Learn one small skill every day

"It's not for any particular reason. At least I'll take you to the hospital today and see your dad pick you up before I leave."

Zhang Ze thought for a moment and stopped walking: "Is it because of Chen Tianzhuo?"

It's not surprising that Zhang Ze knew about Chen Tianzhuo's affairs. With Chen Xi's big mouth, it was probably already known throughout the school in the morning he was away.

"Yes, Chen Tianzhuo's death made me somewhat wary."

Zhang Ze scoffed, "He got himself stabbed to death after picking a fight, but I wouldn't do that. You don't need to be so sensitive."

Bai Miao hoped he was being overly sensitive, but he wouldn't dare gamble on even the slightest possibility.

Shengshoutang can afford to make too many mistakes, but Bai Miao doesn't have that many opportunities.

"Why are you being so hesitant about taking me to the hospital? Anyway, the hospital isn't far from here, let's go."

After hearing this, Zhang Ze sighed and said, "Alright, alright, let's go."

The two of them, carrying their schoolbags, started jogging again.

As the two were crossing the road, Zhang Ze, anxious, rushed across the street the moment the green light turned on, just as a car that was trying to cross before the red light came on sped towards them.

In a flash, Bai Miao reached out, grabbed Zhang Ze by the collar, and pulled him back from the road.

Chapter 246 Separation

"Huh...huh..."

Zhang Ze was so frightened that his face turned pale, and he slumped to the ground, staring blankly at the departing vehicle.

Bai Miao pulled him up: "How about that? It seems my intuition was quite accurate after all."

"Um...yes...thank you...thank you..."

Zhang Ze clutched his chest to calm himself down, then grabbed Bai Miao's hand as they crossed the road. His legs remained weak until they reached the hospital.

Zhang Ze's father was a middle-aged man wearing a shirt and glasses. After seeing Zhang Ze at the hospital entrance, he walked over quickly and looked Bai Miao up and down with some curiosity.

"Hello Uncle Zhang, I am Zhang Ze's classmate, my name is Bai An."

Bai Miao introduced himself in a leisurely manner, and casually mentioned that Zhang Ze had almost been hit by a car earlier.

"Thank goodness you caught him. Thank you so much. Come in and sit down for a while."

Zhang Ze's father didn't think too much about it, assuming that the child had just exaggerated the process.

What a coincidence! How could a child possibly react in time?

Bai Miao realized that Zhang Ze's father was just being polite, so he made an excuse that his family was waiting for him to come home for dinner.

He couldn't keep an eye on Zhang Ze all the time; with his father around, he would be a little safer.

If he still dies unexpectedly, Bai Miao can't guarantee that Zhang Ze will live until graduation.

Before leaving, Bai Miao told Zhang Ze to observe the surrounding environment carefully and be cautious.

"Yes, I will definitely pay more attention."

Zhang Ze was still a little scared and said to his father, "Dad, we really need to investigate Shengshoutang thoroughly."

"Don't be paranoid. The police will investigate. Just focus on your exams. You have a piano exam coming up soon."

Zhang Ze's father is clearly the type who is quite assertive and has high hopes for his son.

Every family has its own troubles.

Bai Miao left silently.

"Is your cold better?"

The teahouse owner was amazed to see that Bai Miao was full of energy again after a day, and remarked that children's physical fitness was indeed different.

"It's all healed now, thank you Aunt Zhang. By the way, have you ever heard of the Tianxing Hotel?"

"The only four-star hotel in the county? Why are you asking about that place?"

Those who run teahouses have naturally heard of such places.

The Tianxing Hotel also has a card and chess room, but the people playing cards there are completely different from those in this small teahouse.

"It's nothing, I just heard that some schools in the city will be holding entrance exams in a few days, and I wanted to ask if this place is legitimate."

When Aunt Zhang heard that schools in the city were recruiting students, she thought, "That's amazing!"

"It's legitimate, definitely legitimate. High-ranking officials who come down for research are all accommodated there."

"Oh……"

Bai Miao is no longer so confident in his intelligence sources.

If Shengshoutang can interfere with the life and death of Zhang Ze and his group, it is entirely possible that they can also interfere with the intelligence and knowledge they possess.

If you foolishly go there alone and find it full of people from Shengshoutang, wouldn't you just give it away?

Since they know this hotel has ties to the government, given Shengshoutang's current capabilities, they can't extend their reach that far.

On Friday afternoon, Zhang Ze approached Bai Miao. He had been acting strangely these past few days, still troubled by the near-car accident, but at this moment his expression carried a hint of relief.

