Chapter 122: The Cat on the Podium

When Zheng Tan brought Fu Lei and his father over, Jiao Yuan and the others were doing warm-ups. Some people nearby who were kicking a ball or jogging had already become fairly familiar with these kids, and some even came over to say hello and chat a bit, again talking about "the good old days."

After bringing the people over, Zheng Tan jumped onto the steps, lay down beside Xiao Youzi, and prepared to watch their training.

Besides trying long-distance running, Jiao Yuan and the others also wanted to see the effect of sprinting; the 4×100-meter relay, the final highlight of the sports meet, was a key focus, and besides coordination, they needed to determine who would run the first, second, third legs and the final sprint.

Xiong Xiong called Fu Lei over to discuss together; Fu Lei's father stood aside, sitting on the lowest step, watching the kids, sometimes also looking at the scenery around the sports field. Zheng Tan watched, guessing he was sighing about something again.

After Jiao Yuan and the others ran two laps together with Fu Lei, they stopped, and then Fu Lei started running the third lap; looking at that, he could probably run a few more laps.

Fu Lei's father stood nearby, smiling as he watched Fu Lei on the track; even though he usually struck hard, he was indeed quite proud at this moment—at least his son still had some strengths, right?

Fu Lei ran four laps before stopping; although he looked extremely tired, Zheng Tan felt this kid could actually keep going, but since it was his first run today, he was just conserving some energy.

Seeing Fu Lei slowly walk over, Xiong Xiong and the others gathered around, handing him water and towels; Fu Lei's father sitting at the side laughed so hard his eyes disappeared.

On Thursday evening they trained again, focusing on the relay; besides them, a kid living nearby from the class came over, joining Jiao Yuan, Lan Tian Zhu, and Fu Lei for the four-person relay. Fu Lei was still the fastest; Xiong Xiong had Fu Lei run the final leg sprint; as for Xiong Xiong himself, he definitely couldn't run, he just had great strength—throwing the shot put would be fine.

Early Friday morning, after Jiao Yuan and Jiao Ma left home, Xiao Youzi went to school somewhat reluctantly; today there were the 800-meter and 1500-meter races, a pity she couldn't go watch.

After Zheng Tan watched Xiao Youzi enter the affiliated primary school, he headed toward Jiao Yuan's school; this time he didn't stroll leisurely on the wall, but kept a light jog.

A big spotted cat was lying on the wall, presumably having just finished foraging, its head lowered as it licked its paws and wiped its face. Suddenly its ears twitched; startled, it looked toward one end of the wall. Just as it looked that way, a black shadow leapt up, jumping over its head; its gaze followed the leaping figure, lifting its head, turning its head, then looking behind at the black shadow that had already landed on the wall and continued running off into the distance. After a few seconds, perhaps realizing its paws weren't finished being licked, it turned its head back, preparing to continue licking.

As he neared Jiao Yuan's school, Zheng Tan sped up; ahead there was a large cat that had just jumped onto the wall, still yawning, but Zheng Tan didn't slow down, charging past and making another leap.

The big cat that had been yawning, about to stretch, was startled by Zheng Tan's action; its leg slipped, almost falling off the wall. After climbing back up, it glanced at the distant black shadow, raised its hind leg to scratch its ear, shook its head, and watched the passing crowd for its own amusement.

People hurrying along the street didn't specially notice the black cat running on the wall; perhaps they had already grown accustomed to seeing cats on the wall—whether white or black, it wasn't worth paying attention to.

In this area, people and cats each maintain their own life rhythms, not interfering with each other.

When Zheng Tan arrived at Jiao Yuan's school sports field, the opening ceremony was underway; looking out, rows of students in uniform filled the field.

He scanned the surroundings and saw no tall trees or suitable spots to watch the sports meet; finally, Zheng Tan's gaze fell on the background wall behind the podium, where a huge publicity poster was now posted, with a banner hanging at the top.

At this moment, the leaders on the podium were speaking; the so-called 'just a few words' had already lasted twenty minutes. Many students in the formations below were already impatient, whispering to each other, stared at by their homeroom teachers, they restrained themselves a bit, then after a while started muttering quietly—this resentment Zheng Tan could feel even from far away.

But soon, some students noticed the black cat approaching the podium; their low chatter stopped, and they kept staring at the black cat, which was far more interesting than listening to the leaders' speech.

Originally, Jiao Yuan was chatting with Su An beside him using a signal only their own people knew, when Fu Lei from behind poked him, pointing his chin forward: 'Look beside the podium!'

Hearing Fu Lei's words, Jiao Yuan wondered what was up; upon looking over, he saw his own cat standing on the topmost step, head held high, striding toward the podium.

Su An and the others also saw the scene; although there are many black cats in the city, as soon as they saw that cat they were certain it was Jiao Yuan's family's cat—aside from their own cat, they had never seen any cat with such boldness to calmly run toward the podium in full view of everyone.

Jiao Yuan's eye twitched; having heard Jiao Wei talk about military training, he thought his cat had surely found a good spot to prepare to spectate, just not knowing whether it would cause some embarrassing effects.

Zheng Tan didn't care what others thought; after arriving beside the podium, he jumped straight onto that background wall; the hanging banner was a bit higher than the top of the wall, Zheng Tan crouched behind it, and outsiders only saw a black cat's head.

The leader speaking on the podium noticed nothing, still saying: 'On the sports field, friendship first, competition second……'

Zheng Tan yawned. Who believes that nonsense? Without friendship, competition would just be first; between strangers, what friendship is there to talk about?

