Chapter 467: A conversation between men

Chapter 467: Chapter 467: A conversation between men Finally, the topic was brought up, and Xiao Zhijie could no longer avoid it. Although Principal Zhang was still smiling, he kept staring at him. At this time, it was not a good idea to deny it. If the teacher asked this question, he must know something, such as the photos. 'Yes, we went together,'

Xiao Zhijie did not deny it, and Principal Zhang nodded. 'To be honest, I envy you. We didn't have the chance to go to university back then. After graduating from junior high school, we went to teacher training college. Before that, we didn't have the money or time to travel as much as you did.

After starting work, we were usually very busy, and during the summer and winter vacations, we had to help out at home, so we didn't have any time at all. Now that we're getting old, we've only seen so many places and scenery in books.'

'Teacher Zhang, you're still in your prime, you're nowhere near old! Travelling is now very easy, trains are getting faster and faster, plane tickets are getting cheaper and cheaper, and with Yiping opening hotels everywhere, if you want to go somewhere for fun, just let him know, and he'll take care of everything, from food and clothing to accommodation and transport.' Xiao Zhijie didn't dare to respond, so Wang Changning had to change the subject to Feng Yiping.

'Not just Yiping, you are all doing well, and you will all have a bright future,' Principal Zhang clinked glasses with them, "You are all grown up now, and you understand some things. As men, as parents, we can work a little harder and play a little less, it's really no big deal. As long as the family is well, as long as the children are well, men, for the family, for the children, we can even give up our lives, what's a little hardship? You agree, don't you?'

'Yes," the other two men would never voice any opposition.

Only Xiao Zhijie's face was growing more and more miserable.

'Our generation didn't have the good times you have now. We didn't have much ability or achievements. But I feel that the work I do is still meaningful. Qiuling is also doing well. She has taken over my position. After joining the workforce, she has also performed quite well.

Unlike you, she is a girl doing this job, which is quite good! Although the income is not high, it is stable, the colleagues are simple, there are many holidays, and it is also considered a respected position.

I want to do my best before I retire. I'll transfer her to the junior high school to teach English, and then I'll try to find a way to promote her to the position of head of the teaching and research group. If I can make her the director of teaching and research, I'll be more than satisfied.'

'Principal, I admire you for being willing to live a simple life and for sticking to your job at the school for decades. I'll drink a toast to you!' Xiao Zhijie was still feeling down and out, so Wang Changning had to take the lead. S~eaʀᴄh the Novёlƒire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

'Come on, Zhijie, let's drink together. You agree with what I'm saying, don't you?' Principal Zhang held up his glass and invited Xiao Zhijie.

'The principal is right,' Xiao Zhijie said hoarsely.

'However, if Qiuling is to be able to go on like I've arranged, she will need the help of her classmates. I also hope that after you leave school, you can still get along with each other like classmates. What do you say? Can you promise me this?' Principal Zhang held up his glass, but didn't drink. He looked at the two of them, mainly asking Xiao Zhijie.

'No problem,' Wang Changning said.

'I'll treat her even better than before,' Xiao Zhijie said, head bowed.

After listening, Principal Zhang paused for a moment, but then smiled, 'That's good,' and finished the drink in one go.

Without saying anything else, and without hurrying to leave, Principal Zhang followed them to the nearest Yijia and stayed the night. 'Changning, do you have a class this afternoon? If so, go back to school, and Zhijie, you stay for a while,'

Wang Changning glanced at Xiao Zhijie. Xiao Zhijie signalled for him to leave. He had come to a decision. There were some things that he still had to face on his own. 'Then you rest well, Principal. I'll come back to see you tonight. Zhijie, look after the teacher.'

After Wang Changning left, there was a moment of silence in the room. "You sit too," said Principal Zhang, taking the tea that Xiao Zhijie had prepared and rubbing his temples with his eyes closed.

When the time came, Xiao Zhijie stopped hiding. 'I know, I didn't tell her either.'

Principal Zhang looked at him with a hint of approval in his eyes. This way of handling things shows a bit of manliness. 'Tell me, when did you two start? You did a good job keeping it a secret and kept us in the dark for so long,'

In fact, they realised that it was quite a fluke. Zhang Qiuling was very careful, even to a fault. On that trip last year, the photos that came out of the washing machine included pictures of her, Huang Jingping, Yu Lian, Feng Yiping and Wang Changning, but not Xiao Zhijie. She had told her family that there were only five people on that trip.

