Fang Bai arrived at the gate of Oubei No. 1 Middle School and was about to enter when a Gatekeeper of around sixty called out to him, "Young man, what are you here for?"
Fang Bai handed him a pack of cheap cigarettes and an orange, startling the Gatekeeper. So generous!
"Uncle Wang, I graduated from the senior class. My name is Fang Bai, and I'm here to enroll in the Repeater Class. I live nearby, so I'll be commuting from home."
"Oh, I see.
"If you're commuting, you'd better tell your Homeroom Teacher. Go register first."
Old Wang, the Gatekeeper, felt delighted after receiving the cigarettes. He found the student before him quite considerate and exceptionally polite, and immediately spoke with a kind, smiling face.
"Mm, I'll register first. Goodbye, Uncle Wang." Fang Bai waved to Old Wang, then swaggered into the teaching area.
Old Wang waved back as well, feeling that this student was far too polite.
Watching the student enter the campus, he took out the cigarettes he had received, carefully tore open the packaging, pulled one out, struck a match, and lit it. Narrowing his eyes, he took a satisfied puff.
With his salary, he could never bear to buy this kind of packaged cigarette. He usually smoked loose tobacco.
As Fang Bai walked into the campus, he reminisced.
Oubei Middle School was divided into a junior high division and a senior high division. The senior high division had thirty classes and six Repeater Classes.
The school covered more than a hundred mu. The senior high teaching building had four floors and had only been newly built a few years ago.
In terms of student quality, it ranked in the upper-middle range of Wen City.
The best junior high students had been lured away by vocational secondary schools and teacher-training schools. After another three years of study, they would be assigned jobs, and the concept of university was still rather vague to them.
Fang Bai's original Senior Year Class 871 had a total of sixty students. It had been an advanced class, yet only twelve had passed the Regular undergraduate cutoff. Of those, two had exceeded the Key University cutoff, but not by much, and neither had been admitted to a Key University.
The university admission rate was low. Tens of thousands competed to cross a single-log bridge; getting into a vocational college was already truly impressive.
There were especially many repeating students these days. More than forty percent of examinees each year were repeating students, and some even repeated through a fifth or sixth year of senior high.
At a school like Oubei Middle School, around one thousand students took the college entrance exam each year, with nearly four hundred of them being repeating students.
As Fang Bai drew closer to the senior high teaching building, he could hear teachers lecturing and students reciting lessons.
Just as he stepped onto the stairs of the teaching building, the bell rang for class to end.
Carrying a bag of fruit, Fang Bai headed toward Room 106, his former Homeroom Teacher's office.
The students passing by saw Fang Bai and were somewhat curious. Why was this handsome guy carrying a bag of fruit?
Besides, Fang Bai was dressed fashionably in jeans, a T-shirt, and canvas shoes. Combined with the calm confidence on his face, he looked rather handsome and somewhat out of place among the surrounding students.
Fang Bai had just reached office 106 when he happened to run into his former Homeroom Teacher returning from class.
"Homeroom Teacher, long time no see."
Luo Ziyang, who was in his thirties, heard the student before him address him and gave him a careful look. Once he recognized him, he was slightly surprised. "Eh, Fang Bai? I almost didn't recognize you. You're here to...?"
"I came to register for the Repeater Class and stopped by to visit you."
"You're a good kid. I just got out of class. Come in and let's talk." Luo Ziyang paused, then patted him on the shoulder.
Most students were rather reserved, but Fang Bai seemed different. His greeting was natural, without the slightest hint of nervousness, and he had even brought a bag of fruit.
Fang Bai entered the office and saw two other teachers chatting inside. He raised a hand in greeting. "Hello, teachers!"
"Oh, hello!"
Fang Bai placed the fruit on Luo Ziyang's desk, then took out four oranges and gave two to each teacher before placing another two on an empty desk.
The four teachers shared one office. Fang Bai had bought sixteen pieces of fruit; the remaining ten were for his Homeroom Teacher, so Luo Ziyang could only accept them politely.
"You're too polite. Fruit isn't cheap these days."
Fang Bai said cheerfully, "They were picked from a relative's home. I just brought some for the teachers to try. Maybe I'll have questions to ask you teachers in the future."
"Haha, you really know how to talk. You're welcome to come discuss things anytime."
After greeting the teachers in the room, Fang Bai spoke with his Homeroom Teacher about repeating the year.
