Chapter 48: The Start of School (1)

  Old Liu was sorting out the junk he had picked up today in the yard, occasionally looking towards the gate. It's already dark, why hasn't that kid come back yet?

  I recall the old man Sun, a pang of heartache. His son and daughter-in-law died young, and his grandson was raised by himself picking up scraps from a young age. The child was intelligent and sensible from a young age, helping him pick up scraps after school, never like other children asking for food or clothes, and his academic performance was exceptionally good. The child was filial and saw that he was getting older, thinking of dropping out to work several times, but he forced him to finish high school with his life, hoping that this child could make a name for himself. The child also worked hard, passing the university entrance exam.

  However, the high tuition fees made it difficult for the old man. His grandson didn't say anything and after finishing his exams, he went to the train station to work as a porter, carrying heavy luggage for people. The grandson worked day and night, just to earn enough money for tuition fees. As the opening day of school approached, but the money was still...

  Having visited all relatives and neighbors, the tuition fees were still not enough. The old man thought of his grandson's words from last night, "If it doesn't work out, I won't go to school, find a job, work hard and take care of grandpa." The old man was heartbroken!

  The creaky old wooden door was pushed open, and the old man looked at his grandson walking in with a wooden expression.

  "Soldier, what's wrong with you? Speak up, don't scare Grandpa." The old man said anxiously.

  "Grandpa", Xiaojun seemed to be awakened, and his eyes had a sparkle.

  "Grandpa, look!" Xiaojun took out his hand which had been inserted into his pocket all along.

  The old man looked at the grandson's hand, and the grandson's hand was clenched with a thick stack of money. The old man exclaimed in surprise: "Xiao Jun, where did you get so much money? You won't be doing anything illegal, will you? Xiao Jun, even if we're poor, we can't..."

  "Grandpa, I don't have it, listen to me." Xiaojun saw that Grandpa had misunderstood and quickly explained, "This was given to me by Teacher Sun from school, really."

  Xiao Jun recalled that in the afternoon, he was squatting at the bus station when his classmate found him and told him that Teacher Sun from school was looking for him, asking him to bring the admission notice to see her.

  Xiao Jun was puzzled but still did as he was told. Teacher Sun wasn't his regular teacher, just a substitute who had taught him for a few days, but everyone knew that Teacher Sun was a good teacher who often helped students in difficulty.

  Teacher Sun inquired about the difficulties at his home, looked at his admission notice, and asked if he was willing to accept financial assistance. Someone was willing to sponsor him for university, and he was stunned by this sudden good news. He and his grandfather were being driven crazy by tuition fees, so there was no way he wouldn't accept it. Until Teacher Sun handed over the money, he felt like he was dreaming, and didn't even know how to get back home.

  "Good people, I've met good people." Old Liu said with a trembling voice.

  "Yes, grandpa," said Little Jun happily.

  "Soldier, didn't you ask who gave this money? We can't be penniless and shameless. This money we won't take for free, let's consider it a loan, and when the time comes, we'll repay it with interest." Old Liu said.

  "Grandpa, I only know that it's an uncle with the surname Yu from Tianyun City. But Teacher Sun said that this money is considered a loan to us, and after we graduate from university and start working, we just need to pay back 100 yuan every month until it's all paid off." Little Jun explained to his grandfather.

  "Alright, alright, we still owe two hundred, remember this favor."

  "Grandpa, I know. Teacher Sun told me that the money will be used to help students who can't afford to go to school just like me." Xiaojun said to Grandpa: "Grandpa, after I graduate and get a job, when I have money, I'll also sponsor poor students."

  The grandfather and grandson clutched the money tightly in their hands, this favor must be repaid.

  The day of school opening, Xing Ye followed his family to come to the school, Aunt arranged everything well, but the school opening was also her busiest time at work, so she didn't come in person.

  The second year of high school just started with the division of liberal arts and science classes, and the classes from the first year were all shuffled around and reassigned. The entire floor for sophomores is in disarray.

  "I'm in Class 2 of the Science Department now," Jialuo said, pointing to his new classroom and introducing it to Xingye. "I'll take you to the office and see which class you'll be assigned to."

