SWFM24: An uncle's willpower

"This is also a secret," Xu Tingsheng said.

"Meh," Everyone replied dissatisfiedly in unison.

Xu Tingsheng shamelessly ignored their disdainful looks, slowly changing the topic to that of the university entrance examinations and some studying methods for it, making use of this chance to share some of his views on this matter.

Of everyone here, it was Fang Yunyao who was most interested in this. As a teacher, she could more acutely sense that the ideas contained within Xu Tingsheng's words were virtually the prelude to a revolution in the field of education.

"When talking to you next time, I've got to to bring a notebook," Fang Yunyao said.

Xu Tingsheng paused as he considered for a while before asking her, "Mrs Fang, are you interested in writing a thesis, helping to promote these methods of mine?"

As Xu Tingsheng saw it, herein lay a chance to change Fang Yunyao's fate. He didn't know whether this thesis would turn out influential enough for such. If it caused an education revolution like it had in his previous life, as the primary advocate for it, Fang Yunyao's fate would almost certainly change. Under such circumstances, would she still marry that violent maniac? According to his observations, Fang Yunyao should currently still be single. In other words, she had still yet to meet that person, at the very least not having begun going steady with him yet.

In any case, even if this thesis did not end up being influential enough, it would still be somewhat useful to Fang Yunyao, able to be used in career appraisals and whatnot. Every time the butterfly flapped its wings, an additional volatile factor would be born. While Xu Tingsheng was afraid of such unknowable things, he still hoped that with those, Fang Yunyao's fate might be changed.

"Thesis? But those are your ideas. Wouldn't that be plagiarising?" Fang Yunyao answered.

"Does Mrs Fang think that I can promote it myself? At most, you can just add my name in at the time. How about it? Consider it for a bit. If you agree, I'll sort out my thoughts as well as get some examples together for you. It doesn't have to be too general; let's just write it as some suggestions on twelfth grade history revision. What do you think?" Xu Tingsheng asked earnestly.

Fang Yunyao hesitated for a moment. She could care less about fame and gain, not that she thought that a single thesis might be able to bring her much of either of those. However, her passion towards teaching left her very reluctant to refuse. She had attended Xu Tingsheng's interaction lesson, also having earnestly analysed his virtually perfect history papers. As someone who was diligently researching on education, also being a young teacher who was more open to new teaching philosophies, she was actually very willing to perform some analysis on Xu Tingsheng's study methods and education philosophy, even if she didn't write a thesis on it in the end.

"I'll give it a try then?" Fang Yunyao said.

"Alright, I'll hand you the materials after sorting them out then. If anything further is needed, you can expound on it," Xu Tingsheng said.

He did not dare to provide materials that were too complete and perfect. On one hand, he was afraid of revealing too much, leading to the suspicion of others. It could still be considered normal for a student to have his own methodologies, but if he could form a perfectly structured thesis based off that, that would surely be abnormal.

On the other hand, Xu Tingsheng also hoped for Fang Yunyao to have a greater sense of participation in this collaboration.

Only till it was nearly time for evening self-study did this dinner session end.

Having returned to the classroom, tipsiness could be seen on some of their faces. Luckily, though, none of them were drunk.

As for Wu Yuewei, because Xu Tingsheng had strictly controlled how much she drank, only allowing her to drink a small half cup of beer, while her face was completely red as she walked, it was still not to the point of collapsing directly.

It was instead her close female friend whom she had brought along who had drunk rather too much. Her alcohol capacity was actually not bad, but there had been those few people by Xu Tingsheng's side, trying to get close to a pretty junior after seeing her. As this accumulated, she had drunk quite a bit.

Finally, she had to be supported back by Wu Yuewei.