"Quite a few students from your class are repeating. They all hope to get into university.
"With your score, if you repeat, you'll have a very good chance of getting into a vocational college. With better luck, you might even have a shot at an undergraduate program.
"If you want to repeat, school rules say you won't need to pay the repeating fee. You'll only need to pay for lodging." Luo Ziyang sat down, took a sip of tea to moisten his slightly hoarse throat, and spoke unhurriedly.
"I rented a place near the school and plan to commute. I also have some business to handle, so I might not attend classes at school all the time.
"My family's financial situation isn't very good. During these two or three months of vacation, I did a little business on my own and made some money.
"Otherwise, even food expenses would have been a problem. I also have a Younger Sister in the junior high division." Fang Bai roughly explained his situation. Otherwise, the school would definitely not agree to let him commute; they could not make an exception for one student without cause.
"Your situation is rather special. You'll need to apply to the school. Besides, doing business will definitely affect your studies, won't it? Can't you put it aside for now?"
"I'll still be at school most of the time. I'll only need to take leave occasionally."
"Fang Bai, I'll take you to see the school leaders and see what they say."
"Alright. Thank you, Homeroom Teacher."
"No need to be so polite. I haven't really helped you with anything. I hope the school leaders agree."
Fang Bai smiled. The Homeroom Teacher of an advanced class was still valued by the school leaders, and his words carried weight.
If Fang Bai went to the school leaders himself, he would be insignificant and his words would carry little weight. The school leaders did not know him, so no matter how sharp his tongue was, it would be difficult to make them believe what a young boy like him said.
The two arrived at the office in the middle of the second floor of the teaching building. Several school leaders shared one large office, and both the Principal and director of studies were there.
The Principal was Zhang Mubao, a man around sixty wearing a white shirt. He had a side-parted hairstyle, a square face, stood about 160 centimeters tall, and was slightly plump.
Luo Ziyang knocked on the door, entered, and went directly to the Principal.
"Principal, hello. Sorry to disturb you, but I have something to discuss."
"Teacher Luo, come in. What is it?"
"Principal, this is Fang Bai, an outstanding student from my class. He scored 480 on the college entrance exam and did not perform quite as well as he could have. He wants to repeat the year now, but his situation is somewhat special..." Luo Ziyang pointed at Fang Bai and roughly explained the circumstances.
In Zhejiang in 1990, the Key University cutoff was 540, the Regular undergraduate cutoff was 520, and the vocational college cutoff was 505. There was little difference between the score thresholds.
After listening, the Principal felt that the score was quite ordinary, but still decent. Fang Bai still had hope of getting into a vocational college. Getting even one student in was better than none; the school did not have many students who could get into vocational colleges.
He then looked Fang Bai over and said earnestly, "Student Fang Bai, students should focus on studying, not making money.
"With your grades, if you study hard for another year, getting into an undergraduate university will not be a problem."
"Principal, your words have struck straight at the heart of the matter. I'm deeply grateful for your concern for your students."
Fang Bai first gave the school leaders a slight bow, taking the lead in agreeing with the Principal's opinion and flattering him. Zhang Mubao's eyes lit up, while the director of studies and Luo Ziyang had not expected Fang Bai to be so articulate and knowledgeable about etiquette.
If it were an ordinary student standing before the Principal, he would probably struggle even to speak clearly.
Moreover, Fang Bai remained neither servile nor overbearing as he said naturally:
"However, I have no choice. My family is poor, so I can only set aside some time to make money and lessen my parents' burden.
"I guarantee that it will not interfere with my studies. My goal for the college entrance exam is to get into a good university. I also hope to bring honor to the school and live up to the school leaders' expectations."
The Principal folded his hands and said appreciatively, "It is rare for someone as young as Student Fang to be so filial. Thinking of lightening his family's burden at such an early age is worthy of praise.
"As for your family's situation, the school does not have much ability to provide support. I apologize for that.
"I hope Student Fang Bai will keep his focus on studying and get into a good university. I believe that is what your parents want as well."
The director of studies had been sitting at his desk listening to them the whole time. Seeing the Principal patiently persuade him, he felt that this student was being somewhat tactless. Turning to Fang Bai, he could not help advising, "Student Fang, study hard now. After you graduate, you can easily find work at some organization, and your monthly income will be at least two or three hundred yuan. That's much better than making a little money now."
