The relatively closed campus separates a relatively quiet world. On the stone steps by the road, many students are sitting, all reading a book without a care in the world. Scattered across the half-yellow, half-green lawn are also many vibrant students.
Just after the school anniversary, there have been some changes in the school. In front of the Civil Engineering Building, the Century Tripod, which will become a famous sight at Tsinghua in the future, has basically been completed and is waiting to be unveiled in a few days.
In fact, not only were many buildings on campus donated, but many of the landscapes were also gifted by alumni, including the sundial next to the lawn of the Great Hall. In a few years, a stone tablet with the school motto will also be erected next to the lawn.
So Feng Yiping couldn't understand why those alumni who had graduated decades ago still remembered their school and classmates so fondly, but why some of his classmates now didn't cherish this rare friendship. He himself had obviously not picked on him, bothered him, or stood in his way, and he hadn't even stolen his crush or girlfriend. But he just had to keep on, again and again, delighting in playing these little tricks.
The first thing to do is, of course, to find the instructor to cancel the leave. Teacher Jin is very busy. 'You're back. How was your trip?'
'It was okay. Thanks for asking, Instructor Jin.'
'I personally appreciate your behaviour of always being one step ahead of everyone else, but doing the right thing at the right time is also a good arrangement, don't you think?'
'Don't worry, Instructor Jin, I will definitely make up for the classes I missed,'
'As long as you know what you're doing, that's fine. Go to class. And, since you're the initiator and president of the entrepreneurship club, you need to make it a priority and not neglect it,'
'Of course not, instructor. I've been doing the work as you instructed, and we've made several plans,' Feng Yiping said with a smile.
'That's good. You're good in other aspects, except for attendance,'
'Actually, it's not a problem, instructor. I'm absent from work, but not from class. Oh, by the way, this is a small gift from a customer at the trade fair,' Feng Yiping placed a small plastic box on Mr. Jin's desk, with the eye-catching ZIPPO logo on it.
For a fashionable man like Mr. Jin, he should like such a small ornament. It doesn't matter if he doesn't smoke. In fact, in China, this thing is not just a lighter, but has been turned into an American symbol by some people, just like Coke jeans.
'Oh?' Sure enough, Mr Jin stopped writing his report and happily took out the lighter inside. "Is it authentic?'
'Of course, a client from Virginia brought it," he actually bought it in Hong Kong.
After playing with it a few times, Mr Jin pushed it back. 'I can't use it either, you'd better give it to someone else,'
although this is just an ordinary thing in the United States, it usually costs about 30 US dollars, which is more than 200 yuan in RMB. It is still presentable to give it to someone in China.
'Although it's a free gift from the customer, it also represents my sincere feelings as a student. You mustn't dislike it, instructor. You're busy, I won't disturb you anymore,' Feng Yiping closed the office door with a smile.
He wasn't a good student, and he often missed classes. It was necessary to get along with the teacher. It was not easy to invite the teacher to dinner often, and it didn't have a good effect. It was quite good to send small gifts like this from time to time. The more people you treat, the less you are strange.
After the economics lecture, Feng Yiping waited outside the classroom with his textbook, greeting passing students with a familiar smile. Gao Heng and his two close friends followed the department flower, also the secretary of the Communist Youth League, out of the classroom. They saw Feng Yiping waiting there and were a little surprised, but they immediately greeted him with a smile, 'Yiping, you're back,'
'Class monitor, I've been waiting for you especially. I wonder if I have the honour of treating you to a meal?' Feng Yiping said with a smile.
'Oh, the big boss is going to treat us to a meal, that's rare. Why are you so stingy, only treating him?' The group secretary, Wu Xinyang, said with a smile, as if they were old friends.
'I've always wanted to invite you, but I was worried that I wouldn't be that lucky, and I'd be embarrassed if I was rejected. Besides, if you were to agree out of the kindness of your heart, I'd worry about becoming the target of so many classmates' hatred for no reason. So I've been torn between these two feelings.' Even Feng Yiping, who is known for his shrewdness, had a hard time dealing with this Shanghai girl, who is famous for her sharp wit.
'You're too modest, Feng. It's me who doesn't have the honour. But I'm really free today, so you're not going to invite me along?'
With Gao Heng's deliberate protection, Wu Xinyang got along well with him. She knew about the things between Feng Yiping and Gao Heng. Now that Feng Yiping had taken the initiative to come up to her, there must be something on his mind.
'How can it be a detour? Please be sure to prepare thoroughly before making a special trip to invite someone. That shows sincerity. Today, Gao Heng and I really do have something to do,' Feng Yiping said with a smile, going over to Gao Heng's shoulder and saying, "Let's go, monitor.'
In front of the female classmates, Gao Heng felt that Feng Yiping was a bit hostile today, but he didn't want to lose face, so he handed his books to a classmate next to him and said, "Okay, let's go,'
At the moment, Gao Heng and Feng Yiping had not yet found a private room in a restaurant and enjoyed a few dishes and drinks. Not far from the school, they found a small restaurant with few customers at the moment. Feng Yiping ordered noodles and meatballs. The noodles were fried noodles without soup – just in case someone got angry and said nothing. 'Class monitor, eat, don't be shy,'
Gao Heng was a little confused about Feng Yiping's intentions today. After thinking back, he knew that he had taken leave this time, but he didn't snitch on the teacher, did he? But looking at Feng Yiping across the table, eating happily, while thinking, it's just fried bean paste noodles, what's there to be polite about, he also started eating.
