"Big brother, why do I feel like Principal Wang and Principal Liu aren't getting along very well?" Xiaoyu asked Guo Xuyang as they walked downstairs.
"That's normal. In official circles, it's either the east wind prevails over the west wind, or the west wind prevails over the east wind. Principal Liu, as the head of this school, wouldn't share every matter with his subordinate, especially some sensitive issues arranged by the main leaders. It wouldn't be good for him if he did, both in terms of his capabilities and his authority. If he consulted his subordinate on everything, then nothing would get done," Guo Xuyang explained.
"It's like that in officialdom, and it's the same in schools. You might see Principal Wang respecting Principal Liu now, but if Principal Liu were to lose power one day, Wang might do even worse to him."
Xiaoyu stuck out her tongue. "Why is officialdom so complicated?"
"A great man once said, 'The struggle against heaven is endlessly enjoyable, the struggle against earth is endlessly enjoyable, and the struggle against man is endlessly enjoyable.' Someone else also said, 'Where there are people, there is a Jianghu.' These are all essentially the same. The happiest people are probably you all. Right now, you only need to focus on your studies, learn, absorb, integrate, and master the knowledge taught by your teachers, turning it into your own. You don't need to worry about complex social relationships."
"But there are also cliques in school. You see, my books were ruined by them."
"That's a minority, after all. In your previous place, most people were good, but you can't prevent bad people, or even utter scumbags. This school should be better. As a student, you should just study hard and learn the knowledge imparted by your teachers. Try not to inquire about anything else."
"I'll listen to you."
"Let's go back. But be careful when you get home. Your sister-in-law Xiaoxi's parents are back today."
"Then maybe I shouldn't go? You know I speak without thinking, and if I say something inappropriate and cause you trouble, that wouldn't be good."
"In that case, I'll call Zhan Yifang and have her pick you up and bring you back tomorrow. They're not far from here anyway," Guo Xuyang considered for a moment.
"No need, I'll just go back to where I was renting."
"How can that be? Your sister isn't coming back to live, and I'd worry about you alone." Guo Xuyang said as he dialed Zhan Yifang's number.
"Where are you? Shopping? Are the three of you together? I'm at the Experimental High School, yes. Xiaoyu and I are together. Could you come pick her up? Xiaoxi's parents are here, and she doesn't want to go home with me. Okay, we'll wait for you at the entrance."
"Wait a moment, they'll be here soon," Guo Xuyang said after hanging up.
"Big brother, are those three also your girlfriends?"
"Yes. What's wrong?"
"Aren't they your wives?"
"The one who is pregnant is. The other two are not."
"This noon, I heard that mayor mention 'those two girls.' Was he referring to them?"
"How did you know?"
"I guessed."
"You're so smart," Guo Xuyang said, ruffling her hair.
"I'm not a child anymore, don't touch my head whenever you feel like it," Xiaoyu dodged back with a hint of annoyance.
"You haven't grown up yet either?" Guo Xuyang said with a smile.
"Pervert."
"That depends on who it is."
"Are you like this with them too?"
"With them, I usually don't say anything; I just do."
"Their families are so well-off, why did they fall for you?"
"I don't know. Maybe my charm is quite significant."
"It's not your charm, it's mainly because you have a thick skin."
"A man with a thick skin doesn't lose out. At least he can win over a beauty."
As they were bickering, Zhan Yifang arrived, driving her car.
"Get in, let's go eat," she said, rolling down the window and waving at them.
"No need, let's just talk here. Tomorrow, can you take some time to look around for a suitable place? Buy a set nearby, it'll be convenient for Xiaoyu's schooling."
"Why aren't you that concerned about us?" Zhan Yifang pouted.
"Didn't I give you money? If you see something suitable, buy it yourselves. I'm not stopping you from buying."
"You said it yourself."
"Yes, what's wrong?"
"I just like your straightforwardness. Let's go, Xiaoyu, come stay with your sister." Zhan Yifang said to Xiaoyu.
"You're not going to tell me you bought a place around here, are you?"
"Isn't that what you wanted?"
"Lead the way, I had no idea you bought a place. Are you planning to keep a mistress outside?" Guo Xuyang said.
"I wish I could, but I'm afraid of some people getting jealous," Zhan Yifang laughed.
"Where is it? Take us to see."
"Get in the car, just follow my car."
Guo Xuyang and Xiaoyu got into the car and followed Zhan Yifang's car. After turning at the next intersection, they entered a residential complex.
"Big brother, why do I feel like we're back at school?"
"I think so too. Is it right next to the school?" Guo Xuyang muttered.
"It's hard to say. Do you think these sisters bought school district housing specifically for children?"
"How would I know? I only just found out they bought a place, and I haven't been here before."
"We're here," Xiaoyu pointed forward. Zhan Yifang and the other two got out of their car.
"So close? Did you buy school district housing?"
"This place is lively. There are kindergartens, schools, hospitals, and even maternal and child care centers. Where else can you find such a good location? Let's go upstairs and take a look. Let's go to my place first," Li Minyu said.
The group then went up to the sixteenth floor.
"This is my apartment. To the left is Fangfang's, and to the right is Qiqi's. It's perfect, three units per floor."
"Impressive. I didn't expect you to quietly buy school district housing. Then it will be fine for Xiaoyu to live with you from now on," Guo Xuyang said, giving them a thumbs-up.
"No, it's better for everyone to have their own place. There are still two units on the eighteenth floor. According to the property management, people disliked the floor, so they haven't sold them," Li Minyu said.
"Two units? Are they the same layout as yours?"
"What do you think? They're in the same building, so of course they're identical. What do you say? Shall we take them?"
"Why didn't you tell me about such a good location earlier?"
"You live in a villa. Would you be interested in such a small place?" Wang Qi said from the side.
"I originally wanted to tell you, but seeing how busy you were, and how we barely saw you, I just didn't," Zhan Yifang said.
"You could have called me."
"I called you several times earlier, but either your phone was off or unreachable, so we stopped calling," Zhan Yifang replied.
"How much are the apartments?"
"Because they are school district housing, it's over twenty thousand yuan per square meter."
"Not expensive at all, very cheap. Aren't there still two units? Let's buy them all. Does anyone have the property management's number? Hurry up and contact them, let's finalize it today."
"They're all off work at this time. Let's do it tomorrow," Zhan Yifang said, checking her watch.
"Call them now and say someone wants to see the apartment. They'll definitely come," Guo Xuyang said.
"That's not necessarily true." However, despite her words, she picked up her phone and dialed.