Chapter Forty: Saving the Nation by Indirect Means [Part Three]

In Ma Qianyong’s eyes, Su Ruoran was tantamount to a vast fortune. According to First High’s reward policy, if a class produced the city’s top scorer in the college entrance examination, the homeroom teacher would receive a fifty-thousand yuan cash prize, and even if their professional title did not advance, their base salary would be temporarily raised a level for the year. If the class produced the provincial top scorer, the cash reward soared to one hundred thousand! Not to mention the year-end bonuses yet to be added.

Ma Qianyong had always held Su Ruoran in high regard. In his opinion, she was the kind of outstanding student he hadn’t seen in years—her grades were steady, her excellence consistent across all subjects, never favoring one over another. With such a student, barring any mishaps, she was sure to at least secure the city’s top score, and Ma Qianyong even believed she had a strong chance at the provincial title. Yet, just three months before the exam, rumors surfaced that Su Ruoran was in a romantic relationship. To Ma Qianyong, this was a bolt from the blue.

The words “falling in love” are highly sensitive for high school teachers, the behavior most feared and strenuously avoided. Upon hearing that his star student, Su Ruoran, might be dating—and that the rumored partner was Zhang Wenhao—Ma Qianyong was so furious he couldn’t eat all day.

Who was Zhang Wenhao? This troublemaker had embarrassed him time and again, undermined his authority, and repeatedly slapped his face with actual deeds. Now that Zhang Wenhao was a student in Class Twenty-One, Ma Qianyong’s resentment toward him only grew.

Now, the very person who had aggravated him for over a month was entangled with his most valued seed candidate. Wasn’t this infuriating? If, because of Zhang Wenhao, Su Ruoran failed to clinch the top scorer’s title, Ma Qianyong would suffer a huge loss.

After much deliberation, Ma Qianyong realized intervention was necessary. But Zhang Wenhao’s powerful background meant even Chen Ru couldn’t control him; starting with him was likely impossible. Approaching Su Ruoran would be even harder.

Ma Qianyong knew something of Su Ruoran’s character: gentle, cultured, sensible, yet fiercely principled. If she thought you were right, she’d listen; if not, arguing was useless. If pushed too far, she might leave the class or even the school, and a student like her would be welcomed by any teacher, with no one caring about Ma Qianyong’s pride.

Turning the problem over in his mind, Ma Qianyong suddenly thought of an indirect approach. He dared not broach the subject directly with Su Ruoran, nor contact her guardians abruptly. Confronting Zhang Wenhao could only lead to more frustration. Instead, why not reach out to Zhang Wenhao’s parents?

Yes!

Ma Qianyong rolled up his sleeves, eager to act.

He would contact Zhang Wenhao’s parents, explain the possibility of their son’s early romance, appeal emotionally and rationally, help them see the harm such relationships could do, and let them intervene—thus nipping the budding feelings in the cradle. Wasn’t this the perfect solution?

Zhang Xingping was rather surprised when he answered Ma Qianyong’s call. He had no fondness for this teacher who had previously suspected his son, and now that Wenhao was in Class Twenty-One, the connection was severed. He had no idea what Ma Qianyong wanted.

“Mr. Zhang?” Ma Qianyong greeted politely, “I’m Ma Qianyong, formerly Zhang Wenhao’s homeroom teacher. I’m calling because there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

Zhang Xingping responded coolly, “Mr. Ma, please be direct.”

Ma Qianyong proceeded to embellish the rumors about Zhang Wenhao and Su Ruoran, then advocated, “Early romance can greatly affect students. As teachers, we avoid discussing this directly to prevent resistance; it’s better for parents to advise them.”

Zhang Xingping frowned, “Mr. Ma, has Wenhao done anything wrong at school recently?”

Ma Qianyong hurriedly replied, “No, nothing at all.”

“Then that’s fine.” Zhang Xingping said calmly, “As long as he’s done nothing wrong. Whether or not he’s dating is his own business. As parents, we don’t interfere.”

Ma Qianyong was at a loss for words, stammering for a while before saying, “Romantic relationships are very distracting, so I hope you can talk with Zhang Wenhao for his future’s sake.”

Zhang Xingping replied coolly, “I’m a rather liberal parent. As long as my child doesn’t break the law, I won’t interfere much. Even if he’s really dating, I won’t intervene. He’ll handle it himself. I’m busy—unless you have anything else, I’ll hang up now.” With that, he ended the call.

Listening to the busy tone, Ma Qianyong fumed, “Hung up so quickly! Did I say I had nothing else?”

Left with no other option, Ma Qianyong went to his second plan: calling Su Ruoran’s guardian.

Su Ruoran’s enrollment information lacked her parents’ details, listing only a guardian named Lu Dafu with his contact number. Ma Qianyong dialed accordingly.

“Hello, who’s this?” The voice on the line was somewhat aged. Ma Qianyong was slightly taken aback, then said, “Hello, are you Su Ruoran’s guardian, Lu Dafu?”

The voice confirmed, “Yes, may I ask who’s calling?”

“I’m Ma Qianyong, Su Ruoran’s homeroom teacher.”

After introducing himself, Ma Qianyong quickly explained the situation to Lu Dafu and repeated the same rhetoric he had used with Zhang Xingping, though unsuccessfully.

Lu Dafu replied, “Mr. Ma, I’ll relay your concerns to the head of the family. Please rest assured.”

After hanging up, Ma Qianyong muttered to himself, “Head of the family? What age are we living in, still using such titles? Hopefully, Lu Dafu can convey my words to Su Ruoran’s parents.”

“Outrageous!” In Yanjing, the elegant lady was furious in front of Qingwu.

“Ruoran is truly too much! Even her homeroom teacher says so—this can’t be baseless. Before sending her to Jiangcheng for high school, I gave her only one requirement: to focus entirely on her studies during high school and university, no dating. She promised faithfully, and now, at this crucial moment, she’s involved in such a thing!”

Qingwu saw that the lady was genuinely angry and hurried to advise, “Madam, it’s still just a suspicion. Even if Ruoran and Zhang Wenhao are close, it’s not certain they’re in a relationship. Besides, your expectations of Ruoran are quite high. With her grades, if she were still in Yanjing, she could graduate from sophomore year and get into any university without even finishing high school.”

“It’s different!” the elegant lady retorted, “I want her to embody the phrase ‘outstanding in every way.’ The family’s aura is no help to her academic journey. I want her to have the strength to carry the family’s aura herself, not use it to cover her own shortcomings. Look at the children you know—aren’t they all the second kind I just described? They’re merely crescents, forcibly packaged as full moons by the family’s aura. Such people will never achieve great things!”

“Madam, your worries are premature. There’s no proof Ruoran is dating, nor is there any evidence her studies have suffered. Please don’t be so anxious—watch her for a while before deciding.”

The elegant lady said, “I gave Ruoran too much freedom when I let her go.” She stood up, instructing, “Qingwu, call Ruoran and tell her: if her score or rank drops in the next mock exam, you will personally go to Jiangcheng and bring her back to Yanjing!”