You're Confused!

"It was the math, physics, and chemistry test papers! Didn't you have someone bring them back from the big city?"

The papers used by Retake Class One were all mimeographed by the school, but Teacher Ke had clearly stated at the time that they were "papers written by student Li Ye." Xia Yue and the others did not believe it, but Li Dayong did.

Li Dayong was big and burly, but his mind was exceptionally delicate. Ever since Li Ye and Wen Leyu had started tinkering with novels, the test papers handed out in class had quickly stopped offering much that was new.

Wasn't that obvious enough? It was all thanks to my brother!

Li Zhongfa was extremely baffled, because he had never pulled any strings to get Li Ye any test papers.

With his level of knowledge—not even recognizing all twenty-six English letters—he did not know that high-level test papers were an effective means of improving college entrance exam scores.

So Li Zhongfa asked Li Ye doubtfully, "Test papers from the big city? Did that girl from the Lu family mail them to you—"

"Not her."

Li Ye denied it flatly.

He truly could not understand why the people around him still thought he and Lu Jingyao were tangled up with one another.

Li Zhongfa knew he had gone down the wrong path. He had thought that the Lu family's girl really wanted to fulfill Father Lu's promise and help Li Ye "get into the capital"!

Now, it seemed that she had flown onto a branch and become a phoenix.

But Li Zhongfa always felt that his grandson no longer seemed quite so obsessed with that phoenix.

So the old man continued asking, "Xiao Ye, then where did you get the papers?"

Li Ye said, "I wrote them myself. At first, they were only for Da Yong and a few close friends to copy out and practice with. Later, the teachers thought they should be shared with everyone—"

Li Zhongfa frowned and asked in a deep voice, "Then just how much use can these test questions be?"

Li Ye thought for a moment, then said modestly, "With our class's current situation, if we keep studying like this, we should be able to improve by around one hundred fifty to two hundred points!"

"..."

Everyone around them was dumbfounded.

In these times, even Li Zhongfa, who called himself a rough old man, knew what an increase of one hundred fifty to two hundred points meant.

But precisely because they knew what it meant, no one believed Li Ye's "nonsense."

In an era when just over three hundred points could get you into junior college, you said you could help your classmates improve by one hundred fifty to two hundred points?

If word got out, what kind of consequences would that bring?

Countless parents would surely lead their children to his door, begging him to help raise their scores.

Come, come, this is my grandson. Please put in some extra care. We're not asking for one hundred fifty points—one hundred will do. I'll kowtow to you first.

Good heavens!

Li Zhongfa smacked his lips and said to Li Ye, "You have to take responsibility for boasting. Tell Grandpa the truth. How many points can they really improve by?"

Li Ye had no way to answer. You would not believe me even if I told the truth! Was he supposed to make something up instead?

At that moment, Li Dayong beside him spoke up "righteously." "Advisor, I wouldn't dare say they can improve by over a hundred points, but it really works.

"I used to rank in the thirties in both math and physics in Class One. In the test a few days ago, I ranked fourteenth in math and eleventh in physics. Several other classmates improved a lot too."

Li Zhongfa and Li Kaijian looked at each other, then both slapped their thighs.

"Ah!"

"You're confused!"

Before Li Zhongfa could even speak, Li Kaijian was already beside himself with anxiety. He turned to Li Ye and began firing away.

"You two foolish boys, do you know that the college entrance exam isn't about competing in scores? It's about competing in rankings! Only so many people get admitted. One point more or one point less means a different fate.

"If you help other people raise their scores, you're squeezing down your own rankings!"

Li Ye smiled. "It's not that serious. I can definitely get in. Besides, dad, what kind of awareness is that? You were even a veteran!"

In truth, Li Ye knew that soldiers were not all blindly self-sacrificing. He was only using it to shut Li Kaijian up.

When facing danger, soldiers would charge into battle without hesitation, but one should never think soldiers did not understand human affairs and worldly ways.

