Dividing the Spoils

The two girls laughed for quite a while, and Shen Mo poked Fang Chang’an again, suppressing her laughter as she asked, “Are you really…”

Fang Chang’an stood up, knocked on the table, and said, “Students who brought money can hand over their uniform fees to me now.”

Shen Mo pouted, turned to look at Wang Ke, and the two exchanged glances before bursting into laughter together.

There were fifty-four students in the class, forty each, totaling just over two thousand. In those days, such an amount was considered a fortune. Fang Chang’an had specially brought a plastic bag from home to keep the money.

He registered each name in his notebook, while Shen Mo helped him collect and organize the bills in the bag, mostly denominations of ten and twenty. She sorted them into stacks of one hundred each.

Finally, they counted forty-three payments, totaling one thousand seven hundred and twenty, with the calculations checked and correct.

Of the remaining eleven, some had forgotten, others hadn’t arrived yet. By the time evening study began, fifty-two payments had been collected, leaving only two without.

After last week’s failed intimidation that backfired, Wang Chuanbiao was now excessively well-behaved. When he came to pay, he seemed nervous, a tall boy of over one seventy centimeters, looking just like a timid quail—strange and comical.

Fang Chang’an didn’t bother to show him any special kindness. For Wang Chuanbiao, this was perhaps a good opportunity to improve himself, much like that Yang Chengqi.

Of course, boys this age are prone to fleeting enthusiasm. Whether Yang Chengqi would really reform and study diligently, Fang Chang’an had little hope and cared even less.

Why should he bother whether Yang studied or not?

Near the end of the first evening study session, Cheng Mengfei finally arrived, took a turn around the classroom, slipped to Fang Chang’an’s side, handed him his bicycle key, and whispered, “The bike’s behind the teaching building, parked near the edge.”

Fang Chang’an nodded, accepting the key.

Cheng Mengfei straightened, intending to remind everyone to pay the class leader, but Fang Chang’an proactively handed him the notebook and the bag of money, saying, “Two students forgot today. Here is two thousand and eighty from fifty people.”

Cheng Mengfei was a little surprised, but not shocked. He had thought Fang Chang’an would keep it until all payments were collected, but then realized that living at school, it was safer not to keep so much money. He accepted it, saying, “The other two students, remember to bring your money tomorrow and give it to the class leader.”

After the first evening study, Fang Chang’an began registering orders for tomorrow’s steamed buns. Class four had thirty-six students, ordering two hundred sixty-three buns, a little over seven each.

During this time, Fang Dianqiu came over, handed him class one’s list and the money: sixteen students, one hundred twelve buns—exactly seven per person.

After handing over the money, Fang Dianqiu hesitated, saying, “Ying Ying said she doesn’t want any tomorrow. Her class isn’t ordering either.”

Fang Chang’an nodded, took fifty cents from inside and slipped it into her pocket. Fang Dianqiu asked, “Why are you giving me this?”

Fang Chang’an smiled, “Your share is free.”

Fang Dianqiu’s eyes widened, “Is that okay?”

Fang Chang’an laughed, “With so many buns, it’ll surely be cheaper.”

Relieved, Fang Dianqiu nodded, then whispered, “I think Ying Ying might go buy her own.”

Fang Chang’an chuckled, “It’s fine, I guessed as much. Let her go if she wants, it’s not against the law.”

Fang Dianqiu asked, “Aren’t you worried?”

“Worrying won’t let me scold her or stop her from buying, will it?” Fang Chang’an smiled, “I said it’s fine, don’t worry.”

Fang Dianqiu didn’t know what else to do—emotionally and logically, she leaned toward Fang Chang’an, but Fang Ying was from their village, same surname and clan, so she couldn’t say much.

Seeing Fang Chang’an’s calm and peaceful demeanor, she felt reassured. Noticing the crowd around his desk, with Shen Mo helping collect and register money, she set her worries aside, blinked, and grinned mischievously, “Is Shen Mo helping you collect money?”

“Grown-ups’ business, kids shouldn’t meddle,” Fang Chang’an waved her away like shooing flies, “Alright, I’m busy.”

Fang Dianqiu grumbled discontentedly, but didn’t delay him further and returned to her own class.

After the second evening study, Liu Cheng brought over the lists for classes five, six, and seven—forty-five students, three hundred and twenty buns, nearly double last Friday’s amount.

