Chapter 182 Let's fight for the school! (Two in one)
October 12th, Saturday.
Starting today, the renovation of the track and field and basketball court of Baitan Middle School has officially started.
The workers of the construction team were busy in the playground in an orderly manner. They first dismantled and cleared the original loess track and surrounding obstacles. Bags of cement were piled high beside the wall. Road rollers, cutters, pavers and other machines were also transported into the campus. The workers used measuring tools such as levels and tape measures to accurately plan the scope of construction...
Although today is the weekend, when Fang Wei and Xu Cailing arrived at school, they saw such a busy and exciting scene.
In the most conspicuous position above the school gate, there is a large red banner hanging:
[Thank you Shanghai Jinhua International Hotel Co., Ltd. for your strong support! Help the track and field stadium to have a new look! Build a new track for Baitan Dream! ]
Xu Cailing raised her head and read out the words on the banner word by word, her pretty face full of excitement.
"It turns out what the principal said at the morning meeting that day was true! Our school's running track really needs to be replaced with a plastic track!"
"I hate it! Why are we only starting to change the playground and plastic track when we are almost graduating?"
Seeing the girl's excited and regretful expression, Fang Wei couldn't help laughing. He always felt that there was a strange circle in student days. Once graduation came, the classrooms started to install air conditioners; once graduation came, the dormitories started to be renovated; once graduation came, even the school became beautiful!
And I just happened to be on the tail end of this path, and I didn’t enjoy any happiness at all during my student days!
Seeing this scene, Fang Wei felt a little emotional.
If I remember correctly, the school finally renovated the dilapidated track and field stadium after he graduated and started working...
And now, the brand new track and field stadium belonging to Baitan Middle School has arrived, more than ten or twenty years ahead of schedule!
It can be said that the gift that Wen Susu left to the school is really meaningful and valuable!
"Don't worry. We still have more than half a year to graduate. The renovation will be done in a month at most. There is still a chance for you to enjoy it."
"What is the background of this Jinhua Company? It's so rich! How could they be willing to spend so much money to sponsor our school?"
"..."
Faced with the girl's question, Fang Wei seemed to want to say something but hesitated.
Except for him and the principal, almost all other teachers and students in the school did not know that Jinhua Company, which generously sponsored the school's renovation of the track and field field, was Wen Susu's family company. Wen Susu also asked Fang Wei not to tell anyone.
As a follower of his since childhood, seeing Fang Wei's "I actually know everything" look, the curious Cai Ling couldn't help but ask him about it!
"Do you know?"
"...What do you know? You mean Jinhua Company? They run a hotel business."
"That's not what I'm asking! Tell me now, I'll tell you everything I know, and you have to tell me something too, so tell me now!"
"Hiss... Hey hey... Stop pinching me, stop pinching me! I'll tell you, I'll tell you!"
Faced with the girl's continuous pinching attacks, Fang Wei was defeated and had to surrender:
"Then I'm telling you, but you can't tell anyone else, okay?"
"Who am I? Things only come in through my ears, and nothing comes out of my mouth!"
Xu Cailing patted his chest and said.
"hehe."
But come to think of it, Cai Ling even kept the fact that Pepe's favorite author Nanfeng was Liu Zhiyi to herself.
Of course, the exception is telling Fang Wei all the gossip on weekdays, because he is Fang Wei! Who else can I tell if not him?
So Fang Wei leaned close to her little ear and whispered to her:
"This is Teacher Wen's company. She brought in sponsorship..."
"...!!"
Although she already had some guesses in her mind, Xu Cailing still couldn't help being shocked when she heard the answer from Fang Wei.
"That was the day when Teacher Wen's parents came to visit the island. Were you there to be their tour guide?"
"Well, you're not stupid."
"I'm very clever!"
After a while, Xu Cailing sighed: "Teacher Wen is really good to us... It's obviously a good thing, why doesn't Teacher Wen want others to know..."
Xu Cailing suddenly regretted knowing this secret. She wished that the whole school... no, the whole town knew that the school's new track and field stadium was renovated with money paid for by her head teacher, her favorite teacher. She wanted everyone to know how good Teacher Wen is!
