The School Leaders' Surprise

Fang Bai arrived at the gate of Oubei No. 1 Middle School and was about to step inside when a gatekeeper around sixty years old called out to him: "Young man, what are you up to?"

Fang Bai handed him a pack of cheap cigarettes and an orange, startling the gatekeeper: So generous!

"Uncle Wang, I'm a senior in the graduating class, name's Fang Bai. I'm here to sign up for the repeat program. I live nearby, so I'll be a day student from now on."

"Oh, I see. If you're going to be a day student, you'd better let your Homeroom Teacher know. Go register first."

Gatekeeper Wang got the cigarettes and felt pleased, thinking this student knew how to handle things—too polite, really. His face softened into a kindly smile as he chatted.

"Yeah, I'll go register now. See you later, Uncle Wang." Fang Bai waved at Wang, then strode confidently into the teaching area.

Gatekeeper Wang waved back, feeling this student was exceptionally courteous.

Watching the student enter the campus, he took out the cigarettes he'd just received, gently tore open the packaging, pulled one out, struck a match to light it, squinted, and took a satisfied drag.

On his salary, he could never afford to buy packaged cigarettes like these; he usually smoked loose tobacco.

Fang Bai walked into the campus, recalling memories as he went.

Oubei Middle School was divided into a junior high and a senior high division. The senior high had thirty teaching classes and six repeat classes.

The school covered over a hundred mu in total area. The senior high teaching building was four stories tall and had only been built a few years ago.

In terms of senior high student sources, the school ranked at the upper-middle level in Wen City.

The best junior high students had been lured away by technical secondary schools and normal schools, where they'd graduate after three more years and get job assignments, leaving them with a vague concept of university.

Fang Bai's original senior class, 871, had sixty students and was a top-tier class, but only twelve had passed the Regular Undergraduate Line. Two of those barely exceeded the key university line but weren't admitted to key universities.

The university admission rate was low—a million people crossing a single-log bridge. Passing the college entrance exam for a junior college was already impressive.

These days, Repeating students were everywhere. Over forty percent of each year's exam takers were repeaters, some even reaching their fifth or sixth year of senior high.

At Oubei Middle School, about a thousand students took the college entrance exam each year, with nearly four hundred being repeaters.

Fang Bai drew closer to the senior high teaching building, where he could hear teachers lecturing and students reciting.

Just as he stepped onto the stairs of the teaching building, the bell for class change rang.

Fang Bai, carrying a bag of fruit, headed toward his old Homeroom Teacher's office, Room 106.

Students passing by glanced at Fang Bai with curiosity: Why is this handsome guy carrying a bag of fruit?

Besides that, Fang Bai's outfit was a bit trendy—jeans, a T-shirt, and sneakers—paired with a confident, composed expression that made him look somewhat dashing, setting him apart from the surrounding students.

As soon as Fang Bai reached Office 106, he ran into his old Homeroom Teacher returning from class.

"Homeroom Teacher, long time no see."

Luo Ziyang, in his thirties, heard the student in front of him call out and took a good look at him. Once he recognized who it was, he was slightly surprised: "Hey, it's Fang Bai! I almost didn't recognize you. What are you..."

"I'm here to sign up for the repeat program and thought I'd drop by to visit you."

"You're a good kid. I just got out of class—come in and chat." Luo Ziyang paused for a moment, then patted him on the shoulder.

Most students were usually reserved, but Fang Bai seemed different. His greeting was natural, showed no sign of nervousness, and he'd even brought a bag of fruit.

Fang Bai walked into 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, handed two to each of the other teachers, and set two more on an empty desk.

Four teachers shared the office. Fang Bai had bought sixteen pieces of fruit, leaving ten for the Homeroom Teacher. Luo Ziyang had no choice but to accept them politely.

"You're too kind, student. Fruit isn't cheap these days."

Fang Bai said cheerfully, "They're from a relative's orchard. I just grabbed some to let you all try them. Who knows, I might need to ask you teachers for advice later."

"Haha, you sure know how to talk. You're always welcome to come and chat."

Fang Bai exchanged pleasantries with the teachers in the room, then discussed the repeat program with his Homeroom Teacher.

