Chapter 61 – 060: The Secret
“`
“That won’t do!” Xiao Han shook his head and said, “Public is public, private is private. Anyway, we shouldn’t confuse the two. Besides, if we save these 300,000 yuan, what’s sacrificed are principles. Principles are the bottom line for a business, and even more so, the foundation upon which a company stands. If there are no principles, why would anybody trust you?”
“Hmm, you make a good point!” Li Dapang nodded.
After dinner, it was already half-past five.
The principal of Linjiang No.1 Middle School, Li Hengzhong, and the horoom teacher of the senior year, third class, Liu Jini, once again ca to Xiao Han’s house.
“Principal Li, Teacher Liu?” Xiao Han recognized Li Hengzhong at a glance, his expression changing slightly.
“Xiao Han!” Li Hengzhong caught sight of Xiao Han imdiately.
Although there had been so changes in attire, that face and the familiar features were instantly recognizable by Li Hengzhong. Xiao Han was taken aback, but Li Hengzhong was not foolish; he detected sothing amiss from the sudden change in Xiao Han’s expression. Thus, Li Hengzhong swallowed the words that were almost at his throat.
“Principal Li, you… you know Xiao Han?” Liu Jini asked in astonishnt.
“Of course!” Li Hengzhong hastily replied. At this mont, Xiao Han’s face grew extrely somber, it looked like the secret of the Hann Training Class was about to be exposed. He was considering how to explain the situation when, unexpectedly, Li Hengzhong changed the subject, saying, “In the recent citywide unified exam, Xiao Han ranked second in our school. Top three in the whole city.
How could I not know him?”
“I see.” Liu Jini suddenly realized.
Xiao Han was startled within, raising his head to look at Li Hengzhong. Li Hengzhong was also staring at him. Their eyes t.
A smug smile appeared on Li Hengzhong’s lips, as if to say, “Kid, you’ve been hiding well. You dare to deceive ?”
Xiao Han imdiately felt embarrassed, hastily bowing his head and saying awkwardly, “Principal Li, Teacher Liu, I… I didn’t go to school, and I’ve made you worried.”
“Xiao Han, are you feeling any better?” Li Hengzhong shook his head quickly.
“Thank you for your concern, Principal, I’m much better now,” Xiao Han replied hastily.
Liu Jini smiled and said, “Xiao Han, rest well at ho, but make sure you don’t fall behind on your studies, and don’t forget the promise you made to !”
“What promise?” Li Hengzhong asked curiously.
“Hehe, Principal Li, that’s a secret between Xiao Han and !” Liu Jini said with a grin.
“All right then.” Li Hengzhong laughed heartily upon hearing this and said, “But I ca here today for two matters.”
“Principal, please tell ,” Xiao Han urged with a nod.
“Ah, it’s actually one thing when I ntion it, it’s about the trouble that erupted yesterday involving the PE teacher Li Qiangguo and your horoom teacher,” Principal Li sighed and continued, “I really don’t know why Li Qiangguo all of a sudden took a liking to you, insisting on having you join the athletic class. Teacher Liu is unwilling to let you go.
So, the final decision is in your hands, you see what to do!”
“Xiao Han, I believe you won’t let your teacher down,” Liu Jini looked earnestly at Xiao Han.
Xiao Han looked into her eyes, into those fervent pupils, those eyes filled with complex emotions. It was as if she feared he would follow soone else or worried that the cabbage she had carefully cultivated would be trampled by pigs.
“Xiao Han, if you choose the path of sports, you can compete for the country and participate in international competitions,” Principal Li said with a smile. “Teacher Li saw your talent and believes that with proper training, you could beco the nation’s sprinting king.
Of course, if you don’t wish to choose sports, you can still take the college entrance exam, get into the school you like, and then contribute to the country in other fields. I won’t force you to make any choice, everything depends on your own preferences.”
Xiao Han smiled and said, “I don’t want to join the athletic class.”
Li Hengzhong was startled for a mont, Xiao Han’s response ca with little to no hesitation.
Liu Jini instantly breathed a sigh of relief, her eyes clearly showing her excitent.
“Xiao Han, believe , your choice is the right one,” Liu Jini said sincerely as she looked at Xiao Han.
“Yes!” Xiao Han nodded.
“Good, since you’ve made your choice, that’s all that matters,” Li Hengzhong nodded and said, “Xiao Han, work hard and don’t let down your mother’s expectations, nor Teacher Liu’s and my expectations of you. And do not let the school down either!”
“Yes!” Xiao Han nodded earnestly.
Li Hengzhong and his company stayed only briefly before departing. Although Mother Xiao warmly tried to keep them longer, Principal Li was very busy, he was headed to a eting at the education bureau.
Watching Li Hengzhong and Liu Jini leave, Xiao Han let out a sigh of relief; he had to. If Li Hengzhong had revealed the situation earlier, it could have sparked off an earthquake. Hann might have had to shut down as a result, and a wave of parental uproar would have swept through. No one could have resisted that.
