Chapter Twenty-Nine: Those Who Fight Their Way Up from the Bottom Are Ruthless

Blue tiles and white walls stand between alleys lined with utility poles and corners cluttered with stacked bicycles. Clusters of dayflowers climb over garden walls, their small blue-purple blossoms injecting a vibrant, pristine vitality into the ancient architecture, crisp as if washed clean by rain.

At Wuzhou High School, tucked away in these intricate, historic streets, news of the upcoming 40th-anniversary commemorative issue of "Fireworks" magazine has spread like wildfire. People aren't talking about the students who won national essay competitions, nor are they discussing the usual big-name contributors or sponsors. Instead, the rumor that a piece by an unknown senior student might grace the frontispiece has captured everyone's attention. That space is reserved for featured contributions, and many are curious about the true caliber of the newcomer, Lin Cheng.

Wuzhou High is a prestigious national key school; it is not unusual for a rising star to emerge. Of course, the talented individuals who walk out of these gates are also quickly swallowed by the relentless tide of the next generation. Lin Cheng has become a hot topic in school, with many asking:

"Isn't the frontispiece a window for the thoughts and spirit of our top students? Can 'Lin Junjie' really represent our school?"
"Did the 'Fireworks' editorial board make a mistake?"

Yang Mingcheng seems composed. "Don't rush, don't rush! Just sit back and wait for the gossip."

Public opinion is split. One side believes that "Lin Junjie" stepping into the spotlight might be a farce. The other side feels that the editorial board's unconventional choice is a rare and welcome change. Chen Zishi murmurs to He Yueyue, "Has the school magazine run out of good copy? Or are they just looking for a gimmick—tossing a stone into the pond just to startle the frogs onto the bank?"

He Yueyue wants to laugh, yet she feels a twinge of bitterness; she doesn't know whether to be happy to watch the drama unfold or to feel frustrated at missing out on a "Lin-style ATM."

This news also catches Zhou Luoyao by surprise. "I want to see exactly what he wrote."

During the break, Yang Mingcheng appears at the door of Class 1 to report to Su Xiang, "Oh, by the way, it’s almost ready for print, and that article still hasn't been finalized..."

When Lin Cheng arrives at the school magazine office, the faculty advisor, Chen Yan, is discussing the layout with several boys and girls. The incandescent light illuminates the planning room brightly as Chen Yan gestures at the small blackboard. Lin Cheng's arrival distracts two of the girls; they glance at him briefly before turning away. Even knowing he is the latest "red-hot" figure, he fails to stir the interest of the "Fireworks" staff.

Chen Yan pushes up his glasses, asks the group to continue their discussion, and walks over to Lin Cheng. "Come with me."

Because he graduated from a top university and is still young, Chen Yan became the advisor for "Fireworks." Before becoming a homeroom teacher for the seniors, he was in charge of the magazine's planning, though he usually leaves the copy selection to the students, only reviewing it once they have finished. With the printing deadline looming, he feels he must personally oversee this final piece.

Chen Yan points to the desk opposite his own. "Sit."

He then picks up a manuscript and begins to read aloud:

*"If it weren't for the pressures of life, who would willingly burden themselves with such talent?"*
*Su Qin of the Warring States period once said: "If I possessed two acres of land in Luoyang, how could I ever have worn the seals of prime minister for six states?"*
*...*

This is the piece Lin Cheng wrote, intended for the frontispiece. Chen Yan continues to read:

*All children from humble, grassroots origins who manage to break through are formidable; they are tough. Because they have changed the trajectory of their family. Starting from scratch—it is far more than just a matter of life and death! All the suffering, all the sorrow; all the martyrs of this family end here, with them. For such people to succeed, effort alone is far from enough. They must overcome the psychological barriers of inferiority, panic, and sensitivity instilled by their upbringing. That is their greatest strength!*
*In this process, they may have experienced depression and self-doubt, but in the end, they waded through it all and stood up again. Finally, the person you see before you is radiant, shining with light.*
*Why is the damage from a grassroots upbringing so profound? Because during the stage of personality formation, they face verbal abuse, negation, and distortion. Their entire cognitive framework is chaotic. With no one to guide them, they rely entirely on themselves. It is a miracle they haven't grown crooked; if they can manage to become even better, then they are no ordinary people...*

By the time he reaches this point, Chen Yan is choked with emotion. Why has Chen Yan never had a partner? Because he came from a home of "abject poverty"—his father was disabled, his mother suffered from mental illness, and he had a troubled older sister; he was the only normal person in the house! He is handsome and a good student. This article touches him deeply; it was he who handed the piece to Principal Huang Yi and suggested it be placed on the frontispiece.

The maturity of thought and the insight into worldly affairs in this article cause Chen Yan's emotions to rise and fall. It is hard to believe that the high school student before him could touch his heart so profoundly. It isn't that he hasn't tried to date, but others were scared off the moment they saw his family situation. Now, Teacher Yang in the office says she doesn't mind, but Chen Yan doesn't dare bring her home. Lin Cheng's article has stirred up the deepest shame and helplessness within him.

Chen Yan regains his composure and asks, "Did you really write this?"

Lin Cheng nods. "Teacher Chen, if you asked me here just to ask that, I also have a question."

"Go ahead!"

Lin Cheng smiles. "Teacher Chen, how are you finding the copy of 'The Three-Body Problem' I gave you?"

"It's excellent!" Chen Yan is a bit confused; how did the conversation jump to this?

"I want to buy the rights to this book. Could I collaborate with you?"

"You..."

Lin Cheng's rapid-fire conversational style leaves Chen Yan momentarily dazed.

"I want to purchase the rights, then publish it at the right time, and I'd like your help to do it together."

"I told you, like father, like son—a capitalist's child is never an ordinary character."

Lin Cheng smiles again. "Teacher Chen, I know you sometimes take on tutoring jobs; it's quite tiring."

The remark is subtle; he doesn't mention that Chen Yan secretly tutors just for the money—he needs to make a better life for his struggling family. Chen Yan sheds his cynical facade and says, "I'm very interested in your idea, but this requires coordinating with rights holders, publishers, capital, management, and all sorts of other things. How have you considered all of this?"

"I don't think publishing the book will cost much, but starting with this book, I want to build a media company. After all, I'm just a high school student. Often, I can't be the public face of it. First, the timing isn't right; second, people's level of trust would be discounted."

Chen Yan's heart skips a beat. He, too, wants to change his life, but his only path for change has been teaching hard, producing good students, and earning year-end bonuses. The ceiling of his hard work is perhaps becoming the Dean of Students, or, at a higher level, a teaching researcher at the Education Bureau. Lin Cheng's proposal feels like a massive boulder thrown into the lake of his heart, sending ripples of waves, before logically fading away. After all, Lin Cheng is just a high school student; there are too many things standing between him and the media company he envisions. Yet, despite the slim odds, he is moved by the high schooler's ambition.