Chapter 230 Delving into the Joyful High
Liancheng Youth Palace, Sunday.
Su Mei'an got off the back of the bicycle, carrying a backpack containing her dance costume and shoes, and said in a bad mood, "Mom, I'm going."
"Practice dancing hard. Endure some hardship now, and you won't have to sell vegetables outside like your father and me later." Su Mei'an's mother was very proud of her, pushing her bicycle and saying, "Will we still pick you up at the same time every night?"
Su Mei'an's eyes flickered as she said, "Probably, maybe we'll practice a little longer."
"Have you gained weight recently?" Su Mei'an's mother reached out to touch her daughter's face, but Su Mei'an dodged it.
"I'm leaving now." Su Mei'an ran towards the Youth Palace with her big backpack on her back, a pink ribbon tied around her neck that stood out among the many light blue and pale yellow ribbons.
Parents who were dropping off their children for dance class gathered around, pushing their bicycles with Su Mei'an's mother, and asked, "Is your child in that legendary growth class? She has such a beautiful figure; she's definitely got the makings of a lead dancer."
Su Mei'an's mother must have been quite beautiful when she was young, but time has smoothed out her features, leaving many fine wrinkles on her skin.
She looked at her daughter, who had stopped after running a few steps, and said with a smile, "It's a developmental class; Teacher Bao specially applied for it for me."
"That's because your daughter is good-looking," the other person said. "Did you give Teacher Bao a gift? My son is also good-looking, but the cost of his dance lessons every year is too high... It would be great if you could sponsor him too."
Su Mei'an's mother shifted her gaze to the other woman's face, which held the same tired, expectant, and ingratiating expression as before.
“My child didn’t give any gifts; Teacher Bao contacted her herself,” said Su Mei’an’s mother. “As long as my child is excellent, she will be selected sooner or later.”
The other person was silent for a while, then complained, "But recently the tuition for the dance class has increased again. Sigh, everyone knows our dance class has good results, has won national awards, and more and more people are taking the class. The teachers' pockets are about to burst with red envelopes, and when the principal of the dance school stands up, gold bars can fall out of his pocket."
"..." Su Mei'an's mother didn't speak, and pushed her bicycle away from the other party.
Su Mei'an got tired as she ran, so she supported herself on her knees as she walked upstairs. Many of her former dance classmates passed by her.
Her bag contained brand-new dance clothes and ballet shoes, all sponsored. She changed upon arrival and went to the classroom to begin practicing the basics.
Sunday training was short but blissful.
Su Meian once thought so.
Now she doesn't know what's wrong with her; it feels like a long and painful time.
The ballet teacher was even stricter than Ms. Bao. There were only about ten students practicing dance in the classroom, but there were seven or eight teachers.
The one-on-one tutoring was effective, and Su Mei'an's previous technical difficulties were no longer a problem. However, she felt more tired and resentful than ever before.
Each beat is no longer a spirit swaying to the music, but a soulless product on an assembly line.
A classmate fell to the ground, and from that angle, Su Mei'an felt it would hurt a lot. But when he stood up, he seemed to feel no pain.
Then I saw the other students, all practicing hard for next month's dance competition. They had long arms and legs, each of them met the strict selection criteria for ballet solos, and each of them had a body proportion that was hard to surpass and that dance students could only look up to.
Is this what real dance is?
The supervising teacher clapped her hands and said with satisfaction, "I think we will definitely get a very good ranking in this national ballet competition. Okay, students, take a break. Our nutritionist has brought us some nutritional supplements. Let's drink to that so we can be energetic for training this afternoon."
A teacher carrying an insulated box stood in the center of the classroom, took out glass bottles resembling milk bottles from the insulated box, and distributed them to the students one by one: "These are specially made according to each person's physical examination needs, so don't waste them."
Su Meian also took the supplement, which tasted a bit like the "Happy High" she had drunk before, but seemed to be richer and heavier.
"Su Mei'an! Finish your drink before you leave, the bottle needs to be recycled." Seeing Su Mei'an about to leave, the nutritionist called out to her, "Hurry up and finish it and bring it back!"
His tone was harsh and not very friendly.
Su Meian's instructor came over, supervised Su Meian to finish drinking the nutrient solution, and put the bottle back into the insulated box and locked it.
Su Mei'an's fingertips trembled slightly as she lowered her head.
“An’an will represent our city in the selection competition next month. She will not forget the help she received from her sponsors and nutritionists. She was just distracted by dance practice.”
The supervising teacher politely said to the nutritionist, "You too, your yelling scared the child."
