Chapter 98: I Know The Answer To This Multiplication Problem
“Because it’s so ugly,” Amy replied directly. Then, she added, “Besides, it came out of an egg. I’ve never seen such an ugly duckling.”
“It came out of an egg? If it’s a duckling, then it’s really very ugly!”
“Yes. It looks like a kitten, though. Weird. No wonder it’s different from normal kittens. But it’s so cute.”
Amy’s explanation made them quickly accept the idea that Ugly Duckling was really a very ugly duckling. It’s a duckling, but it looks like a kitten, so it’s indeed not a good-looking duckling. But it’s so cute.“Meow!” Ugly Duckling retorted helplessly.
Luna looked at the kitten in Amy’s arms. It was so cute and so fluffy that she wanted to hold it too. But she didn’t think that it would grow into a swan. Looks like Mag is wrong.
“I want to sing a song for you and Teacher Luna…” The children’s recognition really raised Amy’s confidence. She took a glance at Mag smiling outside the window, and continued, “It’s called ‘a little girl with mushrooms.’”
“I don’t think she can sing any songs,” Ignatsu muttered in a low voice. Daphne gave him an angry glare, and he immediately fell silent, but he still didn’t believe that Amy could sing anything nice.
“Go ahead, Amy. I can’t wait to hear it,” Luna said, smiling.
“A little girl goes to collect mushrooms, she carries a big bamboo basket…” Amy sang carefully, holding Ugly Duckling in her arms.
All the children were attracted by the merry song and Amy’s soft voice. The sound struck love into their hearts and brought merry smiles onto their faces.Mag looked at the little kids lost in her song, and then at Amy, feeling very proud. My daughter is really amazing. This was the first time he had heard her sing the whole song. She had sung unaccompanied, but her childish voice was so pleasant to the ear that he found she sang even better than the music box.
“Wonderful!” Ignatsu exclaimed, his eyes widened, his bean sprout cheerfully waving side to side.
“Amy’s so incredible,” Daphne said, resting her chin in her hands. She was extremely fond of Amy.
The looks on other children’s faces were almost the same. They were very surprised at Amy’s sudden change. Then their surprise changed into envy and admiration. She’s really incredible.
Luna was also taken by surprise. Such a good song! But why have I never heard it before? Is it a local children’s song? She had thought that Amy would sing a song that she had taught her, and never expected to hear a tune that even she didn’t know. She couldn’t help but take a glance at Mag. Did he teach Amy this song?
After she had finished, Amy looked down at the children, abashed and expectant. She didn’t know how she had performed.
“Bravo!” Ignatsu said, clapping his hands. Then the other children cheered and clapped.
Amy smiled happily. It was the first time that she had been recognized by so many people, and they were her peers, no less. She felt so delighted.
Luna nodded, smiling. “Yes. Amy sang very well. Thank you, Amy, for your excellent performance.”
Amy nodded cheerfully. “It’s my pleasure.” Then she saw the problem on the blackboard. She hesitated a moment. “Teacher Luna, I know the answer to this multiplication problem,” she said, looking up at Luna.
Luna froze for an instant. “Yes?” She took a look at the 7×8 on the board. I have just taught them how to do this multiplication today. It’s very complicated, and only few who are good at arithmetic have learned how to do it. Amy was not here these days, so it’s impossible for her to know the answer.
“I don’t think so. It’s very difficult. Only I know how to do it,” a little boy in blue and white said from the first row, pride written all over his face.
“I find it easy,” Amy said solemnly, gazing at the boy.
“I don’t believe you! Solve it if you think it’s easy,” the boy said defiantly. Only a few can do it, and she said it’s easy? I don’t believe her.
Other children had similar looks on their faces. She can’t do it. Only Teacher Luna and a math genius like Parmer know how to solve such a difficult problem.
Mag found their sudden argument surprising and amusing. Amy has already mastered the 9×9 table, so it’s very easy for her to solve this problem.
It’s about time they felt the power of the 9×9 table.
Luna wanted to say something to lighten the atmosphere. Amy has just become confident; I don’t want her to get back to her old self.
“The answer is 56,” Amy said calmly, looking at Parmer.
Did she get it right? the children wondered. Luna hadn’t told them the answer yet, so they all looked to their teacher and Parmer.
Parmer rose quickly to his feet. “How… How… How do you know?!” He looked at Amy and then at the answer on his exercise book, shocked.
Amy gave a slight nod. “By calculating.”
“The answer is 56.” Luna was no less surprised than her students. I know Amy’s studying progress better than anyone. There’s no way she can solve that problem. But she gave the correct answer without having to use paper and a pen. Did he tell her the answer while they were outside? she wondered.
“Great! Amy has got it right!” Daphne exclaimed, smiling happily.
Ignatsu gazed at Amy with a strange look on his face as if he were seeing her for the first time. How has she become as clever as Parmer all of a sudden?
After Luna told them the answer, the looks on the children’s faces changed instantly. We don’t know how to do it, but she only needs to take a glance to know the answer. She might be even cleverer than Parmer.
“I don’t believe her. She must have got lucky,” Parmer said. “Teacher Luna, please give us five more problems, and let’s see who can work out the answers faster.” He felt his position as a math genius was in danger.
“As you wish,” Amy said coldly.
Luna had planned to de-escalate the situation. She took a look at Mag, who was very calm, and nodded after hesitating a moment. Then she wrote five multiplication problems on the blackboard.
