Chapter 95 - 92: Zhejiang University, You Scoundrels
A knock came at the door.
Li Qin took a deep breath, forcing a smile onto her face.
Only then did she walk over and open the door.
Outside stood a man and a woman.
The man was older, while the woman was young and sharp, holding a stack of documents.
Teacher Li smiled and was the first to speak.
"Hello, is this the home of student Li Dong? You must be his mother, right?"
"We’re teachers from the Yan University admissions office."
"My surname is Li, and this is Teacher Zhang."
Li Qin’s voice trembled slightly.
"Oh! Hello, Teacher Li! Hello, Teacher Zhang! Please, come in, come in!"
The two teachers from Yan University smiled and nodded as they walked into the living room.
As they entered, they habitually sized up the home’s interior.
’Hmm... The walls are white and the furniture looks new, but judging from the apartment’s layout and the rundown state of the corridor, this is definitely a classic "old, small, and dilapidated" apartment in Jiangcheng.’
’The family clearly doesn’t have a powerful background; their circumstances are average at best.’
The two teachers immediately felt they had a good grasp of the situation.
’It seems this is a classic case of "a noble son from a humble family."’
When it came to provincial top scorers from this kind of family, Yan University was actually more confident in securing them!
Because when it came to offering generous terms and scholarships to snatch up students, Yan University had never been any less magnanimous than the neighboring Shuimu University. In fact, sometimes their methods were even more direct.
However, as they fully entered the living room, they discovered another man sitting on the sofa.
The man stood up and extended his hand with a smile.
"You must be tired from your journey, Teachers. I’m Li Dong’s uncle, Li Yang."
The two teachers from Yan University were visibly taken aback when they saw Li Yang.
Li Yang was wearing a well-tailored suit, and he had a calm and composed demeanor.
It gave them the impression that they were facing a successful man worth tens of millions.
In reality, they didn’t know.
Li Yang was a worldly-wise old fox who had clawed his way up from the bottom. He had long since mastered the art of tailoring his speech to his audience—saying the right thing to the right person.
If you acted casually with him, he could be your brother-in-arms; if you acted formally, he could put on the airs of a successful entrepreneur.
Aside from his lack of a strong educational background, he now possessed all the external trappings of a successful man.
"Teacher Li, Teacher Zhang, please, have a seat."
Li Yang guided the two teachers to the sofa and then skillfully began to prepare tea.
After some pleasantries, Teacher Li quickly got to the point.
"Li Dong’s mother, Mr. Li, student Li Dong’s performance on the exam was outstanding. We at Yan University would be delighted to have such an excellent student join us."
Teacher Li looked at Li Qin and began to lay out his various offers.
"In terms of major, student Li Dong can choose from any of Yan University’s top programs, including the Guanghua School of Management, Yuanpei College, or the top-tier track in the School of Mathematical Sciences. He can pick whichever he likes!"
"As long as he’s willing to come, we can also help him apply for a full freshman scholarship! It’s a considerable sum, enough to cover all his tuition and living expenses for four years of university!"
With every condition Teacher Li mentioned, Li Qin’s eyes grew a little brighter.
"Huh? He can pick any major?"
"Oh my, a full scholarship? Does that mean we won’t have to spend any of our own money for all four years?"
Li Qin was providing all the emotional feedback he could ask for, her face filled with uncontrollable excitement and gratitude.
Of course, this wasn’t just an act for the occasion. As a supermarket employee, hearing these conditions—things she would never have even dared to dream of—she was genuinely and deeply shocked.
Seeing Li Qin’s excited expression, Teacher Li nodded to himself.
’It’s a done deal!’
’This reaction means it’s in the bag! As long as the parents are on board, the student himself is unlikely to cause any major issues.’
Teacher Li’s throat was dry from talking so much, but he felt great.
Li Yang smiled and refilled Teacher Li’s teacup with hot water.
"Teacher Li, please drink some water. Take your time."
"Thank you, thank you." Teacher Li picked up the cup and took a large gulp, moistening his throat.
After putting the cup down, he glanced around and finally asked the question that had been on his mind since he walked in.
"Hm? We’ve been talking for a while, but how come I haven’t seen student Li Dong?"
"Is he resting in his room? Could we ask him to come out? We’d like to hear his own preferences for a major."
Li Yang smiled naturally.
"Oh, Teacher Li, you’ve misunderstood."
"Xiaodong isn’t home."
"Not home?"
Teacher Li and Teacher Xiaozhang, who was taking notes beside him, froze simultaneously.
The two looked at each other in dismay.
’Today’s the day the Gaokao scores are released!’
’How could the student not be at home waiting on such an important day?’
"Then..." Teacher Li suppressed his surprise and asked with a smile, "Where did student Li Dong go? Did he go to school? How about we go to the school to find him now and hear his thoughts?"
Li Qin replied.
"Oh? No, no, he didn’t go to school."
"He went to Zhejiang University."
