I'll Wait for You in the Future - Chapter 5: Our Youth Are Alike
Everyone’s youth is different; some are wild, some pure.
But everyone’s youth is also the same: dedicated to love,
dedicated to striving, dedicated to sorrow,
dedicated to proving oneself.
“No one is unique;
there’s always someone in this world facing similar struggles.”
Hao Huigui decided to visit Janitor Zhou again.
Arriving at the hospital, an ambulance from the Hunan Psychiatric Hospital was parked downstairs. Janitor Zhou, strapped to a stretcher, was about to be loaded onto the ambulance.
“What happened to Janitor Zhou?”
The doctor explained that Janitor Zhou was suffering from severe schizophrenia, had been rambling incoherently, and had almost injured a nurse on duty last night, so they were transferring him to a psychiatric hospital.
Hao Huigui leaned over the stretcher, whispering, “Janitor Zhou, do you remember me? I’m Hao Huigui.” Zhou stared at Hao Huigui, chuckling, “You’re from there too, huh? Let me tell you, it’s all useless, useless, everything is useless.” The doctor and nurse immediately loaded Janitor Zhou onto the ambulance. Hao Huigui anxiously asked, “Who are you? You circled a date on the calendar for tomorrow; what does it mean?” As the ambulance door closed, Janitor Zhou uttered a single word: “Fire!”
Fire? A fire?
Hao Huigui slammed the ambulance door, breathlessly telling the doctor, “Tomorrow, please make sure Janitor Zhou doesn’t come into contact with fire; he might start a fire.” The doctor opened the door, looking at Hao Huigui, “Don’t worry, besides his bed, his room won’t have anything else.”
The weather had turned cold. Standing in the autumn air, Hao Huigui shivered. What secrets did Janitor Zhou hide? If he couldn’t get anything out of him, he’d have to… A thought struck him; Hao Huigui checked his watch; it was 11 PM.
“Knowing the future, each day is just waiting;
not knowing the future, each day is anticipation.”
In the staff dormitory building, the last light went out.
Hao Huigui quietly climbed to the innermost dorm on the fourth floor, fumbled for the key on the doorframe, opened the door, and turned on his flashlight. The room was messy, clothes piled on the bed, the air thick with a strange odor. Hao Huigui found the light switch, pressing it twice; there was no power. On the desk sat a half-burned candle; it seemed the dorm’s electricity was out.
He lit the remaining candle, illuminating the room. Nothing seemed amiss. The only surprise was the piles of books on the floor and bookshelves; Janitor Zhou was quite the reader. Hao Huigui saw a trash can next to the desk filled with crumpled paper. He picked up a crumpled piece, unfolding it; it was written in pen:
Despair
Doesn’t come from darkness
But from known brightness
Loneliness
Isn’t the lack of purpose
But the predetermined end of all things
Janitor Zhou was quite the literary type.
He was about to examine the other crumpled papers when he heard a security guard’s voice from downstairs: “Fourth floor, who’s in Janitor Zhou’s dorm?” Hao Huigui was startled, quickly removing his jacket, wrapping the crumpled papers and scraps in it, and slipping down the other staircase back to his room.
The sound of security guards climbing the stairs grew louder, then softer. Five minutes, ten minutes later, just as he was about to turn on the light and examine the remaining papers, a frantic voice shouted: “The dorm’s on fire! Put out the fire!”
A fire? Damn it, Hao Huigui remembered he hadn’t blown out the remaining candle before leaving. A fire! He suddenly recalled Janitor Zhou’s prediction; he checked his watch; it was past midnight. Janitor Zhou said there would be a fire today; did he mean his dorm would catch fire? Hao Huigui couldn’t think that much. Other dorms lit up; everyone ran upstairs. Hao Huigui immediately grabbed a basin, filling it with water, and rushed to the fourth floor. Several security guards crowded Janitor Zhou’s dorm entrance; the fire was intense, clothes and books burning fiercely. Everyone poured water, basin after basin. Someone brought a water hose from the bathroom; after a furious dousing, the fire was extinguished. The room was dark and filled with the smell of burning.
Hao Huigui washed his face at the sink in the hallway; he needed to calm down. Was Janitor Zhou, who could accurately predict the future, from this world, or from the future, unable to return? Had he missed his chance to return, or was it impossible to return at all? But if the current Janitor Zhou was from the future, where was this world’s Janitor Zhou? Why had Janitor Zhou gone mad? The more he thought, the more afraid he became. Returning to his dorm, he saw the pile of trash he’d brought back: expired moldy food, torn magazines, crumpled papers. He unfolded a crumpled piece; it was handwritten text, emotional and obscure, difficult to understand, along with some torn pictures, seemingly parts of a larger image. A thought flashed through his mind; Hao Huigui placed all the scraps on the table, piecing them together. It was a man in a suit… with a crew cut… his skin tanned by the sun… no, it was a black and white photo… The photo slowly took shape.
But five crucial pieces were missing. Hao Huigui searched his clothes twice, finding no extra fragments. He thought for a moment, then slipped back to Janitor Zhou’s dorm, searching amidst the debris for the remaining pieces. The trash can was against the wall; Hao Huigui moved it, finding three pieces, one already burned. He took the fragments back to his dorm. Although still incomplete, he recognized the person in the picture. Hao Huigui was terrified—it was the cover of a magazine—the cover of *Time* magazine from 2013, featuring Barack Obama.
Hao Huigui’s mind was a whirlwind. How could Janitor Zhou from 1998 have a 2013 magazine? This cover meant Janitor Zhou must be from after 2013, but Wang Weiguo said Janitor Zhou had worked for many years. So this cover couldn’t belong to Janitor Zhou. All the information surfaced; Hao Huigui’s mind raced. This picture was given to him by someone—the future Janitor Zhou, or someone else. Who it was didn’t matter; the point was that besides himself, someone else in this world was also from the future. And this person had never appeared. Where was this person? If this person had visited Janitor Zhou, why had Janitor Zhou gone mad? Hao Huigui and Janitor Zhou were in the same predicament—both could predict the future, but neither could prevent it from happening.
“The more desperate you are, the easier it is to see hope.
That’s not an illusion; it’s a reason to live.”
The next day, Hao Huigui had just arrived at the office when He Shifu stormed in: “Come with me.” Hao Huigui, unsure what was happening, followed him to his office. The door closed, and He Shifu exploded: “Teacher Hao, do you know our school’s annual evaluation has been canceled because of the public lesson?”
“What? No way?”
“No way? Look at this! Unbelievable!” He Shifu slammed a notice from the Education Bureau onto Hao Huigui’s desk. The notice stated that the composition public lesson in the Hunan No. 5 High School liberal arts class was excellent. Chen Xiaowu’s speech was moving, but it was reported that to achieve the desired effect, he fabricated his father’s death to gain sympathy, completely deviating from the purpose of language teaching. Therefore, the school’s public lesson score was canceled, serving as a warning.
“Hao Huigui, do you know Chen Xiaowu’s story was fabricated?”
“Director He, I…” Hao Huigui didn’t know how to respond; he knew, but couldn’t expose it at the time. Hao Huigui’s heart sank; it was over. Once the school’s public lesson score was canceled, he might not be able to stay: “Director He, you saw it that day. I knew Xiaowu couldn’t answer, so I let him sit down, but the Education Bureau leader insisted on inspiring him, making him emotional. I swear, this was absolutely not pre-planned.” He Shifu recalled that day, sighing heavily, removing his glasses, wiping them with his shirt, saying nothing, waving Hao Huigui away.
Returning to his dorm, Hao Huigui felt heavy. “Securing the position” was a sword hanging over his head; the Obama cover also unsettled him. He took two days of sick leave, planning to research parallel universes and time travel in the library, understanding his relationship with this world, finding a way back, and preparing for the final evaluation.
Two days later, Liu Dazhi came to his dorm with dumplings made by Hao Tiemei. Opening the door, Hao Huigui looked disheveled; he’d eaten nothing but instant noodles for two days, and his room was a mess.
“Teacher Hao.”
“Ah?”
“We all know what happened with Chen Xiaowu.”
“Mm.”
“Will it affect your chances of staying?”
“Maybe.”
“Can we help?”
“You guys… just study hard. If you do well, the school will see my value… Oh, by the way, how are you and Weixiao doing?”
“Okay. At least she doesn’t use her compass on me anymore; she even asks me questions. Oh, Teacher Hao, on my way here, I saw Weixiao’s dad; it’s his birthday tonight; he asked if you wanted to join.”
Hao Huigui had no interest; he was about to refuse, but suddenly recalled what happened at Wang Daqian’s birthday party 19 years ago. He would never forget that. Although he knew he couldn’t change the outcome, delaying the exposure might improve things. One problem after another.
“Okay, I’ll go, wait for me.”
