Chapter 3: Clichéd Bridge Section

  Not just Zhang Jian and his gang, even Zhang Yang and others were also stunned, almost falling over.

  Li Jing, you're really adorable when you're foolish! I told you to call me brother, what nonsense are you spouting?! Zhang Yang grumbled in his heart but didn't say it out loud. Qiu Yuemin and Qin Tian stood behind him, strongly suppressing their laughter. If they weren't afraid of being discovered, they probably would have laughed so hard they'd fall over.

  "Hey! Hey, hey... Li Jing ah Li Jing, I really couldn't tell, it turns out you're not a good thing either." Zhang Jian suddenly changed his face, looking back and forth at Li Jing's face, finally fixing his gaze on Zhang Yang's face, curling his lip, and saying with disdain: "Have you slept with Li Jing before, little bastard?"

  As soon as Zhang Jian spoke, Qin Tian was about to rush out and punch him. Fortunately, Qiu Yuemin quickly stretched out his arm to stop him, knowing that Zhang Yang still had some sarcastic remarks ready for him. In the past three years at school, fighting was like doing eye exercises in the fourth period of the morning class - it wasn't very exciting. What was truly enjoyable was being able to make someone speechless without throwing a punch. And Zhang Yang had this skill. If Qiu Yuemin was the "poor king", then he was the "king of poor kings".

  Zhang Yang still had a smile on his face, as if the person in front of him was not scolding him but rather greeting him. "Indeed, people are like their names, only... Ah... Never mind, I really owe an apology to my ancestors."

  "What does it mean?" Zhang Jian looked at Zhang Yang with dissatisfaction, not understanding his meaning.

  "Alright, since you want to listen, I'll say it! Zhang Yang seemed a bit indignant. "You said your dad gave you the name 'Jian Dao' without any issues, but why did your mom have to be surnamed Zhang? Don't you think that's an insult to our ancestors? I, Zhang Yang, have lived for almost twenty years, and I've always been proud of being a hero and a celebrity in the Zhang family. People like Zhang Sanfeng, Zhang Wuji, and Zhang Zhidong are all people I admire. But after meeting you today, I suddenly feel a sense of guilt. If I feel guilty, shouldn't you feel even more guilty? I think you should go back and discuss with your dad about changing your name or taking your mom's surname instead. Don't be a scourge to our ancestors!" Zhang Yang still had a smile on his face as he spoke, but he put extra emphasis on the last two words "ancestors".

  "What the f**k are you talking about? Are you talking to me?" Zhang Jian was quick-witted this time and immediately realized that Zhang Yang was scolding him.

  "Damn it, I'm scolding you, what's wrong with that!" Zhang Jian's words had just fallen when Qin Tian rushed in front of Zhang Yang, his mouth and hands almost simultaneously moving, a fist flying towards Zhang Jian. As soon as this action was completed, everyone else hadn't even reacted yet. But Zhang Yang and Qiu Yuemin both knew Qin Tian's temperament. Usually not talking much, also being quite dull, but when fighting, he never held back.

  Zhang Jian was punched and suddenly counterattacked, at this time Qiu Yuemin quickly moved to the front, grabbed Zhang Jian's hand and said: "Brother, you have to think carefully, if you fight today, it will be difficult for you to mix in school in the future?" At a critical moment, Qiu Yuemin gave Zhang Jian a way out.

  What Qiu Yuemin said is true. In the student circle of Emperor Middle School, Qiu Yuemin's words carry a lot of weight. If he doesn't want someone to have a good time in school, then that person will definitely not have a good time. However, Qiu Yuemin is not the kind of person who bullies others and never takes the initiative to cause trouble for others.

  Although that's what they say, Zhang Jian is not convinced. He thinks to himself, "I'm doing all right in school, why are you guys showing off in front of me?"

  "Damn you! Who do you think you are? In District A, no one dares to talk to me like that!"

  Qiu Yuemin smiled and nodded, turning his body around while laughing. As he turned 180 degrees, Qiu Yuemin suddenly pulled his body back and kicked Zhang Jian's stomach with one foot, calmly shouting: "Alright guys, let's get to work!"

  Zhang Jian was kicked back several steps, falling onto the four people behind him. One of them glared at Qiu Yuemin's face for a few moments, then whispered to Zhang Jian, "Brother Zhang, he...he seems to be Qiu Yuemin from District B! And these few...good heavens, there are exactly three of them. The remaining one must be Zhang Yang and Qin Tian!" The person's voice was clearly trembling.

