Chapter 84: The Calligraphy Competition Returns

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Rebirth: Fulfilling Dreams Without Distractions

Second update completed. Xiao Mo asks for your recommendation votes!

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“Brother, I’m heading to school! Will you promise me something?” On the fifteenth day of the lunar year, after the Lantern Festival, Yang Xueling slung her backpack over her shoulder and prepared to return to school, riding the Phoenix bicycle Yang Tian had bought for her.

It is as the old saying goes: girls change dramatically as they grow. After the New Year, Yang Xueling was another year older, and she looked quite different from last year. Her round cheeks, long braids tied behind her head, and the snow-white school uniform made her appear even more lively. Yet, the pressure of being a third-year middle school student was evident on her; she studied late into the night every day, and her small eyes were still red from exhaustion.

“Tell me, what is it?” Yang Tian once again checked her bicycle’s tires and brakes for any issues.

“There are only four months left until my entrance exams. The pressure is overwhelming. I may not come home on weekends anymore. Will you visit me at Victory Middle School every weekend?” Yang Xueling smiled sweetly, her voice tinged with a plea.

“Of course, I have a motorcycle. It’ll be easy to visit you!” Yang Tian agreed immediately. He knew Xueling wanted to get into Binhai No. 1 High School, just like him and Huang Juan. The pressure was immense, just as it had been for him and Huang Juan back then.

“Then it’s settled! Don’t break your promise!” Xueling laughed joyfully.

“I won’t. Have I ever broken my word to you?” Yang Tian patted her little head and smiled.

“No, you haven’t! Alright, brother, I’m off to school!” Xueling shrank her head, mounted her bike, and set off.

“Be careful on the road!” Yang Tian called out, as he always did whenever Xueling left for school.

“I know! Remember our promise—I’ll wait for you at the school gate every weekend. Don’t skip out!” Xueling waved to Yang Tian and soon disappeared down the road at the west end of the Great Willow Tree.

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On the eighteenth day of the lunar month, Binhai No. 1 High School welcomed the new semester. Upon returning to school, Yang Tian’s first order of business was to head to Hongyu Internet Café and find Zhang Zhi, suggesting that they open four more branches in the first half of the year.

Zhang Zhi was sipping a cola at the time and nearly choked upon hearing this. Opening four branches in half a year was no small feat.

Last year, their rapid expansion was thanks to the popularity of the game membership cards. To open four more branches this year would require a new project.

Yang Tian had long anticipated this. His plan was to install official versions of “King of Fighters 98” and “Red Alert 98.” Compared to pirated versions, the official games offered a much better experience, especially the graphics, which could drive game enthusiasts wild.

He also intended to install game controllers, specially designed for the competitive matches in “King of Fighters 98.” Though the controllers might seem a bit gimmicky, the uniqueness of this game would surely make them a craze, becoming a major feature of Hongyu Internet Café.

After listening to Yang Tian’s proposal, Zhang Zhi thought it over, then gritted his teeth and agreed. Cautious though he was, he spared no effort when it came to expanding Hongyu Internet Café.

Yang Tian’s motivation was singular: to boost the sales of game membership cards and stabilize the time cardholders spent on the computers, thus earning a substantial commission. This was one of the ways he accumulated funds for the resort he planned to build.

Yang Tian’s confidence stemmed from another reason: Zhang Zhi’s sister, Zhang Xiuxiu, was about to open an investment company on behalf of their family in Binhai City. This meant he and Zhang Zhi were fully capable of opening four more branches.

Next, he would use every means at his disposal to earn money, propelling his journey to fulfill his dreams to new heights.

“The new semester has begun. I know each of you must have new plans, but there’s something I want to tell you in advance: the annual Binhai City Middle School Calligraphy Competition is about to begin again. This year marks the competition’s tenth anniversary, so the Cultural Bureau is giving it special attention. The first prize has been raised to ten thousand yuan, and even the top prize in each district has increased to fifteen hundred yuan. I hope you all give it a try, and treat it as a tribute to the competition’s tenth birthday—it’s our own event, after all!” In the new semester’s class meeting, Bao Yuehong stood energetically at the podium, guiding her students.

Today, she wore a black trench coat. Though the weather was cold and everyone was bundled up, the knee-length coat accentuated her slender figure.

At this point, she glanced at Yang Tian with a hopeful smile. Yang Tian, however, was unaware. If she woke that day and realized she’d fallen asleep clutching his leg, what would she feel? Hopefully, she never finds out!

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The calligraphy competition immediately stirred up the once-quiet class. The prize was enticing, and even simply earning an honorary certificate, stamped with the special tenth-anniversary insignia, was a significant badge of pride for any student.

“Yang Tian, are you signing up?” Zhao Shilei, after boasting to the girls behind him about his brushwork and how he was sure to win a place, leaned forward and asked Yang Tian with a grin.

“Of course he’s participating! If he doesn’t win a prize, there’s hardly anyone in our class—or even our school—who could!” Chen Ming interjected loudly before Yang Tian could answer.

“Seriously? Isn’t that a bit exaggerated?” Zhao Shilei scoffed.

“Oh, what do you know! Back in first year, Yang Tian took first in the Eastern Division and fifth in the finals!” Chen Ming shot Zhao Shilei a glare. He had gone through it all with Yang Tian—the day Yang Tian broke Victory Middle School’s record was vivid in his memory.

“Wow, that’s amazing!” Zhao Shilei’s face was full of surprise. Even Zhang Yunxiang, who had been reading a novel nearby, quickly looked up, gazing at Yang Tian with admiration.

“Absolutely. Though he didn’t participate in second or third year, he spent those three years practicing calligraphy under his grandfather’s guidance. His brushwork now is even more refined than before, nearly indistinguishable from a professional calligrapher!” Huang Juan smiled proudly, but soon realized she might have misspoken by mentioning Yang Tian’s grandfather, who had just passed away. His grief had not yet faded.

So, after her words, she looked at Yang Tian with concern and a face full of apology.

“Wow, so the city’s top prize might be coming from our class? Awesome! My dad loves calligraphy—now I can brag to him that I have a classmate who’s a calligrapher!” Zhao Shilei jumped up with joy.

“For the past two years, I didn’t compete in the calligraphy contest—that was my grandfather’s decision. He felt my foundation wasn’t solid enough, and it was best for me to focus on practice, rather than distractions like big competitions. But this time, I think he’d support me in giving it a try!” Yang Tian smiled at Huang Juan, signaling her not to feel guilty. His grandfather’s passing, after the sorrow subsided, had only fueled his determination to promote the Yang Family Yan Style.

This time, he wouldn’t just participate—he would strive to be the best. What he sought wasn’t the vanity of winning first place, nor the ten-thousand-yuan prize, but the recognition of the Yang Family Yan Style by everyone.