After getting drunk last time, Wang Daqian and Hao Huigui hadn’t drunk together again. Seeing Hao Huigui, Wang Daqian was delighted, taking out three bottles of good baijiu [白酒 – strong Chinese liquor] from the liquor cabinet.
“We can’t drink today!” Weixiao frowned, grabbing the liquor.
“Just one bottle, okay?” Wang Daqian pleaded.
“No!”
“Oh, this daughter, stubborn since childhood.”
“You raised her like that!” Weixiao took the liquor into the kitchen.
“Teacher Hao, let’s just have a little. A beer each, how about that?” Wang Daqian chuckled, finding two beers from behind the sofa, secretly handing one to Hao Huigui.
“Dad! I’m angry!” Weixiao stood at the kitchen entrance.
“Okay, okay, one beer, right?…”
Weixiao glared at the two of them, then turned and went into the kitchen.
“You can’t raise a daughter like a son! I thought she’d be gentle and sweet, but she’s so outspoken and has such a temper.”
“Weixiao is great; she gets good grades and is poised and confident.”
Weixiao poked her head out from the kitchen: “Thank you for the compliment, Teacher Hao.”
Although they only had one bottle of beer, Hao Huigui and Wang Daqian chatted happily. Liu Dazhi and the others used cola as a substitute for alcohol, drinking and making a mess. Seeing it was almost nine o’clock, Hao Huigui suggested, “Let’s play a game.”
“What game?”
Hao Huigui had a sudden idea, taking out some blank paper and writing down several roles.
“Let’s play Werewolf.” [狼人杀 (lang ren sha) – Werewolf, a popular social deduction game]
“What’s Werewolf?” Except for Hao Huigui, no one had heard of this game.
Hao Huigui explained the rules.
“Teacher Hao, where did you learn this game? The rules are so complicated.”
“I invented it. In ten years, it’ll be incredibly popular throughout China!”
Everyone played with great enthusiasm. Nearing midnight, everyone was engrossed in the game; even Wang Daqian was hooked, arranging to continue next week. Hao Huigui walked Liu Dazhi to the bottom of his building, watching him go upstairs and turn on the lights. Faintly, they heard Hao Tiemei scolding Liu Dazhi from upstairs. After about ten minutes, the lights went out, and everything seemed normal. Hao Huigui breathed a sigh of relief.
Hao Huigui stood downstairs for a long time, unsure if what he’d done was right or wrong. Nineteen years ago today, at nine o’clock that night, he’d happily returned home, only to hear his parents arguing. He’d overheard them discussing a divorce, planning to keep it a secret from him. In a rush, he’d pushed open the door, finding his father had already signed the divorce papers, and his mother sat silently on the sofa. It turned out they’d wanted to divorce secretly, and every time he recalled this scene, he felt abandoned. He knew he couldn’t stop their divorce, but if he hadn’t let Liu Dazhi go home early, would he have been happier? Hao Huigui slowly walked back to the dormitory. After the birthday party, his mood had improved; he hadn’t been this happy in a long time. More importantly, this happiness was self-generated.
“If you return to the peak of your memories,
you’ll find it’s completely different from what you imagined.”
Liu Dazhi thought he was the first to arrive in the classroom, but someone was already there.
Chen Tong stood in front of the classroom TV, meticulously fiddling with it.
“Want to watch the NBA?” Liu Dazhi quietly approached, whispering in Chen Tong’s ear.
Chen Tong turned, startled, “You scared me!”
Liu Dazhi said loudly, “Want to watch the NBA?” Chen Tong ignored him. Liu Dazhi pretended to be serious, “Instead of messing with the TV, why don’t we just skip class and go home?” With a “snap,” Chen Tong turned on the TV.
“Clever!”
“You should just skip class!”
“Without me, would Teacher Hao let you watch TV in class?”
“Do you have a plan?”
Liu Dazhi grinned, elaborately describing his grand plan.
During the last class of the morning, Liu Dazhi gave Dingdang a wink. Dingdang’s face immediately changed, and she raised her hand, “Teacher Hao, I have a stomachache!”
Hao Huigui worriedly asked, “What’s wrong? Stomach ache?” Dingdang nodded. Hao Huigui became anxious, “Should Liu Dazhi take you to the infirmary?” Liu Dazhi immediately said, “I twisted my waist a few days ago. Ouch, it still hurts sometimes.”
Hao Huigui stared at Liu Dazhi, his tone forceful, “Are you going or not?”
Liu Dazhi, not daring to look at Hao Huigui, mumbled, “Teacher Hao, my waist really hurts.”
Hao Huigui walked over and lifted Liu Dazhi’s head, “You really want to watch the NBA?”
Everyone was shocked. Liu Dazhi felt humiliated, wondering how to respond when Chen Tong shook his head in disappointment, standing up, “Yes, Teacher Hao, the NBA Finals will be rebroadcast today, and the classroom has a TV, so I thought we could all watch it together.”
Liu Dazhi was flustered, *How could you betray us?*
The 1998 Finals were Michael Jordan’s last game before his second retirement. Hearing the TV would rebroadcast this classic match, even Hao Huigui, who didn’t like sports, had pretended to be sick and stayed home to watch it. He loved the thrill of the sport and the team spirit. Back then, everyone watched individually. If only they could watch it together…
Hao Huigui thought for a moment, “Alright, let’s watch the rebroadcast during the last class.”
Impossible? Not only Liu Dazhi and Chen Tong, but the other students were also stunned. The teacher actually let the whole class watch the NBA rebroadcast? A wave of cheers erupted in the classroom. Hao Huigui’s reasoning was simple: Back then, he’d wished he could watch with everyone; now, as a teacher, he had the power to create a shared memory. Although many students had already seen it, every score was met with the same excitement as the first time.
Young people’s enthusiasm makes every moment feel like the first. Hao Huigui joined in the cheers, no one spoiling the ending, everyone experiencing the known plot together…
The bell rang, but the class remained engrossed in the game.
With a “bang,” the classroom door was flung open, hitting the wall.
He Shifu stood at the doorway, Principal Zhou behind him.
Hao Huigui immediately stood up, “Director He, Principal Zhou…”
He Shifu stormed in, switching off the TV, pointing at Hao Huigui, “Get out here!” Under everyone’s gaze, Hao Huigui followed Director He and Principal Zhou to the hallway. He Shifu immediately exploded, “This is outrageous! Do you think this is a market? This is a classroom, a place for learning! Watching TV during class—what do you think you’re doing? Do you want to tear the roof off?”
Hao Huigui stammered, “Director He… this…”
He Shifu glared at him, “Principal Zhou thought the teacher was absent and the students were goofing off, but it was you leading the way! Weixiao’s father donated this TV for studying, not watching basketball! Do you still want to go to university?!”
Weixiao was embarrassed.
“Director He, please calm down. The students love sports; watching the NBA is their hobby. We shouldn’t abandon all hobbies for the sake of studying; we need work-life balance.”
“Teacher Hao, let me tell you, the school already turned a blind eye to the fabricated public lesson. You should have been suspended and moved out of the dormitory! Why are you still here for the final evaluation? Because we believed you could lead the liberal arts class! Do you think this school is yours? What do you mean, ‘don’t abandon all hobbies’? To study, for the college entrance exam, you must abandon all hobbies! What is ‘striving’? What is ‘desperate’? Don’t be fooled by them. If you really love sports, why didn’t anyone from the liberal arts class sign up for the 5000-meter run? Nonsense!”
Principal Zhou, seeing He Shifu so angry, said nothing and left.
“Teacher Hao, you’re suspended for a week. I’ll cover your classes; you should reflect on your actions!” He Shifu left. Suspension meant possible dismissal. Would he lose his chance to interact with Liu Dazhi and the others? Hao Huigui didn’t expect things to escalate this far. He massaged his temples, smiled wryly, and returned to the classroom. The students looked at him worriedly. Hao Huigui shrugged, turned on the TV, and made a “shhh” gesture. Fifteen minutes remained in the Finals.
“For you, I’m willing to fight,
not because I can, but because you deserve it.”
News of Hao Huigui’s suspension spread quickly. Everyone thought he’d be dismissed. Miss Yang visited Hao Huigui’s dorm every day after school, offering advice, but it seemed only a miracle could save him during the final evaluation. Hao Huigui had no energy for anything else; he knew that if he couldn’t stay, everything would be over. He spent his days preparing for the final evaluation.
Liu Dazhi and the others didn’t dare to contact Hao Huigui.
For three days after Hao Huigui’s suspension, Liu Dazhi felt like time was dragging on. He felt responsible for Hao Huigui’s predicament.
During the last self-study period of the third day, He Shifu made his rounds, preparing to leave.
Liu Dazhi suddenly stood up, “Director He, I want to sign up for the 5000-meter run.”
“What?”
Liu Dazhi said seriously, “I want to sign up for the 5000-meter run in next week’s school sports meet.”
