Chapter 70: Sponsorship for Tuition Fees ④
She immediately called the school to ask for some parents’ phone numbers. She called a few people whose children were also in Class 10. The situation for some of their children was similar. It seemed many people were reluctant to see Nie Qiu leave Class 10.
They were all human, and they were all parents, and they were all selfish for their own children. From the conversation she had with her own child before Nie Qiu came to their restaurant to eat last time, she knew what Nie Qiu meant to these children; she was a tutor in life, and also a spiritual support.
They were the same age, and Nie Qiu’s words resonated with them, that’s all.
Every child, being able to persist in waking up early every day and going to school early to study, was just to hear that person say a few words. The day’s work begins in the morning. In this morning period, with progress, with ideas, with goals, listening to the class afterwards becomes much easier. Many children understood Nie Qiu’s importance.
So they fantasized about their study life after Nie Qiu left, finding it hard to accept, and thus felt sad, disappointed, and upset… Perhaps, for them, Nie Qiu was not just a teacher, but also a friend in spirit.
Therefore, these children felt that letting Nie Qiu go to Class 1 was for Nie Qiu’s own good, so they shouldn’t stop her or try to keep her. Letting Nie Qiu go to a better class was the best for Nie Qiu, but they were parents, and for them, their child’s growth was the most important thing!
Everyone… is selfish. Selfishness is a human nature.
Nie Qiu glanced at Nie Aifang, stood up, and bowed deeply to the people who had come, “I’m sorry, uncles and aunts, I want to study in Class 1…”
Li Shubai thought for a moment and said softly, “Nie Qiu, Class 10 is already studying very actively and diligently. When you go to Class 1, you will have to adapt to a new learning environment and new classmates. This semester only has three months left, and with the next semester, it’s less than ten months. I believe that with your effort and your grades, you will definitely be able to get into a key high school. There’s no difference between staying in Class 10 and going to Class 1.”
Luo Sheng nodded, quite agreeing with Li Shubai’s words, “How about this! Nie Qiu, if you stay in Class 10, I will cover your tuition, book fees, and stationery fees until graduation. What do you think?”
Luo Sheng’s words made Nie Qiu look up, but Nie Aifang tugged at Nie Qiu’s hand and said with a smile, “I can still afford Qiu Qiu’s tuition and other fees.”
Luo Sheng was stunned, not expecting Nie Aifang to refuse. Luo Sheng gave a bitter smile, then looked at Nie Qiu and Nie Aifang and said, “I’m sorry for making such an unreasonable request. Actually, if my son got such good grades, I would also hope he would go to Class 1 to study… Sorry.”
Nie Aifang didn’t expect Luo Sheng to apologize. She thought they would get angry if she refused them! Nie Aifang smiled and said, “We should be the ones to apologize. Thank you for thinking so highly of our Qiu Qiu.”
Li Shubai stood up, “It’s getting late, so we’ll be going now. Today… I’m truly sorry.”
Nie Aifang shook her head and also stood up, “Please drive carefully.”
Luo Sheng also stood up and said to the others, “Alright, let’s go!” The others also stood up, said goodbye to Nie Aifang and Nie Qiu, and then left.
Peng Mama held Nie Qiu’s hand and said with a smile, “Blame me! Am I very selfish, Auntie? Qiu Qiu, don’t mind it, just do what you want to do.”
Nie Qiu nodded, “Thank you, Auntie.”
Peng Mama smiled and hugged Nie Aifang, “Elder sister, I’ll be going now. Remember to come to my house for dinner when you have time.”
Nie Aifang nodded, and together with Nie Qiu, they walked Peng Mama downstairs. Peng Mama got into the car, turned the steering wheel, and drove away from the residential area.
Li Kai hung up the phone, got out of bed, changed his clothes, and went out. “Tell Dad I’m not coming back tonight when he gets home. I’m going to Ah Xu’s house to sleep.”
Luo Xu ran downstairs and bumped into Luo Sheng, who was driving into the garage. He shouted, “Dad, I’m not coming back today. I’m going to Ah Kai’s house to sleep.”
Luo Sheng turned off the engine and got out of the car. He saw Luo Xu’s back and spat fiercely, cursing, “You brat!”
Wang Chao Lei held his mobile phone and shouted, “Zhang Haiyang, can you come out or not? Ten o’clock? You wimp, you can’t come out at ten o’clock at night, can you? Hurry up, I’ll give you ten minutes.” Wang Chao Lei hung up the phone.
“Wang Chao Lei, is everyone here?” Ma Xin ran into the classroom, sweating profusely, looking around. “Who else is missing?”
“Ah Kai and that kid Xiao Yang haven’t arrived yet. Hmm… and a few classmates who live far away in the suburbs. I told them not to come, it’s too troublesome to travel back and forth in the middle of the night… Hey, Ah Kai, hurry up, hurry up, we’re waiting for you. How should we hold this farewell party? How should we do it?” As soon as Wang Chao Lei finished speaking, he saw Li Kai run into the classroom.
Luo Xu rubbed his sleepy eyes and stood up, leaving his desk. “I told my uncle I left something at school to pick up. I slipped three hundred yuan to the person outside. Keep the noise down, don’t let anyone know.”
“I understand.” Li Kai nodded and looked at the classmates in the classroom. “I believe everyone is very reluctant to part with Nie Qiu, but for her to study better, we can’t just keep her in our class. And this might be our only chance to leave her with good memories.”
The classmates in the classroom silently looked at Li Kai. Li Kai took a deep breath and said, “Classmates in Group 1, go to the tool room to get tools and water. Use steel wool to wipe off the graffiti on the walls! And on the windows too.”
Zhang Haiyang just walked into the classroom and was startled, “Ah Kai, that’s your own masterpiece you drew, you…”
“Wipe it off!” Li Kai shouted. “Classmates in Group 2, go to the 24-hour supermarket to buy balloons, spray, snow spray, colored ribbons, and other decorations. Just buy one bag of balloons.”
“Ah Kai, the chalk in the classroom is all white. We also need to buy a few boxes of colored chalk.” Luo Xu looked under the lectern and then looked up, “And gifts for Nie Qiu, stationery, schoolbags, and snacks and fruit to eat at the farewell party…”
Li Kai nodded and said to the people in the classroom, “Buy all these things as Luo Xu said. Of course, those who want to give Nie Qiu gifts privately can pay for them themselves. If you didn’t bring money in time, you can borrow from us.”
“People in Group 3, come with me to draw the two blackboards in the classroom. Zhang Haiyang will lead Group 1, Ah Xu will lead Group 2, and I will lead Groups 3 and 4.” Li Kai looked at Groups 3 and 4, “Classmates in Group 4, think about whether there are any programs, and think of something for all the classmates, then write it down. After we’re done, we’ll decide together. Of course, before that, classmates in Groups 3 and 4 will help Group 1 with the cleaning. Before Group 2 comes back with the items, we will all help Group 1 clean up. Everyone must clean their own desk of graffiti or anything else. Do you understand?!”
“Understood!”
