Chapter 67: Torn Between Gain and Loss

After finishing a class, Zhang Pa was on his way to his new home. He left the class in the hands of Yun Zheng, Wang Jiang, and Li Shan. When Principal Qin had named five students, these three were among them, proof enough of their abilities. As long as these three were kept in check, Class Eighteen would remain peaceful.

The Fatty and his group were playing network games. When Zhang Pa entered, the air was thick with smoke, making the room no different from an internet café. He shouted, "Put out those cigarettes!"

All eight of them, upon hearing Zhang Pa, hastily took a last drag and stubbed out their cigarettes. Zhang Pa opened the door and windows, asking, "Is this how you study the script?"

"Just relaxing a bit," Fatty came over to explain.

Zhang Pa replied, "Everyone’s here. Who isn’t?"

Trying to divert Zhang Pa’s attention, Fatty said, "Lu Yiyi and her group couldn’t make it. We’re just relaxing."

"Well, fine. You all keep relaxing. I’ve got work to do." Zhang Pa went to his room, turned on the computer, plugged in his USB, and got to work.

Fatty followed him in. "Come on, work isn’t everything."

"But isn’t your work just playing games?" Zhang Pa retorted.

"How can you say that! It’s not just about playing," Fatty replied. "Dazhuang called and said we could check out the gym if we’re free. Want to go?"

Zhang Pa shot him a look. "Out."

Fatty left, the group of eight resumed gaming, while Zhang Pa worked.

At noon, Zhang Pa bought a lunch box, ate a few bites, then returned to his computer and didn’t come out until he’d finished his tasks.

By then, the living room was empty except for Fatty, who was sprawled on the sofa watching a movie.

"Where is everyone?" Zhang Pa asked.

Fatty replied, "Tiger called and said his company’s hiring, so they went to check it out."

"Why didn’t you go?" Zhang Pa pressed.

Fatty answered, "What do you think it is? Working for Guo Gang, it’s just demolition. They went to find out what’s happening."

Zhang Pa thought for a moment. "If you work for Guo Gang, can you get some benefits when the demolition comes?"

"No idea," Fatty replied. "Tiger said the demolition at Xingfu Li will probably need Guo Gang to handle it. If that’s the case, there’s going to be a fight." He sighed.

Zhang Pa chuckled. "Let’s not talk about that. Tell me about the Brilliant Nightclub."

"Brilliant? It’s the best club in Daoli, but it’s nothing special. The clubs near the stadium are much more exciting," Fatty said. "Who’s messed with you now?"

"Two students from my class are hanging out with one of the owners there. Isn’t that ridiculous? They’re so young," Zhang Pa replied.

Fatty laughed. "We started hanging out like that when we were in elementary school."

"Who can compare with you guys? You were born troublemakers," Zhang Pa said.

Fatty grumbled, "What’s wrong with you? Cursing me? Anyway, want us to come with you?"

"Come with me? Where?" Zhang Pa asked.

"To Brilliant," Fatty said. "I’ve heard it’s pretty chaotic."

Zhang Pa replied irritably, "You only care about this kind of thing."

"Mind your own business," Fatty shot back. "Do you need us to come with you?"

"No," Zhang Pa replied.

Fatty gave a casual "Oh," then said, "When are you bringing your girl over? Let me see her."

"She’s not my girl. She’s a goddess," Zhang Pa said.

Fatty laughed. "You really have no shame."

Zhang Pa stayed in the living room for a while, found it boring, and got up to leave.

Fatty asked, "When are you moving in for real?"

"Yun Zheng and the others are staying at my place. Maybe in a few days," Zhang Pa replied.

Fatty chuckled. "You’re the one working hard anyway." Then he asked, "Going to Brilliant tonight?"

"Not sure. I have to go back to school first," said Zhang Pa.

Fatty said, "If you go, let me know. No matter how tough you are, you’re still just one person—you could get hurt."

Zhang Pa said he understood and headed back to school.

Today, he’d taken the bus both ways. After getting off, he made his way back and saw more than a dozen young men at the school gate.

Zhang Pa was curious—was there going to be another fight?

Just as he was about to ask, a fight broke out. A group was ganging up on a teenager. Surprisingly, the boy was fierce, holding his own against the group and fighting with skill.

Zhang Pa wandered over, clapped loudly, and cheered him on.

The boy wasn’t stupid. After a while, he spotted a chance, turned, and sprinted to the school gate. With a powerful leap and agile hands, he flipped over the gate and landed inside. The group cursed after him but didn’t try to scale the gate themselves.

The boy flipped them the middle finger and headed toward the classroom building. He must have taken a few hits, rubbing his back and wiping the corner of his mouth as he walked.

With the fight over, Zhang Pa stopped clapping and strolled ahead. The group, having failed to catch the boy, turned on Zhang Pa instead. A tall youth, around six feet, with prominent cheekbones, pointed at him and cursed, "Who the hell were you cheering for just now?"

Zhang Pa glanced at him. "Get lost if you want to live."

One man against more than ten—such words only meant a fight was coming. The tall one’s eyes narrowed coldly, and he swung a punch.

Zhang Pa sighed, sidestepped, and said, "You’re lucky I’m a teacher now."