The students were stunned. No one from the liberal arts class had ever run the 5000 meters. But they understood—Liu Dazhi was trying to prove to Director He that Hao Huigui’s actions had meaning.
Chen Xiaowu also stood up, “Me too!” Liu Dazhi gratefully looked at Chen Xiaowu. He Shifu’s face turned pale, “Utter nonsense! What have you learned besides seeking attention?!” He Shifu turned and left. Liu Dazhi and Chen Xiaowu stood side-by-side in the restroom. Chen Xiaowu asked, “When did you start liking sports?”
“Since Teacher Hao came.”
“Ah?”
Liu Dazhi sighed, “Are you stupid? Teacher Hao’s been suspended and might be fired. If the liberal arts class can win something in the sports meet, it might save face for Teacher Hao.”
“Loyal!”
“You don’t even understand, why sign up?”
“I just thought it was ridiculous to see you standing there alone, saying you’d run 5000 meters.” Chen Xiaowu grinned.
Liu Dazhi looked at Chen Xiaowu seriously and smiled.
After school, Liu Dazhi and Chen Xiaowu paced out the track, “The track is 400 meters; 5000 meters is 13 laps!”
“Your math is wrong! It’s 12.5 laps, but it doesn’t matter; you won’t finish anyway,” Dingdang scoffed.
Liu Dazhi crouched down, covering his head, “Why did I say such a stupid thing?”
Chen Xiaowu, “Yeah, you must have lost your mind.”
Liu Dazhi looked at Chen Xiaowu gratefully, “At least you’re running with me!”
Dingdang, “Bro, you don’t think two people running 5000 meters is a relay race, right? One person runs half?”
Liu Dazhi glared at Dingdang, “Look me in the eye and say that again!”
Dingdang laughed, “Forget I said anything.”
Suddenly, Liu Dazhi looked determined, “It’s just 5000 meters; let’s do it! Who’s afraid of who?!” Chen Xiaowu looked puzzled.
Liu Dazhi saw Chen Tong cycling away, shouting, “My life is so hard!” and fell onto the track.
The next morning at seven, Liu Dazhi, with a “Victory” headband, slowly jogged on the track, slower than walking. Chen Xiaowu, panting, ran beside him, “Are you really training, or just putting on a show for Director He?”
Liu Dazhi tightened his headband, “Of course I am! For Teacher Hao, I’ll give it my all!”
A group of track athletes sped past them.
Liu Dazhi thoughtfully said, “Don’t you think we’re running incredibly slowly?”
Chen Xiaowu nodded.
“Why do you think that is?”
Chen Xiaowu shook his head, then nodded, “Because we’ve never trained!”
“Wrong! It’s because our shoes are unsuitable for running.”
“There are special running shoes?”
“Yes, we need to get a pair!”
All day, except for class, Liu Dazhi was lost in thought.
After school, Dingdang said, “School’s out, are you leaving?”
Liu Dazhi and Chen Xiaowu hugged each other and cried.
“Stop pretending. Maybe you should just give up.”
Liu Dazhi lifted his head from Chen Xiaowu’s embrace, “Ah? Really?”
“We won’t look down on you if you quit.”
“Us? You and who?” Liu Dazhi asked.
“Me and Weixiao.”
“No, no, absolutely not! We won’t give up. We’re doing this for Teacher Hao!” Liu Dazhi hugged Chen Xiaowu tightly.
“Bro, quitting now is better than losing later. If you win, Teacher Hao might save face. If you lose, he loses everything. And you can’t even run long distances!”
Liu Dazhi slowly asked, “So… should we give up?”
Chen Xiaowu firmly said, “Yes! No one will remember if you participate or not.”
Liu Dazhi glared at Chen Xiaowu.
Dingdang, “It’s really okay.”
Liu Dazhi, “You said that.”
Dingdang understood Liu Dazhi needed a way out, “I’m the one who told you to give up.”
Liu Dazhi, “I didn’t give up.”
Dingdang seriously said, “I’m the one who made you give up.”
Chen Xiaowu, “We forced you!”
Liu Dazhi, “Dingdang, you’re my cousin! But if we don’t participate, what will happen to Teacher Hao?”
Dingdang, “I didn’t expect you guys to be so stupid, thinking you could save Teacher Hao by running 5000 meters. You’d be better off getting twenty more points on the exam!”
Chen Xiaowu, “Okay, we saw you tried your best; let’s go.”
As Liu Dazhi, Dingdang, and Chen Xiaowu passed the bicycle shed, they saw Weixiao and Chen Tong talking. Liu Dazhi pretended to limp, giving Dingdang a wink.
Dingdang deliberately said loudly, “Brother, you’re injured, don’t participate in the race. This is an honorable injury; we won’t blame you.”
Liu Dazhi gave Dingdang a reassuring look, “Nonsense, I’m like this, I’ll run with my life!”
Chen Tong glanced back at Liu Dazhi, said nothing, and rode his mountain bike away.
Weixiao walked over, looking at Liu Dazhi’s leg, concerned, “What’s wrong? Nothing serious, right?”
Liu Dazhi immediately changed his expression, “It’s alright!”
“Didn’t you say you couldn’t run? Don’t push yourself; otherwise, if you break your leg, no one will be responsible.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. I’ll ice it tonight and try to recover. No matter what, I represent the entire class, and the collective honor is above my personal interests. We must strive to let the school see Teacher Hao’s “cohesiveness” [nongjuli -凝聚力, cohesiveness, collective strength].”
Dingdang felt nauseous.
Weixiao watched Liu Dazhi’s feigned righteous indignation, shaking her head with a smile, “Dazhi, truly lives up to his name [大志 (Dazhi) means great ambition].”
Chen Xiaowu and Liu Dazhi sang as they walked forward, Weixiao and Dingdang following behind.
In the setting sun, the shadows of the four were stretched long.
Saying goodbye, Liu Dazhi secretly confirmed with Chen Xiaowu again, “We’re not going tomorrow morning, right?”
“Didn’t we already agree not to go? Your foot is injured.”
“Yeah, I just wanted to confirm.”
The next day, before sunrise, the track was empty.
Liu Dazhi tiptoed onto the track, pressed on his foot, muttering to himself, “So useless! What else can I do? Might as well die!”
“Dazhi, what are you doing here?” Chen Xiaowu suddenly appeared behind Liu Dazhi.
“You scared me! Why are you here too?”
“You can’t run because your foot is injured, but my foot isn’t injured yet. I’m afraid others will look down on me… I plan to get injured today… What about you? Didn’t you say you weren’t coming?”
“Sigh, I already swore to Weixiao…”
“Why did you bring Wooden Bucket too?”
“I’m afraid I won’t be able to persevere, so I brought him to motivate myself.”
“Sigh, let’s run.”
“Wooden Bucket! Follow us! Run!” Liu Dazhi ran ahead, Chen Xiaowu and Wooden Bucket, big and small, chasing behind.
The best part of youth is: Saying you’ll give up, but secretly holding your breath.
Even if the track is lonely and long…
The sun rose, Liu Dazhi was panting, Chen Xiaowu was also exhausted, but Wooden Bucket was fine, circling Chen Xiaowu.
“You’re worse than a dog. Even if you’re useless, you have to finish the race, okay? Come, let’s make a solemn oath!”
“If I don’t finish, I won’t graduate from high school!” Chen Xiaowu panted.
“If I don’t finish, my mom will beat me ten times!”
“If I don’t finish, all the bean sprouts at our house will rot in the water!”
“You’re ruthless! If I don’t finish, Weixiao will despise me from the bottom of her heart!”
Wooden Bucket stopped, turning to look behind. Against the sun, a figure ran swiftly towards them. As the shadow passed Liu Dazhi and Chen Xiaowu, the pace slowed—it was Chen Tong.
“You? Why are you here too?” Liu Dazhi was surprised.
“Can’t run anymore?” Chen Tong’s face remained expressionless, but his tone was no longer cold, “Let’s go together.”
“Absolutely impossible!” Liu Dazhi followed.
Chen Xiaowu shouted from behind, “Wait for me!”
In the morning sun, three boys and a dog chased each other on the track.
“You’re not cold;
you just don’t know if you’ll be liked.”
A week later, Hao Huigui appeared in the classroom, and everyone was excited.
Hao Huigui was even more excited than the students. He’d figured it out; if he couldn’t stay, the remaining two or three weeks would be his last time with them. Liu Dazhi was more sensible than when he first arrived, and his relationship with Weixiao had become harmonious. Chen Tong even took Liu Dazhi to the hospital for a shot. He’d also chatted with Hao Tiemei several times about Liu Dazhi; although the time was short, it had some effect. His past self would have waited endlessly in such a situation, but now he understood; if there’s something undone, do it. Treat each day as the last, and you won’t be anxious.
