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Chapter 576: Chapter 369 Internal and External Troubles_2
Jiang Ning didn’t want her to know about Hu Qi Mountain yet, if she really saw such a Spiritual Land, Xue Yuantong might figure something out, but it was still too early for that.
"Wait for me to come back, aren’t you happy just waiting to eat?"
Xue Yuantong, "Eating something you caught yourself feels more participatory."
Jiang Ning couldn’t be bothered to respond.
After hearing about eating crabs, Xue Yuantong was beside herself with excitement, as crabs were considered a delicacy in her family.
These days, crabs weren’t cheap, casually buying a few could cost dozens, even hundreds!
The last time Xue Yuantong ate crabs, it was Jiang Ning who had caught them by the river.
That time, with three crabs, she had eaten two and a half.
That was proof enough of her fondness.
Seeing that Jiang Ning was still ignoring her, she pouted and said, "If you won’t let me catch them, I won’t cook them for you."
Jiang Ning laughed, now that was a terrifying threat.
...
The second class of evening self-study, Gao Heshuai’s math class.
Gao Heshuai started on new content, and the students listening were listless, many fought back sleepiness and listened with sheer willpower.
Gao Heshuai glanced around sinisterly at the students, and nonchalantly introduced a very difficult problem.
Then, he said to everyone, "Got that one, right? Can you solve a similar problem on your own? If you got it, we’ll move on to the next."
A student replied, "Got it, got it."
Brother Gang followed up, from his experience in school, giving such a perfunctory answer was usually safe.
But Gao Heshuai didn’t play by the rules, and he called on Duan Shigang,
"Come on, explain how this problem is solved?"
Damn, Brother Gang had no clue, he hadn’t been in school for half a year and didn’t understand anything.
Gao Heshuai scowled and barked, "Go stand at the back!"
Duan Shigang felt numb inside, goddamn, how could a teacher be so sinister?
Duan Shigang struggled past Pang Jiao, like wading through a sewer full of sludge, all the way to the back of the classroom.
Gao Heshuai threw the textbook onto the lectern, "Look at you, just look at you!"
"One after another, you all look like you’re dead!"
Gao Heshuai’s voice reverberated loudly, and Wu Xiaoqi at the very back was sleeping soundly, rudely awakened by the noise.
Feeling groggy, he found the lights unbearably bright.
He reached out, slapped the light switch off, and went right back to sleep.
...
Wu Xiaoqi and Duan Shigang stood at the back of the classroom for the entirety of the class.
Having a companion, they didn’t feel so lonely.
During the big break in the evening self-study.
A boy appeared at the entrance of classroom 8, calling Jiang Yanan out.
Cui Yu stared straight at him.
"Brother Gui, Yanan’s been called out again!"
Meng Gui slowly recited a scripture, "So what?"
"She was the woman you once loved!" Cui Yu shook him.
Meng Gui said, "He’s the woman you love now."
Cui Yu gave up on Meng Gui and moved to the back to find Wang Longlong, and learned that the boy came from Class 5 of the freshman year, and he had attended the same middle school as Jiang Yanan.
Wang Longlong also mentioned that since school started, that boy appeared at the entrance of Class 8 four times, each time calling Jiang Yanan out.
Outside of school, Wang Longlong had once coincidentally seen them together, judging from their walking gap, they were not yet boyfriend and girlfriend.
Armed with this info, Cui Yu immediately thought of a devious plan, and he found Duan Shigang.
"Brother Gang, what do you think of our Class 8?" Cui Yu started.
Duan Shigang pondered and said, "I really like Class 8."
His first encounter in Class 8 hadn’t been pleasant, but after spending two days there, he found the male students were very friendly, especially the enthusiastic Cui Yu.
Different from other boys he had met before, he could see that Cui Yu was a very outstanding student with high EQ and adept thinking; in ancient times, such people were the strategists.
If Duan Shigang could bring him under his command, the next two years of high school would surely be a lot of fun.
Not just Cui Yu, another one, Zhang Chi, from minimal contact, Duan Shigang judged, this person was truly extraordinary, brave and strategic with lofty ambitions.
Having such talents in Class 8 made Duan Shigang extremely satisfied, not to mention the many beautiful girls.
Heroes, beauties, all in one place!
Hearing his answer, Cui Yu said seriously, "Brother Gang, that guy from Class 5 just called Jiang Yanan out."
"Do you get my drift?"
Duan Shigang got it as soon as he heard it, and he was annoyed, "Hitting on girls from our class 8?" 𝓃𝓸𝓿𝓹𝓾𝓫.𝓬ℴ𝓶
Moreover, Jiang Yanan was the girl he had his eye on!
Cui Yu fanned the flames, "Exactly, exactly, Brother Gang, what do we do now?"
