Chapter Seventy-Four: Endless Dispute

"Yuner, from now on, you’ll stay with Grandma. Daddy’s going to work—be good, okay?"

"Mm-hmm."

Zhao’s mother held Zhao Yuner in her arms, while Zhao Fan stood nearby. After Zhao Haitian had finished giving his reminders to Yuner, Zhao’s mother patted him on the shoulder.

"Go on, then."

Zhao Haitian nodded, turning back three times with every step as he left.

"Xiao Fan, do you have anything planned today?" Father Zhao asked.

"I need to go back to school. Do you need something, Dad?"

"There is something, actually," Father Zhao glanced around, "Let’s talk at home."

"Alright."

Back at home, Zhao’s mother took Yuner into the bedroom.

Father Zhao asked, "What plans do you have for your elder brother?"

Zhao Fan raised an eyebrow, "So that’s what this is about. Honestly, I don’t have any at the moment."

Father Zhao grunted, "Have you thought about lending your elder brother some money so he can start a business?"

"You mean...?" Zhao Fan was still at a loss about what to do for Zhao Haitian—after all, his brother was used to manual labor, and Zhao Fan truly didn’t have a suitable position for him.

Hearing his father’s suggestion, he listened carefully.

"Your supermarket is too big for your brother to manage, but what if he opened a small shop near the neighborhood? There’s no rule that says a supermarket has to be big, right?"

Zhao Fan fixed his gaze on his father, silent.

After a while, Father Zhao grew impatient under the stare, "What are you looking at? Did I say something wrong?"

Zhao Fan gave a thumbs-up, "Dad, impressive."

He realized he’d been trapped in his own way of thinking, forgetting to consider other perspectives.

"When your brother comes home tonight, I’ll talk to him about this."

"Alright."

With that settled, Zhao Fan left for school.

It was class time, and the campus was quiet, with no students in sight.

Zhao Fan, familiar with the place, went straight to He Yongshan’s office. Confirming He was inside, he suddenly felt hesitant about entering.

Whether to return to school or continue studying at home was a significant question weighing on him.

"What are you standing here for?"

The sudden voice startled Zhao Fan. Turning, he saw He Yongshan standing behind him, making him freeze on the spot.

"Old He..."

"Tch, look at you, guilty as charged. Come in."

"Alright."

Following He Yongshan into the office, Zhao Fan sat quietly and obediently.

At this moment, Zhao Fan was a far cry from the bold, streetwise businessman he was elsewhere—he was downright docile.

He Yongshan couldn’t help but laugh in exasperation, "I never knew you could be so well-behaved."

If Zhao Fan were truly obedient, he wouldn’t have delayed coming back to school, nor would he have dropped out to get married.

"Zhao Fan, what am I supposed to do with you?"

"If you can’t think of anything, maybe don’t say anything, Old He. I’m here to admit my mistakes today."

"Fine, tell me what you did wrong."

"I didn’t come back to school."

"And?"

"And I still don’t plan on coming back."

"Say that again."

"I still don’t plan on coming back," Zhao Fan repeated earnestly, his expression solemn. "Old He, these past few days I’ve been thinking—my foundation just isn’t solid enough, so I’m planning to—"

Bang!

He Yongshan slammed his palm on the table, his tone dark, "You’re planning what?"

Zhao Fan fell silent.

The look on He’s face seemed to say that if Zhao Fan dared to speak his mind, he’d strangle him on the spot. Should he say it or not?

A silent standoff.

The end-of-class bell rang, and teachers returning to the office broke the tense deadlock between them.

"Zhao Fan, isn’t it a bit early for you to be back at school today?"

Recognizing the homeroom teacher from the next class, Zhao Fan smiled, "Just came to chat with Old He and discuss future arrangements."

"I see. Old He, this student of yours took a wrong turn for a while—make sure his next steps are well planned."

He Yongshan forced a smile, "Rest assured, I’ll see to it."

Zhao Fan couldn’t help but feel that there was a hint of gritted teeth in He Yongshan’s last few words, though he wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination.

"Heh, heh heh..."

As the other teacher left, He Yongshan slammed his hand down again, "Zhao Fan, think carefully before you speak with me."

"I’m planning to take a year off."

"Out of the question."

"Old He, if you don’t approve a leave of absence, I’ll just drop out," Zhao Fan threatened.

"Bah! If you dare drop out, I’ll go straight to your parents."

"Old He, there’s no need to involve my parents, is there?"

"Hmph, if my student won’t study, of course I’ll go to your parents. Zhao Fan, this isn’t a trivial matter. Don’t assume you’ll always be as successful as you are now. The future is long, and you don’t even have the basics—"

"Old He!"

Zhao Fan was helpless, "This is a special case, and it’s not that I’m refusing to study—just postponing it for now."

"Since when does studying allow for postponement? Zhao Fan, is someone filling your head with nonsense again?"

Zhao Fan was at a loss, "Old He, really, no one is influencing me this time."

Meeting He Yongshan’s skeptical gaze, Zhao Fan sighed, "You have to believe me—it’s the truth."

"Zhao Fan, you said you wanted to come back to school, and now you want a leave of absence. I can’t explain this to the principal."

Zhao Fan knew He was telling the truth.

"I’ll talk to the principal myself."

"You’ll talk to the principal?" He Yongshan’s temper flared again, "Is this something you should be handling? Zhao Fan, don’t regret this."

Zhao Fan lowered his eyes. Not doing this was what he’d regret.

The point remained: after being away from school for so many years, catching up to classmates in such a short time was possible, but now that his business was taking off, if school took up too much of his time, he’d have to cut back elsewhere.

"Old He, I need time to balance things."

He Yongshan opened his mouth, then closed it in defeat. After several minutes, he said, "I never should have let you drop out in the first place."

Zhao Fan was speechless—even if He hadn’t let him, as long as he didn’t show up, it would still count as dropping out.

He sighed, "I’m only talking about a leave of absence, not quitting entirely."

"What leave? Just stick to your current arrangement—take the college entrance exam as practice. You can always take it again next year."

He Yongshan glared, adamantly refusing to let Zhao Fan take a leave.

By the end, the two were on the verge of a physical altercation, and only the intervention of other teachers brought about a resolution.

Zhao Fan would not take a leave of absence, nor would he take the entrance exam this year. He would continue with the monthly tests and sit for the college entrance exam the following year.

"Old He, I know you care about your students, but everyone has their own plans—you can’t just hold them back," another teacher said.

"Exactly, Old He, this arrangement is just fine."

"Yes, yes, very good."

Amid the chorus of agreement, He Yongshan stormed out in anger.

"Be here for the end-of-the-month exam!"

His roar from outside drew laughter from the teachers present. Zhao Fan, head bowed, couldn’t help but let a smile tug at his lips.

He Yongshan truly was a responsible teacher.

By the time Zhao Fan left school, it was already lunchtime. As he reached the gate, someone called to him from behind.

"Zhao Fan, wait up!"