what Su Cen said about the pros and cons, they reluctantly dug into their savings. After returning home, both of them stared at their new clothes for a long time because in their lifetime, they had ne...Chapter 21: Powerful Group

After walking down the slope from the school to the main road, Tang Wu turned to look at Su Cen and asked, "What kind of biology reference material do you want to photocopy"

"Oh, it's the recent biology reference test... page 5, I accidentally lost it..." Su Cen smiled faintly. Hearing Tang Wu’s tone sound cold as ice, he subconsciously felt that she was politely asking him to leave.

Su Cen’s heart sank; he knew though Tang Wu appeared calm on the surface, she had probably guessed why he behaved so strangely today. Despite her aloofness and apparent disdain for everything around her, Su Cen believed that nothing in this school could escape her piercing eyes covered with ice.

Now even their classmates were spreading rumors about his failed pursuit of Chen Lingshan, and now here he was inviting Tang Wu out again, acting as if challenging Ye Zijiang. How would she view him Would she develop a distaste for him

A girl like Tang Wu, once she set her mind on disliking someone, it was impossible to win back her goodwill in the future.

Su Cen felt stifled and frustrated as he could not fully explain himself to her.

"Biology... page 5..." Tang Wu frowned. After a while, she said, "The biology reference test doesn’t have page five."

There was an awkward silence thereafter.

Su Cen felt remorseful for even the lie falling apart. He knew that his recent erratic behavior stemmed from having foreseen the future, and now lying to Tang Wu combined with today’s actions would undoubtedly lead to her angering regardless of any perspective.

Su Cen unconsciously pondered whether sometimes the future might not come true. For example, maybe Tang Wu wouldn't accept Ye Zijiang in the end, but his involvement pushed her closer to him; wasn’t this a major paradox faced by all time-travel novels

"You don’t want me to have too much contact with Ye Zijiang, right"

An approaching bus rattled down the side road and made an ear-piercing sound as it stopped. Tang Wu’s piercing eyes, under her clear and wise mind, felt like a knife directly stabbing into Su Cen's heart.

Su Cen felt a bit lost and inwardly sighed; his excessive actions had ultimately severed the last remnants of goodwill between him and Tang Wu. From any perspective, his behavior was indefensible, and it was unsurprising that he had become disliked.

Tang Wu blinked her eyes and nodded, "I understand, I won't get closer to him."

What

Su Cen, who had intended to accept this regretful reality, stared blankly at Tang Wu upon hearing these words.

No accusations, no coldness, nor any dissatisfaction—only a calm voice and this peaceful promise.

Seeing Su Cen's dazed expression, Tang Wu smiled gently and for the first time extended her hand to pat him on the shoulder, "I'm leaving."

She then turned around and entered the bus. The red tennis shoes under her slender jeans made a delicate tapping sound as she stepped onto the bus stairs.

The bus, enveloped in a light golden hue, gradually disappeared down the road with its undulating path surrounded by ancient buildings from eleven years ago, tangled wires above, and clouds framing the distant sky.

Su Cen felt an overwhelming sense of happiness...a feeling long absent.

...

Some things can be changed; for instance, one's life. Fate exists because people lose their courage to break free from it, losing themselves in the inertia and forgetting their own uniqueness.

Su Cen wasn't worried about how this group of students led by Ye Zijiang from City No.1 High School would treat him; just as an adult faced with a high school student's provocation would take into account more profound aspects, facing everything from a superior perspective. Sometimes intelligence could make up for the lack of physical strength.

Within this high school environment, especially within the precocious circle at City No.1 High School, there were only a few ways to earn respect: first and foremost, being academically excellent. As high school students under China's education system, they still valued their teachers highly; generally speaking, top students favored by teachers would also be respected by everyone else.

Second, physically strong individuals. People tend to bully the weak and fear the strong, a phenomenon that applies to high school students as well. Tall and assertive people often instill fear in others.

Third, those with extensive social networks. Forming cliques is a common human trait, evident even from middle school or elementary school. People generally feel a sense of belonging and societal recognition by aligning themselves with the majority. Those within a dominant clique can evoke admiration and respect among weaker groups.

Fourth, individuals who are aloof yet possess strong independent personalities. Such people often fall into two extremes: they are either bullied and belittled or respected from afar due to their distinctiveness.

For Ye Zijiang and his group, they mostly fit the second and third categories mentioned above. Their dominant clique and the deference of others have likely fueled their sense of superiority and vanity.

To intervene between Ye Zijiang and Tang Wu, one must consider numerous factors. Su Can cannot expect everyone to be as mature and rational as he is in handling such issues. In this passionate environment of high school students, violence often becomes a means of resolving conflicts.

Furthermore, the lack of stringent legal constraints, along with occasional exceptions in punishment by Shijia Middle School, leads to an escalation of campus violence, which remains an issue plaguing schools across China.

If Ye Zijiang's group or Wang Haoran (whom Su Can hasn't met) were to react irrationally and initiate a high school student conflict over this matter, it would be detrimental for Su Can.

However, high school students still lack broader perspectives. Hence, if an external, dominant force intervenes decisively and overwhelms Ye Zijiang's clique, the desired outcome can be achieved without them becoming significant obstacles.

The problem lies in that such a powerful external force is currently something Su Can lacks. While he may possess mature thinking, he cannot achieve much alone if his close friend Xue Yiyang joins him; it would merely add another person to the effort but not necessarily strengthen their position.

At this moment, Liu Rui in City No. 2 High School seems to have a similar status to Ye Zijiang's group in City No. 1 High School. Requesting his involvement could potentially exacerbate the situation. However, at present, perhaps Liu Rui is the key to calming down this風波.

As Su Can reflected on these thoughts upon returning home, he found himself somewhat amused by finding himself embroiled in a high school rivalry for romantic reasons. Yet, if he cannot manage even such a situation with high school students, how can he handle larger matters

This could be considered another major issue (BOSS event) that Su Can must personally resolve.

The arrival and approval of the city's designated procurement inspection team formally established the prestige of Su Can’s store. Soon after, a yellow banner with black lettering reading “City Designated Procurement Unit” was hung at the entrance to Xia Hai Cultural Stationery Shop.

This was also Su Can's idea. Both yellow and red backgrounds were eye-catching, but at a time when red banners had become mainstream, a yellow banner would be even more eye-grabbing and give off a slightly professional feel.

Lately, the family dinners have all been eaten in the store because while the stationery shop's business was gradually improving, Su Can’s family was clearly getting busier. Even during lunchtime, his mother, Zeng Ke, would hold a bowl of rice and use chopsticks to pick up some cooked food and vegetables, standing beside the counter explaining things to people who were constantly coming in to buy items.

After dinner, his father was busy collecting money while washing dishes fell on Su Can’s shoulders. After he had washed the bowls clean and wiped his hands, Su Can opened the ledger.

In the past, what they sold each day could only fill half a page of paper, which was already an average daily turnover of four to five hundred yuan. However, after Su Can flipped through the account book now, he had to turn over three or four pages before seeing the total sales for one day.

And on every page that he turned over were densely written details of sold items that were pleasing to the eye.

Su Can felt inexplicably excited and relieved when he saw yesterday's total turnover, which amounted to three thousand five hundred and ninety-seven yuan.

Perhaps for many financial professionals and bosses in this era who had eaten 'the crabs' (enjoyed the benefits of reform), this amount wouldn't mean much. But for Su Can, he could see with his own eyes how the family's fate was slowly changing under his intervention, starting to move from a small stream into a river.

Seeing his parents busily collecting money and recording accounts, and one of them busy supervising and introducing things amidst the bustling crowd, Su Can’s nose inexplicably felt sore. He raised his head and said, "Mom, don't you think we should hire some people to help run this shop"

Thank you brothers for your recommendations and collections! The book friend “Tears Are... A Lifetime's Vow” is too fierce; Oubao feels honored!

The progress will catch up after the recommendation plan, everyone’s strong support gives Oubao an endless motivation to work silently.e carrying a basketball finally stood before Tang Wu. Unlike the time Xiao Yunyun delivered cola to Su Can which created quite a stir, this event lacked such dramatic elements. Then it was just an aff...