Chapter 76: Youth’s Dilemma
Chapter 76: Youth’s Dilemma
These days…
Police didn’t overthink when doing their job, making arrests. Acting on gut feelings was almost routine. And what could you do if they got the wrong person?
So, after receiving news, Zhang Lingui, the station chief of Maguan Town Police Station, rushed to the station at top speed. He quickly mustered his officers and headed out to Sanlipu Village. There, at the village clinic, they smoothly arrested two suspects injured in their own brutal internal fight. They immediately launched a rapid interrogation. Very soon, they arrested two more suspects in the village, and apprehended the primary ringleader, Lin Qiang, who had suffered serious injuries in the fight, at Maguan Town Hospital.
This violent armed robbery case was successfully solved in under twenty hours after it happened.
Upon hearing the news of the case’s resolution, Su Cheng and Chen Shunhe were extremely thrilled. When they learned Su Chunfeng had provided the key breakthrough to the police, they felt an unspeakable rush of excitement and emotion—luck, just pure luck!
Maguan Station Chief Zhang Lingui and his officers also marveled at their good luck.
Think about it—solving such a case so quickly was, for an ordinary police station, definitely an honor, an achievement, a mighty triumph! Awards for the station, future promotions for the chief… performance reviews for the station that year… it would be significant leverage!
No one wasted time wondering why sixteen-year-old Su Chunfeng wasn’t safely staying on the tractor that night. Why wander on the road for two or three hours? Looking for a store?
And those two imaginary night-shift workers who supposedly chatted carelessly?
No one even considered tracking down who they were. Not a single question was asked. Even the crucial tip Su Chunfeng had provided became just another clue the police gathered during their investigation before swiftly arresting the suspects.
Who provided it?
Someone from the village!
The tipster’s identity was kept confidential for safety.
Three days after the robbery, Monday at half past nine in the morning, Su Cheng completed the formalities at the station and signed the papers. He received the recovered sum of over 5,900 yuan. They didn’t bother trying to get back the few hundred yuan spent by the criminals. Profusely thanking the police and comforted by the officers’ reassurances, they drove the Wuling tractor homewards.
At this moment, Su Chunfeng was already sitting over two hundred kilometers away, intently listening to a lecture in the classrooms of No.1 High School of Jinzhou County, Pingyang City.
As if nothing had ever happened.
…
The first winter snow drifted softly down.
After school on Friday afternoon, the skies had already darkened. Snow blanketed the vast campus, dressing every tree and plant in shimmering silver, breathtakingly beautiful.
Seeing he couldn’t possibly go home today, Su Chunfeng hurried to the door of Class 4. He waved at Wang Haifei inside, who was tidying her books, and called softly with a smile, “Haifei…”
“Aye.” Wang Haifei responded with a sweet smile. “Wait for me.”
Having lived in the senior high school for months now, the first-year students had gradually adapted to this life, different from middle school. While student couples couldn’t claim to be totally open, and teachers still gave their half-hearted warnings against ‘puppy love’, it wasn’t some dark secret anymore. Interactions and everyday conversations between boys and girls weren’t as artificially reserved as they’d been in junior high.
So now, it was quite common for Wang Haifei and Su Chunfeng to stroll together on campus or share a meal. No gossip or strange looks came their way; mostly, classmates were envious of the pair.
“Chunfeng.” Wang Haifei stepped out happily, her backpack slung over her shoulders.
“Snowstorm today, no way back.” Su Chunfeng smiled. “Come on, we’ll go out for dinner later.”
“Alright,” Wang Haifei agreed. “I need to stop by the dorm first.”
“I’ll wait. Grab an umbrella when you come out,” he said, walking step-by-step down the snow-dusted stairs with her towards the girls’ dormitory. After a few steps, he stopped. Looking up towards the second-floor Class 15 classroom, he called out loud, “Zhichao! Zhichao…”
“Aye?” came the reply as Li Zhichao rushed out of the room. Su Chunfeng beckoned him. “Snowed in today. Wait by the gate downstairs later. Haifei and I will meet you there. We’ll grab a bite outside.”