A little sorry about this, Xu Tingsheng escorted them for a while, the young girl saying to him somewhat tipsily as they walked, "Senior, I actually rather hated you before this, because I always felt that you were bullying our Yuewei. Really hateful, really detestable…from today, though, I feel that you are actually pretty good; you also actually treat Yuewei rather well. I've decided not to hate you anymore, but you must treat Yuewei well in the future, got it? Do you know how long she has been laughed at because of you? It hasn't been nice for her…if you don't treat her well, I'll, I'll get you for it."

The little lady shook her small fist at him at the end. Xu Tingsheng was left not knowing whether to laugh or to cry as he looked over towards Wu Yuewei for help. However, he found her gazing at him with an aggrieved face.

"Right, I'll treat her as I would my own sister," Xu Tingsheng could only answer.

"No," The drunk girl persisted unrelentingly, "Just a sister is not enough. More than that, more than that…"

Not knowing what words might leave her mouth, Wu Yuewei hurriedly covered it, telling Xu Tingsheng, "Don't listen to what she says."

"Right," Xu Tingsheng felt as though a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

"Still, you're not making me your sister," Wu Yuewei said.

"…"

……

During evening self-study, the number of people asking Xu Tingsheng for help skyrocketed.

Xu Tingsheng patiently helped all of them.

Of course, he knew that while most of these questions had been asked in earnest, a small minority of them had actually been asked with the motive of getting friendly with him. He had already experienced this kind of situation in his previous life.

At this juncture, a very laughable rumour had surfaced. It was said that those who stood together before their university entrance examinations in taking photographs for the archives as well as their entry proof would more likely be arranged in the same examination hall, perhaps even arranged in neighbouring seats.

Some had come precisely for this.

Indeed, after the second period ended, that female student who had left Xu Tingsheng with a 'deep impression' in his previous life came over.

This female student looked pretty good, having especially developed pretty well, her three sizes and whatnot being at a shocking level for such an age, while also not being fat at all.

Or course, what was most different from the other girls was that at this age, she was already very proficient in wielding her assets.

In his previous life, when she had come by Xu Tingsheng's desk to ask for his help in answering questions, the loose collar of her T-shirt had clearly revealed deep ravines. When she had sat down beside Xu Tingsheng, not embarassed in the slightest, her bountiful portions had rubbed against the side of his thigh. Xu Tingsheng had been left not knowing what to do at all as his body's reactions had left him without even sufficient time to get up and go to the toilet.

Now, she had come once more. Actually, the 31-year-old uncle Xu Tingsheng was actually still rather flustered by this.

Her name was Apple, an English name. In this era, while many would choose some lousy English names for themselves when forced to by their English teachers, none would pay much attention to those, not really using them for themselves. Apple was an exception. She had transferred over from a major city, rumoured to have already took the examinations once before. In many ways of thinking, including her style in wearing clothes, she was very greatly different from the young girls of Libei County who had been raised in villages. For example, in the entire class, there were only her who currently dared to wear the black stockings and short skirts that only reached down to her thighs that would become greatly popular in the future. Also, however much others discussed it, whatever gazes they used to look at her, she also didn't feel that it was any inappropriate at all.

At the beginning of the year, during self-introductions, when she had said 'Hi, you can all call me Apple' and also 'I am currently single, without a boyfriend', the whole class had figuratively collectively fainted.

After that, everyone had begun getting used to calling her Apple following her numerous repeated corrections. Boys began pursuing her one after another, bodies of the fallen piling up into a small hill. Some began suddenly shouting out her name in their room in the middle of the night, next silently, secretly changing their underwear.

To summarise, this was an extremely alluring creature.

However, while many thought that she was very liberal, no one had yet truly gotten their way with her. In truth, she appeared not to be that kind of girl who treated herself so cheaply. Rather, it should be said that other than some of her habits and thoughts being different from the rest, she was a diligent, hardworking good kid, her relationship with the other students, the girls included, not being bad at all.

Many were stumped by this.