Unfortunately, only she and Fang Wei know about it, so she feels uncomfortable...! Don't let her know that someone uses the running track donated by Teacher Wen and then turns around to say bad things about Teacher Wen!
"Do good deeds without leaving a name."
Fang Wei smiled. In fact, he could guess what Wen Susu was thinking. She probably didn't want the students in her class to think that they were from different worlds. She didn't have many wishes. Putting aside the differences between them, she just hoped that she would always be the closest teacher in everyone's mind.
"No, I'm feeling so uncomfortable holding it in! Can I tell anyone secretly?" Cai Ling felt like ants were crawling all over her body.
"NO, didn't you just promise me?"
"Then, can I tell Zhiyi?"
"……Can."
Liu Zhiyi is a classic taciturn person. Anything will sink to her. She is really the best person to confide in...
Unfortunately, Zhiyi is not here at the moment, so I can only talk to her after I get back.
As for why Fang Wei and Cai Ling came to school today, Saturday, it was of course because they were going to the county to participate in the middle school track and field trials!
When the girl thought about the fact that it was just her and him, and that they were going to such a far place together, she felt secretly happy, as if they were on a secret date...
"……what are you laughing at?"
Fang Wei glanced at her with a strange expression. She had grown into a big girl, but she still acted like a fool every day.
"Did I smile?"
"He laughed. It was a very obscene laugh."
"...You are the wretched one! Come on! Go in quickly!"
Xu Cailing raised her little hand and slapped him on the butt. Fang Wei had no choice but to ride his bicycle and take her with him into the campus.
Xu Cailing didn't ride her bike today, not because her aunt came, but because since there were only two of them coming to school, they might as well take his bike together.
Riding into the campus, they easily saw Teacher Niu waiting for them.
Niu Wengang crossed his arms across his chest, half leaning and half sitting on the 125 motorcycle parked beside the school road. With a natural smile on his face, he looked at the busy track and field construction in front of him with a somewhat absent-minded look.
As one of the only two physical education teachers in the school, Niu Wengang was of course happy to see the new renovation of the track and field stadium. In fact, he had already applied to the school more than once. Even if the track was not replaced with a plastic one, it would be nice to replace the basketball hoop whose wooden board was about to fall off!
But the school’s response every time is that they don’t have money…
I really have no money.
The little funding we have is all invested in learning-related construction, so there is no extra money left to build a track and field stadium!
Now everything is good. With the strong support of Jinhua Company, the school's track and field stadium is finally going to be renovated. If Jinhua Company has any requirements, Niu Wengang doesn't mind embroidering the word Jinhua on his sportswear to advertise for their company.
"Teacher Niu!"
A shout from the side brought his thoughts back. Niu Wengang lowered his strong arms from across his chest and turned around to see Fang Wei and Cai Ling already there.
The two of them were riding the same bicycle. Xu Cailing didn't bring a schoolbag, but Fang Wei did, with the schoolbag hanging in front of him. Both the boy and the girl were wearing smart and refreshing sportswear. The light of the morning sun fell on them, making them look particularly youthful and energetic.
Niu Wengang clearly saw that at the beginning, Xu Cailing, who was sitting at the back of the car, had her hands on Fang Wei's waist. But as he looked over, perhaps because she felt guilty or something, the girl withdrew her hands and put them obediently on the frame of the car.
Niu Wengang's eyelids twitched, but he didn't say anything. It was none of his business whether someone fell in love early or not, and he was too lazy to care...
"Come here?"
"Well! Teacher Niu, are we leaving now?"
"Yes, go there early to familiarize yourself with the venue and get ready. Have you brought everything I asked you to bring?"
"Bring it all together!"
"Xu Cailing, where are your things? You're empty-handed?"
"I brought everything too! Put them all in Fang Wei's schoolbag, so he doesn't have to carry another bag, hehe..."
"..."
Although he is not a main subject teacher, Niu Wengang has been with everyone for more than two years. They are very familiar with each other and he also knows that Fang Wei and Cai Ling are childhood sweethearts who live next door to each other.
