Chapter Seven: Turning Me Away Is Your Loss

"Stop crowding here. Class monitors, take your classes and leave in an orderly fashion..."

"Section Chief Ma, I'll have to trouble your security department to help clear the students out and prevent any trampling..."

Once Director Yao realized that Lu Zixue had lied, he immediately began shouting commands to the surrounding students, shooing away the gossip-hungry crowd that was still lingering near the school gate.

It must be said that students in this era were remarkably obedient and disciplined. Within just a few minutes, they had formed orderly lines and departed from the entrance of the County No. 1 Middle School.

Only after the crowd had thinned out did he turn his gaze toward Li Ye, his face dark. Attempting to soften his tone, he said, "I will get to the bottom of this matter. Until it is cleared up, the bicycle will remain in the school's custody. Once I’ve investigated it thoroughly..."

"I'm afraid not," Li Ye interrupted. "As I said before, you have neither the authority nor the right to handle this. If you want to get to the bottom of it, we can head to the police station right now."

"..."

Director Yao glared at Li Ye, his molars grinding audibly.

He had already guessed that this Phoenix bicycle belonged to Li Ye. However, from the perspective of a school administrator managing students, he could not show weakness, let alone apologize.

It was much like a company executive; even if they were in the wrong, they could not lose their authority, or the entire organization would eventually fall into disarray. Thus, in his own mind, Director Yao felt he was in the right.

Yet, looking at the attitude of Security Chief Ma, and recalling what Lu Zixue had said about "the director of the police station being a relative of Li Ye," Director Yao knew he couldn't suppress Li Ye today.

He stiffened his expression and said coldly, "I am very glad that I didn't let a black sheep like you into County No. 1 Middle School back then. A student like you is nothing but a cancer..."

Li Ye interrupted him once more, calmly stating, "Your decision to turn me away back then was County No. 1 Middle School's loss."

"Loss?" No matter how much of an educator he was, Director Yao couldn't help but sneer. "What a joke. In all my years of teaching, I have never seen a student as arrogant and conceited as you."

Li Ye glanced at him indifferently. "And now, haven't you?"

"You..."

Director Yao was incensed, ready to unleash the skills he had honed over the past decade to teach Li Ye a lesson. But Li Ye simply nodded to Chief Ma, mounted his bicycle, and rode away.

"Look at this kind of student, just look at him... Chief Ma, why on earth did you recommend him to our school? Thank goodness I stopped it, or who knows what would have happened!"

***

Director Yao gestured toward the retreating figure of Li Ye and began to complain to Chief Ma.

Chief Ma endured it for a moment before saying quietly, "Director Yao, that boy’s grandfather is with the Grain Bureau. I’m just a middleman running errands. If you have complaints, you shouldn't be directing them at me!"

Director Yao was stunned. Recalling how the school logistics staff had been giving him the cold shoulder lately, he finally realized what was going on.

In this era, there was a special system known as "grain and oil registration," and the power held by the grain departments was immense.

However, Director Yao still believed he was right. Strictly controlling the quality of the student body to improve the school's advancement rate was his unshirkable duty.

Trying to use the back door on me? Not a chance!

Director Yao sighed. Turning around, he saw Lu Zixue still standing timidly behind him. He immediately vented his pent-up frustration on the boy.

"Bring your bicycle registration certificate on Monday. If the bike is truly yours, I will fight to get it back for you, even if I have to go to court. If it’s not, you’ll be writing me a formal letter of apology."

"..."

***

After leaving County No. 1 Middle School, Li Dayong looked at the Phoenix bike Li Ye was riding, his face full of envy.

Li Dayong's bicycle was a hand-me-down from his father—rusty, heavy, and clunky. Compared to the lightweight and exquisite 26-inch Phoenix, it was like the difference between a poor boy and a wealthy young master.

It was only because Li Ye was the only grandson in the Li family that he was so doted upon, and because there were many breadwinners in his family, that they could afford such a "flashy but impractical" thing.

At this time, most people bought bicycles primarily for their utility. In an era where you rarely saw a car on the road, bicycles were essential transport, often used to haul hundreds of pounds over hundreds of miles. Thus, this 26-inch Phoenix with its delicate rear rack was a true luxury item.

As they rode, Li Dayong suddenly realized they weren't on the road to County No. 2 Middle School. He asked, "Brother, are you going home?"

Li Ye nodded. "So much has happened in the last few days; did you think my family wouldn't find out? If I don't go home to explain things, who knows what kind of trouble will stir up!"

Qingshui County was small. Li Ye’s reputation as "Huang Shiren" would likely reach the Li family's ears soon. Given the explosive temper of his "cheap" father, Li Kaijian, it would be a miracle if there wasn't a scene.

"That's true," Li Dayong agreed, nodding. "Uncle Kaijian has a bad temper. You need to have your grandfather there to keep him in check."

Li Dayong’s father had once trained with Li Ye’s grandfather, so according to their lineage, Li Dayong called Li Ye’s grandfather "Master."

Li Ye added, "Come over to my place for dinner tonight. I'll pick up a roast chicken on the way. Grandfather hasn't seen you in a while; he can test whether your martial arts skills have gotten rusty."

Li Dayong swallowed hard, but shook his head. "No, I haven't been home for a few weeks. I miss my mother."

A roast chicken cost three yuan at the time. It didn't sound expensive, but for an apprentice just starting at a factory, with a monthly wage of only twenty-something yuan, nobody would splurge on such things unless necessary. Li Dayong felt comfortable mooching cigarettes or spending Li Ye’s money, but eating at his house felt different.

"Alright, I'll treat you another day."

Li Ye didn't insist. He waved goodbye to Li Dayong at the intersection on the west side of town and followed his memory toward the fertilizer plant's dormitory area.

The fertilizer plant's dorms were located in the east of Qingshui County, not far from County No. 2 Middle School. Technically, Li Ye could have lived at home. But a year ago, his original self had stubbornly chosen to board at school.

One reason was that Lu Jingyao was also a boarder, and the naive original self wanted to catch a glimpse of the girl in his heart at every moment. The second reason was that a year ago, after Li Kaijian returned to work, he had finally married a stepmother for his children.

It was the 1980s, and social customs were far less open than in the future. Poisoned by old-fashioned prejudices, the original self had developed a strong resentment toward the stepmother's family, to the point where he would often refuse to go home for weeks at a time.

After integrating the original's memories, Li Ye couldn't help but curse silently, "What an unfilial son."

Li Kaijian had been single since his twenties, living like a monk for over a decade to raise Li Ye and his sister to adulthood. He didn't remarry until he was forty—surely he deserved the title of a "good father."

Now that he was back at work and his children were grown, was there anything wrong with him finding a partner to share his life and keep his bed warm? Wasn't it perfectly reasonable?