On the eve of the midterm exams, as Ji Xiaosong was telling her children a bedtime story in their small courtyard, there was a sudden knock on the gate.
Shen Hongying, Su Xiaomei, and Zhou Yawen stood outside in the spring rain, clutching thick stacks of notes.
"Surprise study session!" Shen Hongying was soaked to the bone but wore a brilliant smile. "Professor Chen said the bottom ten students will be cut after this exam."
Zhou Yawen had already spread out her notes. "First, let's tackle your weak spots in wave optics."
Her fingertip tapped on a diagram, as meticulous as if she were operating a microscope.
Su Xiaomei, as if by magic, produced several food containers. "My grandma's zongzi! Eat these and you'll get a perfect score!"
The three children gathered around these big sisters, full of curiosity.
Zhigang suddenly pointed at an oil stain on Shen Hongying's work clothes. "Auntie, you smell like Mommy. Like rust."
"That's because we both love working with steel."
