The words were sharp, showingplete disregard for Xiao Han, as well as a totalck of consideration for the pride of a teenager.


    Luckily, Xiao Han had a strong heart. If it were someone else, they would have probably copsed by now.


    "Yes, I''m poor!" Xiao Han nodded and said, "But of course, my ambitions are not poor. What about you? You''ll probably remain the same for your entire life, right? With your nature, you''ll never be able to integrate into the upper echelons of society. You may have money, but that''s just the wealth of upstarts."


    p!


    Madam Jiang suddenlyshed out with a p.


    The p was so hard that Xiao Han saw stars and five red marks immediately appeared on his face.


    "Don''t hit him!" Zhang Daguo hurried to protect Xiao Han.


    "You little beast!" Madam Jiang was trembling with rage, teeth clenched as she scolded, "I do have money, and you poor wretch dare talk to me like this. We will not let you off this time. Tell me, how will youpensate us!"


    "I have no money, but I do have my life!" Xiao Han responded boldly.


    Zhang Daguo looked at Xiao Han with surprise. To think, he would say such bold words—this didn''t seem like something a student would say, but rather something a delinquent would utter.


    "Xiao Han, watch your tone!" Zhang Daguo red at Xiao Han. He then tried to pacify Mr. and Mrs. Jiang.


    Mr. and Mrs. Jiang were prominent figures in Linjiang City, respected wherever they went, so Zhang Daguo had to consider their feelings. However, Xiao Han''s interjection made the situation particrly thorny.


    Zhang Daguo hastily turned to Mr. and Mrs. Jiang with a forced smile, saying, "Brother Jiang, students will inevitably have conflicts. I don''t think there''s a need to make a big deal out of this. Why not let Xiao Han apologize to Xiaoliang, and we can call it even?"


    "We demandpensation!" Madam Jiang hissed, seemingly intent on not letting Xiao Han off unless he paid, and determined not to back down.


    "So how much do you think is appropriate...?" Director Zhang curiously inquired, wondering how much they were expecting.


    Zhang Daguo was aware of Xiao Han''s financial situation, and so he nned to have the school cover thepensation. Of course, the amount had to be reasonable. After all, school funds had to be ounted for, and arge sum would be difficult to justify to the finance department. It''s not like they could say it was for reimbursing a student''s debts, right?


    "One hundred thousand!" Madam Jiang demanded exorbitantly.


    Sss...


    Zhang Daguo was nearly scared out of his wits by this astronomical demand. Hisplexion changed. Meanwhile, Xiao Han remained as calm as a breeze, undisturbed and self-possessed. He smiled and said, "Don''t expect a penny from me, if you can, just call the police."


    "You!" Madam Jiang was truly stung by Xiao Han''s barb.


    This situation, after all, wasn''t a big deal, merely a quarrel between students. Moreover, Madam Jiang knew that her son had brought along two others, and yet the three of them lost in a fight. Considering Xiao Han''s character, he wouldn''t have initiated the confrontation. If they really brought the police into this, it could be troublesome.


    However, if she didn''t vent out her anger, she probably wouldn''t be able to sleep for a few days. Madam Jiang sneered, "Fine, no money? Then I''ll just have to find someone to knock out your front teeth."


    "Please, let''s not escte things!" Director Zhang definitely didn''t want the situation to worsen, as it would be bad for both him and the school. He could only try to smooth things over as much as possible, "Madam Jiang, asking for one hundred thousand is really going overboard. Besides, given Xiao Han''s financial circumstances, he can''t even afford ten thousand, let alone one hundred thousand.


    Isn''t this making things difficult for him?"


    "Can''t afford it?" Madam Jiang smiled, "Then let him kneel before my son and knock his head on the ground three times, and we''ll pretend this never happened!"


    "You!" Director Zhang couldn''t stand listening anymore.


    Jiang Yicai also felt his wife was going too far, but driven by his affection for his son, he hesitated to intervene. Wasn''t it better to let a woman make a fuss than to step forward himself? Besides, as a prominent person in Linjiang City, if the incident got out, it would damage his reputation.


    Suddenly, the atmosphere in the office turned cold, as if the chill from outside had blown in.


    "Who is it with such a big attitude!" Just as Xiao Han was about to retort, a voice from outside interrupted them.


    Everyone''s gaze shifted toward the entrance.


    Standing there was a woman in a ck office uniform, her delicate face and intelligent eyesplemented by her raven hair, meticulously put up, exposing her wless, fair neck. She wore a white blouse under a tailored zer that entuated her graceful figure, with a ck skirt wrapping around her shapely behind.


    Her long legs were bare, smoother than if she had been wearing stockings, shining like White Jade without a single blemish.


    "Sister?" Xiao Han''s mouth fell open in shock.


    The arrival was none other than Li Xiaoya, the sister Xiao Han had just acknowledged the day before.


    Li Xiaoya hade to Linjiang No.1 Middle School specifically to deliver a letter of thanks, as Xiao Han had done her a huge favor by saving her life the day before. Although the public security authorities were going tomend Xiao Han for his courage, she felt the need to express her gratitude personally.


    On the street the day before, amidst so many others, Xiao Han was the only one who stepped forward without hesitation.


