37. Outsider's Field
There are about two hundred girls in the three grades of the vocational high school, and Qiu Shishi stands out among them in her beauty.
Unlike Tang Sizhuo's porcelain doll-like beauty, she does not have the nobility that Xiao Tong has spent a lot of money to buy. Her skin is not fair and delicate enough, and her figure is far from slender. But her almond eyes are bright, her lips are rosy, her facial features are stretched out on her round face, and her waist-length hair is shiny and smooth.
Aside from the unattainable beauties on TV and computers, this kind of beauty was the limit of what the boys in vocational high school could aspire to. Her lack of a boyfriend had given many people the courage to give it a try. Previously, Li Zhiheng had pursued her with all his might, but no one considered him comparable. Now, she even looked down on Li Zhiheng, leaving the other suitors half amused and half unconvinced. They scorned Li Zhiheng for believing money couldn't buy love, but they also shared a common hatred, believing Qiu Shishi was too picky and remained chaste only to fetch a higher price later.
As they talked so much, their words naturally reached Qiu Shishi's ears. For a while, Zeng Xiasheng would subconsciously observe her eyes whenever they met, always feeling that she would cry like Tang Sizhuo. But perhaps because life growing in the fields had experienced more hardships, Qiu Shishi didn't care. At least on the surface, she looked calm.
After sending her to the clinic that day, Qiu Shishi merely sent someone to express her gratitude, rather than coming in person. Even with such a heroic act of saving the damsel in distress, Zeng Xiasheng was finally cleared of suspicion and included among the many victims who had been rejected because of her preference for the rich and the poor, saving him a lot of trouble. This incident was a completely unprovoked disaster for him, but he couldn't refute it, and any explanation only made him feel guilty. Zeng Xiasheng simply stopped caring about it. Fearing Tang Sizhuo would misunderstand, he sent oblique text messages for several days to explain his situation. Even though the vocational high school was extremely remote, any criticism from the students would hardly reach No. 8 Middle School.
What bothered Zeng Xiasheng more than the rumors was himself.
While playing ball was equally physically demanding, it didn't leave him exhausted like the work he'd done in the past. Instead, it made him restless, causing him to slip into dreams more and more frequently. Amidst the chaotic shifting of scenes, there were always soft, slippery touches and soft, cat-like hums. A subtle, almost intangible aroma tickled his heart, stirring a nameless rage that he fought for, reached for, desperately trying to vent. Sometimes he woke in the night, panting heavily, his entire body drenched in sweat, but the heat retreated from his lower abdomen, leaving his underwear sticky.
This wasn't uncommon in the boys' dormitory; they were all sixteen or seventeen, still in the throes of growth, and they could smell the familiar fishy smell almost every morning. Yet Zeng Xiasheng was apprehensive. He didn't know where these unconscious associations came from, and his fear grew stronger with each passing moment, dreading when the blurry image would suddenly clear, transforming into the only tearful eyes he remembered.
Tang Sizhuo was not even fifteen years old. His arms and legs were so thin that he didn't even dare to use force to carry her on his back, let alone accept seeing her figure in these absurd dreams.
Zeng Xiasheng didn't dare to listen to her voice for a long time and found various reasons to refuse to talk to her, so that Tang Sizhuo, who was short of money and felt sorry for the phone bill, saved up a large sum of pocket money to top up the money for him.
She was far ahead in the mock exam at the end of March, which earned her a half-day break during the Qingming Festival. Seven or eight days in advance, she began to happily discuss with Zeng Xiasheng about going out to play and meeting him anywhere.
The last time they met was last summer. He'd lied about not missing her, but Zeng Xiasheng hesitated, not agreeing immediately. He hadn't figured out how to face Tang Sizhuo. What if she asked him to carry her on her back, as she had before? The sensation he'd so hard to force out of his memory would resurface vividly. Late at night, Zeng Xiasheng sometimes wondered why he'd been born male, with his dirty mind and uncontrolled body, completely unworthy of Tang Sizhuo's innocent trust and pure friendship.
After struggling for days and still unable to come up with a suitable reason to refuse, Tang Sizhuo unexpectedly contacted him and said he had other plans. Zeng Xiasheng breathed a sigh of relief, but his mood plummeted again.
