Liang Chunsheng pursed his lips. "I still want to wait for developments from the factory. Our family's conditions are limited now, and honestly, I don't plan to do this long-term."
Although he didn't finish his sentence, Chen Lishu understood. People's minds were still stuck in the era when being a factory worker was glorious. State-owned enterprises were the iron rice bowls, while small vendors and hawkers were considered speculative profiteers, looked down upon by society. Even if they earned a lot of money, it would still bring shame upon their entire family. After all, people like Wang Aixiang, who were forced into it by circumstances, were only a minority.
However, Chen Lishu knew that next year, when a large number of educated youth returned to the cities and the number of unemployed youth increased, the country would not be able to provide enough positions. The situation would likely become even more severe.
Since Liang Chunsheng was unwilling, Chen Lishu didn't insist. She simply nodded to show she understood, then asked him to write an IOU. From now on, he could contact Wang Aixiang for future pick-ups.
"By the way, where did you get these small items from?" Chen Lishu asked curiously, looking at the bundle on the table as he was about to leave.
Liang Chunsheng replied, "I learned about it by chance from a friend. There's a rather large underground market along Yanjiang Road. They sell all sorts of things, and the prices are very cheap."
Yanjiang Road? Chen Lishu didn't have a strong impression of it but thought she might go take a look when she wasn't in class.
...
"Classmate, this is our 'English Corner' activity venue."
On Friday, Chen Lishu arrived half an hour early, carrying a small blackboard with the topic she had chosen for the session. As soon as she arrived, she saw several people moving tables and chairs, and the area had already been cordoned off.
"The student union is preparing for a recitation session. If you have activities, go somewhere else," a short, stocky young man said dismissively, waving his hand at Chen Lishu and Zhang Xue as if shooing away flies.
"Why should you take our space just because you have an event?" Zhang Xue asked indignantly, frowning.
"What do you mean 'your space'? Is your name written on it? Besides, the student union needs the venue. Don't be foolish."
"Is the student union that mighty? This space has always been ours every Friday at this time."
"Not from today onwards. From now on, this time on Fridays is reserved for the recitation session. But this is just a student-organized activity. If it's not suitable, find another place."
"Find another place? This is the best environment. The school is so small, other places are simply inconvenient."
The school had three teaching buildings, a library, and two dormitory buildings, all clustered together. Apart from a palm-sized sports field, there was only the open space behind the T-shaped building. Trees and two flower beds were planted around it. If not here, the only other option would be the sports field.
"What's going on?" Li Zhiwei and Feng Pangzi arrived and asked, seeing the situation.
"Li Zhiwei, you've come at the right time. They're going too far. They didn't communicate beforehand and occupied the venue early, then asked us to move."
After listening to Zhang Xue, Li Zhiwei sat on a table in front. "My friend, you're in the wrong here. Everyone in the school knows there's an 'English Corner' every Friday. Which brainless person in the student union organized this?"
"Li Zhiwei, mind your tongue. Who are you calling brainless?" Sun Ling, pulling Jiang Yuwei along, immediately retorted unhappily when she heard Li Zhiwei's comment as they approached.
Li Zhiwei jumped off the table and kicked over the table in front of him. "Whoever organized this, I'll say it."
"What do you mean by that? Are you trying to cause trouble?" The short, stocky young man's demeanor immediately became more aggressive upon seeing Sun Ling.
Other student union members heard the commotion and gathered around, looking at Li Zhiwei and the others with unfriendly expressions.
Students who were preparing to attend the 'English Corner' from a distance saw that the situation was not right and stopped to observe.
"What's happening?"
"The student union wants to take over the space. It's their fault too. So many classrooms are empty, but they just decided to compete with us for this spot."
"They are the student union, so whatever they say goes." A few years ago, the student union was so rampant that they even dared to criticize teachers. Although that glorious period for some students had passed, the memory still made people uneasy.
"Sun Ling, you arranged this stunt today, didn't you?" Chen Lishu, who had been silent, suddenly spoke, looking at Sun Ling with cold eyes.
"So what if I did? What if I didn't?" Sun Ling did not admit it directly, but her attitude implied everything.
"Whether it's true or not doesn't matter, and continuing this stalemate is meaningless."
Chen Lishu stepped forward a couple of paces and looked at her with a light smile. "What event is your student union holding this time? A recitation session? Reciting from a script is so boring. Or perhaps you want to imitate others and hold another 'English Corner'?"
Sun Ling's thoughts were exposed, and she became somewhat irrationally angry. "Just because you can hold an 'English Corner,' can't our student union organize a recitation session? Don't flatter yourself."
Chen Lishu placed the small blackboard in her hand on a nearby table with a "click." "I'm too lazy to waste words on people like you. I'll make one thing clear today: if I can't have this place, no one else will."
Chen Lishu's imposing presence was somewhat intimidating. As soon as she finished speaking, there was a moment of silence around them. Everyone seemed to be seeing her for the first time. The person they knew as gentle and easygoing also had such a forceful side.
"Chen Lishu, what do you want? Let me tell you, don't use your rural shrew tactics. This is a campus, not your vegetable garden. No one will fall for your tricks." Sun Ling gritted her teeth, furious at her seemingly unreasonable behavior.
"Whether they fall for it or not, we'll find out." Chen Lishu glanced at the short, stocky young man before her gaze settled back on Sun Ling. "Since your student union wants to hold a recitation session, I suggest we compete fairly. Let's have a speech competition. If you win, the venue is yours. If we win, the student union is forbidden from setting foot here ever again."
"Lishu..." Zhang Xue, standing beside her, immediately tugged at her sleeve anxiously. She had never participated in a speech competition before, and what if they really lost? Chen Lishu patted her hand reassuringly. "It's okay, trust me."
Chen Lishu remembered someone saying that when you are slightly better than others, they will be jealous. But when you are much better, they can only admire you.
Today, she wanted to show Sun Ling the reality! Sun Ling originally didn't take Chen Lishu seriously, but looking at her determined expression now, she felt a little uncertain. If she lost in front of so many people, how could she maintain her standing in the student union?
"Sun Ling, where has all your usual competence gone? Why are you backing down at a crucial moment? If you're scared, hurry up and take your cronies away, don't get in the way here," Li Zhiwei sneered dismissively as she hesitated to agree.
"Yeah, you're usually so loud and confident. Why are you scared now?" Reassured by Chen Lishu, Zhang Xue also started to provoke Sun Ling.
"How do you want to compete?" Jiang Yuwei, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke.