Pressure has been put on Middle Eastern countries to impose an oil embargo on East Asia..."
Guo Lidong paused, his brows furrowed, and his eyes filled with deep worry.
The camera pans across Washington, D.C., then cuts back to the capital, where an old man is speaking: "The currency of the East will never be devalued! The people of the East have the confidence and the ability..."
"Dinner's ready." Guo's mother came out carrying the dishes.
The family sat around a small square table, the television still on.
"We got vaccinated at school today." Guo Xiaoqiang picked up his chopsticks and searched for minced meat in a pile of shredded carrots. "Mom, where's the meat? We haven't had meat for half a month."
Guo Xiaoqiang looked aggrieved, tears welling up in his eyes. He ate carrots, radishes, cabbage, rapeseed, and potatoes every day; he was practically turning into a rabbit.
"Does it hurt?" Guo's mother precisely found a tiny bit of minced meat among the pile of carrot shreds and put it into Guo Xiaoqiang's bowl, saying perfunctorily, "I couldn't buy meat today, I'll buy some next time."
"It doesn't hurt. The teacher said that this vaccine was newly developed by the country and can eliminate hepatitis B."
Guo's mother's eyes lit up: "It can really eliminate hepatitis B? That's wonderful!" She turned to look at Guo Lidong, "Didn't your second uncle die from hepatitis? Do you want to..."
Guo Lidong didn't reply, took a bite of rice, and muttered, "Who knows if it's true or not? There's no vaccine in other countries, but we have it? Come on, the US banned soybean exports to our country, and our pig farms are almost unable to afford to raise pigs. Look at how high the price of meat has gone... Life is getting worse and worse."
Guo's mother fell silent.
"Let them impose sanctions then." Guo Lidong picked up a piece of bitter melon with his chopsticks, his voice muffled. "Our factory said they're going to cut wages again next month. The US won't let us sell anything anymore, how are we going to survive?"
On the television, the announcer was still reading the news: "...Our government has taken a series of effective measures to ensure the smooth operation of the economy..."
Guo Lidong snorted and didn't say anything more.
The meal was eaten in silence. The adults were preoccupied with their own thoughts, but Guo Xiaoqiang was carefree and ate two bowls of rice.
The adults put all the minced meat from the dish into his bowl.
After finishing my meal, I heard a noise from next door.
"Old Zhang, what are you doing? Moving?" Guo Lidong opened the door and saw his neighbor Old Zhang and his family moving things, with cardboard boxes piled up in the living room.
Their son, Xiaojun, was standing on the sofa, holding a Transformer toy in his hand.
"We're going to the land of cherry blossoms," Old Zhang said, wiping his sweat.
Xiao Jun jumped off the sofa and waved the toy in his hand at Guo Xiaoqiang: "This is from Japan, you don't have one, do you? Hehe, we're going to live a good life there. The air in Japan is better than ours, and they have more toys..."
Guo Xiaoqiang didn't say anything, just looked at the Transformers with envy.
Guo Lidong quickly went to help move the boxes.
Old Zhang chuckled awkwardly, "Well... my relative over there found me a job. Over there, even washing dishes can earn you enough to buy a villa. School is free, healthcare is free, and prices are cheap. The quality of education is much better than here. I'm doing this for my child's future."
Guo Lidong sighed: "It's good that we can get out. We don't know what our situation will be like."
The tension in the relationship is so high, it's really unsettling.
The two discussed how to go abroad for a long time. Just as Guo Lidong's heart was about to fly away, Grandpa Guo, who had been squatting by the door smoking, suddenly stood up, grabbed a broom, and smacked Guo Lidong on the back.
"Hey--"
"Going abroad, going abroad, what a load of rubbish!" Grandpa Guo snapped again. "When your father was carrying a gun, what kind of blockade didn't he experience? Are we afraid?! The empire has never given up on destroying us; only a true man serves his country with utmost loyalty!"
Guo Lidong didn't dare to hide and crouched in the corner with his head in his hands. Old Zhang's family ran away in a flash.
"Dad, stop hitting him..." Guo's mother protected Guo Xiaoqiang and pleaded.
Grandpa slammed the broom to the ground and turned to go back into the house.
The next day, the sun shone brightly. Guo Xiaoqiang carried his schoolbag and went to school, thinking it would be an ordinary day. Unexpectedly, his homeroom teacher, Ms. Li, walked into the classroom with a box.
"Students, I have some good news to tell you today."
She opened the box, and inside was a transparent panel, thin like glass.
"This is the Dragon Roar computer, made in our own country." Teacher Li's voice trembled slightly. "Every child will have a new partner."
She pressed the button.
The light on the screen showed a lush green wheat stalk swaying in the wind: "Hello, my name is Xinbao."
Wow!
Guo Xiaoqiang stared wide-eyed in curiosity. What was this? Weren't computers those big, bulky machines in computer rooms? Why was it so thin?
"She is an AI companion who will accompany you in your studies, reading, and homework. She will also remember each of your names."
Xinbao is bouncing around on the tablet. Oh, my lovely children, your strictest teacher is here!
Guo Xiaoqiang reached out and touched the screen, and Xinbao winked at him.
Guo Xiaoqiang really likes Xinbao, he really likes it, he loves it so much. Unfortunately, the school doesn't allow them to take the tablet home.
This fondness came to an abrupt end the moment the final exam results were released.
Science class, 20 points.
The sky is falling!!
Guo Xiaoqiang couldn't believe it; how could fate be so cruel to him?
He stuffed the exam paper into his schoolbag and wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes.
Oh, dear Mom and Dad, please don't worry about me. I've grown up and am ready to set sail.
Guo Xiaoqiang, who had run away from home, was caught and brought back, and was given a beating of bamboo shoots stir-fried with pork.
Guo Lidong was furious: "Are you even a man?! You can't even handle a small setback! Shameful. So what if you didn't do well on the test? I'll tutor you!"
He pulled out the test paper from his schoolbag; the glaring red score of 20 deeply stung his heart.
Guo Lidong took a deep breath. "Don't be angry, don't be angry. I'm a college student. How could I not be able to teach a third-grade student?"
Take it easy!
The Guo family: "Yes, yes, your father is a very good student. Let him teach you, and next time, let's get a hundred."
Guo Lidong, brimming with confidence, held up his pen: "Come here, take a look at this question, it's so simple! The question is..."
Guo Lidong stared at the exam paper, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper, his mouth slightly open.
“This…” He turned to the second page, then turned back. “What is this?”
numb.
A college student, unable to understand a third-grade elementary school question! Destroy the world!
Guo Lidong put down the test paper, sat on the sofa, and looked utterly hopeless.
Guo Xiaodong glanced at his father and read aloud: "Short answer question: Please briefly describe the energy coupling principle between superconducting energy storage and optical computing chips."
I won't listen, I won't listen, you're just spouting nonsense.
Guo Lidong silently took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag.
After a while, he patted Guo Lidong's fluffy head and said with pride in his eyes, "Son, you are a genius! You actually scored 20 points!"
The data is good or bad.
What keeps me writing?
It is my love for Xiaohe, and the unwavering support of my darlings.
Come on!