Chapter 199 – 200: Xiao Han’s Choice
“Enough.” Jiang Xiaoliang slapped the table and stood up, saying, “What does a perfect score on the college entrance exam matter, or being the top scholar for that matter? What does it have to do with you? Why are you all so excited here? Xiao Han hasn’t even co to school, and you’re here laughing and joking?”
A group of people stared at Jiang Xiaoliang, speechless. They all knew the Jiang family was wealthy; originally, when Xiao Han had broken his arm, he was almost expelled from school. If it weren’t for Principal Li taking responsibility at that ti and offering Jiang Xiaoliang a guaranteed admission spot, the mbers of the Jiang family wouldn’t have let it go so easily.
People in the classroom whispered among themselves. Feeling unable to contain his anger, Jiang Xiaoliang ultimately walked out of the classroom.
Xiao Han was preparing to go to school to register his university preferences. Just as he reached the entrance, he was imdiately stopped by Li Dapang, who had been waiting there.
“You finally showed up.” Li Dapang hurriedly threw away the cigarette butt in his mouth, stomped on it, and said, “If you hadn’t co, I would have gone to your house to find you.”
“What’s up?” Xiao Han asked.
“Heard you scored a grand slam on the college entrance exam? Heh heh…” Li Dapang gently punched Xiao Han in the chest, then said, “Now that you’re famous, you wouldn’t ignore your brother, would you?”
“What do you think?” Xiao Han smiled.
“I knew you wouldn’t, kid.” Li Dapang grinned and said, “But, are you really planning to just walk into school like this?”
“Is there a problem?” Xiao Han asked, puzzled.
“Damn, aren’t you afraid those frantic girls will tear you to pieces?” Li Dapang’s lips curled into a mischievous smile. “Right now, there’s a squad of girls in school searching everywhere for soone nad Xiao Han. Heh heh, what do you think will happen once they find you?”
Xiao Han was startled and shivered. He was a person who deeply dreaded trouble, especially from those squeaky-voiced won.
“So… what should I do?” Xiao Han asked.
“You better not go to the classroom, just go directly to the teacher’s office to register your preference,” Li Dapang suggested.
“Yeah, you make sense!” Xiao Han nodded.
Afterward, Xiao Han and Li Dapang headed straight for the teacher’s office through the green belt.
In the office, several teachers were excitedly discussing, their topic of conversation was none other than Xiao Han.
“Xiao Han really made us proud this ti.”
“Yes, I’ve been a teacher for so many years and have never experienced such an honor.”
“How much bonus do you think Xiao Han will get this ti?”
“I expect no less than one million,” one teacher estimated.
The teachers were discussing realistic issues. According to past procedures, achieving the top scholar in Linjiang city’s college entrance exam could net nearly five hundred thousand from the city alone, plus an additional hundred thousand from the school. These two awards together amounted to six hundred thousand.
Xiao Han was the national top scholar and, moreover, the first student ever to achieve a perfect score—it was an honor not everyone could achieve.
“Teacher Liu, you are Xiao Han’s horoom teacher, and your role has been crucial!” the other teachers said enthusiastically.
“Yes, I suppose the bonuses from the education bureau and the school won’t be small this ti, right?” another teacher quickly added.
Liu Jini smiled and said, “Being able to nurture such a student satisfies us. This is not only Xiao Han’s pride but also the pride of each one of us teachers, right?”
“Absolutely, well said,” everyone nodded in agreent.
Just as everyone was discussing, Xiao Han and Li Dapang entered from outside.
“Oh, you… why have you co?” a teacher asked.
“Xiao Han, what… what’s going on?” Liu Jini asked curiously.
“I ca to see you about registering my preference,” Xiao Han said with an embarrassed face, suddenly feeling shy being watched by so many teachers.
“Registering preferences? You could have just gone to the classroom,” Liu Jini hastily said.
“Heh heh, Teacher Liu, Xiao Han was afraid of being surrounded by female students,” Li Dapang chuckled, then added, “So he wanted to ask you for a backdoor way to file his preference.”
“Haha, Xiao Han registering his preference, I bet any school would let you choose,” the literature teacher laughed loudly.
“Absolutely, it’s just like how an emperor selects a wife.” The other teachers also nodded in agreent.
Everyone was overjoyed, each bubbling with excitent.
Liu Jini curiously asked, “Xiao Han, do you plan to apply for Tsinghua University or Peking University?”
“Neither,” Xiao Han shook his head.
“Oh?” Liu Jini was taken aback and asked, “Then… which university are you planning to apply to… Fudan? Or Zhongshan University?”
“I want to apply to Shuimu University,” Xiao Han replied.
“What?!” Liu Jini was shocked, nearly dropping the cup in her hand. She quickly said, “Xiao Han, you really need to think this through. Shuimu University is indeed a very good school, but, after all, it’s not a top-tier university in the country. It’s not among the top ten universities. You really need to think this over.”