Sun Changming, knowing he'd broken his promise, privately promised Tang Sizhuo that he'd give her a full day's rest later when Xiao Tong wasn't home. He hadn't planned to rush things, but Xiao Tong had come back from a weekend gathering and said the high-tech zone was making good progress, and the higher-ups were pleased, asking for faster progress. Zhang Tao was probably going to a provincial meeting after the holiday, so Sun Changming wanted to grab a meal before then to finalize the land transfer.
As the director of the High-Tech Zone Management Committee, Zhang Tao held a relatively low position, but he wielded considerable power, attracting numerous people eager to curry his favor. He was cautious and avoided close ties with businesspeople. Sun Changming, relying on intelligence gathered by Xiao Tong, took a different approach and enrolled Tang Sizhuo in tennis lessons, establishing a close relationship through the children of the two families. Whenever they invited him to dinner, the pretext was always to thank his young coach, Zhang Bowen, and naturally, Tang Sizhuo had to be present.
Last fall, the park completed its "three connections and one leveling" program, prompting several major companies to confirm their intention to move in. Construction of a hospital and school was also underway. Sun Changming had long since set his sights on a plot of land in the southeast corner of the park. Not only was its location excellent, but it was also upwind, shielded from factory exhaust. If it could be developed into a residential complex, and once supporting facilities were complete and the park officially opened, it would undoubtedly be the hottest property in the area, generating significant profits.
The only problem was that the land was reserved for mixed-use development. To build residential units, it had to be converted to Class II residential land. Zhang Tao had to make the final decision. Sun Changming racked his brains to maintain this relationship for over a year, and it finally paid off. Earlier this year, at a dinner party, Zhang Tao explained that several meetings had been held, and all parties had agreed that "mixed-use land requires a certain proportion of residential units." Heeding the advice, Sun Changming immediately broke ground. Three months later, the sales office was already promoting and operating, waiting for Zhang Tao to report to the provincial government and return to sign the contract, effectively sealing the deal.
On the day of Qingming Festival, Tang Sizhuo was woken up by Xiao Tong early in the morning and dressed. She wore a light blue dress and her hair was carefully tied into a small flower bud, which made her look young and innocent, quite in line with the spring atmosphere.
Due to exam preparation and piano practice, her tennis playing habits declined significantly, with her only being taken to the club about once every two weeks. Later, Xiao Tong took over as her companion. She was only interested in seeing her daughter in nice outfits and posing with a racket. She disliked defined muscles and repeatedly lectured Tang Sizhuo, saying that girls needed to appear delicate and frail to please men. Consequently, Tang Sizhuo was afraid to run or jump under her watch, and even swung her racket with her arms limp.
She originally thought Zhang Bowen would be angry about this, after all, she was being bullied by him even when she was trying her best. However, unexpectedly, Zhang Bowen really took it and his attitude improved a lot, and he would even deliberately feed the ball to her from time to time.
Tang Sizhuo couldn't figure it out. Zeng Xiasheng would do the same thing when they played together, finding all sorts of excuses to let her win, but she always felt something was wrong. When she actually got the marble into the hole, Zeng Xiasheng would be delighted, remembering her wins better than he knew his own. But if she happened to hit a good shot that Zhang Bowen couldn't easily catch, his face would darken, and he would swing his racket back, sending the ball careening past her face.
As a result, she was somewhat intimidated, and was timid in other situations around him, responding only when Zhang Bowen invited her or asked her a question. His mother, Wang Xiaolei, was quite pleased with this, often watching the two of them grinning from ear to ear, and would whisper and joke with Xiao Tong, saying that the two families needed to interact more often to prevent the wealth from being lost to outsiders.
To ensure a thorough exchange, the dinner was scheduled for noon. After three rounds of drinks, when it was time to get down to business, Zhang Tao waved his hand and said, "Bowen, take your sister out for some fun."
Zhang Bowen stood up under the admiring gazes of the four adults, walked over to Tang Sizhuo, and politely offered her his arm. After Tang Sizhuo took it, he led her out. Tang Sizhuo's small leather shoes, with their heels, were uncomfortable, but she didn't dare disobey Zhang Bowen. She walked around the hotel's back garden with him, chatting and chatting about trivial matters. When Sun Changming and Zhang Tao came downstairs, chatting and laughing, Tang Sizhuo hurried over and grabbed Sun Changming's clothes, refusing to let go. Her feet and calves ached with pain, and she longed to go home quickly.