  Zhang Jian also knew Qiu Yue Min and those people, but at this moment he was kicked in the foot and had been beaten to a pulp. Suddenly his head felt hot and he shouted loudly: "To hell with Qiu Yue Min, hit me!"

  At this time, Qiu Yuemin Zhang Yang and Qin Tian had already pounced on him like wolves.

  No more than two seconds after he finished speaking, Zhang Jian regretted it...

  Ke Zhangjian's unyielding spirit to turn the tables for the peasants is indeed admirable. In the chaos, he shouted: "To hell with Zhang Yang."

  Two seconds later, he regretted it again...

  Qin Tian was standing beside Zhang Jian, rubbing his fist and waiting for him to shout out the third sentence of "not afraid to die" declaration, but Zhang Jian's performance disappointed him, and the words "go to hell Qin Tian" never came out of Zhang Jian's mouth.

  Apart from the person who knew Qiu Yue Min's identity and did not participate in the fight, a fierce but one-sided brawl broke out.

  Until the four of them were all knocked to the ground, Qiu Yue Min was still punching Zhang Jian non-stop. At that time, someone who hadn't joined the fight ran up to Qiu Yue Min with a pitiful expression and begged: "Qiu, Qiu... Brother Qiu, stop hitting him... stop hitting him."

  "Get out of here, or I'll beat you up too!" Qiu Yuemin didn't care about him at all and continued to punch Zhang Jian's body.

  That man said: "Since Zhang Jian is doing well in District A, he still has some background. Qiu Ge, don't make things bigger, it's not good to end up like this."

  "To hell with the background! However many people you bring, I'll take on however many!"

  Qiu Yuemin didn't seem to hear him, so the man turned to Zhang Yang and said in a wronged tone: "Zhang Ge, quickly tell your brother to stop fighting."

  Zhang Yang smiled slightly at the man and then said to Qin Tian: "Qin Tian, quickly, get a cigarette and take a few puffs."

  Upon hearing this, the man hastily pulled out a cigarette from his pocket and handed it to Zhang Yang's mouth, lighting it for him, thinking that he was saved.

  But Zhang Yang didn't even give him a glance and instead said to Qin Tian: "Brother, look at today's weather, it seems pretty good."

  The man was speechless...

  Seeing Zhang Jian being beaten until his nose bled and his eyes turned into panda eyes, Zhao Baidan couldn't bear to watch anymore, so he ran over and pulled back Qiu Yuemin. At first, Qiu Yuemin shook him off, but Zhao Baidan persisted in pulling him back, and only after exchanging a glance with Zhao Baidan did he stop.

  Qiu Yuemin initially thought it was Li Jing, but when he took a closer look, he found that it was a girl who was even more beautiful than Li Jing. He was taken aback for a moment, as if he had thought of something, and then pointed at Zhao Bai Dan's nose, saying in a daze: "It's you..."

  Zhao Baidan didn't respond to Qiu Yuemin, but instead looked at Zhang Jian's injuries and saw that he wasn't seriously hurt. He then said calmly: "I didn't think you were still quite capable of fighting."

  Zhang Yang saw Qiu Yue Min and Zhao Bai Dan get acquainted, only then did he seriously take a few glances at her. At that glance, Zhang Yang was instantly attracted to her. Li Jing was already considered very beautiful in school, but Zhao Bai Dan was even more stunning than her! The most important thing was that Zhao Bai Dan wasn't just beautiful; she had an air of maturity that made the guys look like little brothers in front of her.

  "Do you know each other?" Zhang Yang and Li Jing asked in unison. At the same time, Li Jing glanced at Zhang Yang, and a faint blush appeared on her face.

  Qiu Yue Min said with a somewhat nonchalant attitude: "I suppose so..."

  "Li Jing, aren't you going to introduce us?" Zhang Yang stared at Zhao Bai Dan without blinking an eye, speaking in a commanding tone to Li Jing.

  "It's okay!" Zhao Bai Dan turned back to glance at Zhang Yang and Qin Tian, saying: "My name is Zhao Bai Dan, I'm from Class 226 of District A. Thanks for this time... However, in my opinion, you two look more like thugs than Zhang Jian."

  "White Dan..." Li Jing pushed Zhao White Dan slightly.