Many people say yawning is contagious; thus, students who were overexcited yesterday and today lacked energy, listening to the podium leader's dull speech while feeling drowsy, upon seeing Zheng Tan yawn twice in a row, suddenly felt their drowsiness deepen.

Zheng Tan idly flicked at the red banner blocking his view, looking at the slightly bald head of the speaking leader below, wondering, 'Is this labor?'

After that leader finally finished speaking and announced the sports meet officially underway, a crowd breathed a sigh of relief. The leader remained seated there, while a row of people sat on the podium as judges for the first event.

What Zheng Tan didn't expect was that the first event was radio calisthenics, and only the first-year students had this event; the second and third years did not.

There were about ten first-year classes; they weren't ordered by class number but completely by lottery, which was fairer, so when it came time to perform, there weren't as many complaints—it all depended on luck.

Jiao Yuan's class was scheduled fourth, which was not bad.

The second and third-year formations had already left, or were watching from the sidelines; the athletes were doing some warm-ups, while also watching the first-years perform the silly things they themselves had experienced years ago—many felt that when people earnestly do radio calisthenics, they look especially foolish.

Zheng Tan lay on the background wall, sticking his head out to look downward.

Many people, under the watchful eyes of the school leaders and because it was a competition, tried hard to do each movement properly; but if overdone, they would appear somewhat stiff, and combined with those solemn yet childish faces, Zheng Tan really wanted to laugh.

However, what Zheng Tan wanted to watch most was the performance of Jiao Yuan's class; when the third class came by, the fourth class was preparing, standing by waiting, while that guy Xiong Xiong stood at the front of the formation.

Based on what Zheng Tan had just seen of those classes, the person at the very front was the one leading the calisthenics, unrelated to class committee position, not necessarily the sports commissioner; moreover, the previous leaders had all been pretty little girls, but suddenly this class produced a 'beast'.

After finally waiting for Jiao Yuan's class, Zheng Tan felt that even before it started, Jiao Yuan and the others already felt a bit stiff.

Just as Zheng Tan had thought, Jiao Yuan felt uneasy all over as soon as he saw his own cat up there watching him, as if the cat were waiting to see him make a fool of himself.

Jiao Yuan finally understood how Jiao Wei felt during his freshman military training at Chu Hua Da Xue back then. Actually, Jiao Yuan should be grateful—this time only Zheng Tan came, no other cats followed.

The music started, and that stout, sturdy guy Xiong Xiong, wearing the school uniform and white gloves, stood solemnly at the front leading the calisthenics.

Although it looks a bit… those who don't know would certainly think it was a mistake by their homeroom teacher, but this is actually the homeroom teacher's clever move—letting Xiong Xiong lead the calisthenics also has a 'face‑showing' effect, since many people on the podium know Xiong Xiong, and even before school started, his ** had already come into contact with these leaders and teachers.

The leader seated in the center, when looking at Xiong Xiong, still had a smile on his face, appearing very amiable; the calisthenics leader of the previous class certainly didn't receive such treatment.

Too bad Xiong Xiong didn't notice the school leader at all; it was rare for him to keep a straight face. Zheng Tan still wanted to laugh.

Each class's time was about five minutes, so everything ended in about an hour; Jiao Yuan's class came in first, with a slight edge over second place. The teacher of Class One smiled, and Zheng Tan always felt that smile held a deeper meaning—indeed, those who can be homeroom teachers are no simple roles.

Each class's time was about five minutes, and everything ended in an hour. Jiao Yuan's class came in first, leading second place by a slight margin. The teacher of Class One smiled, and Zheng Tan always felt that smile carried a deeper meaning; indeed, those who could be class monitors were not simple roles.

The morning of the first day featured the 100-meter and 1500-meter races; Jiao Yuan had no event.

Xiong Xiong hoped Fu Lei could run the 100 meters, but unfortunately each person is limited to two individual events, so they had to give up the 100 meters; fortunately, the person from the class who signed up for the 100 meters still had decent ability—even if not outstanding, the homeroom teacher's requirement was to strive for a top‑eight finish, since only the top eight score points, with first through eighth place worth 9, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 points respectively, and the final relay event counts double.

Xiong Xiong hoped Fu Lei could run the 100 meters, but unfortunately each person could only enter two individual events, so he had to give up the 100 meters. Fortunately, the person who signed up for the 100 meters in the class was still capable; even if not outstanding, the class monitor's requirement was to strive for the top eight, because only the top eight scored, with first through eighth place receiving 9, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 points respectively, and the final relay event counted double.

Fu Lei had a number plate hanging on his back, preparing to warm up; after the 100‑meter prelims his 1500‑meter race would start. Around Fu Lei were only Jiao Yuan and a few others; everyone else either went to watch the 100‑meter prelims or sat in their own class section, writing encouragement notes or reading books.

The leaders on the podium had already left; seated there were the school radio station staff, plus some students who had come to use the microphone to cheer on their class athletes. A few students wanted to poke Zheng Tan, but the background wall was too high for them to reach, so they could only toss paper balls; when bored, Zheng Tan also played a paper‑ball‑toss game with a few little girls.

When Jiao Ma came looking for Jiao Yuan with a bag of bottled water, she pointed at the cat playing with a few little girls on the podium and said, 'Jiao Yuan, how did our Hei Tan end up there?'

Jiao Yuan felt helpless: 'It just likes to watch the excitement.' RS!.

Jiao Yuan felt helpless, "It likes to watch the excitement." RS！。