Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Xiao Ying was curious about their progress and walked over.
“Have you guys finished?” she asked.
The leading boy was called Cheng Jia. They were all third-grade students from a nearby elementary school.
Upon hearing the question, Cheng Jia saw the familiar big sister and shook his head gloomily. He took out something made of crooked wire and said, “No, it doesn’t look like an ant.”
Xiao Ying looked at the mess in his hand. It really didn’t look like an ant.
Taking the wire from his hand, Xiao Ying squatted down like them, her fingers moving deftly. After a while, a realistic little ant took form.
The children surrounded her and let out exclaims of shock.
Xiao Ying smiled mysteriously and said, “Close your eyes. I’ll give you a surprise.”
The children closed their eyes obediently. Xiao Ying took out a white plastic box from her backpack. She took out a small capacitor and ran an electrical current through it. Then, she tied it to the ant and connected it to the opening that she had just created.
Then, she said, “Alright, open your eyes.”
The children opened their eyes and saw the ant in Xiao Ying’s palm. On its back was a small white box.
Xiao Ying smiled and said, “Touch its head.”
Cheng Jia reached out and gently touched the ant’s head.
The next second, to their surprise, the ant started to move slowly.
The children’s young faces were filled with disbelief.
The innocent children asked, “Sister, are you a magician?”
Xiao Ying smiled and said, “No, I’m a scientist.”
Their eyes flashed brightly, and for the first time, their young hearts were amazed by technology.
The only girl in the group said, “I want to become a scientist too when I grow up.”
The other children had the same emotion in their eyes.
Xiao Ying smiled and nodded seriously. “I believe you guys will definitely be able to do it.”
They were all very happy to receive an affirmative answer.
They pestered Xiao Ying about how to make ants that could move.
They were very serious in their studies. In just the timespan of an afternoon, the ants they made were becoming better and better.
The electricity level of the electrical current was very low and would not hurt them. Therefore, after Xiao Ying briefed them on what to watch out for and explained that only an adult could run the current, she taught them how to install the capacitors.
The children looked at the wriggling ant in their hands and became even more excited, their faces flushed.
Seeing that it was getting late, Xiao Ying told them to go home.
Over the next few days, she would always see those children working on the production of the ants. When she had time, Xiao Ying would help them answer their questions.
Today, the group of them were listening to Xiao Ying’s mini-lecture as usual.
A wealthy-looking lady suddenly walked over. The thinnest boy in the group froze and stood up weakly.
The woman’s expression darkened. She grabbed his ear and scolded loudly, “No wonder you’ve been going out the past few days. Instead of studying, you’re here playing. Quickly, go home. You haven’t practiced the piano yet.”
The boy resisted weakly and said, “Mommy, I practice the piano every day. I’ll go back and practice later.”
The woman immediately became even more furious. “Go back now! You have five prep classes every day, so how do you have time to play? I’ve also enrolled you in a Math Olympiad class. In the future, go to class every day after school and then go home to practice the piano.”
The boy grabbed her hand and begged, “Mommy, just let me stay a little longer. I really enjoy this.”
He raised the ant in his hand and said anxiously, “Mommy, look. These are the ants that I made.”
However, what he received was not praise. The woman squashed the ant in her hand and threw it away.. She said, “What’s the use of playing with these things? What future can you have when you grow up?”