Kapitel 14: Chapter 14: Turning the Tables
Mingke stood up, raising a can of beer, and shouted to his classmates, "Everyone, listen up! It's rare for Mr. Tang to treat us to a meal. Let's all toast to him together!"
"Yeah!"
The students all got to their feet, raising their glasses in unison.
Mr. Tang, smiling broadly, stood up as well, downed his drink in one gulp, and said, "Alright, everyone sit down. You've all been my students for three years now, and to be honest, it feels like you're my own children. But as they say, all good things must come to an end. After the city exam, you'll all go your separate ways, and we might never see each other again. So don't hold back tonight—eat as much as you like."
However, Mr. Tang's heartfelt speech immediately brought the lively atmosphere to a halt. The once jubilant students lowered their heads, their expressions sobering.
Seeing this, Mr. Tang's heart sank. Great, I ruined the mood again.
He quickly backtracked, "Come on, cheer up! Let's talk about dreams. Mingke, why don't you start?"
Mingke, realizing he'd been called on, answered earnestly, "My dream is to get into the outer campus of the Royal Military Academy, join the military, and make a name for myself on the front lines!"
"Good, let's give him a round of applause!"
Mr. Tang began clapping, and the rest of the students joined in enthusiastically.
"You've got this, class rep!"
"Thanks," Mingke said, a bit embarrassed.
Next, Mr. Tang turned to Huangmao and asked, "Chengran, what about you? What's your dream?"
"Me? Honestly, I don't want to go to the front lines. I just want to graduate, spend a few years in the reserves, and then open my own bar!"
Huangmao scratched his head, grinning.
"Boo!"
The students teased him, laughing.
"Why are you booing? Let's hear your dreams then!" Huangmao shot back.
"What's the point of talking about our dreams? Let's hear about Mr. Tang's instead!" Chen Tong interjected with a mischievous grin.
Everyone immediately turned their attention to Mr. Tang, egging him on.
"Yeah, tell us your dream, Mr. Tang!"
"Come on, we're curious!"
Even Su Ming looked on with interest.
Caught off guard, Mr. Tang laughed and replied, "Fine, if you really want to know, my dream is to mentor thirty students into the Royal Military Academy and transfer to the Okka Academy in Rain City."
"Wait, you're planning to transfer? What's wrong with this school?" Mingke and the others asked, puzzled.
"This school is great, but I have my reasons for wanting to transfer," Mr. Tang said, a touch wistfully.
"Ah, I see what's going on. Is there someone you like at that academy?" one student teased, sparking a wave of curiosity.
"Stop making things up," Mr. Tang said, though his smile betrayed him.
"Mr. Tang, that smile says it all! Spill the beans—who is she?" Mingke and the others pressed eagerly.
Sighing, Mr. Tang gave in. "Alright, fine. She's an old classmate of mine who's teaching there. That's why I want to transfer."
"Oh, I see. But Mr. Tang, you've been teaching here for so many years. What if she's already married or has a boyfriend?" Chen Tong teased, grinning slyly.
Mr. Tang froze, as if doused in cold water. His smile faded, and he seemed lost in thought.
The lively atmosphere grew awkward once more. But Mr. Tang quickly recovered, forcing a smile. "I wouldn't know about that. It's just a dream, after all. Anyway, let's not dwell on it—eat up!"
"Alright," the students said, though the mood remained subdued.
Meanwhile, Su Ming sat alone in a corner, distancing himself from the group. He fought hard to suppress his craving for meat, sipping on plain water and pondering the daunting challenge of the Royal Military Academy.
Mr. Tang noticed Su Ming's solitary state and sighed softly. He walked over and sat beside him, speaking kindly. "Su Ming."
Su Ming snapped out of his thoughts, looking at him in surprise. "Mr. Tang?"
"Why are you sitting here by yourself? Are you still feeling down about everything?" Mr. Tang asked, his tone full of concern.
Su Ming regarded him thoughtfully. From his memories, Mr. Tang had always been good to him, but it seemed like there was a bit of a misunderstanding. Not wanting to dwell on it, he replied simply, "Not at all."
Taking a sip of beer, Mr. Tang said with a sigh, "Su Ming, life is never smooth sailing. It's filled with challenges and regrets. Sometimes, you just have to make peace with yourself, you know?"
Mr. Tang had planned to encourage Su Ming to focus on the city exam and move on from his feelings for Lin Chuyu. But recalling the vast gap between them, he decided against it, fearing he'd hurt the boy's fragile heart.
After some thought, Su Ming shook his head. "I understand, Mr. Tang. But I'm still young, and my future is full of possibilities. I can work hard to chase the things I want. There's no need for me to make peace with myself just yet. But you, on the other hand, should hurry up. You're not exactly young anymore, and time isn't on your side. If you delay your transfer much longer, you might really miss your chance."
Mr. Tang flinched as if struck by a blade. His age, his meager record of three quotas, his seemingly unattainable transfer—all of it weighed on him like a crushing burden.
He fell silent, lighting a cigarette and taking deep drags to steady himself. Before long, he finished one and lit another, as if it were the only thing keeping him grounded.
Watching him smoke, Su Ming sighed. "Mr. Tang, you should cut back. Most women don't like smokers. If you want to impress her, you should quit."
The remark felt like another stab to Mr. Tang's heart. He stubbed out his cigarette and reached for a beer, gulping it down can after can. His face betrayed his growing frustration and sorrow.
"Mr. Tang," Su Ming said gently. "Drinking won't help either. No woman wants a man who drowns his sorrows in alcohol."
This was the final straw. Mr. Tang's composure shattered, and tears streamed down his face as years of pent-up frustration and heartache came pouring out.
"Wahhh!" Mr. Tang buried his head in his arms, sobbing uncontrollably at the table.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein