Chapter 38

Chapters 23-24: The Great Era and the Paper Airplane

The next day, as soon as he arrived at school, Ren Yi surrounded Wen Liang, scrutinizing him from head to toe, making clucking sounds. Wen Liang smiled and bowed, saying, "Brother Jianping, what advice do you have for me?"

Ren Yi grinned, "Easy, easy. But from today on, please call me Xiao Qiushui of the Shenzhou Brotherhood!"

Wen Liang understood; this guy was obsessed with Wen Rui'an again. "Alright, Brother Qiushui... or I'll just call you Brother Xiao. Losing fifty bucks isn't easy, is it?"

Ren Yi had bet on Mu Shanshan to win, and this time he lost everything. Hearing this, he looked as if he had lost a loved one, "Sigh, if heaven had feelings, it would grow old; if a man doesn't lose money, he's not a true youth. Since you called the police for me yesterday, how about buying me an ice cream?"

"Damn, so it was you!"

Yesterday, as soon as the fight started, Ren Yi feared Wen Liang would be at a disadvantage and immediately ran to the principal's office to inform Huaxique. His actions, despite his fear of Mu Shanshan and others, showed loyalty and righteousness. However, if he knew that Mu Shanshan and Huaxique were looking for him to take revenge, he might have thought that an ice cream was too high a price to pay...

In the afternoon, the second class was politics. Because it was the weekend, the students were overly excited. After several failed attempts to maintain order, the teacher left in anger. The classroom immediately turned into a chaotic mess. A few students folded paper airplanes and tossed them around, from one corner of the room to the other. Others joined in, and soon the entire classroom was filled with paper airplanes, making it dizzying. Wen Liang idly drew circles on his desk, thinking about where to go with Li Shengli during the next two days off and whether their funds were sufficient. Suddenly, a paper airplane swooped down and hit his forehead. Wen Liang looked around in frustration, and Meng Ke in the front row stuck out her tongue and quickly turned away.

Wen Liang shook his head. The paper airplane was made from a pink sheet of paper, neatly folded with delicate edges, showing the careful thought of a young girl. Holding the airplane, his thoughts drifted to Li Siqing. The 15th was the start of junior high school, and he needed to remember to accompany her to Minghua for registration. He wondered if she still had enough living expenses...

Suddenly, the classroom fell silent as Ye Yuting's graceful footsteps approached from the corridor. The lookout at the door promptly issued a red alert. In just a few days, this beautiful and charming homeroom teacher had become deeply loved by the students, who respected and feared her. Upon seeing her, everyone quickly scrambled to hide the paper airplanes on the floor and desks, but it was too late, and many still scattered around the podium and aisles.

Wen Liang, lost in deep thought, was oblivious to all this. When Ye Yuting walked to the podium, her bright and authoritative eyes slowly scanned the messy paper airplanes on the ground, finally focusing on the one in Wen Liang's hand.

Everyone's gaze followed the teacher's, and faint laughter could be heard from the crowd.

"Wen Liang, stand up."

Wen Liang was suddenly startled, his eyes somewhat dazed, still holding the paper airplane. "Pfft," someone couldn't help but laugh, causing a ripple of laughter throughout the class.

Wen Liang realized he had been caught red-handed and reluctantly stood up, saying, "Teacher Ye, I was going to say that the airplane hit my head... you probably don't believe me..."

Ye Yuting didn't stop the growing laughter in the class and smiled, "Then what?"

"Then, I think I'll just tell the truth. I folded this airplane because I suddenly remembered a poem..." Wen Liang, forced to improvise, hoped that Teacher Ye was a literary youth who would let him off.

Of course, in this era, the number of literary youths was much higher than the number of virgins among girls in the future. Given Ye Yuting's figure as a constant and her face as a variable, Wen Liang was 70% sure she was a literary youth.

Unexpectedly, Teacher Ye, with her beautiful literary face, showed no mercy: "Oh, what poem? Recite it for us to hear."

Damn! Wen Liang raised his middle finger under the desk, his mind racing. Just as the atmosphere was about to turn cold, he saw the paper airplane in his hand and remembered a classic TV series and a classic poem.

"Paper airplane, paper airplane, so light and gentle, I wish to ride you to fly high, to a land of peach blossoms. Paper airplane, paper airplane, so light and gentle, it flies aimlessly yet always lands, it has its mission, like this paper airplane, gently knocking on my heart, carrying away my sorrows."

Wen Liang's voice was good, and when he deliberately lowered it, it had a slightly hoarse and deep quality. In the quiet classroom, he recited the poem with a slightly sad tone, and immediately a low exclamation was heard: "Ah, it's the paper airplane."

This was Ji Su's voice.

First, a few people whispered, asking what it was, and then a girl with a good memory explained it to them. Soon, the entire class was buzzing. Ye Yuting, standing on the podium, was somewhat stunned. As an English teacher, she naturally knew what the poem was, but she didn't expect that Wen Liang, who seemed to have no literary qualities, would recite it with such emotion and感染力.

