Lili pouted as she glanced at her, “I’m convinced by your brother, but not you. Hmmph, everyone knows your brother is a literary person. He wrote poems that made even the Writers’ Association shut up. Your brother does this as a professional, if he gave a poem for you to recite, of course you’d get the glory. That’s already unfair bullying!”
Cao Mengmeng laughed smugly.
“Mengmeng, can you get a signature from your brother for me?”
“Yea, Mengmeng. We will be counting on you.”
“I want it too! My dad really likes Zhang Ye. When I get your brother’s signature and show it off to him, even if I didn’t do well for my final exams, he wouldn’t punish me.”
Cao Mengmeng’s classmates were giving a lot of attention to her as they gathered around her.
Cao Mengmeng said high-spiritedly, with a wave of her hands, “Alright, I know what to do. Whoever wants a signature, get ready a book or paper ready for me. I will get it from my brother.”
“Here!”
“Giving to you!”
“And mine!”
“I didn’t bring any paper, sign it on my textbook!”
In the blink of an eye, Cao Mengmeng had collected a stack of books.
Teacher Leng kept eyeing the original script in Cao Mengmeng’s hand every now and then. She finally clenched her teeth and asked Zhang Ye, “Teacher Zhang, is that the original script for ‘To The Oak’?”
Zhang Ye acknowledged, “I guess it is.”
Teacher Leng coughed, “About that….can you give that original script to me as a present?”
Zhang Ye laughed dryly, “It’s just a random pamphlet that I got and wrote behind on. It’s not really a script. If you really like it, I could write it properly for you?”
“No need, no need.” Teacher Leng immediately answered, “This will do.” To her, only the first original copy of “To The Oak” would be most precious. If it were to be written again, even if it’s on better paper and properly written, it would not be as collectable as the first original copy.
Zhang Ye said, “Sure then. Of course you may have it.” As he said that, he signaled to Mengmeng to come over, “Mengmeng, give the script to your Teacher Leng.”
Cao Mengmeng walked over wondering, “Why?”
Teacher Leng quickly reached out her hands and took the script. She was careful not to fold it as she carefully placed it between a notebook that she carried around. Then she put the notebook back into her bag before smiling and saying, “Teacher wants to keep it for memories.” She then turned to the side and said to Zhang Ye, “Thank you, Teacher Zhang.”
Brother Yang, who was standing beside them, had wanted to have it too, but Teacher Leng made the move first. He could only smile bitterly and not say a thing, but to have witnessed such a great love poem at this place today, Brother Yang already felt very satisfied. He knew that he had not come in vain today and he could provide an article for a big piece of news tomorrow. He would have to get Teacher Leng to show him the original script later.
After that, Cao Mengmeng poured all of the books in her arms onto Zhang Ye and said cheekily, “Brother, it’ll be hard on you. Please sign your autograph on my classmates’ books.”
Teacher Leng asked, “So many? Just sign a few, don’t trouble Teacher Zhang.”
“It’s OK.” Zhang Ye had always felt that if everyone gave him face, then he’d have to return the favour.
As a result, he signed each and every book, there were more than thirty books.
Teacher Leng blinked at him throughout waiting for Zhang Ye to finish signing on all of the books. Then she coughed and cleared her throat before coming forward to ask, “Then, Teacher Zhang, may I also ask for your autograph?”
Zhang Ye laughed, “Of course, you’re being too polite.”
Teacher Leng by now had lost all her composure as the form teacher of a class. She excitedly rummaged through her bag and took out her notebook for Zhang Ye to sign on. It looked like she was truly Zhang Ye’s fan.
After he had signed it, Zhang Ye said, “Mengmeng’s a naughty child. I hope you would help us take care of a her a little. If she causes any trouble in the future, you can look for me. I will scold her.” Basically, he was asking Teacher Leng to give a little more attention in taking care of his cousin.
……
Slightly before 9PM.
The 15th Junior High’s New Year Party had dispersed. The programs had all ended.
Zhang Ye said goodbye to a few parents and Teacher Leng. He was about to leave with Cao Mengmeng, but the school principal had found him, obviously knowing who he was by now.
“Teacher Zhang.” The principal smiled and put out his hand.
“How are you, Principal?” Zhang Ye shook his hands.
The principal lamented, “I did not expect that you’d join us for the New Year’s Party. If I knew, I would have invited you on stage to perform. It’d have been much better.”
Zhang Ye said, “It’s all about the children’s performances today, I wouldn’t want to crash the party.”
The principal said, “That ‘To The Oak’ really opened my eyes today. With this poem of