NOVPUB
Chapter 18: Chapter 018 Poetry Competition
In the next two days, Sheng Tang familiarized herself with each subject and the teachers.
None of the subjects were particularly challenging for her.
Among all the teachers, Mr. Bai, who taught English, was the kindest to her, always looking out for her and giving her chances to shine in class.
The harshest to her was the homeroom teacher and language arts teacher, Teacher Chen.
In the blink of an eye, it was Friday.
Sheng Tang had been at the school for a week. Returning to campus didn’t bore her; she found studying manageable.
It felt like her body and mind had returned to her teenage years, with each day passing lightly and joyfully.
Her relationship with her deskmate Jiang Baocu also improved.
Jiang Baocu came from a wealthy family as well, but she rarely talked about her family, so Sheng Tang didn’t know what her parents did. Every day, a very low-key black sedan with a chauffeur would come to pick her up.
"Do you want to come to my house for dinner this weekend?" Sheng Tang asked her, "My mom is very interested in my school friends and wants to meet you."
"Meet me?" Jiang Baocu was both surprised and a little touched.
No classmate had ever invited her home to play before.
"My mom mainly wants to see if you might be a bad influence on me," Sheng Tang said.
Jiang Baocu: "..."
Jiang was so annoyed that she wished she could slap Sheng Tang and decided that she would go to the Sheng Family and eat all the braised pork so that Sheng Tang would go hungry!
So she accepted Sheng Tang’s invitation.
During the break after the third period at noon, homeroom teacher Teacher Chen suddenly walked in.
"Students, please return to your seats. I have an announcement before you’re dismissed." Teacher Chen’s face looked particularly unpleasant.
This teacher was always known for his bad temper.
Jiang Baocu sat up straight and sat there quietly, clearly very afraid of the homeroom teacher.
Sheng Tang also sat properly.
But Teacher Chen glanced at her.
The look was extremely sharp, falling directly on Sheng Tang’s face.
Sheng Tang was puzzled: "I didn’t cause any trouble..."
She had always been careful, even in her conflict with Feng Yijin, she hadn’t left herself any evidence.
Teacher Chen withdrew her gaze and addressed the whole class: "For this afternoon’s impromptu poetry competition, there are two students representing Class 2: Wang Haihao, and..."
She paused for a moment.
All the students’ attention turned to the middle rear of the third group, where their great talent Jiang Wei sat. She had had her modern poems published in prestigious journals.
Moreover, Jiang Wei’s father was a famous modern poet, and the president of the Beijing Writers’ Association.
Every time there was an essay or poetry contest, Jiang Wei always represented their class.
However, after a long pause, Teacher Chen announced: "Sheng Tang."
The class was in an uproar!
It was like a drop of hot oil falling into boiling water, instantly causing a splash.
The students whispered among themselves.
The great talent Jiang Wei originally thought it was a certainty and was enjoying her classmates’ compliments. Unexpectedly, it went to Sheng Tang instead. Her face was filled with unhideable embarrassment and confusion.
"Why is it Sheng Tang? Does she have any poetry?"
"Sheng Tang’s essays have never been used as model essays; Jiang Wei’s essays always are. Why would she replace Jiang Wei?"
"If we win a prize, it would bring honor to our class. Sheng Tang is robbing us of collective honor!"
"Why did Teacher Chen pick Sheng Tang instead of Jiang Wei? Is it because her family has connections?"
The students discussed fervently, and Sheng Tang heard most of it.
Jiang Baocu worried that she would feel sad and secretly squeezed her hand.
Sheng Tang smiled at her.
Some students even questioned the teacher: "Why pick Sheng Tang? Others might think all the girls in our class are ugly!"
Sheng Tang found it both funny and annoying.
Is that even a reason, classmate? You’re so unreasonable. This is a poetry competition, not a beauty pageant.
The homeroom teacher’s face grew even grimmer. She quieted the students by pressing her hands down: "This was my mistake. I accidentally swapped Sheng Tang’s student number with another student’s when registering, and didn’t double-check. It’s already submitted and can’t be changed."
She concluded, her gaze even sharper, "Sheng Tang, I hope you can bring glory to our class!"
What do you mean I hope I can bring glory to our class? I don’t want to go either, and isn’t it supposed to be two people?
Sheng Tang thought to herself: Baby feels wronged!
