The Poor School Heartthrob Was Secretly a Financial Titan - Chapter 3

Zhao Guangrong was taken aback by that look—it wasn’t right, it wasn’t like a junior looking at an elder, it was more like… scrutiny.

As Han Xuetao looked at him, something slowly surfaced in his heart.

In my previous life, I served three years in prison. My parents fell ill one after the other and passed away one after the other. Where was this uncle then?

He was the richest in his family, but when his parents were seriously ill, did he ever lend a hand?

Not even once!

Han Xuetao lowered his eyelids, suppressing his emotions.

He resented it, but he didn’t really hate it, since the other party had no obligation to. But as for how nice he was to him—he raised his eyes, but the smile didn’t reach them.

Zhao Guangrong felt uncomfortable being stared at and shifted his position: “Ahem, Xuetao’s back? How did the college entrance exam go?”

“good.”

“You applied to Ninghai University?”

“Um.”

Are you confident you can get in?

“If there are no unexpected events, then it definitely will be possible.”

Han Xuetao speaks slowly and doesn’t emphasize his words, but when you hear him, it feels like there’s a heavy weight pressing down on you.

Zhao Guangrong felt a lump in his throat. He took a deep drag of his cigarette, and through the smoke, he looked at that young face again, and then he felt a little better: “It’s good that you have this confidence. Since you think you can pass the exam, then I can tell you what to do next.”

“Please speak, Uncle.”

Zhao Guangrong stubbed out his cigarette: “Xuetao, you know your family’s situation. Going to university in Ninghai will cost at least 20,000 yuan over four years. Your parents are so worried about the tuition that their hair has turned white, and they came to me to borrow money. We’re family, so lending money is no problem. But then again—with your parents’ situation, how will they pay it back? In the end, won’t that money still be on your shoulders?”

Han Xuetao nodded with a smile.

Zhao Guangrong then said earnestly, “The family you’re born into determines the choices you have to make. I believe you’re smart enough to get into university. But a place like Ninghai University would be incredibly expensive; four years of hard work would leave your family financially ruined. Have you thought about that?”

Han Xuetao said calmly, “Uncle, I understand your reasoning. Just tell me your purpose.”

“Alright, then I’ll get straight to the point,” Zhao Guangrong said. “Someone has asked me to help them exchange your university spot with you. They’re offering five thousand yuan for your spot at Ninghai University. In addition, they’ll help you get a targeted training program at a chemical engineering vocational school in the provincial capital, and you’ll be directly employed in the petrochemical system with a permanent position after graduation.”

Han Xuetao didn’t move, but the resentment in his heart suddenly rose up.

So that’s how it is. They not only set up a trap at the karaoke bar, but also sent a lobbyist directly to my home.

In his previous life, he was ambushed and imprisoned, so naturally no one mentioned this deal anymore.

Now it seems the other side has a backup plan. If underhanded tactics don’t work, they’ll resort to overt ones—a two-pronged approach, determined to win. They must secure their university spot no matter what!

He lowered his eyelids, concealing the cold glint in his eyes.

Zhao Guangrong thought he was hesitating, so he leaned forward again: “Xuetao, I know you’re upset. But your uncle is doing this entirely for your sake. First, vocational school tuition is low; with five thousand yuan in hand, you’ll have your tuition covered. Second, your future after graduation is clearly planned—a secure job!”

He leaned back on the sofa: “But what future do you have after going to university? Have you heard the rumors lately? After 1998, university graduates will no longer be guaranteed job placement!”

Zhao Xiurong’s expression changed: “Is this rumor… true?”

Zhao Guangrong said with certainty, “I had dinner with the leaders of the Education Bureau, and they said it themselves. It’s an inevitable trend that universities will no longer guarantee job placement.”

Zhao Xiurong panicked: “Then…what about the child’s job in the future?”

“What can we do? He can just go to the market and look for a job himself. Four years from now, Xue Tao will graduate from university and want to get into a place like the petrochemical system, but he has no connections, and no amount of money can get him in!”

Han Defu and Zhao Xiurong exchanged a glance, said nothing, and only sighed.

Zhao Guangrong then turned to Han Xuetao: “Xuetao, don’t think five thousand yuan is too little. Your dad worked at the fertilizer factory for decades, and he only got eight thousand yuan after his years of service were bought out. You’ve been in university for the past few years, so five thousand yuan isn’t a small amount, is it?”

He lowered his voice, revealing the candid wisdom of someone with experience: “Once you graduate and get a good job with a good leader, your future achievements may not be any worse than those of college graduates!”

Han Xuetao nodded.

These words truly sound like they’re all for your benefit. Anyone listening to them would have to admit it’s a good way out.

But he knew more than his uncle—university graduates would no longer guarantee job placement, but vocational school graduates were in an even worse situation. All the promises of targeted training programs and permanent positions were rendered meaningless in the wave of change that followed 1998.

Most importantly, he didn’t trust the other party!

Seeing the awkward silence, Zhao Guangrong stood up, patted his pants, and said, “Alright, think about it some more. Once you’ve made a decision, let me know.”

He had just taken a step when Han Xuetao’s voice came from behind him: “Who is it that wants to take my spot?”

Zhao Guangrong was taken aback, then waved his hand: “I can’t say. They entrusted this to me, so I have to keep it a secret. That’s the rule.”

Han Xuetao smiled.

Not going to tell? Don’t you know?

The man’s name was Zhou Cheng. His father was the presiding judge of the criminal court, and his mother was the vice principal of the Third Middle School.