Seven days, he’d never missed these kids so much. When he first arrived, Hao Huigui treated them as classmates; now, after spending time with them, they’d truly become his students. What moved Hao Huigui even more was that he heard Liu Dazhi, Chen Tong, and Chen Xiaowu had signed up for the 5000-meter run for him. Other students also signed up for other events. Hao Huigui remembered that at 17, he, Chen Tong, and Chen Xiaowu had indeed participated in the long-distance run, but they’d been angered by the science class and had even fought with them afterward.
“Actually, you daring to participate means the liberal arts class has taken a step forward. Especially the 5000-meter run; if you can persevere and finish, the liberal arts class wins. But winning or losing isn’t that important. Understand?”
Liu Dazhi wanted to say something, but Hao Huigui didn’t give him a chance.
“I know the participating students want to prove something, and I’m happy to see everyone working together for a goal. That’s enough.”
Liu Dazhi glanced at Chen Tong, who remained expressionless. Did he think the same?
Weixiao brought new news, “Mr. Wang said the 5000-meter run will be held at the opening ceremony of the school sports meet, because it’s the first event, all sports students will participate… even the science class has over thirty people signed up.”
Liu Dazhi slumped onto the desk, “It’s over, it’s over, we’re doomed! Chen Tong, did you hear? Everyone signed up; they must be targeting you!”
Chen Tong nonchalantly stood up to get his homework, “Many want to beat me.”
Chen Xiaowu eagerly leaned over, “Do you think Chen Tong knew about this and signed up to show off?”
Liu Dazhi looked at Chen Tong’s back with a sigh, “Do you know what I hate most about him?”
“What?”
“I hate that he never wants to show off, yet always steals the spotlight!”
Returning home, Liu Dazhi was surprised to find his mother had prepared a whole chicken for him.
“Mom, did you find a dead chicken on the roadside?”
Hao Tiemei slapped Liu Dazhi on the forehead, “Haven’t you been training lately?”
“Didn’t you say I shouldn’t run? That I should focus on my studies?”
“Anyway, your studies aren’t going well, Mom still hopes you’re healthy. Come, eat more!”
Liu Dazhi complained while eating, “Mom, my feet have been hurting lately from running.”
“I’ll heat some hot water for you to soak your feet later.”
“It’s mainly my shoes rubbing my feet; I have blisters.”
Hao Tiemei pretended not to hear, “Don’t just eat meat; eat some vegetables too.”
Seeing Hao Tiemei ignoring him, Liu Dazhi raised his head, “Mom, I want a pair of running shoes.”
Hao Tiemei’s face darkened, “What else do you want?”
Liu Dazhi said pitifully, “Just a pair of running shoes.”
Hao Tiemei said impatiently, “You look like a pair of running shoes, what do you need running shoes for?”
Liu Dazhi continued to plead, “Mom, even if I look like running shoes, I can’t run in myself. Besides, I signed up for the opening ceremony event; many sports students are participating!”
Hao Tiemei said indifferently, “Then you definitely won’t beat the sports students; don’t waste the money on shoes.”
Liu Dazhi dragged out his words, “Mom——”
Hao Tiemei said firmly, “No! Can’t you think about your studies?!”
Liu Dazhi shamelessly said, “You said my grades are bad, so my health is more important. Mom, buy them for me. Teacher Hao said that appropriately satisfying material desires can cultivate a more well-rounded personality. Besides, I signed up for the long-distance run to show support for Teacher Hao. If I can get a good ranking, maybe Teacher Hao can stay. You know the competition among intern teachers is fierce.”
Hao Tiemei snorted, “If you want to buy them, buy them yourself; don’t talk nonsense to me.”
Liu Dazhi saw Hao Tiemei softening, and continued, “Mom, just buy them for me. I promise to get a good score and help Teacher Hao stay. I promise to study hard from now on!”
Hao Tiemei looked at the table, “Are you still eating? If not, I’ll clear it.”
“I am!” Liu Dazhi immediately shut up and ate.
Hao Tiemei got up to add rice, asking at the kitchen door, “What kind do you want?”
“Nike running shoes are best for long-distance running…”
Hao Tiemei turned back into the kitchen. Seeing he had the upper hand, Liu Dazhi mustered his courage again, “Mom… buy a pair for Chen Xiaowu too; he’s running with me…”
Hao Tiemei came out of the kitchen, her face expressionless.
The next day at noon, returning home from school, Liu Dazhi saw two bags on the table and rushed over.
“Thank you, Mom!” Liu Dazhi quickly opened the packages. Why did the hook have an extra stripe? Liu Dazhi quickly opened the other pair; it also had an extra stripe.
“Mom… these aren’t Nikes…”
“You look like Nikes, what do you need Nikes for?!”
These weren’t Nikes; they were Keds [original was 回力 (Huili) – a Chinese brand, similar to Keds].
“Ah? Mom, I wanted Nikes, not Keds… Nikes are for running, Keds are for walking.”
“Do you want them or not? If not, I’ll return them.”
“Then return them. Can you exchange them for two pairs of Nikes?”
“Two pairs of Nikes?! Will we have money to eat this month?!”
“Then… return both and exchange them for one pair of Nikes; don’t buy one for Chen Xiaowu…” Liu Dazhi regretted it as soon as he finished speaking, “Forget it, forget it, just keep them.” Liu Dazhi put both pairs of shoes in his bag.
That afternoon, Liu Dazhi called Chen Xiaowu to the corner of the school building, “Look, my mom got you this.”
Chen Xiaowu’s eyes lit up, “Wow, running shoes! So white! My family has never bought me such white shoes!” Chen Xiaowu hugged the Keds, overjoyed.
Seeing Chen Xiaowu so happy, Liu Dazhi felt a little ashamed, “Put them on, let’s go try them. They say you need to wear running shoes more before a race.”
Chen Xiaowu put on the Keds and bounced around the track.
“Comfortable, comfortable, so comfortable! Professional shoes are different.” After two laps, Liu Dazhi dragged Chen Xiaowu to the broadcasting room to discuss strategies with Weixiao and Dingdang.
Liu Dazhi said anxiously, “This isn’t just a race anymore; it’s about Teacher Hao, the liberal arts class, and our future.”
Dingdang couldn’t believe it, “When did you care about the class’s honor?”
Liu Dazhi said indifferently, “Isn’t it right to have shame?”
“Tsk tsk, originally, just finishing was enough; now you want to win, the nature has changed.”
Weixiao also worried, “Wanting to win isn’t wrong; you’re running anyway, but you have to respect the facts.”
Chen Xiaowu also worried, “Or, should we change events?”
Liu Dazhi glared at him, “Chen Xiaowu! Look me in the eye! We’re not bad at running; we’re just bad at sports! Why don’t you change to a bean sprout selling event?” He stood up, placing his hands on his chest, “No matter what, we must strive for VICTORY!”
Chen Tong appeared at the broadcasting room entrance, his expression even more awkward than Liu Dazhi’s.
Everyone looked at Chen Tong.
Chen Tong coughed lightly, clearing his throat and the awkward air, “Dazhi’s right.”
Liu Dazhi’s hands remained on his chest, “What did I say right?”
“Strive for victory.”
Chen Tong said this, and a glimmer of surprise appeared in everyone’s eyes.
Chen Tong continued, “Almost fifty people signed up. I’ve looked into it; our school doesn’t have any long-distance runners; they only have explosive power; less than half will finish.”
Chen Xiaowu, “I won’t finish.”
Chen Tong said with a hint of a smile, “Not finishing is fine; there’s a strategy for lagging behind.”
Liu Dazhi was surprised, “Lagging behind has a strategy?”
Chen Tong nodded, “Teacher Hao talked to me and gave us a strategy for lagging behind—the lagging position is important.”
Liu Dazhi said excitedly, “I understand, we’ll hold back Zheng Wei and the others, and you’ll make the final sprint!”
Chen Tong pursed his lips, “Something like that.”
“Think things over,
you’ll always find an unexpected way out.”
On the track, Liu Dazhi ran forward, Chen Tong beside him, Chen Xiaowu far behind.
Chen Tong said while running, “Your lung capacity is a little weak; you need more practice. Inhale, inhale, exhale—focus, don’t focus on breathing, develop a habit.”
Liu Dazhi gradually focused his attention, his breathing becoming smoother. Chen Tong gradually adjusted Liu Dazhi’s state, “Maintain the rhythm! During the race, they’ll follow me; I’ll slow down the pace for the first ten laps; whether you can keep up depends on you.” Chen Tong ran ahead, Liu Dazhi closely behind. Chen Tong ran a lap, came to the panting Chen Xiaowu, and pushed him inward; Chen Xiaowu fell to the ground.
“What are you doing?” Chen Xiaowu was confused.
Chen Tong reached out and pulled Chen Xiaowu up: “This is about seizing position. When someone runs past you, you have to keep a close eye on them and prevent them from overtaking. If they run around you, they’ll consume more energy.”
Liu Dazhi: “Did you hear that? Learn something!”