In Xu Tingsheng's previous life, many years after Apple had married a rich foreigner and emigrated to Australia, in a class gathering, her closest female friend in the class had unravelled the mystery for them, saying, "Actually, Apple was indeed very liberal. When she transferred over, she had already had a few boyfriends before, already no longer being a….anymore."

"Why did she instead turn strait-laced after having transferred here then?"

"She didn't turn straight-laced. It was that she felt that wasn't anyone here worthy of her affections. Apple is that kind of very rational person, thinking all the time about whether things are worth it. In this area, it was also the same. She told me before that if there was whatever guy she found to be worthy, even if he didn't like her, she would also not mind."

"It wouldn't be worth it liking them?"

"That is a possibility, but it is rather less important. What she wants is…for example, if you are very rich and worth being captured by her, or you can help her get into a good university…in that case, she wouldn't mind using that to exchange for it."

That female ex-classmate of his previous life had then glanced at Xu Tingsheng, currently competing on drinking with a few other guys, before continuing, "Because of the university entrance examinations that year, there was actually someone who could have succeeded. Apple had already been prepared for it, also having made the first move, but sadly, that person was a blockhead, and did not grasp the chance."

Xu Tingsheng was currently behaving woodenly like a blockhead. He was not very familiar with Apple, the two at most only having interacted as normal classmates before. However, Apple now directly sat down in the position beside him, also moving her chair close.

This seemed even more ferocious than in his previous life, didn't it? Back then, she had still stood while asking questions for a few days before gradually amping up her attempts to get closer to him.

With her not having openly said anything, Xu Tingsheng could only pretend to be oblivious as he moved his body slightly away, his head lowered as he patiently explained those questions to her. The reason for his lowered head was that he dared not to meet her gaze. For this was an ungodly demon who had already gained the ability to bewitch with her eyes. Also, Xu Tingsheng was even more afraid that as soon as he swivelled his head around, he might see beneath her open collar as revealed below her neck.

Having finished explaining the questions to her, Xu Tingsheng felt his body. Good, the willpower of an uncle was indeed higher.

Just as he was feeling proud over his mental resilience, something 'smacked' onto his arm.

"Help!" Xu Tingsheng hurriedly said that he needed to got to the toilet, and hence ended this first session of enticing intimacy.

SWFM25: The feelings with that brick

Xu Tingsheng used the three periods of evening self-study to properly sort out the methods and paths of thought regarding autonomous learning, also doing up a few examples, including outlines, guiding questions, and so on, all having their own templates.

Afterwards, he brought Fu Cheng along in sending it over to Mrs Fang.

At night, in the dormitory, some people continued studying under the light of their torchlights while others conversed in low voices. Xu Tingsheng already very seldom participated in such bedtime talk. Every day, he would make use of this time to reminisce, as well as think of the future ahead.

It had already been a month since he had last seen Xiang Ning. Had she received the package, had she been unhappy recently, had she…this was a very silly and fruitless thing to do, but Xu Tingsheng never tired of it. Still, at the end of the day, one's imagination was limited. He wanted more than what lay in his memories, more than those few minutes in which he had seen her at the school gates previously, having already been etched within his mind. He wanted more-even if he could not participate too much in Xiang Ning's life and growth, at the very least, he wished that he could always guard silently by her side. Just looking at her would be enough.

The next morning, a flustered Old Zhou reported the news of a person who was suspected of being afflicted with SARS having escaped from the quarantine ward.

This time, whether it was the government or the school, neither of them chose to conceal this incident, because a panic was already definitely going to happen. If rumours cropped up all around, things could be blown far out of proportion. Other than that, another necessary consideration was that if that person who had escaped was really afflicted with SARS, if the general public were to come into contact with him totally unawares, leading to a large scale spread of the epidemic, no one would be able to bear such a huge responsibility.

The entire school fell into a panicked state, with even some students and teachers who had yet to reach school calling and refusing to come.