    "Xiao Han, with your sister here, rest assured, no one will dare to bully you!" Li Xiaoya''s voice rang with confidence, and inside this seemingly fragile woman resided a powerful, formidable force.


    Zhang Daguo was immediately rmed. Although he didn''t recognize the woman before him, he had a bad feeling about her, that she was not someone to be trifled with. He awkwardly looked at Li Xiaoya and asked, "Miss, may I know you are…?"


    "I''m Xiao Han''s sister." Li Xiaoya walked over to Xiao Han, her slender arm entwining with his, and smiled, "I came to the school today to see Xiao Han, and I didn''t expect to encounter such a situation."


    "This..." Director Zhang was stunned.


    Jiang Yicai was visibly surprised. The woman before him was very attractive and to his liking. From the moment Li Xiaoya had entered, he had forgotten about his son''s affair. He really wanted to get to know Li Xiaoya, but with his wife right there, he could only sit dumbly, looking Li Xiaoya up and down.


    Madam Jiang realized she was dealing with a tough nut. She squinted her eyes and said, "Are you Xiao Han''s sister? You''vee at the right time. Xiao Han knocked out my son''s front tooth, and I was just nning to impensation of one hundred thousand yuan from him!"


    "Okay!" Li Xiaoya nodded.


    She turned and called out to the door, "Xiao Mei,e in!"


    Outside, a girl in uniform walked in holding a briefcase. She respectfully said, "Director Li!"


    "Write a check for one hundred thousand yuan for thisdy!" Li Xiaoya ordered.


    "Yes!" Upon hearing this, Xiao Mei immediately nodded, took a nk check out of her briefcase on the spot, filled it out with the amount of one hundred thousand, and handed it over to Madam Jiang with both hands.


    Madam Jiang was stunned. A hundred thousand yuan was, of course, arge sum; even for the Jiang Family toe up with a hundred thousand, Madam Jiang would have to cut deep into her finances. She hadn''t expected the other party to produce one hundred thousand yuan so easily; it was evident that this woman meant business.


    Without understanding the background of the other party, it was not good to continue the entanglement.


    "Alright, considering the one hundred thousand yuan, let''s leave this matter for now," Madam Jiang spoke, still leaving some room for maneuver.


    "Wait a moment," Li Xiaoya''s mouth curved, revealing a cold smile, "Your son''s matter can be settled like this, but our Xiao Han''s matter isn''t over yet."


    "What matter?" Madam Jiang asked, puzzled, looking at Li Xiaoya.


    Li Xiaoya slowly walked towards Madam Jiang.


    p!


    Suddenly, Li Xiaoya pped Madam Jiang on the face.


    "Ah!" Madam Jiang eximed, clutching her face, and roared furiously, "You slut, you... you dare to hit me!"


    "I''ll tell you, this p is the very same one you just delivered to Xiao Han''s face," Li Xiaoya sneered coldly, "Now I''m returning it to you exactly as is!"


    "You!" Madam Jiang was furious, her talons bared as she sought to w back the situation.


    "Madam, madam, let it be, let it be!" Jiang Yicai hurriedly held back Madam Jiang.


    Continuing like this would onlyplicate matters further. It was clear this woman was a fierce opponent, and they needed to thoroughly investigate her background before proceeding further.


    Jiang Yicai dragged Madam Jiang out by hook or by crook.


    The office quieted down a lot all of a sudden.


    "Xiao Han, are you alright?" Li Xiaoya gently touched Xiao Han''s reddened face, feeling distressed.


    "I... I''m fine," Xiao Han awkwardly dodged Li Xiaoya''s hand.


    "This woman went too far," Li Xiaoya gritted her teeth and said, "I''ll thoroughly investigate them when we get back and find out what this family really does."


    "How may I address you, madam?" Zhang Daguo quickly asked.


    "My name is Li Xiaoya," Li Xiaoya replied, "Director Zhang can call me Xiao Li."


    "Sigh, Xiao Han is just too stubborn!" Zhang Daguo sighed deeply and then said, "If he had just lowered his head earlier, admitted his mistake, perhaps things wouldn''t have be thisplicated."


    "That''s just who Xiao Han is!" Li Xiaoya turned her head to look at Xiao Han.


    Xiao Han gave Li Xiaoya a sheepish grin.


    Li Xiaoya covered her mouth, giggling. After getting to know a bit about Xiao Han, she found herself quite fond of this boy on the brink of manhood.


    Li Xiaoya looked at Zhang Daguo and said, "Director Zhang, today I especially came to deliver a letter of thanks for Xiao Han."


    "A letter of thanks?" Zhang Daguo was taken aback, "What letter of thanks?"


    "Yesterday afternoon..." Li Xiaoya recounted in detail the events that had unfolded the previous afternoon.


    Zhang Daguo looked shocked. He turned to Xiao Han.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    Xiao Han didn''t say a word, only nodded shyly.


    "Alright," Zhang Daguo nodded, "so..."


    "Thank you for nurturing such an outstanding student like Xiao Han, a student with the courage to do what''s right!" Li Xiaoya said earnestly, "Therefore, I''ve decided to donate three hundred thousand yuan in schrships to Linjiang No.1 Middle School."


    "Ah?" Zhang Daguo was surprised.