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Zhao Feng was not stingy; he immediately took out five large bills and handed them to Wang Hai, saying casually, "Thank you, Brother Wang, for helping me out. Impulsiveness is the devil, take this small amount and buy some cigarettes to calm down."
Wang Hai smiled broadly, quickly accepted the money, and replied, "You're being too polite. From now on, you're like a little brother to me. If anyone dares to mess with you in the morning market, just mention my name. I'll make sure to get you the best stall. Let's go."
The two walked arm-in-arm, chatting and laughing with cigarettes in their mouths, blending into the crowd.
Black Dog and his two companions were stunned, watching the two walk away, heads drooping in defeat.
"Bro, how did you mess with such a crazy guy? You went too far," one of the companions said.
"This kid is no simple character. He got close to Wang Hai with just a few words. He's got connections," Black Dog said, staring up at the sky, teeth gritted. "This kid's a tough one, definitely not someone to mess with. We've hit a wall this time. Let's avoid him in the future."
Zhao Feng's parents had been watching from the crowd, observing how decisively Zhao Feng handled the situation with Black Dog, solving a big problem and getting compensation, while also becoming close with Wang Hai and securing a good spot in the market.
"Meizi, when did Xiao Feng start smoking? I didn't know about this," Zhao Changhe asked.
"How would I know? I'm just a housewife," Zhou Qingmei replied.
The couple exchanged glances, their expressions strange. Zhao Feng's behavior had changed drastically. He was no longer the shy, timid boy he used to be—now he was assertive and sharp, a stark contrast.
"Xiao Feng seems to have grown up, doesn't he?" Zhou Qingmei said with a hint of sadness.
"Yeah, smoking, and now with a girlfriend... He's changing too fast. We'll have to teach him a good lesson when we get home," Zhao Changhe nodded.
The couple agreed—they would teach Zhao Feng a lesson as soon as they got home to prevent him from going down the wrong path again.
Wang Hai had arranged a prime stall for Zhao Feng at the morning market. When the previous stall owner saw Zhao Feng, he shrank back in fear and immediately vacated the spot without a word, not daring to hesitate.
Wang Hai left after giving Zhao Feng the spot, and Zhao Feng went to fetch the remaining box of eggs from his tricycle.
Zhao Feng's parents finally showed up, helping him set up the stall. Zhou Qingmei took charge of watching over it.
Zhao Changhe pulled Zhao Feng aside, grabbed the cigarette from his mouth, and stomped it out.
"When did you start smoking? Do you know it's bad for your health?" Zhao Changhe scolded sternly.
"Cough, cough, cough," Zhao Feng coughed, frustrated. "I kept falling asleep while studying late at night, so I started smoking to stay awake. I know it's bad for my health."
Zhao Changhe patted his son on the shoulder, sighing, "Quit smoking for your health. Your dad supports you."
Zhao Feng was dumbfounded, almost ready to explode. How could his dad be so hypocritical? He smoked all the time and had never said anything about quitting. But now, when it came to his son, he was suddenly so strict.
Zhao Feng reluctantly nodded, "I know, I'll quit. You should smoke less too. Smoking is bad for your health."
By 9 AM, the market had wrapped up, and all the eggs were sold. The family returned home to rest.
Zhou Qingmei counted the money and muttered, "Two boxes of eggs sold for six hundred, but we broke six boxes."
Zhao Feng took out a wad of bills and tossed them in front of Zhou Qingmei. "Black Dog caused trouble, so he had to pay five thousand for the eggs. I gave five hundred to the manager, and the rest is here. Mom, count it."
Zhou Qingmei's eyes lit up as she eagerly counted the money, checking it three times. "Today's income is five thousand one hundred. Adding the money from selling eggs yesterday, we've made almost six thousand. That's enough for next year's university tuition."
Zhao Changhe counted the money and nodded in satisfaction. "When did Xiao Feng start learning how to fight? He's starting to go down the wrong path."
Zhao Feng awkwardly replied, "Black Dog's just a dog. I fight with the big yellow dog every day, so I'm good at fighting dogs."
Zhao Changhe said, "Don't fool me. It's easy to go down the wrong path, but hard to go down the right one. If you fight again, I'll discipline you. Consider this a warning, but no more chances after this."
Zhou Qingmei added, "Your dad just wants what's best for you. Do you remember your uncle? He was so good at fighting that he could take on eight people at once. He's still in prison, eating pickled vegetables every day and hasn't come out yet."
Zhao Feng lowered his head, admitting his mistake. "I understand. I won't fight anymore. I'll focus on reasoning and peace."
Zhou Qingmei handed him a hundred-dollar bill, placing it in his hand. "Good son, you have a bright future ahead. Don't let fighting ruin it. Your tuition is covered. Don't come to the market with us tomorrow. Your dad and I will go. Here's a hundred for pocket money. Go meet that tall girl and go play at the park."
Zhao Feng yawned and turned to walk back to his room. "Tomorrow's the college entrance exam score prediction. I'll meet her at the park. I'm not coming back for lunch."
The couple exchanged a satisfied glance, whispering to each other and occasionally laughing.
Three days after the college entrance exam, the results were released.
In the morning.
The classroom was packed, and the students eagerly awaited the results. Everyone had taken off their uniforms and were showing off their new selves.
The girls were dressed in colorful skirts and pretty sandals, radiating youthful energy.
The boys had changed their hairstyles, wearing branded sportswear and brand-new sneakers, looking bright and handsome.
Zhao Feng hadn't changed much—his demeanor was calm and reserved. He wore a simple white T-shirt, jeans, and white shoes, looking very ordinary.
Huang Qiaoqiao had her hair in a braid, wearing a white T-shirt, denim pants, and white shoes—simple but matching with Zhao Feng.
The two of them sat together, looking a bit like a couple, which made them feel a little awkward.
Countless eyes were focused on them, but Zhao Feng, with his thick skin, didn't mind at all.
Huang Qiaoqiao's face flushed, and she became restless, whispering in a low voice.
"Xiao Feng, did you do that on purpose? Are you trying to match with me?"
"It's a misunderstanding. I didn't know what you were wearing today. I usually dress like this," Zhao Feng said, feeling a bit aggrieved.
Suddenly, Bai Jiaxin appeared from behind them, smiling mischievously. "What a beautiful misunderstanding! You two are clearly meant to be together, born to be a couple. It's so enviable."
Huang Qiaoqiao blushed even more, flustered. "Bad Xiaobai, why did you suddenly show up? You scared me to death."
Zhao Feng teased, "This is called 'getting close to the water's edge first.'"
Bai Jiaxin sat down at their table, smiling brightly. "So, how did the scores go? Let's see if we can get into a good university."
Huang Qiaoqiao whispered, "Not too high, around 680."
Bai Jiaxin raised her thumb and praised, "Impressive! I'm only expecting 660."
Zhao Feng smiled. "I'm predicting 700. Do you believe me?"
Bai Jiaxin and Huang Qiaoqiao exchanged glances, then both playfully hit Zhao Feng, saying in unison, "You're full of it."
Zhao Feng lay back in his chair, annoyed. "I can't even boast anymore. You two just hit me for it."
Jin Fuguo walked over with a grin. "Hey, Feng Ge, you're so lucky. Let me get in on the fun. I'm estimating 660 too, am I impressive or what?"
Zhao Feng laughed. "You're overestimating yourself. Bai Jiaxin only expects 660. Watch out, you might make a mistake with your choice of school!"