Chapter 46 Strength Evaluation

predict where they'll be or what they'll be doing a decade from now.Unknown futures bring a sense of awe along with anticipation; perhaps there's also a tinge of melancholy due to dissatisfaction wit...Volume 3, Chapter 46: Strength Evaluation Test

"I haven't paid yet!" Tang Wu was both embarrassed and anxious. Her家庭教育, background, as well as the principles of conduct she had learned from role models in her admiration, never included taking something without paying for it.

Moreover, this happened right under everyone's eyes. When Su Cen left with a bag full of items, the salesperson probably didn't even realize what was happening.

"It doesn't matter; these things are free," Su Cen smiled and said, "Have you ever thought about doing something crazy during your student days"

Like not paying for anything and just walking away Only in your imagination would such strange thoughts occur! She's going to return all the items to their rightful owners. Her face was burning with embarrassment, imagining what kind of commotion might happen on this bustling slope if someone were to catch up.

"Alright then, that stationary shop is run by my mother, and they know me, so these things are already charged to my account. Don't you think not everyone can do as I do and walk out with items without paying If we operated like that, our store would be bankrupt in no time."

Tang Wu stared at him blankly, her dark eyes blinking a few times before raising her small hand to hit him hard twice. It seemed she was releasing some of her dissatisfaction, but this action inadvertently added more warmth to the scene. "I will pay for these items eventually," she said.

"Are you angry" Su Cen felt Tang Wu's slight punches under her scolding. A few students from their class passed by and were so startled at seeing the cold-hearted Tang Wu in such a state that they didn't even dare to greet them.

Tang Wu, however, stared back at Su Cen, shook her head, "I'm not angry, it's just I can't accept your gifts without compensation or my family would disapprove. Thank you anyway."

"Alright then," said Su Cen with a smile, "it’s almost the weekend now; can we spend time together during each weekend if you’re free Even the most efficient brain needs some rest too."

“Sure.”

The two walked into the school side by side, strolling down paths and squares before entering the teaching building. This process seemed short but also long. It reminded Su Cen of those small roads, streets, gardens, green spaces he had passed every day on his way to school in his later life, as well as his lonely journey through them. That was an era of high school when he wasn't regarded as anything special or prestigious, yet clearly now both he and Tang Wu had become the focus of this school.

Everything seemed to come naturally, but only Su Cen knew how much upheaval without visible conflict this scene represented. He used to have no particular status, no honorific titles like "model student," no beautiful campus, no memories or past with someone special by his side. In contrast, the current scene was filled with an indelible influence and impact.

Students from Class Two and Three had started discussing this: "Hey, do you know that Tang Wu from Class Five, apparently..."

When the two stood together on the sunlit corridor, someone would pass by them with a hint of envy. Tang Wu, who was at the top in academic performance across all grades, and Su Cen, not as outstanding but equally exceptional, had become the most fitting couple among those students buried in their studies and sweating under the sun every day.

Pursuing celebrities like Elva Mai or Andy Lau seemed unrealistic; these school celebrities were more relatable.

On the bus at the weekend when school was dismissed, Xu Yi Yang sat at the back with two girls standing behind him greeting him. One girl was taller and had an ordinary face but sparkling eyes. The other was shorter but appeared very astute. Xu Yi Yang should have known them from junior high, a common occurrence in this circle of students: some were classmates in kindergarten, primary school alumni, junior high schoolmates, and then senior high school alumni again. It wasn't surprising to see many small circles within the larger student body, like chips divided into various sections on memory boards.

"They are Chen Jie and Zhang Miao from Class One, you must have heard of them; they rank either third or fourth in their class." Xu Yi Yang introduced them with a memorable tone.

The two standing girls subtly raised their chests, glancing at Su Cen with a faint sense of superiority. One smiled and said, "We can only fight for the top three rankings; we can never compete for first or second place." Although it sounded humble, there was an underlying pride.

Of course, this haughty feeling couldn't last forever. As the bus continued driving, Xu Yi Yang could start a conversation easily, and the two girls were also talkative, engaging them in discussions about Richard's piano skills, lamenting the passing of Pinkerton Edward, discussing international events such as NATO’s bombing of Yugoslavia.

