Chapter 126: Watch how you choose your punctuation

Chapter 126: Watch You Build High

With capital fueling it, expansion became wildly disorderly. And when the route was one already proven by others, its speed grew even more frenzied.

On the first day after the lawsuit ended, small workshops imitating Lanfang Toys sprang up like bamboo after rain. By rough counting, output over the next seven days had already reached twenty million units.

The next day, counterfeit advertisements flooded every corner of every provincial capital.

That day Qin Lin sent word: a powerful merchant from the coast had paid handsomely to buy billboard space on their vehicle advertising in two provinces.

He tried to pass along the information, but Zhang Tianfeng refused.

There was no need to think—this had to be XU Kuangdao doing a good turn. If he accepted the leak from Qin Lin, he would be in Qin Lin’s debt. After all, if Qin Lin spread the news, it was out of friendship, disregarding even business etiquette—how could he not owe a bigger favor back?

To Zhang Tianfeng, the information was useless. After gently declining, he returned to his own business: making plans, supervising execution, and then reading.

Yes, reading.

At first, Zhang had intended to throw himself fully into promoting and advertising for the toy factory, but Xu Kuangdao had suddenly stepped in and spent a fortune to handle the publicity himself. That saved Zhang a large sum, and gave him precious time for what he wanted to do.

He held a meeting for four members of Wang Tiancai’s team for half a day, told them to keep up the current pace, and then went to the affiliated school of Hai Zhong University.

As a tuition-paying student from another place, once he paid his fees he was allowed to stay on campus.

After arriving, he walked straight to the dormitory with his suitcase. As he expected, it was empty. Once he put his bag down, he headed back to the school building.

A strange and familiar atmosphere lingered around him, and suddenly many of his worries eased.

He walked around to relax. Before long he ran into a campus security officer.

“Student, it’s class time. Why are you still wandering outside?”

It was morning; there was no physical education class then.

High schools in this era were not as intense as in later years, yet the schedule was still tight. Everyone entering high school carried heavy family pressure. If you came home without a solid school certificate, you had no face to show anyone.

“I had leave recently. I only just got back today and don’t know the layout well,” he said.

“What class are you in?”

“Grade One, Class 16.”

The guard lifted a hand. “Turn left, go to the end, then right. The third room.”

“Hurry along. I heard your class has a new teacher arriving today.”

“Brother, you know all this too? You really do love what you do.”

“What, the new teacher is a whole group of beautiful top students from the Finance Department. I’ve only heard rumors, but apparently there are a lot of eyes in school watching them.”

In the nineties, teaching resources were scarce. Many universities with affiliated high schools sent their high-performing students down to teach.

Schools without affiliated high schools relied on borrowed staff: you help me for a while, I’ll help you later.

That was simply how society was; no one could change it, and no one had the power to.

He handed him a pack of Double Happiness cigarettes, smiling. “Thanks, old Ma. I owe you one—let me treat you to a drink when I get a chance.”

“Kid’s got money, huh. Alright, I’ll take your word. If you need anything later, say my name—Old Ma. In this school, no one will dare to bother you.”

“Done. See you next time.”

After waving to Old Ma, Zhang headed for the teaching building. By rushing, he made it to Class 16 before the new teacher arrived.

All the classrooms on that floor were noisy; with no teacher there, the students were running wild. He peered through the window for a while, and a crooked idea came to him.

After straightening himself and clearing his throat, he walked in with his hands behind his back.

The instant his steps hit the classroom, everyone fell silent and stared, eyes wide.

A braver boy in the front row asked carefully, “Classmate, who are you looking for?”

“What did you just call me?”

“Teacher, I’m sorry. I didn’t recognize you.”

The boy stood and apologized. The students behind quickly lowered their heads, pretending to be reading from their books.

What perfect timing.

Tianfeng had feared he might be seen through, but that one question, with this boy’s help, cemented his fake identity.

If so, just a few more steps.

He climbed onto the platform with hands behind his back and looked down at the timid class. The scene felt familiar.

They were in full mischief, then a real teacher walked in. Tianfeng kept up his pretend studious air, yet in his own mind all the little calculations had been laid bare.

“What were you doing just now?”

“Ol... teacher, we were waiting for you.”

It was the same boy again, voice low as he bowed his head. “The homeroom teacher said you’d teach us today. We’ve been waiting.”

“Then why were you so noisy?”

“There was a rumor, teacher. The new teacher is from a university. Everyone says university students are amazing—women and men both are top intellectuals.”

“We respect you so much, we just spoke a little louder, and you happened to catch us.”

That one was smooth-tongued. Certainly a prized, obedient child in the teacher’s eyes.

“Is everything he said true?” Zhang Tianfeng looked over the students.

They nodded softly.

“What’s your name?”

“Teacher, I’m Li Yunsong.”

“Good. Quiet now—take the next period as self-study. I’ll fetch the teaching material and come right back.”

No sooner had he stepped outside than whispers rose again. He walked on, thinking about how he would make his next appearance.

Before long he felt a sharp gaze settle on him. Looking up, he saw a group of stylish young men and women walking straight toward him. In the middle stood Gao Ran—his so-called girlfriend.

Damn. How did this woman get here?

Now she would definitely be his teacher.

He turned to run. Gao Ran saw him and her mouth curved into a smile.

“Brothers and sisters, I’m going to the class where that guy is now. We’ll talk later,” she said.

“Go ahead, go on. If anything comes up, call for us.”

Class assignments had their own unwritten rules—seniors, naturally, chose the easy ones.

But Gao Ran was different. Only three students transferred because of her, and no one dared to mention it openly, afraid of being dragged into trouble. That meant only she could take the center position, and what she proposed no one dared oppose.

“Zhang Tianfeng, stop! If you run again, don’t you dare come home!”

They chased each other to the classroom; Gao Ran’s shout drew everyone’s attention.

Gao Ran was one of the most fashion-savvy girls in school. If beauty required it, she could spend heavily—otherwise she never would have gotten involved with Zhang Tianfeng in the first place.

A beauty like that in high school was almost celestial.

And now this heavenly girl ran to a man and reached for his hand herself.

The sight made many boys’ hearts break.

From the windows of Class 16, the students leaned out, brimming with envy.

“Wow, the teacher is so young, and he has such a beautiful girlfriend. That’s unbelievable.”

“So that’s what college life is like—no wonder we envy it.”

“Wait—how exactly are we supposed to understand that?”

“Well... take your cue from where you pause.”