If you did not believe it, just look at the veterans around you. Aside from those who were especially honest and dutiful, they were all quite clear-headed and skilled at handling situations, each one sharp-eyed and perceptive.

Li Kaijian opened his mouth to curse, but could not bring himself to do it. There was no other reason—this workshop director loved talking to people about awareness.

But Grandma Li did not care about that. She poked a finger right into her precious grandson's forehead.

"You're just too honest, always thinking of others. Did others ever think of you? When Lu Jingyao took the college entrance exam last year, did she help you? Why haven't you learned your lesson yet?"

Only the old grandmother at home dared mention Lu Jingyao in front of Li Ye. No one else would poke at the pot that would not boil.

No one spoke. Li Dayong beside them also looked sheepish and extremely awkward.

He understood what Grandma Li was talking about all too well.

Not to mention anything else, when the little group led by Xia Yue got hold of a new set of papers from County First High School, they would not even let Li Dayong and the others copy them.

Where could they find someone as upright and selfless as Li Ye? Yet after using paper after paper, all he got in return was wave after wave of sarcastic sniping.

After his grandmother poked his forehead, Li Ye could only explain, "Grandma, you've got it wrong. How could I be a foolish boy?

"One fence needs three stakes; one hero needs three helpers. I'm just seeing whether there are a few people who know to repay kindness, lending them a hand along the way. They might become helpers in the future."

Grandma Li was still not appeased, muttering that her grandson had been taken advantage of.

Li Ye kicked Li Dayong in the shin, and the latter hurriedly stepped out to draw the fire.

"Advisor, Grandma, Uncle Kai Jian, what Li Ye said is true. Li Ye doesn't write papers for the class anymore, because a lot of people are ungrateful wolves."

These past few days, because Li Ye no longer explained problems to his classmates, many people had been making snide remarks and spreading rumors. Li Dayong, Hu Man, and the others argued with them every day.

But fewer and fewer people believed that student Li Ye was "wholeheartedly serving the public," while more and more people mocked Li Ye for being selfish and self-serving.

By now, the "Li-supporting faction" centered around Li Dayong and Hu Man had dwindled to just a few people.

"Look at that, look at that. Didn't I say you were a foolish boy? You treated them with a heart full of kindness, and they turned around and cursed you instead."

"Enough!"

Li Zhongfa let out a stern shout, then asked Li Ye and Li Dayong, "How many of these helpers who know to repay kindness are there?"

Li Ye considered it, then said, "Seven."

Li Dayong added, "Including Wen Leyu, there are seven."

"Seven is not a small number," Li Zhongfa said. "Last year, our entire county didn't even have seven people get admitted."

"Then what are you planning to do in the future? If the teachers come asking you for questions and papers again, what will you do?"

Having weathered so many storms, Li Zhongfa immediately found the key issue.

Looking at things now, Li Ye could not possibly keep writing questions and explaining them for his classmates. But what about the teachers?

There was still quite some time before the college entrance exam. You seven could not possibly stop doing new papers, could you? So when the teachers came to Li Ye asking for questions, how would he deal with it?

Students and teachers stood in different positions.

Students crowded onto a single-plank bridge, wishing they could sweep everyone else off with one pole and leave only themselves on the bridge.

But teachers wanted the students under their care to line up in order and cross that bridge smoothly, every last one of them.

One followed the selfishness in one's heart, while the other held great and noble public righteousness in one's hand. When the two collided, the individual was clearly weaker on the moral level.

Li Ye nodded. "That really is troublesome. In a few days, I plan to have Da Yong and the others start grinding through papers. The teachers will definitely notice."

Li Zhongfa's face hardened as he said solemnly, "You don't need to worry about that. I'll handle it for you.

"Also, how are you planning to receive that editor from Island City? Do you need me to find a few people from the county Writers' Association to accompany you?"

"No need," Li Ye refused. "It won't be convenient to discuss the price with outsiders present."

