Chapter 38: Tomorrow Will Be Better

Fang Xinghe stayed in the waiting hall until midnight, finished writing today's training notes by pressing the manuscript paper against his backpack, then boarded the bus to sleep.

After getting off the bus, he followed the routine to take a long bath; while soaking in the pool, he was surrounded by people chatting with him.

Oh, so I'm famous now.

Those chatting with him included young hooligans with dragon and phoenix tattoos, middle-aged civil servants with protruding bellies, and college students with youthful faces.

In this small town, he was no longer a nobody; he had gained a little face.

The hooligan, excited and restless, said, "Fang Shao, look at my hairstyle, it's exactly like yours! Isn't it handsome?"

Fang Xinghe gave a thumbs-up: "It's uniquely ugly, but your confidence is great."

The other person scratched the back of his head and chuckled foolishly.

The college student felt proud for him: "All my classmates asked me if I'm from the same place as you. When I said yes, the girls let out a gasp of 'Wow'..."

"When school starts again, just tell them we're very close, try to get a girlfriend, come on!"

The other person lowered his head shyly, his gaze shifting uncomfortably.

Clearly, he had someone he liked; then I wish you good luck.

The middle-aged civil servant asked about his family affairs: "Have you dealt with that lousy uncle of yours yet? My buddy is at the Public Security Station; mention my name, it works!"

Fang Xinghe laughed and scolded: "Oh, give it a rest. In another two years, even your leaders will be pouring wine for me. Today, you treat me to a bath; later, I'll praise you to the leaders. How about that?"

A burst of laughter erupted in the pool, filled with teasing and debate, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Although Fang Xinghe currently had only one work, everything changed after receiving Ba Jin's high praise and winning the first prize in the provincial middle school entrance exam for the New Concept Writing Competition.

And the future will be even more different.

After tidying up and coming out, he went home, dropped his things, and headed straight for the school.

Upon reaching the main gate, he saw a large red banner hanging on the railing—

【Warmly Celebrating Our School's Eighth-Grade Student, Winner of the First Prize in the First New Concept Writing Competition, Comrade Fang Xinghe, for Achieving a Massive Breakthrough in Our School's Middle School Entrance Exam History with the Top Score in the Entire Exam District!】

Whether it was an illusion or not, Fang Xinghe always felt that the two characters "Eighth Grade" seemed slightly larger than the others.

You guys wouldn't go that far, would you?

Pushing open the door to the Chinese Department office, Old Fang immediately rushed over, hugged him, and patted him repeatedly.

"Good kid, you really did it! You've truly brought me face!"

Releasing Fang Xinghe, he then looked full of regret: "So annoying, why did the school go on holiday? I was still planning to take you on a tour around all the grades..."

"You really aren't afraid of making enemies."

Fang Xinghe was amused and sat down heavily on the office desk, teasing, "Who wrote that banner outside? Luckily our school's wall is long enough; if it were one meter shorter, it wouldn't fit."

Hearing this, Teacher Fang immediately laughed and slapped his thigh.

"You think it was that precise by chance? Director Huang went to measure it personally, then calculated the character count, and Principal Liu pondered every single word; the goal was to have it stretch from head to tail perfectly seamless!"

"Dizzy, they really know how to show off."

"Aiyo, my top scholar, as soon as you return, you're plotting against me with your teacher!"

Liu Dashan suddenly appeared at the door, rubbing his belly and smiling; instead of blaming anyone, he took out a pack of Chunghwa cigarettes from his upper pocket.

"Come, come, Old Fang, you worked hard, have a cigarette! Great talent, are you ready to receive the commendation?"

Fang Xinghe decisively waved his hand: "Please, do not expect me to give a speech on stage; I don't like it. But if the Education Bureau holds a big meeting, I authorize you to take the stage for me."

Upon hearing this, Liu Dashan laughed until his eyes disappeared.

But he still shook his head in a fake manner to be polite: "I have a commendation too; yours is yours, mine is mine..."

"It's all the same." Fang Xinghe continued to insist, "One matter shouldn't trouble two masters; you take the spotlight, and I'll just take the benefits."

Liu Dashan immediately straightened his expression: "Yes, yes, yes, the school has already held a meeting to discuss this. Our No. 3 Middle School is prepared to provide you with a special education reward of 50,000 yuan. Hurry up and get a bank card; later, the finance department will transfer the money directly to your card."

Fang Xinghe was stunned: "They have that thing now?"

