Chapter 79: Stop Talking, Let’s Keep Fighting

An old saying went, “It’s not cold when it snows, but when the snow melts, it’s freezing.”

On Monday, the sky cleared up, and much of the snow piled up on campus melted away within the day, but the temperature dropped so low that people couldn’t even stretch their hands outside. When evening came and school ended, a chilly wind whistled by. Students stepped out from their warm classrooms, all hunching their necks like listless little chicks.

Su Chunfeng was in no hurry to leave the classroom. He sat at his desk, earnestly working on a chemistry problem, occasionally pausing his pen to frown in thought.

When it came to studying, he was different from most of his classmates.

Usually, in everyone’s eyes, he spent much less time on studies compared to other students in Class One. But in reality, he never missed a single lesson, and he completed every single problem in all the study materials and test papers the school provided. Moreover, he diligently summarized where he went wrong on each mistaken problem, reviewed how each correct problem was solved correctly, and considered whether there were alternative methods to reach the right answer.

In his view, as long as a student listened attentively in class, took notes, and reviewed the material twice after class until they thoroughly understood it, they could basically handle most of the problems in the study materials. It was just that some topics required thinking on their feet, putting two and two together, and letting their minds wander a bit.

With such a serious approach to studying, Su Chunfeng still had plenty of free time.

This was due to his intelligence and his ability to plan and manage his school life reasonably and scientifically.

Therefore, he often felt grateful that since his rebirth, he not only possessed a mature, calm, and steady mindset but also retained the youthful memory and thinking appropriate for his age.

“Chunfeng.”

Hearing someone call him, Su Chunfeng snapped out of his thoughts and looked up. He saw Han Qiang standing at the door, smiling and waving at him.

“Just a moment,” Su Chunfeng said with a smile, standing up and tidying the books on his desk before walking out—they were going out for dinner tonight. The group of freshmen from Dongwangzhuang Township and Guanmiao Township, led by Li Zhichao, were having a peace talk with the group of freshmen from Heyi Town, represented by Han Qiang and Zheng Wentao.

As soon as they stepped outside, Han Qiang grumbled a bit, “Chunfeng, you’ll have to go call Zhichao. He’s too proud and won’t give me face. I asked him once, but he wants us to wait for him first.”

“Oh, then you all go ahead. I’ll go call him now.”

“Our guys are already waiting over there,” Han Qiang said, somewhat awkwardly. “Actually, there aren’t many others. It’s just Zheng Wentao and two other classmates from our Heyi Town, plus you, me, and Zhichao. I don’t know if Zhichao will bring anyone else. Zheng Wentao and the others are already waiting over there. What do you think…”

“Wait a moment then,” Su Chunfeng said with a laugh, then strode down the steps and walked west to the hallway entrance. He looked up toward the upstairs and shouted loudly, “Zhichao! Zhichao!”

“Hey!” Li Zhichao walked out from the Class 15 classroom.

Su Chunfeng waved a hand. “Let’s go.”

“Alright, coming!” Li Zhichao called cheerfully into the classroom, “Gangzi, let’s go… eat.”

“Let’s go!” Feng Gang rushed out of the classroom and waved energetically at Su Chunfeng downstairs. “Chunfeng.”

Su Chunfeng smiled and waved back.

Soon, Li Zhichao and Feng Gang came downstairs and followed Su Chunfeng, chuckling as they walked toward the school gate. When they passed by the Class One door, Li Zhichao and Feng Gang quite generously and familiarly walked over and patted Han Qiang on the shoulder, laughing and joking as they headed out, almost but not quite slinging their arms over each other’s shoulders.

Watching this scene, Su Chunfeng couldn’t help but smile and shake his head—Li Zhichao nowadays was truly in high spirits.

The peace talk location was set at the Hongfu Restaurant outside the school.

