Chapter 120: Leading the Way

After saying a few words to Fu Lei, Jiao Yuan felt this person was not bad, not as hard to get along with as others said; moreover, this person praised his own cat, which made Jiao Yuan quite proud, and he also felt that Fu Lei's character wasn't as bad as other classmates claimed.

After talking about his own cat, Jiao Yuan casually asked Fu Lei, "I heard you're pretty good at fighting?"

"No, I just have fought more often than most." Fu Lei still had some self-awareness; he lost plenty of fights too, so he couldn't really be called good at fighting.

"So can you run?"

When Jiao Yuan asked that, Xiong Xiong and the others, having seen Jiao Yuan and Fu Lei talking outside, curiously came over, happened to hear this, and all looked at Fu Lei with anticipation.

Fu Lei had originally planned to say he couldn't, but seeing the situation he paused and replied, "Not bad."

After saying that, Fu Lei regretted it—what's the point of running? It's a waste of time; he'd rather practice on the sandbag.

Hearing Fu Lei's answer, Xiong Xiong's earlier dissatisfaction with him vanished; he came over, opened the list, put an arm around Fu Lei's shoulders in a brotherly manner, and said, "Let's do an 800-meter run—we believe in you! Here, write '800' next to your name."

Xiong Xiong always kept a pen on him; lately he never went anywhere without the list and pen. For this sports meet, as the sports committee member, he was really "devoting himself wholeheartedly"!

"800 meters?" Fu Lei thought about the approximate distance, nodded, took the pen, and wrote "800" after his name.

Seeing the crooked "800", Xiong Xiong laughed until his eyes narrowed, and said, "By the way, go ahead and write '1500' as well."

Fu Lei: "……"

This style of climbing up the pole is really shameless.

"Well, uh… it's indeed a bit of forcing someone to do something difficult." Xiong Xiong grudgingly put the list away, but securing another 800-meter run was still a major gain for the day.

After school in the afternoon, Jiao Yuan and the others rode their bikes home together; on the way they saw Fu Lei, greeted him, but since Fu Lei wasn't on a bike and they didn't want to linger, they exchanged a few words and left.

As soon as Jiao Yuan got home, he told Jiao Ba about his cat; Jiao Ba's reaction was calm—their cat often went from here to the pet center, which is even farther away. Still, being able to figure out the way on its own made Jiao Ba feel relieved.

"Besides, my office isn't on the first floor, and it wouldn't be good to let Hei Tan in there—our office is where the English department teachers are; being seen would be bad." Jiao Ma said with some regret.

"It's fine. It goes out for a stroll on its own and comes back by itself; nowadays there's no talk of anyone catching cats, so it should be okay." Jiao Ba said.

After eating, just as usual, Jiao Yuan and the others went to the sports field to train; Zheng Tan and Xiao Youzi went to watch, and also did a light jog of a lap or two.

Jiao Yuan and the others didn't start running right away; they ate, took a break to digest, did some warm‑up exercises, and then began. While resting, they chatted and ended up talking about Fu Lei—there were many rumors about him, but today the group's impression of him was still good. Jiao Yuan thought so because of his cat, while Xiong Xiong thought so because of the 800‑meter run.

"Why don't we invite Fu Lei over to train together tomorrow?" Lan Tianzhu suggested, "Do you have his phone number? We could ask first."

"I don't have it; all I have is the list." Xiong Xiong raised his sports watch to check the time and said, "It's still before seven—early yet. Why don't we just go find him directly?"

"The past few days we've all been getting home after eight thirty, so we still have over an hour; school just started and there isn't much homework, so there's no need to go back so early."

"That works; where does Fu Lei live?" Su An looked at Xiong Xiong.

Xiong Xiong spread his hands, "Don't look at me—I don't know either."

None of us knew Fu Lei's address, but seeing that he didn't ride a bike today, we figured his place must be fairly close.

"I know how to get to his place!" Jiao Yuan jumped down from the parallel bars and called to the black cat that was walking slowly beside Xiao Youzi on the track, "Hei Tan, come here!"

Zheng Tan, who was leisurely strolling with Xiao Youzi, heard Jiao Yuan's call, glanced at the already‑stopped Xiao Youzi, flicked his tail, and reluctantly walked over—these kids always have something to fuss about.

"Hei Tan, do you know where Fu Lei lives?" Jiao Yuan asked Zheng Tan, "If you do, lead the way."

Zheng Tan tugged at his ears, thinking, "Is this about going to confront someone at their door?"

Xiong Xiong and the others actually didn't really believe a cat could lead the way, but after Jiao Yuan said a few words, the cat indeed set off.

Jiao Yuan hurriedly grabbed his bag and followed; Xiao Youzi didn't want to go home just yet, so he rode his little vehicle, tagging along with Jiao Yuan and the group toward the side gate, and before exiting the side gate he parked the vehicle in the shelter beside it.

"Hey, Jiao Yuan, does your cat really know the way? It won't lead us to some female cat's place, will it?" Xiong Xiong said while walking, glancing left and right.

The sky isn't completely dark yet, but the streetlights are on, there are quite a few people around, so it's not scary—he's just doubtful.

Jiao Yuan gave a dismissive "tsk," but he wasn't really confident either.

Zheng Tan led the way up front; after a while, Xiong Xiong, trailing behind, started complaining again.

"Didn't we say Fu Lei's place was relatively close? Why haven't we gotten there yet?"

The others just gave a casual reply, and their doubts grew stronger.

Zheng Tan ignored what they were thinking; all he needed to do now was lead the way.

When they reached the mouth of the alley, Zheng Tan crossed the street and led Jiao Yuan and the others toward the old residential area.

In the old residential area, after dinner some elderly folks came out for a stroll; seeing a few unfamiliar kids, they were rather surprised, asked what they were doing, and Jiao Yuan explained why they had come.

"'Fu Lei? Oh, that kid—his family lives on the fourth floor, that way.' The elderly person raised a hand and pointed to the building where Fu Lei lived."

"He really does live here!"

Su An and the others exchanged glances, then looked at the cat in front; they were all quite amazed. Jiao Yuan's cat really is impressive—no wonder it's the top cat of Dongqu Dayuan.

At that moment, Fu Lei's family had just finished dinner.

Fu Lei's parents usually get home from work late in the afternoon, so they often eat dinner late.

Fu Lei's mother silently rose to clear the bowls and chopsticks; seeing her husband's expression, she knew she would have to lecture Fu Lei again today, and she disliked anyone interrupting while she did so.

Fu Lei ate three bowls of rice for dinner; whenever he knew he was going to be punished, he would eat a little extra, thinking that eating more would help him recover faster.

"'Come here!' Fu Lei's father snapped, his face stern, and headed straight for Fu Lei's room."

Fu Lei lowered his head and trudged after him.

Fu Lei's father dragged over a chair, sat down, looked at Fu Lei standing before him, raised his hand to strike, and muttered while scolding, 'You damn…'

He had just uttered the three words when someone knocked on the door.

When disciplining his child, Fu Lei's father didn't want outsiders to see. Although we're not cultured, we know family shame shouldn't be aired, and one must save face. But his emotions were already worked up, waiting to explode—being interrupted now. Fu Lei's father had a blackened face and sat there motionless.

Fu Lei's mother let out a soft sigh, set down the bowl she was about to wash, shook the water off her hands, and walked over to open the door.

As soon as the door opened, she saw several kids about the same age as her son, plus a somewhat younger girl; Fu Lei's mother was a little surprised, having thought it was a neighbor coming to borrow something, but she hadn't expected this situation.

"'Excuse me, is this the Fu Lei residence?' Jiao Yuan asked."

"'Yes, yes, may I ask who you are?' Fu Lei's mother replied hastily, also worrying that her son might have gotten into trouble at school again; the kids in front didn't look like the usual troublemakers."

Zheng Tan paid no attention to all that, walked straight in, and upon entering saw the father and son in the cramped room—were they about to start fighting? It seemed his group had arrived just in time.

Fu Lei, like his father, was somewhat dumbfounded upon seeing the several people who had entered; he truly hadn't expected Jiao Yuan and the others to come over, and glancing aside, the black cat jumped onto a stool, sat there, looking ready to watch the show.

"'Who are these people?' Fu Lei's father, seeing the kids, couldn't keep a stern face, forced a smile, patted Fu Lei on the back of the head, and asked."

Like Fu Lei's mother, Fu Lei's father also wondered whether his own son had hit someone again.