“We’re all from the same company, so don’t try to blame everyone equally.” The nutritionist slung the incubator over her shoulder, glanced at the time, and said, “I have to go somewhere else, so I can’t let this happen again tomorrow.”
The instructor said, "You were scared by just one bottle. I understand."
Su Mei'an continued her training as usual, and her graceful dance moves received unanimous praise from her teachers.
"Let's measure your height and weight before the break." The supervising teacher clapped her hands and stood by the measuring tape on the wall: "An'an, you go first."
Su Meian tiptoed over quickly, like a little swan leaping low over the water, and stood by the ruler for them to measure.
The supervising teacher said happily, "Look, 0.5 is nothing, it will arrive in half a month."
Su Mei'an looked at her data with surprise, then stood on the scale: "I didn't gain weight?"
The instructor said, "If you control your diet well, how much weight can you gain?"
Su Meian lowered her head and obediently stood aside to wait for the other students.
While the other students were being measured, she touched her face in front of the mirror. Was it really just a hallucination? But what Pearl said...
When it was break time, everyone came out of the classroom, drinking water and enjoying the breeze.
Avoiding the teachers and classmates, Su Mei'an went downstairs to the empty classroom where she had cried last time: "Sister Pearl?"
Shen Zhenzhu had been waiting for her for a long time.
"They wouldn't let me take out the nutritional supplements. I'm sorry, I couldn't complete the plan."
"It's not your fault, I was just speculating." Chen Zhenzhu cupped Su Mei'an's face in her hands, examining her closely, and asked, "Are you done testing?"
Su Mei'an said, "I met the standard. But I didn't gain weight, yet my face is noticeably fuller. Could it really be like you said, that there's something bad inside? I still want to compete..."
Her parents, teachers, and classmates, whom she interacted with daily, didn't notice the subtle changes each day. But when she saw Chen Zhenzhu again after half a month, she could immediately see the clear changes.
“Just do your thing, and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.” Chen Zhenzhu held Su Mei’an’s hand, glanced at the time, and whispered, “Remember my words, don’t stray from the crowd to other places.”
Su Mei'an nodded obediently, then suddenly remembered something: "We were told there would be a lottery during our last physical exam, and that the students who took the exam would get a visit to the 'Happy High' factory. If I remember correctly, today is the day of the draw."
Where is the lottery drawn?
"The dance headquarters, on the top floor."
"Okay, I understand. Thank you for telling me this important news." Shen Zhenzhu had originally planned to get some nutritional supplements for testing to confirm that there was a problem with their ingredients. However, under strict control, she couldn't let Su Mei'an take the risk.
Su Meian asked again, "I've already drunk some today, what should I do next? I didn't know they would be so strict; I thought I wouldn't have to drink anymore. They're watching me, and I'm scared."
Shen Zhenzhu said, "It should still be in time. You can attend your classes as usual this afternoon. After class, I will have someone pick you up to meet with a pediatric specialist. She will conduct a consultation based on your condition."
Su Mei'an covered her face, choking back tears, and said, "How could this happen? How did they make me grow taller? What did they give us to drink?"
Shen Zhenzhu hugged her: "It must have been specially made to enhance your physical condition. We'll know after the checkup. An'an, I'm here, and so are Zhang Guojun and your parents. Thank you for trusting my judgment. Once you see your parents at the hospital, someone will tell you what to do. I will definitely protect you."
"Um...I believe you, Pearl. I have to go now, my tutor needs to give me extra lessons."
"good."
Shen Zhenzhu first sent Su Mei'an back to the dance studio to continue practicing, while she avoided the crowd's gaze and found the head of the dance department.
The dance administration office consists of three interconnected offices, plus a separate finance office that is currently collecting dance fees for the second quarter.
Parents lined up from upstairs to downstairs in the corridor, clutching large wads of cash, as they paid the dance school.
"Last year, this dance school won second prize in the Berlin Heis Dance Competition and first prize in the National Ballet Appreciation Competition. Not only did they receive generous prize money, but many students were also admitted to art colleges in advance, and some even became professional dancers. They have brought honor to their families for the rest of their lives."
"When it comes to ballet, natural talent can exclude a lot of people. They are also willing to accept those with less talent, even though the tuition is expensive, because they can really make a name for themselves."
"I heard that the sponsor is the International Youth Nutrition Association, which organizes many international youth competitions. It's great that they can come to Liancheng. Maybe Liancheng will become a city of dance."
"Besides sponsoring youth dance, they also sponsor youth sports programs, as well as modeling and acting classes, not just dance. But like I said, the fees are too high."
"High fees are good, because where can you find such a high-quality, low-cost way to raise children? Don't you agree?"