However, over time, inevitably, some slackened. The day before yesterday, when her mother was tidying up her room, a photo fell out of a notebook on the table. It was the one of Xiao Zhijie and Zhang Qiuling at Jing'an Temple, when Xiao Zhijie learned that the family had received the admission notice and was hugging Zhang Qiuling as they twirled around. She forgot to take it with her when she went back to school.

The date was clearly written at the bottom of the photo. As soon as the principal and his wife saw it, they understood that something must have happened between their daughter and Xiao Zhijie, otherwise they would not have hidden the news from him and left behind such an intimate photo.

When Principal Zhang rushed to the town and asked the school janitor, he was able to find out that this young man had indeed come to see Zhang Qiuling several times during the weekend. When he thought about the many weekends before when his daughter had said she was going to see her classmates or staying at school instead of going home, the reason became clear: she had gone to see Xiao Zhijie.

'When I was in high school,' Xiao Zhijie said honestly, "I went to the normal school to find Zhang Qiuling many times, and it was also with her encouragement that I was able to get into the university I'm in now.'

'Now you," Zhang, the school principal, only asked a little way into the conversation, and still couldn't bring himself to ask that question.

Even if he did, Xiao Zhijie would definitely stick to his guns on this issue. How dare he admit that, just after the Chinese New Year this year, under his persistent pestering, he finally persuaded Zhang Qiuling to do what needed to be done at his home in the provincial capital?

'I'm an open-minded person too, but you're still young, and it's time to lay the foundations for the future. You're still at school, and Qiuling is also studying. These are both critical years, so I don't approve of you seeing each other too often right now.

And, as you know, I have plans for Qiuling. She is my only child. Although we raised her as a boy when she was little, she is still a girl after all. Her mother and I don't want her to be too far away from us, so we hope that she can find someone who works in town.'

Now that the ice had been broken, Xiao Zhijie simply changed his address, 'Uncle, with such convenient transportation nowadays, it doesn't really matter if it's in town or not.'

Principal Zhang didn't think that these few words would stop these young people in love. 'When I was at school, I also rarely sought out the parents of my students. Today is no different. This is a conversation between men. I hope you can also appreciate the difficulties of a father.

To reiterate what I just said, I hope that you can still get along like classmates, and don't cross the line. It's fine to talk on the phone normally, but running back and forth between the two places on weekends is a waste of time and money, and it's not safe.

When you go back, I'll keep an eye on Qiuling, and you, don't bother her again.'

Xiao Zhijie immediately became anxious. He had just tasted the sweetness of love, and how could they hold back? 'Uncle, it's just like when we were in high school. When we met, we could encourage each other, and actually study more effectively.'

'You just turned 21 this year, and you feel like you've grown up, but in fact, there are many things you don't understand, and you haven't thought things through thoroughly. For now, that's it. I won't let Qiuling come looking for you, and you shouldn't bother her.'

'Uncle, I understand your actions. I understand that your arrangements and plans are all for Qiu Ling's own good,' Xiao Zhijie knew that there was no point in rushing things, 'but as you also know, times have changed. In your time, being able to become a teacher was a very good choice, but now—and I don't mean this in a disparaging way at all—being a teacher in a small town, even if it's true what you said later, that she became the principal of the town's middle school, is that necessarily the best choice? Is it a choice that Qiu Ling herself is willing to make?'

'Yes, this is a wonderful era, with many opportunities and choices. But for her, as a girl, we don't expect her to bring honour to the family, just to have a stable and decent job in the town. A warm and beautiful family is enough,' said Principal Zhang.

Xiao Zhijie almost said, 'I've decided. After I graduate, I'll find a way to teach in the town too. But it's hard to say that out loud. Saying it is a promise, and if I can't do it, Principal Zhang will definitely be even more dissatisfied.

If he did, how could his parents be satisfied? He had finally managed to get into university, but now he had to go back to the town? Even if he went out with Zhang Qiuling later, how would his parents like her?

The conversation came to an end. They had both made their points clear, but neither had convinced the other.

After leaving the hotel, he still couldn't find the best solution. He couldn't agree to Zhang's arrangement. He joked that he would just have to keep calling her, but how could he bear not seeing her in person?

Agree first and then secretly meet? Not good either. President Zhang has been talking about manly men today, emphasising responsibility. How can he do something like that?

He was at his wit's end. He discussed it with Wang Changning, who also couldn't think of anything for the moment. Call Zhang Qiuling and let her argue with her family? Even worse!

So in the end, he dialled Feng Yiping's phone.

Feng Yiping was surprised to hear what Xiao Zhijie had said. He knew that Xiao Zhijie was actually a very determined person, and this was the first time he had asked him for help with a problem. However, this matter was quite troublesome!