Cangmang Asks the Way 1: Guardian of the Lamp

The early autumn morning light bathed the teaching buildings of Jixian Middle School in a cool, golden glow. Cang Tianci, carrying a faded canvas bag, stepped over the shadows cast by the last few withered lotus leaves by the pond and entered the first-year teaching building.

Entering the first-floor classroom for the gifted children, one is greeted by the typical early-semester hustle and bustle. Students are scattered in twos and threes, some exchanging greetings, others searching for seats, and still others organizing their new books…

His gaze swept quickly across the entire room, like a precise radar, capturing familiar scents.

In the corner by the window, Lin Wanqing sat alone, like a plant striving to grow towards a faint light source, her slender fingers unconsciously curling a corner of a book page.

Not far away, Wang Xiuzhu was wiping the dust off the table and chairs. Wang Yaowu stood next to her, saying something.

In the middle of the classroom, Lin Ruoxi and Song Wei stood together, each exuding a unique charm. One was aloof and elegant, while the other was bright and lively.

Suddenly, a figure that no one expected to appear here came into view—Zhao Xiaohu! He was standing next to a well-dressed boy, with a smile on his face, looking like he was listening attentively to the other person.

Tianci's heart jolted. With Zhao Xiaohu's grades, there was absolutely no way he could get into the gifted youth program. However, thinking of his father, Tianci quickly felt relieved. "Is this what my brother meant by 'backing'? Doors that fists can't break and reason can't open, can be easily knocked open with money and power..." This cold reality was like a thorn, piercing his understanding of "fairness" once again. Power, money, and rules—the complex interrelationship between these three seemed to be able to build invisible ladders or barriers anywhere.

Just then, Lin Ruoxi and Song Wei, who were talking, also saw Cang Tianci. Lin Ruoxi nodded in acknowledgment, while Song Wei called out loudly, "Hi, Cang Tianci, you're here."

Cang Tianci smiled and nodded.

Song Wei's greeting startled a group of people who were familiar with Cang Tianci.

Wang Xiuzhu, who was wiping with her head down, looked up in surprise and exclaimed without thinking, "Tianci, here. I've saved you a spot."

Almost simultaneously, Lin Wanqing also mustered her courage and said, "Tianci...this, sit here."

Two calls overlapped against the slightly noisy background, drawing the attention of nearby students. Wang Xiuzhu paused for a moment, then smiled generously. Lin Wanqing quickly lowered her head, her ears turning red. Tianci was slightly taken aback, his inner energy swirling slightly, smoothing over the embarrassment of being noticed and the momentary hesitation. He thought for a moment, then said apologetically to Wang Xiuzhu, "Thank you, Xiu... Xiuzhu! This... it's closer here." After saying that, he walked a few steps to sit down next to Lin Wanqing. This choice caused Lin Wanqing's tense shoulders to relax almost imperceptibly. Wang Xiuzhu returned a calm smile.

However, this scene darkened Wang Yaowu's expression. He had intended to sit directly next to Wang Xiuzhu, but was told that the seat was occupied. So this seat was reserved for Cang Tianci! A burning jealousy almost extinguished his reason. He wanted to confront Wang Xiuzhu on the spot, to unleash his former rage and hurl insults at Cang Tianci without restraint, but his father's stern warning before his departure still echoed in his ears. He could only suppress his anger and find a seat at random.

Zhao Xiaohu witnessed this scene as well. He glanced coldly at Cang Tianci, a hint of resentment flashing in his eyes. He lowered his voice and said, "Brother Tao, did you see that kid who just came in? His name is Cang Tianci, the 'number one' in the whole county. He crawled out of a poor ditch in the countryside, stutters, got lucky and got into a sports school, and even won a gold medal in the provincial martial arts competition. He's incredibly arrogant. Look, it's only the beginning of the semester, and several pretty girls in the class are already fawning over him."

The boy known as "Brother Tao" was Zheng Tao, the son of County Magistrate Zheng of Ji County. His privileged background and above-average intelligence made him arrogant. Hearing Zhao Xiaohu's introduction, he couldn't help but scrutinize the tall, upright boy. He remembered that this Cang Tianci was the skinny boy who had won the "Leap Forward Award" at Ji County No. 1 Primary School. Back then, he had scoffed at it. That award was only for motivating those born weak. He, on the other hand, was the kind of strong person who needed to be looked up to. He never imagined that the ant he once looked down upon had climbed to a height where he needed to look up to him in less than two years.

This wasn't just a case of a country boy getting lucky. Zheng Tao keenly sensed that this extraordinary talent was completely different from those in his circle who gained attention through family background, obedience, or cleverness. This was someone who had broken in with "real, ruthless determination" and "uncontrollable variables," like a stumbling block who might disrupt his accustomed rules of the game, where resources and background determined status, and even... attract the attention of those who were truly aloof. This made him, who was used to looking down on others from a high position, feel inexplicably uncomfortable.

He feigned indifference and scoffed, "Oh, that's all. No matter how much a bumpkin packages himself, he's still a bumpkin. He's nothing compared to real rules and resources."

Zhao Xiaohu's lips curled into a smug smile, and he quickly echoed.

Just then, the school bell rang. The homeroom teacher, Xu Wenyuan, appeared at the classroom door at the opportune moment. His gaze swept across the entire room, and his powerful aura instantly silenced all other noises.