Sun Changming had drunk quite a bit of wine. He touched Tang Sizhuo's head with his drunken eyes and said to Zhang Tao with a smile, "Our child is introverted and timid. He has improved a lot after playing ball. Bowen will have to take good care of him in the future."
"A daughter should be delicate and sweet." Zhang Tao looked at her with a smile, beckoned Zhang Bowen over, and said casually, "We're planning to send him to the provincial capital to study in the international department. Does Sizhu want to come with us?"
Xiao Tong and Wang Xiaolei followed him out, alarm bells blaring at his words. Sun Changming needed Zhang Tao's help to advance the high-tech zone project, so he encouraged the two children to date. But when it came down to family background and official positions, Xiao Tong didn't see the point in the director's father. Even if the land's nature delayed approval, the project's completion and delivery wouldn't take more than four years at most. By then, the family's assets would have multiplied several times over. Tang Sizhuo would be an adult and attending university, so Xiao Tong figured that at the very least, he'd have to find a suitable match for his daughter: a son of a provincial-level official.
Zhang Bowen was a few months older than Tang Sizhuo, and in the same grade. Zhang Tao clearly wanted to guide them and slowly bring them together. Seeing that Sun Changming was about to agree, Xiao Tong quickly stepped forward and angrily slapped him lightly.
"I'm asking for my daughter's opinion. Why would you want to interfere? You're drunk and you dare agree to anything. If my daughter gets angry with you again, I won't do anything."
"Oh, yes, yes, the eldest lady has the final say." Sun Changming listened to her and realized that he had almost said the wrong thing in his daze. He sobered up a lot and lowered his head to hug Tang Sizhuo, coaxing him affectionately: "Uncle is asking you, do you want to go to high school outside with Bowen? After college, I will send you two to the United States and the United Kingdom together."
The five people's eyes immediately gathered together. Tang Sizhuo could hear the hidden meaning in Xiao Tong's words. She herself did not want to be separated from Zeng Xiasheng, and even more did not want to be with Zhang Bowen, so she shrank into Sun Changming's arms and shook her head hesitantly.
Xiao Tong laughed helplessly and said apologetically, "There's nothing I can do. I was raised too spoiled and can't live without my parents."
Since the child doesn't want to, there's nothing more to say. Zhang Tao laughed and patted Zhang Bowen on the shoulder, "You're unlucky, kid. Okay, then wait until you come back during the winter and summer holidays to take your sister out to play."
It was almost dinnertime when she got home. Tang Sizhuo was exhausted, with no appetite. She slipped back to her bedroom under the pretext of sleep and pulled out her phone to text Zeng Xiasheng. She sent a bunch of sad faces, saying that she was almost sent to the provincial capital to attend high school, and that they were getting further and further apart.
Holidays are peak season for restaurants and hotels. To earn more money, Zeng Xiasheng agreed to a full-time shift, working from 8 a.m., helping unload goods and prepare food, until 10:30 p.m., when the last table of customers was seen off. He changed out of his work clothes, not daring to rest for a moment, and hurried to catch the last bus home. After finding a seat and pulling out his phone, he saw a text message from Tang Sizhuo hours earlier.
After standing all day, his back ached, and his arms trembled uncontrollably. Fortunately, the last bus was light. Zeng Xiasheng rested his elbows on his knees, hunched over, and struggled to reply. He hadn't learned pinyin well, so he typed slowly, needing to think over his words and check for typos. Sometimes, he couldn't send a single sentence for ages. But Tang Sizhuo was patient and never pushed. If she couldn't wait, she'd simply go to bed and check his messages the next morning.
The memories of her tennis lessons weren't pleasant ones, and Tang Sizhuo rarely mentioned them, let alone Zhang Bowen. Zeng Xiasheng, unaware of the complexities involved, assumed she was simply unwilling to go to a better school for his sake. He himself wasn't much of an academic, but from the guests' conversations at the upscale hotel, he could clearly sense that Tang Sizhuo's intelligence would provide her with a comfortable and luxurious life. He was both reluctant to let her go and worried she might stay.
He thought about it and replied to Tang Sizhuo when the bus arrived at the station: "Go if you have the chance. We can keep in touch by phone. I'll try to save some money to come and see you."
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