The Thirsty Leather Belt

"Li Ye, don't be so impulsive. Maybe they really just want to guide you with good intentions?"

"Li Ye, please reconsider! Dahe Publishing House is the best publisher in our province. If you're this stubborn, you'll offend people."

"Li Ye, why don't you let us see your manuscript first? The teachers can all brainstorm with you and find any areas for improvement."

Inside the principal's office at County Second High School, several teachers took turns trying to persuade Li Ye, hoping he would change his mind and agree to Dahe Publishing House's publishing offer.

In their opinion, Li Ye was just being difficult, someone who hadn't experienced the harsh realities of the world, a chuunibyou kid who couldn't even swallow a single bite of pride.

But Li Ye's attitude was exceptionally firm. This young master is writing novels to get rich, not to be guided.

So Li Ye said indifferently, "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 back now. I can handle this myself."

Principal Chang looked at Li Ye and nodded slightly, "Alright, you go back and think about it. This kind of opportunity is very rare, don't give up so hastily."

After Li Ye left, Principal Chang said to the teachers who were frustrated by his lack of progress, "This child is resolute. Don't interfere anymore. I'll notify his family and let them decide."

"This is too much of a pity."

"Sigh, truly a case of not knowing what's good for you while you have it!"

The teachers dispersed with long sighs, none of them noticing the fleeting hint of mockery in Principal Chang's eyes.

He picked up the phone and dialed the Grain Bureau.

"I'm looking for Director Li."

When Li Zhongfa received the call from County Second High School, he wondered if he hadn't just allocated a batch of affordable grain. Why were they calling again?

Before they could exchange more than a few words, he shot up from his seat, knocking his chair over.

"What did you say? Say it again!"

The sound of the chair falling and Li Zhongfa's booming voice startled many of his colleagues in the Grain Bureau.

They quietly gathered around, cautiously peeking into Li Zhongfa's office.

The office door wasn't fully closed, and they saw that Director Li, usually dignified and composed, had a face as colorful as a dye shop, turning red, then white, filled with surprise and uncertainty, displaying the full spectrum of human emotion.

"Don't worry, Principal Chang. Your teachers are all educated people, and it's difficult to discipline unruly children. I'll personally discipline him today. He's really gone too far."

"Understood, understood. No matter how capable he is, he's still my grandson. I must teach him humility."

The people at the Grain Bureau heard Li Zhongfa's words from a distance and exchanged glances, as if they had guessed some secret.

Less than half a year ago, Li Zhongfa's grandson had his engagement broken off by a university student. Everyone had gossiped about it for a while.

Now it seemed that the handsome young man, who was all show and no substance, might have gotten into trouble again.

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

"Hahahahahaha~ Hahahahahaha~"

Everyone looked at each other, wondering what had gotten into their director.

After laughing heartily for a good while, Li Zhongfa dialed the Fertilizer Factory.

"I'm looking for Li Kaijian. Who am I? I'm his father."

"Kaijian! Go to County Second High School immediately and bring that kid home. Why? The kid's gotten too big for his britches, and I need to clip his wings."

Li Kaijian, who hung up the phone, was completely bewildered, unable to figure out what game his father was playing.

However, he deeply empathized with Li Ye's "wings having grown strong."

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 a pair, but neither he, Li Kaijian, nor Li Zhongfa received any.

Li Zhongfa had cursed, "I've doted on this brat for nothing," only to be fiercely criticized by his wife, nearly losing face at his advanced age.

Since he had this opportunity to "clip his wings" today, he would definitely make the brat remember this.

Li Kaijian felt the leather belt at his waist growing impatient.

Two hours later, Li Ye and Li Dayong were brought to the Li family courtyard by Li Kaijian.

Then Li Zhongfa explained the whole story. After that, Li Ye and Li Dayong were paraded around by the Li family elders, like monkeys at the provincial zoo.

Li Kaijian's leather belt, as expected, ended up in his mother's, Li Ye's grandmother's, hands.

Subsequently, Li Kaijian's backside was severely spanked twice by his mother.

You good-for-nothing, you have the nerve to hit my grandson?

The dignified veteran and workshop director looked at Li Ye, scrutinizing him from head to toe. He looked like his beloved son, but why had he suddenly become so defiant?