The air suddenly fell silent.
Teacher Li: "..."
Teacher Zhang: "..."
’He went to Zhejiang University?!’
A BUZZ went through Teacher Li’s mind.
’What the hell is this?’
’The scores just came out at noon today. Even if Zhejiang University’s admissions office moved fast, there’s no way they could have kidnapped him and gotten him to their campus in just a few hours!’
’Was it an early admission? Or did they secretly reach some under-the-table agreement and poach him?!’
’Zhejiang University! You shameless bastards!’
...
Meanwhile, a similar scene was playing out on the campus of Jiangcheng Sixth Middle School.
When Teacher Liu from Shuimu University arrived outside the gates of Jiangcheng Sixth Middle School with his assistant, Xiaowang, full of confidence, he froze on the spot.
’What is going on?’
Above the school gate, a banner had been hung: "Warmly Congratulate Our Student Li Dong on Becoming the Provincial Science Stream Top Scorer."
That was nothing special, just standard procedure. The problem was...
...what was with the two interview vans from the "Jiangcheng Education Channel" parked at the gate?
And another banner at the school gate read:
"A Warm Welcome to the Admissions Experts from Shuimu University for Their Visit of Care and Guidance!"
Teacher Liu’s eye twitched as he looked at the banner.
’Care and guidance my ass!’
’I’m just here to talk to the top scorer about which university to apply to!’
Just as Teacher Liu was standing there, utterly bewildered, Principal Liu of Jiangcheng Sixth Middle School emerged from the school with several other leaders, his face beaming.
"Oh, Teacher Liu! We’ve been waiting for you forever, and now you’re finally here!"
Principal Liu grasped Teacher Liu’s hand tightly with both of his.
Before Teacher Liu could even speak, Principal Liu was already pulling him into the school.
And behind them, next to an interview van, a female reporter was speaking into a microphone, facing the camera.
"Viewers, I’m live at the entrance of Jiangcheng Sixth Middle School."
"Just moments ago, the experts from Shuimu University arrived at Sixth Middle School!"
"This is the highest recognition of Jiangcheng Sixth Middle School’s outstanding educational achievements, as well as a great affirmation of our city’s own science stream top scorer, student Li Dong..."
Clearly, Shuimu University was being used by Sixth Middle School for some free publicity...
They made their way to the principal’s office.
As soon as he entered, Teacher Liu saw Qin Yan sitting on the sofa.
Seeing his inside connection present, the knot in his stomach loosened a little.
’Yes, as long as Qin Yan is here, this one’s in the bag.’
Qin Yan quickly stood up and greeted him politely.
"Hello, Teacher Liu."
"Ah, hello, student Qin Yan. Please, sit."
Teacher Liu smiled and gestured for him to sit down, then... he looked left and right.
’Hm? Why don’t I see any other students?’
’Is he still on his way from home? After all, the scores just came out, so he probably has things to take care of.’
He didn’t press the matter, but turned to Qin Yan and started his preliminary work.
"Say, student Qin Yan," Teacher Liu said in a serious, heartfelt tone.
"When student Li Dong arrives, as a student of Shuimu, you have to do a good job introducing your alma mater to your classmate."
The "alma mater" he was referring to was, of course, Shuimu University, where Qin Yan would soon be enrolling.
"I imagine your classmates at Sixth Middle School all look up to you, right? After all, you’re the top student who won a gold medal in the national training team and was granted direct admission to our Shuimu University."
Teacher Liu patted Qin Yan’s shoulder and whispered in his ear.
"As their idol, you can’t drop the ball today!"
Qin Yan felt he shouldn’t have come today at all.
"Heh... Me? Li Dong’s idol?"
"Does Li Dong even know?"
Just as Qin Yan was squirming, feeling like he was sitting on pins and needles, Elder Chen, who was standing to the side, finally couldn’t help but speak up.
"Ahem... Uh, Teacher Liu."
Elder Chen said, looking a little embarrassed.
"I’m terribly sorry, but Li Dong... isn’t in Jiangcheng right now."
"Not in Jiangcheng?"
The smile on Teacher Liu’s face vanished instantly.
’Not in Jiangcheng? Then where is he?’
’Could he have been poached by that university next door, Yan University?’
’Those shameless bastards have no sense of honor!’
He quickly asked, "If he’s not in Jiangcheng, where did he go? Could he have been... by Yan University..."
He didn’t finish his sentence.
He had wanted to say "snatched by Yan University," but in front of the Sixth Middle School’s leadership, it would make Shuimu seem too flustered, so he forced the words back down.
Principal Liu quickly explained with a smile:
"No, no! Teacher Liu, you’ve misunderstood."
"Li Dong wasn’t contacted by Yan University. He just took the high-speed train early yesterday morning... and went to Zhejiang University."
"Zhejiang University?!"
Teacher Liu shot up from the sofa.
He cursed inwardly.
’You damn Zhejiang University! You shameless bastards!’