Chapter 22: Squabbling Incident
n per day, the total monthly turnover would be around 15,000 yuan. After deducting costs and expenses, they could earn between 1,000 to 2,000 yuan in profit each month. To Ceng Ke, this was already mu...Chapter Twenty-Two: A Sordid Love Triangle Incident
The recruitment for shop attendants officially began within a few days. After posting the job advertisement, several people came to apply over the next few days. However, some of them were illiterate or idle housewives looking for something to do. With the daily workload being quite demanding and requiring organized management of the store’s inventory, my mother suggested hiring two younger applicants.
Among the final candidates was Li Yulian, a woman in her thirties who had previously worked as an accountant at a textile factory and is now unemployed after being laid off from a state-owned enterprise. My mother found common ground with her and felt sympathetic toward her situation, leading to their decision to hire her.
The other candidate was a twenty-year-old girl named Wang Yue, who seemed confident and composed. Surprisingly, she wasn’t from the nearby countryside. My mother wondered why someone of her age would choose to work instead of continuing her education and expressed some frustration with her family for not supporting her academic pursuits. Wang Yue responded openly but briefly mentioned that her grades weren’t good enough for university admission and she decided not to continue schooling because of pressure at home, hoping to prove that one could succeed without further education.
Su Kun found her determination convincing and hired her despite advising her on the importance of continuing her studies. However, after Wang Yue looked directly into his eyes, she seemed somewhat evasive.
These hiring decisions were made by my parents; I only persuaded them to hire staff without getting too involved. After all, as a high school student focusing on my studies, meddling in family business could provoke their concerns, especially following the incident at the bidding event where I caused quite a stir and they started to worry about my priorities.
Recently, my parents have been ending shop operations early to monitor my academic progress. They are concerned that I might neglect my studies due to these responsibilities better suited for adults.
Seeing me engrossed in my books under the night lamp reassures them somewhat, but they don’t relax entirely given the approaching midterm exams. It’s only through tests that one can truly gauge academic performance; regardless of how impressive it may seem to attend a top high school, have I really made progress
Sometimes Su Kun looks back and realizes just how quickly time has passed since his return, almost painfully so. It feels like the college entrance exams were only recently concluded, yet he is now facing midterms in his first year of high school.
Told Liu Rui about what happened at the city's No.1 High School, and Liu Rui frowned slightly then looked at Su Cen with a slow smile forming on his lips, "Does that kid Xu Yi Yang know about this"
Su Cen smiled faintly, "Even if he does, there’s nothing he can do. Xu Yi Yang knows that group of people; he has connections in No.1 High School. Moreover, pulling him into my mess would only burden him. It doesn’t matter though, but at the critical moment, I still need you to step forward."
Su Cen had heard some things about the misdeeds of Yue Zijiang’s buddy Wang Haoran and his gang, but even if Yue Zijiang wasn't someone who would stab people in the back, a high school student, no matter how mature for their age, might not have reached such underhanded methods yet. After all, intervening with violence in matters like wooing girls is the lowest form of behavior.
Yue Zijiang was very confident in himself, and from any perspective, he wouldn’t lose to Su Cen in open competition. So generally speaking, he would openly defeat him rather than resort to underhanded tactics from behind.
Su Cen had figured this out, but the only thing he needed to be wary of was Wang Haoran, whom he hadn’t met yet, and Yue Zijiang’s backers. These people wouldn't care about whether their methods were lowly or not; in front of a bunch of high-spirited or immature high school students, avenging a friend might be considered extremely honorable and brotherly.
Su Cen didn’t want to become the sacrifice for them to demonstrate their righteousness.
After some thought, Liu Rui nodded. "I know Wang Haoran; his gang had conflicts with our group from No.2 High School before. They once invited a bunch of people to beat up that circle's guys at the school gate. I’ll take this seriously. It’s just an hour's drive away anyway. If anything happens, call me! Even if I come alone, I won’t let you be on your own!"
A simple sentence and a cool back view, still with Liu Rui’s chimney-shaped hairstyle, gave Su Cen the feeling of returning to ten years ago.