Teacher Fang smiled: "It was launched this year; no need for passbooks anymore, very convenient."

"Alright, then I'll go handle it tomorrow."

Liu Dashan immediately reminded: "Tomorrow, both the Education Bureau and the Propaganda Department will come for an interview, around 2 PM, at your home. Be sure to tidy up."

"OK."

Fang Xinghe nodded lazily: "Is there anything else? Let's get it all done at once."

"High school selection." Teacher Fang reminded him concisely.

Liu Dashan also coughed dryly and shamelessly said: "The Experimental School in our county is very good, with strong teaching staff..."

"Conditions." Fang Xinghe interrupted directly, "Give me something useful."

Liu Dashan kept a straight face and changed his tune smoothly: "All fees waived, various special privileges separately, and finally, 100,000 yuan!"

Whoa, really going all out?

No. 3 Middle School giving 50,000 is already going all out; the national average annual salary for workers this year is only a bit over 8,000 yuan; 50,000 would take six years to save.

The Experimental School offering 100,000 is truly wealthy and generous.

However, Fang Xinghe just smiled, showing no urgency whatsoever due to this exaggerated figure.

Liu Dashan urged him a couple more times, but seeing that the top scholar wasn't taking the bait, he had to bid farewell regretfully but understandingly.

As soon as he left, Old Fang immediately gave Fang Xinghe a thumbs-up.

"You really can hold your ground; good thing, good thing!"

"What's up? Did a school entrust you with better conditions?"

"Wanshun High School." Old Fang didn't beat around the bush, stating bluntly: "120,000, plus all other privileges."

Good heavens, each one is more willing to spend than the last.

Yet Fang Xinghe remained unmoved and continued chatting: "What about No. 10 High School and the City High School?"

"No. 10 is holding a meeting. The city doesn't know what it means, but I estimate Normal University Affiliated High School and Jilin University Affiliated High School will definitely make moves too, within these few days."

These days are different from the future.

Nowadays, high schools within the same province can recruit students from other locations, so any promising talents down below are basically snatched away by higher-level cities at high prices.

Competing on money and resources, how could Nong'an possibly compete with the provincial capital?

Fang Xinghe had no worries about where to study; leaving the county was fine, and seeing his uncle's family of three just annoyed him.

But in the end, it depends on the conditions. Money that is mine has no reason not to be taken.

"I'm not in a hurry, so let's wait and see."

"Hmm." Old Fang nodded in approval, "You are a big celebrity now. The school doesn't care how well you do in the Gaokao; simply your enrollment is the best recruitment advertisement."

"Understood."

Fang Xinghe casually swept all the newspapers off the rack in one roll, turned, and walked out the door.

"Then you carry on, I'll go back and see what the current public opinion is actually like."

Actually, there was nothing new.

Chen Jiayong's heat had faded, while the education discussion sparked by Good Big Brother was raging.

If counting from the high school entrance exam, this trivial matter had been argued over for a month, with still no sign of ending.

Is it worth it?

It is worth it.

How lost society was in 1999, young people living in the new era will never understand.

This confusion is not the sickly moaning of artistic youth, but the unknown truly existing in every corner.

For example, in education, Zhiyin praised Japanese students' high quality, Yilin praised German children for being rigorous and respecting science from a young age, and Dubu constantly bragged that only the quality education of the United States could drive great civilization.

If you were a Gen Z surfer on a 6G network, you would only feel it was ridiculous; what the hell is all this?

There were as many as seven or eight directions alone, and when it came to specific details, even within the same direction there was no unified opinion.

The most absurd thing was, people in this era even bragged about the Third Brother's family...

Fang Xinghe flipped through all the discussions in the newspapers; there was little of value, but it witnessed another anti-intellectual carnival.

And Han Han was swept along to become a banner, standing right at the forefront.

Did he realize it himself?

Fang Xinghe vaguely remembered that Good Big Brother, until before filming the movie...

The Southern Media Group awarded him a series of awesome titles: "Citizen Han Han," "Contemporary Lu Xun".......

As a result, he later reflected on himself: I am a very failed example, not worth emulating.

One can only say that human maturity requires time.

And now he is not mature... too suitable to become the teenage idol of this current era.

Actually, the image Fang Xinghe deliberately cultivated was the same, except he wanted to stand on the opposite side of "acting on impulse for impulse, acting as an angry youth for angry youth."

After working so hard, it is time to reap the fruits of victory.

Roughly, it will be tomorrow.