Chapter Fifteen: Good People Deserve Good Rewards
Monday, morning.
Chen Nuo rode his bicycle to the school gates, casually parked it, and locked it. Just as he was about to enter the school, he was stopped.
"Where's your uniform?"
A boy on duty wearing a red armband blocked Chen Nuo's path, his forehead covered in acne.
Chen Nuo glanced at the students in their blue and white school uniforms streaming endlessly onto the campus, and he frowned.
He hadn't worn his uniform for several days. The reason was simple: a large piece had been cut from it when he crossed that "minefield," and he couldn't very well walk around with a giant hole in his clothes.
"Forgot to wear it," Chen Nuo said with an indifferent expression.
"Then you can't enter. There's a flag-raising ceremony today. You'd better go home and change, quickly."
Chen Nuo looked at the boy on duty with a smile and patted his shoulder. "Don't take it so seriously. Just write down my name and deduct points if you have to. But what's this about not letting me in?"
"You just can't enter," the boy said, lifting his chin defiantly.
He's deliberately picking a fight, Chen Nuo understood.
He tilted his head and thought for a moment. "You're in the same class as Sun Keke, right?"
The boy clearly panicked for a moment but forced himself to remain calm. "Which class I'm in is none of your business. You can't enter without your uniform."
Chen Nuo let out an exasperated laugh. These childish games were so immature and rather dull.
Naturally, he wouldn't get hung up on such matters with an adolescent. After thinking it over, he waved his hand, turned around, and walked away from the school gates.
The boy on duty watched Chen Nuo's retreating figure, looking proud, as if he had won some incredible contest, even puffing out his chest a bit more.
Chen Nuo lingered by the school gate for a while, then found a makeshift breakfast stall on a street corner and sat down. He drank a bowl of soy milk, ate two deep-fried dough sticks, and listened. After hearing the bell for morning self-study ring at the nearby school, Chen Nuo got up, paid, and dusted himself off and left.
Whether it's an arcade or an internet cafe, where do they do the best business?
The answer is actually quite simple: around schools.
Although not very familiar with the area around No. 8 Middle School, after strolling along the street beside the school, Chen Nuo still found an internet cafe. He sauntered in, rented a PC, launched Red Alert, and randomly joined an online match. With that, he pushed all thoughts of school to the back of his mind.
He didn't know how long he played, losing more often than winning overall.
Maybe my skills are just too awful, he thought. Eventually, the other players in the internet cafe were no longer willing to team up with him. Chen Nuo thought for a moment, then stepped out, bought two packs of Zhonghua cigarettes, and passed them around.
The other players perked up. "Awesome! Bro, let's play together!"
In the cramped, smoke-filled internet cafe, Chen Nuo was engrossed in his game, a cigarette dangling from his lips, his right hand gripping the mouse.
Suddenly, a large hand reached over from behind and took his mouse.
Chen Nuo sighed, turned his head, and looked at Old Sun's square face.
"Why are you skipping school?" Old Sun asked sternly.
Chen Nuo could tell Old Sun was a bit winded. He glanced up at the clock on the wall—it was almost noon. Old Sun had probably come looking for him right after class and had likely searched quite a few places.
Chen Nuo didn't say anything. He got up, went to the counter to pay, and walked out of the internet cafe with Old Sun.
The two stood facing each other on the sidewalk. Old Sun tried to put on a teacher's stern demeanor, but it clearly didn't intimidate Chen Nuo, making the situation a bit awkward.
Chen Nuo smiled, took out his cigarettes, and offered one to Old Sun. "Old Sun, don't look so stern. Have a Zhonghua."
"..." Old Sun stared at the youth before him. "Where did you pick up such strange slang!"
He still took the cigarette, though.
Chen Nuo seized the opportunity to light Old Sun's cigarette, then said with a smile, "It's almost lunchtime. Come on, my treat."
They randomly found a small eatery by the roadside and sat down. Chen Nuo didn't look at the menu; his gaze swept over the dishes on the nearby customers' tables. He then called the waiter over and ordered a plate of stir-fried green peppers with eggs and a plate of minced pork with eggplant.
"Something to drink?" Chen Nuo asked Old Sun, but was met with a fierce glare that shut him down.