Fang Chang’an took thirty-two yuan from Liu Cheng and asked, “Did you buy any for yourself, Cheng?”

Liu Cheng smiled, “I got ten.”

Fang Chang’an grinned, placing a one-yuan coin back in Liu Cheng’s pocket, “Don’t say such things.”

“Alright, I get it.”

Liu Cheng was a little excited—partly for the money: a yuan a day meant five a week, not a trivial sum. Partly for the special treatment, feeling qualified now to “share the loot” with Fang Chang’an, part of the inner circle.

He hesitated and asked, “Chang’an, should we ask the eighth graders too? My brother and Wei know a lot of people in other classes.”

Fang Chang’an smiled, “Of course, I’ll talk to Yan tonight.”

“Okay.”

After study ended, Fang Chang’an read a while, then after nine thirty went for a run with Wang Ke and Zheng Lili.

Having already lost before, Fang Chang’an was quite calm this time, running at his own pace. For the first time, he finished a full lap, and Wang Ke and Zheng Lili did too.

Girls naturally have less stamina, focusing only on running without knowing how to control stride, frequency, or breathing. Near the end, Fang Chang’an actually caught up with them.

Completing his first full lap, exhausted and breathless, Fang Chang’an had regained his dignity, was deeply satisfied, and in excellent spirits.

Then the two girls wanted to do long jump, but Fang Chang’an claimed weak legs and refused stubbornly, successfully preserving his dignity.

Laughing and chatting, the three walked through the moon gate and saw under the cafeteria awning, beneath the bulb, Liu Cheng, Liu Yan, Zhao Xu, and Chang Wei sitting and talking.

They were clearly waiting for Fang Chang’an. As he approached, Zhao Xu and Liu Yan immediately stood up, Chang Wei hesitated, then got to his feet, smiling, “Chang’an!”

He could have called him uncle and Fang Chang’an would not have minded, smiling calmly, “Wei, you’re here too? Waiting for me?”

“Yes.” Chang Wei nodded, gentle as a junior, glancing at Wang Ke and Zheng Lili.

Fang Chang’an said to Wang Ke, “I’ve got something to do, you two head back first.”

“You weren’t supposed to walk with us anyway,” Wang Ke said with a hint of displeasure at his dealings with these boys, pouted, muttered, and left with Zheng Lili for the girls’ dormitory.

Fang Chang’an and the others sat at the table, pulling out two benches, and laughed, “Wei, what’ve you been up to lately?”

Chang Wei hadn’t interacted much with Fang Chang’an, but had confirmed his close ties to Shen Baoguo, so was even more reserved than Liu Cheng, replying politely, “Same as always, school life.”

Liu Cheng had never seen Wei so deferential, realizing he acted just as he himself did before Fang Chang’an, and reflecting deeply that familiarity had made him too casual, lacking respect.

Fang Chang’an nodded, then said, “I thought you weren’t interested in buns, so I didn’t mention it. Hope you don’t mind.”

Chang Wei hadn’t expected such courtesy, and was a bit flattered, quickly waving his hands, “Not at all… I’m just joining in, lending a hand.”

He wasn’t short of money; his generosity was one reason he was a local leader—besides his courage and family background. He joined in purely to build ties with Fang Chang’an.

Fang Chang’an smiled, then asked, “Do you know anyone from other schools? In town, First High, Third High, Haitian?”

Chang Wei thought for a moment, “I know people from First and Third High, not Haitian. That’s a private school, stricter.”

Liu Yan added, “Someone from our village’s at Haitian, but…” He hesitated, “He’s a good student, pretty honest, probably doesn’t know many people.”

“That’s not urgent.”

Since Shen Chengyan hadn’t made up his mind yet, Fang Chang’an was just making casual inquiries, then said, “Cheng must have told you about the buns, so let me explain.”

“Honestly, buying so many buns, I’ll definitely make a bit, but I’m just a student—the real sellers are the bun shop. I can’t make much; originally I just wanted to eat a few more myself.”

“Wei, Xu, Yan, and Cheng, I’m grateful you’re willing to help, but I can’t let you do it for nothing. From now on, breakfast is on me.”

Chang Wei hurriedly said, “No need, really. It’s not much, and the shop owner doesn’t give much extra anyway…”

Liu Yan and Zhao Xu chimed in, “No need,” while Liu Cheng, having already taken ten buns for tomorrow, felt uneasy, realizing he’d gotten overconfident by taking Chang’an’s money.