With a healthy stomach and appetite, he finished his meal quickly. After clearing his plate, Feng Yiping wiped his mouth and said, 'Gao Heng, I want to ask you face-to-face if I have offended or inconvenienced you in any way?'
Gao Heng didn't expect him to be so direct when he said it, and for a moment he was a little uncomfortable. He smiled weakly and said, 'No way, we're all classmates, it doesn't exist,'
'Then I'll just pretend it didn't. I've also thought about it. In the almost one year since I started school, I haven't had any conflicts with anyone in my class, including any of the students at the school. There should be even less reason to offend you,'
'Yes, Yiping, you're a very easy-going classmate.' It was only when they were together that Gao Heng was very nice in front of Feng Yiping.
'Then I don't understand. I haven't sought you out, I haven't bothered you, and I made things clear with you last semester. Why are you still pulling these pranks and picking on me?' Feng Yiping asked, looking at him.
Before, he had been thinking about whether to set something up so that Gao Heng would learn a profound lesson, but after thinking about it for the past two days, he had completely realised that there was no need for that.
Although they are in the same class and the same age, Feng Yiping is already far ahead of most of the other students in the class, or in the school. To spend a lot of energy on a classmate who is giving you a hard time is, to be honest, a bit beneath you. It's better to just be upfront and clear about it, as you are now.
'Yiping, really, I don't have any personal grudges against you. As class monitor, I'm responsible for class discipline. Yes, I did report some things to the teacher, but my intentions were good, for the good of the class and for your good.' Gao Heng's face turned red when she heard Feng Yiping's blunt words.
'First, let me make one thing clear: no matter what you think, we are just classmates, and there is no need for, nor will I accept, anyone doing things under the pretext of doing what's good for me,'
'Yes, I did miss some classes, but as far as I know, you also missed some classes. I just told the instructor that I missed some classes but not some exams. Judging from last year's final exam scores, I ranked among the top in the department, which is better than you. So, your reason is completely untenable.' Since he was going to say it, Feng Yiping had no mercy.
Gao Heng had never experienced a conversation like this. While he was still organising his words, Feng Yiping continued, 'You don't need to argue back. You know exactly what's going on, and I have a pretty good idea too.
Let me reiterate: the reason I went to university was to study. It didn't matter if I joined the student union and became an officer, I wouldn't compete with others for a place in the Communist Party, and I definitely wouldn't fight for the chance to stay in school.
Besides, I also have a very good girlfriend. I don't have the time or energy to fight with people over love. I just want to quietly enrich myself.'
'Yes, we are the same,' Gao Heng finally chimed in.
'What you do is none of my business,' Feng Yiping waved his hand, 'to use an old saying, we are all here for the same goal, which is why we have gathered from all over the world. Logically, we should cherish this kind of fate. At the same time, I really have a lot to do, and I don't have the time or energy to waste on some people's ulterior motives.
But just because I don't care doesn't mean I'm weak and can be bullied, and it definitely doesn't mean I'll tolerate this happening again and again. It's not like it's a big deal, but it really annoys me.
I believe we all have a bright future ahead of us, but at least for now, I should be ahead of most of my classmates.
In terms of studies, I'm sure you've read my magazine too, and many teachers have said that my article, if published in its entirety, would be qualified as a doctoral thesis.
In terms of material resources, my company is developing well, so I have more resources than the average student.
Let me be clear, whether you believe it or not, it's really not difficult to get a classmate to drop out of school without me having to do anything or use any connections.'
Hearing this, Gao Heng finally couldn't stay calm, and he was also very angry. This was a threat, a blatant threat. However, Gao Heng, who came from an average family, found that when he really faced such a threat, he was actually powerless.
'If people don't mess with me, I won't mess with them,' Feng Yiping knocked on the table, 'Buddhism emphasises cause and effect. When the day comes when something bad really happens to you, the first thing we should think about is why it happened, and whether it was driven by some unhealthy emotions and whether we did something we shouldn't have done?'
Feng Yiping didn't care about the dark green complexion of Gao Heng opposite him. 'I can let bygones be bygones, but if something happens to me again, I will actively get involved in class affairs and further improve my relationship with the teachers. I don't think it will be difficult to elect a monitor, or I can ask some friendly classmates to do it for me. Helping them get into the student union, the Communist Party and the school's quota will also make some students who don't come to school to study happy. Since you want to use underhand means, just do it and drop out of school.'
Feng Yiping looked straight at Gao Heng, 'If I do this, can you understand, monitor?'
Gao Heng's hand couldn't help but tremble a little. He closed his eyes, let out a breath, and said in a low voice, "I understand,'
'That's good," Feng Yiping smiled and extended his hand to him, 'It seems we have happily reached a consensus,'
Gao Heng, although he didn't want to, still shook Feng Yiping's outstretched hand. The palm of his hand was a little sticky, probably from sweating.
'I still have to go to the company, so I won't see you off. By the way, if you can get it approved, you can run the crowdfunding club. Our school's entrepreneurship club was approved a long time ago,' Feng Yiping added with a smile.
Feng Yiping left for a while, and Gao Heng was still sitting there, panting heavily and feeling very unhappy! However, when he once again discovered helplessly that Feng Yiping really had the power to make him do things, he also examined his own actions for the first time, and wondered why he had deliberately made things difficult for Feng Yiping.
After thinking about it for a long time, although he didn't want to admit it, he actually had a reason in his heart, and that was jealousy.