"If you won't, I will." Chen Nuo went to the counter himself, grabbed a bottle of beer, returned, used a chopstick to pry the cap off, and poured himself a glass.
He had just finished pouring when Old Sun snatched the glass and downed it in one gulp.
Old Sun's square face showed his exasperation, the kind one feels for someone not living up to their potential.
"Alright, hold on. Let's wait for the food. We can eat while you lecture me, okay?" Chen Nuo said good-naturedly, smiling patiently. "Today, during this lunch, you can say whatever you want. I'll listen seriously to everything. How about that, Old Sun?"
Old Sun stared at Chen Nuo for a while, thought about it, then took the beer bottle and poured himself another glass.
"You're still so young; don't try to act cool and go turning yourself into one of those young punks," Old Sun sighed. "In a few years, when you're older and look back, you'll realize how ridiculous and childish all this is."
Chen Nuo said nothing. He took out a pair of disposable chopsticks, split them, and rubbed them together in his hands to remove any splinters.
After the food arrived, Chen Nuo took a bite; the seasoning was acceptable. He casually reached for the beer bottle, but Old Sun's glare finally stopped him.
Forget it, I won't butt heads with him, Chen Nuo decided.
Old Sun continued, "At your age, I get it. It's the rebellious teenage phase. Plus, with your complicated family situation, it's understandable that you're a bit headstrong, a bit withdrawn, look down on others, and don't like to socialize. I understand all of that. But Chen Nuo, I won't lecture you with grand principles; I know you won't listen. Still, there's one thing: have you ever thought about your future?"
Chewing on a piece of eggplant, Chen Nuo mused, "The future?"
"The future," Old Sun sighed. "You're so young. If you waste your youth now, what will you do in the future? Just drift aimlessly through society?"
Chen Nuo didn't speak and picked up another piece of egg.
"Young people shouldn't give up on themselves so early," Old Sun shook his head. "Kids like you? I've seen too many in my lifetime. You put on a stern face, a 'don't come near me' expression, thinking you're so tough, so cool, so independent and different, right? Childish! Let me tell you, ordinary people won't even give you a second glance. You're just putting on a show for yourself."
As he was speaking, a clamor arose from outside. A flashy scooter-style motorcycle, the kind that was all the rage back then, had parked by the door. Its speakers were blasting deafeningly tacky dance music. A young man in a leather jacket sat atop it, an arrogant sneer on his face.
Old Sun pointed outside. "You see? That's the kind of person I'm talking about. They try to be different, messing around in society, and they don't know what being truly impressive means. Riding some beat-up motorcycle, blasting the volume, trying to look cool, but deep down they're desperate for the whole world to look at them, just showing off pointlessly... Do you think that's cool?"
Chen Nuo didn't say anything.
Old Sun shook his head. "He might think he's cool, but when normal people see someone like that, only one assessment comes to mind..."
"A complete idiot, right?" Chen Nuo finished.
Old Sun looked at Chen Nuo in surprise. "You know?"
"Yeah, I know." Chen Nuo ordered another bowl of rice, took a few quick bites, and said with a smile, "Old Sun, you've actually misunderstood. The kind of problem student you're thinking of... well, I'm different from them."
"What's different? You kids, all of you think you're so special, like you're the most unique person in the world... In reality, you're all the same: teenage immaturity and rebellion," Old Sun shook his head.
Chen Nuo chuckled. "I've never thought that. I just feel... being a 'salted fish' is pretty comfortable."
"..." Old Sun was momentarily struck speechless. "Salted fish?"
Chen Nuo thought for a moment. "I actually enjoy these mundane days. They're peaceful and free, with no one bothering me and nothing in particular to worry about. I just muddle through each day, well-fed and with nothing to do. In winter, I bask in the sun, watch the snow, occasionally tease your daughter..."
At this, Old Sun's eyes clearly sharpened.
"Alright, alright, I'm just kidding," Chen Nuo smiled, then said earnestly, "Old Sun, you're a good person and a good teacher... But as for me, just let me be, alright? I won't cause big trouble or make major mistakes, and I'm not the lost lamb you imagine me to be. I just... want to be idle. I'm content just being harmlessly and boringly idle."
"You still have to think about the future. What will you live on? In the future?"
Chen Nuo thought about the tens of thousands of US dollars and the gold bars he had at home. He smiled but said nothing.