Seeing the classroom quickly quiet down, he nodded in satisfaction, stepped onto the podium, and said, "Very good, everyone is here. I am your homeroom teacher, Xu Wenyuan. This class is the elite class in our county, and you are all elite students in Ji County. This also means that our learning pace will be faster than that of ordinary classes. We need to complete the three-year junior high school curriculum in two years. We are short on time, so without further ado, we need to complete two tasks in the first lesson of today's semester."

He turned around and wrote several powerful characters on the blackboard with a "swish, swish, swish":

1. Election of class officers; 2. Seating arrangement based on points.

After finishing writing, he turned around and continued, "From now on, seats will no longer be fixed. After the monthly exam, you will choose your own seats based on the total of your scores in three categories: 'Academic Ranking Points,' 'Class Position Points,' and 'Progress Ranking Points,' from highest to lowest."

The moment the rules were announced, the air in the classroom seemed to freeze for a second, before being replaced by a more subtle commotion. This cold arithmetic, like an invisible hand, began to stir the budding emotions in the young minds.

"Choose your own seat?" Some people's eyes lit up as they glanced at their favorite classmates. Others had already started quickly calculating in their minds who to sit next to so they could "mutually encourage each other" or "not fall behind."

"These rules are too..." Someone's face turned pale, feeling the pressure. For those who are not good at socializing or whose grades are average, this is undoubtedly a public trial that is staged every month.

"Great!" Some students rubbed their hands together, their eyes darting between the outstanding classmates. The excitement of competition and the desire for a "favorable position" were laid bare for the first time.

An invisible battleground instantly filled the air. Cang Tianci felt a chill run down his spine. This rule meant that his seat next to Wanqing was not a given, but a "defense line" that needed to be continuously defended with points. "Is this also the 'mortal world arena' that Master spoke of?" He subconsciously looked to his side, and Lin Wanqing was also looking up at him. Their eyes met lightly in the air, and they both understood the sudden increase in pressure and worry in each other's eyes.

Ignoring the commotion, Xu Wenyuan continued, "The initial points will be based on entrance exam scores and the upcoming class officer elections. Now, let's elect class officers."

"Election rules: Former class officers will take turns giving a one-minute speech to campaign for votes, after which self-nominations will be open."

As Xu Wenyuan finished speaking, the air in the classroom seemed to tighten. The rule of selecting seats based on points was like a key that instantly opened Pandora's box called "competition," and the election of class officers was the first public contest of this competition.

"Now, let's elect a class monitor," Xu Wenyuan announced loudly.

As soon as the words were spoken, the two figures stood up almost simultaneously.

Zheng Tao straightened his crisp jacket collar, a confident smile playing on his lips as he strode confidently toward the podium. Lin Ruoxi followed, her face radiating confidence as she calmly approached the stage.

The two stood still, one exuding confidence, the other calm and aloof. The audience fell silent instantly.

The first to speak was Zheng Tao. He glanced at the audience, placed his hands on the lectern, and the exquisite watch on his wrist gleamed coldly under the lights.

He cleared his throat and said, "Fellow students, my name is Zheng Tao. Class monitor is not just an empty title, but also a responsibility and ability to strive for the development of the collective and create the best conditions. My father often taught me that the first priority in governing a region is to cultivate talent. This made me understand earlier than many others that top students deserve top-notch platforms."

He paused, then raised his voice: "Resources are the accelerator of success! If elected, I will strive to be a bridge, conveying the outstanding performance and reasonable needs of our gifted youth program to the school and all sectors that care more about education through proper channels. I will do my utmost to secure far more attention, exchange opportunities, and development resources than ordinary classes. Whether it's lectures to broaden horizons, opportunities to exchange with prestigious schools, or support to optimize the learning environment, I will use my knowledge and efforts to promote these initiatives. We aim to ensure that the gifted youth program not only achieves the best academic results but also has the broadest perspective and the highest quality growth environment."

These words, like precisely placed bait, instantly created ripples in the pond. A low murmur arose from the audience. Everyone was curious about the identity of the well-dressed, distinguished young man's father. Many students' eyes lit up with anticipation, as if they could already see those "high-quality resources" materializing into tangible benefits for themselves. Their simple desire for "advantages" was subtly guided and amplified.

Cang Tianci listened silently, understanding dawning on his mind. Zheng Tao's words revolved around 'resources,' 'platforms,' and 'channels,' as if these were the foundation for success. This was entirely different from his understanding of "responsibility"—his responsibility was earned through his own strength and ability.

Standing to the side, Lin Ruoxi heard Zheng Tao's speech and a barely perceptible sneer appeared on her lips. After Zheng Tao finished speaking, she walked to the center of the podium and calmly said, "My name is Lin Ruoxi. I believe that the class monitor is first and foremost a service-oriented position, a defender of fairness, and a guarantor of efficiency. It requires not empty promises, but outstanding organizational skills, exemplary academic conduct, wisdom and patience in handling affairs, and a public-spirited heart to serve all classmates."

Her gaze swept calmly across the audience, her voice firm and resolute: "If elected, I will dedicate myself to establishing a transparent and fair learning competition mechanism, organizing efficient study groups, ensuring that class affairs operate in an orderly manner under the rules, and allowing the talents of every student to shine in a fair environment."

Lin Ruoxi's speech was like a piece of ice thrown into boiling water, attempting to calm the restlessness that had been stirred up. Her speech was rational and pragmatic, and although it won the approval of some students, her pragmatic idealism seemed somewhat lonely in the face of the vast resources that Zheng Tao described as "within reach".

The voting results were no surprise. Zheng Tao was elected class monitor by an overwhelming majority, while Lin Ruoxi was relegated to vice class monitor.