Chen Jixian, eyelids half-closed, led his son out of school.
Chen Zili had feared his solemn father since childhood and carefully followed behind him. Although corporal punishment was out of fashion in the interstellar age, his dad's lectures were even more terrifying than a physical beating.
This time, however, he wasn't quite convinced.
When they arrived home, his wife, Xiao Jiangxia, and daughter, Chen Qingyu, were already waiting for them to eat. Chen Jixian sat down. His lips barely moved as he said in a stern, clear voice, "From now on, at school, none of you are to go looking for trouble with him!"
Everyone knew who "he" was.
Chen Zili said indignantly, "That guy ruined you! And because of him, that bastard Zhao Ergou is practically walking all over me..."
Chen Jixian's eyelids twitched, rising a fraction as he glanced at him. "Shut up and eat!"
Chen Zili immediately fell silent. He picked up his bowl and started attacking a chicken leg, taking fierce bites. Mmm, this is delicious.
...
The next morning, Teacher Dai took Chen Gu aside. He informed him that he had spoken with Chen Zili's father, and Chen Zili would no longer harass him.
Teacher Dai knew Chen Gu's identity. So, even though he had the potential to be an outstanding mentor, he couldn't control his expression as he spoke, a strange look creeping onto his face.
Finally, Teacher Dai said to him, "If you encounter any difficulties in the future, tell me. I'll do my best to help you solve them."
"Thank you!" Chen Gu bowed deeply. This time, it was sincere, not an act.
At lunchtime, Chen Gu was still in his corner, eating quickly. However, the sound of a dispute in the distance grew louder. Chewing on a piece of beef, Chen Gu looked up. In the center of the cafeteria, two groups were facing off.
One group was led by his "good grandson" Chen Zili, flanked by the same few people from after school the previous day.
Leading the opposing side was a tall, burly guy with curly blond hair. We're all high school students, so why are your jowls so impressively developed? Chen Gu thought with admiration.
The blond-haired guy had more than twice as many followers as Chen Zili. As if afraid others wouldn't realize it, he shouted, "Chen Zili, what are you still pretending for? Your dad's been kicked off the priority training list! Zhou Yiteng and his gang don't hang with you anymore. You still dare to fight me?"
"Nonsense!" Chen Zili argued desperately. "Information about the priority list is confidential! How could you possibly know so much?"
From a distance, Chen Gu shook his head. Even from this far, I can tell this 'grandson' of mine is all bark and no bite. He really has no talent for acting.
The blond-haired guy just sneered, "HEH-HEH." He waved his hand. "Get them out of here! From now on, this spot is ours!"
Only then did Chen Gu notice that his 'grandson' and his group were sitting in a prime spot in the center of the cafeteria. It was one of the few eight-person tables; most others were four-person tables.
The students behind the blond-haired guy surged forward. Riding on his coattails, they pushed Chen Zili and his friends aside. Chen Zili's face flushed red, his eyes blazing with anger, but he could only move to another spot.
Chen Gu silently shook his head. This 'grandson' of mine is really useless. But what exactly is this "priority training list" the blond guy mentioned?
The surrounding students were whispering among themselves, but Chen Gu paid them no mind. He ate enough for ten people and then headed to the restroom.
Even though he ate quickly, he had consumed a lot. By the time he left, the cafeteria was nearly empty. Chen Zili's and the blond-haired guy's groups had also disappeared at some point.
When Chen Gu reached the restroom, he heard noises from inside, so he waited outside. A few other students were also standing near the entrance, presumably waiting to use the restroom as well.
Chen Gu walked over to a student and asked, "Hey, mate, got a smoke?"
The nameless student, Extra A, looked shocked. "???"
"No? Too bad." Chen Gu was suddenly transported back to his school days in a previous life, where he'd leisurely smoke while watching fights—
Watching a fight without a cigarette just has no Soul.
Before long, everything quieted down. The blond-haired guy and his group emerged, walking tall, talking and laughing. However, no one else dared to go in yet. The losers were still inside. They couldn't handle the blond-haired guy, but they could easily vent their humiliated fury on any clueless newcomers who stumbled upon their sorry state, taking them down as easily as chopping vegetables. It would be a good way to release their frustration.
After a little while longer, Chen Zili and his companions emerged, faces bruised and swollen.
Those waiting for the restroom, desperate by now, rushed in together. Chen Gu reached out and grabbed Chen Zili, but Zili forcefully shrugged him off.
Chen Gu said coolly to Zili's few followers, "You guys head back first."
His followers looked at Chen Zili. When Zili gave no indication otherwise, they all left.
Chen Gu asked him again, "Got a smoke?"
Chen Zili fished a pack out of his back pocket. Chen Gu dragged the reluctant Zili back into the restroom, found a stall, lit a cigarette, and took a deep drag.
Damn, I'm really regressing, reduced to bumming a smoke off my 'grandson.' As soon as these words left "young Mr. Chen's" mouth, Chen Zili looked like he was about to explode. Chen Gu didn't give him the chance, quickly asking, "What's the deal with that 'priority training list' you mentioned?"
Chen Zili was furious. "And it's all your fault! It's basically a list of candidates for general! My dad was a shoo-in for general this time, but he traded his military merits for your sentence reduction. He missed this chance, so he'll probably be a colonel for life now! When he retires, if he's lucky, they might give him a general's rank as a consolation!"
"Besides, you've been dragging my dad down for years; his promotions were already slow because of you! Now, after he made such a huge sacrifice to get you out, some higher-ups are probably very unhappy. You've really ruined our family!"
Chen Gu exhaled a smoke ring, intending to look cool in front of his 'grandson,' but he failed. The smoke drifted aimlessly in the restroom, refusing to hold any particular shape.
"So, who's this blond-haired guy then?" Chen Gu quickly asked, changing the subject to hide his embarrassment.
"There are four colonels from Empire River Star on that list. Two of them have strong backing and will become generals sooner or later. That blond-haired guy... Zhao Ergou... his real name is Zhao Junzhi. His old man, Zhao Zhenhuai, is the fourth colonel and my dad's direct competitor."
"My dad was always ahead of him. If he'd been promoted to brigadier general this time, he could have kept him down for good, because there are only so many general positions. But now... that bastard Zhao Ergou never dared to confront me directly before."
He paused for a moment, then added, "Actually, the higher-ups always favored my dad more. Three years ago, he had a chance for a direct promotion to brigadier general. But right then, a few of his soldiers got into a fight with civilians over a woman. The other party was seriously injured, and the media blew it up, creating a huge scandal. It ruined my dad's promotion."
"Later, our family investigated secretly. It wasn't those warriors' fault at all. The guy who got beaten started it by groping one of the warrior's girlfriend's ass—who could tolerate that? Zhao Zhenhuai was behind the whole thing, including the subsequent media coverage. It's just a pity we couldn't find any proof!"
"That whole family—a despicable father and a bastard son. Not a single one of them is any good."
Chen Gu listened, then nodded. He expertly flicked the cigarette butt into the toilet and left without another word.
Chen Zili stayed a while longer by himself. He touched a swollen spot on his face and grimaced in pain. He'd never suffered such a humiliating defeat in his entire life.
Then, he sighed softly. Even if I actually managed to kick him out of school now, what good would it do? It's already come to this... sigh...