"I'm not just talking nonsense... The college matriculation rate of our school, I understand it too, sigh!" Old Sun poured himself another glass of beer and drained it. "If you can't be a good student, I won't force you. But you have to focus your efforts on the right path. I know what you're thinking. You must be thinking, 'Why kill myself studying to get into some second-rate, third-rate university, or even just a vocational college? It's not worth it,' right? But you're different, Chen Nuo! You don't have family or anyone to rely on. You'll need a diploma to get by in the future. It's not like I'm asking you to get into Tsinghua or Fudan! You should at least get a vocational college diploma for your future, shouldn't you!"
"Even if I got admitted, what about the college tuition fees? Apply for a student aid spot for the impoverished? You know as well as I do, those aren't easy to get," Chen Nuo laughed.
Old Sun sighed.
He reached into his inner pocket, fumbled for a moment, then pulled out a letter of introduction and pushed it in front of Chen Nuo.
"These past few days, I went to your neighborhood committee office and explained your situation. I managed to get you a part-time job," Old Sun said, looking at Chen Nuo, his eyes fixed on the young man's. "Kid, don't give up on yourself, understand? You're only seventeen; a great future awaits you. It's too early to abandon yourself!"
Chen Nuo lowered his head to glance at the letter of introduction on the table.
Old Sun continued, "It's a job placement through the neighborhood committee's poverty alleviation program for the unemployed. You were actually too young for it, but I pulled a lot of strings and talked myself hoarse to get it for you. It's a stocker at the supermarket. Monday to Friday, seven to eleven PM, four hours a day. Weekends, a regular eight-hour day shift. The monthly salary is eight hundred yuan, and dinner is included daily. The pay isn't high, but it's an honest way to make a living! Chen Nuo, an honest way, understand?"
A hint of pain entered Old Sun's voice as he spoke, "I don't want to see you in a few years hanging around my school gate with those little rascals, cornering girls or robbing students of their allowance! If you end up like that, it would truly break my heart."
"Take my advice, don't mess around!" Old Sun said softly. "Pay attention in class, take this part-time job. After you graduate in two years, even if you only manage to get into a vocational college, don't squander the wages you save, and it'll be enough for your tuition. Later, you can work part-time while attending university. It might be tough and tiring, but it's surely better than wandering the streets as a petty thug! Once you graduate and have that piece of paper, your diploma, you'll at least be able to find a respectable way to make a living, to earn an honest wage!"
At this moment, Chen Nuo was genuinely moved.
What surprised him was that in this era, good people like Old Sun were already exceedingly rare... And twenty years from now, such individuals would be virtually extinct in society!
"Old Sun... has anyone ever told you that people like you are foolish?" Chen Nuo asked slowly.
Old Sun smiled, a complex look in his eyes, and waved his hand dismissively.
After lunch, Old Sun returned to the school. He was smart enough not to forcibly drag Chen Nuo back with him.
Having been a teacher his whole life, he understood student rebellion very well. That kind of rebellious mindset is like a stubborn donkey: try to lead it, and it won't budge; try to drive it, and it backs up.
"Think carefully about what I've said," Old Sun urged him earnestly before he left.
Incidentally, Old Sun insisted on paying for lunch.
Moreover, just before he left, he forcefully stuffed the letter of recommendation into Chen Nuo's pocket.
Watching Old Sun's retreating figure, Chen Nuo sighed.
Good people deserve good rewards.
***
Don't think this chapter is filler; I'm writing as inspiration strikes. It's important to portray Old Sun in greater detail to solidify his character.
Moreover, the more I write about Old Sun, the more I like him as a character, so I won't be giving him a tragic ending.
About the updates: barring any surprises, there will be two updates per day for this book, one in the morning and one in the evening.
Additionally, Qidian's monthly pass system has changed; you can now vote with monthly passes even if the book isn't premium yet. So, about those monthly passes... I'll leave it up to you all. This new book only has tens of thousands of words, so I'm not even thinking about the monthly pass rankings; it's pointless to even try. But seeing some monthly passes still brightens the mood, doesn't it?
So, if you have monthly passes, and you have some to spare, or if you like this book and feel it deserves your vote, go ahead and cast it my way.
Yes, the same goes for recommendation tickets.
Finally, BANG BANG BANG.