"I might have to transfer schools soon."

Zhang Ze said to Bai Miao with some regret.

"Transfer schools? Why?"

“My grandfather’s illness can only be treated in a city hospital. My father has always planned to move to the city. Taking advantage of this opportunity, and with someone promoting him, he was transferred to work in a city unit. So naturally, I also have to go to the city to study.”

Zhang Ze sighed: "And my dad knows that I was harassed by a group of thugs a while ago, and he wants me to get away from that kind of environment as soon as possible."

"Plus, it's more convenient for me to take exams or find tutors in the city..."

It's clear that Zhang Ze really wants to study in the city.

At this point, Zhang Ze raised his hand, intending to pat Bai Miao's shoulder, but then put it back down.

"Didn't I recommend the city's middle school entrance exam to you yesterday? If you get into that school, we can see each other again in junior high. I believe you can definitely do it."

Bai Miao nodded: "Yes, I hope you have a good time in the city."

At least Zhang Ze won't die if he can go to the city.

Bai Miao couldn't be sure whether Shengshoutang was behind this, but in any case, this move was incredibly ingenious.

Bai Miao's two most crucial sources of intelligence were either dead or separated, leaving him with absolutely no one he knew in the entire Experimental Primary School.

Of the teammates who investigated the Shengshoutang and the student disappearance incident together, Tan Xuelong had long since left the team, Zhao Zitong had graduated, and only the class monitor, who participated out of curiosity, remained.

Bai Miao and he had almost no interaction.

Zhang Ze looked like he wanted to say something but hesitated, so Bai Miao smiled and said, "Just say what you want to say."

"I'm sorry... I can't give you any more information about Shengshoutang. You need to be careful on your own from now on."

"Of course, without your help, things might be a bit more complicated, but that doesn't mean I'm helpless."

Zhang Ze still placed both hands on Bai Miao's shoulders: "Then, take care, see you in junior high."

After saying that, he turned around gracefully, like a chivalrous knight parting ways, waved to Bai Miao with his back to him, and walked away.

Now that everyone's gone, is my next target for Shengshoutang?

Bai Miao was still somewhat puzzled.

Why not just take action against yourself?

There were so many opportunities.

Or is this some kind of perverse pleasure of Shengshoutang, wanting to start by harming those around them and gradually watch them fall into despair?

Around 8 p.m., his parents returned home.

Bai Miao noticed that his parents had been coming home more frequently lately.

Actually, Bai Miao's parents come home every day, but always after he goes to sleep. These days, they come home before he goes to sleep, watch TV for a while, and then go to bed.

This made Bai Miao very uncomfortable.

Fortunately, they were really just watching TV and didn't eavesdrop at my door like they did last time.

Bai Miao would sometimes sit aside and watch along, observing what they were up to.

Without realizing it, I vaguely felt a warm feeling, like a family of three watching TV together before bed.

"I heard from Sister Zhang that you want to study in the city?"

While watching TV, Bai An's father suddenly asked a question.

"No……"

Bai Miao vehemently denied it.

"Then why did she say that you asked about the Tianxing Hotel and that schools in the city were recruiting students?"

"I was just curious and asking. Everyone in the class is talking about which schools are recruiting students, and they say the schools in the city are all very good, a million times better than our school. They say the blackboards don't even need erasing, and the teachers use computers to teach..."

Bai Miao expressed a longing and yearning for big cities. In those days, it was quite common for students in the county to want to go to big cities to see what it was like.

They were eager to see what a brightly lit street looked like, what towering buildings looked like, and what a shopping mall with good quality products at reasonable prices looked like.

Do I need to pay to study in the city?

"The teacher said that if you pass the exam but don't meet the cutoff for free admission, you'll have to pay a 10,000 yuan school selection fee. If you pass the cutoff for free admission, you won't have to pay the fee."

After hearing this, Bai An's mother nodded: "Then go ahead and take the exam if you want. If you don't pass, you won't have to study for free. If you do pass, then you'll save money."

Bai An's father laughed: "Bai An's grades are above average, how could he possibly get a free exam? But going to take the exam won't cost any money, and it'll broaden his horizons."

Bai Miao was even more baffled.

What exactly are these two up to?

"Alright, it's time to sleep. Go back to your room now."

Bai An's father turned off the TV and urged Bai Miao to go to bed.

That night, Bai Miao had another dream.

In the dream, I returned to that summer afternoon from my last nightmare. A dark-skinned girl wearing a straw hat was running towards a ditch with a crab trap in her hand.