He was a little envious, thinking about how he also had a childhood sweetheart, but unfortunately her son now calls him uncle...
Niu Wengang couldn't explain how they became separated, but after he entered junior high school, his relationship with his childhood sweetheart gradually faded. Fang Wei and Cai Ling were not like them, who still stuck together every day. It was really enviable.
"Teacher Niu, how are we going to get there later? Can we still ride there by bike?" Fang Wei asked.
This time the county's track and field trials were held at Qingxi Middle School. To get there from Baitan Island, you had to take a boat from the pier to the county, which was about fifty minutes.
Niu Wengang raised his thick wrist and looked at the time.
"Ride there. It's quite a distance from Qingxi Pier to Qingxi Middle School, so it's more convenient to ride a bike. It's 7:10 now, so we'll go there around 8:30. We'll warm up and get ready by then. The 100-meter preliminaries will start at 9:30, followed by the 200-meter preliminaries at 10, the 100-meter finals at 11:00, and the 200-meter finals at 11:30. The time is quite tight. Are you okay with this intensity?"
"no problem!"
Anyway, they only had to run four races at most, so for Fang Wei and Cai Ling, it wasn't like they were too tired to the point of being in poor condition.
There was no other way because the time was so tight. After all, transportation on the island was inconvenient. All the middle schools and sports schools, big and small in the county, went to Qingxi Middle School to participate in the competition. In order to avoid the fatigue of traveling, we simply finished it in one day.
"We won't have anything to do in the track and field events this afternoon. After the events are over at noon, we can have lunch together and then come back."
"it is good!"
"Have you all rested well? Are you feeling alright?"
"no problem!"
"That's good. Have you had breakfast?"
"have eaten!"
"Okay, then you two follow me on your bikes and let's go together!"
Niu Wengang got on the motorcycle, pushed hard with his right leg, started the engine, shifted into gear, gently turned the accelerator, and rode slowly in front.
"gogogo!"
Xu Cailing patted Fang Wei's butt, and Fang Wei also pedaled, carrying her and following Teacher Niu's motorcycle, riding behind.
Soon, the three of them arrived at Baitan Wharf.
All the travel expenses were paid by the government, and Teacher Niu bought three bus and boat tickets.
At half past seven, the three of them took their car and boarded the ferry to Qingxi Island where the county seat was located.
The mornings in early autumn are cool, the sea is sparkling, the sun is warm on your body, and when the sea breeze blows on your face, you feel free and comfortable.
"During the National Day, what did you, Zhiyi and Sister Caiwei do when you went to the county town to play?" Fang Wei turned around and asked the girl who was leaning on the railing looking at the sea.
"We went shopping for clothes, and then we went to the movies and went boating in the park!"
"Okay, you didn't even invite me to watch a movie and row a boat, right?"
"Didn't I call you? You said you wanted to be Teacher Wen's tour guide!"
"Then I'm not at a disadvantage. I just watch you guys having fun."
"Well, how about we go to the movies after the game?"
Xu Cailing thought about it and suggested. When she made this suggestion, she felt more and more like a date. So she felt a little secretly happy in her heart. It was just her and him, and they were going to watch a movie together in a dark movie theater!
"I think so, if it's still early."
"It will definitely be enough time! It doesn't matter if we both come back later! Teacher Niu, Teacher Niu?"
"what?"
"After the game, you can go back to school first. Fang Wei and I will play in the county town. We will go back later!"
"…Think carefully about how to compete first!"
Teacher Niu almost choked to death. He was busy studying the competitors from various schools, but these two didn't care about the competition at all. They just went to watch a movie after the competition?!
"Don't worry, Mr. Niu. I'm already researching my opponent for the city finals!"
"That'd better be the case! If you fail, your daily training will be doubled!"
"Ouch~~"
It is much closer to the county than to the city. After about forty minutes, the three got off the boat and arrived at Qingxi Pier.
Qingxi Island is a big island. Even though it is just a small county town, there are still many vehicles on the road. The various facilities are not as good as those in the urban area, but it has all the necessary facilities.