A few days ago, he brought home a large sum of money, which was already incredible, but what did he say today?

Writing novels?

And refusing a publishing offer from a publisher?

"Are you possessed or something?"

"Ahem~"

Li Zhongfa cleared his throat with an air of importance and said, "Li Ye, Grandpa knows you're capable, but in this society, capability alone isn't enough to get by. You need brains too."

"Where does our Little Ye lack brains? I think you two, father and son, are the ones who lack brains!"

His serious pronouncement was interrupted by Grandma Li, much to Li Zhongfa's speechless frustration.

So, Li Zhongfa decided to cut to the chase: "Little Ye, bowing your head temporarily doesn't make you a coward. They are the gatekeepers, and you are the submitter.

What's a few words from them? Just let it go in one ear and out the other. Besides, didn't they call back right after and agree to publish your work?"

Li Ye sighed. "Grandpa, I want to get published smoothly too, so I can earn some royalty fees. But their attitude was too arrogant. I think it's better to switch to another publishing house."

"What do you mean, switch?" Li Zhongfa asked, somewhat exasperated. "Do you think publishing houses are like radishes in a field, you just pick whichever one you fancy?

Count how many people in all of Qingshui County have managed to publish a novel these past few years! Even publishing a small blurb in the newspaper is something people brag about for days!"

Li Ye gave a sheepish smile and took out a piece of paper from his school bag.

"I wouldn't just pull radishes from the field, but those radishes would come running into my arms themselves!"

"..."

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

It was "telegram paper," the fastest way to transmit written information in the 1980s.

Li Ye handed the telegram paper to Li Zhongfa, who quickly asked his wife to fetch his reading glasses.

[Our publishing house has accepted your submission and is dispatching editor Dong Yuejin to your location to discuss publishing matters.]

The telegram only had a few lines, but Li Zhongfa read it over and over, pondering its meaning.

"Hiss," Li Zhongfa inhaled sharply and asked, "Little Ye, when did you receive this telegram?"

Li Ye replied, "Just before school let out. As soon as I got the telegram, my dad dragged me home with his belt."

"Smack~"

Li Zhongfa slammed his hand on the table and cursed at Li Kaijian, "Who told you to use the belt? You're over forty years old, why are you still acting like a reckless thug?"

Li Kaijian's mouth hung open, a flood of grievances unable to escape.

[Didn't you want to smooth Li Ye's fur? Now you're smoothing me? Haven't I been submissive all these years? You have a grandson now and forget your son, can't you be this heartless, please?]

Li Kaijian didn't dare to provoke Li Zhongfa, so he turned to Li Ye with a dark expression and asked, "Explain this telegram to me."

Li Ye explained, "This is a telegram from Island City Blue Sea Publishing House. They've accepted my submission and have already sent someone to our Qingshui County to discuss publishing with me. Can you understand the difference between this and the provincial publishing house?"

Could Li Kaijian not understand?

One was arrogant, making Li Ye come to them with his manuscript and face their condescending attitude.

The other was directly sending someone to Li Ye's territory to negotiate terms.

The difference was significant.

Seeing Li Ye's slight smugness, Li Kaijian finally couldn't help but ask, "What exactly clicked for you? How did you suddenly become so smart?"

"..."

Li Ye knew he couldn't avoid this forever. After a few seconds of silence, he said, "Li Dayong knows about this. I was suddenly sick that time, had a fever for two consecutive days, and when I woke up, I was different."

Li Kaijian hastily asked, "How were you different?"

Li Ye gave a wicked smile. "My back doesn't ache, my legs don't hurt, I have a good appetite for everything, and my mind is sharp. Before, I couldn't remember texts or practice questions even after reading them eight times, but now I can grasp the general idea after one read."

The old and young of the Li family listened as if hearing a story, their imaginations running wild with Li Ye's narration, feeling like a monstrous rebirth.

Li Dayong quickly chimed in, "Teacher, Uncle Kaijian, it's true. Ever since Li Ye recovered that day, he's been amazing.

We were all working on the problems Teacher gave Li Ye a few days ago. Those problems were even better than the ones the teacher gave, and we couldn't solve them. Only Li Ye could, and then he explained them to us."

Li Dayong chattered on. Li Zhongfa was initially confused, then became serious.

"Problems? What problems?"