Chapter 7

“Everyone, stop crowding here! Class monitors, lead your classmates out in orderly class groups...”

“Comrade Ma, please have your security department help direct the students and prevent any crowding...”

After realizing Lu Zixue was lying, Director Yao immediately shouted commands to the surrounding students, driving away the lingering onlookers from the school gate.

Undeniably, students of this era were obedient and highly disciplined; within just a few minutes, they formed neat lines and departed from the entrance of County No. 1 Middle School.

Only when most people had left did he turn a grim face toward Li Ye and speak in as calm a tone as possible: “I will investigate this matter thoroughly. Until the truth is uncovered, the bicycle will be temporarily confiscated by the school. Once the investigation is complete...”

“I’m sorry,” Li Ye interrupted, “I’ll say it again: you have neither the authority nor the right to handle this. If you truly want to investigate, we can go to the X Police Station right now.”

“..........”

Director Yao glared at Li Ye, his back molars grinding audibly.

He could now guess that the Phoenix bicycle belonged to Li Ye, but from the standpoint of school discipline, he could not show weakness to a student—let alone apologize.

This was just like a company manager: even if he was wrong, he couldn’t lose face, or the entire company would become lax and collapse.

So Director Yao asked himself honestly and concluded he was not at fault.

But seeing the attitude of Security Chief Ma, plus Lu Zixue’s remark that “the X Police Station chief is Li Ye’s relative,” Director Yao knew he couldn’t suppress Li Ye today.

So he hardened his expression and coldly said: “I’m glad I didn’t admit a rotten apple like you into County No. 1 Middle School. Students like you are nothing but a cancer...”

But Li Ye interrupted Director Yao again, calmly saying: “You kept me out of the school gate—that was County No. 1 Middle School’s loss.”

“Loss?” Director Yao, no matter how much of a teacher he was, couldn’t help sneering: “What a joke. I’ve taught for decades and have never seen a student as arrogant and self-important as you.”

Li Ye glanced at him coolly and said: “Now you have.”

“You...”

Director Yao flew into a rage, ready to unleash the skills he’d honed over more than a decade to give Li Ye a proper lesson.

But Li Ye nodded to Chief Ma, turned, and mounted his bicycle, riding off.

“Look at this student! Look at this student!... Chief Ma, how could you have recommended him to our school? Thank goodness I stopped him—otherwise, what chaos would have ensued?”

Director Yao pointed at the retreating Li Ye and began complaining to Chief Ma.

Chief Ma endured two remarks, then said quietly: “Director Yao, that kid’s grandfather works in the grain department. I’m just a go-between. If you want to complain, don’t take it out on me!”

Director Yao froze, recalling the cold treatment he’d recently received from the school’s logistics staff, and finally understood.

In this era, there was a special system called “grain and oil relations”—the grain department held extraordinary power.

But Director Yao still believed he was right: strictly controlling student quality and raising County No. 1 Middle School’s college admission rate was his inescapable duty.

Open a back door in my school?

Not a chance!

Director Yao sighed, then turned to find Lu Zixue still timidly standing behind him.

He immediately burst with anger and took it out on Lu Zixue.

“Bring your bicycle certificate on Monday. If the bike really belongs to you, I’ll sue to get it back for you. If it doesn’t, write a self-criticism and hand it to me.”

“.........”

After leaving County No. 1 Middle School, Li Dayong stared at the Phoenix bicycle beneath Li Ye, his face full of envy.

Li Dayong’s bicycle was his father’s old one—rusty, heavy, and crude—nothing like the light, sleek 26-inch Phoenix, as if a poor boy were riding beside a rich young master.

Only because Li Ye was the only male heir in the Li family, doted on by everyone, and because his household had multiple earners, could they afford such a “good-looking but useless” thing.

At this time, most people buying bicycles prioritized practicality above all else.

In an era when cars were rarely seen on the road, bicycles were vital transport tools—carrying hundreds of jin over hundreds of li was commonplace.

Thus, this lightweight 26-inch Phoenix was truly a luxury.

As the two rode, Li Dayong suddenly realized they weren’t heading toward County No. 2 Middle School, so he asked: “Brother, are you going home?”

Li Ye nodded: “So much has happened these past few days. Do you think my family will never find out? If I don’t go home and explain, who knows what chaos will break out?”

County Qingshui was small—Li Ye’s reputation as “Huang Shiren” would soon reach his family’s ears. With his adoptive father Li Kaibian’s explosive temper, trouble was inevitable.

“True,” Li Dayong nodded in agreement. “Uncle Kaibian has a terrible temper. You’d better let my Master keep an eye on him.”

Li Dayong’s father had once trained under Li Ye’s grandfather, so Li Dayong respectfully called Li Ye’s grandfather “Master.”

Li Ye added: “Then come have dinner at my place today! I’ll buy a roast chicken on the way. Grandpa hasn’t seen you in a long time—he’ll want to test your kung fu skills.”

Li Dayong couldn’t help swallowing hard, but still shook his head: “No, I haven’t been home in weeks—I miss my mom.”

At this time, a roast chicken cost three yuan—seemed cheap, but a new factory apprentice earned only twenty-some yuan a month; no one could afford to eat one casually.

Li Dayong often borrowed Li Ye’s cigarettes and spent his money without guilt, but eating at Li Ye’s home made him uneasy.

“Alright, I’ll treat you another day.”

Li Ye didn’t insist. He waved goodbye to Li Dayong at the western city intersection and rode toward the fertilizer plant dormitory area, following his memory.

The fertilizer plant dormitory area was in eastern Qingshui County—not far from County No. 2 Middle School. Technically, Li Ye could have commuted.

But since a year ago, the original host had stubbornly chosen to live on campus.

First, because Lu Jingyao was also a boarding student; the young, naive original host longed to see her face every moment.

Second, because a year ago, after Li Kaibian resumed his job, he finally married a stepmother for the original host.

In the 1980s, social customs were far less progressive than in later times. Under the influence of outdated thinking, the original host developed intense resentment toward the sudden intrusion of his stepmother’s family, often refusing to go home for weeks at a time.

After absorbing the original host’s memories, Li Ye couldn’t help mentally cursing: “Ungrateful son.”

Li Kaibian had lived alone since his twenties, raising Li Ye and his sister alone for over a decade, only remarrying at forty—he deserved the title of “good father.”

Now that he’d resumed his job and his children had grown, wasn’t it natural for him to find a warm, caring wife to share his bed?

Wasn’t it right?