Chapter Fifty-Six: Li Liangtian’s Double Victory

“Lu Wentao, just hurry up and say it! You’re even more long-winded than the old lady in our neighborhood!”

“At noon today, our homeroom teacher had something to do and asked me to go to the main office to pick something up. It was just a few minutes before the lunch break, but when I got there, the office was already empty. Not only was the main office deserted, but all the other teachers in their offices had left as well. So I turned back. On my way back, I passed Principal Luo’s office. The door was closed, but I heard voices inside, loud ones!”

The boy named Lu Wentao paused.

“When I listened, it turned out Principal Luo was on the phone. Normally, the principal’s conversations aren’t our business, so I was about to leave and report back to my teacher. But then I heard Principal Luo talking about the selection of the model student. I’m in this competition too, and my total score is right below Li Chao from Class Six. When I heard the principal mention the selection, my curiosity was piqued.”

“Now, I’ll roughly recreate the scene of Principal Luo’s phone call with Deputy Mayor Zhang:

...

Luo Dengfang: Mayor Zhang (it should be Deputy Mayor Zhang, but Principal Luo addressed him as Mayor Zhang), hello!

Deputy Mayor Zhang: ...

Luo Dengfang: I—I'm Luo Dengfang, Principal of Liangzhi Middle School—yes, that's right—

Deputy Mayor Zhang: ...

Luo Dengfang: Mayor Zhang, you remember so well! Thank you, thank you. You’re so busy every day, yet you still remember me—

Deputy Mayor Zhang: ...

Luo Dengfang: Calling you Mayor Zhang is just as well! One day you’ll be the real mayor—

Deputy Mayor Zhang: ...

Luo Dengfang: Yes, yes, I’m calling to congratulate you! Right, Zhang Liying did excellently in this competition! First place! Yes!

Deputy Mayor Zhang: ...

Luo Dengfang: Oh! No, no, Zhang Liying is very smart! She earned her own good grades! It’s thanks to your excellent parenting, Mayor Zhang!

Deputy Mayor Zhang: ...

...

...

Luo Dengfang: Yes, she’s the model student for the third-year class this time! The award ceremony is tomorrow!

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Deputy Mayor Zhang: ...

Luo Dengfang: Not only did she win this award at Liangzhi Middle School, but Zhang Liying will represent all the third-year students here in the city’s model student competition!

Deputy Mayor Zhang: ...

Luo Dengfang: No problem! That’s my duty! Mayor Zhang, rest assured—if you have time, please come guide our teachers and students!

Deputy Mayor Zhang: ...

Luo Dengfang: Yes, yes. Take care, Mayor Zhang! Goodbye!

Luo Dengfang: ...

With a clang, Principal Luo hung up the phone.

“So, that’s how I learned from the principal that tomorrow, the big award for the third-year class isn’t going to Wei Xiaofan, but to Zhang Liying,” Lu Wentao said.

“They didn’t explain the reason! None of us know why Zhang Liying is getting the award instead of Wei Xiaofan!”

“Right, they didn’t clarify the reason, so I haven’t lost this bet yet. My five yuan still stands! Haha!”

“Next, there was another phone call. This time, someone else called Principal Luo!” Lu Wentao added.

“If you can’t explain why Zhang Liying gets the award and not Wei Xiaofan, then there’s no need to tell us!”

“Yeah, then don’t bother telling us!”

Wei Xiaofan and Wei Xiaoping, after listening to Lu Wentao’s story, felt bored, since they already knew why Zhang Liying was getting the award.

Wei Xiaoping had brought Wei Xiaofan out for a walk to distract him from the disappointment of losing. Now, hearing these three students from other classes discussing it again, he didn’t want to listen anymore.

Wei Xiaoping was about to suggest they move elsewhere, when Lu Wentao spoke again.

“The next call was from Li Liangtian, the sponsor of this event!” Lu Wentao said.

Hearing that it was Li Bufan’s father, Li Liangtian, calling Principal Luo, Wei Xiaofan immediately perked up, wanting to hear more!

Wei Xiaoping was also interested in the call from Li Liangtian.

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So, Wei Xiaofan and Wei Xiaoping sat back down and kept listening to Lu Wentao.

“Principal Luo had just hung up when another call came in. I listened and heard Principal Luo say:

Luo Dengfang: Hello, Chairman Li! Haha!

—Ah, Chairman Li, rest assured about this! Yes, of course, everything’s settled. Yes, yes! Deputy Mayor Zhang’s daughter is first place, Director Li’s son is second place. Yes, all arranged. I’ve already called Director Li and Deputy Mayor Zhang. Yes, yes! Chairman Li, you’re truly brilliant! Haha! Though I’m just a bookish scholar, having read countless volumes, I could never have thought of such a plan. So it’s your wisdom!

I had wanted your son to win something in this event, but his grades are a bit too low—

Oh, no, no, it would have been right! But his scores are just too far behind. If they weren’t, I could have considered giving him an improvement or encouragement award. Yes, yes! Don’t mention it!

—It’s all arranged! Yes, yes! Deputy Mayor Zhang’s daughter had excellent grades to begin with! Once the original first place was out of the running, she naturally moved up to first. The second prize goes to Director Li’s son. Thank you for your praise! Yes, yes, we all serve our leaders! Haha!

Yes, yes, Chairman, your strategy was truly clever—two birds with one stone! Yes, yes! Oh, no, we must give the other student some kind of award, otherwise the teachers and students will gossip! Yes, even though he’s from the countryside, he’s truly outstanding! Honestly, if it weren’t for Deputy Mayor Zhang and Director Li, I wouldn’t have had the heart to drop this excellent student!

Yes, yes! So, Chairman Li, this time we’ve wronged such an outstanding student, and I feel deeply ashamed! I’ve thought it over: since we’re taking away his first place, we have to compensate him. Yes, yes, that’s right, so we can feel a bit better about it! What compensation? I was thinking, Chairman Li, didn’t you say you’d provide funds every year for one impoverished student from each grade, from first to third year, to finish high school? Next semester, this student will be in first-year high school. I’d like to give him that spot. Yes, yes! His family is rural and truly struggling! That way, even if he finds out the truth later, he won’t resent us! Yes, yes! That way, for him, it’s a blessing in disguise—oh, no, I misspoke, it should be ‘losing the east, gaining the mulberry,’ haha! Yes, yes! And for you, Chairman Li, it’ll make things much easier when it comes to land acquisitions and so forth! Haha, how did I end up saying all this! Yes, you’re a seasoned expert at forging connections, Chairman Li, a veteran among veterans! Haha! ...”

Lu Wentao, after imitating Principal Luo’s conversation, turned to the other two boys:

“Now, do you understand why Wei Xiaofan was replaced by Zhang Liying as first place? You see now why Wei Xiaofan not only lost first place, but didn’t even get second?”

“Do you get it?” one boy asked another.

“It’s all nonsense, Lu Wentao, I have no idea what you’re talking about!” the other replied.

“Ah! All my effort wasted, and you can’t even grasp the meaning in these words!”

Wei Xiaofan and Wei Xiaoping, hearing this, fell silent and pondered.

“Is it really like this?” Wei Xiaofan murmured, head bowed, his voice trembling with emotion.

Wei Xiaoping too was silent...

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