Chapter 31

Truly, in the several decades of his life, Hu Wenhai's first realization of a truth was that one should never take others' promises as absolutely reliable.

However, such an insight was indeed too cruel for an 18-year-old high school girl.

Hu Wenhai could imagine how proud Feng Hongqi must have felt when she announced to her family that she was going to America. Then, how proud her family must have been when they announced to their relatives and friends that their outstanding daughter was about to go to America.

Perhaps during this short week, Feng Hongqi went to sleep every night with dreams of America.

For Chinese people in the 1980s, America was such a place. In this era, there was no distinction between "five cents" or "cents"; all of China, from top to bottom, was "cents," just to varying degrees.

Anyone who could go abroad to a developed country was an object of envy. Not only for settling, working, or doing business abroad, but even for traveling, attending meetings, or conducting inspections, these were rare opportunities.

It seemed understandable that a young girl like Feng Hongqi would have a dreamy longing for America. But when the dream shattered, the pain in her heart would naturally be greater.

Xiao Haidan also had her reservations. At this moment, she was at a loss for words after Feng Hongqi's counter-question. Could she tell this innocent girl that she couldn't go, not because she wasn't good enough, but simply because her background wasn't deep enough and her connections weren't strong enough?

These words, as a homeroom teacher, she really couldn't bring herself to say. But work was work, and the school had instructed her to do the ideological work with Feng Hongqi, which she, as a homeroom teacher, could not shirk.

"Feng Hongqi, you are a strong girl. I ask you, would you rather go to America for a semester, or go to America for four years, or even live there for the rest of your life?"

"For the rest of my life?" Although Feng Hongqi was still in tears, she couldn't help but look up hopefully at Xiao Haidan.

"Yes, you must know that the study time in the third year of high school is very tight. If you go to America, can you complete your studies on time? If this affects your university entrance exam, it will affect your entire life."

Seeing that her words had captured Feng Hongqi's attention, Xiao Haidan continued, "If you can use this time to study in China, after you get into university, you can apply for a public-funded overseas study program, which will allow you to study in America for four years. If you perform well in an American university, you might have the chance to stay in America and become an American."

"Become an American..." Feng Hongqi's expression clearly showed some hesitation. She had no doubt about her ability to get into university. If she could follow the path Xiao Haidan described, perhaps she really could become an American one day.

In this Chinese school on Chinese soil, in this class composed of Chinese students, no one opposed the idea of "becoming an American."

It seemed to be a matter of course that outstanding talents should choose to become Americans.

Hu Wenhai sighed inwardly. Really, who could be blamed? Could Feng Hongqi, Xiao Haidan, or the other students be blamed for not loving their country? No, they were no less patriotic than Hu Wenhai.

Could the country be blamed for not being strong enough? No, China in 1984 was already much stronger than it was in 1949.

Adapting a quote from Putin, those who deny the achievements of China's 35 years of construction are ungrateful, and those who think China is better than America are foolish.

At least in this era, America had a tremendous appeal for Chinese people.

"Teacher, but I..."

Feng Hongqi was clearly convinced. She sighed with relief and held Feng Hongqi's hand, saying, "Feng Hongqi, you are the class leader of Class 2, Grade 3. You must be strong and strictly discipline yourself!"

"Yes, I understand."

Feng Hongqi looked somewhat dejected. Although she seemed to have accepted reality, the blow was still significant.

"Hu Wenhai, go to the principal's office," Xiao Haidan said, then turned and walked to the podium without even glancing at him.

Hu Wenhai stood up, feeling a bad premonition. The principal's office and the third year of high school were on the same floor, at the top of the school building, one at the far west end and the other covering the entire east side.

Knock, knock, knock—

"Come in."

After knocking on the principal's office door, Hu Wenhai heard a voice from inside and pushed the door open.

The principal's office of the second high school was not large, about ten square meters. After placing a set of office desks, there was just enough space for two cabinets and a set of sofas.

At this moment, two rather plump middle-aged men were sitting on the sofa in the principal's office.

"Is this Hu Wenhai? Ha ha, indeed, an excellent student educated in our Xiucheng." The middle-aged man with a balding head, who was sitting on the sofa, actually got up before the principal, took the initiative, and warmly walked over to hold Hu Wenhai's hand.

"This is Mr. Fan, the director of the Xiucheng Education Bureau, who came specially for Hu Wenhai today." The middle-aged man with a weary look, standing beside Mr. Fan, began to explain as if narrating a story.

Hu Wenhai didn't want to embarrass them. After a brief handshake, he modestly said, "Director Fan, I am just an ordinary student in the third year of high school, not worthy of your attention."

"No, no, this is deserved. Having a student like Hu Wenhai at our second high school is a glory for the entire education system!"

Mr. Fan turned to look at the principal of the second high school and said sternly, "A student as outstanding as Hu Wenhai, the second high school didn't notice at all. This is a dereliction of duty!"

The principal of the second high school broke out in a sweat, trembling with fear. "It's our fault. I, on behalf of all the faculty and staff of the second high school, will make a self-criticism to the bureau leaders."

"Enough, it's not too late to mend the sheepfold!" Mr. Fan waved his hand and instructed generously, "For this year's city model student, I think Hu Wenhai is a very good candidate. Your school should actively recommend him!"

"Of course, Hu Wenhai is undoubtedly our school's model student. We will definitely recommend him for the city model student selection!"

"Hmm, that's better."

Seeing that the principal of the second high school was on the right track, Mr. Fan finally withdrew his scrutinizing gaze and turned to Hu Wenhai with a smile, saying, "Hu Wenhai, after discussions between the second high school and the city education bureau, we believe you are the most suitable candidate for the exchange program to America. You don't need to attend classes today. Go home, pack your things, prepare the necessary documents, and set off for America next week."

Hu Wenhai frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and then looked directly at Mr. Fan, asking, "Director Fan, wasn't the original exchange student candidate for the second high school, the class leader of Class 2, Grade 3, Feng Hongqi?"

"That child's situation has been reviewed, and she is not suitable," Mr. Fan waved his hand casually, not taking it seriously. "There are only so many slots, so we must choose truly capable people to go."

"But if I remember correctly, my academic performance is not as good as Feng Hongqi's," Hu Wenhai pointed out bluntly.

"Well, a student's ability is not entirely about grades, ha ha," Mr. Fan's expression became somewhat unnatural, and he coughed slightly.

Hu Wenhai fell silent for a moment, and Mr. Fan, the narrator, and the principal of the second high school were also at a loss for words, creating an awkward silence.

"Director Fan, do you know how our class teacher, Ms. Xiao, convinced the class leader, Feng Hongqi, to give up her exchange student position?" Hu Wenhai asked somewhat deeply.

Before Mr. Fan could answer, he continued, "Ms. Xiao said that Feng Hongqi should not give up the opportunity to study and even immigrate to America for just one semester of exchange. I think what moved Feng Hongqi was that if she gets into university, she might have the chance to study abroad and even work in America, ultimately becoming an American."

"However, in the face of such remarks, no one in our class found it strange. It seemed that it was perfectly acceptable for Feng Hongqi to study hard to leave her country."

"I want to ask Director Fan, why do you think this is?"

"Is this really the case?" Mr. Fan raised his eyebrows, angry. "Hmph, this is the level of ideological education at the second high school, this is how our homeroom teachers do ideological work? This is a dereliction of duty, a dereliction of duty by the faculty!"

Mr. Fan was visibly furious, while the principal of the second high school was trembling with fear. This was a perfect scene of a government official standing up for the people and rectifying the situation.

"Enough!" Hu Wenhai shouted, interrupting Mr. Fan's performance, pointing at him and saying, "This is indeed a dereliction of duty, but it's not Ms. Xiao's dereliction, not our principal's dereliction, but yours!"

"Because of people like you in high positions, our outstanding students yearn for the outside world! You can give me this opportunity today, but in a few years, you might treat public resources as your private property."

"In this matter, Feng Hongqi is not at fault, Ms. Xiao is not at fault, and our principal is not at fault! Director Fan, don't you think your actions are as shameful as a clown?"

What a relief! What a great relief!

Hu Wenhai's ten thousand eight thousand pores and all his body hair stood on end!

What is the meaning of rebirth? This is the meaning of rebirth!

In the past, he had imagined countless times the scene of confronting those foolish education bureau leaders face-to-face. Today, his dream finally came true!

To be honest, these parasites deserve it! Hahahaha!

Is it middle school syndrome? Absolutely! But so what? I have the right to be a middle schooler, and not being one would be a waste of youth!

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