They even mentioned Tang Wu who was second in overall academic ranking, talking about Liu Junjie, the future top student of their school and a potential Tsinghua University狀元 (top graduate), writing romantic poems for her admiration.

The conversation then shifted to Xu Yi Yang: "By the way, which class are you in now"

Xue Yiyang sighed, feeling that he was indeed a small fry, as no one remembered him after a few classes. He said, "Fifth class."

The two girls looked at each other and asked, "Do you know Su Can in the fifth class"

Xue Yiyang shook his head to look at Su Can. His mouth opened and closed, and he froze for a moment before the two girls got excited and started bombarding him with questions like "How is he", "Is he good-looking", "Does he have good interpersonal relationships", "Is he tall", "Can he play basketball" "Hey, do you guys actually know him or not" A series of investigative questions.

The whole back of the bus fell silent because of these two assertive girls.

Su Can nodded and said, "I know the person you're talking about. If there's no misunderstanding, it should be me."

There was a saying: Pretending to be knowledgeable is a basic quality for someone who has been reborn.

A nation represents an unerasable historical heritage and even the imprint of civilization and soul. A weak country means weak willpower among its people, whose frail bodies could be oppressed, enslaved, or massacred at any time. Only in a strong country can citizens receive respect, their rights get better protection and recognition, and their value be fully realized.

May 8th of the year 1999 should be a day that no citizen of any future nation would forget. Since ancient times, there was an adage that during wars between two countries, envoys were not to be harmed. In medieval Western Europe, envoys played a role in communication and exchange between nations, being treated as sacred and special entities receiving ritualistic protection. Yet on May 8th, the Chinese embassy was hit by five precision-guided weapons, which was undoubtedly a resounding slap delivered by NATO military alliance to all citizens.

Su Can tried his best to recall these memories in his mind at home, contemplating everything he had experienced and would experience from this point forward.

For him, this was the greatest wealth and ability. In fact, up until now, he had been using his experiences from a later time to handle people and matters, as well as cherishing every opportunity that could come his way.

What could he do What could he change

He can enable his family members to seize opportunities to let go of the past and achieve a leap towards a completely different life through these opportunities. He can also help others around him break free from their predetermined fates. This is not about being a savior; only numb people would idly watch as those close to them, who are so real in their return to the past, head toward an inevitable doom.

Su Cen isn't an angry youth, and he won't wait until something happens before jumping up angrily to criticize certain hegemonic nations that preach humanitarianism yet cause human disasters. Of course, such criticisms, even international public opinion, are irrelevant to them. For the country to develop rapidly and strengthen its military capabilities, it must bide its time and lay low.

The flood in 1998 served as a reminder for Su Cen that he cannot change everything. So far, his influence is limited to his surroundings and activities, at most affecting one school.

As for an entire city, province, or country, those are areas beyond his direct influence. But what about indirect influence

Su Cen wants to change the NATO bombing of the Chinese embassy, not because he has high ideological覺悟 (awareness) or is particularly great. Everyone harbors both major and minor grievances—business conflicts, political competition, and physical altercations are minor grievances.

National humiliation and family hatred represent major grievances.

Minor grievances can be set aside, but major ones cannot be forgotten. As for the three embassy staff members killed in the bombing, Su Cen doesn't remember their names but vividly recalls how this event made many long-complacent people in China feel death's proximity for the first time.

Su Cen wants to know if he can control and change this upcoming event now that he knows about it. It's a moment to test his capabilities.

To gauge how powerful he is now.

How should he reveal what he knows to raise people’s awareness, especially the高層 (high-level) officials' Running straight to the provincial national security department Hoping for their attention might first land him under scrutiny as a rumor-monger, then sent off to a mental hospital for an evaluation, and finally be escorted home by his parents to rest.

The events will still occur; warning about them in such an overt manner would only lead to trouble for himself.the engineering division isn’t about money. Director Tong managed to procure some funding from above during her recent visit, but the crux of the matter is credibility. Now, when people talk about our...