Chapter 32: One Hammer Decides the Tone

June 1st, Children's Day.

Mr. Ba Jin's daughter, Yang Xiaolin, brought He's works to the ward and read them to her critically ill father word by word, ultimately receiving a strenuous oral praise from Mr. Ba Jin.

On that day, the Xinmin Evening News published the old gentleman's words of excessive praise.

"I am now fighting against illness and also drawing encouragement from various kinds of works. Today, after listening to Yang Xiaolin read He's works, I am very delighted, as if I had obtained a treasure.

What kind of high praise is a middle school student's essay worth?

This must be explained by the spirit it conveys.

Mediocre people 'follow heaven and know fate,' but we children of Huaxia have always pursued 'defying heaven and changing fate.' This understanding is good; it is even better that Fang Xinghe, a young child, has such an understanding.

Adolescents must have a spirit of struggle. I live in great pain and often propose euthanasia, but I also often summon courage and say to Yang Xiaolin and the others: I must live for you now.

I am still struggling, not so resolutely, nor so bravely.

You are not yet at my level, so you must learn to struggle even more; do not be frightened, do not stop moving forward.

Fang Xinghe's thoughts and words resonate with me across the river of time; I believe they can also resonate with you. I suggest everyone go take a look.

In the future, I also want to often listen to Yang Xiaolin read his new articles to me; one article comes out, I listen to one.

At my current stage, nothing can make me more gratified than the appearance of an outstanding new talent in the literary world. Today my emotions are surging, and the pain seems to have lessened a little. Thank you, and thank Fang Xinghe."

It was very brief and not magnificent, but this was Ba Jin, the Ba Jin who had been hospitalized since becoming critically ill.

There were only a few masters in the literary history of modern Huaxia: Lu, Guo, Mao, Ba, Lao, and Cao. Mr. Ba Jin was the only one still alive; his weight can be imagined.

Moreover, setting aside political status and literary status, the old gentleman's own character and virtue were deeply respected; one word from him outweighed ten thousand from others.

So when Xinmin published Mr. Ba Jin's reflections, public opinion in the streets and markets was in an uproar.

The specific reason for the uproar was: most people did not understand why Fang Xinghe deserved it.

If you don't understand, then read it again.

When an authority's thoughts clash with one's own thoughts, people of this era are more accustomed to seeking the cause within themselves.

Thus, many media personnel and readers who had originally not read "Knowing but Not Obeying," or had not read it very carefully and were merely following the trend to discuss the phenomenon, began to re-examine this article.

Valuing it and not valuing it will certainly yield completely opposite conclusions.

Quickly, someone took the lead in "reflecting," and others stood up to "appeal for justice" for Fang Xinghe.

Yan Lieshan published a new article in the Southern Metropolis Daily the next day, kneeling so fast.

He wrote thus: "I have always emphasized that Fang Xinghe is not wrong; the system is wrong.

I have never said that Fang Xinghe's article is not worth mentioning.

On the contrary, looking solely at the article itself, Fang Xinghe's level is ahead of the times and already possesses some of the aura of a great master.

My previous report did not expand on the literary aspect, leading to many misunderstandings. Now I must state clearly—

Without considering personal character formed by environmental influences, Fang Xinghe is the top-tier literary genius we can unearth from students.

There is no doubt about this.

Any voice that does not discuss his influence but instead questions his talent is a frivolous, high-and-mighty, disrespectful, and baseless remark that ignores basic facts; I regard it as the noise of this era."

Song Zude, Liu Xinda, and others, who were classified as "noise," immediately shrank back in shame, their spirits withered.

But the reporters did not let them off; instead, they rushed over immediately for a second interview, asking questions that were very embarrassing.

Liu Xinda cowered and replied vaguely: "There must be some misunderstanding here. The article a friend showed me was actually not Fang Xinghe's original text; I was also deceived..."

The reporter pressed on: "So, do you admit that Fang Xinghe's level is very high?"

"Uh... this... well... I haven't seen the real article yet..."

"I have it here; do you need to see it now?"

"Ah? Ah... I have other matters, sorry, please make way..."

Liu Xinda stammered and fled in panic.

But Song Zude was very tough; he forced himself to reply: "When I read articles, I never care whether the writing is good or bad; I only care about its social impact! I have my own literary appreciation ability and standards; this is me, a literary critic who is always daring to speak the truth!"

The reporter naturally did not let him off and continued to press: "So, do you still insist that this is a middle school student's essay that makes no sense?"

Song Zude's forehead also broke out in sweat.

If he insists, he will go against the master and surely be torn apart by the literary world; if he doesn't insist, does he have to apologize to a brat?

After thinking and thinking, in the end, he chose an extremely euphemistic way to admit defeat.

"Whether it makes sense depends on which angle you judge it from; based on morality, or literature, or the positive and negative impact, the conclusions will certainly be different. I think Teacher Ba Jin's comments make sense, but I also have my angle. In short, Zude is a poet responsible to society. By the way, do you want to hear my poems?"

Reporter:???

Are you sick?

Of course not; this guy is just exceptionally shameless.

Unfortunately, shamelessness cannot save him; although the reporters didn't interview anything useful, it didn't stop them from becoming clowns in the eyes of the public.

As soon as the new report was published, these guys were cursed terribly; the newspapers that had previously published them were also scolded. Many readers called to criticize them for being irresponsible, seeking attention, and having low standards, causing the entire staff to be covered in shame.

This time, if they don't give a few internal punishments, they probably won't be able to explain it away.

What is called failing to steal a chicken but losing a bag of rice?

This moment is very vivid.