However, this bout of illness had given Xiao Han a new worry. If he had fallen ill on a weekend, wouldn’t that be troubleso? Hann had classes on weekends. If he didn’t show up, it would likely enrage the parents. Therefore, Xiao Han had to think of a solution; Hann couldn’t depend on just one teacher.
After pondering for a mont, Xiao Han decided to find a replacent teacher for Hann; he simply couldn’t manage it all alone. Although there weren’t many things to handle at the mont, he was already feeling overwheld. There was the store to open, the promotions to handle, and once the Apple Store was up and running, there would definitely be a lot to deal with. Xiao Han had to be prepared.
Suddenly, he had an idea of a suitable candidate. That person was Yang Lu.
“`
After making up his mind, Xiao Han hurriedly got dressed and left the house.
“It’s almost dark, where are you going?” Mother Xiao asked anxiously.
“Mom, I have sothing to do, I’ll be back soon,” Xiao Han hastily replied. “I’m going to get the class notes from the past few days from a classmate. I can’t fall behind in my studies.”
“Okay, go ahead then!” Mother Xiao nodded.
As Xiao Han reached the door, his body shuddered. He didn’t know when it began, but he had beco soone who could lie without even blinking. He had never lied in the past, but now it seed to have beco second nature to him, not feeling guilty in the least.
Xiao Han clenched his teeth and braved the cold wind as he hurried out, afraid that his mother might detect his unease.
On the road.
Li Hengzhong drove Liu Jini back.
“Teacher Liu, what is the secret between you and Xiao Han?” Li Hengzhong asked curiously.
“It’s not really a secret,” Liu Jini said with a smile, and then explained, “Xiao Han’s family is poor, and his mother has a hard ti carrying the entire family on her own. So, the teachers from the senior year group and I donated three thousand yuan to him as a reward for his performance in the recent exam.
Additionally, I have made a deal with Xiao Han that he must strive to be the top student in the national college entrance exam, or at least the city’s top scorer in Linjiang.”
“I see,” Li Hengzhong replied, breaking into a smile imdiately upon hearing this.
In an old neighborhood located in the CX district, Xiao Han arrived by taxi. These houses built in the 1980s of Linjiang had several decades of history. The houses here were mostly dilapidated, comparable to Fuxing Community, with streetlights out of repair for many years. It was pitch black as he entered, and the stairwell was unlit.
Xiao Han ascended the staircase.
Third floor, he knocked on the door.
Soon, a woman in her forties opened the door; she peered out, her eyes fixed on Xiao Han: “Who are you looking for?”
“I’m here to see Yang Lu,” Xiao Han replied.
At this mont, the woman frowned and asked, “What do you want with her?”
Just as Xiao Han was about to explain his reason for visiting, Yang Lu’s voice reached them: “Is that Xiao Han?”
“It’s !” Xiao Han called back loudly.
Following this, the sound of slippers approached, and Yang Lu erged, her face lit with happiness as she excitedly said, “Xiao Han, you finally ca!”
Xiao Han, a bit confused, harbored so doubts, while Yang Lu, elated, pulled on his arm saying, “Co in quickly.”
Thus, Xiao Han was pulled inside by Yang Lu.
Upon entering, Xiao Han realized there were quite a few people present. At the center of the sofa sat two middle-aged n with graying hair, their faces stern with a serious expression. Beside them sat another woman. The woman who opened the door was sizing up Xiao Han with an odd look.
Besides these four, there was also a young man about 1.7 ters tall, dressed in a cheap black suit, ticulously grood, with peach-blossom eyes, a sharp chin and cheekbones that did not inspire trust.
“Eldest Uncle, Second Uncle, this is my boyfriend Xiao Han!” Yang Lu hastily introduced him.
The two middle-aged n glanced at Xiao Han; at 1.8 ters tall with a robust build and handso features, Xiao Han was leagues ahead of the sharp-chinned fellow in appearance. At that mont, the woman who had opened the door beca anxious: “Lulu, when did you get a boyfriend? Why have we never heard of this?”
“A few months ago,” said Yang Lu with a smile. “I haven’t had the chance to tell you yet.”
“Lulu, I don’t approve of this!” declared the woman on the sofa with an air of authority, “Look at Xiao Tang, what’s wrong with him? He has a house, a car, and importantly, a high-inco job. Your mother is so ill now, and she’s in a lot of debt. You need to pay off the debts and also need a happy event to bring her so joy. Maybe her illness will get better!”
“Second Aunt, that’s just superstition,” Yang Lu shook her head, saying, “I want to decide my own marriage, you don’t need to worry.”
“How can we not worry?” Great Aunt chid in, “Parental orders and the matchmaker’s words. Your mother is on her deathbed, and as your elders, we should be making this decision for you.”
“But I have a boyfriend,” Yang Lu said anxiously.
“So what?” Second Aunt retorted. “He just looks a bit handso. Can a pretty face be used as food? Does he have a house and a car? Does he earn ten thousand a month?”
Yang Lu imdiately found herself at a loss for words.
At this point, Xiao Han couldn’t hold back, and he said with a smile, “Second Aunt, I have to disagree with you there.”
Reviews
All reviews (0)