It was more convenient to ride a bike than to take the bus. Following Teacher Niu's slow motorcycle, Fang Wei rode with Cai Ling for about ten minutes and arrived at Qingxi Middle School. There were three junior high schools on Qingxi Island, of which the fourth was also here, while the first, second and third were in the urban area of Xuanzhu. The third was the worst high school.
Qingxi Middle School, as the affiliated junior high school of No. 4 Middle School, is also the best junior high school in the county. The campus area is much larger than that of Baitan Middle School. It has a standard 400-meter track and field field, and it is a plastic track.
Qingxi Middle School also ranks first in the county in terms of annual high school admission rate. For example, in Baitan Middle School, only four or five students can be admitted to No. 1 Middle School every year, but in Qingxi Middle School, the number can reach more than ten to twenty.
As students, it is inevitable to feel curious when walking into other schools, so Fang Wei and Cai Ling looked around curiously.
It's the weekend now and the students are on holiday, but because a tryout competition is being held here today, many students from Qingxi Middle School have returned to school to watch the game and cheer for the players from their own school. Together with the players and instructors from other middle schools, the campus is quite lively.
"Fang Wei! Look, their school's honor roll!"
Every school has such a list. The names may be different, but the nature is the same.
Fang Wei also took a look with curiosity. Judging from the scores, if he was placed in Qingxi Middle School... not only him, but also Liu Zhiyi would be ranked first or second in Qingxi Middle School.
But the score gap is not as big as it was in Baitan Middle School...
Wang Yushan could rank third in Baitan Middle School, but if her score was put into Qingxi Middle School, she would only rank twelfth...
Perhaps this is the strength of the best junior high school in the county. The overall academic performance is much better.
"Ah? If I were in Qingxi Middle School, I would only be ranked in the 90th place?!"
Xu Cailing was devastated. After all, in her own school, although she was not as good as Fang Wei and Zhiyi, she could at least rank around 20th. But here she almost couldn't even make it into the top 100!
Fang Wei said with a smile: "There is a gap in the source of students and educational resources. Besides, Qingxi Middle School has more students than our school, and they even have top classes. Did you see the top 100? Almost all of them are from those two classes."
"It doesn't matter. They can't beat you and Zhiyi in the test anyway!"
Thinking of this, Xu Cailing became proud, as if the students of Qingxi Middle School were just like this~
"Fang Wei, when you and Zhiyi take the high school entrance exam, won't you get the highest scores in our city?"
"It's not that simple! The high school entrance exam is held throughout the city, and there are also middle schools in the city! It's even more competitive there!"
"Okay. Anyway, I believe you can definitely get first place in the city!"
"..."
Fortunately, now that the channel for special enrollment has been opened, Xu Cailing will not have too much pressure on the high school entrance examination. She is extremely confident in her sports and is very confident that she can pass the sports special examination of No. 1 Middle School. Occasionally, she is a little melancholy, or whether she can be in the same class with Fang Wei in the future when she enters high school...
People are always greedy. Before the special enrollment system, I just wanted to go to the same school as him. Now that there is a special enrollment system, I want to be in the same class with him. Maybe if I really become the same class with him, I will probably want to sit at the same table with him, right?
Unlike Zhiyi, Cailing doesn’t think too much. If she can’t figure something out, she simply stops thinking about it. She can think about it later anyway!
On the other side, Teacher Niu had already completed the sign-in procedures at the Sports Committee.
He walked over and handed two entry certificates to Fang Wei and Xu Cailing respectively.
The format is similar to the admission ticket, with information such as name, gender, ID number, one-inch photo, school, county, event, competition time, and competition results (blank).
"Take this certificate of participation. Before the competition, you need to show it to the referee for inspection and signature. It will also be your score sheet. Don't just run away after the race. Remember to go and get it back."
"understood!"
"Let's go, change your shoes and warm up first. Get used to the feeling of spiked shoes on the plastic track. If you're not used to it, wear regular running shoes first. Be sure not to twist your feet and hurt them. There are still forty minutes left, and then the men's 100-meter race will start first."
"Uh-huh!"
