Chapter 123: Just How Much Have We Missed?

After the 100-meter preliminaries, the 1500-meter event is ready.

Everyone in Class 1, Grade 1 knows that the only one in their class who runs the 1500 meters is that legendary bad student Fu Lei, who is famous for fighting and loves to skip class. Actually, not many people are enthusiastic about cheering; it's just that at this time in the morning, the only event left is the 1500 meters, and after that comes the 100-meter final.

Some people who had finished watching the 100-meter preliminaries sat nearby, leisurely cracking melon seeds, chatting about what they had just seen, gossiping about which class's someone had actually come in first.

Only Jiao Yuan, Xiong Xiong and a few others accompanied Fu Lei to the 1500-meter starting point; Fu Lei himself didn't care whether anyone else came to cheer, since they were all irrelevant people.

Zheng Tan lay on his side against the background wall, his head casually resting on the edge, watching the world rotated ninety degrees; occasionally, when the wind blew and stirred the fur on his ears, making them itch, he twitched his ears twice.

The 1500-meter race had just begun; Fu Lei and the others from other classes were close together, about ten people forming a line running along the inner lane, with Fu Lei in the middle-rear. However, Zheng Tan could see from his demeanor that he felt no tension at all.

During the first lap, few people shouted encouragement; going around the track, only occasional shouts were heard. But gradually, during the second and third laps, the gap among the ten-odd runners widened, and some classmates began to feel anxious.

During the third lap, someone dropped out voluntarily, but the others, even if they were last and running slowly, still persisted.

Fu Lei was in fifth place, with the top five runners close together; someone from Class 1 got excited, thinking that even if they ended up fifth, the class could still earn four points.

During the fourth lap, the cheering grew louder. The school's track is over three hundred meters per lap, so 1500 meters requires a little more than four laps. Many people like to start accelerating in the final lap; the first two had already begun to speed up, and those behind were not willing to fall behind—except Fu Lei.

Seeing that Fu Lei was about to be overtaken by the sixth-place runner, Class 1 became anxious; even those who had been cracking melon seeds couldn't stay seated, they squeezed to the edge of the track and joined their classmates in shouting encouragement.

Zheng Tan glanced at Jiao Yuan and his friends; they looked as if they were about to burst from holding their urine, their faces flushed red. Yet they remained silent until Fu Lei obviously began to speed up, after which they, having held back for a long time, started shouting hoarsely at the top of their lungs, wishing they could go up and run in his place.

The finish line had been raised; Fu Lei's speed kept increasing, and the fourth and third place runners felt the pressure, but their legs wouldn't obey—they were already near their limits.

Starting from where Jiao Yuan and his friends were, they inspired Class 1 to begin cheering for Fu Lei. Shi Rui ran straight to the announcer's platform, snatched the microphone from the announcer's hand, and shouted encouragement in rhythm with Jiao Yuan's group; the announcer sitting there glared at her a few times but ignored her.

Moreover, some second- and third-year students who had come just for the fun joined in the shouting; after a few yells, they asked a nearby first-year student, "Who is Fu Lei?"

The bespectacled student from some class adjusted his glasses and said, "Judging by their shouting, it's either one of the first two runners, or that guy at the back who's charging forward like he's been injected with chicken blood."

Fu Lei felt a strong sense of his own presence for the first time. He heard those people shouting, "Fu Lei—come on!"

This seemed to be the first time his name, Fu Lei, was called out by so many people in such a big setting. No longer did he receive aloof, contemptuous glances; no longer was he looked upon as a poor student. At that moment, he carried the hopes of the entire class.

What is this collective sense of honor?

Fu Lei used to disdain it, but now he seemed to understand. One doesn't need to deliberately do or express anything; when certain things happen and the situation matures, this feeling arises naturally and uncontrollably.

What he once thought was merely symbolic had become real; all his emotions found a firm support, igniting a long-dormant passion for winning first place. It was like returning to that small village where he had struggled for a wooden carving trophy—only this time, it was even stronger.

Zheng Tan watched that kid Fu Lei keep accelerating; he quickly caught up to second place, overtook them, and continued to close in on the leader.

This kid truly had hidden depths.

Zheng Tan had heard Jiao Yuan say that among the first-year 1500-meter runners, two had joined the school sports department; those were probably the two who had just been running in front.

The cheering from Class 1 grew louder and louder; they themselves could no longer contain their emotions, and some other scattered people wandering about were drawn by the shouting and joined the cheering crowd.

Just then on the announcer's platform, one announcer tried to seize the microphone from Shi Rui's hand; she sidestepped, avoided his grasp, kept holding the microphone and kept shouting. Some other classes' people around the field, unaware of the situation, thought the campus broadcast team was playing favorites. In fact, the few announcers seated there were full of resentment, but watching Class 1's competitor begin to sprint for first place, they gave up trying to take the microphone—there was no way they could take it now; this little girl was just too forceful.

Zheng Tan glanced at the scene on the platform, felt amused, then redirected his attention to Fu Lei's final fifty-meter sprint.

The student who had held first place up to now was no surprise to be a sports student; his sprint speed didn't look like that of a 1500-meter runner, whereas Fu Lei was a dark horse, finishing ahead by two steps to win first place.

Although he didn't break the record, earning this first place already made Class 1, Grade 1 feel greatly surprised; they cheered for a long time, turning an event they had hoped nothing from into the biggest surprise.

Zheng Tan watched as Fu Lei, supported by Jiao Yuan and his friends and surrounded by his Class 1 classmates, left the track, and he lazily flicked his tail.

What is this called? An opening victory, the first blood?

This is, up to now, the first official first place produced; the 1500-meter pre-final settled the matter, and the Class 1 homeroom teacher, looking at Fu Lei, had for the first time a calm gaze accompanied by a smile, giving Fu Lei goosebumps; he felt that the usual strict homeroom teacher was more normal.

After the 1500 meters, the 100-meter final began shortly thereafter.

Those who achieved a good placement were like triumphant heroes, enjoying the crowd's embrace and applause; those who didn't make the top eight quietly slipped into the mixed crowd and left in dejection.

After watching the morning competition, Zheng Tan got up to head back; at noon he still had to return to Chu Hua Da Xue. He would keep Xiao Youzi company, then come back in the afternoon. That poor guy Fu Lei still had an 800-meter race in the afternoon—should be enough to make him feel smug.

Besides Fu Lei's event, there were Xiong Xiong's shot put, Lan Tianzhu's long jump, etc.; the afternoon had many events, but Zheng Tan was only interested in the few involving Xiong Xiong and his friends.

After seeing their own cat jump over the wall and leave, Jiao Ma then came back to take Jiao Yuan and his few friends to the staff cafeteria for a meal, also bringing Fu Lei along.

When Zheng Tan came over in the afternoon, the competition was already underway. It was the same old spot; Zheng Tan jumped onto the background wall, stretched, then lay prone there, looking down over the entire sports field. Here he didn't have to worry about his view being blocked; even the long jump area could be seen somewhat.

Xiong Xiong threw the shot put and came in second, just a little behind first place, which made him quite glum; all morning, aside from cheering for Jiao Yuan and his friends, he kept a stern face. Su An and Lan Tianzhu participated in the high jump and long jump and did all right, though they weren't in the top three. But Zheng Tan had just heard the announcer read out the commendation: one got fourth in the high jump, the other fifth in the long jump.

As for Fu Lei's 800 meters, given what happened this morning, many classmates came over before his afternoon run to talk to him, telling him to just do his best and not put too much pressure on himself. After all, the morning 1500 meters had already been exhausting, and now he had to run the 800 meters right after.

The 800 meters is much shorter than the 1500 meters. Perhaps because the morning race was too tiring, he only got third. But this third place was enough to make Class 1 happy; at least it would add a fair number of points, and now Class 1's total score ranks first.

After watching a bit more of the sports meet, Zheng Tan got up and left first, without waiting for Jiao Yuan and Jiao Ma; Jiao Yuan and his few friends would still stay on campus for a while.

That night, after Jiao Yuan returned home, he briefly told Xiao Youzi about today's competition, then went to bed early; tomorrow he still has to run the 400 meters and the relay.

The next day's competition saw the whole family out in force; Jiao Ba and Xiao Youzi also came to Jiao Yuan's school to watch the races, anyway it was Saturday, a day to rest.

After arriving at the sports field, this time Zheng Tan didn't go to the announcer's platform; he followed Jiao Ba and company, standing on a step around the perimeter to watch the competition. Xiong Xiong's parents also came over, along with several other parents from the staff residential compound; they all stood together watching, and sometimes they chatted with a few other familiar parents who had come along.

In the morning, Jiao Yuan's 400-meter prelim saw him place second in his heat, qualifying for the afternoon final. At noon, a large crowd wasn't eating in the staff cafeteria; Xiong Xiong's mother treated everyone to a meal at an outside restaurant that was relatively upscale—there weren't any high-end hotels nearby, so they had to make do. Fu Lei's parents didn't come, but they were brought along anyway.

While eating, several kids gathered to discuss the afternoon relay and changed the original strategy.

