Chapter 27

Cai Hong and Mei Qiuping were talking about Feng Yiping, "Yiliang bought a magazine, saying his nephew published an article in it and earned over two thousand yuan in royalties. I thought he was lying to me, but it turned out to be true. I heard Yiping is only twelve years old, right?"

This was something Mei Qiuping was very happy to hear, "Yes, he just started junior high, and his grades have always been good. He studies hard and is very obedient."

Cai Hong said, "Then he will definitely go to university in the future. You really need to earn more money now. University tuition fees are getting higher every year, and ordinary families can't afford it."

"Yes," Mei Qiuping said, "We live in the countryside, and we work hard all year but don't make much money. Not to mention university, we often owe money for primary school tuition. I was sick before, and then we built a house, which left us with a lot of debt. It was Yiping who came up with this idea, and Yiliang helped me find this place. Now I can earn one or two hundred yuan a month, which is much better than before."

Feng Zhenchang asked Mei Yiliang, "Did Dad tell you about Yiping?"

"Yes, I called home, and he said he helped you collect a thousand pounds of chestnuts. I asked where the money came from, and he told me. I even bought that magazine. Yiping is really something. I knew his grades were good, but I didn't expect him to be able to write such a long novel at such a young age."

Feng Zhenchang said, "Yes, he kept it a secret from both of us. Only Dad knew."

"I'm not saying this to criticize you, but if Yiping had asked you for several yuan to send a letter, would you have given it to him?"

Hearing this, Feng Zhenchang hesitated and didn't say anything. Unlike now, when he had dozens or even hundreds of yuan every day, two months ago, he usually only had ten or so yuan. If Feng Yiping had asked him for eight or nine yuan to send a letter, he probably wouldn't have given it to him without much thought.

Seeing Feng Zhenchang deep in thought, Mei Yiliang continued, "Anyway, this is a good thing, but it will be difficult for you in the future. Yiping will definitely go to university, and the tuition and living expenses are not small amounts. So, you need to earn more money now."

"Originally, I had no way out, but now it's better. There are still five or six years before he goes to university. If things continue like this, by the time he gets accepted, it will be tight, but we should be able to afford it."

"Oh, the chestnuts Dad collected on credit in the village were a favor, so the money must be paid back by the end of the year. Otherwise, it would be embarrassing for him at his age. Is that clear?"

Feng Zhenchang flicked the ash from his cigarette, "I calculated with your sister. By the end of the year, we can sell the seven hundred pounds of chestnuts we originally prepared. I borrowed four hundred pounds, and Dad collected over five hundred pounds on credit. These two debts must be paid back by the end of the year, and it shouldn't be a problem. However, we won't have much left to pay off the old debts."

"It's fine," Mei Yiliang said, "The money for the tricycle and the rent, you insisted on paying me back, but I haven't touched it. By the end of the year, I can give you a few hundred more. You should have some savings, and together we can have a thousand or so. At least half of the old debts can be paid off, and the rest can be settled next year, which is reasonable."

"How can I let you do that? You've already helped so much," Feng Zhenchang looked at the other side, "Are you dating that girl? That's the time when you need to spend money."

Mei Yiliang mumbled, "It's fine, I know my limits, don't worry."

Feng Zhenchang said, "Don't worry, let's wait until the end of the year. We can figure it out. This girl is nice, treat her well. You're old enough to settle down."

"I know, I know," Mei Yiliang said, somewhat impatiently.

Although Mei Qiuping repeatedly asked Mei Yiliang and Cai Hong to stay and have dinner at their rented place, Mei Yiliang didn't agree. Staying would only be a bother, and it was still early, so he could do some business at the university. So, he said he and Cai Hong had already bought movie tickets and would go see a movie, and they could meet next time.

Mei Yiliang took Cai Hong and left. Feng Zhenchang rode his bike toward the university. Mei Qiuping said, "I heard from Dad that Yiliang has a master in the provincial capital. I don't know if it's really to learn a skill or for that girl."

Feng Zhenchang laughed, "Yiliang is old enough, why do you need to worry? Besides, that girl is pretty nice, generous, and doesn't look down on us."

Mei Qiuping was not optimistic, "I'm afraid Yiliang is just infatuated. She's from the city, and her family runs a factory. Would she look at Yiliang?"

Feng Zhenchang said, "Can't you tell? That girl definitely has a thing for Yiliang."