"Don't drink too much water yet. If you need to go to the bathroom, it's over there."
"understood!"
"Let's go warm up together."
"it is good!"
The two followed Teacher Niu to the track and field stadium.
Because it is a formal competition, the Municipal Sports Bureau has also arranged professional referees and brought professional equipment. Starting blocks have also been installed at the starting point of the track, and a crouching start will be used.
Things like these have already been practiced in the track and field team's daily training, and Teacher Niu has also talked about some of the details that need to be paid attention to in competitions more than once.
With the systematic training and guidance of Teacher Niu, who graduated from a sports school, Fang Wei and Cai Ling's strength has improved by more than one level over the past year. No one knows their strength better than Teacher Niu. Even though Teacher Niu just asked these two guys to be humble and focus, he actually has more confidence in them than they do.
After putting on the spiked shoes they brought from their schoolbags, Fang Wei and Cai Ling started warming up on the track under the guidance of Teacher Niu.
Also warming up were coaches and contestants from other schools.
"There are a total of nine middle schools participating in this county selection, including two sports schools. The number of participants is not large, but each of them is the top athlete in their school. Don't take it lightly, and run as hard as you can! Of course, you don't need to pay too much attention to others, just run well on your own. You're not nervous now, are you?"
"not nervous!"
"That's good, keep up the good work! Just run to the best of your ability! Fang Wei, you're almost done, it's time to sign in and get ready."
"it is good!"
"Come on Fang Wei!"
Xu Cailing cheered him on, then jumped over to watch.
The check-in process is very simple. You just need to give your participation certificate to the referee team, stick the number tag on your chest, and go to your respective track to prepare.
Fang Wei was running in the first group. There were six athletes on the same track. There were four groups in the preliminaries, and the eight with the best results would be selected to enter the finals of the qualifying round.
After the referee cleared the track, the remaining contestants and spectators gathered on both sides of the track.
Like the other contestants, they didn’t know Fang Wei, and Fang Wei didn’t know them either, but they all looked very strong...
Almost all the audience were teachers and students from Qingxi Middle School. Before the competition started, they cheered enthusiastically for the players from their school.
Occasionally, there would be one or two inappropriate, playful voices: "Come on, number four! Come on, number four~!"
"Ah, you're going to die. How are you going to cheer for the contestants from other schools?"
"Hahaha, number four is so handsome..."
"There's no saving you!"
"Just tell me who you support!"
"Number four."
"How dare you say that to me!"
"Come on Fang Wei! Fang Wei, kill them!"
"..."
The shout was naturally from Xu Cailing, who was standing near the starting line. Perhaps it was because Qingxi Middle School's cheers for their contestants were too loud, which made the girl feel unconvinced and she shouted at the top of her voice to cheer for Fang Wei. It's true, in Fang Wei's heart, her cheers alone were worth a thousand troops.
Fang Wei waved at her to show that he heard her. If she continued to shout so loudly, he would be embarrassed...
The race was about to begin, and Fang Wei also focused his mind and squatted on the starting blocks with the other players, adjusting the posture and angle of his arms and body to achieve the most perfect force.
The noise on the field also quieted down temporarily.
“Everyone, take your positions—!”
"preparation--!"
"boom--!"
The sound of the starting gun rang out, and the six contestants on the starting line rushed out like arrows. In the quiet stadium, enthusiastic cheers broke out again!
Fang Wei started a little behind, but he caught up quickly. At the middle of the race, he was in third place, but he kept accelerating! With his height and long legs, as well as his high pace, he quickly moved up to second place. In the last ten meters, he was first in his group!
The finish line was right in front of him. Fang Wei pushed forward and was the first to cross the finish line. Following inertia, he rushed forward a short distance before stopping and looking back to check his results on the LCD screen.
First place in the group! Baitan Middle School, Fang Wei! 11 seconds!
Following closely behind him was a sports student, and their results were very close, both 11 seconds.
As for the other players, their performance was slightly worse, but the worst was 12 seconds. The intensity was completely incomparable to that of the Baitan Middle School sports meet.