"Hello, we're in the same class as Fu Lei. We came over about the sports meet." Xiong Xiong stepped forward and said, at the same time opening the list in his hand and pointing to Fu Lei's signature.

Fu Lei was looking at the black cat squatting on the stool when his dad slapped him, leaving him a bit dazed. Hearing Xiong Xiong's words, he became even more puzzled—had they really come just for that sports meet mess? At least it let him avoid a round of "domestic violence."

After hearing the children's explanation, Fu Lei's mother quickly fetched a few chairs, had the kids sit down, took out some small snacks from the cabinet, and also placed two big jellies in front of Xiao Youzi.

This was the first time they'd had such visitors. There were even class officials among them!

Fu Lei's father had thought more, also probed a bit, and learned that the several visitors were all residents of Chu Hua Da Xue; his smile instantly grew much wider, appearing quite amiable. Standing beside him, Fu Lei had, for the past few years, never seen his father like this before—he didn't even realize his father could smile like that.

Fu Lei's mother felt a bit embarrassed, knowing these children came from good families, their parents were highly educated intellectuals, and she feared they might look down on her situation; but after careful observation, she found that wasn't the case—the children's eyes held no contempt, aside from being a bit restrained when they first entered, afterward they were quite natural.

Zheng Tan understood this.

Actually, the teachers living in Dongqu Dayuan of Chu Hua Da Xue, especially the retired old teachers, led rather frugal lives; Xiong Xiong's grandparents' side was comparatively simple, though not as impoverished as Fu Lei's family, but to Xiong Xiong and his peers, there was nothing to speak of—no question of contempt or lack thereof.

Moreover, although these little rascals sometimes acted a bit proud of their talent, their upbringing was still good; they knew basic etiquette, and Zheng Tan understood them.

"Then our class monitor's running is all up to him!" Xiong Xiong pointed at Fu Lei and said.

Fu Lei's father waved his hand, "No problem, leave the eight hundred or one thousand to him—this kid's only good for that!"

Fu Lei: "……" Is there really such a way to disparage one's own son?

Xiong Xiong didn't notice the latter half; he caught a key word in the first half, immediately took out the list, placed it on the table, and handed the pen to Fu Lei, "Your dad said one thousand five is fine, come on. Our class really is counting on you!"

Fu Lei hesitated a bit; he really didn't want to do something that would put him at a disadvantage, but his father's slap had already landed.

"What are you standing there for? Do you even know what class honor is? Collective, collective—do you understand? If you have ability, you should contribute more to the collective!" Fu Lei's father glared at Fu Lei and said.

Fu Lei curled his lip, disdainful of his father's antiquated thinking. Still, he took the pen and signed "1500 meters" on it.

This trip wasn't in vain! Xiong Xiong now felt refreshed all over, suddenly feeling life was still beautiful, and tomorrow would still be splendid!

After finishing speaking with Fu Lei's father, Xiong Xiong and the others went to Fu Lei's room.

"Holy shit. Fu Lei, your nest is even messier than mine!" Xiong Xiong looked at the chaotic room and sighed. He also felt Fu Lei was indeed a kindred spirit—why would a guy bother tidying his room so well when nobody's looking?

Xiong Xiong said that so bluntly. Actually, it wasn't that embarrassing. It's better than obviously disliking something but pretending not to care.

However, Fu Lei's parents, hearing this in the living room, blushed. Really embarrassing!

The several children all went to Fu Lei's small room; only Zheng Tan remained squatting on a stool in the living room.

"Hey, you say—why did these kids come over and still bring a cat?" Fu Lei's father looked at the black cat calmly squatting on the nearby stool and quietly asked Fu Lei's mother.

"I guess they brought it out for a walk?" Fu Lei's mother said uncertainly.

"Tsk, the cat of an intellectual's family is just different." Fu Lei's father was about to light a cigarette, but thinking of the kids inside, he held back.

Moreover, they couldn't go out for a walk now; the couple sat in the living room, wondering what they were thinking.

Bored and idle, Fu Lei's father plucked a fish head from the fridge and placed it in front of Zheng Tan.

"Here, eat!"

Zheng Tan: "……" Indeed, like father, like son.

Just as before, Zheng Tan glanced at it, then ignored it, switched stools, and continued squatting there.