“It’s okay,” Xiao Han shook his head, then said, “I just want to attend Shuimu University.”
“Don’t be fooled,” Liu Jini urgently said, “Xiao Han, did a recruiter from Shuimu University contact you? Did they promise you a lot of scholarship money? You really shouldn’t joke about your future. Attending Peking University or Tsinghua is the choice for you, understand?”
“Teacher Liu, Peking University is no longer the Peking University of old, and Tsinghua University is not the Tsinghua University of old,” Xiao Han smiled and said, “In the past, Peking and Tsinghua were truly the sacred grounds of academic research in the country. Now, they are but places that deceive the country for research funding. So, this is hardly anything significant.
Since all dostic universities are the sa, it doesn’t matter which one I choose. Besides, Shuimu University is in the provincial city, close to ho, and I’m also worried about my mother being at ho alone.”
“Don’t be so childish,” Liu Jini urgently said, “You are the top scholar of the college entrance examination, the first student to score full marks. Thus, your decision is very important and has also caught the attention of everyone in the country. If you choose Shuimu University, many people who care about you will be disappointed.”
“No!” Xiao Han shook his head and said, “Others’ opinions are not important to . I always believe that gold will always shine.”
“Don’t believe what those motivational sayings claim, that a good wine needs no bush,” Liu Jini replied, then said, “That is just self-comfort, deceiving oneself. So, you must not believe those. Understand?”
“I am not comforting myself, nor am I deceiving myself,” Xiao Han earnestly looked at Liu Jini, then said, “I have always wanted to apply to Shuimu University. Also, this is my heartfelt truth. The main reason for applying to Shuimu University is that it makes it easy to go ho and I can also take care of my frail mother.”
Although Liu Jini could empathize with Xiao Han’s filial piety, she still did not understand why he insisted on choosing Shuimu University. She urgently said, “Xiao Han, even if you really want to co back every week to see your mother. You could also fly back from Peking to Linjiang. The Provincial Committee, Municipal Committee, and the school would give you plenty of scholarships.
These scholarships would cover your weekly round-trip plane tickets. What do you think?”
“Teacher Liu, thank you for your kindness!” Xiao Han gave a wry smile and said, “This ti, I really want to apply to Shuimu University!”
Bang!
Liu Jini’s fiery temper suddenly erupted as she angrily exclaid, “Xiao Han, what are you thinking? Why won’t you listen no matter what I say? Don’t you know how much attending Peking University or Tsinghua could impact your life? Tell , what about Shuimu University appeals to you so much?”
“Teacher Liu, I…” Xiao Han said awkwardly, “I really want to apply to Shuimu University. I… have made up my mind.”
“You!” upon hearing this, Liu Jini urgently said, “I can’t decide this; I’ll call Principal Li.”
Saying this, Liu Jini imdiately phoned Li Hengzhong.
Having received the news, Li Hengzhong quickly rushed to the teachers’ office.
Inside the office, the air was thick with tension, each teacher’s face appeared downcast. Especially Liu Jini, her expression was particularly gloomy and extrely irritated. Upon entering the office, Li Hengzhong curiously asked, “What… what happened?”
“Xiao Han insists on applying to Shuimu University,” Liu Jini said helplessly. “I tried to persuade him but to no avail; others would do anything to squeeze into Tsinghua or Peking, and here this guy simply doesn’t cherish such an opportunity..”
“Xiao Han, have you really thought this through?” Li Hengzhong looked seriously at Xiao Han and said, “This is your life, the path you choose. You better not regret it in the future.”
“I won’t!” Xiao Han shook his head and said, “I have thought it through.”
“Good!” Li Hengzhong nodded, then said, “Teacher Liu, give him his application card. Let him apply to whichever university he wants to.”
“Principal Li, is this really okay?” Liu Jini asked anxiously.
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“There’s nothing wrong with it,” Li Hengzhong shook his head and said, “Others’ lives cannot be decided by us; everyone has the right to choose their own path. It’s their right.”
“But, this way we’ll lose a quota for Tsinghua and Peking,” Liu Jini exclaid anxiously.
“Xiao Han securing the college entrance examination’s perfect score and championship has already brought endless honor to our school,” Li Hengzhong said with a smile. “No number of Tsinghua or Peking enrollnts could shake the opportunity Our Linjiang No.1 Middle School has to make a na for itself nationally this year.”
“Sigh…” Liu Jini sighed and said, “But, if Xiao Han doesn’t apply for Tsinghua or Peking, it would be a great regret in his life.”
“It’s okay: everyone has their own choices!” Li Hengzhong smiled and said, “Not only Tsinghua and Peking are the sole pathways. For Xiao Han, Peking and Tsinghua may instead be a cage. Why confine oneself when one can find a place that offers freedom?”
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