Chapter 63: Let Me See Your Qualification

After Li Ye stepped onto the stage, he merely bowed slightly to Principal Chang and the others, then walked to the microphone.

This was clearly different from Lu Jingyao’s approach when she took the stage, smiling and chatting warmly with the teachers.

He couldn’t help it—he was angry.

Even though Li Ye had made a dazzling entrance in military posture, blinding the eyes of hundreds of high schoolers, being dragged up to speak without any preparation left him anything but comfortable.

Only because Li Ye had spent his past life enduring the grind of society and knocking down countless people could he remain calm; any typical eighteen- or nineteen-year-old high schooler thrown on stage unprepared would’ve turned red, stammered, and couldn’t even let out a single fart.

“Cough~”

Li Ye cleared his throat lightly, tested the old PA system at County No. 2 High—it was slightly distorted, but overall fine, wouldn’t turn “5” into “7.”

“Hello everyone, I’m Li Ye. Since I didn’t know I’d be speaking today, I didn’t prepare any notes,

and if I say anything inappropriate later, please don’t take it to heart—just think of it as a dumb kid babbling.”

“When I wrote that novel........”

“Hahahahahaha~ Hahahahahaha~”

After Li Ye finished his first two sentences, the crowd fell silent; only when he reached halfway through the third did laughter suddenly erupt from below,

like a slow-witted guy who just got the punchline of a comedian’s joke.

Li Ye was first stunned, then smiled, waiting until everyone had laughed themselves out before asking: “That funny? I don’t think I’m a dumb kid, but apparently a lot of people insist I am!”

“Hahahahaha~~”

This round of laughter lasted slightly shorter, as Deputy Principal Tang Feiyu stood up and swept his sharp gaze across the crowd, forcibly silencing them.

Even the young teachers onstage couldn’t suppress their smiles.

Principal Chang was first surprised, then smiled faintly.

Talent should be cultivated without rigid constraints—Li Ye was inherently exceptional, not to be judged by ordinary standards.

So he whispered to Li Ye: “Li Ye, tell everyone about your writing experience!”

“Writing experience?”

Li Ye glanced at Principal Chang, then turned back without immediately launching into writing advice.

Doing so could’ve boosted his reputation significantly.

But for these students preparing for the college entrance exam, it might mislead them.

After a moment’s thought, Li Ye dropped his carefree smile.

He spoke calmly: “Perhaps many people think my act of writing a novel and earning a few thousand yuan in royalties is inspiring.”

“But I want to say....... don’t you dare copy me—don’t waste your energy on unsuitable pursuits at the most critical moment of your life.”

Principal Chang was stunned.

In recent days, many teachers from No. 1 High had been inquiring about Li Ye at No. 2 High—though they spoke politely, their envy was unmistakable.

So the smug Principal Chang wanted Li Ye to recount his writing story, to sting those envious teachers from No. 1 High.

But what was Li Ye doing now? Self-deprecation? Self-criticism?

Are you the type to be humble?

Li Ye ignored the others and continued: “Today, you’ve all gathered here despite this weather—I believe it’s because of the college entrance exam, because of university.......”

“I don’t need to reiterate the importance of the college entrance exam—I’ll just tell you its meaning.”

“The college entrance exam is the most important opportunity our generation has had to change our fates,

and if you miss it, you’ll regret it for life—because once you leave school, you’ll realize there’s never again an opportunity as fair and straightforward as this one.”

Li Ye pointed casually, striking Zhang Xuefeng’s pose.

“For example, if you want to become a worker after school, sorry—you need a dad willing to let you take his job, and you have to coax your younger brother into giving it up to you.”

“Or if you want to earn royalties like me, note that you must have the same talent—and the same luck.”

“Or if you want to........”

“But only the college entrance exam is entirely in your hands—in front of scores, everyone is equal,

whether you get into university has nothing to do with whether your grandpa is a bureau chief.”

“.........”

The entire crowd fell silent, stunned—even the schoolteachers behind Li Ye looked bewildered.

In 1981, even ordinary stand-up comedians hadn’t mastered this kind of stand-up speaking style.

Li Ye gently tapped the microphone and said: “Now, shouldn’t there be applause?”

“Hahahahahaha~ Hahaha~”

“Clap clap clap~ Clap clap clap~”

Laughter and thunderous applause erupted across the field.

