Chapter 6: An Endless Well of Writing Material

In the days that followed, everyone gradually realized that Brother Fang was serious this time. He paid close attention in class, furiously worked through problems after school, quit smoking, stopped roaming around with his gang, and would sit at his desk all day long.

Not only were the remaining twelve fledgling eagles stunned, even the homeroom teacher, Old Fang, began to worry about his mental health.

“Xinghe, in my heart, you’ve always been a good kid...”

The conversation began cautiously. Old Fang took a long time to express his understanding and fondness for Fang Xinghe, then gently inquired, “Is something troubling you lately? I see you’ve started practicing calligraphy... Don’t let others’ opinions make you quarrel with yourself. You should find a way to vent your feelings, though the method is negotiable, of course...”

Fang Xinghe looked up, returning a particularly strange gaze.

“I’m not going to fight anymore. Are you disappointed?”

“Not at all! Absolutely not!”

Old Fang hurriedly waved his hands, trying to clarify: “I’ve always been against violence. I worry every time you get into a fight. But, well, occasional fights aren’t necessarily that violent. In a way, they can even be good for your body and mind...”

“I think I get it now.”

Fang Xinghe suddenly understood.

Old Fang nodded happily: “Really? That’s good. Your teacher is quite open-minded.”

Rolling up his sleeves, Fang Xinghe looked resolute: “Just tell me honestly, who do you want me to take on?”

“Ah?!”

Old Fang was completely dumbfounded, his eyes wide and mouth agape.

Wait, kid, who taught you reading comprehension?

Oh, it was me.

But did I teach you this way?!

“Pfft!”

Fang Yuting, who had quietly sneaked over to eavesdrop, burst out laughing and sat down beside Lu Tingting, slapping her thigh.

The mischievous boy winked at them, then reined in his grin and said seriously, “Teacher Fang, don’t worry about me. I’m really fine. I just want to take on a new challenge.”

“You little rascal!”

Old Fang was so angry he put his hands on his hips, but within seconds, he was laughing at himself.

“Are you really going to study properly? This is too sudden.”

“What else?” Fang Xinghe spread his hands arrogantly. “I’ve already flattened the whole school. I can’t very well take them to fight for turf in the streets, can I?”

“That’s definitely not allowed. Don’t even think about it!”

Old Fang was startled again, a look of terror flashing across his round face, afraid he might go astray.

Fang Yuting leaned in and whispered softly, “Don’t do bad things. No being a bad guy, or neither Tingting nor I will talk to you anymore!”

Fang Xinghe glanced at the petite girl, about five feet tall and equally flat all around, and sneered.

Who are you trying to scare?

You two combined wouldn’t even make one A+ grade. I wouldn’t even accept you if you offered yourselves. And yet, you think you’re goddesses?

So ordinary, yet so confident.

But on the other hand, these two girls—one with an oval face, the other with a round one—had delicate features, fair skin, small heads, and pretty faces. No wonder so many boys liked them.

“Okay, okay, I won’t go messing around. But you’ve got to handle some trouble for me, alright?”

Fang Xinghe calmed down and began to bargain with the homeroom teacher.

“What trouble?”

“See which of my little brothers and sisters still need saving, grab them by the collar, and force them to study more. I’m definitely going to a top-tier high school. I can’t just watch them be streamed off to technical secondary schools.”

“That’s all? Fine, I agree!”

Old Fang was very relieved and sighed, “I really didn’t misjudge you. You’ve always been a good kid...”

Fang Xinghe curled his lip, once again feeling the strangeness of the times.

Smoking, drinking, gang fights, collecting protection fees—if this were the future, he’d be condemned to death as a bullying ringleader. And yet, here, they called me a good kid?

Of course, Fang Xinghe admitted he wasn’t truly bad.

For some reason, there were so many delinquents in this era—both inside and outside school. Weak kids being bullied was the norm. If you didn’t want to be bullied, you either had to study hard or grow a backbone and fight back fiercely.

Fang Xinghe had done just that—rising to become the eagle-headed wolf king.

There was an unspoken rule in school: gangsters could fight freely among themselves but wouldn’t bully classmates or trouble good students.

The higher-ranking big brothers protected their own classes.

Good kids might avoid them, but many outstanding girls liked these “big brothers.”

As for the protection fees, it was more accurate to say that some wealthy kids who were often bullied sought out a protector, offering treats, comic books, game consoles, or even money in exchange for shelter.

Being merely rich was of little use in this Northeastern era; you couldn’t judge it by future standards.

Fang Xinghe was loyal and righteous, standing up for classmates without bullying others. So although his reputation outside was notorious, inside the class he was well respected.

Fang Yuting was a prime example.

After Old Fang left, she shyly scooted over to Fang Xinghe, trying to strike up a conversation.

“Fang Xinghe, are you entering the New Concept Composition Contest?”

“Yeah.”

“What did you write about? Can I see it?”

“No.”

“Oh... then can you look at mine? I struggled a lot writing it. Every time I reread it, it feels off.”

“Sis, your dad is a Chinese teacher.”

“He’s useless! He doesn’t understand us young people. Fang Xinghe, do you not like me anymore?”

Fang Xinghe’s vision darkened.

Good grief, can someone teach me how to handle these little girls who haven’t even grown their first fuzz yet?

Though she’s only thirteen, and so am I—technically legal...

Ah, no, no!

I’m not saying that—I’m really just annoyed.

Fang Xinghe covered his forehead, glanced at the quietly silent Lu Tingting, and suddenly decided to let them fight it out themselves.

“Lu Tingting, if I like her, I can’t like you anymore. You’re the thirteenth sister of the Eagle Clan—go get her!”

“Fang Xinghe!”

Fang Yuting stomped her feet in anger, puffing up cutely.

But Lu Tingting was too uncompetitive. She pressed her lips together, smiled shyly, and whispered, “We’re good sisters. Even if we both like you, we won’t fight. Besides, we don’t even like you, right, Yuting?”

“Right! Of course!”

The two little girls hugged each other again, close as conjoined twins, giggling once more.

Wow, is my original blond charm really that insignificant?

But clearly it wasn’t...

These two little girls kept looking at me and smiling, their tacit understanding nearly perfect. What was wrong?

This was another thing Fang Xinghe couldn’t understand, but he didn’t dwell on confusion. Instead, he started writing it down.

Everything happening at this moment, and its impact, could spark brilliant ideas through his future-oriented mindset, becoming precious material for his writing.

Since deciding to start his star journey with writing, Fang Xinghe never intended to simply copy a hit book from the future just to get by.

Whether you remember it is one thing; whether it fits is another.

Most importantly, the work you produce must possess a quality that blends with the era yet stands out sharply and piercingly.

This wasn’t something a popular book could solve.

You had to do it yourself, with genuine passion.

Next year, if the buzz takes off smoothly, nobody will be able to stop me from driving my bulldozer and flinging mud across the whole era.

For my first book, I’ll make you all kneel and weep!