Chapter 14 Choice
The next day, Ji Ling left.

Her father Ji Zhong drove specially to pick her up.

Before leaving, Ji Zhong came to Zhang's house to have a chat with Zhang Yunqi. Finally, he handed an envelope to Zhang Yunqi and said, "You have made a great contribution by reporting the case. This 2000 yuan is a reward from the government."

Zhang Yunqi accepted it. He didn't know whether the reward was from the government or Ji Zhong, but it didn't matter. He would pay according to his work. He said, "Uncle Ji, I have something else I want to ask you for help with."

"what?"

Zhang Yunqi asked, "Do you know that my father is in prison?"

Ji Zhong was stunned for a moment: "I have heard a little bit about it."

Zhang Yunqi said: "My father is now in the Guiping County Prison next door. I want to go see him."

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After Ji Zhong and Ji Ling left Yunxi Village, Zhang Yunqi's life became exceptionally peaceful. He ate and drank enough every day, read books, fed the pigs, and occasionally got some game to satisfy his hunger. He lived a very comfortable life.

In mid-August, Zhang Xiaonan brought two teachers from Jiangchuan No. 8 Middle School to Old Zhang's house. She chatted with Zhang's mother affectionately for a few words before casually saying, "Auntie, is Brother Yunfeng here?"

Aunt Zhang said, "He's hauling bricks for someone in town, so he probably won't be back until the evening. Xiaonan, is there anything you can do for me? How about I ask Yunqi to go and get him back?"

Zhang Xiaonan blushed and said, "Auntie, it doesn't matter if he didn't come back. I came here today to talk about Yunqi's study. This is Luo Dahai, the director of teaching at our No. 1 Middle School, and the person in charge of admissions for this class; this is Mr. Zhao Wentian, who is also from our school."

This was a big deal. In order to recruit the county's top scorer, even the dean of education showed up. Zhang Ma was a little confused, so Zhang Xiaonan said, "Auntie, I know that Yunqi applied for a technical secondary school because he wanted to work early to share the burden of the family. But now the country's technical secondary education system has many drawbacks, and the work package allocation system has more and more contradictions. If you watch the news, you will know that the Ministry of Education is already planning to reform the higher education system. It is estimated that in a few years, technical secondary school students may not be popular. More importantly, Yunqi is the county's top scorer in the high school entrance examination. Such a good seedling will be able to go to a key university in the future, and he has a chance to go to Tsinghua University or Peking University."

Zhang Xiaonan was obviously prepared. She appealed to her feelings and reasoned with him: "Auntie, I am also from Yunxi Village. I watched Yunqi grow up. I will not harm him."

"Sister, Zhang, I have some recruitment materials here. You can take a look at them first." Luo Dahai took out a stack of brochures from his bag at the right time and handed them to Zhang's mother and Zhang Yunqi respectively, saying with a smile: "Zhang, I think choice is more important than hard work. Going to No. 1 Middle School is to fight for a better future for yourself!"

Director Luo was very artistic in his speech. Zhang Yunqi smiled, took the brochure and flipped through it casually. The brochure was well done, with many flowers and decorations. He looked up at Luo Dahai and said directly, "If I go to your No. 1 Middle School, what conditions can your school offer?"

Luo Dahai was stunned. He only regarded Zhang Yunqi as a student, and he didn't expect him to ask so directly. After a long while, Luo Dahai came back to his senses, coughed and said, "It's like this, our Jiangchuan No. 1 High School is the best high school in the entire Xiangnan area!"

Zhang Yunqi found that Luo Dahai was not very sensible. If the No. 1 Middle School in the city was not the best middle school in Jiangchuan, he would have gone to the toilet to squat and shit to kill time, instead of wasting his saliva here.

The high-quality students from the subordinate counties and towns have always been the favorites of all the major middle schools. Jiangchuan City has a total of 8 counties, which means there are only 8 county top scorers in the high school entrance examination. As the top scorer in Fengyang County's high school entrance examination this year, he is naturally the key target of the admissions offices of various middle schools in Jiangchuan City. The schools that want to be favored by him are lining up to wait. Your No. Middle School in this city may be awesome, but if you don't produce something substantial, I won't serve you.

Zhang Yunqi was too lazy to talk nonsense with Luo Dahai, and said directly to Zhang Xiaonan: "Sister Xiaonan, you know that my family couldn't afford to send me to high school, so they sent me to a technical secondary school. I graduated early and got a job early, so I could share the pressure on my family. If I go to high school, I will have to take the college entrance examination later, and I won't be able to afford the tuition fees."

He was lying with his eyes open. If it were in the past, his family really couldn't afford to send him to high school, but now the tuition fees are not a big deal for his family. However, there is no reason to let go of any benefits that can be obtained.

Zhang Xiaonan said, "I understand this situation, Yunqi, if you have any ideas or requests, you can bring them up. Director Luo is here and will definitely help you solve them as much as possible."

"Yes, Zhang, if you have any difficulties, you can raise them first. The school will definitely try its best to help you solve them." Luo Dahai had already sensed Zhang Yunqi's dissatisfaction with his previous evasion. To be honest, this little guy didn't look like a junior high school graduate at all. He was very realistic. It seemed difficult to win him over unless he came up with something substantial.

Zhang Yunqi said: "The No. 2 Middle School in the city also came to me a few days ago. The school promised to waive all fees and fully subsidize living expenses every month."

He just talks nonsense without any hesitation and he is not afraid of the other party investigating. The No. 1 Middle School and the No. 2 Middle School in the city are sworn enemies. The two schools are competing for students. How can you possibly know the other's strengths and weaknesses?

Luo Dahai took a sip of strong tea and said with a smile: "I admit that the conditions offered by the No. 2 Middle School are very generous, but classmate Zhang, you should also know why the No. 2 Middle School gives you such a good treatment. In terms of teaching staff and teaching environment, the No. 2 Middle School cannot compare with our No. 1 Middle School. This year's No. 1 student in the science subject of Xiangnan Province is from our school. Classmate Zhang, with your talent in learning, if you come to our No. 1 Middle School, maybe you will be the No. 1 student in the province in three years. Of course, I also know that your family situation is a bit special and it is a bit difficult for you to go to high school. Let's put it this way, our school will give you special policy treatment. If you come to our school to study, we will waive your tuition and miscellaneous fees for three years."

Zhang Yunqi was completely immune to Luo Dahai's high-sounding words. He said directly: "If it's just about waiving tuition and miscellaneous fees, I think the treatment is a bit poor."

Luo Dahai said quickly: "In addition to exempting tuition and miscellaneous fees, if you can remain in the top 20 in the school in the final exams every year, the school will also provide an additional high scholarship!"

Zhang Yunqi understood after hearing this. This should be their maximum authority. However, he had no idea about giving scholarships to the top 20 students. Jiangchuan No. 1 Middle School has produced many talented people, so we won't get involved in this mess.

So he said, "Director Luo, what you said is all fine, but I have a request of my own."

Director Luo's throat was a little dry. Why was this guy never going to stop? He was just a dean of teaching, not the principal. He didn't have the authority to meet this or that request. But now he had to ask for help. There were many high-quality students in the No. 1 Middle School, but there were not many top students like this who could get into Tsinghua University or Peking University. He had no choice but to smile as brightly as a chrysanthemum and said politely, "Tell me what you want. The school will do its best to help you solve it."

Zhang Yunqi said, "I want to choose my own class."

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(End of this chapter)