"A lot of people from your class are repeating, all hoping to get into university. With your scores, repeating gives you a good chance of getting into a junior college. With some luck, even a regular undergraduate is possible. If you want to repeat, according to school policy, you don't need to pay the repeat fee—just the dormitory fee." Luo Ziyang sat down, took a sip of tea to soothe his slightly hoarse throat, and spoke slowly.

"I've rented a place near the school and plan to be a day student. I also have some business to handle, so I might not be in class all the time. My family's financial situation isn't great, so over the past two or three months of break, I started a small business and made some money. Otherwise, I'd even struggle with meal expenses. I also have a younger sister in junior high." Fang Bai roughly explained his situation; otherwise, the school would never agree to let him be a day student. They wouldn't bend the rules for just one student.

"Your situation is a bit special. You'll need to apply to the school for approval. Besides, won't running a business interfere with your studies? Can't you put it on hold for now?"

"I'll still be at school most of the time. I just need to ask for leave occasionally."

"Fang Bai, let me take you to see the school leaders and see what they say."

"Alright, thank you, Homeroom Teacher."

"Don't mention it. I haven't done much to help you. I hope the school leaders agree."

Fang Bai smiled. The Homeroom Teacher of a top-tier class still carried weight with the school leaders; his words had influence.

If he went to the school leaders on his own, his words would carry little weight, and the school leaders didn't know him. No matter how sharp his tongue, it would be hard to make them believe a young kid like him.

The two of them arrived at the office on the second floor of the teaching building. Several school leaders shared a large office, and both the Principal and the Director of Studies were there.

Wearing a white shirt, about sixty years old, was the Principal, Zhang Mubao. He had a side-part hairstyle, a square face, stood around 160 cm tall, and was slightly overweight.

Luo Ziyang knocked on the door, entered, and went straight to the Principal.

"Principal, hello, sorry to bother you. I have something to discuss with you."

"Teacher Luo, come in. What's the matter?"

"Principal, this is an outstanding student from my class, Fang Bai. He scored 480 on the college entrance exam—a bit below his usual performance—and now he wants to repeat the year. The situation is a bit special..." Luo Ziyang pointed at Fang Bai and gave a brief rundown.

In 1990, the cutoff for Key Universities in Zhejiang was 540, for Regular Undergraduate it was 520, and for Vocational College it was 505, with very small gaps between each tier.

After hearing this, the Principal thought the score was average but still decent—there was hope for a vocational college spot at least. Every student counted, and the school didn't have many who could make it to vocational college anyway.

He took another look at Fang Bai and said earnestly, "Student Fang Bai, a student should focus on studying, not on making money.

With your grades, if you review properly, getting into an undergraduate university shouldn't be a problem."

"The Principal is wise. One sentence hit the key point. I'm very grateful for the Principal's concern for the students."

Fang Bai gave a slight bow to the school leaders, first agreeing with the Principal and buttering him up a bit. This made Zhang Mubao's eyes light up, and both the Director of Studies and Luo Ziyang were surprised at how well Fang Bai could speak and how polite he was.

An ordinary student standing in front of the Principal would barely be able to string words together.

Moreover, Fang Bai carried himself neither humble nor arrogant, speaking naturally:

"But I have no choice. There's no other option. My family is poor, so I have to take some time to earn a little money to lighten my parents' burden.

I promise it won't affect my studies. My goal for the college entrance exam is to get into a good university, and I hope to bring honor to the school and live up to the school leaders' expectations of the students."

The Principal crossed his hands and said appreciatively, "It's rare for a young man like Student Fang to be so filial, thinking about easing his family's burden so early. That's commendable.

As for your family situation, the school doesn't have much ability to support you, and I apologize for that.

I hope Student Fang Bai will focus on his studies and get into a good university. I think that's what your parents would want too."

The Director of Studies had been sitting in his seat listening the whole time. Seeing the Principal's earnest advice, he felt the student was being a bit ungrateful. Turning to Fang Bai, he couldn't help but urge, "Student Fang, you should study hard now. After graduation, you can find a job at any unit and earn two or three hundred yuan a month. That's much better than making a little pocket money now."