After the crowd had laughed themselves out, Li Ye said seriously: “I’ve said all this to make you understand—from now on, stop doing anything unrelated to your studies,”

Li Ye’s gaze swept over Xia Yue, Jin Shengli, and others, his tone growing sharper.

“Stop mocking others, stop scheming against them, stop wanting to see someone’s humiliation, stop fighting for power and influence....... just mind your own business!”

The playground fell silent again.

Li Ye’s repeated bursts of laughter had given everyone joy, but now he made them feel a cold, stinging push.

【You’ve got a great grandpa—do you? Then why aren’t you working harder?】

Li Ye released the microphone and turned to leave the stage.

Taking off his big coat looked cool, but the north wind howled—he felt he was about to freeze solid.

But at that moment, someone suddenly stood up in the crowd and shouted: “Li Ye, your novel isn’t even available in the provincial capital,

with such high writing ability, shouldn’t you share your experience so we can learn from it?”

Li Ye stared at the impulsive boy, then walked back.

“I scored just over two hundred on last year’s college entrance exam—sure you want to learn from me?”

“Hahahahahaha~”

“If you absolutely must understand my writing ability....... then, borrowing a Western saying: God closed one door for you, but opened a window—”

“But if you believe that now, when you fail the college entrance exam, you can pull that line out again to comfort yourself.”

“Hahahahahaha~”

Another wave of good-natured laughter rose, and the boy’s face turned instantly red.

But just as Li Ye laughed at this “good-natured prank,” the boy threw out a sentence he never expected.

“Li Ye, you won’t talk about your novel because you’re afraid we’ll discover your deceit!

I asked several writers—they all said ‘Infiltration’ could never have been written by a young person.”

“‘Infiltration’ wasn’t written by you.”

Confusion, shock, doubt, sudden realization—complex emotions swirled through everyone’s minds, weaving thick suspicion directly toward Li Ye.

Li Ye’s expression turned grim.

He didn’t recognize the boy below—he wasn’t from No. 2 High; no student there would dare confront Li Ye head-on anymore.

Seeing Li Ye remain silent and calm, the boy’s confidence surged: “Why won’t you speak? Why won’t you explain? Did I hit the nail on the head?”

【Explain? Do you even have the qualification to hear my explanation?】

Li Ye tilted his head, looking down at the boy with contempt: “I’d like to know who these writers you mentioned are—but I doubt you’d dare name them,

because treacherous little snakes always hide in dark corners, avoiding the judgment of noonday sunlight.”

“And you,”

Li Ye pointed at the boy: “You can discuss my novel, you can question my ability—that’s your right,

But if you want to challenge me face-to-face, first show me your own work—let me see your qualification, because I’m afraid that if I explain to you, you won’t understand.

“Whoa~~”

A wave of sharp inhales echoed across the playground, lingering long—even the howling wind couldn’t drown it out.

Arrogant!

In just a few sentences, Li Ye had stamped those two characters onto his own forehead.

Everyone recognized his arrogance—but no one stepped forward to teach him a lesson.

Even the teachers were wondering whether this “dumb kid” would show them any respect.

【You want to question me? Fine—show me your work, let me judge whether you have the qualification.】

What qualification?

Is it the prestige of the publication that printed your work? Or the total royalties you’ve earned?

If it’s the former, you might still bluster and argue.

But if it’s the latter?

Sorry—no one in Qingshui County can match it.

The royalties from Island Blue Sea Publishing were sent via post office; Li Ye had to cash them in person—how much he earned couldn’t be hidden.

That was nearly three thousand yuan!

Lu Jingyao had once doubted Li Ye, had wanted to ask him,

but now, remembering her own five yuan and fifty fen, she felt Li Ye was already up in the clouds, impossibly distant.

“Clap~~ Clap~~ Clap~~ Clap~~”

A solitary clap rang out.

Wen Leyu sat up straight, her small hands clapping steadily and continuously,

usually her delicate face was cold and proud—but now, for the first time, it held admiration.

“Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap~”

Wen Leyu’s applause lasted only a few lonely seconds,

then the other seven in the small group began clapping too,

and after a long while, the crowd was stirred by this persistent, resolute clapping, the sound rolling like thunder.