Hongfu Restaurant was across from No.1 High School, just over fifty meters to the east. It was a three-story building. The first floor had a dining hall with about ten tables, while the second and third floors had private rooms. In Jinzhou County Town during this era, such a restaurant fully qualified as mid-range.

For ordinary high school students, entering such a restaurant and booking a private room was absolutely considered a luxurious expense.

Second floor, Room 203.

Han Qiang walked ahead, smiling as he gently pushed the door open, even gesturing with a hand to invite them in.

This attitude made Li Zhichao’s vanity swell even more. He puffed out his chest and strode in first. Feng Gang, however, politely let Su Chunfeng enter the room before him.

But as soon as they entered, Li Zhichao and Feng Gang stopped in their tracks, their expressions flashing with a hint of barely concealed alarm.

Because across the small round table in the little room sat three people. Besides Zheng Wentao, there were also the notoriously famous senior-year school bully Qian Jingjiang from the whole school, and Qian Jingjiang’s staunch friend Zhou Fan.

Su Chunfeng, on the other hand, though also somewhat surprised inside, maintained a calm appearance on the surface, keeping a slight smile. He gently patted the back of the slightly dazed Li Zhichao, who was standing there, then stepped forward and sat down at the table without arrogance or subservience. He said with a smile, “The atmosphere here is nice. Han Qiang, have you ordered yet?”

“We were waiting for you guys,” Han Qiang said cheerfully, walking inside and sitting next to Zheng Wentao.

By now, Li Zhichao, having recovered from his shock, also resumed a nonchalant appearance. He stuck out his neck, curled the corner of his mouth, and walked over with a forced, insincere smile. He pulled out a chair and plopped himself down grandly to the left of Su Chunfeng.

Seeing this, Feng Gang also walked over and sat down to Su Chunfeng’s right.

Thus, Su Chunfeng, who was originally supposed to be the peacemaker, due to the seating arrangement, ended up sitting in the middle like the leader of Li Zhichao and Feng Gang, directly facing Qian Jingjiang across the table.

Qian Jingjiang wore a black leather jacket with metal buttons, had a crew cut, big eyes, and a few mature-looking forehead wrinkles. He was fairly good-looking. However, at this moment, his face wore an expression of disdain and mockery. He leaned forward, rested his arms on the table, and lightly spun a white porcelain tea bowl with his right hand. Without even looking at Su Chunfeng and the other two, he said with a slight droop of his eyelids and a smile, “Thanks a lot, little brothers, for thinking so highly of me, Qian Jingjiang, and inviting me to this meal.”

As soon as these words were spoken, Li Zhichao immediately frowned and looked at Han Qiang and Zheng Wentao.

Su Chunfeng’s expression didn’t change, but inwardly he blamed himself for being careless—they had only set the location for the peace talk but hadn’t agreed in advance on who would pay the bill…

Feng Gang bit his lower lip beside him, lowering his head without a word.

Normally, in such a situation, whoever chickened out first and proposed talking peace would naturally be the one to pay. Who would have thought that halfway through, someone like Qian Jingjiang would show up—a school bully at the county’s No.1 High School, as notorious as Sun Lei. It was also Su Chunfeng’s oversight; Li Zhichao and Feng Gang were too overconfident, thinking that one fight had already scared Zheng Wentao’s group.

Now, they were stuck in an awkward position, unable to back down or move forward.

Li Zhichao gritted his teeth, curled his lips into a fierce expression, and stared at Zheng Wentao and Han Qiang. “Zheng Wentao, Han Qiang, what’s the meaning of this?”

“Just talking,” Zheng Wentao shrugged, looking pleased with himself.

Han Qiang also showed an innocent, mocking expression, emboldened and without fear. “No fight, no friendship. We’re all classmates. Having a meal to talk things over and make peace, right?”

“Damn,” Li Zhichao said with an angry face.

Qian Jingjiang raised his face, tilted his neck, and curled the corner of his mouth into a fierce, menacing smile. “What’s up, brother? Something bothering you?”

