Still, Wait For Me

Chapter 12: The circumstances regarding Indigowoad Root

Chapter 12: The circumstances regarding Indigowoad Root

The teachers of Grade 12 Class 10 were gradually noticing a change in the class. This class, notorious for messing around, constantly performing the worst in all competitions all year round, was steadily and quietly changing in atmosphere. Heavily pressured by the twin forces of SARS and the university entrance examinations, the students were working hard in silence.

They were like a pack of leopards staring at their prey, awaiting action with accumulated energy, paws rubbing against the ground in search for the point of force exertion. They were hushed, focused, eyes resolute and dedicated, brimming with hunger and thirst.

The teachers began to take pleasure in talking about Class 10 in the staffroom, and it was unlike in the past, when they had only been brought up in times of unbearable frustration, with these teachers emotionally complaining to their form teacher, Old Zhou.

The 'Forced up Mount Liang Trio' were, as of late, being brought up frequently amidst the chatter of the staffroom. It was just like a story on the return of a prodigal son being discussed enthusiastically. Because Xu Tingsheng had uttered some big words, he was inevitably brought up several times.

"There is a kind of inexpressible sentiment." Such was the feeling the teachers had.

Xu Tingsheng might not be paying attention during lessons, yet it was impossible to accuse him of not being serious, for he was reading books and doing practice questions, following his own pace and methods to progress along. If not for it being the last leg of twelfth grade, the teachers would most certainly not tolerate this kind of situation. However, at this stage, it was like: What abilities do you have? Come on, just display them all as you'd like.

Of course, there were also times when teachers got angry about this. They would pinpoint him once in a while and get him to answer a few questions.

He would stand up very courteously and smile shyly, "Teacher, may I bother you to repeat yourself one more time?"

One does not hit a smiling person. Helpless, the teacher would have no choice but to just repeat themselves.

If it was mathematics, he would respond, "I'm sorry, I can't do this."

If it were the other subjects, he would smile and nod, then explain his response to the question thoroughly, adding in supplementary details as well. Afterwards, the teachers who had been prepared to touch up on his response with additional analysis would realise that it seemed like there was nothing more that they could say.

This kind of "very teacher-like" style of presentation was Xu Tingsheng's professional habit that had unconsciously been carried over to the present.

"Perhaps he will truly improve substantially," the teachers said, "A pity that this awakening came a little late."

As for the running joke of attaining top 20, the teachers mostly steered clear of it, for there was no need to make things difficult for people.
......

On 10th April 2003, the experts from the National Administration for Chinese Medicine launched a《SARS Prevention & Cure Chinese Medicine Programme (Trial)》, advising on the prescription of indigowoad root for its preventive powers.

Thus, the 'divine medicine' indigowoad root entered the ultimate phase of extreme popularity. Within 3 hours, all the indigowoad root in the pharmacies of Libei County had been sold out. Over the past half month, each pack of indigowoad root (20 small sachets) which had originally cost 6 yuan had been steadily increasing in value. On this day, indigowoad root soared to the highest value of 60 yuan a pack, after which it rapidly ran out of stock, leaving the 'unscrupulous profiteers' who had already earned a large sum of money beating their chests, moaning in pain of having sold too early, too cheap.