Duan Shigang furrowed his brows in thought but couldn’t come up with a plan.
Cui Yu cursed inwardly, ’As expected, can’t rely on him. I’ll have to do it myself, try to make the best use of this waste.’
"Brother Gang, like this, you’re close to Jiang Yanan, so keep a closer watch on things from now on, first figure out the other party’s tactics, we can’t let class 8’s girls be snatched away by other classes." Cui Yu laid out the plan simply.
Duan Shigang, "Yes, leave it to me."
As the two were talking, Zhang Chi came over, and from what he had gathered, he found out that Duan Shigang had worked outside for a few months, saved quite a bit of money, and was quite generous, even treating him to a bottle of ice-cold Fanta that afternoon.
’He’s someone I could borrow money from,’ Zhang Chi concluded.
He chatted with Duan Shigang for a bit, deliberately flattering him, with laughter occasionally ringing out, quite pleased with himself!
Duan Shigang felt the same, especially over the past few days. Pang Jiao hadn’t bothered him, and he had made friends with Cui Yu and Zhang Chi. Although Cui Yu and Zhang Chi often clashed over differing views.
Duan Shigang watched all this, happy at heart, his underlings should be in conflict and competing against each other, then it was easier for him to control.
...
The next morning, Duan Shigang arrived at class 8 early, it had been a long time since he’d attended school, and now he actually missed it.
Not long after he sat down, he saw a boy rush to the door, carrying breakfast, putting it into Jiang Yanan’s desk slot, and then walking off without looking back.
Duan Shigang withdrew his gaze; this person was likely the guy from other classes Cui Yu mentioned.
He urgently contacted Cui Yu.
On the other end, Cui Yu had just gotten up, "Brother Gang, first control the breakfast situation, I’ll handle it when I get back!"
A few seconds later, he sent another message, "Don’t wait for me, leave it to Zhang Chi."
Duan Shigang nonchalantly pulled out the breakfast, looking at the cowpeas porridge, fried buns, corn, and tea eggs.
Handle it... Duan Shigang certainly wouldn’t eat it; he had his King’s aura.
He put the breakfast in his own desk slot, waiting for classmate Zhang Chi to return.
When Zhang Chi arrived, Duan Shigang picked up the breakfast, "Chi Zi, haven’t eaten yet, have you?"
Zhang Chi saw the breakfast in his hand, and a thought of surprise arose, "Haven’t eaten yet."
Duan Shigang handed over the breakfast, "Chi Zi, this is for you."
Zhang Chi was first overjoyed, then touched. Brother Gang had treated him to a drink yesterday, and now breakfast today, this man was a benefactor indeed!
He quickly devoured the breakfast, and in his eagerness to finish the porridge, he tore open the plastic cup’s seal and used a straw to push out the cowpeas.
Duan Shigang, seeing Zhang Chi’s behavior, was very satisfied.
Cui Yu arrived at the classroom, Duan Shigang clapped his hands lightly, casually saying, "All taken care of."
Cui Yu admired, "Brother Gang, you’re capable!"
Duan Shigang looked pleased, after all, Jiang Yanan was the woman he had his eyes on; he certainly put in effort.
But when Jiang Yanan arrived later, Duan Shigang saw Dong Qingfeng brought a load of breakfast, distributing a portion to each person.
"Internal and external troubles, huh?" Duan Shigang sighed deeply.
He looked at Dong Qingfeng with displeasure, initially changing seats was just for his entertainment.
Now seeing Jiang Yanan and her friends happily accepting the breakfast, Duan Shigang decided to find Cui Yu to discuss strategies.
After class, the two gathered, "What do you think about Dong Qingfeng?"
Cui Yu had been unhappy for a while, "He’s sinister, pandering to Yu Wen and Shen Qing’e, they are friends of Jiang Yanan, his intentions are condemnable, Brother Gang, be careful!"
Duan Shigang declared, "Then I’ll really fight him!"
Cui Yu saw his aggressive stance and was very satisfied, "Not too fond of fighting."
Duan Shigang felt it was tricky too; he couldn’t possibly deliver breakfast to a few girls personally the way Dong Qingfeng did; it’s too lowering of his own style.
"What do you think?" he inquired.
Cui Yu pondered, "I actually have a plan."
Duan Shigang, "Let’s hear it."
...
Friday afternoon.
Riding home, as night fell, entering the river dam in the countryside from the neon-lit city felt like arriving in another world.
There were many people running and walking on the river dam, elderly people briskly walking while holding small speakers, and the up-and-down tones of opera sounded.
Sitting in the back, Xue Yuantong said, "Tomorrow, I want to invite Chuchu over."
Jiang Ning, "Sure."
Silence fell for a few seconds, Xue Yuantong blinked, "Jiang Ning, don’t you welcome Chuchu?"
