High School Belle Fell in Love with Me-Chapter 110 - 109: Saving Face Matters

As Li Yang spoke, Jiang Banxia got goosebumps all over.

This guy had been planning this all along.

He said a bunch of somewhat embarrassing things.

For example: Mom and Dad have worked hard for so many years, now it’s time for me to take on the responsibility of the entire family.

For example: As a son, if I still let Mom and Dad sweat and bleed, am I still human?

For example: Please, all you elders, monitor me, I won’t let Mom and Dad’s years of hard work go to waste. Starting today, I’m responsible for earning money to support the family.

Anyway, even if you gave Jiang Banxia this kind of script, she wouldn’t be able to read it out.

Li Yang’s emotional expression was just too intense.

But... many people seemed... deeply touched?

Oh my, such sentimental words, they’re obviously so awkward, right?

Many young people bowed their heads, and when they heard the applause, they mechanically clapped their hands.

Young people don’t understand sentimentality; it is particularly invigorating for middle-aged and older people.

Even Li Likun, a big man, had tears in the corners of his eyes.

And this scene, it has to happen two more times. Li Yang has already prepared his mental drafts, ensuring that none of the three speeches will be the same.

For Jiang Yaoting and Dou Ying, this was a completely new version. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Most of the time, they are very reserved, preferring to prove themselves with actions.

But actions sometimes aren’t expressed so clearly.

Jiang Yaoting said, "I’ve suddenly realized another layer of meaning in words, not just for preserving tradition, but for clearer expression. Actions are certainly important, but they don’t have a definite standard, and everyone has their own thoughts. Actions behind the scenes can’t be seen, and may not be understood. Many times, things should be said out loud."

Dou Ying said, "The problem is, do you have the ability to express yourself? If you were to say this, could you say it?"

Jiang Yaoting immediately shut up...

Indeed, he couldn’t say it; it would definitely feel very awkward.

Balancing action and expression is inherently difficult; focusing on action leads to misunderstandings, focusing on expression turns into being all talk and unreliable.

After dinner, Jiang Yaoting’s family and Wu Yuliang’s family left, as they were very busy here, and staying would only trouble Li Likun’s family.

Li Yang was also busy until past three in the afternoon before things wrapped up.

Even so, there was still no way to leave, as there were people to entertain in the evening.

But it wasn’t anything for Li Yang and the others; at this time, Li Yang and Xue Ning were upstairs counting money.

"Mom and Dad said to put this money in your card for living expenses at school."

Xue Ning counted it, totaling over 140,000.

This included 20,000 from Li Yijun; others gave very little, whether it was Jiang Yaoting or Wu Yuliang, it was just 1,000 each.

"Leave it at home, I don’t need money right now."

"Then you have to convince Mom and Dad, I don’t have that ability."

"Hmm, leave it to me."

...

By 8 o’clock in the evening, the house had completely cleared out, and Li Likun and Wang Cuiping went upstairs.

Li Yang carried the money over, and Li Likun asked, "What are you bringing this for? Go to the town’s bank to deposit it. When you get to university, there will be plenty of places to spend money."

Li Yang said, "I won’t really need money."

Li Likun: "You’re going to school in the Capital City, the cost of living there is very high. You need money to socialize with your classmates, for appearances and substance..."

Li Yang: "I’m going to Jing University to study, not to go out all the time. Moreover, Jing University offers hundreds of scholarships; our academy alone has more than twenty special scholarships, and I’ll be able to save money through scholarships then."

Li Likun: "Then save it, we might have to buy a house in the Capital someday."

Settling down in a big city is already the second biggest goal in life for Li Likun and them.

Li Yang earnestly said, "Mom and Dad, what I mean is, you don’t need to go out for work in the future."

"What? Not working? We’re not even forty and just living off our savings?"

"The point is, you can’t earn much money, and your health gets exhausted. I’ll easily earn more through university scholarships than your wages. Since that’s the case, you might as well stay home and take care of your health, so when I get married and have kids in the future, you won’t be too exhausted to help take care of them."

Li Likun waved his hand and said, "It’s okay, we’re in good health. Your mom can stay at home to look after Ningning, I’ll go out and work by myself."

Li Yang felt it was time to use a big move.

"Dad, I’ve made some ruthless statements today. From now on, you two old folks should just enjoy life at home. If people find out you’re still working, wouldn’t they scold me? Wouldn’t the things I said become a joke?"

Li Likun said, "Who would dare to laugh at you? It’s enough that you have such intentions. We can’t really become a burden to you, can we? Otherwise, people would laugh at us instead."

Li Yang: "Then what should I do when I get a scholarship? You know, the scholarships at our school often come with interviews that feature parents. During the interviews, if they only see my mom and not you, what would they say? Or if they find out you’re at a construction site, with all the scholarships I have, how come I haven’t improved our living conditions? Aren’t you deliberately making things difficult for me?"

