Chapter 126 - 92: Quietly (Part 3)
Chen Jianguo looked at Fang Yuanming, his tone sincere.
"Please, just give us a ballpark figure. How much do we need to prepare for a year? We need to have an idea, so even if we have to borrow money, we absolutely can’t let the boy suffer."
Fang Yuanming listened and then smiled.
He turned around and took a thick file from his briefcase on the sofa.
Letter of Intent for Provisional Admission to the Gifted Youth Program of Hua Country Science and Technology University.
He placed the letter of intent in an empty space on the dining table.
"Master Chen."
Fang Yuanming looked at him, his tone extremely solemn.
"For Chen Zhuo to attend Keda, you won’t have to pay a single cent in tuition."
He pointed to a few lines on the letter of intent.
"Tuition and accommodation fees are all waived by the university."
"Not only will we not charge him, but the university will also give him a monthly living stipend and a scholarship."
Fang Yuanming looked at the stunned Chen Jianguo and his wife.
"This money will be enough for him to eat, buy notebooks, and clothes at school. You can keep your family’s money to improve your own lives."
The dining table fell completely silent.
Chen Jianguo stared blankly at the letter of intent.
’Full tuition waiver.’
’Room and board covered.’
’And a stipend.’
As a man who had been a technical worker his whole life, Chen Jianguo had already prepared to sell everything he owned to fund his son’s education.
But now, not only did he not have to pay, the country was actually paying to educate his son.
Chen Jianguo suddenly picked up the glass of baijiu in front of him, tilted his head back, and downed it all in one gulp.
The fiery liquor flowed down his throat, turning into a ball of fire in his stomach.
He sniffled hard.
"Good... Good."
Chen Jianguo said the word "good" twice, his voice trembling.
Fang Yuanming pulled a black fountain pen from his pocket and unscrewed the cap.
"Chen Zhuo has already signed it."
Fang Yuanming pointed to a blank space on the last page.
"Now, we need you to sign as his parents. Once you’ve signed, we can start the process of transferring his student records."
Chen Jianguo looked at the fountain pen.
He stood up, walked over to the kitchen sink, turned on the tap, lathered up with soap, and meticulously washed his hands.
He used a towel to wipe his hands completely dry.
Walking back to the dining table, Chen Jianguo accepted the fountain pen with both hands.
He bent over, his face close to the paper.
Looking at the line for the guardian’s signature.
He had signed off on blueprint approvals at the factory for half his life, and his hand had always been steady.
But today, holding this pen, it felt heavier than his own son.
The nib touched the paper.
One stroke, then another.
He wrote very slowly, very carefully.
"Chen Jianguo."
The two words were printed neatly on the paper.
Liu Xiuying also took the fountain pen and signed her name beside his.
After signing, she turned away and secretly wiped away a tear.
Fang Yuanming took back the fountain pen, replaced the cap, and put the letter of intent back into his briefcase.
By the time the meal was over, the sky outside had already grown dark.
Fang Yuanming stood up, and Old Zhao and Old Zhou stood up with him.
"The papers are signed. At the end of August, a teacher will contact you to arrange for matriculation and check-in."
Fang Yuanming looked at Chen Zhuo and said gently,
"For the time you have at home, get some good rest."
Chen Jianguo and Liu Xiuying escorted the three teachers all the way to the main gate of the family residential compound.
They watched as the white Santana started up, its taillights disappearing into the night.
Chen Jianguo turned and started walking back with Chen Zhuo.
Back inside, Liu Xiuying was clearing the bowls and chopsticks from the table.
Chen Zhuo walked to the sofa and unzipped his backpack.
He took out a sandalwood comb and handed it to Liu Xiuying, then placed the small black metal box containing a lighter on the coffee table in front of Chen Jianguo.
"Dad, Mom, I bought these in Shanghai."
"This one is brass, it’ll last a long time. The comb is sandalwood, it’s good quality."
Liu Xiuying wiped her hands on her apron, took the comb, felt its smooth edge, and brought it close to her nose, inhaling the faint scent of sandalwood.
"This wood is so heavy. It’s much better than my plastic one."
She smiled, her lips pressed together, and the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes smoothed out.
Chen Jianguo sat down on a small stool.
He looked at the small black metal box on the coffee table.
He reached out, picked it up, and opened it.
Lying on a black foam pad was a beautiful, brass-cased kerosene lighter.
He was an old technician with a natural fondness for this kind of metal object. He took it out, his thumb resting on the lid.
CLICK.
A crisp, metallic sound.
He flicked his thumb down against the flint wheel, and a cluster of blue and yellow flames shot up.
He gently pushed the lid down, extinguishing the flame.
Chen Jianguo shot to his feet.
He turned his head, his back to Chen Zhuo, and strode toward the balcony.
"This little brat..."
Chen Jianguo’s voice was thick with emotion, and he wiped his face haphazardly with his rough hands.
"So quiet about it... he scared the soul right out of me..."
He stood on the balcony, watching the sky outside gradually darken.
His shoulders were shaking.