From this sentence, he sensed something. Wang Haoran daringly led his gang to No.2 High School for a confrontation proved his influence. And judging from those beaten up being of not low status at No.2 High School and Liu Rui’s hesitation and the phrase "I’ll come alone," it was clear that his circle might be one rank lower than Wang Haoran's. These people wouldn’t dare easily enter No.1 High School to challenge Wang Haoran.
Su Cen had a headache; the situation was becoming more complex... Initially, it was just a small conflict among students. But to his weakened self now, it felt like a huge obstacle.
Su Cen never expected that after reincarnating, he could confidently talk with city-level leaders, yet now he was so troubled over worrying about the retaliation from those brats.
In the end, it all came down to taking advantage of circumstances. Su Cen felt that if he were to practice martial arts, he wouldn't be suited for a fierce and aggressive style; instead, the Tai Chi method of using minimal effort to achieve maximum results would suit him better in his current situation. Without any favorable trends or momentum, this reincarnated Yellow Robe Taoist priest couldn't possibly catch any wind.
Among all the issues he faced, the most pressing one was establishing a firm foothold at Shiyizhong High School and securing allies.
The bell rang for break time, and with the teacher leaving the classroom, it once again became lively. When Yue Zijiang appeared, he immediately caused a stir in Class 5 of Grade 1, but many girls this time had strange looks on their faces when they glanced at Su Cen.
Yue Zijiang asked someone to convey his message for Tang Wu to come out. Tang Wu gently shook her head at the messenger and said, "I'm writing something; I'm sorry."
The messenger left helplessly after conveying the message, and Yue Zijiang gracefully smiled and left.
Su Cen was a bit stunned because he couldn't see Tang Wu's expression. He could only see that she was really engrossed in solving problems, which made him feel somewhat distant from her as if they were strangers again. Because Su Cen couldn't read Tang Wu’s thoughts, he wasn’t sure whether she was responding to his previous statement or simply too busy to keep an appointment.
In any case, many of the girls saw Yue Zijiang obediently leaving and their mouths dropped open in shock. Some were unhappy with Tang Wu because they considered Yue Zijiang a prince charming on the basketball court worthy of their cheers, but his cold reception made them feel uncomfortable. However, due to Tang Wu’s pride, no one dared say anything against her.
Before class, Tang Wu got up to use the restroom. As she entered, she noticed Su Cen's gaze and gave him a glance with her beautiful eyes. At that moment, Tang Wu playfully blinked at him.
Su Cen felt an inexplicable quickening of his heart rate once again.
During the physical education class, Chen Linsan wore a cute T-shirt, short seven-inch pants showing off her smooth and round legs, pink sneakers, and after sweating from exercise, she exuded a strong feminine charm.
Sitting next to Xue Yiyang and Su Cen's group, Xue Yiyang couldn't help but use his sharp eyes to glance at Chen Linsan from time to time.
Not only did the incident of walking home with Tang Wu not make Su Cen a subject of ridicule among others, it反而給他增添了幾分神秘和尊重。就連張錫、李艾和孫子儀三人，在聽說這件事後，也冇有再隨便拿他說事，更冇有出現之前那種罵“白癡”的言論。
Moreover, the number of female classmates who seemed to like joking with Su Cen was gradually increasing. Even Chen Linsan's best friend Li Lumei wanted Chen Linsan and Su Cen to get closer. Instinctively, she felt that Chen Linsan shouldn't be worse than Tang Wu, so naturally she stood on the same side as Chen Linsan, thereby excluding Tang Wu.
She believed that if Su Cen could regain his affection for Chen Linsan again, it would undoubtedly be a huge attack on Tang Wu.
The feelings among girls were very subtle. Even without a crush, merely being liked by someone else could create something out of nothing. Of course, based on her intuition, she knew that although Tang Wu was cold and distant, she still cared deeply about this matter. just shook his head and said, "You guys go ahead. I’ll practice some more."This attitude of Su Cen made the basketball players admire him. Everyone wanted to show off in front of others. The theme on...