Chapter 21

Chapter 21

After running ten laps on the field, Chen Hansheng’s underwear was completely drenched. However, upon his return, several boys secretly gave him a thumbs up. The boys might not have fully understood the reason behind Hansheng’s actions but they were just grateful that their hairs were now protected.

Even Jin Yangming sneaked over and said in admiration, “Hansheng, the way you went up against the instructor was too awesome.”

“What do you mean?”

Chen Hansheng didn’t want to deepen the antagonism between the class and the young instructor, so he scolded loudly, “Zhu Chenglong should have tidied up his hair properly. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have to run ten laps.”

Chen Hansheng deliberately spoke loud enough for Zhu Chenglong to hear. Zhu Chenglong turned around and smiled. “Class President, I’ll treat you to dinner tonight.”

When Yang Shichao heard that, he hurriedly said, “Don’t forget about Yang Shichao.”

And thus, Chen Hansheng managed to fully resolve the matter with no hard feelings between any of the parties.

Hu Linyu had witnessed the entire incident and suddenly sensed a bigger challenge arising. Since Chen Hansheng had managed to unite the boys on his side, she only had the girls left to rely on.

Thankfully, there was no military training after dinner. Hu Linyu bought some soft drinks, desserts, and fruits before walking back to the girls’ dorm. It was all part of her plan to improve her relationship with the girls and make her desire to run for class president more apparent.

However, her method seemed too desperate to the girls and backfired on Hu Linyu.

After she left, some of the female students commented while eating the free snacks, “Hu Linyu really wants to be class president that badly, huh? She actually used this method to buy people’s hearts.”

“I know, right. Actually, I think Chen Hansheng is not that bad either. He’s very manly and didn’t he look super handsome when he was standing up to the instructor earlier?”

“Yeah, I’ll admit that he’s not bad-looking. But wouldn’t it be inconvenient to have a male class president? Do they expect us to walk all the way to the male dorm whenever we have issues?”

“That’s true. Well, for the sake of these fruits, I’ll vote for Hu Linyu to be class president.”

Chen Hansheng had not been idle either. He had bought two sets of three-dollar poker cards.

About eight or nine o’clock every night after military training, Chen Hansheng would walk around the male dorm shirtless, in flip flops, with a cigarette in his mouth and poker cards in his pocket as he knocked on the doors of his classmates and made a commotion.

“Stop sleeping. Get up! Let’s play cards!”

“Stop watching porn, we’re playing cards!”

…

At first, there were not that many people who responded. However, the moment some started to play, more would join in and fall in love with this group activity. After all, it was an era before computers and smartphones.

After two to three days, the boys were already looking forward to playing poker after military training.

Chen Hansheng would treat the boys to local drinks and other specialties during their poker nights, and never brought up the matter of class president. But even so, the boys already knew that he would be the one they wanted for the role. They would even hint to him the changes they’d like to see in the future.

And that was how Chen Hansheng and Hu Linyu each tried to gain the support of the classmates in their respective circles as the duo competed for class president. Despite the difference in tactic, both achieved similar results. But Hansheng was the one who was able to maintain his dignity and radiate the aura of a class president.

Their efforts did not happen only in the comforts of their dorms. Professor Guo usually checked in on his students every morning during their military training, though he wasn’t that committed to it as he would clock in at the same time every day and leave in less than ten minutes.

But since Guo Zhongyun was the one who would make the final decision, Hansheng and Linyu would take advantage of that less-than-ten-minute presence to maximize their chances. Hu Linyu would busy herself with correcting her classmates’ military posture; loudly reminding them to wear their military training uniforms properly; or helping those who showed signs of heatstroke to the shade.

In short, she seized every opportunity to show her enthusiasm and dedication towards the well-being of her classmates.

Chen Hansheng, on the other hand, would stand under the shade of a tree and chat with Professor Guo happily while watching Hu Linyu swing into action.

‘One must always make sure that one’s gains can compensate one’s losses,’ Chen Hansheng thought as he judged Linyu.

“Have the boys been playing poker in the dorm recently?” asked Guo Zhongyun suddenly.

Chen Hansheng calmly turned to answer the professor. “Just a puzzle-solving game.”

Professor Guo almost couldn’t hold back his laughter. This kid was too thick-skinned to call poker a puzzle-solving game. However, it was normal for university students to play cards, so he didn’t probe any further.

“I heard that on the first afternoon of military training, the boys in our class almost had a conflict with the instructor,” said Guo Zhongyun.