Li Likun was stunned.

So the scholarship is already in hand?

Li Yang continued, "And also, if my classmates saw it, I would lose face too. Although no job is superior or inferior, their parents are always well-dressed, and when they come to me, it’s obvious that there’s a gap. Young people compare themselves more fiercely, not just themselves but even their parents. In the future, the school will occasionally invite parents to attend some events, and if you two look as dark as coal, how awkward would that be for me?

I’m at least the top scorer. If I earn money and don’t spend it on you, who else would I spend it on? The media’s promotion of diligence is all a lie, how many people in the world would believe that? I want face; not only must I reclaim my face in academics but also in life and work. If you don’t take care of yourselves at home, then when I get to school, I’ll start slacking off, not studying, just to avoid becoming a target for attacks."

After saying this, Li Yang called in Xue Ning and said, "Also, see how my sister has become so thin that she can’t even drive. When she goes to school later, the place she’s living isn’t close, riding an electric scooter every day isn’t right. Mom stays home to cook, Dad, don’t you have a driver’s license? Drive and take her to school, so she doesn’t find it convenient to eat at the cafeteria. The food there really isn’t edible..."

Li Yang didn’t mind his parents finding work, but as long as it’s not at the construction site, it’s fine; if there’s trouble, then there are major issues.

Even if Dad worked as a security guard or a cleaner in the county town, he wouldn’t say anything.

Li Likun thought for a while, "Let’s not talk about this for now. I’ll discuss it with your mom..."

"Anyway, I’ll just leave it at that. I’ve gone to college and earned face for you guys, so if you don’t earn some face for me, don’t blame me if I go astray later."

After Li Yang left, Li Likun felt quite helpless, but Wang Cuiping was indifferent, she was on her son’s side.

Soon, Li Likun asked Xue Ning, "Ningning, does college really have so many scholarships?"

Xue Ning: "..."

She didn’t know for sure, but scholarships definitely existed, but to get all of them? That’s impossible.

Though Jing University’s scholarships are numerous, most students can only qualify for three to five, and earning any of them is already impressive.

It’s certainly not like Li Yang said, getting a scholarship and then being interviewed by the media and having parents invited over.

"Maybe there are. I remember seeing a news article about a Jing University student who got over a million in scholarships in a year. Also, Jing University does have a lot of scholarships, if Yangyang just works hard a little, getting ten or eight scholarships a year would add up to over a hundred thousand."

Just bluffing.

Anyway, Li Yang told her even if she had to make it up, she had to keep the parents around.

Otherwise, even if she tried to force it, Li Yang would not come home.

Hmph...

Li Likun and Wang Cuiping genuinely did not know much about educational matters, they’re basically in a stage where they believe whatever others say.

With Xue Ning, who was a teacher, saying so, they certainly had no reason to doubt.

Jing University was made to sound even more mythical, which to them seemed natural.

After a while, Xue Ning said, "Dad and Mom, actually, Yangyang has big ambitions. In the past, we were just ordinary people, but now he has a chance, he doesn’t want to be ordinary anymore. He also wants to host something in a big hotel next time, with attendees being elites from various fields. Though class differences may not be obvious, they actually have a significant impact on one’s confidence. In the future, if Yangyang dates a girlfriend from a big city, you can’t talk to her about the construction site, right? Take a year off at home first, and when I have time, I’ll take you both on a trip to enjoy life, so there will be things to talk about..."

Xue Ning spoke calmly, her tone wasn’t as strong as Li Yang’s, but the effect was good.

That night, Li Likun lost sleep.

The next day, back in the county town, Li Yang was busy arranging to buy a car.

He also went to get a passport, which was arranged by Edzhu’s side for him, and once done, he had to send it immediately to facilitate their team’s handling of visas.

In the evening, Li Yang had just lain down when Jiang Banxia texted him.

"Master Li, accompany me out for a meal tomorrow."

"What’s up? Is the home-cooked food not tasty anymore?"

"No, no, it’s just that a few seniors came to visit, just the right time for me to introduce them to you."

"Ah? Came to this shabby place to play? What’s their thinking?"

Li Yang knew Jiang Banxia made a few friends at Jing University, but he never thought they’d come all the way to Jiang City just for fun.

"Oh, they’ve come, and it’s ill-mannered not to host them. Tomorrow I’ll treat, and Master Li just has to accompany me."

Jiang Banxia sent the invitation again.

Li Yang replied, "Sure, no problem, I guarantee to keep them entertained. But we’ll have to find a restaurant on Aviation Road, I’ve got buffs on that street."

"Alright, alright, with Master Li there, I’m relieved."

As for what she’s relieved about, she didn’t say.