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Chapter 180: I Don't Want You to Become Zhang Zuolin
"Zhao Jibei!"
When it comes to singing, many people immediately think of it without hesitation. If we talk about who sings well, it must be the class leader of the Eighteen Classes in senior year, Zhao Jibei. Although Zhao Jibei's name is gender-neutral, she is undeniably a beautiful girl, just a bit shorter. In the first Singing Competition at Beiluan No. 1 High School, Zhao Jibei took first place and was personally received by Chen Guobin, the County Chief of Beilan, who visited the school at that time. At this moment, when singing is mentioned, everyone naturally agrees that it's her.
However, there were also different voices; some people in the back row jokingly called out Zhang Qiu's name. Once this was shouted, many others joined in the teasing, including those who had just been annoyed by Zhang Qiu's recent attention in class.
After calling out Zhang Qiu's name, someone also shouted for Jiang Xue, causing Jiang Xue's face to turn red as she looked helplessly at the language teacher.
Xu Qing Chu laughed heartily: "It seems everyone is quite enthusiastic about playing around. The moment we mention a topic, you all go silent. But when it comes to singing, you nearly lift the roof off. Just now it was you three: Zhao Jibei, Zhang Qiu, and Jiang Xue, right?"
"Yes!"
"Oh dear, three of you." Xu Qing Chu thought for a moment and said: "How about this? You three can discuss a song to sing together."
"Teacher, I have a better idea." Zhang Qiu raised her hand eagerly.
"Oh?" Xu Qing Chu looked at Zhang Qiu and asked: "Then what is your better idea?"
Zhang Qiu looked at her classmates and smiled: "Teacher, since this is our class's first time, why not do a big chorus? At the end, we can have another big chorus. It would be great to have a beginning and an end; what do you think?"
"Good good good." Xu Qing Chu was quite pleased and said: "Then let's do a big chorus. But keep your voices down; other classes are still in session. The Director's Office is right across the hall; we don't want to attract their attention."
As Xu Qing Chu finished speaking, the whole class burst into laughter. Xu Qing Chu then asked: "Classmates, what song should we sing?"
"Let's sing 'My Future Is Not a Dream.' Many people sang along during last year's National Day celebration," Zhao Jibei suggested and turned to her classmates: "What does everyone think?"
"Sure." Zhang Qiu was the first to agree.
"Sure!" Zhao Jibei, who had a good rapport with others, received support from many people.
"Let's get started," Xu Qing Chu said.
"Are you like me, looking down under the sun..." The responsibility of starting off naturally fell to Zhao the Class Leader. Zhao Jibei, with her excellent singing voice, opened her mouth and instantly lifted everyone's spirits, making them involuntarily join in the song. Xu Qing Chu smiled as he watched; his reforms were indeed effective. This was definitely the most lively class in Senior Year history.
"What are you all doing?"
A loud shout interrupted the beautiful singing. Everyone, who was immersed in the joyful atmosphere, turned to see Zhao Guohong standing there, one hand on her hip and the other holding a rolled-up textbook like a baton, glaring at them.
"Oh, it's Teacher Zhao. I'm just having the students sing to keep them from dozing off," Xu Qing Chu explained as he stepped out from the crowd.
"Oh, if Teacher Chu is here, then that's fine. I thought they were misbehaving and making noise in the classroom." Seeing a teacher present, Zhao Guohong's expression visibly softened, but there was still a hint of displeasure. She maintained a stern face until she left.
Xu Qing Chu stood at the podium and said, "Alright, alright, it's fine now. Let's continue singing. After this song, we'll go over the test."
Due to the sudden interruption by the homeroom teacher, the previously great atmosphere was nearly ruined. Many felt as if a veil had been drawn over their hearts, and their voices became less spirited. Xu Qing Chu shook his head and sighed, "Alright, let's just go straight to discussing the test. Everyone take out your papers and look at the first question from the classical literature section."
After class, Zhang Qiu called Gao Zhi and Zhao Pingchuan over to her side. Jiang Xue saw this and ran over as well. Zhang Qiu pinched Jiang Xue's cheek and smiled, "We need to discuss something; can you accompany me for the next class?"
Jiang Xue didn't back away: "You have to include me in your discussion! After all, I'm part of your Hall Society."
"You're even our leader," Gao Zhi joked with a smirk.
"Stop messing around," Zhang Qiu said as she playfully punched Gao Zhi on the shoulder. Looking at Jiang Xue's flushed face, she laughed and said, "See? They will tease you when you're here."
"Hmph, I am the boss's woman, let's see who dares. Don't forget, I've stabbed someone before." Jiang Xue raised her fist; although her body seemed delicate, her eyes revealed a hint of decisiveness.
Zhang Qiu's eyes lit up. Perhaps Jiang Xue was no longer the same Jiang Xue from before. He smiled and said, "Alright, let's discuss it together. The boss's woman should be like this."
After Jiang Xue pulled over a stool and sat down, Zhang Qiu looked at everyone and asked, "Do you all know where I went when I disappeared just now?"
"I went to Daylight Fire Bar, the one west of our school. That place is run by the Stone Dagger Gang, and Biao Ge manages it. I mentioned to Brother Leopard that we want to do something to make money, and Brother Leopard arranged for us to go to the nearest White Day Fire."
"Brother Leopard's arrangement is great; it's so close, it makes things much more convenient for us," Zhao Pingchuan praised.