"The price?" Li Zhongfa froze. "What price?"

"The manuscript fee!"

Li Ye found it strange. "The state currently stipulates a manuscript fee of three to ten yuan per thousand characters. My goal is the top rate—ten yuan. Actually, I care more about the royalties after additional printings. That's where the money keeps flowing without end."

Li Zhongfa: "..."

Li Kaijian: "..."

Everyone in the Li family, plus Li Dayong: "..."

Only after quite a while did Li Zhongfa ask, "Xiao Ye, did you write novels for money?"

"Of course," Li Ye said firmly. "Who would do it if there was no money?"

Li Kaijian's face was full of scorn and disdain. "At such a young age, all you know is money. Have you crawled into a money hole or something?"

"What's wrong with doing it for money? What's wrong with doing it for money? You two grown men aren't even as good as my grandson!"

Grandma Li would not stand for it. She sprayed a few words at her husband and son, then asked Li Ye, "Good grandson, how much money can this novel of yours make?"

Li Ye considered it and said, "At the beginning, probably only a few thousand yuan. Later, it'll be a slow, steady stream."

"Whoa—"

Everyone was shocked. After all, a few thousand yuan in these times was a genuine fortune.

But Li Zhongfa's heart stirred as he thought of something.

The money Li Ye had made selling malt candy was still somewhat too hot to handle, hidden at home and not something they dared spend. But if he had this huge manuscript fee, would that not cover everything up?

Thinking of that, Li Zhongfa looked up at his grandson, only to meet Li Ye's gaze.

Li Ye smiled smugly.

Grandpa, you're right. That was exactly what I had in mind.

Dong Yuejin had squeezed onto a green train for more than ten hours, then ridden a bus for another two hours before finally reaching Qingshui County from Island City.

After getting off, he asked for directions all the way and finally arrived at Qingshui County No. 2 Middle School.

"Who are you looking for? What unit are you from?"

Old Liu Tou at the gatehouse stopped Dong Yuejin in a muffled voice.

"I'm looking for Li Ye. I'm from Blue Sea Publishing House. Here is my work permit."

Dong Yuejin took out his work permit and handed it to Old Liu Tou.

Old Liu Tou took it and gave it a perfunctory look, his turtle eyes rolling upward as he secretly studied Dong Yuejin.

He could not read, but he knew how to judge people.

At a glance, Dong Yuejin was a standard scholar, one of the same "crowd" as the teachers at the school.

As a school gatekeeper, Old Liu Tou knew how difficult teachers could be. They could argue one tiny point with you for an entire day.

"The office is over there... Forget it, I'll take you there!"

Old Liu Tou cursed his bad luck inwardly, but after thinking it over, he still led Dong Yuejin there.

Ever since Jin Peng had taught him a lesson some time ago, Old Liu Tou had held a grudge against Li Ye.

But a true man did not eat losses before his eyes. Seeing that Li Ye was about to rise, Old Liu Tou could not afford to provoke him, so he could only swallow his pride.

"Principal Chang, this comrade is from a publishing house. He's here to see Li Ye, so I brought him over."

"From a publishing house?"

Principal Chang, who had been reading documents, abruptly looked up and went forward with a beaming smile.

"You're comrades from Dahe Publishing House, right? Ah, welcome, welcome!"

"..."

Feeling the force of Principal Chang's sincere handshake, Dong Yuejin muttered suspiciously to himself, Dahe Publishing House? That's not right.

Dong Yuejin jolted awake and guessed Li Ye's maneuver of submitting the same manuscript to multiple publishers.

"Oh, um, may I see Li Ye? Our director gave me a task. I have to meet Li Ye himself as soon as possible."

"I understand, I understand. That child Li Ye! His temper is a little stubborn, but young people should have some vigor and spirit.

"After receiving your phone call, we already gave him criticism and education."

Dong Yuejin was utterly confused.

A child? Principal, what are you talking about?