Chapter 66
Eight in the morning.
The largest farmers market in the city was bustling.
Vendors' calls filled the air.
"Professor Sullivan, here for fish again?"
"Yes. Do you have sea bass today?"
"We do! Saved one just for you!" The middle-aged woman deftly scooped a fish and weighed it. "Just a moment."
David Sullivan took out his phone. "How much?"
"Oh, no charge! Please, take it! You've done so much for our Zachary…"
"I can't do that," David said, scanning the payment code. "A business must be paid."
His phone chimed, confirming a payment of thirty dollars.
It was significantly more than the actual price.
The woman started at the sound. "This is too kind…"
David picked up the fish. "It's what's owed. I'll take some scallions too."
"Wait, Professor Sullivan…"
"Is there something else?"
She wiped her hands on her apron. "I heard the second high school has recommendation spots for the physics Olympiad. A gold medal means guaranteed admission to MIT or Caltech?"
David nodded. "That's correct."
"Do you think our Zachary has a chance?"
David was silent for a moment. "The Olympiad requires knowledge beyond the standard curriculum. The questions are far more difficult than usual."
"The school typically recommends students with exceptional single-subject grades and an aptitude for competitive thinking."
The woman pressed, "Zachary is in the top twenty for his grade. Isn't that exceptional?"
"Grade ranking is based on overall performance," David explained patiently. "The Olympiad looks at a single subject. And the slots have already been finalized."
"I see…" The woman forced a smile. "Never mind then."
"I should be going."
"Take care. Come again soon."
Once David was out of sight, her smile vanished.
She spat in the direction he had gone. "Single-subject ranking, my foot! Pure favoritism! Such a hypocrite…"
"Mrs. Wang, what's the matter? Was that Professor Sullivan? I wanted to ask about my daughter's studies."
"Don't bother. He didn't even think Zachary was good enough."
"What happened?"
The woman sneered. "Said Zachary wasn't qualified for the competition. His own daughter entered so many back in the day. Why was it fine for her?"
"His daughter got into MIT, and now he can't stand to see others succeed!"
"Don't say that. Professor Sullivan isn't that kind of person!"
"I think he is! His daughter hasn't come home for years. Who knows what she's doing out there?"
"I heard she didn't go to grad school or get a job after college. She's some rich man's mistress!"
"You can't just say things like that!"
"If it weren't true, why wouldn't she come home? Ashamed, that's why!"
David Sullivan did not hear these whispers.
Even if he had, he would have remained silent.
In his eyes, his daughter was no different from a kept woman.
...
Sophia Sullivan stepped out of the train station.
A cold wind hit her face.
She tightened her down jacket.
The scenery outside the taxi window grew familiar.
The city had changed a lot over the years.
After the heavy industry moved out, tourism had flourished.
The streets were clean, lined with lush greenery.
The old town retained its original character.
The river divided the new and old districts.
In summer, people boated on it. In winter, a thin layer of ice formed.
Sunlight glittered on the ice like scattered diamonds.
An old arched bridge spanned the river.
The Sullivan home was right at the bridgehead.
Going through an alley, she saw the sign: "Faculty Residential Compound, City Second High School."
David Sullivan was a top physics graduate from Caltech.
He was specially hired to teach physics at the second high school.
He became head of the physics department within a year.
The Olympiad team he built produced many talented students.
They all received guaranteed admission to elite universities and were now highly successful.
His former students were everywhere.
His excellent teaching earned him the earliest housing benefit.
He was also the youngest teacher to receive it.
Thinking of her father, Sophia's eyes stung.
"...I taught you to study, and this is how you waste it?"
"For a man, you'd abandon your education?"
"I have no daughter like you!"
"Sophia, have you really abandoned your mom and dad?"
"If you leave, don't come back!"
...
"Miss, we're here."
Sophia snapped back to reality and scanned the payment code. "Thank you."
The Sullivans lived on the first floor with a small yard.
Her mother loved wisteria, so her father had built a trellis.
When it bloomed, the hanging purple flowers looked like a waterfall.
She loved relaxing in that yard.
Her father had built her a swing.
Later, the swing sat unused.
Six years had passed. She wondered about the wisteria and the swing.
Sophia blinked away the moisture in her eyes.
She stood before her home and took a deep breath.
She raised her hand and knocked on the door.