Chen Xiaowu nudged Liu Dazhi with his body.
Chen Tong: “Right!”
Two days remained until the sports meet.
Liu Dazhi and Chen Tong lay on their desks, studying tactics.
Chen Tong emphasized again: “The 5000-meter race is a test of willpower. They have good explosive power, but their endurance might not be as good. And they have other races afterward. As long as we make them feel strained in the beginning, they’ll gradually give up.”
“Really?”
“I understand athletes. If they think they can wear down their opponents in the first few laps, they’ll easily achieve a good result. But if they feel it’s too strenuous, they’ll give up this race to conserve energy for other events.”
Hao Huigui made pre-race arrangements in class: “This is your last school sports meet. I know you’re all studying hard, so we only signed up for the 5000-meter race. Weixiao will still be the flag bearer, and the participating runners are Liu Dazhi…”
“Here!” Liu Dazhi suddenly became very nervous.
The class erupted in laughter.
“This isn’t roll call. Three students will represent the class: Chen Tong, Liu Dazhi, and Chen Xiaowu. Let’s give them a round of applause.”
The class applauded enthusiastically.
Hao Huigui continued: “The 5000-meter race is a huge test of endurance. Every student who perseveres deserves encouragement. I know you’ve all been working hard, and I have confidence in you. But in every competition, there’s a first and a last. Learning from this experience is invaluable.”
Chen Tong suddenly said: “Teacher Hao, since we’re participating, we should strive for first place.”
Everyone looked at Chen Tong. Chen Tong never said things like this; he always quietly took first place in everything.
“Chen Tong’s right, we must bring honor to our class!” Hearing Chen Tong say this, Liu Dazhi also shouted in agreement.
“Liberal Arts Class Victory!” Dingdang yelled.
The class had never been so fired up. Everyone banged on their desks, shouting: “Victory! Victory! Victory!”
Looking at everyone, Hao Huigui felt deeply moved. He remembered his younger self, full of passion, always enthusiastic about everything. But now, he often said things like, “It’s good enough that we participated,” or, “Don’t put too much pressure on yourselves.” He didn’t know when his catchphrases changed from, “Let’s give it a try,” to, “Just endure it.”
He used to be a passionate young man too!
Thinking about this, Hao Huigui firmly said: “Yes! We must aim for first place. Even if we don’t win, we must have the spirit of a winner!”
The class erupted in cheers.
After school, Dingdang went to Weixiao’s house. After closing the door, the two chatted and laughed.
“Let’s go see a movie in a couple of days,” Weixiao said with a smile.
“*A Moment of Romance*! Jacky Cheung!” Dingdang excitedly reached for a Jacky Cheung poster.
“Don’t touch it! You’ll ruin it!” Weixiao was very nervous.
“Is it a genuine poster? You won’t even let me touch it, so stingy!” Dingdang pretended to be angry.
“I brought it back from Hong Kong, so it’s very precious.” Saying this, Weixiao glanced at the poster.
“Okay, okay, Jacky Cheung is all yours.”
“Alright, you can touch it.”
Suddenly, Dingdang mischievously smiled: “I’m not touching the poster; I’m touching you!”
The two girls tumbled onto the bed, wrestling playfully. Wang Daqian knocked on the door, handing them a banner that read: “Senior Three Liberal Arts Class Victory!”
“Weixiao, what do you think of the banner I made?”
“Let me see! Mr. Wang, I didn’t expect you to make banners.” Dingdang said first.
“Thank you, Dad!” Weixiao was very happy.
Dingdang held up the banner, examining it from all angles, suddenly becoming worried: “What if we don’t win?”
“If we don’t win, we should try even harder!”
“That would be so embarrassing.” Dingdang sighed, suddenly thinking of Chen Tong, her face reddening, “He’ll definitely win.”
“Chen Tong, huh?” Weixiao saw Dingdang’s thoughts.
“Look at his determined expression today; he’s so cool. I think even Teacher Hao is impressed by him!”
“Actually, Teacher Hao is right. As long as they participate and finish the race, they deserve encouragement.”
Holding the banner, Dingdang said happily: “He’ll definitely win.”
Liu Dazhi lifted his head from the basin of water, seeing Hao Tiemei standing before him with a serious expression.
“Mom, why are you standing there motionless? Are you waiting for me to suffocate so you can resuscitate me?”
“Why are you burying your head in the water all night without studying?”
“Chen Tong said this helps train lung capacity.”
“Why are you suddenly so focused on winning and losing? You weren’t like this when you were studying.”
“I’ve changed! For Teacher Hao and our class, I have to work hard.”
“Then why are you always frowning?”
“I’m not!” Liu Dazhi was completely unaware.
“Let me tell you, you were a C-section baby, so your respiratory system isn’t very good. Lung capacity isn’t trained this way.”
“Mom, is my poor academic performance also because of this?” Liu Dazhi seemed to suddenly understand something.
“I don’t want to talk to you.” Hao Tiemei turned and left.
Liu Dazhi buried his head in the water again. After a while, he vaguely heard his mother on the phone: “Oh dear, I’m so worried… What? Your family is like this too?”
Chen Tong’s mother was on the phone with Hao Tiemei: “Yes, Chen Tong usually doesn’t care about winning or losing, but I don’t know what’s gotten into him this time. Since he transferred to the liberal arts class, he’s completely changed. My husband still hasn’t agreed to let Chen Tong return to the science class.”
“The science class is better. Dazhi is just too slow; he can only study liberal arts. But if Chen Tong is also so determined, then I’m a little relieved…”
“But it’s also a little strange.”
“What’s strange?” Chen Tong stood behind his mother.
Chen Tong’s mother said into the phone: “Nothing, we’ll talk later!”
Chen Tong’s mother hung up, turning to say: “Chen Zhijun, just say less. Chen Tong is also doing this for the honor of the liberal arts class.”
Chen Zhijun said with a stern face: “If he has this much energy, why not put it into studying? The other students in the science class are all striving for the college entrance exam. But he goes to the liberal arts class just to run?”
“I like it.” Chen Tong didn’t want to continue this topic.
“Say that to me again!” Chen Zhijun pointed at Chen Tong’s nose.
Chen Tong’s mother quickly stopped him: “What’s wrong with running? Getting into Tsinghua is to prove himself; isn’t running the same?” She turned to Chen Tong, “Mom knows you’re trying to prove yourself, but the important thing is participation. I heard the competition is fierce this time.”
Chen Tong calmly replied: “Mom, in a competition, there are only winners and losers.” Saying this, he went straight back to his room.
“Everyone’s youth is different; some are wild, some are pure.
Everyone’s youth is also the same: dedicated to love, dedicated to striving,
dedicated to sorrow, dedicated to proving oneself.”
On the day of the sports meet.
A bucket of water was spilled on the ground, startling Chen Xiaowu: “Sister Zhang, look what you did!”
Sister Zhang from the market: “Xiaowu, why are you wearing such white shoes to work?”
“We have the school sports meet today!”
Xiaowu’s father: “He’s been acting strange these days, dreaming about running every night.”
Sister Zhang: “What’s so important about the sports meet?”
Xiaowu: “Sister Zhang, you don’t know, our class is so united now!”
Xiaowu’s father: “Your class is so bad, it’s your turn to bring honor to the class; what hope is there? Come back and work at the stall!”
Xiaowu said, “Dad, I’m leaving!” and hurried out.
Various class banners were already set up along the track.
Liu Dazhi excitedly arrived at school, seeing Weixiao and Dingdang distributing water. Weixiao, wearing a white T-shirt tucked into jeans, was particularly eye-catching. He quickly started stretching vigorously.
Sure enough, Weixiao walked over.
“Liu Dazhi, just stretch a little; you’re going to pull a muscle.”
Liu Dazhi chuckled.
Weixiao: “Where’s Xiaowu? Have you seen Xiaowu?”
Dingdang: “He hasn’t arrived yet.”
Liu Dazhi: “Why is he still working at the stall at this time? He’s driving me crazy…”
Chen Tong, wearing a brand-new red tracksuit, walked over: “How are you preparing?”
“Wow, Chen Tong, your outfit is so cool!” Dingdang was smitten again.
Liu Dazhi thought, it really was cool; compared to his own outfit, his undershirt looked too shabby.
Chen Xiaowu hurried over.
“Why are you so late?” Liu Dazhi quickly asked.
Chen Xiaowu saw Liu Dazhi unbuttoning his shirt: “What are you doing?”
“Taking off my shirt, are you going to run in your school uniform?”
“I didn’t wear an undershirt; can I run shirtless…?” Chen Xiaowu timidly asked.
“Look me in the eye and say that again.”
“Then… I’ll just wear my school uniform.”
Chen Tong, Liu Dazhi, and Chen Xiaowu stood in the waiting area, dressed for three different seasons, attracting mocking glances. Chen Xiaowu and Liu Dazhi couldn’t hide their disappointment; standing next to Chen Tong, they looked like they were just filling in.
