Chapter Thirty-Six: Writing at Teacher Li’s Home

"What? You want to sign up for the school sports meet, and you're registering for four events at once: the 100 meters, 200 meters, 5000 meters, and the 400-meter relay?" The class leader was already shocked when Zhou Xuan expressed his intention to participate in the sports meet. But the real surprise came next—Zhou Xuan was signing up for all four events at once.

The class leader was at a loss. He and the homeroom teacher had spent ages trying to persuade Zhou Xuan, but he hadn't budged. And now, after just one night, everything had changed so dramatically. He wondered who had managed to convince Zhou Xuan—could it be someone in particular? His gaze unconsciously drifted toward Liu Yixue, the campus belle, and he couldn't help but marvel at her charm.

Fortunately, Zhou Xuan was unaware of what the class leader was thinking. Otherwise, he'd surely have said: rumors are truly terrifying.

"Since I've agreed to participate at Teacher Li's request, I should display my strongest side. It's the last sports meet anyway, so let me win a few more first places for Class Six," Zhou Xuan thought to himself.

That afternoon, Zhou Xuan made a point of discussing his participation in the sports meet and his need for leave with his homeroom teacher, Mr. Liu. Teacher Li already knew about his manuscript submission, but Zhou Xuan needed an official note from his homeroom teacher to leave the campus, making Mr. Liu unavoidable. As his homeroom teacher, Mr. Liu couldn't hide it either.

When the opportunity arose, Zhou Xuan hoped to move out and live elsewhere; staying on campus was truly inconvenient.

At first, Mr. Liu refused, but finally, with Teacher Li's testimony and Zhou Xuan's promise to remain in the top three of the grade in every monthly exam, he agreed to let Zhou Xuan go to Teacher Li's place on Monday and Friday afternoons or evenings, when there were no important classes, to use the computer for his manuscripts.

Thinking about the computer, Zhou Xuan couldn't stand another minute in the classroom. That afternoon, he got his exit note from Mr. Liu and then sought out Li Yunxi, hoping to go to his house to work on his manuscript.

Li Yunxi had no classes that afternoon, so he brought Zhou Xuan to his residence.

Li Yunxi lived near Second High School, just a five-minute walk away.

They arrived at a relatively new six-story building. Li Yunxi said, "Zhou Xuan, I live in Unit 1, Room 302. I'll have a key made for you so it's convenient for you to come over in the future."

"Thank you, Teacher Li." Zhou Xuan was deeply grateful to Li Yunxi and resolved that if he could ever help Teacher Li in return, he would never refuse.

Inside Room 302, they entered the study, where a computer sat quietly atop the desk.

"Zhou Xuan, this is my computer. I just bought it a month ago—pretty good, right?" Li Yunxi gestured toward the machine.

Looking at the still-new CRT monitor, Zhou Xuan felt nostalgic. He remembered using a second-hand monitor like this in college, unable to afford a flat-screen back then.

He commented, "This configuration is top-notch for this era."

"Absolutely. I had a friend help me pick it out, but it cost me over ten thousand," Li Yunxi said proudly.

After booting it up, Zhou Xuan saw it was running the advanced Windows 95 operating system of the time.

Unfortunately, Windows 98 wouldn't be released until next year, and 98 was so much smoother to use. But finding a free computer to get online and write was already a stroke of luck; he couldn't ask for more.

Next year, when he had money, he'd rent a place, buy a computer, and life would be much easier.

Seeing Zhou Xuan turn on the computer and operate it with practiced ease, Li Yunxi finally stopped doubting Zhou Xuan's claim that he could type three or four thousand words an hour.

Zhou Xuan opened Internet Explorer, typed in the web address, and quickly registered an email account. When entering username and password, his fingers flew across the keyboard—he was touch-typing at full speed.

Li Yunxi was amazed. He'd been using the computer for a month but typed very slowly. He hadn't imagined Zhou Xuan would be so adept at using it; it was truly remarkable.

Computers were rare and precious in those days—could Zhou Xuan have had frequent access before?

"Zhou Xuan, I didn't expect you to be so skilled with computers! Did you use them often before?" Li Yunxi couldn't help but ask.

"Not really, just visited the computer room a few times. But there are very few computers in the county that can access the Internet, and it's ridiculously expensive," Zhou Xuan replied.

Li Yunxi thought Zhou Xuan was a genius—he mastered anything he picked up. Internet access in D County's computer rooms was very expensive, at least ten or twenty yuan per hour.

He didn't believe Zhou Xuan had spent dozens of hours in computer rooms, but even with just a few visits, Zhou Xuan had become so proficient. He was no ordinary person.

The more Li Yunxi interacted with Zhou Xuan, the more he felt Zhou Xuan wasn't just an ordinary junior high student. Zhou Xuan was dazzling now, and his future achievements would surely be great. That was why Li Yunxi was willing to let Zhou Xuan use his computer for manuscripts without asking for anything in return.

Zhou Xuan saw Office 95 and the built-in notepad on the computer and was pleased. At this time, there weren't many writing programs on the market, so Word was more than sufficient. It spared him from copying by hand; in ten or twenty days, he could finish his novel.

"Thank you, Teacher Li. If I'm using your computer to type, you won't be able to use it," Zhou Xuan said, a bit embarrassed at monopolizing the machine.

"Don't be so polite with me. As long as you give your best at the sports meet, that's enough," Li Yunxi replied with a smile. "Besides, I only use the computer to look things up online."

It's just running, after all!

Zhou Xuan agreed readily, "Teacher Li, I understand. Next semester, at the City Student Sports Meet, I'll definitely participate. I'll win both the short and long-distance events for you and teach your classmate a lesson."

"Haha! Now that you've said that, I'm relieved," Li Yunxi laughed, delighted that Zhou Xuan agreed to participate next semester. He had spent ages persuading Zhou Xuan, and in the end, it was the computer that convinced him. Life truly is strange.

Sometimes, the harder you force something, the less you get; but when you let go, what you wanted comes to you by chance.

"Oh, Zhou Xuan, you keep typing. I'm going out to buy groceries. You'll have dinner here tonight since you've already got the afternoon and evening off."

"That's too much trouble, Teacher Li."

Li Yunxi laughed, "Why are you being so polite? I once tried to give you money to join the sports meet, but you refused. Now, it's just a meal—it's nothing!"

"Alright, then—I won't stand on ceremony!"

"Good! You just focus on your manuscript," Li Yunxi said, leaving the study and Zhou Xuan alone to type quietly.