The craze for the classic Hong Kong TV series "The Great Era" had just passed, and the scene where Liu Qingyun recited "The Paper Airplane" in English at the amusement park touched countless viewers. Although no one knew who started it, one by one, and then the whole class burst into applause.

This was praise for Wen Liang's quick wit and recognition of his choice of poem.

Ye Yuting, recovering from her initial surprise, smiled, "If you folded the paper airplane because of this poem, that's understandable. But you disrupted the classroom order, causing the politics teacher to complain to me. Just like this, you can't get away with it. Unless..." Ye Yuting's eyes flashed with a mischievous look, "Recite it again in English."

This was even more unjust than the old lady in Nanjing. I didn't disrupt the classroom order, did I? But since Ye Yuting was an English teacher, Wen Liang didn't have the courage to refuse.

"Paper plane, paper plane, how soft and light you are, hope to ride you in the air, up to the high clouds fair, reach abode of heavenly realm..." The familiar English words danced out, a different kind of beauty from the Chinese rhythm. Many students couldn't appreciate the brilliance but still clapped and cheered enthusiastically. At this age, there was no shortage of people who loved to cheer and play.

Wen Liang's English in college was average, and he certainly didn't have a London accent that would impress Ye Yuting, but it was undeniable that his fluent pronunciation was much better than that of the current high school freshmen. Teacher Ye was a bit surprised and a bit troubled. Was this guy using all his intelligence on these little tricks? Otherwise, how could his grades be at the bottom of the class?

Wen Liang read the situation and knew that Ye Yuting was no longer angry. He smiled and bowed to the class, thanking them for their support. Ye Yuting couldn't do anything about him, and the paper airplane incident was left unresolved. Ji Su secretly looked back, her expression complex, and it was unclear what she was thinking.

Finally, the class ended, and Wen Liang, feeling the urge to urinate, was about to go to the bathroom. However, several classmates came over to thank him for taking the blame, and he humbly responded. Just as he was about to leave through the back door, Meng Ke blocked his way.

"Give me the paper airplane!" Meng Ke smiled, her left hand extended in front of Wen Liang.

Wen Liang then noticed that Meng Ke's hands were beautifully long, with slender, even fingers, almost no visible knuckle marks, and smooth, delicate fingertips, exuding a sense of beauty.

"Airplane? No paper airplane." The reason he was called "uncle" was that his perverted tendencies, which he couldn't control, could surface at any time.

"Bluffing!" Meng Ke wasn't as beautiful as Ji Su, but her gentle and friendly manner made people feel like they were basking in a warm breeze. Her expression was particularly cute and charming when she said these words.

Wen Liang laughed heartily. The girls of this era were so innocent and naive about such things, unlike the female wolves of the future who could talk about dirty jokes without hesitation. He took the paper airplane from his drawer and handed it to her, no longer joking, saying, "Because of this airplane, I was called out by Teacher Ye, and my fragile heart was seriously hurt. What do you think I should do?"

Finding his words amusing, Meng Ke looked around to make sure no one was around, then smiled, "How about this, I'll introduce you to Ji Su... hehe."

She knew they didn't get along well and said this to tease Wen Liang.

"No, no, definitely not, I've been insecure since I was young..." Before he could finish, Ren Yi came back and said, "Aren't you in a hurry to go to the bathroom? Why are you still here?"

"Ah!" Wen Liang realized he couldn't hold it any longer, shouted, and ran off. Meng Ke watched in amazement, then burst out laughing. Back at her seat, she threw the airplane to Ji Su and complained, "You threw the airplane and hit him, and I had to take the blame, hmpf!"

If Wen Liang had heard this, he would have been so scared that he wouldn't even think about folding airplanes. Could the excellent, elegant, and quiet student Ji Su also participate in such a disruptive activity?

"Good Meng, good Meng, I was just embarrassed, right? Since you're familiar with him, it's just a small favor..."

"Stop, stop!" Meng Ke grabbed the hand that was fumbling around her waist and told Ji Su about Wen Liang's silly behavior. Ji Su, who usually dismissed such things, didn't find it annoying and laughed along with Meng Ke.

Since he had to meet Li Shengli on Saturday, after school, Wen Liang first went to Class 4 to see the young gambling master Liu Zhihe. Liu Zhihe, impressed by Wen Liang's outstanding performance, had made a lot of money in this bet. Seeing Wen Liang, he greeted him like a PLA uncle, shaking his hand continuously. Wen Liang responded with a few pleasantries and smiled, "Bro, I have something to do later. Can you settle the account now?"

Last time, he had given Liu Zhihe a thousand yuan from the four thousand yuan given by Tan Xue, and with a 1:3 payout, he had made a 200% profit in just a few days. This casino was really profitable, hahaha. Liu Zhihe's reputation was indeed not exaggerated by Ren Yi. He smoothly took out three thousand yuan from his desk drawer and handed it to Wen Liang. Last time, he had taken out a ledger, and this time, a stack of bills. You're so cool, leaving thousands of yuan like that without worrying about thieves? Wen Liang took the money and couldn't resist the curiosity to peek into the drawer. Liu Zhihe, with his eyes narrowed in a smile, was quite cautious, and his fat body moved to block Wen Liang's view.