Li Zhichao didn’t make a sound.

Qian Jingjiang leaned back in his chair, tilting his neck with a threatening look on his face. “You can’t just beat people up for free, right? Coming out to talk and make peace means we can all be friends from now on, no need to keep fighting… Isn’t that good? Isn’t it only fair that you guys treat us to a meal?”

“Don’t want to live peacefully at No.1 High School anymore, huh?” Zhou Fan sneered, his tone threatening.

Just as Li Zhichao was about to say something, Su Chunfeng raised a hand to stop him. Su Chunfeng propped his arms on the table, interlocking his fingers in front of him, looking calmly at Qian Jingjiang with a slight smile. “Treating you to a meal is no problem at all, a small matter. After all, we did beat up Zheng Wentao and his guys…”

“Hey, this brother gets it,” Qian Jingjiang said, pointing at Su Chunfeng while happily glancing at Zhou Fan, Zheng Wentao, and Han Qiang.

The three of them laughed.

“Chunfeng,” Li Zhichao gritted his teeth, wanting to speak, but Su Chunfeng waved his hand to stop him again.

Su Chunfeng continued, “I was involved in the fight on the playground too. But today, I’m here to mediate. Han Qiang knows that.” As he spoke, he pointed at Han Qiang, then smiled. “So let’s be clear. After this meal, does this matter end?”

“Damn, you think just a meal will settle it?” Zhou Fan sneered, tilting his shoulder with a dismissive sound.

Qian Jingjiang leisurely lit a cigarette. “Zhou Fan and I are here to mediate too. Han Qiang is also mediating, right?” He looked at Han Qiang, then at Su Chunfeng, and smiled. “Consider this meal as treating us. Mediators shouldn’t work for free, right? Also, there were seven brothers who got beaten up. They can’t just take a beating for nothing, can they? So, you guys cough up three hundred and fifty bucks. That’s only fifty bucks each for medical expenses. Not too much, right?”

“Not too much,” Su Chunfeng said with a smile and a nod. He stood up, glanced at Han Qiang, then focused his gaze on Qian Jingjiang, still smiling. “Then let’s stop talking. Let’s keep fighting… Zhichao, let’s go.”

With that, Su Chunfeng turned and walked toward the door.

Li Zhichao was stunned for a moment, then immediately stood up. He stuck out his neck, glaring fiercely and provocatively at Qian Jingjiang and the others a couple of times before turning to leave.

Feng Gang grinned, though it was unclear if it was a bitter or triumphant smile, and got up to leave.

“Damn, I think you guys don’t want to live!” Zhou Fan slammed the table and stood up with a bang.

Su Chunfeng, who had already pulled the door open, stopped. He looked back over Feng Gang and Li Zhichao’s shoulders at the imposing Zhou Fan and the cold, stern-faced Qian Jingjiang sitting there. He said with a slight smile, “No.1 High School is such a small place. Where can anyone run off to? No need to shout and yell…”

With that, he turned and left.

Li Zhichao and Feng Gang quickly followed him out.

Inside the room.

Zhou Fan stuck out his neck, fuming. “Damn, how arrogant! Jingjiang, let’s go back right now and get people, raid their dorm!”

“Don’t rush,” Qian Jingjiang said with a cold sneer. “After evening self-study. Wait for those punks to gather their people. Then we’ll take our guys over and beat them all down! Damn bunch of freshmen brats, getting too big for their boots!” Then he turned to look at Han Qiang and Zheng Wentao. “Don’t just stand there. Order the food!”

“Jingjiang-ge, it’s… it’s too expensive to eat here…” Zheng Wentao said awkwardly.

“Yeah, maybe we should change places,” Han Qiang also said with a forced smile.

Qian Jingjiang slammed the table angrily. “Bullshit! Coming here and then changing places? If word gets out, people would laugh at us to death!”

“This…”

Qian Jingjiang ignored the two of them and called out toward the hallway, “Waiter! Order!”