You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub.
"You can't say that. We're investing in our child, and the child will naturally reap the rewards in the future."
Shen Zhenzhu pretended to queue and slowly moved to the front.
Four cashiers sat in the finance office, engrossed in counting money, almost submerged in banknotes.
As the line moved, Shen Zhenzhu saw several people come out of the general office, exchanging pleasantries as they went downstairs. Passing by a familiar parent, she greeted one of them, "Hello, Dean She."
Dean She nodded calmly to them and, together with those around her, saw the guests downstairs.
"Hey, it's your turn." The person behind her reminded Chen Zhenzhu, noticing her sneaky behavior, and while speaking, they also covered their wallets.
"I'm not paying any fees, I'm here to find someone." Shen Zhenzhu stepped out of the line, passed the finance office, and walked to the entrance of the general office when the staff inside weren't paying attention.
She knocked on the door, but no one answered.
Turning around, she saw the people behind her staring at her strangely. Chen Zhenzhu said to herself, "It's me, Teacher Zhang. I'm coming in."
He then opened the office door and went inside.
"Could it be that he used connections to get a lower tuition fee?" The person behind him rolled his eyes and looked down to count the money in his hand.
Chen Zhenzhu searched the empty general office but found no trace of the so-called nutritional supplement. Reaching the large executive desk, she saw a report—the very medical examination report Su Mei'an had mentioned.
On the physical examination reports, some students' names were marked with a red checkmark, while others were not. Chen Zhenzhu flipped through them and, unsurprisingly, saw Zhang Xiaopang's name.
She thought for a moment and then put a red checkmark over the name "Zhang Guojun".
Below the window, the polite greetings ended, and the conversation of the four or five men ceased. Seeing that Dean She was about to come up, Chen Zhenzhu quickly put down the materials and ran out.
As I passed by the queue I had just been standing in, someone suddenly grabbed Chen Zhenzhu.
Shen Zhenzhu was startled when she saw that it was the eldest sister who had been standing behind her.
"What's wrong?"
"I didn't expect the tuition to double this time," the woman said. "Did Teacher Zhang give you a discount?"
Chen Zhenzhu scratched her head: "You've mistaken me for someone else."
"Huh? Weren't you standing in front of me just now?"
"No." After saying that, Shen Zhenzhu strode downstairs, brushing past Dean She who was going upstairs.
......
Zhang Xiaopang practiced in the dance studio, sweating profusely, but still didn't lose weight.
He swung his arms like a clumsy but hardworking little toad.
Shen Zhenzhu felt sorry for him, but also wanted to laugh a little. Although it wasn't the time to laugh.
Before get out of class ended at noon, the advanced class teacher went out for a while and came back looking at Zhang Xiaopang with a puzzled expression.
"Students whose names are called will have their parents contacted later to go on a visit to the 'Happy High' factory. Liu Qi, Zhao Guozhu, Zhang Guojun..."
"Wow, that's great!!" Zhang Xiaopang stood among a group of dancers with excellent physical attributes, his excitement beyond words.
"Students whose names are called, please remember to inform your parents. Meet at the Happy Bus in front of the Youth Palace in one hour. You can get free Happy High products, which are very valuable. Students who live far away can borrow the office phone. Don't miss this opportunity."
The selected children jumped up and down excitedly, rushing out in a frenzy, hoping to inform their families as soon as possible.
The dance teacher then said, "Those of you who weren't selected, don't be discouraged. Practice dancing hard and improve your physical fitness. You might have another chance in the future. Okay, dismissed."
Chen Zhenzhu pondered her dance teacher's words, "improve physical fitness."
"Sis, did you hear that? I'm just that amazing!" Zhang Xiaopang ran out, grabbed Chen Zhenzhu's hand, and strolled out, boasting, "And I'm lucky too. I heard only a few of us were chosen. I thought I had no chance. I have to eat a chicken leg to celebrate!"
Shen Zhenzhu said, "Others are so hungry they can barely walk, and you're eating chicken legs? What happened to your diet?"
Zhang Xiaopang said, "My teacher said that although I can't dance ballet, I can be a stage decoration and still perform on stage, even for longer than they do."
As he spoke, he stood to the side and assumed a horse stance: "Tell me if I'm stable or not! The teacher said I have a strong voice and a solid foundation. Although I can't compete with the other students in next month's competition, I can still play the role of a big tree stump."
“That big tree stump needs to be nourished with more chicken legs,” Chen Zhenzhu said thoughtfully. “I don’t know how they chose it.”
Zhang Xiaopang said, "Anyway, they said it was a random selection, but my mom said there's no such thing as perfect fairness in this world. Who knows who might have gotten in through connections?"
Shen Zhenzhu looked down at Zhang Xiaopang, who had entered through the back door, rubbed her head, and said, "Are you going to tell your parents?"
Zhang Xiaopang pulled Chen Zhenzhu onto a deserted path, and looking at the crowd of people leaving, he whispered, "Didn't we agree yesterday? You have a case here, and An'an and I will cooperate with you. It's a great opportunity, and my parents don't have time. Do you want to go? Don't say that I, Brother Pang, don't take care of you."
Chen Zhenzhu looked at the chubby little cutie and adored him, giving him a couple more rubs: "Go on, thank you for taking care of me, Fatty. This is a secret, okay?"
"Okay." Zhang Xiaopang quickened his pace, then whispered, "Will assisting in the investigation earn me extra points on the high school entrance exam?"
"I doubt it," Shen Zhenzhu said.
Zhang Xiaopang was disappointed.
Chen Zhenzhu said, "I can give you an extra chicken leg."
Zhang Xiaopang was excited again: "I want to eat at 'Roast Chicken Queen's' place. Hurry up, we'll meet in an hour."
"Roasted Chicken Queen" is a roadside roasted chicken leg shop. At lunchtime, there are quite a few students queuing up to eat chicken legs.
Zhang Xiaopang was familiar with the shop owner; as soon as he poked his head out, the owner had already taken out a large chicken leg and started grilling it again. The spiciness and seasonings didn't need further explanation; the staff already remembered Zhang Xiaopang's preferences.
"Look how golden and crispy they are, and they're still juicy inside." Zhang Xiaopang brought over three chicken legs, squeezed through the crowded store, and delivered them to Chen Zhenzhu: "Actually, you don't need to treat me. My mom is keeping track of the bill here."
"One thing at a time." Chen Zhenzhu ordered two more bottles of soda, and seeing Zhang Xiaopang looking at her expectantly, she quickly took a bite of a chicken leg, gave a thumbs up, and exclaimed, "Absolutely amazing!"
Zhang Xiaopang then picked up his chicken leg with satisfaction: "Would I cheat you? It's absolutely delicious."
The chicken leg is roasted to a golden brown and crispy perfection, its glistening, sizzling skin releasing bursts of oil. One bite reveals a complex flavor profile of charred goodness and a sweet, slightly spicy kick.
Gently break it open, and the tender meat falls off the bone. Every fiber is soaked with the essence of the marinade and the aroma of charcoal grilling.
After finishing her chicken leg, Shen Zhenzhu found a secluded corner to call the team and let them know. When she returned, she saw that Zhang Xiaopang had almost finished his second chicken leg, the bones completely gnawed away, and she had to check it again.
Chen Zhenzhu was already full, and hesitated before saying, "Want one more?"
"No, I'm full too. This is a matter of respect for the food." Zhang Xiaopang burped and casually handed the remaining half bottle of soda to a familiar classmate at the next table.
"Thank you, Fatty." The classmate accepted the gift with a broad smile.
Shen Zhenzhu saw that this person was also going to visit the "Happy High" factory.
“His family isn’t well-off. His father is sick, and his mother works alone in a chemical plant. The lines on her palms are almost burned off.” Zhang Xiaopang looked at the Happy Bus and whispered to Chen Zhenzhu, “It was deliberately left for him.”
Shen Zhenzhu turned around and looked at him, then said, "So he still eats chicken legs?"
The price list on the wall, stained with cooking fumes, shows that chicken legs aren't cheap.
"It's a mess, we eat whatever's available," Zhang Xiaopang said. "His mother came from the factory and helps the shop clean chicken giblets at night. The boss gives them a free meal."
He said, like a little adult, "Life is not easy for anyone."
Shen Zhenzhu sincerely believes that Grandpa Zhang and her parents raised her very well. Even if he doesn't meet certain physical standards, he is self-reflective and has a loving heart.
When it was time to meet, the Happy Bus was covered with advertisements for "Happy Gao" products, and the onboard loudspeaker was playing "Grow up happily by drinking Happy Gao".
The cheerful songs and eye-catching outfits attracted the attention of many students and passersby. Knowing they were going to the Happy High Factory, they were incredibly envious.
"Hello everyone, students whose names are called, please come up." The guide, wearing wire-rimmed glasses and a suit, waved a red and yellow flag: "Please line up and get on the bus. On behalf of Happy High School, I warmly welcome you all. This afternoon will definitely change your lives!"
Shen Zhenzhu boarded the bus with the group and signed in. The man with silver-rimmed glasses, who looked to be in his fifties, glanced at Shen Zhenzhu and asked, "My older sister?"
Zhang Xiaopang said, "Yeah, otherwise why would we have made a special trip here?"
The man with the silver-rimmed glasses asked, "What does your sister do for a living?"
Shen Zhenzhu tucked her hair back and said softly, "You can call me Miss Zhuzhu. I work at the Charm Cabaret. Feel free to patronize my business when you have time."
The man with the silver-rimmed glasses smiled and said, "We only require family members to participate. Little student, don't get excited. Your sister is welcome, and you are welcome too."
Every hour on the hour, without stopping for even a minute.
"Driver, let's go! Happy High awaits us!" The man with silver-rimmed glasses made a forward motion to liven up the atmosphere.
Shen Zhenzhu saw two other students who had been selected standing by the roadside, watching the bus leave dejectedly.
The man sitting behind the child said, "Are there any gifts? How much do they cost? I skipped work to come here."
The child wasn't quite sure either, so the man turned to the man with the silver-rimmed glasses and asked, "Can I get cash instead?"
Chen Zhenzhu observed that the parents here were generally not well-off. Their clothes and appearance were not very presentable, and they seemed tired after traveling a long distance, having been lured by "expensive gifts".
"Don't worry, parent. The factory is in the suburbs. Before we get there, let me introduce our Happy High products to you. There'll be a surprise afterwards." The silver-rimmed glasses looked around the car with amusement as it headed towards the Happy High factory.
The Happy High factory area is much larger than I imagined.
It belongs to the industrial area expanded in the northwest, and is adjacent to the Beijing-Lianyungang Expressway and a logistics transfer station.
At the logistics station opposite Happy Gao, a truck had just been parked. Xiao Bai, holding a walkie-talkie, said from the passenger seat: "The inspection results for Happy Gao in the market are in. Just as Sister Pearl judged, there's no problem. The problem must be at the factory. Everyone, take note."
The taxis parked on the roadside slowly drove away, while Lu Ye, wearing large sunglasses, drove around the Happy High factory in circles.
The bus entered a corner of the Happy Go factory, and Chen Zhenzhu and Zhang Xiaopang followed the man with silver-rimmed glasses into the factory area.
In the spotless environment, underfoot is a glass floor so clear it can illuminate one's face.
Under the direct overhead lights, the massive storage tanks stood silently in rows. Winding pipes led everyone toward the filling line.
"Students, this is our core bottling area. Please change into your dustproof suits."
With high spirits, the man in silver-rimmed glasses walked ahead, pointing to various machines and explaining, "This is a robotic arm that can perform standardized production. Look, it rotates, fills, and after manual inspection, it's sealed. Internationally leading technology and clean processes ensure that every drop of Happy Gao is safe, clean, and full of nutrients."
The air was filled with a sweet, cloying smell, along with a clean, industrial scent.
At the other end of the production line, one can see an absolute focus and orderly work. Glass bottles dart past, swiftly inspected by expressionless workers, their movements perfectly synchronized and standardized.
As they walked to the end of the workshop, a cheerful inflatable mascot waved to them.
Looking at the anxious faces of the parents in the crowd, the man with silver-rimmed glasses smiled and said, "Next up is the perk program. First, we'll give everyone a free imported medical check-up, all of which are high-end. After the check-up, you'll not only be able to taste and receive all of HappyGao's products, but you'll also get a 100 yuan red envelope!"
A surprised commotion arose from the crowd, and Chen Zhenzhu turned around to look. The parents, who had been impatient just moments before, now had expressions of jubilation and excitement on their faces.
"What do we do?" Zhang Xiaopang asked. "What if they drain all my blood?"
Shen Zhenzhu said in a low voice, "Act according to the situation, stay close to me and don't be nervous."
Zhang Xiaopang was indeed a little nervous: "I can handle this. But remember to inform Brother Lu Ye and Sister Xiaobai. It's not that I don't trust you..."
"Say less, let's go." Shen Zhenzhu covered Zhang Xiaopang's mouth and pulled him along with the crowd to the medical examination center next to the car.
The gift could only be obtained by "cooperating" with a medical examination. Parents and students understood the implication and were all trying to find out just how advanced the advanced medical examination was.
"Can you check what illnesses we have?"
"Can you tell us what diseases we'll get in the future?"
"It can even cure diseases?"
The man with the silver-rimmed glasses, waving a small flag, said, "You're right. These are projects you can't find anywhere else, no matter how much money you spend. So you're lucky, you must cooperate! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
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Author's note: See you tomorrow, there's a red envelope coming! [Let me see]
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