Chen Hansheng nodded before saying, “Everything is fine now.”

“That’s good.” Guo Zhongyun nodded too. Chen Hansheng had a way with words that very quickly convinced others.

Chen Hansheng did not ask how Professor Guo knew so much. After all, he was a long-standing professor in the department and he must have ways to know about things if he wanted to.

Ring…ring…ring…

Just as Guo Zhongyun was about to leave, his phone suddenly rang.

“It’s Friday. Kindergarten ends early today.”

…

“There’s a meeting at the school tonight, and the dean is attending it personally. I can’t be absent.”

…

“Can’t you help me deal with it? You’re always so busy at the hospital.”

…

“I already said to hire a nanny, but you’re worried about child abuse.”

…

Judging from the content of the call, it must have been Professor Guo’s wife on the other end. They must have been arguing because Guo Zhongyun had a meeting that he couldn’t turn down tonight but his wife also had to be on duty at the hospital, so neither of them could pick up their daughter.

Guo Zhongyun looked worried as he hung up his phone. For Guo Zhongyun, family always came before work.

“A call from your wife, Professor?” asked Chen Hansheng.

Guo Zhongyun frowned and nodded.

“How about I go pick up your daughter?”

Chen Hansheng didn’t bother to beat around the bush.

Guo Zhongyun looked at Chen Hansheng in surprise and then shook his head firmly. “No, you still have military training.”

“I can ask the instructor for a leave of absence,” said Chen Hansheng.

“Don’t be stupid. You’re not even familiar with Jianye.” Guo Zhongyun refused again.

“I have a relative who lives in Jianye whom I have stayed with during summer vacations before coming to university. So, I’m actually quite familiar with this city.” Chen Hansheng found another reason.

Guo Zhongyun still did not agree. At this time, his wife called again and the two ended up in another quarrel over the phone. In the end, Professor Guo hung up the phone angrily.

“Let me do it, Professor Guo.” Chen Hansheng was very insistent.

Professor Guo looked at Chen Hansheng seriously and asked, “Do you know where Gulou Kindergarten is?”

Chen Hansheng calmly asked, “Which district’s Gulou Kindergarten? Minjiang Road, Lijiang Road, or Yanjing West Road?”

“Yanjing West Road.”

Hansheng’s response reassured Professor Guo of the former’s familiarity with the city.

Chen Hansheng paused for a moment to recall his memories before saying, “From the school, you can take Road 737 and then take Road 33. There’s a duck noodle store near Gulou Kindergarten and a four-star hotel just opposite. There are some densely planted parasol trees nearby-”

Chen Hansheng had simply wanted to prove that he was indeed familiar with the city but ended up describing things in too much detail instead. Professor Guo ended up interrupting him. “Does your relative live near there?”

“Professor Guo, how did you know?”

Guo Zhongyun didn’t doubt Chen Hansheng’s familiarity with the area anymore. But he was still hesitant to entrust the duty of picking his young daughter to his student.

Chen Hansheng continued to reassure the professor. “How about this? You can contact the kindergarten teachers once I have picked up your daughter. I will inform them of my student ID. If the numbers match, then there shouldn’t be too high a chance that someone else had impersonated me, right?”

It was a good suggestion. Impersonators can easily lie about parents’ names and their occupations but not someone’s student ID.

“Here, take my phone. It’ll make it more convenient to contact you later. The meeting will be over before 7 o’clock at the latest.”

In the end, Guo Zhongyun decided to give it a try. But he had already given hiring a nanny a serious thought the next time neither he nor his wife could pick up their child.

Chen Hansheng calmly took the phone. He had to show that he was a reliable person.

Guo Zhongyun was willing to trust Chen Hansheng for three reasons. Firstly, Chen Hansheng had some pretty outstanding abilities. Secondly, Chen Hansheng had a straightforward family background – both his parents were employees of the government. And finally, Chen Hansheng was familiar with the city and would not get lost.

Before leaving, Chen Hansheng saw that Hu Linyu was still busy with class affairs. He thought to himself, she would simply prove to Professor Guo that she was a responsible student. However, if Chen Hansheng was about to help Professor Guo with his personal matters, wouldn’t this put him at a better advantage?

“I’m sorry, Linyu. Not only will I be the class president, but I will also be Professor Guo’s most trusted right-hand man. I hope that I will be able to enlighten you a little more about how society truly works.”