Chapter Twenty-Six: Madman Lai (Part 2)

After the physics teacher left, Crazy Lai finally returned the kitchen knife to the maintenance department and sat back down in his seat. He Zhi Xing was sitting near the window by the back door.

It wasn’t long before the principal appeared at the school gate, accompanied by several others. The principal, holding an iron rod, rushed in, dusty and out of breath. He Zhi Xing saw them and grabbed his deskmate’s hand, exclaiming, “Crazy Lai, run! The principal’s brought people to catch you…”

Crazy Lai saw them too. The principal and his group quickly crossed the school plaza and would arrive in less than two minutes. Their class was in a corner on the ground floor, right next to the wall, with a road beyond it.

He Zhi Xing noticed Crazy Lai trying to escape through the maintenance department and hurriedly pulled him back. Knowing Crazy Lai had some skills, he urged him to climb the wall. The wall was taller than a person, but Crazy Lai vaulted over it in one swift motion and quickly jumped down onto the road.

The people accompanying the principal shouted, “Quick, that kid climbed over the wall…” Unfortunately, none of them were as agile, so they had to circle around and chase him through the main gate.

The entire class erupted into chaos; everyone chattered excitedly. Not only their class, but others came out to watch the spectacle. The whole school was in an uproar. Such a malignant incident was grave indeed, threatening the school’s principle of respecting teachers. It seemed certain the student was in serious trouble.

Crazy Lai had already disappeared without a trace. Many students strained their eyes, hoping to catch a glimpse of what happened next, but the elementary school’s wall blocked their view. The vice principal and the administrative director quickly organized the teachers to bring students back to their classrooms, and only then did the school settle down.

Outside, the principal’s pursuit was still in full swing. The mountain paths and ridges were natural advantages for children raised in the hills. The principal and his team chased him for ages, circling round and round, but never managed to catch Crazy Lai.

After more than two hours of pursuit, the principal finally caught sight of him from afar, panting heavily. “Kid… I’ll remember you… Don’t think you can get away with this. Your actions… have caused… serious consequences for the school. When you get back… bring your parents—there’ll be a written apology…”

Crazy Lai refused to compromise. Only when the principal and his group had left did he cautiously make his way back. After school, he found He Zhi Xing and asked him to bring out his bicycle and his bundle of clothes. He Zhi Xing, knowing where the bicycle was—the dormitory where it was kept for use only on weekends or for trips home—took the key, fetched the bundle and bicycle, and handed them to him.

He Zhi Xing asked, “Are you going home? It’s not the weekend yet. What will your parents say?”

Crazy Lai replied, “It’s fine. I’ll go home for a few days. If they ask, I’ll tell them I don’t want to study anymore. I’m not good at school anyway. I’ll write an apology letter to the school and just drop out. With my sister and me both studying, it’s too much for the family. It’s better this way—I can earn money to pay my little sister’s tuition.”

He Zhi Xing didn’t say much. “Alright then, go home and think carefully about what to do next.” He took two hundred yuan from his pocket and handed it to him. “Take this for now. If you figure out what you want to do, let me know.”

Crazy Lai hesitated, reluctant to accept it, but He Zhi Xing insisted. “If we’re brothers, don’t be polite. Besides, your family’s struggling too. Just take it.”

“Alright, I accept you as my brother. By the way, if I don’t come on Friday, could you bring my sister home for me?”

He Zhi Xing patted his chest. “Don’t worry.”

Crazy Lai rode his bicycle home.

Crazy Lai’s sister was in fifth grade, about to start junior high. He Zhi Xing had seen her many times; she was not much younger than them. It was hard to imagine such a tough brother having such a gentle sister. Every time he saw her, she spoke softly and shyly, gentle and kind-hearted, warm as water, the kind of woman who was goodness itself. He Zhi Xing secretly liked her, though he had never expressed it.

She was beautiful, too—a natural beauty who looked lovely in any clothes. He Zhi Xing wasn’t sure why he was so close to Crazy Lai; perhaps it was because they were deskmates, or perhaps it was because of his sister. She came every weekend to find Crazy Lai, riding home with him and returning to school together.

Every week, Crazy Lai waited for her at the roadside…

This week, Crazy Lai didn’t come. He Zhi Xing waited on his bicycle. He had told his grandfather he was spending the weekend at a classmate’s house. From a distance along the road, he spotted her. When she came closer, he called out, “Lai Min, your brother asked me to pick you up. He couldn’t come this week, so he asked me to take you home.”

Lai Min replied gently, “Yes, I know. My brother sent word through someone from our village who came to town to buy things. He said you’d pick me up. Thank you!” She obediently settled onto the back seat of the bicycle, her soft hands gently wrapping around He Zhi Xing’s waist.

“Hold tight, let’s go… time to go home…”