He looked away and nodded: “Okay, Uncle is right. Your words have enlightened me.”

Zhao Guangrong’s eyes lit up.

“I won’t ask who’s trying to take my spot,” Han Xuetao said casually. “But five thousand yuan is a bit low.”

Zhao Guangrong’s face broke into a smile. He took two steps back and patted Xuetao on the shoulder: “Xuetao, I told you you were a good kid! Here, your uncle will try his best to help you get it back, okay? Your uncle won’t let you suffer any losses!”

Han Defu’s expression changed, and he stood up anxiously: “Xuetao, aren’t you going to think about it carefully?”

Zhao Guangrong’s face darkened, and he turned to look at him: “Old Han, you’re no better than your son. After all these years, you’ve come to this. My sister is unlucky to have followed you.”

He looked away and patted Han Xuetao on the shoulder again: “It’s good that your family has a sensible and good son.”

Han Xuetao stood up and smiled sincerely: “Dad, I’ve made up my mind. We’ll do it the way Uncle said.”

……

“Tao Tao, tell Mom the truth, what you just said… were you really thinking it, or were you just trying to appease your uncle?”

As soon as her uncle left, Zhao Xiurong pulled her son aside and asked him a question.

Han Xuetao turned around.

In the dim light, the mother gripped the hem of her apron with both hands, her eyes filled with worry.

The father also stood up from the sofa, with the half-extinguished cigarette next to the ashtray.

“Xuetao,” Han Defu’s voice was hoarse, “your mother is right. You need to think this through. Our family is in a difficult situation, but even if it gets really tough…”

His Adam’s apple bobbed.

“No matter how tough it gets, I can still afford to send you to university. It’s just a few thousand dollars. I’ve worked as a skilled worker my whole life, do you think I’ll let money kill me?”

Han Xuetao looked at his father.

Under the lamplight, my father’s face was thinner than I remembered, his cheekbones protruding. His work clothes were patched. But as he spoke, his back was ramrod straight.

Han Defu ignored him, staring at his son: “What your uncle said—guaranteed job placement after vocational school, a secure job—sounds good, but that’s his path. The university you got into is your own achievement. Why should I let him have it?”

“Defu…” Zhao Xiurong tugged at his sleeve.

“Xuetao, I’ve never been good enough in this life, and I’ve accepted being looked down upon. But you’re different. You got into university, so you have to go. Don’t worry about the money. I’ll sell everything I own and work as a construction worker to raise the tuition fees for you!”

Han Xuetao was caught off guard by his father’s sudden words, and his throat tightened.

Zhao Xiurong’s eyes reddened: “What nonsense are you talking about? Can your back even lift bricks?”

“If I can’t move bricks, I can do other things!” Han Defu shook off her hand. “I’m a grown man, how could I let my son not be able to go to school?”

Han Xuetao stood there, looking at his parents and at the cramped little house.

He suddenly remembered his past life.

In his past life, he couldn’t stand here and hear these words.

At that time, he was squatting in the police station’s detention room. His parents waited all night, and the next day they went to the school, to their classmates’ houses, and to the police station to ask—what they finally got was a detention notice.

He had no idea how his parents got through those days.

All he knew was that when he came out three years later, they would be gone.

“Dad. Mom.”

He walked over, sat down on the bench, and waved to the two men.

“Please sit down and listen to me.”

Han Defu and Zhao Xiurong exchanged a glance and sat down next to each other.

“The scores haven’t come out yet, so it’s not certain whether I’ll get into Ninghai University. What if I end up in my second choice? They won’t even consider me then, will they?” Han Xuetao said.

Zhao Xiurong was taken aback and blinked.

“That’s right!” she slapped her thigh. “Second choice is good too! If that’s the case, it’ll be easier to explain to your uncle…”

As she spoke, she let out a sigh of relief.

Han Defu, however, did not laugh.

He looked at his son: “Xuetao, tell Dad the truth—what’s your estimated score? Are you confident about your first choice?”

Han Xuetao met his gaze.

“I’m… confident, but it’s hard to say until the scores are released.”

Han Defu opened his mouth, then closed it again, lowered his head, took out a cigarette case, put one in his mouth, and lit it after three tries with the lighter. Just as the smoke started to come out, a hand reached over and took the cigarette away.

Han Xuetao stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray.

“Dad, smoke less.”

Han Defu stared blankly at the cigarette, speechless.

Zhao Xiurong chuckled: “Serves you right! I’ve told you so many times, but you never listen. Only your son can handle you!”

Han Xuetao smiled too, and after he finished smiling, he looked at his father.

“Dad, Uncle just said your factory is offering 8,000 yuan for severing your years of service? What’s going on?”

Han Defu’s face darkened.

“What else could it be?” He leaned back in his chair. “The factory is about to go bankrupt, and the leaders want to make one last quick buck. They said they’d let the workers ‘voluntarily’ buy out their years of service, giving them eight thousand yuan to get rid of them. I’ve worked at this factory for twenty-three years, twenty-three years! Eight thousand yuan to buy it out?”

He slammed his hand on the table.

“Impossible! Even if the mayor came, let alone the factory director, he couldn’t understand this!”

The enamel mug bounced up, and tea splashed out.

Zhao Xiurong quickly grabbed a rag to wipe it: “Why are you slamming the table…”

Just as Han Xuetao was about to speak, a shout suddenly came from outside the window—

“Taozi! Taozi!”

Han Xuetao was taken aback, got up, walked to the window, and opened it.

It was a June evening, and the sky was still dark. Across the open space, a person was climbing up an old locust tree, hugging its trunk!