Chapter 87: To Chuan-Yu

Yang Tianxing originally only wanted to use the school broadcasting station to promote 101 Express, but later, when Sun Nan notified him that he was to be named a "School Merit Student," he refused on the spot.

"Secretary Sun, let's be frank. I am definitely going to fail my exams, so the pressure of being this School Merit Student is just too much."

Sun Nan was also helpless: "Actually, I didn't want to give it to you either. You should just focus on your startup; these superficial things are useless. But this is Principal Liu's intention; he said your actions have a benchmark effect and are worth encouraging."

"As for the exams—"

Sun Nan sighed: "Just do your best."

Yang Tianxing thought to himself right then, is this a matter of doing one's best or not??? He couldn't even figure out a few of his current courses, but he couldn't go to Liu Yannian to "return the goods," so after returning, he said to Liu Jiaoyue: "Hurry and help me review; I absolutely cannot fail the final exams."

Liu Jiaoyue had no problems with her own studies, and her notes were very solid, but she really wasn't suited to be a teacher. She stammered through the explanation for a long time, stuttering more the longer she spoke.

Yang Tianxing had no choice but to hand over his brand-new textbook, *Western Economics*: "Mark the key points, I'll memorize them myself."

"Oh."

Liu Jiaoyue took the book and carefully marked the important exam points, but when she turned her head, Yang Tianxing was already buried in his work, fast asleep.

"Click, click."

Liu Jiaoyue lightly poked Yang Tianxing with the pen barrel. Yang Tianxing opened his eyes groggily: "What?"

"The key points are marked."

Liu Jiaoyue said in a low voice.

"Got it."

After saying this, Yang Tianxing turned his head again to continue sleeping. Last night, his hands were itching, so he joined a card game. Perhaps because the winter break was approaching, the few people in 312 played cards while bragging until past 3 o'clock.

Liu Jiaoyue was a bit anxious and poked him a few more times, "Click, click."

Yang Tianxing finally woke up completely and glared at Liu Jiaoyue: "Why do you keep poking me?"

"Read, read the book."

Liu Jiaoyue was a bit fearful but also a bit persistent.

Yang Tianxing could only shake his head and take *Western Economics* to recite: "Economics is the study of the laws of human economic activity, that is, the laws of the creation, transformation, and realization of value..."

"Western Economics refers to the political economy paradigm that emerged and became popular in Western countries..."

"Damn it, why is it so long-winded."

Before five minutes had passed, Yang Tianxing couldn't stand it anymore. Looking at Liu Jiaoyue, who was silently and earnestly memorizing the dry textbook beside him, Yang Tianxing poked her face and asked: "How can I get a 60 as fast as possible?"

Liu Jiaoyue shook her head; she didn't know how to answer this question either.

Yang Tianxing thought for a moment and changed the phrasing: "How did you get a 60?"

This question wasn't difficult. Liu Jiaoyue raised her head to think, revealing her rounded chin and tender white neck, then said earnestly: "If you don't write the last few subjective essay questions, you should be able to get a 60."

Yang Tianxing stared blankly at Liu Jiaoyue, then sighed without a word, stood up, and walked out of 101.

"Are you going back?"

"I'm a bit annoyed, going to smoke a cigarette."

Liu Jiaoyue didn't understand why Yang Tianxing had suddenly become annoyed; she didn't know that the sentence just now had "stung" the heart of the academic slacker Yang.

Accompanied by the cold wind, shivering as he finished his cigarette, Yang Tianxing returned and didn't want to look at the book either. Drinking hot water, he teased Liu Jiaoyue: "This winter break, do you want to go home with me?"

Liu Jiaoyue's little face turned red immediately: "I, I have to accompany my grandmother."

Yang Tianxing smiled, then asked seriously: "How long does it take to get to your home from Chang'an?"

"A long time, it takes over 30 hours."

Liu Jiaoyue was from the Liangshan Prefecture in Chuan-Yu; the mountains were high and the roads were far, the roads of Shu were difficult, and transportation was extremely inconvenient.

"Such a long time, you must be very tired sitting through that."

Yang Tianxing knew that Liu Jiaoyue couldn't possibly buy a sleeper ticket, so he asked with a bit of heartache.

"No, I don't dare to sleep."

Liu Jiaoyue answered softly. One could imagine Liu Jiaoyue hugging her luggage, head bowed and huddled by the window, eating a steamed bun when hungry, drinking the boiled water on the train when thirsty, sitting on the train alone for over 30 hours.

Yang Tianxing sighed lightly and frowned, pinching Liu Jiaoyue's cheek; it was still just as elastic. Liu Jiaoyue opened her ignorant and pure peach-blossom eyes, her cheeks glowing with a gentle flush under the warmth of the electric heater.

"Give me your ID card."

Yang Tianxing said suddenly.

Liu Jiaoyue obediently took out her ID card. Yang Tianxing glanced at it and laughed: "You were that fat before?"

"Where, where am I fat."

Liu Jiaoyue shyly wanted to take back her ID card, but didn't expect Yang Tianxing to stuff it directly into his pocket: "Leave the ID card with me for now, I'll help you buy the train ticket when the time comes."

Just as the two were talking, He Yulin walked in.

"Class Monitor Yang's treatment is really high, having someone help you review your lessons."

Yang Tianxing gave a "hehe" laugh: "Little He, if you're jealous that Jiaoyue is tutoring me, I'll leave this opportunity to you tomorrow."

"Don't, I'm not that stupid."

He Yulin glanced at Liu Jiaoyue.

Yang Tianxing found He Yulin, this lightbulb, too bright, and asked directly: "Does Secretary He have something to say?"

"There are 10 days left until the exams, and we go on break immediately after. So, how do you feel about setting the class gathering for this Saturday?"

Yang Tianxing thought for a moment: "That works."

"Then I'll go arrange it. Do we need to buy a gift for Teacher Xie?" He Yulin asked again.

Yang Tianxing said: "We definitely have to buy one, but I'll pay for Old Xie's gift out of my own pocket; don't use the class fund."

"Why?" He Yulin didn't understand.

Yang Tianxing explained: "Old Xie likes to smoke, but if you use the class fund to buy cigarettes, will he accept them?"

Yang Tianxing paused here: "Old Xie has a daughter at home who just started kindergarten. She doesn't really like to play; she prefers studying. You go to the bookstore and buy some supplementary materials. You can buy this in the name of the class fund and then give it to her in the name of the class."

After finishing this matter, Yang Tianxing stretched and wanted to go back to find his roommates to play cards, so he walked Liu Jiaoyue and He Yulin back to their dormitory, and on the way, he bought them milk tea.

"Don't forget to go back and review."

Liu Jiaoyue did not forget to remind him of this.

Yang Tianxing pretended not to hear, and on the way back, he took out his phone and called his mother.

"Mom."

As soon as the call connected, Gao Meilan's familiar rhythm came through immediately.

"Don't call me Mom, I'm not your mother. Why did I even give birth to you in the first place? Yang Tianxing, I really can't understand what you're thinking about all day long..."

Yang Tianxing held the phone away from his ear until Gao Meilan asked coldly over the phone: "Did you listen to what I just said?"

"Mm-hmm, I listened, Mom, you're absolutely right."

Yang Tianxing flattered her.

"Then what is it you're calling about today?"

Gao Meilan asked.

Yang Tianxing organized his words: "Old lady, we go on break on January 14th, but I'm reporting to you, Elder, that I'll be returning two days late."

"What are you up to again?"

Gao Meilan felt that her son was about to stir up some trouble again.

"I want to take Liu Jiaoyue home. Her home is too far, and she's very frugal and only buys hard-seat tickets. This time, I'm buying her a sleeper berth to keep her company and let her get some good rest."

"Oh, I see."

There was silence on the other end of the phone for a moment, but one could faintly hear Gao Meilan discussing it with Yang Jianjun. Before long, Gao Meilan spoke up: "It's fine to see her home, but you are not allowed to spend the New Year at her place."

"That's impossible. Of course I'm coming home to spend the New Year with you and Dad," Yang Tianxing said with a grin.

"You little ingrate, who knows what you'll be like after you get married? Also, your dad is asking how Tan Zhizhi is getting home for the New Year."

"Uncle Tan will definitely come to pick her up, and I'll wait for her to leave first before I take Liu Jiaoyue home."

After hanging up, Yang Tianxing thought that if he took Liu Jiaoyue home, wouldn't he be returning to Jinzhou all by himself? It would be a bit lonely, so he made a prompt decision and called Shao Ziyang's dormitory.

"Ziyang, let's go traveling after winter break starts. Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles; we should listen to the ancients more."

Shao Ziyang became interested as soon as he heard this: "Where to?"

"I think Sichuan and Chongqing would be nice."

"Isn't that a bit too far?"

"Not far, traveling is naturally about going somewhere further away."

"But I don't have that much travel money, Little Yang."

Yang Tianxing said directly: "You don't need to spend any money, I'll cover it all. Come over a day early, and I'll introduce you to someone."