Chapter 39

“Li Ye, don’t be so emotional—maybe they really meant well by offering guidance.”

“Li Ye, think again! Dahe Publishing is the best publisher in our province; if you’re this stubborn… you’ll offend people.”

“Li Ye, why not let us see your manuscript first? The teachers can help you brainstorm and find where it’s lacking…”

In the principal’s office of County No. 2 Middle School, several teachers took turns persuading Li Ye to change his mind and accept Dahe Publishing’s offer.

To them, this kid was just being dramatic—never been beaten down by society, a stubborn middle-schooler who wouldn’t swallow even a single breath of hardship.

But Li Ye’s stance was unshakable: I write novels to get rich, not to be lectured.

So Li Ye replied coolly, “Principal Chang, Teacher Luo, thank you for your concern, but I’ve already decided to switch to another publisher.”

“If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going—I can handle this myself.”

“……”

Principal Chang looked at Li Ye, then nodded slightly: “Alright, go home and think it over. Opportunities like this are rare—don’t throw them away lightly.”

After Li Ye left, Principal Chang turned to the teachers, all frustrated: “This boy has strong willpower—don’t meddle. I’ll notify his family; let them decide.”

“This… is such a waste.”

“Sigh, truly ignorant of good fortune!”

The teachers sighed and dispersed, none noticing the flicker of mockery in Principal Chang’s eyes.

He picked up the phone and dialed the Grain Bureau.

“I’d like to speak with Director Li…”

Li Zhongfa received the call from County No. 2 Middle School and wondered: Didn’t we just distribute a batch of subsidized grain? Why again?

Before he’d said two sentences, he shot to his feet, knocking over his chair.

“What did you say? Say it again!”

The crash of the chair and Li Zhongfa’s booming voice startled many colleagues in the Grain Bureau.

They crept closer, peering cautiously into Li Zhongfa’s office.

The door was open, and they saw their usually stern and composed Director Li—his face shifting like a dyer’s workshop: now red, now white, full of shock and confusion.

“Don’t worry, Principal Chang. Your teachers are cultured people—you can’t just hit a brat. I’ll handle him myself—he’s gone too far.”

“Understood, understood. No matter how talented he is, he’s still my grandson—I must teach him humility…”

Far away, Grain Bureau staff exchanged glances, as if they’d all guessed the secret.

Half a year ago, Li Zhongfa’s grandson had been dumped by a college student; everyone had gossiped endlessly.

Now it seemed this handsome, golden-appearing young man had done something again.

But just as they thought this, they heard Li Zhongfa’s unrestrained laughter.

“Hahahaha~ Hahahaha~”

Everyone stared at each other, baffled—what had gotten into their director?

Li Zhongfa laughed heartily for a long while before dialing the fertilizer plant.

“I’d like to speak with Li Kaijian… Who am I? I’m his father.”

“Kaijian! Go to County No. 2 Middle School right now and drag that kid home… Why? He’s gotten too big for his britches—I need to trim his feathers.”

Li Kaijian, hanging up, was utterly confused—what game was his old man playing?

But Li Ye “getting too big for his britches” was something Li Kaijian felt deeply.

A few days ago, Li Ye had bought five pairs of new-style leather boots from the provincial capital—each woman in the family got one, but neither Li Kaijian nor Li Zhongfa got a pair.

Li Zhongfa had cursed, “All that effort for nothing!”—only to be fiercely scolded by his wife, nearly losing face in front of everyone.

Now that this chance to “trim his feathers” had come, he’d make sure that brat learned his lesson.

Li Kaijian felt his leather military belt, hanging at his waist, already hungry for action.

…

Two hours later, Li Ye and Li Dayong were dragged by Li Kaijian into the Li family courtyard.

Then Li Zhongfa explained the whole story—and then… Li Ye and Li Dayong were put on display, stared at by the entire Li family like monkeys in a provincial zoo.

Li Kaijian’s leather military belt, unsurprisingly, ended up in the hands of his mother—Li Ye’s grandmother.

Then Li Kaijian’s backside received two sharp whacks from her.

【You, this oaf, think you’re fit to hit my grandson?】

The former soldier, workshop supervisor, stared at Li Ye, left and right, seeing only his beloved son—yet how had he suddenly grown so strange?

A few days ago he’d brought home a fistful of cash—unbelievable enough—but now what?

Writing novels?

And refusing a publisher’s offer…

Have you turned into a spirit?

“Cough.”