"Yes, Fang Bai. The Principal and director of studies are both doing this for your own good." Luo Ziyang also tried to persuade him.
Fang Bai smiled. "Yes, thank you for your concern, school leaders.
"My business will not take up much time, perhaps only a few hours a week. This can solve my family's financial difficulties, and my Younger Sister's and my schooling expenses will no longer be a problem."
"How much money can you make in a few hours a week? Even if you can make a few yuan a month, that can't solve the problem, can it?" the director of studies asked directly, knowing that the Principal would not ask such a question outright.
Hearing that, Fang Bai knew that the director of studies was underestimating him. The Principal and his former Homeroom Teacher probably thought the same way.
That was understandable. A senior high student doing business would surely just be setting up a stall and selling little things, like popsicles. How much could he possibly make?
Sigh, sometimes it was hard even to keep a low profile.
He could only show off a portion of his capabilities. Otherwise, the Principal would likely not approve.
Fang Bai was truly unaccustomed to this kind of deliberate showing off. It brought no sense of satisfaction, and if one's skin was even a little thin, it would be embarrassing to do.
Only by standing at a certain level would the Principal take him seriously.
Otherwise, he would be insignificant and his words would carry little weight. Why would they believe him? Why would they make an exception and allow him to leave the school whenever he pleased?
Standing before the Principal, Fang Bai maintained his smile. Fortunately, he had anticipated that this might happen. He took two sheets of paper from his backpack and handed them to the Principal.
At the same time, he said casually:
"I rented a storefront outside the school and bought a faulty Radial Drilling Machine for three thousand yuan. After repairing it, I resold it for thirteen thousand. The owner of Hengli Company can verify this. These are the transaction contract I signed in the past few days and my lease contract.
"Of course, there are risks. How can doing business come without the possibility of losses? Who can guarantee they will always make money?"
As for the business information, it was not important at all. Even if he told them, they would not be able to replicate it.
The Principal took the contracts Fang Bai handed him, glanced at them, and read aloud, "Equipment Sales Contract. Buyer: Fang Bai, hereinafter referred to as Party A. Seller... Transaction amount in words: three thousand yuan exactly. In figures: 3,000 yuan..."
At the end of the contract were Hengli Company's official seal and Wang Hengli's signature.
After reading the initial equipment purchase contract, the final equipment sales contract, and the lease contract, he saw that all three had been handwritten by Fang Bai and were extremely formal.
Hearing the Principal read them aloud, the director of studies and Luo Ziyang could not help taking them to look at them as well.
After a while, everyone suppressed their astonishment. The Principal could not help raising a thumb in praise. "It seems I should call you Mr. Fang. You have a real head for business. Remarkable!"
The director of studies was also stunned. Hearing the Principal's praise, he knew the tone had been set and could only follow with flattery. "Young and accomplished!"
"That's impressive. One deal is better than what most people earn after several years of work." Luo Ziyang could not help admiring him, thinking that he himself was poorer after working than a student. It was too tragic.
Seeing that the Principal believed him, Fang Bai put away the contracts and smiled faintly. "Principal, please still call me Student Fang Bai. I've made everyone laugh over this.
"I don't have much business experience. I was forced into it by poverty. In the future, it will be enough if I can steadily earn some living expenses. I wouldn't dare call myself a businessman; I'm still far from success, and there is much social experience I need to learn from all of you.
"Business will not take up my time. I will still focus on studying. What do you think, Principal?"
Fang Bai had to be humble when humility was needed, and show off when showing off was needed. The timing had to be right.
Sure enough, hearing Fang Bai's humble words, everyone admired him even more.
Even the director of studies, who had initially been prejudiced against him, now greatly admired him. He felt this student was different: capable, yet better able to position himself properly—restrained, humble, and eloquent.
If it had been an ordinary student, a little praise from them would probably have made him unbearably arrogant.
"Alright, then. I'll make an exception for you."
The Principal smiled elegantly. Seeing Fang Bai's business ability, he actually hoped even more that Fang Bai could continue developing in business and perhaps help the school in the future.
Besides, the student knew how to lower his stance so much and had high emotional intelligence, which made him appreciate Fang Bai even more.
"Thank you, Principal. Thank you, Director of Studies." Fang Bai shook hands with him, then shook hands with the Director of Studies.
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