At the centennial school celebration, Lin Fan became a cautionary tale, a typical failure, receiving criticism from everyone. It seemed like everyone felt superior in front of Lin Fan.
Senior Brother Meng and Principal Zhao used Lin Fan as an example to counsel the students to strive hard, lest they end up like Lin Fan, who must have been playing games all day in college, lacked professional skills, and thus couldnât find a good job after graduation and had to work as a delivery person.
The students nodded in agreement, thinking they must never be like Lin Fan. How embarrassing it would be to be a delivery person; it would bring shame to Tianhai Middle School.
Lai Xiaomei glanced at Lin Fan with a trace of sentiment in her eyes, a sentiment looking down from above. Back in junior high, Lin Fanâs grades were once better than hers, but he kept going downhill, and the gap between them widened. Today, itâs like one is in heaven and the other in hell; she is a successful businesswoman, while Lin Fan delivers food.
Seeing Lin Fan being mocked by the crowd made Liu Qiang feel quite smug.
"Look at yourself, Lin Fan. You are such a failure. Why havenât you left yet? If it were me, Iâd have no face to stick around," Liu Qiang laughed.
Lai Xiaoming chimed in, "Itâs one thing to be poor, but he sure has thick skin! Principal Zhao, although I am not your student, as a relative of my sister, Iâd like to suggest that having a failure like Lin Fan at the centennial celebration is an insult to the school. I propose to expel Lin Fan!"
After speaking, Lai Xiaoming looked at Lin Fan with a sinister smile; after all, Lin Fan had offended him before, and he wanted to ruin Lin Fan!
Lai Xiaomingâs suggestion was undoubtedly venomous, deeply humiliating. If Lin Fan is indeed expelled, heâll forever be a laughingstock nailed to the pillar of shame.
Graduated from Tianhai Middle School and became a delivery person, must one suffer such degradation?
It indeed is.
The students were already nodding, showing their agreement. They did not want Lin Fan, a failure, appearing again at the celebration, lowering its stature.
Liu Qiang clapped and laughed, "This proposal is great, truly great. This is how it should be done. Someone like Lin Fan, who is disgraceful, should not be welcomed at the celebration."
Senior Brother Meng chuckled, "Junior Sister Lai, you have the most special relationship with Junior Brother Lin Fan. What do you think? Should Junior Brother Lin Fan stay?"
Lai Xiaomei promptly replied, "Senior Brother Meng, I donât understand what you mean by the most special relationship. At most, we were classmates for three years in junior high; otherwise, thereâs no relationship, so donât misunderstand. As for whether he should stay, thatâs not up to me to say; itâs up to the principal."
Lai Xiaomeiâs words were quite clear; she didnât intend to speak up for Lin Fan; in fact, she seemed to wish they werenât classmates in junior high at all.
Principal Zhao was a little embarrassed.
He had actually hinted before that Lin Fan should leave because he thought being a delivery person tarnishes the prestigious image of the centennial school.
But now, in front of everyone, he couldnât be the villain, or heâd definitely invite criticism.
"Everyone calm down. Lin Fan, as a negative example, has shown everyone the importance of hard work, and that can be considered a contribution. Moreover, the school celebrationâs purpose is to welcome all former students back, regardless of their current situation. We canât say to drive someone away just because they arenât doing well; itâs not the schoolâs intent." Principal Zhao spoke righteously.
He then continued, "Of course, if Lin Fan wants to leave on his own, the school wonât stop him. The celebration is very free for former students from outside, with freedom to come and go."
Principal Zhaoâs words made it quite clear that he hoped Lin Fan would be sensible and leave on his own because the school would not expel anyone; if Lin Fan leaves by himself, it wonât count as expulsion.
Liu Qiang sneered, "Lin Fan, why havenât you left? How do you have the face to stay? If I were you, Iâd have no face to remain!"
"He really has a thick skin!"
"Why bother? He shouldnât have come at all, becoming a cautionary lesson!"
"Really, where does he get the courage to attend the celebration?"
"Leave, just leave quickly, isnât it humiliating enough?"
"Heâs disgraced the school completely; if word gets to neighboring schools, weâll surely be laughed at for having graduates who work as delivery persons!"
"Exactly, he shouldnât have come in the first place."
The crowd chatted continuously.
The overwhelming sentiment was hoping Lin Fan would leave.
"Enough!"
A loud shout!
The speaker was Little Ling.
Watching everyone treat Lin Fan like this, Little Ling couldnât bear it anymore, and she was the only one standing up for Lin Fan, speaking for him.
"I mean, is this necessary? So what if Lin Fan delivers food? Does it deserve such criticism from you? You are too insulting! I really didnât expect you to act this way. I used to be proud of my alma mater, but now I feel ashamed because you clearly donât understand respect!"
Jia Xiaoling scolded.
The entire scene quieted, everyone was looking at Jia Xiaoling for a while.
Jia Xiaoling, overly angry, couldnât help but speak out.
Now drawing everyoneâs attention, Jia Xiaoling suddenly felt a little timid.
"Oh, who is this junior sister? Youâre a junior sister, right, or a senior sister?" Senior Brother Meng curiously asked.
Liu Qiang replied, "Senior Brother Meng, sheâs called Jia Xiaoling; donât let her fool you, she looks like Auntie, but she was also my classmate, and by age, your junior sister."
Senior Brother Meng smiled, "So itâs Junior Sister. She does look a bit hasty."
The scene burst into laughter.
Liu Qiang said, "Saying she looks hasty is one thing, but the main reason is she got married and had kids very early, and itâs all worn her down. Sheâs actually doing worse than Lin Fan. Oh, I mean, she suits Lin Fan well; together, theyâre a pair of negative examples."
Senior Brother Meng "Ohâd" and said, "Is that so? Junior Sister Jia, is there something troubling you that has worn you down like this?"
Liu Qiang said, "She didnât get into university after high school, so her family wouldnât let her continue studying. Her family was poor, so the money was saved to educate her younger siblings. She went out to work and got married in just two years. Her husband was also penniless, initially running a small business, but the business failed, leaving a huge debt. Theyâve been busy paying it off all these years. Sheâs unskilled, only grows vegetables at home to sell for some money, which isnât enough to pay off the debt..."
Hearing Liu Qiangâs words, everyone was stunned; Jia Xiaolingâs plight sounded too miserable.
Even Lin Fan, who had remained silent, showed an expression of surprise because he had just learned about this.
"Stop it! Liu Qiang, I beg you to stop!" Jia Xiaoling said tearfully, interrupting Liu Qiang, her eyes reddening.
Liu Qiang laughed, "Why? Jia Xiaoling, you donât want everyone to know about your situation? Youâre also a student of this school. Today is the centennial celebration day, sharing your experiences is nothing. Lin Fan has already become a caution to teach the students."
"So foolish!"
Lai Xiaomei suddenly said; looking at Jia Xiaoling, "Youâre really foolish, getting married and having kids so early has completely ruined your life!"