"Yeah, this arrangement is good. At the bar, doesn't that mean we can... hehehe," Gao Zhi started but then remembered that Jiang Xue was there and quickly held back his words.
Zhang Qiu laughed and said, "Alright, stop messing around and listen to me. We are all preparing for the college entrance exam; we don't need to go over every time. There are already people at the bar, and now Yang Yu is leading some people there as our permanent staff. We can just visit from time to time when we have the chance."
"Brother Qiu, if we go over from time to time, won't that seem a bit inappropriate?" Zhao Pingchuan expressed his concern; he worried about being talked about since he had just joined.
"It's fine; we really don't have time. Brother Leopard and Biao Ge aren't the type to hold grudges over this. Besides, Yang Yu is leading people there," Zhang Qiu reassured him.
"Then I'm relieved."
Zhang Qiu's few words dispelled Zhao Pingchuan's concerns. He took Jiang Xue's hand and smiled, "I still have something to say to you privately."
"Let's go, let's go." Zhao Pingchuan was the first to stand up, and Gao Zhi stood up with a smile as well. He didn't forget to pull Wang Zhengxiang along: "Come over here; I'll explain some problems to you quickly." Without waiting for Wang Zhengxiang's reaction, he dragged him away, causing the stool to topple over.
Zhang Qiu laughed as he helped set the stool upright and said to Jiang Xue, "Come sit next to me."
Jiang Xue sat beside Zhang Qiu and smiled as she asked, "What do you want to say to me privately?"
Zhang Qiu gently stroked Jiang Xue's hand for a moment before saying, "I feel like you're becoming more and more like a person."
"Who?" Jiang Xue asked.
"The Fifth Lady."
"Who is the Fifth Lady?" Jiang Xue searched her memory for any movies or books she had encountered, but she couldn't recall anyone by that name.
Zhang Qiu explained, "The Fifth Lady is Zhang Zuolin's fifth wife, the Fifth Lady."
"In what way do I resemble her?"
"I'm not sure; I just have this vague feeling. You know, just now, I read something in your eyes that words cannot express."
"Is it good or bad?"
Zhang Qiu smiled and said, "Of course it's good."
Jiang Xue also smiled, "Then I can rest assured; as long as I haven't changed for the worse."
Zhang Qiu lifted Jiang Xue's hand and gently kissed the back of it, gazing deeply into her eyes as he said, "You are the best."
Jiang Xue, feeling shy, quickly withdrew her hand. After looking around to ensure no one was watching, she said playfully, "There are so many people here."
Zhang Qiu glanced around and laughed, "Let them be envious then."
Jiang Xue laughed again and lightly tapped Zhang Qiu on the head, saying playfully, "You!"
"Are you willing to be my Fifth Lady?"
"Fifth Lady? Do you want five of them?" Jiang Xue frowned, but she couldn't help but find it cute.
Zhang Qiu quickly corrected himself, "Ugh, let me rephrase that. Do you want to be my lady?"
"Hmph!" Jiang Xue shot Zhang Qiu a glance, "Well, I need to think about it."
"What is there to think about? Just agree."
Seeing that Jiang Xue wasn't responding, Zhang Qiu's mischievous hands reached toward her waist. Jiang Xue hurriedly stopped him, saying, "Okay, okay, I agree!"
"I knew you were the best, my dear." Zhang Qiu grinned shamelessly.
Jiang Xue shook her head helplessly and suddenly asked, "What kind of person is this Fifth Lady?"
"Well, I can't describe her with just words. Let me tell you a story, and you'll understand."
"Alright, hurry up and tell me."
"Don't rush me; let me have a sip of water first." Zhang Qiu went to the table to grab his cup but couldn't find it. He wondered aloud, "Where did my cup go?"
Jiang Xue quickly walked back to her seat and handed him her cup with a smile, "Do you need me to help you open it?"
Zhang Qiu chuckled, "Of course I do."
Jiang Xue helped him open the lid, and Zhang Qiu took a big gulp from the cup, nodding in satisfaction as he said, "Alright, I'm not thirsty anymore."
"Then hurry up and tell me, class is about to start."
"Okay, here we go. We need to go back to the time of the Republic of China, starting from the Huanggutun Incident. Have you heard of it?"
Jiang Xue nodded, "I've heard of it. The Japanese bombed and killed Zhang Zuolin here."
"When the Huanggutun Incident occurred, the bomb exploded, but Zhang Zuolin did not die immediately. His bodyguards were all seasoned fighters; they quickly reacted and took the severely injured Zhang Zuolin back to his home in Northeast China. They called for their family doctor, but it was clear that he was beyond saving. At this point, it was the Fifth Lady who stepped in to manage both internal and external affairs."
"First, she instructed the family to keep everything normal and repeatedly emphasized that no news should be leaked. She also ordered the nurses to leave all the bandages used to stop Zhang Zuolin's bleeding. After Zhang Zuolin passed away, the General's Residence announced that the commander was still alive and had been rescued. However, this news alone could not deceive the cunning Japanese. So they threw away each piece of the remaining bandages to imply that the commander was still changing dressings for his injuries, thus misleading the Japanese. Of course, Zhang Zuolin's brothers were very supportive as well; they worked together to truly fool the Japanese."
Jiang Xue exclaimed in amazement, "The Fifth Lady is incredible."
"Yes, she is truly remarkable."
"I wish I could be your Fifth Lady." Jiang Xue looked at Zhang Qiu with a hint of sadness in her eyes, "But I don't want you to become Zhang Zuolin."
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