Neither Gu Caiwei nor Shangguan Yingzi knew about the little twists and turns that happened in the small classroom.
Only a few minutes later, Teacher Yu, the Youth League Committee member, walked onto the stage.
"Okay, please be quiet for a moment, students in each class. Everyone return to their original positions and sit down. Please ask the head teacher and monitors of each class to maintain discipline in the meeting place."
She put down the microphone and gave it some time, and soon the whole concert hall fell silent.
"Dear teachers and classmates, after our statistics, the final results and awards of the 2010 sophomore aerobics competition have been handed over to me."
She raised her card.
"The next step is the award ceremony for our competition."
"Please send one student from each class. When I read the class number, quickly come out of the aisle and gather at the right step below the stage, which is where the student union student is standing. Once everyone is here, we will go on stage together."
A tall boy raised his hand to signal to join him.
"Okay, let me first announce that the classes that won the third prize in this aerobics competition are: Grade 2, Class 5, Grade 2..."
She read several classes at once, and a figure appeared in the area of each class, usually the monitor of each class. They lined up under the stage and filed on stage.
"Okay, we have invited the professional judge of this competition, Mr. Wang from the physical education and research group, to award certificates to everyone."
Teacher Wang was very cheerful and handed each of them a certificate of award with the words "congratulations".
There is nothing to congratulate, the third prize is just a consolation prize. Fortunately, the students who received the award are decent people. They unfolded their certificates and showed them to the audience, and posed for photos with smiles on their faces.
After they stepped down, Teacher Yu came on stage again and read: "Next, I announce that the classes that won the second prize in this aerobics competition are: Grade 2, Grade 2, Grade 2..., Grade 2, Grade 4."
As expected.
Shangguan Yingzi in the front row and Gu Caiwei in the back row breathed a sigh of relief at the same time. Now they at least won the first prize.
But it's not over yet.
The person who presented the award this time was the grade director, Teacher Fang. She was familiar with the monitors of each class. She gave them more or less words of encouragement, and they also took a photo together at the end.
The second prize is still an honor.
But what’s even more exciting is the first prize.
In fact, interested students have already counted them silently, and there are two classes that have not yet been mentioned. It is the class where today's two heroines are, and they are also expected by everyone.
Teacher Yu glanced at the area where Class 1 was. Of course, there were so many people that she couldn't find Shangguan Yingzi immediately, so she had to look away and said: "I announce that the class that won the first prize in this aerobics competition is..."
"Class 24 of Senior High School, Class 1 of Senior Secondary School."
"oh!"
A burst of cheers erupted from the corner where Class 14 was, and Gu Caiwei was filled with surprises and felt like she was falling into a dream.
Next to her was Jiang Zixuan. The class monitor immediately hugged her to celebrate, and then patted her: "Why are you standing there stunned? Come up quickly and get it."
"All other classes are monitors..." Gu Caiwei hesitated.
Jiang Zixuan said sincerely: "No one knows better than me how much you have paid for this game, and you deserve it."
"Go quickly, or Teacher Yu will rush you."
Gu Caiwei then walked out.
"Fourteen and fourteen, win the first place!"
"Beyond the limit and soar into the sky!"
Behind her, Jiang Zixuan had already organized the classmates of Class 14, shouting the previous slogans to cheer (da), cheer (sheng), help (xuan), and threaten (yao).
There was a lot of silence over in Class 1. They all knew Shangguan Yingzi's character and their goal this time.
"Class 14, Class 1..."
This order only means one thing, lose.
The squad leader of Class 1 glanced at Shangguan Yingzi and was about to get up when she unexpectedly grabbed her: "I'll get it."
The squad leader said with relief: "The competition is all accidental, and this result doesn't mean anything. We all know that you are the best, Yingzi."
Shangguan Yingzi shook her head, wondering what she was denying.
She stood up stubbornly, straightened her clothes, returned to her cold and proud expression, and walked out.
Although they started later, Class One was closer to the stage, and they both arrived at the steps almost at the same time.
Their eyes met again, Gu Caiwei's eyes were filled with pure joy, while Shangguan Yingzi's was much more complicated.
I am by no means a person who cannot bear failure.
Anyway, she gathered her emotions and followed Gu Caiwei onto the stage.
"Now, with warm applause, let us invite our most beloved Principal Gu to present awards to the two classes that won the first prize!"
Principal Gu waved in response and walked out of the backstage with a smile. He took the certificate from the concierge next to him and handed it to Gu Caiwei and Shangguan Yingzi in turn.
He said to the former, "Congratulations to Mr. Gu," and to the latter, "Not bad, very exciting."
Shangguan Yingzi feels slightly bitter.
After the awards were given, Principal Gu took the microphone and said a few words as usual. This was what he just said:
"Students, why did I gather everyone together today with all the judges and teachers to enjoy this wonderful aerobics performance?"
"Yeah, in my eyes, it's a show."
"Competitions and rankings are more like a means of motivation. The purpose is to hope that you can still actively participate in physical exercise and ensure good physical fitness in your busy and intense study life."
"I have always said that our Linzhong students must be civilized in spirit and barbaric in body. Because health is the foundation of all your achievements, just like the 1 in front of all 0. Without 1, no matter how many 0's there are, it is meaningless.
."
"From this, I thought..."
"Of course academic performance is important, and of course the college entrance examination is also important. But there must be something more important in your life."
"I have never believed in the saying that one test determines one's life."
"I hope that Linzhong students, after many years away from their alma mater, will be able to recall not only how many questions you answered here and how many papers you wrote."
"Also one day in a certain month of a certain year, I played a hearty game with my classmates on the basketball court. I saw a good book in the library that suddenly enlightened me. I completed a project in the laboratory.
Interesting chemistry experiments, or..."
"I saw a wonderful performance in the concert hall."
He paused and said sonorously:
"Teachers and classmates, I want to reiterate to you again."
"Lin'an Middle School has never considered the college entrance examination as the purpose of education, and will never do so in the future."
"We strive to protect this free world for our students in their youth, allowing you to run, jump, and feel the vibrant world."
"It won't be able to send you to a more prestigious university immediately, but it will leave an insignificant seed in your heart."
"Life is a long-distance race. The gifts and blessings we give to our students today may take a long time to take root."
"But I believe that it will always be with you, going farther and farther and flying higher and higher."
Principal Gu is truly a speaker, and his ordinary words moved the students in the audience. Thinking of the recent turmoil that the school has experienced, they couldn't help but burst into thunderous applause.
The judges and teachers who were in the small classroom just now were thoughtful.