  Zhang Yang didn't mind, with a smile all over his face, staring at Zhao Baidan, introducing separately: "My name is Zhang Yang, this is my brother Qiu Yuemin and Qin Tian, we are..."

  "Oh, I know, the ringleader of Class 232 in District B, notorious for being a thug, who doesn't know that?" Zhao Bai Dan chimed in, her haughty demeanor completely disregarding Zhang Yang and his friends.

  After a pause, Zhao Baidan said to Qiu Yuemin: "You are called Qiu Yuemin, right?"

  Qiu Yuemin was surprised by Zhao Baidan's question, and he nodded his head, putting his hands into his waistband. He didn't know what Zhao Baidan wanted to say next. But thinking about it, it should be those thank yous and words of gratitude.

  But Zhao Bai Dan was not as expected by Qiu Yue Min, coldly saying: "Qiu Yue Min, I'm telling you, in the future if there's a situation like today at the convenience store, you should take the initiative to apologize to the girl, not for anything else, just because... you're a man."

  After finishing speaking, Zhao Bai Dan suddenly tilted her head and left Qiu Yue Min stunned there.

  "Li Jing, let's go!" Li Jing took one last look at Zhang Yang before leaving with Zhao Baidan.

  Five people were chatting next to the playground, as if the four people lying on the ground did not exist...

  "Damn, this woman is really arrogant! We just saved her earlier, but she didn't even say thank you. Instead, she's being so rude!" Qin Tian glared at Zhao Bai Dan as she walked away, saying with discontent.

  Zhang Yang patted Qin Tian's shoulder and smiled strangely, saying: "Qin Tian, this kind of girl is really unique!" Then he looked at Qiu Yuemin and said: "In this school, there are probably only a few girls who can be arrogant in front of Yuemin..."

  Qiu Yuemin gazed at Zhao Baidan's back, the sharp words still echoing in his ears, "Not for anything else, just because... I'm a man..."

  ……

  "Mom, I'm back!" Qiu Yuemin gently pushed open the wooden door covered with small advertisements outside. In front of him was a cramped and old small house. The living room, less than 20 square meters, had a wooden sofa, a square table, and several short-legged stools. Qiu Yuemin walked back to his own room, picked up a teacup from the chair filled with miscellaneous items, and took a sip of water as if savoring it. He looked out the window and felt grateful from the bottom of his heart: "Fortunately, there are no high-rise buildings blocking the front, and the house is not too dark..."

  Qiu Yuemin walked out of the bedroom, and his mother had already arranged several dishes on the square table. She smiled at Qiu Yuemin and said: "Yuemin, you're back, hurry up, wash your hands and eat."

  "Alright!" Qiu Yue Min responded enthusiastically, and then his eyes shifted to look at the table.

  A plate of big white cabbage, a plate of potatoes, and a bowl of rice tofu soup. Qiu Yuemin swallowed his saliva and smiled: "Mom, these are all my favorite dishes!" After finishing speaking, he squeezed into the kitchen to find the faucet for hot water.

  "Come, finish the soup first." Qiu's mother patiently held the spoon until she had filled Qiu Yuemin's bowl to the brim, then hastily untied the apron around her waist.

  Qiu Yuemin smiled at his mother, picked up his chopsticks and shoveled several pieces of potato into his mouth. He then downed the bowl of rice and tofu soup in one gulp, let out a satisfied belch, and casually asked, "Where's Dad? Not back from work yet?"

  Qiu's mother glanced at the wall clock and frowned slightly, saying: "It's this late already, I reckon he won't be back. You eat yours, don't wait for him. He's probably drinking with his friends right now!"

  "Ah!" Qiu Yuemin grunted in response and continued to bury his head in the bowl.

  "Yue Min... where did you go last night? Why haven't you come back again?" Qiu's mother suddenly asked.

  "Yesterday I stayed at Zhang Yang's house until very late, so I just slept over." Qiu Yuemin was talking nonsense, but in front of his mother, his glib tongue was hidden very deeply.

  After a pause, Mrs. Qiu put down her chopsticks and said lightly: "Now is the last semester of your high school, relax a bit earlier, and put more thought into studying. Try to get into a good university, you know?"

  "Mom, I..." Upon hearing this, Qiu Yuemin seemed somewhat uneasy.

  "Qiu's mom sensed Qiu Yuemin's emotions, took a deep breath, and continued: 'Yuemin, don't worry about the money, Dad and Mom will think of a way. You just focus on studying well, got it?'"