“You two go ahead,” Li Zhichao yelled back. “M’ade plans.”
“Okay!” Su Chunfeng didn’t push it. He waved with a smile and turned to leave with Wang Haifei.
Outside the Girls’ Dormitory Building, Wang Haifei went up to drop her bag and fetch an umbrella, while Su Chunfeng waited below. Ignoring the narrowed, disapproving eyes of the dorm matron behind her coloured glasses, he idly watched the snow falling across the campus. Sensing the washed-clean air, thick with light, abundant spiritual energy and stable elemental forces after the shower of snow and cold, he decided to get up extra early the next morning for some good training.
Soon, Wang Haifei came running back down clutching a black umbrella. Together, holding the umbrella, shoulders nearly touching, they walked intimately towards the school gate.
Just past the library, they saw a group of more than a dozen people, led by Li Zhichao, hurrying urgently towards the east playground.
Su Chunfeng frowned. “Zhichao! What’s up?”
Li Zhichao turned, a barely contained Malefic Energy darkening his face. He kept walking, waving vaguely. “Nothin’. Just get your dinner. Call by your dorm later.” With that, he spun around, his crowd of equally fierce followers rushing onward.
“Chunfeng, they’re…” Wang Haifei worriedly grabbed Su Chunfeng’s arm.
“Haifei, go wait for me at the gate.” Su Chunfeng gently pushed the umbrella handle into Wang Haifei’s hand. “I’ll see what’s up. Be with you soon.”
“Chunfeng…”
“Be good for me, okay?”
“Don’t fight! Please!”
“I know.”
Freeing himself from her grip, Su Chunfeng strode after Li Zhichao’s group in determined silence.
Wang Haifei stood under her umbrella in the swirling flakes, hesitating for a moment, watching the figures disappear near the Experimental Teaching Building. Stomach tightening with worry—after all, fights had been breaking out way too often lately, pupils were like lit firecrackers, full of pent-up anger ready to ignite—she gritted her teeth and started running after them. Would Chunfeng get hurt?
Over by the playground edge, Li Zhichao struck a commanding pose in his brown leather jacket, hand on hip, the other gesturing emphatically. “Where are they? Go find ’em! Mǎle gè bǎzi de! Thought they were so damn tough?”
Three guys peeled off immediately, jogging to search around.
Su Chunfeng walked up, frowning. “Zhichao, who’s this with?”
“Buncha wankers from Heyì Town, Class 13! Damned if they ain’t challengin’!” Li Zhichao spat, turning. Suddenly remembering something serious, he nudged Su Chunfeng urgently. “Chunfeng, nothing to do with you! Go back…”
“Dumbest thing you ever said?” Su Chunfeng brushed his hand away.
“You’re a good student. Not like me.” Li Zhichao looked at him utterly genuinely, anxious. “I ain’t scared! Worst case? Gets expelled. Go back home. Still gonna be useless either way. Buy myself a diploma someday. You? It’d be damned tragic if you got dragged down!”
Su Chunfeng felt a wave of true appreciation. Stating calmly, “Hold off fighting. I’ll talk to them.”
“Talk?” Li Zhichao snorted, tossing his long, parted hair. “Talk crap! Gotta pound ‘em flat this time! My rep? Gone to hell if I don’t!”
Su Chunfeng could only fall silent.
At this age, it was typical. Pupils feared nothing, especially guys like Li Zhichao: lousy students, restless, with lots of mates clinging ferociously to that fragile, almost worthless idea of ‘face’ among peers. They’d sacrifice anything—even themselves—to gain an inch of it.
He’d mentally prepared himself for this inevitability. Yet when it unfolded, Su Chunfeng realized he was utterly powerless to steer events away.
He had no choice. He got swept in against his will.