"Ah, I'm worried that Cai Hong's family won't agree. If we were in the provincial capital and had a factory, and our daughter had good conditions, would we agree to marry her to someone from the countryside?"

Feng Zhenchang thought about it, "That would be difficult!"

"That's why," Mei Qiuping said, "Next time Yiliang comes, we need to ask him properly. With his conditions, finding a good match in his hometown shouldn't be a problem, but I'm really worried about him and Cai Hong."

That afternoon, Feng Yiping sneezed several times. Feng Wen asked him, "Are you catching a cold? Come, let me feel if you have a fever."

Feng Yiping irritably pushed his hand away, "Just a bit stuffy in the nose. If I had a cold, wouldn't I know?"

Wen Hong chimed in, "One thought, two scoldings, three colds. Feng Yiping, did you do something bad and get someone to scold you behind your back?"

"How could that be," Feng Yiping pretended to be very wronged, "From childhood to now, I listen to the Party, my parents, and my teachers. I follow the five principles, four beauties, and three loves. I'm so careful when I walk that I never step on ants. How could anyone scold me? How could anyone bear to scold me?"

"Ha ha," everyone around him burst into laughter. Wen Hong laughed and said, "I didn't know you were so smooth-talking, Feng Yiping. I thought you were very honest."

Huang Jingping, who was laughing so hard she fell on the table, said, "Feng Yiping, I didn't know you were so shameless!"

Feng Yiping pretended to be enlightened, "Oh, I know, it must be you, right? You saw me doing something else in your uncle's class, so you scolded me behind my back, didn't you?"

Huang Jingping blushed, "Pfft, who has the time to always pay attention to you."

Zhang Jinju chimed in, "Oh, Feng Yiping, you admitted to doing something else in the political class."

Feng Yiping spread his hands, "Who said that? Which class didn't I pay attention to?"

"You just said it yourself, and we all heard it," Zhang Jinju said.

"Did I? I was just joking. Besides, you can tell Mr. Huang. See if he believes you."

Zhang Jinju was speechless. Indeed, if she said Feng Yiping was daydreaming in class, the teacher probably wouldn't believe her, given how well he did on the last exam.

Feng Wen asked him, "By the way, what do you always write in class?"

"Taking notes!" Feng Yiping took out a notebook and showed it to Feng Wen. Feng Wen glanced at it and saw that it was indeed filled with dense writing, "It's true!"

If Feng Wen had looked more closely, he would have noticed that the notebook, though densely written, was not the one Feng Yiping used in the political class. This one, though more detailed, was simpler, containing only the key points of each class, such as "equations" and "formulas" for math.

He would review these key points during evening self-study, go over them in his mind before bed, and reinforce them during the morning self-study the next day, ensuring a solid foundation.

After joking with his classmates, Feng Yiping talked to Xiao Zhijie for a while and then headed to the homeroom teacher's house. Art and music were also subjects that could yield immediate benefits. With time still available, he needed to seize the opportunity to learn. Once he reached high school, his studies would become more intense, and he would have other plans, leaving no time for these subjects.

Feng Yiping sat down at the table as usual and listened to Mr. Zhu's critique of his previous day's water cup drawing. The main issues were that the lines were not smooth enough and the shading was too arbitrary. There wasn't a single positive comment. As for music, it was better; Feng Yiping could already recognize the simple notation.

Homeroom teacher Wang Yumin was, as usual, trying to get her daughter, Xiaoyan, to wear more clothes. Wang Yumin said, "It's cold at night, listen to Mom and wear more clothes." Xiaoyan wriggled and resisted, "I'm not cold. Wearing so much, I can't move, it's so uncomfortable."

Feng Yiping waved to her, "Xiaoyan, come here, Uncle has something to tell you."

Xiaoyan took the opportunity to escape from her mother. Wang Yumin, as usual, criticized Feng Yiping for calling himself "Uncle." Feng Yiping quickly corrected himself, "I made a mistake, Xiaoyan, call me Brother."

Xiaoyan said, "Okay, Uncle."

Feng Yiping chuckled and whispered to Xiaoyan, "Xiaoyan, listen to Mom and put on those clothes. You won't win. Uncle will tell you, there's a kind of cold that only your mom thinks you have."

Xiaoyan, confused, returned to her mother. Wang Yumin asked what she heard, and Xiaoyan whispered it to her. Wang Yumin was first stunned, then couldn't help but laugh. Mr. Zhu said, "What's so funny? Tell me!"

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