Chapter 53

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Protagonist:

Lin Hao

On the other side, Tian Yulan was frantically racking her brains to secure another Gold Medal Class spot for Xia Huanhuan. She kept scheming various approaches in her mind, and finally decided to go to Cui Jingli's office once again.

Tian Yulan walked with resolute steps to the door of Cui Jingli's office and knocked lightly.

Hearing the knock, Cui Jingli looked up, saw it was Tian Yulan, and immediately stood up with a beaming face, warmly inviting her to sit. After all, this family had connections to District Head Li, so Cui Jingli didn't dare show the slightest neglect. He said with a piled-on smile, "Ms. Tian, please sit, please sit. What wind blew you here today? Whatever it is, just say the word."

Tian Yulan didn't stand on ceremony and stated her purpose directly: "Cui Jingli, I came today to discuss something else with you. I hope you can add one more Gold Medal Class spot."

Hearing this, Cui Jingli's smile froze on his face. His expression turned extremely awkward, and he cursed inwardly.

Seeing Cui Jingli's face, Tian Yulan immediately followed up: "Cui Jingli, you know our family's connections. I just didn't want to trouble you again. Anyway, you already added one child, so just add another. It's no big deal, right? Besides, aren't there two Gold Medal Classes this year? One class added Zi You, so the other class can't not add one? That would give people something to gossip about."

Cui Jingli was in a tight spot, his heart pounding with anxiety. He didn't know if Tian Yulan was borrowing a tiger's skin to pull a big banner, or if she really had that kind of pull.

He thought, if he really had to bother District Head Li again, wouldn't his previous efforts have been for nothing? He hesitated and said, "Ms. Tian, this is hard to handle. Our Gold Medal Class has regulations; we can't just add people randomly. You also know we have to guarantee teaching quality and fairness."

Seeing Cui Jingli's difficulty, Tian Yulan immediately said, "Cui Jingli, we're not unreasonable people. Last time my in-laws promised a batch of desks and chairs, right? If you just add one more child, that batch of desks and chairs still stands. What do you say?"

Hearing this, Cui Jingli was somewhat tempted. After all, not taking this student was simply unrealistic. He pondered for a moment, gritted his teeth, and said, "Alright, Ms. Tian, for the leader's sake, I'll agree to you once more. But this won't set a precedent."

Seeing Cui Jingli agree, Tian Yulan hurried off to find her in-laws to make them deliver on the promised desks and chairs.

Tian Yulan arrived at her in-laws' home and said urgently, "Dad, Mom, the desks and chairs you promised last time need to be sent over right now. For the child to get into the Gold Medal Class, we can't go back on our word."

Who knew her father-in-law wouldn't cough up the desks and chairs. After all, this time wasn't for their own eldest grandson. The father-in-law frowned and said, "Yulan, I think we should just forget it. Zi You's already in the Gold Medal Class, there's no need for us to go to all this trouble."

Tian Yulan said anxiously, "Dad, please help out. This is for the children's own good too. I have professional ties with Nan Li, and on top of that we're still technically relatives. It benefits everyone."

But the father-in-law felt Tian Yulan could just resign and focus on being the boss at the family factory, so he refused to help. The father-in-law said, "Yulan, why work yourself so hard? Resign and come home, be the boss at our own factory — isn't that better? Our family isn't short of this bit of money."

Tian Yulan and her in-laws parted on bad terms.

Tian Yulan returned home, sat on the sofa sulking, and the more she thought the more upset she got. She simply poured out to Yan Peng all the grievances she'd suffered from childhood to now; the reason she worked so hard was nothing more than wanting Yan Peng's parents and outsiders to stop looking down on her. With red eyes she said, "Yan Peng, I've suffered so much grievance from childhood on. I work hard just so people won't look down on me. Now for the child I'm doing everything I can. But Dad and them just don't understand me."

Yan Peng felt heartache for his wife and hurriedly comforted her: "Wife, don't be angry anymore. Dad and them just can't wrap their heads around it for now. I'll go talk to them, and I'll definitely make them send the desks and chairs over."

Early the next morning he went to pressure Father Yan into handling Tian Yulan's matter. Yan Peng said, "Dad, just agree. Yulan has given so much for this family, can't you support her once?" The two elders doted excessively on their son; basically any request he made was granted.

Cui Jingli, completely unaware that an even greater test awaited him. The next day not long after starting work, he received one big-shot call after another.

First District Head Li notified him to admit Xia Huanhuan; he'd just put down the phone when he received Fang Yuanyang's notice, ordering everyone to lay out the red carpet and welcome Fang Yuanyang's arrival with honors on both sides.

Cui Jingli picked up the phone in a fluster, on one hand complying with District Head Li's demand, on the other hand rushing to arrange people to prepare for Fang Yuanyang's welcome. His heart was filled with tension and unease.

Just as Cui Jingli was caught in a dilemma, truly not knowing how to respond to Fang Yuanyang's demand, Father Yan unexpectedly showed up to deliver desks and chairs. In the blink of an eye three students were crammed in, and Cui Jingli felt like he was facing a formidable enemy.

He was about to tell Father Yan to take the desks and chairs back, but then realized all three parties had exerted themselves for one child — it truly made him sigh with emotion. A mere training class spot, yet it required the whole family to mobilize; behind the saturation-style scramble for spots lies the heart of parents everywhere.

After seeing off Fang Yuanyang and Father Yan, Cui Jingli ordered the teachers to keep the red carpet, to serve as the welcoming ceremony for Xia Huanhuan.

Now that Xia Huanhuan had successfully entered the Math Competition Class for tutoring, Cui Jingli couldn't help asking about Xia Junshan's relationship with District Head Li, which left Xia Junshan somewhat at a loss — he never imagined things would become so complicated.

He stammered, "I... I don't know what's going on either. I don't have any relationship with District Head Li."

Cui Jingli thought Xia Junshan was avoiding suspicion, smiled, and didn't say anything more.

After Xia Junshan left, Cui Jingli sat in his office, brows tightly knit, pondering how to arrange Xia Huanhuan. The more he thought, the more he felt Tian Yulan's words made sense: two Gold Medal Classes, one with ten students, the other with only eight — that gap really could easily give parents grounds for complaint.

Cui Jingli stood up, decided to go find Zhong Yi to discuss the matter. He came to Zhong Yi's office and knocked lightly. Zhong Yi looked up, saw it was Cui Jingli, and was slightly surprised.