Hao Huigui ran over from afar, carrying three faded tracksuits.
“I was afraid you guys didn’t have any. Oh, Chen Tong has one, that’s good. Tracksuits are more convenient for running; Dazhi and Xiaowu, change into these.”
The two stood in the changing room, examining themselves in the mirror. Although they were old, the tracksuits were much more comfortable. After changing, they noticed Chen Tong had also changed out of his new red tracksuit.
“You… why did you change too?” Liu Dazhi was surprised.
“My outfit was too eye-catching; wearing the same as you guys makes it harder for others to distinguish our targets.”
“Makes sense. You really are smart.” Chen Xiaowu sincerely praised him.
“Chen Xiaowu, you’re so stupid.” Liu Dazhi patted Chen Xiaowu, looking meaningfully at Chen Tong. Under the blue sky and white clouds, rousing music echoed through the campus. Weixiao extended her hand, and Chen Tong, Liu Dazhi, Dingdang, and Chen Xiaowu followed suit, their hands clasped together.
The five of them shouted together: “GO! GO! GO!”
Weixiao: “Go, D’Artagnan!” [达达尼昂 (Dadaniang) – D’Artagnan, the protagonist of *The Three Musketeers*]
Liu Dazhi: “What did you say? What D’Artagnan?”
Chen Tong smiled: “Weixiao is right; we’re the Three Musketeers!”
Chen Xiaowu: “What are the Three Musketeers?”
Everyone waited for Wang Weiguo to fire the starting pistol.
Zheng Wei stood next to Chen Tong, deliberately bumping him. Chen Tong remained firm, unfazed. Liu Dazhi and Chen Xiaowu were pushed to the back. Chen Xiaowu tried to push forward, but a burly track athlete glared at him, and he stopped.
On the track, the liberal arts girls held their banner at Chen Tong’s starting position. Miss Yang stood nervously nearby.
Dingdang: “Miss Yang, who do you think will win from our class?”
“Chen Tong will definitely get first place!”
“I think so too.”
Weixiao and Hao Huiguo stood at the back, where it wasn’t so crowded, facing Liu Dazhi.
“Go for it!”
“Don’t worry!”
“On your marks! Get set!” With a “bang,” Wang Weiguo fired the starting pistol.
Dozens of people surged forward like a wave, with Chen Tong leading the pack.
“Dazhi! Go for it!” Weixiao shouted.
Hearing Weixiao’s voice, Liu Dazhi subconsciously glanced at her.
“Run!” Chen Xiaowu pulled Liu Dazhi.
An exciting march played over the loudspeaker, a scene of youthful exuberance. After the first lap, the runners began to spread out, with Chen Tong in the lead, Liu Dazhi and Chen Xiaowu trailing behind. Chen Xiaowu was already panting. Liu Dazhi steadied his breathing, maintaining his pace. Chen Tong’s words echoed in Liu Dazhi’s ears. Dingdang caught up with Liu Dazhi on the track: “You’re so embarrassing; go for it!”
Liu Dazhi ignored her. Weixiao ran over, offering him water, but Liu Dazhi shook his head.
Hao Huigui watched Liu Dazhi’s determined expression, thinking, *My younger self was quite handsome.* Wang Weiguo encouraged everyone: “The 5000-meter race is about endurance; don’t use up all your energy now.”
Chen Tong pulled ahead again, everyone else desperately pushing forward.
The march music grew increasingly intense. After several laps, most runners slowed down. Chen Tong also slowed his pace; he’d started too fast and felt his body was starting to tire. Liu Dazhi patted Chen Xiaowu, then began to accelerate. He was exactly one lap behind; as he ran past Chen Tong, the two exchanged a glance.
Feng Meili shouted from the sidelines: “Wow, Liu Dazhi overtook Chen Tong!”
Dingdang rolled her eyes: “He’s still a lap behind, okay?”
Hao Huigui’s expression turned tense: “Dazhi, go for it!
It was the eighth lap. Five or six track team members, Chen Tong, and Zheng Wei were in the leading pack. Some of the other runners had already stopped, while others were slowly trailing behind. Tian Dazhuang, a sprinter, dropped out of the race. Looking at Chen Xiaowu, who was panting and slowly moving beside him, he said, “Forget it, you’re already two laps behind.” Chen Xiaowu remained silent and continued running slowly.
Wang Weiguo ran over and whipped Tian Dazhuang: “Why aren’t you persevering?!”
“Teacher Wang, I can’t do it anymore. Since I can’t win first place anyway, I might as well save my energy for the sprint tomorrow.”
Wang Weiguo angrily said, “Useless thing.”
Tian Dazhuang retorted, “He should try running 100 meters with me!”
“Forget it, forget it!”
Tian Dazhuang glared resentfully at Chen Tong. Chen Tong gradually slowed down. Zheng Wei’s face also turned pale. Weixiao was distributing bottled water on the track. Chen Tong took a bottle and poured it over his head.
The girls from the science class split into two groups, one cheering for Chen Tong, the other for their own classmates: “Science Class 2, go! Go! Go!” “Zheng Wei, go! Go! Go!”
In contrast, everyone from the liberal arts class was shouting their lungs out: “Liberal Arts Class, go! Go! Go! Chen Tong, go! Go! Go! Dazhi, go! Go! Go! Xiaowu, go! Go! Go!” Those who weren’t running poured all their energy into shouting slogans, the cheers growing louder and louder. The sports meet hadn’t seen such a lively atmosphere in a long time.
It was the tenth lap. Liu Dazhi was starting to tire. He remembered Chen Tong’s instructions: “Before the tenth lap, just follow me; don’t reveal your strategy.” Weixiao ran to Liu Dazhi’s side: “Go! Go! Go!” She ran alongside Liu Dazhi on the track. Sweat beaded on Weixiao’s forehead; she looked tense. Liu Dazhi wanted to cry but couldn’t; he just grinned and panted. Chen Xiaowu also caught up with Liu Dazhi.
Dingdang ran over: “Xiaowu, you’re already three laps behind!”
Chen Xiaowu nodded and slowed down, panting heavily, slowly walking towards the finish line.
One and a half laps to go.
Hao Huigui and the liberal arts students ran alongside the track, their cheers rising and falling. Chen Tong was in first place, followed closely by Zheng Wei. Two other boys from the science class were hot on their heels, along with four track team members—a total of eight in the leading pack. Liu Dazhi was alone in the second pack.
Weixiao continued running alongside, shouting: “Dazhi, go! Go! Go!”
“One and a half laps to go. Once I pass the halfway point, I’ll start sprinting. Of course, if I can keep up.” Remembering his plan, Liu Dazhi shouted, “I can do it!”
Chen Tong glanced at Zheng Wei, who was still closely behind, but seemed to be nearing exhaustion. Chen Xiaowu had already reached the finish line. Zheng Wei was speechless, completely following Chen Tong’s pace. Chen Tong took a step, and he took a step; the two were neck and neck, neither able to overtake the other.
The girls from both the science and liberal arts classes shouted themselves hoarse, surrounding Chen Tong and Zheng Wei.
Chen Tong’s eyes suddenly lit up. Liu Dazhi had overtaken them.
“Who’s that?” “Must be a lap behind.”
Behind the red finish line, Wang Weiguo stared at the runners, asking the referee, “How many laps behind is Liu Dazhi?” The referee replied, “Liu Dazhi is in the sprint lap.” Wang Weiguo was stunned.
Liu Dazhi overtook Chen Tong. Chen Tong, for the first time, managed a strained smile: “Don’t worry about me, sprint!” Zheng Wei didn’t realize Liu Dazhi was sprinting. Wang Weiguo shouted through the loudspeaker: “Liu Dazhi is now in first place! Liu Dazhi, Chen Tong, and Zheng Wei are the top three in the sprint lap.” Zheng Wei was startled; he finally realized the situation, but Chen Tong showed no intention of accelerating, and Chen Xiaowu was always blocking Zheng Wei, unable to move forward.
Liu Dazhi started running towards the finish line.
Chen Xiaowu pressed closely behind Zheng Wei, but Zheng Wei shoved him to the ground.
The crowd shouted: “Teacher Wang, someone fouled!”
Wang Weiguo shouted: “Zheng Wei, go! Sprint!”
Zheng Wei gritted his teeth and overtook Chen Tong, charging towards Liu Dazhi.
Twenty meters to go—Liu Dazhi suddenly slowed down.
“Dazhi, sprint!” The crowd shouted anxiously.
Liu Dazhi, Zheng Wei, and Chen Tong were almost neck and neck, with Liu Dazhi currently in the lead. Suddenly, Liu Dazhi made a calculated move, causing him and Zheng Wei to fall together. Chen Tong was shocked. Liu Dazhi, lying on the ground, shouted at Chen Tong: “Sprint!”
Chen Tong, in a daze, crossed the finish line.