Li Zhongfa cleared his throat with great dignity and said, “Li Ye, Grandpa knows you’ve got talent—but talent alone won’t get you far in this world. You need brains too…”

“Who says our Xiao Ye lacks brains? I say you two are the ones without brains!”

Li Zhongfa’s serious speech was interrupted by the old matriarch, leaving him speechless.

So Li Zhongfa cut to the chase: “Xiao Ye, bowing your head for a moment isn’t cowardice. They’re the gatekeepers; you’re the submitter. They criticize you a little—it won’t peel off a speck of oil skin. Just let it go in one ear and out the other. Besides, didn’t they call back right after and agree to publish you?”

Li Ye sighed. “Grandpa, I want to publish smoothly and earn some royalties—but their attitude is too high-handed. I think another publisher would be better.”

"What do you mean 'another publisher'?" Li Zhongfa snapped. "Do you think publishers are radishes in the field that you can just pluck at will? Look around Qingshui County—how many people in recent years have even published a novel? Even a tiny newspaper snippet is shown off for days!"

Li Ye smiled sheepishly and pulled a sheet of paper from his schoolbag.

“I’m not going to pull radishes from the ground—but the radish will come to me on its own!”

Li Ye chuckled awkwardly and pulled a piece of paper from his backpack.

Li Zhongfa didn’t understand Li Ye’s words, but he recognized the paper in his hand.

It was “telegraph paper”—the fastest form of written communication in the 1980s.

Li Ye handed the telegraph paper to Li Zhongfa, who immediately asked his wife for his reading glasses.

【Our press has accepted your submission. We are dispatching editor Dong Yuejin to your location to discuss publication details…】

The telegraph contained only two lines, but Li Zhongfa read it over and over, pondering its meaning.

“Huh,” Li Zhongfa inhaled sharply. “When did you receive this telegraph, Xiao Ye?”

Li Ye replied, “Just before school ended. I’d just gotten it when Dad grabbed me by the belt and dragged me home.”

“Hss,” Li Zhongfa drew in a breath. “Xiao Ye, when did you receive this telegram?”

Li Zhongfa slammed his fist on the desk and yelled at Li Kaijian: “Who told you to use the belt? You’re over forty—why are you acting like a thug?!”

Li Kaijian opened his mouth but couldn’t speak—his grievances choked inside him.

【Didn’t you tell me to trim his feathers? Now why are you trimming mine? Haven’t I been submissive for years? You forget your son once you have a grandson—is that how you treat family?】

Li Kaijian dared not defy Li Zhongfa, so he turned, face dark, and demanded of Li Ye: “Explain this telegraph.”

Li Ye explained: “It’s from Lanhai Publishing in Daocheng. They’ve accepted my submission and have already sent someone to Qingshui County to discuss publication with me. Can you understand the difference between this and the provincial publisher?”

Could Li Kaijian not understand?

One side was arrogant, making Li Ye bring his manuscript to them and beg for approval.

The other side sent someone directly to Li Ye’s home to negotiate terms.

The difference was enormous.

Watching Li Ye’s quiet pride, Li Kaijian couldn’t help asking: “What changed? How did you suddenly become so smart?”

“……”

Li Ye knew he couldn’t avoid it forever. After a few seconds of silence, he said: “This is something Li Dayong knows. I got sick suddenly—fevered for two straight days… When I woke up, I was different.”

Li Kaijian asked urgently: “How were you different?”

Li Ye smirked. “My waist doesn’t ache anymore, my legs don’t hurt, I eat everything with appetite, my mind’s sharp now. Before, I’d read a textbook or problem set eight times and still forget it—now I read it once and remember most of it.”

The entire Li family listened like they were hearing a fairy tale, imagining the miraculous rebirth of this prodigy.

Li Dayong quickly added: “Master, Uncle Kaijian—it’s true! Ever since Li Ye recovered, he’s been supernatural… We’ve been doing the problems you got for him, Master. Those problems were harder than the teacher’s—none of us could solve them, but Li Ye could—and he explained them to us…”

Li Dayong chattered on. Li Zhongfa first looked confused, then grew serious.

Li Dayong quickly chimed in: “Private Secretary, Uncle Kaibian, it’s true—ever since that day Li Ye recovered, he’s been extraordinary...”

For the past few days, we’ve been working on the problems Master gave to Li Ye—those problems were even better than the teacher’s, and none of us could solve them, only Li Ye could, and then he explained them to us.......

Li Dayong rambled on, and Li Zhong initially looked confused, then grew serious.

“Problems? What problems?”