He didn’t want to fight, but the group seemed intent on pushing him around. Several more rushed at him. Zhang Pa was annoyed—why was No. 119 High always full of trouble? He took a few steps back, darted to the big iron gates, and with even more agility than before, flipped inside, turning to face them.

The school gate had a large central door and two smaller ones, locked during class hours.

Separated by the iron gate, he and the group glared at each other, while they hurled insults. Two security guards stood by the gate, watching but not intervening. Earlier, when the boy had climbed over, they had just watched. Now, seeing Zhang Pa, the chubby one smiled and asked, "So teachers climb over the gate too?" They knew Zhang Pa.

"Why didn’t you open the door when you saw me coming back?" Zhang Pa asked.

"We actually didn’t see you," the guard replied.

Shaking his head, Zhang Pa turned and went back to class.

The students were supposed to be studying on their own, but half were sleeping and the rest were on their phones. Not one was actually studying. Still, at least no one had left early.

Zhang Pa stayed for over half an hour until the dismissal bell rang.

Not knowing whom those people outside were waiting for, Zhang Pa called out, "There’s a bunch of thugs at the gate. Not sure who they’re after, so let’s all go out together."

Yu Yuan, the big guy, was delighted. "Teacher, are we going to have a group fight?"

"Are you crazy? All you think about is fighting," Zhang Pa said.

"It’s fun to fight alongside the teacher," Yu Yuan replied.

"Fun, my foot. Everyone, let’s go," Zhang Pa said, leading the way. All forty-three problem students from Class Eighteen followed.

Their ranks were so notorious that, as soon as they entered the corridor, students from other classes stayed inside, letting them pass first.

Once outside the building and walking through the campus, no one dared come near their formation. Other students kept their distance.

Zhang Pa thought to himself—what a destructive force.

At this moment, the main gate was wide open. Students hurried out. Up ahead, there was another small group, each wielding a baseball bat, charging out.

Zhang Pa wondered—what now? Was this some kind of Hong Kong gangster film?

The small group had only nine members but seemed fearless. Leading them was the boy who had just jumped the gate.

Yu Yuan, walking beside Zhang Pa, whispered, "That’s Li Yingxiong."

On Zhang Pa’s other side was Yun Zheng. Zhang Pa asked, "You and Li Yingxiong don’t get along?"

Yun Zheng scoffed, "He’s just an idiot."

As he spoke, the so-called idiot led his men out, saying nothing, and started swinging bats.

To be able to go head-to-head with Yun Zheng, Li Yingxiong clearly had leadership and fighting skills. As they charged out, more than twenty youths ran from the other side of the street, joining Li Yingxiong to sandwich the group outside.

Thus, Zhang Pa’s Class Eighteen never even got involved; they just watched from the school gate.

Li Yingxiong was truly fierce. In less than two minutes, his group scattered their opponents. Another minute and, apart from three unlucky souls lying bleeding on the ground, the rest had fled.

Li Yingxiong stopped his men from beating the three any further and, with a wave, led everyone back inside the campus.

As they came in, they passed Class Eighteen’s troublemakers. When Li Yingxiong spotted Yun Zheng, he sneered with disdain and led his group past.

Yun Zheng sneered back and muttered, "With my temper..." then, seeing Zhang Pa watching him, fell silent.

Turning, Zhang Pa asked, "Does anyone know those guys outside? Who are they?"

Wang Jiang said, "I think we fought them last time, at the stadium."

"Really? How come I don’t remember?" Zhang Pa asked.

"We did," Wang Jiang confirmed. "One of them had yellow hair, saw him before."

"Oh," Zhang Pa mused. "So they might be after our classmates?"

"Could be," Wang Jiang replied.

Zhang Pa pondered, "But there were just a dozen of them. Trying to block over forty of us—are they out of their minds? Or did the last fight knock something loose?"

Wang Jiang thought for a moment. "But what’s up with Li Yingxiong? Why are they fighting him?"

"There are too many mysteries in this world," Zhang Pa concluded. "If you can’t figure it out, don’t bother. School’s out."

At his words, the students began to leave, each saying, "Goodbye, teacher," as they went.

Soon, Class Eighteen had emptied out, leaving only Yun Zheng and a few others, along with three students who had been questioned in the hallway that morning.

Zhang Pa asked, "Do you guys need something?"

One replied, "Teacher, those guys might have been waiting for the three of us."

"Waiting for you? What did you do?" Zhang Pa asked, recalling scenes from movies. "Did you steal their money?"

"No," the student said. "Last time, when you led the classmates to fight us, they were there too."

"Oh, so they were involved. And then?"

"After the fight, when we got back, Blackie—that guy with the gold chain just now—said it all started because of us and demanded money for his injuries. But we have no money."

Zhang Pa understood. "So that’s it. And then?"

"Then we just came to school," the student answered.

Zhang Pa looked at him. "Well, live and learn. Still want to mess with gangs?"

"No, it’s much better in school," all three replied.

"Do they know where you live?" Zhang Pa asked.

"No."

"Good, then head home quickly," Zhang Pa said.

The three agreed, said goodbye, and left the school. Fearing they’d be ambushed, they hailed a taxi at the corner and soon were gone.