The cheers were deafening.
The referee announced: “Chen Tong, first place!”
Dingdang joyfully hugged Chen Tong: “I knew it! I knew it!”
The classmates rushed forward, hugging Chen Tong, then lifting him into the air.
Zheng Wei immediately got up, kicking Liu Dazhi resentfully, then limped to the finish line. Liu Dazhi also got up, smiling, but collapsed as soon as he crossed the finish line, caught by Hao Huigui.
Liu Dazhi: “Teacher Hao…”
Hao Huigui: “Well done! Fourth place!”
Zheng Wei was second, and a track athlete was third. The liberal arts class was ecstatic.
Liu Dazhi was completely dazed. Weixiao ran to him, opening her arms for a hug. Liu Dazhi, covered in sweat, felt embarrassed and hesitated. Weixiao paused, then patted him: “Liu Dazhi, not bad.” Liu Dazhi panted and grinned foolishly.
Dingdang quickly said: “Hurry, hurry, hurry, let’s take pictures while you’re still sweaty! This is the best!”
Liu Dazhi panted, “Where’s Xiaowu?”
Xiaowu was still running silently.
Dingdang ran over: “Chen Xiaowu, Chen Tong has already won; don’t run anymore.”
Xiaowu’s face was pale: “I still have two laps to go…”
The track fell silent; everyone watched Chen Xiaowu silently.
Weixiao shouted: “Xiaowu, go! Go! Go!”
Then everyone shouted together: “Xiaowu, go! Go! Go!”
Chen Xiaowu was close to fainting, seeing blurry figures everywhere. His legs felt incredibly heavy; he could no longer maintain his running posture, only moving slowly, step by step. His legs could no longer support his body. Finally, Chen Xiaowu collapsed, his face on the ground.
Dingdang ran over: “Chen Xiaowu, get up!”
Chen Xiaowu opened his eyes, his vision blurry; he could barely see the faces of the crowd, only a faint red line in the distance.
Zheng Wei sat on the ground, supporting himself, looking at Chen Xiaowu: “Dude, that’s enough!”
Chen Xiaowu, staggering to his feet: “The liberal arts class will definitely… finish.”
He used his last bit of strength, about to fall again.
A pair of strong hands supported him—it was Chen Tong.
“Go! Let’s cross the finish line together!” Chen Tong said firmly.
Liu Dazhi also ran over, supporting Chen Xiaowu with Chen Tong; the three walked towards the finish line.
Hao Huigui watched from afar. Some perseverance might seem foolish, but isn’t that the essence of youth? Behind the finish line, everyone gathered to cheer for Xiaowu.
“Look, these are Teacher Hao’s students!” Miss Yang said to Wang Weiguo.
For the first time, Wang Weiguo didn’t show any disdain. Chen Tong, Chen Xiaowu, and Liu Dazhi crossed the finish line together. Wang Weiguo blew his whistle: “The men’s 5000-meter race is over! Eighteenth place, Chen Xiaowu!” The crowd cheered. Chen Tong, Liu Dazhi, and Chen Xiaowu collapsed onto the ground.
Tian Dazhuang reached out to pull Liu Dazhi and Chen Xiaowu: “You guys are amazing!”
Wang Weiguo patted Chen Tong’s shoulder, saying to Tian Dazhuang: “Learn from them; that’s sportsmanship!”
Weixiao brought a towel for Liu Dazhi. Liu Dazhi grinned foolishly, holding the towel, unsure whether to keep it or wipe his sweat.
Chen Tong directly took the towel and wiped his sweat: “Why didn’t you sprint for first place?” As soon as Chen Tong finished, another girl grabbed the towel: “Chen Tong, I’ll take this!” Liu Dazhi shrugged, saying casually, “Look, someone like me, even if I win first place, people will forget in two days. You’re different; when you win first place, even the towel becomes meaningful.”
“Is that funny?” Dingdang’s voice came from afar.
Liu Dazhi and Chen Tong looked towards the source of the sound; Dingdang was scolding Chen Xiaowu. Chen Xiaowu lay on the ground; seeing Dingdang run towards him, he mumbled something, grinning foolishly. Dingdang angrily said: “I told you not to run, but you insisted! Was that running? You were walking! Why waste everyone’s time? You just wanted to show off! Think about it, how embarrassing to run so slowly! So many track athletes gave up without a ranking; that’s normal. You’re usually so bad at sports; it’s normal not to finish. Why insist?! You just wanted to show off, wasting everyone’s time!”
Chen Xiaowu continued grinning foolishly.
Liu Dazhi rushed over and pulled Dingdang away: “Are you crazy?!”
Weixiao shouted: “Dingdang!”
Dingdang refused to back down: “I’m not wrong; knowing the outcome, why even run?”
Liu Dazhi stubbornly said: “Say that again, and I’ll break up with you!”
Chen Xiaowu, finally understanding, got up and pulled Liu Dazhi: “Don’t blame her; she’s not wrong; I’m sorry to everyone!”
Liu Dazhi said to Chen Xiaowu: “Can you be any more pathetic?!”
Weixiao: “Forget it, forget it, Dingdang didn’t mean to, and Xiaowu isn’t wrong either.”
Dingdang said to Weixiao: “Why? I’m not wrong!”
Liu Dazhi: “Are you reasonable or not?!”
Hao Huigui, seeing the argument, felt a little awkward, but no one was wrong. Seeing them arguing so intensely, he found it quite interesting: “Alright, alright, stop it! The race is over; everyone worked hard. Let’s celebrate; I’ll treat you all!”
Liu Dazhi was still angry: “I’m not going! You guys go!”
Chen Xiaowu pulled Liu Dazhi: “Dazhi…”
Liu Dazhi was furious. Dingdang looked defiant.
Hao Huigui wasn’t worried at all; he envied them. They could argue openly, and someone would mediate; unlike himself, he had to suppress his anger for a long time before daring to explode, and afterward, no one could mediate.
Chen Tong eased the tension, saying, “Teacher Hao, where should we celebrate?”
Dingdang immediately changed her expression: “How about ice cream?”
Hao Huigui: “Okay, I’ll treat!”
Chen Xiaowu silently lowered his head.
“I’m not worthy of you,
even liking you feels difficult.”
A simple bean sprout packaging table held a birthday card. Under the dim light, several crudely drawn hearts were particularly noticeable. Below the card was a letter filled with writing.
Chen Xiaowu looked at the card intently, then stood up silently, putting the card and letter in his pocket before helping with the bean sprouts.
“You’re tired today; go rest,” Chen Shihui said with concern.
Xiaowu mumbled, “Oh,” and continued washing bean sprouts.
“Dad didn’t expect you to finish the 5000-meter race. Next time, don’t be so foolish; save your energy for carrying bean sprouts.”
“There won’t be a next time.” Chen Xiaowu touched his pocket; the card and letter seemed to cause a dull ache in his chest.
The next day, the sports meet continued, the track bustling with activity. The liberal arts class had no more events, but everyone enthusiastically cheered for each competition. After the 5000-meter race, the liberal arts class’s image had changed, even in their own eyes. Chen Xiaowu, Liu Dazhi, and Weixiao were chatting and drinking water.
Liu Dazhi stretched, “I wish every day was a sports meet.” As he stretched, a sharp pain shot through his body.
Weixiao smiled, “Dazhi, you were very handsome yesterday.”
“Really?” Suddenly praised by Weixiao, Liu Dazhi’s face flushed red.
Chen Xiaowu, who hadn’t spoken, finally said, “Dingdang’s birthday is this Sunday…”
Weixiao: “Oh, right.”
Liu Dazhi looked at Chen Xiaowu, “What does it matter? She treated you like that yesterday; it makes me furious just thinking about it. If she weren’t my sister, I’d definitely beat her up.”
Chen Xiaowu: “I’m just a little worried you might not be able to beat her!”
Liu Dazhi stood up, rolling up his sleeves, “Nonsense, let her try.”
Dingdang ran over.
Liu Dazhi quickly sat down, still wearing a sullen expression.
Dingdang pretended not to see him, pulling Weixiao along, “Come, come, there’s a handsome guy over there doing the high jump; let’s go take a look.”
“What’s there to see?”
“They say he looks like Andy Lau…” [刘德华 (Liu Dehua) – Andy Lau, a famous Hong Kong actor]
Dingdang dragged Weixiao away. Liu Dazhi watched their backs, crossing his legs and looking at Chen Xiaowu, “Why don’t you go find some pretty girls…”
A muscular female track athlete ran past.
“There.”
Liu Dazhi pouted, “Xiaowu, what kind of girl do you like?”
Chen Xiaowu smiled quietly, head down, saying nothing.
Liu Dazhi had only meant it as a joke, but Chen Xiaowu’s expression startled him.
“You have someone you like?”
“No.”
“You’re such a sly fox; I know what you’re thinking. Tell me the truth, who is it?”
