The next morning.
Chen Jianguo went to the factory and asked the workshop supervisor for half a day off.
He didn't wear his oil-stained work clothes, changing instead into a clean, white short-sleeved shirt and a pair of gray trousers.
He rode his bicycle out of the factory complex, down Jiefang Road, and all the way to the gate of the Municipal Education Bureau's compound.
Several black sedans were parked inside the compound.
Chen Jianguo locked his bicycle in the bike shed and walked into the main building.
He made his way up to the third floor and found the director's office.
He knocked.
"Come in."
Chen Jianguo pushed the door open and went inside.
The office was spacious and cool; the air conditioning was running.
Behind the desk sat a middle-aged man with glasses—Director Ma of the Education Bureau.
On a nearby sofa sat the principal of City No.1 Middle School, the same man who had previously escorted Chen Zhuo to the Provincial City.
"Director Ma," Chen Jianguo began.
Director Ma looked up.
Upon seeing Chen Jianguo, he immediately stood up, a warm smile spreading across his face.
"Ah, Jianguo, you're here! Please, have a seat."
Director Ma came around from behind his desk and led Chen Jianguo to the sofa, while the principal also greeted him with a smile.
Director Ma picked up a pack of Chunghwa cigarettes from the desk and offered one to Chen Jianguo.
Chen Jianguo took it and tucked it behind his ear.
"So, Jianguo."
Director Ma personally poured a cup of tea and placed it in front of Chen Jianguo.
"The city has made a decision. Chen Zhuo did exceptionally well on his exams this time, bringing great honor to the Zeyang City education community."
Director Ma pointed to a document on his desk.
"The city has decided to award Chen Zhuo a special bonus of ten thousand yuan."
Director Ma leaned back on the sofa and said with a smile,
"We're planning to call the city's television station tomorrow, head over to your family residential compound, hang up a banner, and hold a commendation ceremony. We'll also have the mayor personally present the money to the boy. What do you think?"
Chen Jianguo stared at the steam rising from the teacup. He didn't drink the tea.
He looked at Director Ma.
"Director," Chen Jianguo's voice was steady.
"As for the money, I thank the city on my son's behalf. But the commendation ceremony... could we perhaps not do it?"
Director Ma was taken aback for a moment, his smile fading by half.
"Jianguo, this is a token of the city's goodwill. Besides, we need to do some publicity, set an example for others."
Chen Jianguo shook his head.
"It's not that we're ungrateful."
Chen Jianguo leaned forward slightly, resting his hands on his knees.
"Director, yesterday afternoon, reporters from the Provincial City newspaper cornered me in the hallway of my apartment building."
Chen Jianguo looked Director Ma in the eye.
"They wanted my son to hold a broom and pretend to be working, while also holding a book. They said they wanted to take one of those photos—the kind that shows him studying desperately despite being poor and exhausted."
Director Ma frowned.
Chen Jianguo continued.
"I chased them away. Director, my son, Chen Zhuo, is going to Huizhou next month. To Huake University.
"I'm just a worker; I don't understand any grand principles. But I do know that if the city holds another big ceremony, and he ends up on TV and in the papers, our residential compound will turn into a complete circus."
Chen Jianguo's tone was sincere, yet carried a stubborn edge.
"If the boy is constantly hounded by these people, forced to do those staged photo-ops, and his mindset gets ruined, he might not be able to keep up when he gets to Huizhou. He could even get sent back."
Chen Jianguo looked at Director Ma.
"I don't want that to happen. And I imagine the city wouldn't want to see that outcome either."
There wasn't any of the roundabout talk of an educated man; it was all plain, hard truth.
But every single word hit home for Director Ma.
'Chen Zhuo is now a recognized genius, even at the provincial level. What if the local over-the-top publicity ends up ruining the kid? Who would take the blame for that?'
Director Ma contemplated for a moment, then glanced at the principal beside him.
The principal nodded as well, saying nothing.
"You're right."
Director Ma slapped his thigh.
"Protecting talent is the top priority. We can't interfere with the boy's life just for a bit of publicity."
Director Ma stood up.
"As for those reporters from the provincial papers, the Bureau will step in and talk to them, tell them to go back. The commendation ceremony is canceled."
Director Ma walked to his desk, picked up the document, swiftly signed his name, and handed it to Chen Jianguo.
"Take this, go to the finance department on the first floor, and you can collect the money directly."
Chen Jianguo took the document and stood up.
"Thank you, Director."
Chen Jianguo stepped out of the elevator on the first floor and turned left.
The door to the finance department was open. Inside, there was a row of windows with iron bars.
Chen Jianguo walked up to a window and passed the document through.
The cashier inside glanced at the document, then at Chen Jianguo.
"Do you have your ID card and household registration book?"
"I have them."
Chen Jianguo took a plastic bag out of his pocket.
It contained the household registration book and his ID card, which he passed through the window.
The cashier checked them and took out a large, thick, hardcover ledger.
The finance ledger.
They flipped it open to a new page and pushed it out of the window.
"Sign here, and here."
Chen Jianguo picked up the black ink pen from the counter.
In the designated column, he carefully wrote out his name: Chen Jianguo.
He wrote slowly, pressing down hard.
"And a thumbprint."
The cashier passed out a small box of red ink paste.
Chen Jianguo held out his right thumb. Faint traces of oil, not entirely washed away, were still visible in the whorls of his fingerprint.
He pressed it hard into the ink paste, then stamped it over his name. The red fingerprint was clearly visible.
The cashier took back the ledger.
They turned around and opened the safe behind them.
They took out a thick stack of money—brand new one-hundred-yuan bills.
One hundred of them.
The stack was bound crosswise with white paper bands, which were stamped with an official seal.
The cashier pushed the money through the window.
Chen Jianguo took it.
The stack was thick. It had the unique smell of new bills.
Ten thousand yuan, held solidly in his hands.

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