On the way to the delivery station, Shen Qiushan received a call from Xu Decai, saying that the transfer student matter had been settled, and he should go to the school tomorrow to complete the procedures.
This result was within Shen Qiushan’s expectations. Sanjiang City High School is a municipal key school, ranking slightly above average among the nearly hundred high schools in Sanjiang City. Its management and student resources cannot compare with those top high schools.
Therefore, opening a way with a red envelope to get a transfer spot shouldn’t be a big problem for Shen Qiushan.
And indeed, that’s how it turned out. Thirty-eight-year-old Shen Qiushan could return to the high school campus he left 20 years ago as soon as tomorrow!
Thinking about this, he really felt a mix of emotions.
They all say that time can’t flow backward, lives can’t be relived.
But returning to high school for Shen Qiushan was essentially another chance to walk the path of youth.
As his thoughts drifted,
Shen Qiushan had already arrived at the entrance of the delivery station.
"Brother Shan, Old Zhang has been looking for you for a while."
"Old Shen, what’s going on with you? Why have you been out of contact?"
Upon seeing Shen Qiushan, two couriers, half-leaning on their electric bikes for a rest, spoke up one after another.
"There’s a situation at home, need to take a break for a while."
Shen Qiushan replied as he strode into the delivery station.
At this time, a few delivery guys were chatting while changing batteries on their electric bikes, and one of them said, "Damn, it’s really getting hard to do this job. Went to a beauty salon to deliver food this afternoon, and some chick actually asked me if I wanted to sign up for a membership card. I don’t know what she’s thinking!"
"Haha, did that chick take a liking to you?"
"Tsk tsk, if she’d spend a few days with me, I might actually consider it. She looks rather flirtatious."
"Spend a few days? Wouldn’t your whole month be a waste then..."
If Shen Qiushan heard this kind of conversation in the past, he’d have joined in for a couple of exchanges. But now, his mind involuntarily drifted to Luo Meimei’s nimble techniques.
"Old Shen, you’re finally back!"
"What’s the situation, the complaint hotline almost exploded!"
At this time, Zhang Qiang, the head of the delivery station, came out of the inner office with a big tea mug. He happened to see Shen Qiushan and immediately started complaining.
"Something came up with the kid at school, I had to go to the school unexpectedly."
Shen Qiushan simply explained.
"Then why did you go off the grid, the customer didn’t receive the food, and complaint calls came one after another reaching headquarters."
"I explained to people for ages."
Zhang Qiang, the station manager, had a pretty good relationship with Shen Qiushan, and when head office called to inquire, he indeed said a lot of nice things in his defense.
"No worries, the fines can be deducted from my salary."
"Moreover, Brother Qiang, I’m gonna stop doing this job for a while, need a break."
Shen Qiushan came back to the station just because he had a decent relationship with Zhang Qiang and wanted to say it face-to-face.
"What?"
"You’re quitting?"
Zhang Qiang was taken aback, frowning, and asked, "What happened, is there some big trouble at home? Need any help?"
"No need."
Shen Qiushan waved his hand, "I just want to live differently, let’s have a drink sometime!"
"Really nothing?"
"If there is, just say it brother, if I can help, I definitely will!"
Zhang Qiang thought Shen Qiushan had some pressing issue, otherwise, why quit so suddenly. After all, he still had two high school kids to support at home.
"Brother Qiang, you really can’t help with this one."
Shen Qiushan leaned close to Zhang Qiang and whispered while putting his arm around his shoulder, "I’m planning to take the college entrance exam."
"What?"
"You want to take the college entrance exam???"
Zhang Qiang exclaimed, his eyes wide open.
With his shout, the nearby delivery riders who were chatting about the girl also cast looks of disbelief.
"Brother Shan, you want to take the college entrance exam?"
"Old Shen, you’re not running a fever, are you?"
"Isn’t it your kid taking the college entrance exam this year???"
The delivery riders were all baffled.
Originally, Shen Qiushan only intended to tell Zhang Qiang because he was more concerned about him, but it ended up known to the whole station.
Even so, Shen Qiushan didn’t explain much but cheerfully said, "When we celebrate the admission, all of you are invited!"
"I’m off first, need to get back to studying!"
Not waiting for everyone to react, Shen Qiushan hurried away.
However, after he left, the delivery station was in an uproar.
"Has Old Shen gone mad?"
"Seems like it, who takes the college entrance exam at this age!"
"How old is Brother Shan this year?"
"38, two years older than me!"
"Taking the college entrance exam at 38? What’s Brother Shan thinking??"
"Haven’t you noticed he’s been reading books every day lately, I think he’s serious!"
"Whether he’s serious or not, taking the college entrance exam at 38, isn’t that just nonsense, like strapping a rope to a chicken’s butt..."
"..."
Everyone discussed animatedly, and soon, the news that Shen Qiushan intended to take the college entrance exam spread among the delivery riders.
After all, it’s quite a bizarre story.
On the other side.
After leaving the delivery station, Shen Qiushan first went to the fresh food supermarket to buy some fruits and vegetables before riding his electric bike home.
He lives in "Wangjiang Garden" in Sanjiang New City.
Though it’s called New City, it’s actually more like an old suburb, with property prices relatively cheap due to its distance from the main urban area.
A few years back, Shen Qiushan took a loan to buy a 125 square meter three-bedroom apartment. However, his old father lives with him, and with four people in the household, three bedrooms were not enough. So he divided the living room to create a small room that can only fit a bed, where he stays.
The remaining three rooms: his daughter Shen Yanran stays in the master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, his son Shen Yixiao takes the second bedroom, and his old father has the south-facing guest room.
After parking the electric bike in the shed downstairs for charging, Shen Qiushan carried the vegetables and fruits upstairs, but instead of returning to his own place on the 20th floor, he went to his sister’s place on the 19th floor.
Over the years, as Shen Qiushan was busy making money to support the family, his two kids and father often had meals at his sister’s place, so most of the time he’d take groceries directly to her home.
"Brother, how come you’re back so early today?"
Upon hearing the knock, Shen Dehua opened the door and was a bit surprised to see her brother.
This was around five o’clock, the peak time for deliveries.
"Wow, not bad huh?"
"Fish and pork ribs!"
Shen Dehua exclaimed upon seeing the abundant groceries in Shen Qiushan’s hands.
"My two kids are prepping for the college entrance exams, and the Little Potato is still growing, gotta keep up the nutrition..."
While speaking, Shen Qiushan handed the groceries to his sister and noticed his father sitting on the living room sofa looking at his phone.
"Dad, you’re here too."
Shen Qiushan greeted, but there was no response.
Evidently, Old Shen’s attention was all on his phone as Shen Qiushan changed into slippers and curiously glanced at the phone screen over his father’s shoulder.
There he saw a seductive streamer twisting her body energetically to alluring music, with those long white legs and an impressive bust grabbing all the attention.
Old Shen was completely engrossed, his grin almost reaching his ears.
His withered fingers were frantically tapping on the screen following the streamer’s direction...