Teacher Niu was guarding the finish line all the time, and as soon as the results came out he went over to confirm with the referee.
Xu Cailing also ran from the starting point, bypassing the crowd of audience and reaching the finish line.
"11 seconds! Fang Wei, you are first in the group! You will definitely advance to the finals!"
Seeing the numbers on the scoreboard, Cai Ling seemed even more excited than him. Seeing such a pretty and sunny girl, she ran to his side immediately. The other girls who wanted to take the opportunity to come over and ask for his contact information gave up tactfully...
"Fang Wei, come here and sign your autograph." Teacher Niu waved at him.
Fang Wei and Cai Ling went over to the judging panel together and signed to confirm the results.
"Good run! You should be more careful when starting..."
"Haha, I'm not used to the sound of gunfire!"
"Cai Ling, it's almost time for you to get ready. It will be your turn after the men's race is over."
"it is good!"
Soon, in the men's 11m preliminaries, all four groups finished running. Fang Wei ranked second overall with a time of 13 seconds and successfully advanced to the finals.
Next was the women's 100-meter preliminaries, which also had 24 contestants from different schools, and Cai Ling was also in the first group to compete.
Compared to watching Fang Wei's competition, watching Cai Ling's competition made Teacher Niu feel much more at ease. He gave a few simple instructions and ran to the finish line to wait for the competition to begin.
When standing on the field, Cai Ling's whole demeanor changed. She put away her smile and became serious.
She stood at the starting line, her posture tall and neat, her long hair tied into a ponytail at the back of her head, revealing her slender neck, as if every strand of hair was ready to go. In the morning light, the girl's skin was a healthy wheat color, her eyes were sharp, looking straight ahead, it was a mixture of a desire for victory and absolute self-confidence, such a dashing temperament has become her unique charm, and it is also the most beautiful scenery so far in the competition.
"Which school is number three from?"
"So handsome and cool! Can a girl who plays sports be so pretty and good-looking?!"
"Maybe it's just for show. This is a 100-meter race, not a catwalk."
"Haha, why do I feel like your words are a bit sour?"
"Just look at him. With his skinny arms and legs, how could he possibly outrun Senior Peiqin? She's the vice-captain of our school's track and field team..."
"That number two should look stronger, he seems to be a student from a sports school..."
Fang Wei, who was standing in the audience, found what he heard funny. He didn't know which senior Peiqin they were talking about, nor did he care which one it was. In a competition of this level, the result would probably be the same.
Following Cai Ling's example, Fang Wei also shouted a few words: "Cai Ling! Come on!!"
The game started.
The moment the gunshot rang out, Xu Cailing rushed out like an agile cheetah!
She usually trains with the boys on the track and field team. It has been a long time since she competed on the same track with other female athletes!
Before the audience could react, this perhaps 'good-looking but useless' girl rushed to the front!
And the speed did not slow down at all, but kept getting faster and faster!
As a result, the distance between her and other contestants not only did not get closer, but instead got further and further away!
Although it was only the preliminary round, all the female athletes present were among the best in their school's 100-meter event. How could they have ever been left behind to such an extent? !
Not to mention walking side by side with Cai Ling, even avoiding the gap from widening seems impossible!
The hundred meters passed in a flash, and Xu Cailing was the first to cross the finish line.
Her results appeared on the electronic timing LCD screen at the finish line:
First place in the group! Baitan Middle School, Xu Cailing! 11 seconds!
Second in the group! Qingxi Sports, Sun Xueyin! 12 seconds!
Third place in the group! Qingxi Middle School, Liu Peiqin! 12 seconds!
……
The women's 100m preliminaries are over.
But it seems that the results of the finals have already come out in advance...
The audience at Qingxi Middle School were all a little confused——
No, sister, do you usually practice sports at Baitan Middle School? You beat the sports school students in nearly seconds? !
Perhaps ordinary audiences still don't understand the significance of a woman's 100-meter run of less than 12 seconds, but the professional referees and sports coaches who came to the field today understand it very well!
When he looked at Xu Cailing, his eyes lit up.
Baitan Middle School has a good seedling!
(End of this chapter)