And the "Pro-Fang Faction" immediately felt vindicated, gathering the courage of victory to pursue the fleeing enemy, carrying out a comprehensive reckoning against the "Anti-Fang Faction."

Today, we will fight back one by one!

Not to prove how great I am, but to tell others that what I have lost must be taken back!

TL; DR: Another carnival for media personnel.

Ah, no, it wasn't just the media having a carnival; the real No. 3 Middle School was becoming increasingly restless.

As long as Fang Xinghe dares to walk out of the classroom, he will be immediately surrounded by onlookers;

Staying indoors is no use either; his tiny desk is stuffed full every day by pretty girls.

Mainly snacks, secondly love letters.

Snacks must be high-end goods of this era; things like figs, fruit leather, and popping candy are not to be touched.

Love letters are on scented paper, and basically come with photos attached.

The little eagles are startled every single day—

Holy crap, isn't that the senior from Class 2, Grade 3?

Holy crap, isn't that the most beautiful 【name】 from the Experimental School?

Holy crap, this girl is fierce, so big!

Holy crap, that old woman from Grade 2 next door is joining the fun too? Don't even think about it!

To state it without exaggeration, Handsome Fang has swept up every pretty girl from Grade 1 to Grade 3 in the county; even when he ascended the throne by his looks before, it wasn't this crazy.

It is clear that after receiving Mr. Ba Jin's high praise, the halo on his body had become dazzling to what extent.

Going out to use the restroom, every teacher he met was pleasant and amiable.

The homeroom teacher of Class 6, Grade 3, nicknamed Black Face God, forced a smile when seeing him: "Little Fang, here to pee in person?"

Fang Xinghe: "..."

Right after the break exercise, the homeroom teacher of Class 1, Grade 3, Big Ruler, dragged him away: "Last time you rushed into our class to fight, I didn't even bear to whip you; the favor you owe me should be returned, right? Come, you teach the Chinese class in our class this period!"

Fang Xinghe's head was buzzing.

In the end, he had no choice but to unleash his ultimate move to escape.

"Think it over carefully; if I just hook my finger, the girls in your class won't study anymore, they'll just stick to my butt all day waiting to get their badges..."

That remark was too rough, too inappropriate.

Big Ruler was so angry he blew his whiskers and glared, but in the end, he backed down.

"Get out, get out, get out! You rotten seed; if you dare appear at our classroom door again, I'll break your legs!"

After Fang Xinghe returned, he studied as usual, but he could control himself, yet he could not control Old Fang.

The teachers of Sanzhong Sect were plagued beyond endurance; they held a collective referendum and selected the most showy, most shameless, and most pretentious annoyance of the recent period; Old Fang was elected with a full vote.

Once he had no classes, this living thing would wander all over the school; he never held a lesson plan in his hand, always carrying the trilogy "Home," "Spring," and "Autumn," hitting on anyone he met, impossible to avoid.

"Old Wang, I recently read Mr. Ba Jin's 'Home' and have some new insights; come, let's chat!"

Those teaching music or art were fine; they couldn't be that sour, but those teaching Chinese and the homeroom teachers were the ones with terrible luck; once caught by him, there was no good outcome.

Then, what was even more magical?

Principal Liu Dashan was annoyed by the teachers' complaints, feeling the impact was truly too bad, so he stepped out to find someone for a talk.

Fang Xinghe's forehead was full of question marks—wait, you aren't talking to Old Fang about the matter, so why call me over?

He arrived at the principal's office in a daze; Comrade Dashan was waiting at the door with a full smile.

"Sit, Little Fang, please sit quickly!"

Tone down your scent; don't be so fawning; I'm only 14!

No.

Fang Xinghe sat the whole time while Dashan circled in front of him again and again.

The chat content was even more absurd; Dashan started by talking about his own love for literature, in the middle recited a modern poem he wrote for Fang Xinghe to give opinions on, and finally made a solemn request: When your new book hits the shelves, you must send me a copy.

Fang Xinghe, eager to escape, readily agreed.

"Alright, I'll send you 10 copies then, all with signatures."

Brother Dashan was overjoyed; it was visible that at least eight parts of it was sincere.

This is the year 1999...

The Z Generation felt deeply emotional; he still did not fully understand the series of events that happened recently, but it did not affect his pleasure at all.

That stability and happiness of living solidly in this era, living among a group of real people, is difficult to express in words.

And those troubles and annoyances, are they not also powerful evidence that he, in turn, influenced the world?

With this thought, his heart was full of joy.

However, he did not immerse himself in this false glory; whether others cursed or praised, were sour or cowardly, could not affect the will of the resurrected youth, which was as solid as a rock.

Fang Xinghe sank back into the sea of exam questions, ignoring everything else, only wanting to quietly secure the high school entrance exam.

Unfortunately, the fan count and Starlight Value, which had skyrocketed like they were injected with chicken blood, along with a huge unexpected surprise, still shook him out.

【Starlight Panel】

【Fan Count: 2.75 million】

【Starlight Value: 62.5 million】

【Star Glory Value: 3】

From the 1st to the 8th, in just one short week, not only did the total fan count approach 3 million, but the spent Starlight Value also reached a new high.

But those were not the point; the point was... Star Glory Value!

The unexpected surprise always came so suddenly.

Little Fang's mouth was about to smile crooked; the first thing he did every day upon waking was to open the panel to check the numbers.

Endure? He couldn't endure even a bit.

Add points, add points!

The final boost before the high school entrance exam is today!

Thank you all for your support; here are two chapters totaling 6,000 words.

Also, I do not recommend hoarding the book,