To make a not really accurate comparison, this was like uncaged zombies out loose and roaming the streets. Who wouldn't be afraid of receiving a bite and being turned into a zombie?

Only Xu Tingsheng felt nothing about this at all, because he knew for sure that that person had actually not been afflicted.

The doors of the school were shut tight, the atmosphere greatly repressed, the students beginning to get rather oversensitive, a number of conflicts even occurring during mealtimes.

It was under such a situation that Bao Ming and his gang came to the door of Class 10. Already feeling much too repressed, they could no longer tolerate someone having a hold over them.

Xu Tingsheng, Fu Cheng and Huang Yaming saw them at the doorway.

"If I say that we've already deleted all of it, would you believe it? I can hand you my phone to check," Fu Cheng said.

Bao Ming's group hesitated for a while, one of their number now saying, "Who knows how many copies you have made and stored elsewhere?"

"That's why, isn't it. That's why there is already no way to resolve this matter, because whatever we say, you would also not believe it," Fu Cheng said, "If you just want a fight, that's fine, but if you want to resolve the matter, I can't see any way to do so."

Xu Tingsheng looked at Bao Ming's gang, their expressions visibly conflicted.

He took a few steps forward, pulling Bao Ming to the side by his shoulder whereupon he went through the motions of quietly whispering yet speaking too loudly for such, "At the very least, I can tell you one thing. Your face was not captured in any one of those photos."

Bai Ming raised his head joyfully, "For real?"

Xu Tingsheng nodded, "I have no need to lie to you on this, because at the same time, I can also tell you that the faces of all of your bros were basically captured clearly. That is to say that this matter still cannot be resolved with such. I have no need to lie to you on this…you should make proper consideration for your bros."

The expressions on the faces of Bao Ming's gang all grew strange and varied.

As the bell for class rang, Xu Tingsheng returned to the classroom alongside Fu Cheng and Huang Yaming.

Huang Yaming asked Xu Tingsheng, "Why did you suddenly say that just now?"

Xu Tingsheng explained craftily, "Let me put it this way. What I did just now can be classified under 'how to destroy a group from the inside'. With this, Bao Ming's gang will basically have collapsed."

Huang Yaming and Fu Cheng whispered a little, comprehension very quickly dawning upon them.

In truth, the matter was actually very simple. Firstly, Xu Tingsheng's words had covertly yet also naturally reiterated the existence of the photos that they possessed, and when he had told Bao Ming that his face had not been clearly captured in any of them, Bao Ming should have avoided revealing that joyful expression on his face at all costs. After that had happened, should his gang mention the problem of the photos again, if Bai Ming proposed resolving it through force of arms, the others would think: because you weren't captured in the photos, you aren't afraid of going to jail, and don't care whether we live or die?…Conversely, if Bao Ming no longer mentioned this issue or refused to resolve it through violence, the others would think: because you weren't captured in the photos, there is nothing for you to worry about, and you can let this matter go just like this?

Therefore, this bunch of people was basically done for.

After dissent had arisen amongst them, amidst the passing of time, it might really be that no one would recall this incident again, unless they prepared to harass Wu Yuewei, in which case a warning bell would sound within their hearts. And if Bao Ming happened to move closer to Wu Yuewei some particular day, especially intense emotions would be evoked amongst 'his group of bros'.

…

The next day, Wu Yuewei made a trip to Class 10, handing Xu Tingsheng a notebook.

Rushing alongside Huang Yaming and Fu Cheng to take care of their cigarette addiction in between breaks, Xu Tingsheng did not refuse her, receiving it and thanking her before leaving. Only having reached the roof, opening the notebook as he smoked, did he begin to feel a bit of regret.

Seeing that his expression was not right, Huang Yaming took the notebook from him and perused it for a moment before returning it to him, saying emotionally, "You, the debt that you owe is really great. This is not some notebook from lessons. Every single word here has been carefully reorganised. That junior must not have slept yesterday night at all."

