The morning classes ended quickly, and Xiao Han had spent practically the entire morning buried in his textbooks.
"When did you turn over a new leaf?" Li Dapang stretched lazily as the bell rang, leaving a puddle of drool on the desk. He walked over to Xiao Han.
"You're awake?" Xiao Han joked, "Time to go home for lunch."
"Let's go, I'm starving," Li Dapang hurriedly said.
Li Dapang was Xiao Han's only friend at school and a fairly close one at that. This guy, standing at about 1.8 meters, weighed nearly 200 kilos. He wasn't exactly cut out for academics; if it hadn't been for his dad pulling some strings to get him into Linjiang No.1 Middle School, he wouldn't have made it in.
They quickly made their way out.
As soon as they left the school gate, they ran into Liao Zhijie and his group.
Liao Zhijie had been brooding over the morning's incident all day. Chen Zihan was the object of his affection, and the fact that Chen Zihan had spoken up for Xiao Han really annoyed him. As soon as school let out at noon, Liao Zhijie immediately gathered his group to confront them at the school gate. The other students took detours to avoid them.
"Xiao Han," Liao Zhijie said, with a cigarette in his mouth and swinging a baton in his hand, "Come here, you."
"Damn, what did you do to piss this guy off again?" Li Dapang asked.
"Just go ahead, I'll handle this," Xiao Han glanced at him, "This is my issue."
After a morning of clarity, Xiao Han's mind was exceptionally clear. Facing Liao Zhijie, he no longer felt the fear he had felt in the morning. He even wondered how he had managed to get through high school years. His memories of the past seemed a bit blurry. All he knew was that he always felt inferior, weak, and timid. However, today's Xiao Han was completely different.
"Damn, what are you talking about?" Li Dapang scoffed, "Aren't we brothers? I'm the best at fighting. What's Liao Zhijie compared to that?"
After saying this, Li Dapang followed Xiao Han.
"Big Fatty, you're going to stand up for him?" Liao Zhijie asked coldly.
"Xiao Han is my brother," Li Dapang thumped his chest, "You have to get past me before you can touch him."
Xiao Han was slightly touched inside. Indeed, having a brother like Li Dapang was a fortunate thing in life. Just as Li Dapang was about to make a move, Xiao Han quickly grabbed Li Dapang's arm, saying, "Big Fatty, let me handle this."
"Can you manage it?" Li Dapang looked at Xiao Han doubtfully.
Suddenly, Li Dapang felt that the Xiao Han standing before him was somewhat unfamiliar, whether it was his expression or his gaze. The old Xiao Han always walked with his head down, submissive. Yet today, he was holding his head high, a fierce determination in his eyes.
"Don't worry," Xiao Han patted Li Dapang's shoulder, then handed him his schoolbag, saying, "Just watch, I'll show you that your brother isn't so easy to bully."
"Haha..." Li Dapang laughed heartily, "Exactly, that's how men should be. Better to die standing than live kneeling."
Liao Zhijie was also perplexed. Xiao Han had transformed dramatically in just one morning. In the morning he had been timid, but now he was ready to fight? However, Liao Zhijie quickly concluded that Xiao Han was just putting on a show.
"Are you looking to die?" Liao Zhijie swung his baton at Xiao Han.
Crack...
Suddenly, Xiao Han grabbed the baton from Liao Zhijie. Being tall and solid, his long-term exercise had given him a robust physique. Narrowing his eyes, Xiao Han coldly said, "Liao Zhijie, today I'm going to show you that Xiao Han is standing up."
Boom!
Suddenly, Xiao Han punched Liao Zhijie right in the face.
"Ouch..." Liao Zhijie's nose started bleeding profusely, tears of pain welling up in his eyes. He nearly fell over and roared in anger, "Fuck, get him for me, beat him to death."
Behind him, more than a dozen flunkies rushed forward.
Xiao Han snorted coldly, swinging the baton swiftly.
If it had been before, Xiao Han would have knelt down and surrendered. But now, things were different. With nearly 1.8 meters in height and long legs, his actions were also quick. Holding the baton, he seemed like a moving fortress.
Bang bang...
A few kicks later, several were down. With each swing of the baton, he brutally struck their heads, leaving them battered and bruised.
Facing an onslaught of more than ten people, Xiao Han was fearless and fought even better and more thrillingly. Eventually, the gang fled in defeat.
"Stop!!" Xiao Han suddenly roared.