When they had just left, they looked at where each runner stood in the 4x100-meter relay, estimated the distances of the four legs, and wondered if it was a mistake by the school; the second leg was relatively long, so they thought the fastest runner should take it to make up the gap, saving time. Thus, the original plan had Fu Lei running the final anchor leg, but he was switched to the second leg, while the second-fastest runner, Jiao Yuan, took the anchor sprint.

In the afternoon, Jiao Yuan's 400-meter final placed third; he himself was already quite satisfied with this result. His prelim had placed second in his heat, giving him an overall fifth rank, and he hadn't expected to advance two more places in the final.

When the other events were about to finish, it also meant that the final, most important event was about to begin.

Currently, Class 1's boys' team total score is second, while the girls' team total score is first, and they are ahead of second place by several points; if nothing unexpected happens, the girls' relay will also score well, ultimately securing first place for the girls' team with near certainty.

Therefore, everyone in Class 1 hopes the boys' relay will achieve a good result, so the class can earn two first places—just saying it sounds mighty, and thinking about it gets them excited. Even the homeroom teacher, that iron rooster, said that if the team wins first place, he will contribute three hundred yuan from the class fund to buy basketballs and other sports equipment for everyone.

Zheng Tan stood on Jiao Ba's shoulders, watching the runners set off on the track. As Jiao Yuan and his friends had said, Fu Lei's sprinting is also strong; on the second leg he already pulled ahead of those behind.

Other classes had runners drop the baton midway or make mistakes; regardless, they were all giving it their all.

At this point, the sunlight had begun to cool, yet the track was in a state of white-hot intensity.

A gust of wind blew past; Zheng Tan faced the sunlight and narrowed his eyes.

These two days might mean nothing to others—just an ordinary couple of days, merely a middle school sports meet. But for Zheng Tan, they had given him a different feeling from the bottom of his heart.

Over these two days, on this sports field, there were no underachievers, no elite students; the two who had quarreled over a pen the day before today could unhesitatingly carry their injured opponent to the infirmary; people who had always thought boundaries were clear could now shout their support for the other side…

Zheng Tan reflected on his own experiences at this age; his memories were faint and vague, as if there had been nothing particularly memorable. There had also been sports meets back then, but Zheng Tan himself seemed to have simply climbed over the wall with a few mischievous friends and gone straight to the arcade.

Back then, Zheng Tan thought it was just a sports meet—not worth participating in, not worth watching; every year there's a sports meet, nothing worth paying attention to; for such a meaningless ranking, it's silly to strive, to cry, to laugh, to make a fuss—why bother? Later, when he goes to high school and college, who will remember these little middle school sports meets?

But after two days, Zheng Tan felt that some things he once found boring were no longer boring.

Zheng Tan saw Fu Lei, after finishing the long run, being helped back to the rest area by Jiao Yuan and the others, and he wiped his tears; also, when Xiong Xiong threw the shot put, he almost hit the referee for the first time; and there was a long-jump kid whose pants slipped down when he jumped into the sand pit……

Just how much did my past self miss out on?

Zheng Tan glanced at his own furry paws, then looked over at Jiao Yuan, who had already begun sprinting; the whole class was ready to welcome the joy of the "double crown".

Given another chance, Zheng Tan could only be a bystander, watching those figures running, jumping, shouting, and sweating in the sunlight.

Zheng Tan suddenly felt envious of Jiao Yuan and the others.

At this age, these children are not yet withdrawn, nor do they think far ahead; they carry pure, immature emotions, striving only for this moment, persisting only for this moment, passing through the turning point from elementary to middle school, freely displaying their joys, angers, sorrows, and pleasures.

Perhaps the future will bring fiercer, more brutal competition and the realities of survival, making them worldly, teaching them to wear masks for long-term disguise; but occasionally, when they calm down, or after work, carrying a bag and dragging their tired bodies, passing by an elementary or middle school, seeing those lively, youthful figures, they will also remember that pure, struggle-filled time from their past.

In a lifetime of several decades, memory is limited, and too much time will "fade away" in recollection; but those shining points that have always "existed," whether bright or dim, when taken out during leisure, each can let one savor for a long time.

A tap on the forehead brought Zheng Tan back to his senses, and he saw Jiao Ba looking at him.

"Hei Tan, get ready to leave, let's go home."

Taking a deep breath, Zheng Tan stretched, squinting his eyes as he let out a long yawn.

Leaving, heading home. (To be continued..)

ps: 【The following word count is not included in the v chapter】

I am guilty, and I have delayed until now. Confession……

I had some documents to handle, then I slept, and after that, it got late.

By the way, a reminder: the double monthly ticket expires at 24:00 on January 7th; if you have a ticket, please cast it early—if not for this book, then for whatever you like, don't let it go to waste. I forgot to use my ticket last month.

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Get lost and go to sleep.

Everyone, have a great weekend!