The two laughed awkwardly, and Wen Liang barely suppressed the urge to pull him aside and take a look. He took out five hundred yuan and placed it on the table, saying nothing and leaving. Strangely, Liu Zhihe didn't ask a word, put the five hundred yuan in the drawer, and watched Wen Liang's back with a smile.

The transaction between Wen Liang and Liu Zhihe in Class 4 was openly conducted, and soon the news reached Mu Shanshan's ears. Having lost the match, he hadn't eaten for several days and had beaten up many people at school. But this time, the beaten guys, in their anger, would add a sentence: "If you're so tough, go beat up Wen Liang. Bullying us doesn't count as skill!"

Damn, I'll show you all sooner or later how I deal with that guy!

Due to the secrecy maintained by Wen Liang and Liu Zhihe, Mu Shanshan only found out today that Wen Liang had bet a thousand yuan and won three thousand. Where did the three thousand yuan come from? It was taken from them! According to the news that spread later, Mu Shanshan, who rarely swore, didn't curse, but he snapped a valuable pen in half with his bare hands!

Gu Wenyuan, shuttling between Ji Su and Ning Xiaoning, was in a mess and had no chance to be angry about this. Although the bet was made by Mu Shanshan, Bai Huan, and three others, the five thousand yuan was provided by Mu Shanshan alone. This amount wasn't much for his family, but being so easily taken by an enemy was a great humiliation, a great humiliation!

After school, he met Xu Yao at the school gate. After the match, the three of them had become famous, and to avoid being surrounded, they rarely acted together. Ning Xiaoning, harassed by Gu Wenyuan, ran off alone as soon as school ended. In the past, the two could maintain a basic understanding, with Ning Xiaoning indifferent to Gu Wenyuan, who acted with grace and, being infatuated with Ji Su, never pursued her. However, after the basketball match, whether it was jealousy and possessiveness stirred by Wen Liang or the realization that Ning Xiaoning wasn't as submissive to the family's arrangements as he had thought, Gu Wenyuan had been following Ning Xiaoning around, except when he went to the bathroom. If it weren't for the friendship between the two families, Ning Xiaoning would have already hit him.

Seeing no one around, Wen Liang naturally held Xu Yao's hand and said, "Come here, I have something to show you." Xu Yao blushed but didn't struggle, letting him lead her through the alleys of Qingzhou. The sunset dyed the sky red, stretching their shadows long. Xu Yao, feeling playful, lagged behind and stepped on Wen Liang's butt, one step after another, seemingly enjoying it.

Wen Liang tried to hold back his laughter, glancing at her charming and cute expression, and couldn't resist the tenderness in his heart. He stopped and tapped her nose, saying, "Is it that fun to step on me? Idiot!"

"You're the idiot, big idiot, stinky idiot, dumber than an egg!" Xu Yao, caught in the act, was somewhat embarrassed but didn't hesitate to counterattack.

Wen Liang was speechless, took out the money, and explained the situation. He had kept the betting a secret from Xu Yao and Ning Xiaoning, fearing it would put pressure on them and affect their performance. Xu Yao's eyes sparkled as she spread out the bills and gazed at them in the sunlight, "Hahaha, this girl can make money from basketball, hahaha!"

Wen Liang, breaking out in a cold sweat, looked around, relieved that they were in a secluded spot.

She counted the money, suddenly widened her eyes, and put on a fierce expression, "Why is five hundred yuan missing? You dare to embezzle!"

She pounced and started searching him.

"Hey, don't take advantage of the situation... Hey, that's off-limits..."

Finally, he calmed the rampaging girl and said, "I gave five hundred to Liu Zhihe..."

"Hmm?" Xu Yao's smooth chin tilted up playfully, signaling him to continue.

Wen Liang smiled, "Ning Xiaoning's skills are excellent, and our training has been effective. But do you think we could so easily defeat such a skilled opponent in a team sport, especially when the score was so close, and it ended up as a one-on-one between me and Mu Shanshan? This doesn't seem like a coincidence."

Xu Yao wasn't stupid; in fact, she was much smarter than many girls her age. She exclaimed, "You mean?"

"Exactly, either Guan You or Shi Chengcai must have thrown the game at the last moment."

Speaking of this, Wen Liang had to admit that Liu Zhihe was truly dedicated to his profession, setting up betting, keeping secret accounts, and even manipulating the game. As they say, the environment shapes a person. A child raised by a public security bureau chief is indeed impressive, not wasting the national emblem on his head.

Xu Yao patted her chest and giggled, "Thank goodness, or we would have been so angry if we lost!"

Wen Liang smiled but didn't say anything. He had confidence in his team. Guan You and Shi Chengcai must have given their all in the earlier stages; otherwise, Mu Shanshan, who wasn't stupid, would have noticed. But in the final moment, with their skills, one of them could have easily assisted Mu Shanshan by not defending Xu Yao. Instead, they each stayed in their positions, leaving the final decision to Mu Shanshan. This was a smart move, as all the blame fell on him, and he couldn't blame his teammates.

If you can't beat someone one-on-one, is it fair to blame others?

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