That roar not only made Liao Zhijie's legs go weak, but it also shocked the surrounding onlookers. This roar was monumental. Xiao Han vented all the pent-up frustration, grievances, and defiance of the past two years. From then on, Xiao Han was no longer the same person.
"W-What do you want to do!" Liao Zhijie stammered, looking at Xiao Han. Who knew the terror and fear he felt inside? And no one knew how angry Liao Zhijie was inside. A timid guy suddenly had transformed into an invincible expert. Bullshit! Not even a novel would dare to write it like this.
"Kneel down!" Xiao Han said coldly.
"Fuck, I am..." Liao Zhijie was about to burst into curse.
Bang!
Xiao Han swung his club and smashed it hard.
Thud!
Liao Zhijie immediately let out a scream and knelt down under the force. He wailed, "Xiao Han, you... you're seeking death, my dad... my dad is a representative of the LJ City People's Congress, you... you're dead for sure!"
Xiao Han wasn't afraid at all; he slowly walked over.
"Lie down like a dog!" Xiao Han's voice was icy, as if it were the soul-locking sound from Hell.
Liao Zhijie looked into Xiao Han's eyes, feeling that if he didn't do as Xiao Han demanded, he would kill him. Liao Zhijie could only endure the humiliation and lie down like a dog.
Crack...
Suddenly, Xiao Han stepped on Liao Zhijie's hand bone.
"Ah!!!" The piercing scream immediately resounded down the entire street.
"Listen well," Xiao Han bent down and said, "if you dare to mess with me again, I won't mind killing you!"
Having said this, Xiao Han turned and walked away.
At that moment, he felt as if all his strength had been drained. More than two years of being bullied, mocked, and looked down upon. He had lived in the campus like a clump of air, allowing people to degrade him. The reason he picked on Liao Zhijie today was to let everyone know Xiao Han had risen.
"Fuck, you're pretty fierce, kid." Li Dapang was completely stunned, and he quickly chased after Xiao Han carrying his backpack.
Before long, Xiao Han suddenly fell backward. Li Dapang quickly supported him and asked, "What's wrong, kid?"
"I... I feel out of strength," Xiao Han's face was pale, and he quickly sat down on the road shoulder.
"You were just awesome, kid," Li Dapang quickly took a bottle of water out of the backpack and handed it to Xiao Han, saying, "You didn't get heatstroke, did you?"
"Possibly," Xiao Han nodded hastily.
Actually, Xiao Han also didn't know what was wrong with his body. Just now, when he encountered Liao Zhijie, the timidity inside him suddenly disappeared, replaced by a cold murderous aura. If he hadn't restrained himself, he would probably have killed Liao Zhijie. After the incident, the cold murderous aura disappeared at once, and his body also felt as if it had been hollowed out.
"Let's go home and rest well," Li Dapang said urgently.
"Hmm!" Xiao Han nodded.
............
Xiao Han's home was in the Fuxing Community of Wangjiang District, a slum area in Wangjiang District. Fuxing Community was previously known as Fuxing Factory, which produced bullets and shells for the nation during the seventies and eighties. Following the economic reforms, the factory's performance declined, and as a once flagship state-owned enterprise, it quickly lost all its prestige. In order to repay debts, the factory and land were sold, leaving only the residential area of Fuxing Factory. Later, it was renamed Fuxing Community.
Fuxing Community still maintained its ragged old look, with rusty railings all around. The residents are mostly former workers of Fuxing Factory and their children. Those who could afford to move had done so long ago, leaving behind the poor, the weak, and the sick.
Back at home.
Mother Xiao was making lunch.
"Xiao Han, you're back?" Mother Xiao asked.
Xiao Han barely responded, but instead rushed straight into his room, quickly flipping through his old books, page by page. Including some difficult, even profound texts and books, he could almost understand them after a single read-through. High school first year, high school second year... Xiao Han flipped through them page by page.
Eventually, Xiao Han heavily lay down on his small bed.
He looked up at the dark ceiling, even though it was noon, the room's lighting was poor. Xiao Han was greatly shocked. He did not know what had happened or understood what was going on, why suddenly, his mind had become exceptionally bright.
Xiao Han took a deep breath, somewhat relieved.
Well, if his mind had suddenly become enlightened, then it meant he could attend a good university. Not only could he shock those who looked down on him, but he could also offer some comfort to his deceased father.
Thinking about the car accident two years ago, Xiao Han was still brooding over it. That accident was clearly man-made, but the traffic police insisted it was an accident. In the end, only a compensation of one hundred twenty thousand was given.
At this thought, Xiao Han felt a chill run through his body.