"... The cat of an intellectual's family is just different—this is called not being food that comes from sighing, right?" Fu Lei's father continued staring at Zheng Tan.

Zheng Tan, annoyed by the stare, jumped off the stool and walked into the room.

In the room, Xiong Xiong and the others were listening to Fu Lei brag, especially about his childhood martial arts training, which made Xiong Xiong envious.

After staying there for half an hour, Jiao Yuan then suggested leaving, as it was too late and they'd get scolded if they went back.

"It's too late today; we need to go home. We'll come again if we get the chance." Jiao Yuan said.

"Hmm, we have a few more things to discuss tomorrow at school. Also, tomorrow afternoon after you finish dinner, come with us to exercise at Chu Hua Da Xue's sports field……"

Xiong Xiong was still nagging Fu Lei behind him; Zheng Tan had already squatted by the door, growing impatient. He glanced outside—it had turned dark. He didn't know the local security, but while it wasn't too late and there were still some pedestrians on the road, he should hurry back, lest he run into those petty thugs. Fu Lei could fight, but these guys' punches and kicks were weak, and they even had two girls with them.

Fu Lei's father took his coat, "It's late now; I'll escort you over, so we don't run into any troublesome troublemakers outside. Anyway, this place isn't far from Chu Hua Da Xue."

That remark put Zheng Tan much at ease—with such a high-martial-power person around, the kids would surely be fine.

Fu Lei also didn't want to stay home; he went with his father to see Jiao Yuan and the others off toward Chu Hua Da Xue. Along the way, they saw the black cat still following beside them, and he asked Jiao Yuan a few questions about cats.

When talking about their own cat, Jiao Yuan became talkative, chattering on and on; the group chatted and laughed, feeling time flew by, and before long they were already standing at the side gate.

Xiao Youzi went over and pushed the cart out; Zheng Tan jumped onto the cart.

As for Jiao Yuan and the others, they followed Xiao Youzi's cart, jogging all the way back to Dongqu Dayuan.

Over there, Fu Lei's father, who had escorted the several children to the side gate of Chu Hua Da Xue, watched them go off, then glanced at the characters on the side gate, and casually patted Fu Lei on the back of the head, "Remember to get along well with them—it'll do you good."

Fu Lei said nothing.

"Did you hear that?!" Fu Lei's father slapped him again.

"I've heard slapping the back of the head can make a person stupid." Fu Lei managed to say that.

"I'm telling you, kid……" Fu Lei's father prepared to slap Fu Lei on the back of the head again, thought better of it, stopped, and instead slapped his shoulder.

Many people who never attended college harbor a deep yearning for university in their hearts, just like Fu Lei's father; when standing at the university gate, that deep-seated feeling seems about to burst forth.

They have no chance themselves in this lifetime, so they hope their child's generation can enter such a higher education institution—no matter how high the requirements they voice, they've actually long given up on Fu Lei attending a top university, let alone Chu Hua Da Xue; in fact, as long as it's a college, they'll be satisfied.

The next day, after school, Fu Lei had agreed with Jiao Yuan and the others to go to Chu Hua Da Xue's sports field for training after dinner. The Friday-Saturday sports meet was only two days away; they needed to hurry.

After finishing his meal at home and wiping his mouth, Fu Lei grabbed his bag and prepared to head out; his father followed along. If the training ran too late at night, he'd come back with his son; on the other hand, Fu Lei's father also wanted to stroll around a bit more in this nationally renowned higher education institution.

Jiao Yuan and Xiong Xiong had told them the location of the sports field; the father and son prepared to ask for directions if they couldn't find it, but unexpectedly, upon entering that side gate, they saw Jiao Yuan's family's black cat squatting on a step nearby.

Upon seeing Fu Lei and his father, Zheng Tan came down from the step, stretched, and led the two over. He had come especially to meet them, as Chu Hua Da Xue has many paths and several sports fields; even some of the university's own students might not be able to tell which is which, so Zheng Tan had arrived early to wait here, lest the two wander around and waste time.

"Your classmate's cat is really impressive." Fu Lei's dad looked at the cat leading the way ahead, and said to Fu Lei.

Fu Lei pursed his lips; regarding this, he had this feeling the first time he saw that cat's eyes from the corner of the window. (To be continued...)