Right, Wu Yuewei had given Xu Tingsheng a completely new mathematics notebook, having attempted to sort out according to his 'teacher's method' every piece of required knowledge, formulae, formula variations, examples, easily mis-answered questions…

Not only must she not have slept, perhaps she hadn't paid attention to today's lessons at all.

Xu Tingsheng closed his eyes and thought back, remembering that Wu Yuewei's eyes had indeed been somewhat bloodshot when she had handed him the notebook. This was the first time he was truly feeling conflicted over this girl. Originally, he had thought that things between them would just end with his departure after the university entrance examinations. Now, however, he was feeling rather at a loss.

Xu Tingsheng leaned back against the terrace, raising his head as he exhaled a puff of smoke. Most of the time, boys smoking on the roof would not go near the terrace. While an iron lattice was installed there and there was no chance of accidents happening, there was the disadvantage that those down below would be able to very easily spot that someone was smoking on the roof.

Perhaps following Xu Tingsheng's lead, or perhaps due to their mentality of the university entrance examinations being right around the corner, with not caring about such things rather a liberating thing, a few other boys who were smoking came over to sit as well. They were rather more daring, hanging their legs over the edge and swinging them as they smoked and talked, some even whistling at the girls who passed by down below.

It was under such a situation that Xu Tingsheng learnt one thing. As that butterfly, you could not haphazardly flap your wings.

Xu Tingsheng had not known much in his previous life about that escaped patient suspected to be afflicted with SARS, not having seen him before. However, he could confirm at the very least that this person had not had drawn any relation with Libei Senior High at all. He had also not heard rumours of him once having entered Libei Senior High. Perhaps he had, or perhaps he hadn't. As long as he had done so without anyone being alerted, there would not have been any problem at all.

A boy beside him panickedly spat out the cigarette in his mouth, pointing to the little thicket behind the security room at the school gates, "Look over there, that person, in hospital garb…"

Xu Tingsheng leapt up in fright, but before he was able to prevent it, that boy had already leapt up, yelling loudly, "Heck, that SARS has come; that SARS has run into our school."

It was not just him who began yelling. As the voices resounded from the roof, even if some had not heard it clearly the first time, after a few more times, they would definitely have registered it. Shrieks began resounding about the entire school grounds, everyone fleeing wildly about directionlessly, because they did not know where specifically that person was located.

What was worse was that that person heard it as well.

He had originally been quietly hiding within the thicket, stiff, at a loss, not doing anything at all. However, now that he knew that he had been discovered, he scurried out from behind the thicket, beginning to run like everybody else.

Perhaps he was just afraid of being captured or sent back, or perhaps he hadn't actually been thinking of anything at all, just having jumped out and began running.

He was actually already very exhausted, very weak, so he didn't run very quickly. However, upon his approach, some girls had their legs grow weak as they were rooted to the spot. Seeing them blocking his way, with faces full of panic, fear, and even tears, he stopped, beginning to explain to them:

"I don't have that disease."

"I won't die."

"I don't want to die."

"You have to believe me. I really don't have that disease; I really won't die."

The remaining students had already fled back within the classroom building, the timid ones hiding in the classrooms and shutting the doors tight, the rather more courageous boys moving tables and chairs to block the stairway at the first floor before returning to the corridor of the second floor, looking at the situation down below.

In that open space between buildings, some girls were either sitting limply, dazed or weeping, while not far from them, that middle-aged man in hospital garb was hysterically rambling, "Don't be afraid; I don't have that disease. I won't die."

He was too scared to even let the word SARS out of his mouth.

Xu Tingsheng pushed through the crowd and looked down below. There, amongst the girls, he spotted a certain person, Wu Yuewei. Having just finished passing over the notebook, she had been in the midst of returning from the twelfth grade building to the eleventh grade building. She had been in a reverie, her head lowered as she walked. Then, she had been jolted to her senses by the panicked crowds, afterwards being trapped along with the other girls over at the empty space between buildings.