  "But mom, I heard grandma say that this semester's tuition was still borrowed from Auntie..."

  Qiu's mother was shocked and said hastily, "Don't worry about these things, your father is doing business now and I just borrowed some money from Auntie temporarily, I will return it to her soon."

  Actually, Qiu Yue Min knew that there was no more money at home. His father spent his days drinking with those friends and getting drunk to the point of being unconscious. What business could he possibly be doing? Even if he went to work, it was just to accompany others for drinks.

  Qiu Yuemin stuck his mouth to the bowl, stiffly using chopsticks to pick up rice and shoving it into his mouth, as if being choked by food, he spat out a few words: "Mom, I know things are tight at home, so I'll just drop out of school and go out to make some money."

  Qiu's mother was shocked again, but her flustered expression did not show. She seriously said to Qiu Yuemin: "Don't think nonsense, you're still young and have no skills or diploma, what can you do? Even if things are tough at home, it can't delay your studies. Don't think too much, work hard and study, Dad and Mom are still counting on you to make a good future and bring honor to our family!"

  "Don't worry, mom! I'll definitely make something of myself!" Qiu Yuemin secretly vowed in his heart, but every time he encountered such a situation, after three minutes, he would forget what vow he had made. Although Qiu Yuemin didn't like studying or reading books, he still had a strong work ethic. As long as it was something that interested him, he would wholeheartedly devote himself to it and persist in his efforts. For example, writing diaries - since the age of eight, he had never stopped doing so. Because of this, he gradually shifted from writing diaries to other things. In Qiu Yuemin's own words, he wanted to record something, and only what was truly recorded would be the most precious treasure in his memories.

  "I heard your teacher say that there is a provincial middle school student literature competition being held now, aren't you fond of writing? How about it, have you participated?" Qiu's mother suddenly asked.

  Qiu Yuemin smiled slightly, with a very self-satisfied look in his eyes: "I didn't just participate, I finished writing it long ago and the manuscript has already been submitted."

  "Uh... what's important is participating, don't mind the ranking, just think of it as a way to train yourself, got it?"

  "No, since I've participated, I must get a ranking and also be the first. Otherwise, what's the point of participating? Exercise, isn't writing diary an exercise?"

  Qiu's mother shook her head, she was of course clear about her son's personality, but a few days ago the teacher had come to find her and simply reported on Qiu Yuemin's performance at school. As for her son participating in some big competition, she didn't have any such expectations, just hoping that he would be more honest, study hard and that was all. It was just that this son, although seemingly enthusiastic and gentle towards her, but after arguing with him a few times, he would turn against you. Ah, only his father could control him!

  Qiu Yue Min looked like he had eaten his fill, lazily sending a few mouthfuls of food into his mouth, his attention drawn to the sounds coming from the TV.

  "Murong Shanghua, chairman of the Hong Kong-based Murong Group, made a special trip to the mainland, and surprisingly, it was just to invest in a small gas company with assets of less than 10 million yuan. This move has led to..."

  After listening for a while, Qiu Yue Min said disdainfully: "Nowadays, rich people are just like celebrities, every small move is made public and talked about, I really don't know what's worth saying. What does it matter to you if others invest? If they're willing to invest, they must have their own reasons, otherwise how would the Murong Group become an internationally renowned enterprise? You tell me, mom!"

  Qiu Yuemin called out a few times, but Qiu's mother still didn't respond, just staring blankly at the TV.

  "What's wrong, Mom?" Qiu Yuemin put down his chopsticks and shook his mother's arm.

  Qiu Yuemin did this, and Qiu's mother was finally awakened. She hummed twice, then busily sent food into her mouth, casually answering: "Right, right!"

  Qiu Yuemin stared at the TV for a while, his eyes growing more and more surprised. He muttered to himself: "So it's a company from Hunan? That means this billionaire is coming to Hunan? Which place in Hunan could it be? Could it be our place?"

  Qiu Yuemin muttered to himself in front of the TV, not paying attention, while his mother's face beside him was already filled with complex expressions.

  ……

  Ding ding ding......

  A burst of noise pollution considered high-end by the students suddenly rose, and the dense crowd rushed into their own spacious and bright nest like a hundred birds returning to their nests.

  Everyone had barely sat down when a sharp and loud cry from a girl came: "Old freak Ding has arrived!"