Ignoring others? Fine. But he absolutely couldn’t bear standing by while Li Zhichao got caught up in this brutal gang fight. Li Zhichao had fought for him before, several times! His loyalty was raw, utterly sincere, burning hot. That rare blend of simple trust and sheer stubborn readiness to step in—stuff you only found when young.
Just as these thoughts swirled, a shout rang out: “There! Here they come!”
Following the yell, seven or eight guys tearing toward them on bicycles appeared.
Li Zhichao whipped a stick from a nearby partner. “Chunfeng, stay out! Your boy got this!” He screamed insults then hoisted the stick high. “Charge!”
Chaos erupted instantly at the edge of the snow-dusted playground. Young teens in uniforms or street clothes clashed violently under the flakes. Hormones pumping their young rage spilled out in pointless, uncontrolled brutality that rose like heat.
“Chunfeng…” Wang Haifei grabbed his arm.
“Forget it.” Su Chunfeng pulled loose and ran straight toward the riot.
Among the snarling tide of angered youths flailing wildly, Su Chunfeng looked almost foolish—an anomaly. Standing rigidly at the edge of the chaos without striking out, he intently watched Li Zhichau furiously swinging a wooden shaft at attackers. Yet each time a blow was aimed at his buddy, Su Chunfeng reacted immediately. He struck hard against opponents trying to hit Li Zhiao instantly flinging them flat on snowy earth before roaring at them with cold face like a furious teacher or school guard: “Stop!”
Even hits aimed directly at himself met instant defensive counters that either knocked assailants away or slammed them down as he yelled the same command: “Stop!”
The entire brawl lasted barely two minutes, maybe three.
Li Zhiao and the vastly outnumbering group utterly crushed their Heyì Town Class 13 opponents sent them scattering in defeat. Naturally, angry threats echoed back even as they fled: “Damned waiting!”, “This ain’t over, bastards!”, “Gonna cripple you lot soon enough!”
Throughout the mess, Su Chunfeng emerged untouched.
The ragtag group—mostly boys from Dongwangzhuang Township and Guanmiao Township united under Li Zhiao—now gathered centered around him on the lightly snowing field. Puffed chests and proud excitement shone despite some flushed bruises as they chattered loudly, boasting loudly about courage and ferocity during the scrap…
Su Chunfeng didn’t crowd them. Without a word, he turned and walked off.
Just then, Wang Haifei appeared quickly from where she’d anxiously stood watching nearby. Her pretty face twisted into pure concern. She hurried over, lifting her umbrella towards him: “Are you okay? Unhurt?”
“Fine. Let’s grab dinner.”
“Mhm.”
Reaching out, Su Chunfeng enveloped Wang Haifei’s umbrella-holding hand with his warm palm. Her fingers were ice cold. Holding her close beneath the umbrella, they turned toward the school gate together.
Behind the young couple, where the boisterous swarm stood around their victorious leader near the playground’s edge, Li Zhiao waved a dismissive hand at their boasts. Swiping sweat dramatically, he barked, “Enough o’ this blab! Who could fight half as good as my bro Chunfeng? Any of you notice? Not one miserable wank from Heyì Town took even two dodges against him! Flung ’em flat! Couldn’t even nick his shadow! But heads up—if the school cracks down over this today? Nobody tells them he was involved, you dig? He’s a good kid! Top student! Class One! Chunfeng stands by us—can’t screw up his chances, right?”
“Right!”, “Course!”, “Definitely!”, “Don’t rat brothers!” came eager cries.
Li Zhiao added with a sly grin, “Well… heroes get the beauts, yeah? See Chunfeng just walk off calm like a boss without a word? ‘Lil beauty waiting? Damn. Makes you green…”
“Mhmm. Comparing just kills ya, huh?”
Half-adolescent voices bubbled with envy as they squinted into the late-afternoon haze and whirling curtain of white beyond. There, barely discernible: a little black umbrella sheltering two figures wrapped closely against the winter bluster, their shapes blurring as they walked off.