  Many classmates on the way home were talking to Jialuo, and they also looked at me with inquiring eyes. So I said, "My aunt asked me to find Director Li and told them that everything is settled. You go back to class, I can handle it myself."

  "Alright, that one on the left is it, you go ahead, we'll have lunch together at noon, yeah, come find me." Jia Luo pointed out the location to Xing Ye and then returned to the classroom.

  Xing Ye knocked on the door, but there was no response. She gently pushed open the slightly ajar door and saw a middle-aged man writing rapidly at his desk, apparently not having heard her knock. So Xing Ye knocked again, twice, more heavily this time.

  "Hmm, who are you looking for?" The middle-aged man raised his head.

  "Is this Director Li? I'm Luo Xingye, a new transfer student." Xingye said as he walked into the office.

  "Are you Principal Liang's niece?" Director Li asked uncertainly.

  "Yes, Principal Liang is my aunt." Xing Ye said with a smile on his face.

  Li Changhe carefully observed Xing Ye, and Principal Liang said he wanted to transfer his niece here. He had looked at her file and thought she was an ordinary student from a remote small county town. If it weren't for Principal Liang's relationship, she would have absolutely no chance of getting in. He still thought she was a country girl, but when he saw her today, she turned out to be a elegant and refined beauty. At the time, he thought she was some distant relative from Principal Liang's family, but after hearing what she just said, it turned out that she was actually Mayor Yu's niece.

  "Principal Liang is your aunt, then Mayor Yu is your uncle? His son also studies at our school." Li Changhe asked tentatively.

  The starry night couldn't help but hear the probing in his words, and straightforwardly said: "Yes, Yu Jialuo just sent me to the door, he went back to the classroom first."

  "Alright, I'll take you to the teacher's office and introduce you to your class advisor. She can arrange for you to attend classes." As Li Changhe walked ahead, he thought to himself that it wouldn't be good to put her in Class 7 after all, so he should probably arrange for her to join Class 1 or Class 2 instead!

  "Teacher Huang, wait a minute." Li Changhe saw the head teacher of Class 2 about to leave and called out to her, "Teacher Huang, this is a student who just transferred to our school, let him go to your class."

  This Huang teacher is over 30 years old and is now angry about the class division. Why did they put all the good students who sit in front into one class? In the first year, classes A and B were evenly divided with average scores that were neither high nor low. This time, the top students from both classes were all assigned to class A. Weren't those transfer students all arranged to be in class 7, that chaotic class? How can they also squeeze them into their own class? Do they really think their own class is a dumping ground for rejects?

  "Director Li, our class has more than sixty students this year and is over capacity. The desks are packed tightly together, where can we even find seats? Why don't you go take a look at Teacher Dong's class, they seem to have exactly sixty students, it should be manageable. Both classes have the same teachers teaching, it doesn't matter which one you attend." After finishing speaking, she deliberately glanced at her watch and said "Oh dear, class is starting, I'd better leave first."

  Li Changhe glared at the departing Huang Laoshi, just because he had a brother-in-law working in the Education Bureau, he didn't take him seriously as a small director, making him lose face in front of the students. Turning back to look at the girl, he found her lowering her head, seemingly not listening to their conversation.

  Li Changhe thought for a moment, if he were to assign this girl to Class 1, which was the school's key class, she might not only struggle with her grades but also be criticized by others. It would be better to send her to Class 7 first and adjust her class after the next exam based on her performance.

  "Teacher Liu, this is a new transfer student, just arrange him in your class." Li Changhe greeted the head teacher of Class 7.

  "Hmm, okay." Liu, the class teacher of Class 7, thought to herself. What else can't be done? Her own class was like a junk store anyway. All those who got in through the back door, all the troublemakers, and all those that other classes didn't want were all dumped into her own class.

  "Luoxingye, this is Class 7's head teacher Liu. Just follow her arrangements." Li Changhe introduced.

  "Good evening, Teacher Liu. My name is Luo Xingye. Please take care of me from now on."

  Teacher Liu took a look at Xing Ye and felt that her mood had improved a lot, she was a polite and pretty girl, after all better than those naughty boys.