Xu Tingsheng rushed downstairs. The current situation was that everyone else was afraid that the girls had been afflicted with SARS, while what he was afraid of was that Wu Yuewei might be harmed by the man. Xu Tingsheng was very certain that this middle-aged man suspected to be afflicted with SARS was currently in a state of mental instability. Otherwise, no one would have been unintelligent to the point of escaping from the quarantine ward. Anyone who could still think properly, however afraid or despairing they were, would know that remaining in the hospital was the best choice for them. If it really was SARS, there would be no meaning in fleeing at all.

In having escaped, even having leapt off a building and injured some nurses in the process, it was already clear that he had already completely lost his rationality. He was currently equivalent to a scary person with a mental illness.

Vice-Principal Lou stood upstairs, shouting at that person, saying things like 'You're only a suspected case, and have already gone past the dangerous period' and 'Don't make one mistake after another; don't harm the students'.

However, his words clearly had no use at all. Nothing he said would have any effect. If the other party could have taken in his words and performed rational thought, he would not have escaped from the quarantine ward at all in the first place.

He began pulling on the girls' arms, wanting them to affirm his words, wanting them to say that he was not afflicted, to say that he would not die.

Vice-Principal Lou scolded 'mother', turning as he was about to rush downstairs, but was hurriedly grabbed by the teachers around him, one even saying things along the line of 'don't give away your life for nothing'.

Currently, in the eyes of virtually everyone here, that was a person afflicted with SARS. Fear had already caused them to forget that it was just a suspected case, and even if there were some who still remembered this, there was nobody who would be willing to take such a gamble. SARS could be transmitted through the air-who would dare draw near? Who didn't value their life?

"Then what about those students?" Vice-Principal Lou roared.

The teacher beside him did not release his grip, instead advising him, "Wait for the people from the hospital; wait for the cops."

Actually, there really was a person here who was not afraid at all, because he had already long since known the results. Xu Tingsheng descended the building, picking up a brick in the pile of materials from the uncompleted sports hall…

Some more alert students nearly lost control of themselves and cried out, next hurriedly covering their mouths.

Then, virtually everyone repeated this same movement. They were surprised, taken aback, but they still knew that they could not let out a sound at this time. Otherwise, that brave figure's 'sacrifice' would have been for nothing.

Right, in everyone's eyes, Xu Tingsheng was like Huang Jiguang, Qiu Shaoyun and Dong Cunrui, having rushed forward with the mentality of being prepared to 'sacrifice' himself.

Huang Yaming and Fu Cheng were left at a loss, while Yao Jing was overwhelmed by emotions. Actually, everyone who knew Xu Tingsheng here, Vice-Principal Lou, Old Zhou, Fang Yunsheng and the other subject teachers, the students of Class 10, Wu Yuewei's closest female friend, as well as many, many others were all like that as well, being at a loss, at the same time also overwhelmed by emotions.

Some were touched by his actions; some found him to be a fool; some found it unexpected.

Xu Tingsheng himself, though, was calm and leisurely as the simple breeze. The reason he had taken that brick was that he was afraid that that mental patient might suddenly go crazy out of nowhere and injure someone. Otherwise, he would be very willing to go up and interact with him for a bit.

In this current situation, Xu Tingsheng thought it best that he directly take the person down.

A brick in hand, the other hand empty, Xu Tingsheng did not quicken his footsteps, nor did he bend his body and stealthily creep over. He just walked ordinarily forward just like that, strolling from behind towards that middle-aged man in hospital garb who was currently rambling endlessly on to the girls.

He arrived behind the man.

Everyone held their breathing.

"Bang."

Very straightforwardly, the brick slammed onto the back of the middle-aged man's head before breaking apart. The man's body toppled backwards, Xu Tingsheng hurriedly supporting it as it fell.