"Yes, Fang Bai, the Principal and the Director of Studies are both looking out for you," Luo Ziyang added.

Fang Bai smiled slightly and said, "Mm, thank you for the school leaders' concern.

My business doesn't take up much time—just a few hours a week. That's enough to solve my family's financial difficulties, and it covers the expenses for my younger sister and me to study."

"A few hours a week—how much money can that make? Even if you earn a few yuan a month, that won't solve anything," the Director of Studies pressed directly, knowing the Principal wouldn't ask such a question himself.

Hearing this, Fang Bai realized the Director of Studies was underestimating him, and he figured the Principal and his homeroom teacher thought the same.

That was normal. A high schooler going into business—what else could it be but setting up a stall and selling little trinkets? Like selling popsicles. How much could that make?

Sigh. Sometimes it was hard to stay low-key.

He had to show off some of his ability, or else he probably wouldn't get the Principal's approval.

This kind of forced showing off wasn't something Fang Bai was used to. There was no pleasure in it, and if he had a thinner skin, he'd be too embarrassed to do it.

Only by standing at a certain level would the Principal take him seriously.

Otherwise, with little influence and light words, why would anyone believe him or make an exception to let him freely leave the school grounds?

Standing in front of the Principal, Fang Bai kept a smile on his face. Luckily, he had anticipated this might happen. He pulled 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, bought a faulty Radial Drilling Machine for three thousand yuan, repaired it, and sold it for thirteen thousand. The boss of Hengli Company can confirm that. These are the transaction contracts and the rental contract I signed over the past few days.

Of course, there's risk involved. No business is guaranteed to make money. Who can promise they'll always profit?"

As for these business details, they weren't important. Even if he told them, others couldn't replicate it.

The Principal took the contracts Fang Bai handed over, glanced at them, and read aloud: "Equipment Purchase Contract. Buyer: (hereinafter referred to as Party A) Fang Bai. Seller... Transaction Amount (in words): Three Thousand Yuan Only, (in figures): 3000 Yuan..."

At the end of the contract, there was Hengli Company's seal and Wang Hengli's signature.

After reading the initial equipment purchase contract, the final equipment sale contract, and the rental contract—all three handwritten by Fang Bai and very formal—the Principal finished.

The Director of Studies and Luo Ziyang, hearing the Principal read it out, couldn't help but take the contracts to look at themselves.

A moment later, suppressing their surprise, the Principal couldn't help but give a thumbs-up and praise, "It seems I should call you Mr. Fang. You've got a real head for business. Impressive."

The Director of Studies was stunned too. Hearing the Principal's praise set the tone, so he followed along with flattery, "Young and promising!"

"Amazing. One deal is better than what most people earn in years of work," Luo Ziyang had to admit, thinking bitterly that he was poorer working as a teacher than a student. How pathetic.

Seeing that the Principal believed him, Fang Bai put the contracts away and said with a faint smile, "Principal, please just call me Student Fang Bai. This is a bit embarrassing.

I don't have much business experience. I was forced into it by poverty. If I can steadily earn enough for living expenses from now on, that's enough. I wouldn't dare call myself a businessman. I'm still far from success, and I have a lot of social experience to learn from everyone.

Business doesn't take up much of my time. I'm still focused on studying. What does the Principal think?"

Fang Bai knew when to be humble and when to show off, and he had to time it right.

Sure enough, hearing his modest words, everyone appreciated him even more.

Even the Director of Studies, who had initially been biased against him, now admired him. He felt this student was different—capable, knowing how to keep his place, restrained, humble, and good with words.

If this were an ordinary student, receiving praise like that would probably have them swelling with pride.

"Alright, I'm making an exception for you here."

The Principal smiled with refined grace. Seeing Fang Bai's business acumen, he actually hoped the young man would continue developing in commerce and one day help the school.

Moreover, this student knew how to keep such a low profile—high emotional intelligence, which made him even more admirable.

"Thank you, Principal. Thank you, Director of Studies." Fang Bai shook hands with him, then with the Director of Studies.