“No one. Even if I did, she wouldn’t like me!” Chen Xiaowu said dejectedly.
“Don’t you have any ambition?!”
“No.” Chen Xiaowu answered sincerely.
From afar came Dingdang’s faint screams, “So handsome!” Liu Dazhi looked disgusted.
Suddenly, the high jump area became noisy; someone started arguing.
Chen Xiaowu abruptly stood up and ran towards the crowd.
Andy Lau’s girlfriend, seeing Dingdang’s starstruck expression, approached with several people, telling Dingdang to shut up. Dingdang wasn’t one to back down and started arguing with them.
Several girls became angry and tried to attack.
Chen Xiaowu pushed through the crowd, standing protectively in front of Dingdang, nervously saying, “What… what are you doing?”
Andy Lau’s girlfriend glanced at Chen Xiaowu, sneering, “Is this your boyfriend? You having such a short, dark boyfriend is quite something; why are you here cheering?”
“What… what do you mean?” Chen Xiaowu knew he’d been insulted but had to keep his composure.
Liu Dazhi didn’t know how to mediate the conflict between the girls.
The girl across from him escalated, “You said my boyfriend will be your boyfriend in the future, right? Say it again.”
Dingdang, neck stiff with anger, said, “I said it, so what?”
Andy Lau’s girlfriend raised her hand to slap Dingdang, but her wrist was suddenly grabbed.
Weixiao held her wrist tightly, whispering, “Your boyfriend’s high jump is impressive; he’s handsome, and we weren’t wrong to say so. You don’t let my friend call him handsome, that’s wrong. Her saying she’ll be his girlfriend is wrong, but will your boyfriend like someone who resorts to violence? She looked at Andy Lau, “If he doesn’t break up with you, he probably won’t be able to high jump anymore.”
“What do you mean?” she asked, confused.
“He’s blind; what’s he jumping for?” Liu Dazhi added from the side. The onlookers laughed.
Weixiao released her hand. The girl, enraged, kicked out. Liu Dazhi’s face changed, and he was about to push her. Weixiao spun around, lifting the girl’s leg in the direction of her kick, sending her sprawling.
The girl yelled, “Help me up!” Andy Lau awkwardly ran over, saying to Dingdang and Weixiao, “Sorry, sorry, she’s too impulsive.” He helped his girlfriend up and left, the girl still cursing.
After the crowd dispersed, Dingdang, a little scared, said to Weixiao, “Thank goodness for you; you’re much stronger than those men.” She then glared at Chen Xiaowu and Liu Dazhi.
“You too. You can’t take a loss, and you’re so impulsive. You both look down on each other; you’re just siblings with the same personality.”
Liu Dazhi and Dingdang remained silent, unwilling to look at each other. On the podium, Wang Weiguo announced through the loudspeaker, “The last event of this sports meet—the men’s 100-meter race—is over. Please have the class representatives come to the podium to collect prizes and certificates.” As soon as Wang Weiguo finished, Hao Huigui walked to the podium. Wang Weiguo turned off the loudspeaker, “Collecting prizes so quickly, Teacher Hao.” Hao Huigui chuckled.
Tian Dazhuang was distributing the awards: “Teacher Hao, your class’s certificates…”
Hao Huigui found three certificates. Wang Weiguo said, “The organizing committee also awarded your class the organizing award.” Hao Huigui opened it; it indeed read, “98th Annual School Sports Meet Excellent Organizing Award, Senior Three Liberal Arts Class.” This award was always given to the class with the most winners; why did his class get it? Wang Weiguo saw Hao Huigui’s confusion, “The Hunan No. 5 High liberal arts department has had no presence for years. These past few days, whether you had events or not, your entire class was cheering everyone on. Teacher Hao, I admire that.”
Hao Huigui felt both embarrassed and proud.
“By the way, Liu Dazhi, his grades aren’t good anyway; should he join the track team?”
“Ah?” Hao Huigui was stunned.
“Specialized athletes get extra points on the college entrance exam.”
“No need.” Hao Huigui answered without hesitation.
Wang Weiguo didn’t expect such a quick refusal, “Ask the student! I think that kid has potential and is quick-witted.”
“Really no need, Mr. Wang, thank you.” Hao Huigui didn’t want Liu Dazhi to become a specialized athlete, changing his future life.
To celebrate the end of the sports meet, Liu Dazhi ran to the music store after school and chose a Jacky Cheung album, *The Hungry Wolf Story* [饿狼传说 (E Lang Chuan Shuo)]. Hao Huigui also walked in, seeing the album, subconsciously saying, “Dingdang’s birthday is soon, right?”
“Yes, I’m planning a surprise. Ah, Teacher Hao, how did you know her birthday?”
Hao Huigui awkwardly said, “I just suddenly remembered.”
“If she weren’t my sister, I’d really think she’s a gossip. She eats a lot, talks a lot, and never says anything nice. She’s the biggest starstruck person; you should have seen her, she almost drooled.”
Turning around, Dingdang and Weixiao were standing outside the store; Dingdang looked furious.
Liu Dazhi panicked, “I didn’t… mean it that way.”
Dingdang pulled Weixiao along, “Let’s go!” Hao Huigui was also stunned. Dingdang turned to Liu Dazhi, “Do you think I want to be your sister?!”
Liu Dazhi froze.
Hao Huigui sighed, “I know you were just being thoughtless.”
The music store played Jacky Cheung’s “Give Me a Cup of Forgetfulness Water…”
Dingdang sat silently at her desk.
Dingdang’s father: “This time, Dad’s going to Guangzhou on business; tell Dad what you want…”
Dingdang remained silent.
“What’s wrong with you?” Dingdang’s father walked to her desk.
“Nothing.”
Dingdang’s mother tidied the room, chattering, “Get another one of those skirts you bought from Guangzhou for your aunt. I need new dance shoes. This place is so backward; there’s nothing good here. By the way, those thin gold necklaces are in style now. Look at those women wearing such thick ones; what’s so good about them? When you go, drink less. I heard Guangzhou has a lot of Hong Kong goods now.”
“Mom, why don’t you just come along?”
“What are you saying? I have to cook for you. I’d love to go, but if it weren’t for you…”
Dingdang, unhappy, went into her room and slammed the door, “I don’t need you to worry about me! You just play mahjong all day anyway.”
Dingdang’s mother shouted, “Open the door!”
Liu Dazhi felt a little guilty about hurting Dingdang’s feelings and paced around the house.
Hao Tiemei knitted, annoyed by his pacing, “What’s wrong with you?”
“Mom, should we send some of the fruit you bought to Aunt’s house?”
“Didn’t you eat them all?” Hao Tiemei retorted.
“Didn’t you make arm warmers for Aunt last time? Haven’t you given them to her yet?”
“She said they were ugly; forget it.” Hao Tiemei continued knitting.
Liu Dazhi was speechless.
“Come, Mom will knit you a sweater; let’s compare sleeves.”
Liu Dazhi walked over without cooperating. Hao Tiemei gestured with her hands. A ball of yarn rolled off the sofa. Hao Tiemei put down her knitting needles, “What’s wrong with you? Why are you so distracted? If you want to go to your aunt’s house, just go.”
Liu Dazhi awkwardly said, “How did you know I wanted to go?”
Hao Tiemei sighed, “You’re so naive; what can you hide from me…”
Liu Dazhi quickly picked up the yarn ball, but his hand slipped, and the remaining yarn unravelled.
Inside the yarn ball was a crumpled piece of paper.
Liu Dazhi curiously opened it; it was a letter: “Dear Zhijun, I know being a police officer is dangerous, but I’m proud to know someone like you. Let’s dedicate our bl00d and youth to the socialist cause! Hongmei.”
Hao Tiemei was stunned, “After all these years, why is this still here?”
Liu Dazhi curiously asked, “Mom, did Aunt write this? Who’s Zhijun? A police officer… Zhijun? Ah, could it be Chen Tong’s father?”
Hao Tiemei snatched the letter, saying sternly, “Don’t meddle in adult matters! If you say a word, I’ll rip your mouth out!”
Liu Dazhi immediately realized the seriousness of the situation.
Hao Tiemei went into her bedroom and closed the door, making a phone call, “Come over quickly. It’s urgent.”
After a while, Aunt Hao Hongmei arrived. Hao Tiemei pulled her into the bedroom. Liu Dazhi hid by the door, unable to hear anything. After a while, Hao Hongmei opened the door and stormed out. Liu Dazhi secretly glanced at her; she seemed to be clutching something tightly. Liu Dazhi lay in his room, using his fingers to create a family tree: Dingdang’s mother, Hao Hongmei, had dated Chen Tong’s father, Chen Zhijun. So Hao Hongmei and Chen Tong’s mother, Cheng Xiaohong, were rivals? Mom, Hao Tiemei, and Cheng Xiaohong were classmates, and Mom and Aunt were sisters…
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