Chapter 33 - Shocking Points
“Taishi Xiu, what did you just say?” No one wants to be branded a traitor. With that in mind, Huang Shouren glared at Taishi Xiu, seething with anger.
“Enough with the bickering,” Death God commanded, his expression darkening.
“Shut your mouth,” snapped Huang Shouren without thinking.
“Repeat that,” Death God demanded, locking eyes with Huang Shouren, emphasizing each word.
In that instant, Death God seemed to embody terror itself.
Somehow, Huang Shouren had the sudden realization that crossing Death God at this juncture would be exceedingly unwise.
“Captain, in your opinion, who's at fault here?” Huang Shouren asked, turning to Ning Xuan.
“Taishi Xiu has gone too far,” Ning Xuan mused before responding.
“I knew you wouldn't be as narrow-minded as Taishi Xiu.”
“Who are you calling narrow-minded?” Taishi Xiu fumed, pointing at Huang Shouren. “Say that one more time!”
“What's the problem?” Huang Shouren retorted, his own anger rising as Taishi Xiu jabbed a finger at his nose. “Captain, I don't think someone like Taishi Xiu fits in with the Vermillion Bird Team anymore.”
“You're trying to get rid of me?” Huang Shouren chuckled. “If you're staying on the Vermillion Bird Team, then I'm out.”
“Do you really think the captain would pick you over me? Without you, the Vermillion Bird Team would have already been ranked among the top ten elite teams,” Huang Shouren vented, releasing his long-held frustrations.
“Captain?” Taishi Xiu turned to Ning Xuan, seeking her judgment.
Ning Xuan gave them a brief look before delivering her verdict, “Huang Shouren is right. Without you, Taishi Xiu, the Vermillion Bird Team would have been in the top ten a long time ago.”
As Ning Xuan's words hung in the air, a smug smile spread across Huang Shouren's face.
Taishi Xiu's spirits plummeted.
Death God's expression fluctuated unpredictably.
“So, if I must choose between the two of you,” Ning Xuan declared in a deliberate and firm voice, “I choose Taishi Xiu.”
At that moment, everyone—Taishi Xiu, Huang Shouren, and even Death God—was taken aback.
“Captain, could you have misspoken?” Huang Shouren's heart sank with foreboding.
Ning Xuan rarely misspoke.
“Have you gone deaf?” Ning Xuan asked coolly. “Huang Shouren, you're no longer a fit for the Vermillion Bird Team.” She paused before adding, “Taishi, Death God, let's move out.”
Upon Ye Hao's return to the hotel, Taishi Xiu was already at the door.
“Did you get some rest?”
“Ye Hao, can we talk about something?”
“Go ahead.”
“Could you lend me three hundred thousand?” Taishi Xiu asked sheepishly.
“Are you deep in debt?”
“With your three hundred thousand, I can settle it all.”
“Why not ask your teammates?”
“If the Captain finds out, I'm done for. Plus, do you really think I can count on those two?”
“Fine. When can you pay back the hundred thousand?”
“I can give it to you right now.” Taishi Xiu then handed over a briefcase.
Ye Hao peeked inside and saw it contained one hundred thousand dollars.
“Thank you,” Ye Hao said, grinning.
He was confident that the one hundred thousand dollars would alleviate his family's financial worries for now.
That same afternoon, Ye Hao and Guo Xiu caught a train home. Ye Zhiguo shook all over when he saw the cash.
Ye Hao entrusted the one hundred thousand dollars to Ye Zhiguo's discretion.
To their surprise, Ye Zhiguo lent the entire sum to Lee.
“Lee had only managed to borrow one hundred and ten thousand. Even after we return thirty thousand to the Lee family, they'll still be short by nearly sixty thousand,” Ye Zhiguo explained somberly. “Lee is considering selling the family home. He's over fifty; if he sells it, he'll have nowhere to live.”
“Lee helped us out with thirty thousand when Hao was in the hospital. We can't just ignore their troubles now.”
Guo Xiu was initially upset with Ye Zhiguo for lending seventy thousand to Lee.
The Ye family was still in debt for several hundred thousand, after all. And given the Lee family's predicament, when could they ever repay it?
It was too late for words now.
Over the next few days, Ye Hao stayed home immersed in books, as Guo Xiu had forbidden him from wandering about.
Days slipped by in this manner.
By noon on the 25th, examinees and parents nationwide were glued to their computers, anxiously awaiting the release of the scores.
Ye Hao's parents were among them.
As Ye Hao keyed in his admission ticket number, his scores crisply displayed on the screen.
Language 150, Mathematics 150, English 0, Physics 100, Chemistry 100, Biology 100, Geography 100, History 100, Politics 100, for a total of 900 points.
A flicker of astonishment crossed Ye Hao's eyes.
He hadn't anticipated his analytical questions would escape penalty, nor did he expect his essay to earn perfect marks.
It was an honor indeed.
“First in Jiangnan City, 82nd in the province, and 1,840th nationally.” Guo Xiu was stunned by Ye Hao's rankings.
Ye Zhiguo was equally speechless with amazement.
Despite missing an exam, Ye Hao had still managed to score 900 points.
The leadership at No.3 High School was promptly informed of Ye Hao's performance.
“900 points.”
“He's the only candidate from Jiangnan City to achieve 900 points.”
“He's ranked 1,840th. Such a shame.” The principal of No.3 High School sighed lightly, “If he had been ranked 1,800th, he might have had a shot at one of the top six elite universities.”
Each of these premier institutions in C Country only admits 300 students annually, totaling 1,800.
“Principal, given Ye Hao's unique circumstances, could there be some flexibility?” Zhang Jinsheng's anxiety grew as he reviewed Ye Hao's scores.
If not for Hsu Lee, Ye Hao might well have reached the elusive 1,000-point mark.
Since the nation's founding, only three individuals had ever achieved such a score.
One was the director of Confucius College, an internationally acclaimed master of Confucian Taoism with unparalleled influence. Another was the head of the Traditional Medical Academy, a legendary figure in C Country's traditional medicine who had treated countless challenging cases, bringing global recognition to the field. The last was the director of the Huaxia Engineering College, a world-renowned physicist and mathematician, instrumental in the development of Huaxia's advanced strategic weaponry.
Principal Xie Tianhua of No.3 High School pondered for a moment before declaring, “I'm heading to the Education Bureau now.”
Upon his arrival at the Education Bureau, Xie Tianhua was greeted by the sound of roaring from the Director's office.
“Get Xie Tianhua in here,” Du Hong demanded, his voice seething with anger.
Jiangnan City's educational standards had always ranked at the bottom within the entire province. But this time, Jiangnan City had finally produced a student who scored over 900 points.
This achievement could significantly improve the city's tarnished educational reputation.
However, Du Hong was stunned when he reviewed Ye Hao's scores.
Zero points in English.
What could have possibly happened?
Even without serious effort, one could easily score 30 points.
With a decent English score, Ye Hao would have had no trouble gaining admission to any of the top six elite universities.
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