Chapter 23: 17

Chapter 17 – Vicious Tongue

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Hesitating for a moment, Su Qin opened a gap with only half her face revealed as she looked out with timid eyes.

Dressed in a black zipped up sweat suit, the man appeared very fair.

He stood outside the door with both hands in his pants pockets, and his legs seemed very long in this suit. With drooping eyes that were cold without warmth, he was staring at the dilapidated door panel and seemingly to be thinking about some matters.

As the little girl’s timid face appeared between the gaps of the door, his gaze immediately softened.

“Li … Teacher Li … how do you know this place?” She reacted very surprised.

She thought after the separation, Li Chuan would not come to find her again and it would be the same as in the previous lifetime where the two of them will only meet again a few years later.

The appearance of the man in front of her door at this moment made her a little confused.

Sweeping his gaze inside through the gap of the door, Li Chuan asked, “You live here?”

“Yes, yes ah.”

She was overwhelmed by Li Chuan’s sudden concern.

“Is it convenient to let me in for a moment?” Li Chuan stared at the girl’s eyes and tried to be as sincere as possible, “If it’s not convenient, I can stand outside too.”

Su Qin opened the door after a moment of hesitation and moved sideways to let him in.

Once Li Chuan entered the room, he noticed that the girl was standing at the door without coming in.

She had the door opened with both hands behind her back and was leaning slightly and subconsciously pushed against the door panel.

Li Chuan thought it’s very good that the girl has such a self-preservation instinct, even when facing him, a man who ‘had once shared weal and woe’, hence the little girl’s sense of well-being is still very strong.

Su Qin actually didn’t mean to guard against him. It was just a subconscious thought that it wouldn’t be good for a single man and a single woman to be alone together, and it would likely arouse ambiguity if the door was closed too.

Although she is still young now, she has … the mindset of a middle-aged woman ah.

Ahem.

Su Qin didn’t know why he came here, but she also realized that after being reborn, except for the unlikely changes of the general circumstances, the direction of the several people’s destiny who shared the adversity in the mountain village have all changed.

Yun Fei, who was burned to death in the previous lifetime, has found his father and has a family.

Meng Sisi and Wen Mei, who had tragic endings in their previous lifetime, have also started life anew.

She herself has also returned to the city 5 years earlier and moved out early from the home that is full of negativity. Her current job is going well while her future goals are clear and her simple life is considered happy.

But Li Chuan’s direction made her rather confused.

He volunteered to protect their group of girls and went with them to the cave, which could still be explained as the youth’s willfulness.

But now, why would he come looking for her?

Li Chuan looked around her room. The room is cramped and gloomy, but kept very clean. On the small table were some junior and high school revisions, while there were magazines and newspapers on the bed.

The milky white fish soup was boiling in the pot, making a ‘gurgling’ sound and wafting fragrantly.

“You certainly want to ask why I am here.” Li Chuan turned around and looked at the girl at the door.

Su Qin nodded and was indeed full of curiosity.

Li Chuan took out a folded newspaper from his pocket and handed it to her, “This newspaper was from Captain Lu. He is very concerned about you girls and asked me to find you to hand this over to you.”

Su Qin took the newspaper and unfolded it.

The Siyang City newspaper reported that the burning of the human trafficking village had attracted the attention of the local government, which prompted a thorough investigation of neighboring villages to put an end to such act from reoccurrence.

Zhang Xing, who was arrested and sentenced to death for multiple crimes including murder, has been executed by shooting.

Zhang Feng and Zhang Sitou were involved in a human-trafficking gang. Several people led by Zhang Feng were sentenced to death and the rest of their accomplices were either given life sentences or imprisonment of 10 years or more.

The number of women and children rescued from the abduction and human-trafficking crackdown this time was high. Since the disbandment of the criminal gangs was so huge, the major newspapers in Siyang City focused on reporting these.

Su Qin took a deep breath after reading the news and felt much more relaxed.

Folding the newspaper, Su Qin looked up and asked Li Chuan, “How did you find this place?”

“Captain Lu learned about your recent situation from Meng Sisi and felt uneasy, so he asked Zhang Cheng and me to find and give you some help. Zhang Cheng is a criminal police officer and has lots of contacts in Yunyang, so it’s not difficult to find you.” Li Chuan paused and added, “Su Qin, we are also considered as friends who had shared adversity and life/death together, so you can tell me if you have any difficulties.”

Su Qin didn’t deny that Captain Lu is indeed a good person. After she returned home in her previous lifetime, Captain Lu often called her to send his concerns and acted as the spiritual mentor role.

When Su Qin returned this time, she didn’t get Captain Lu’s phone number. The progress of the human trafficking case was through Meng Sisi’s inquiry from Captain Lu.

She didn’t expect Captain Lu would ask Li Chuan and Zhang Cheng to come find her and send his concern after learning about her situation.

Such a heartwarming civil police officer.

The fish soup was still boiling in the pot. Walking into the balcony, Su Qin turned off the flame and spoke to Li Chuan who was in the room, “Teacher Li, I’m doing quite well now. You tell Captain Lu not to worry. I’m working in a clothing store and the lady boss is very good at training her staff and generous too. I received a salary of 2,500 this month.”

Following her into the balcony, Li Chuan looked at the simple stove and his gaze fell on the gas tank, “Not going back to school?”

“Want to, but not now.” Su Qin said while serving the soup, “Teacher Li, I can’t afford to go to school now, so I have to work for one year first and retake the high school exam next year.”

Su Qin carried the fish soup to the small table outside, took two bowls from the dishwashing basin in the corner of the bedroom, then turned around and asked him, “Teacher Li, would you like to try the fish soup I cooked?”

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If Li Chuan remembered the date correctly, today should be her birthday.

He came in a hurry and didn’t bring anything with him. He couldn’t say ‘Happy Birthday’ to the girl directly. That would appear too abrupt.

He sat down at the table, nodded his head with a hm and asked her, “How old are you actually? Fully 16 already? The boss who employed you could be considered using child labor.”

“No, no, no. Teacher Li, I’m already 16 and it’s not considered as child labor.” Su Qin deliberately took out her ID card from under the pillow to show it to him, “Here, Teacher Li, look, exactly 16 years old.”

Taking a look at the ID card, Li Chuan said, “It’s your birthday today?”

“Yes ah.” Su Qin ladled a bowl of fish soup and pushed it to him, “So, I’m treating you to fish soup and you’ve come at the right time.”

The fish soup was boiled to milky white and tasted delicious. Su Qin always has confidence in her own skill, but she still asked him with an expectant face, “How is it? Is it delicious?”

Li Chuan nodded, “En. Not bad.”

He knew that Su Qin was a good cook and thought it was a skill she learned during those years in the countryside. Now it seems that her skills ought to be forced upon by the unreliable parents at home.

“Happy Birthday.”

“Thank you, Teacher Li.”

The little girl arched her eyebrows and bared her little canine teeth as she smiled.

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“You needn’t call me Teacher Li in the future, just call me by my name, Li Chuan.” After finishing the fish soup, he cut to the chase and asked her, “Su Qin, are we, considered as friends?”

Su Qin felt strange by the man’s sudden question.

Putting aside their relationship as husband and wife in their previous lifetime, in this lifetime, they had gone through adversity together, hence are worthy of being friends.

She nodded and looked at him with a pair of bright eyes, “Consider. Li … Brother Li, you are not only my friend, but also my benefactor. I will definitely repay you when I make money in the future.”

Li Chuan gave a smile of relief. Shaking his head, he said, “No need. Since we are friends, I should help you if you have difficulties. Listen to me, go back to school. I will sponsor your tuition fees.”

“No, no, no, no need.” Su Qin hurriedly waved her hands at him in a panic, “Teacher Li, I know that your family background is good. You are my benefactor, how can I accept your sponsorship? If I really needed someone to sponsor my tuition fee, I would have accepted Sisi’s father’s kindness earlier. Teacher Li, with my current salary, I can earn enough in three months for the three years high school tuition fee. You really don’t have to worry too much about me.”

Seeing her insistence, Li Chuan was about to speak again when the little girl interrupted him directly, “En, Teacher Li, you graduated from Yunyang High School, right? If you really want to help me, can you help me ask if I can still take their school exam after the first-year senior high starts in September? I’ve attended half a year of first-year senior high, and I did pretty well in my junior high school exams … I want to try to take the Yunyang High School exam.”

It’s only April now. If she can go straight for the exam, she doesn’t have to re-study the third year of junior high school. She can earn an extra few months’ salary and by the time school starts in September, she can absolutely earn enough for 3 years tuition fees.

Li Chuan asked her, “How many points did you get in the high school admittance exam?”

“En … 610 points, the first place in Chengnan Middle School at that time.”

Su Qin deliberately mentioned the first place, perhaps Yunyang High School will give her a chance to take the exam considering her first place position.

However, Genius Li Chuan frowned immediately, “Not good, your score is too low and is too far a gap from Yunyang High School. They won’t accept mediocre students. Even if you pay for it, you will only be in the bottom league.”

Su Qin, “ …… “ A mouthful of blood stuck in her chest, and the sense of superiority of getting first place back then was struck away.

Soon, Genius Li, who looked askance scornfully, smoothened his frown and his voice was low, “I know the current principal of Yunyang High School (Yunzhong). I will help you ask and let you know the results.”

The man’s gaze fell on the pile of revisions that she bought. Reaching out, he flipped through casually and frowned again.

Seeing his frown, Su Qin’s heart ‘dropped’ and felt that this person was about to launch his vicious tongue again. Sure enough, the man spoke in a steady voice, “You still think about taking the Yunzhong exam just by looking at these materials? Su Qin, are you living in a dream?”

Crap … Su Qin looked aggrieved. Why hadn’t she noticed before that her husband was so vicious-tongued? She finally knew why Teacher Li, who has good looks and is well educated, had no first love.

Looking at the girl’s eyes filled with grievances, Li Chuan realized that his frankness seemed to strike her a little and immediately toned down his voice, “If you are not willing to accept my monetary support, then can surely accept psychological assistance?”

“En?”

The little girl appeared confused.

Li Chuan coughed lightly and asked her, “When is your weekly break?”

“Only on Mondays and if it’s a holiday, I can’t take the day off.”

Li Chuan nodded, “Just right. I am free on Monday afternoons and your place is also not far from Nanjing University (NJU). You can come to find me in NJU every Monday afternoon and I will help tutor you. Don’t think it’s taxing. It’s impossible to pass the Yunyang High School exam at your current level. With me tutoring you, your success rate will be much higher.”

He is still doing his PhD and is usually engaged with research and thesis writing, and is also planning to set up a company, thus it is not easy to spare an afternoon to tutor her.

Of course, in this world, only Su Qin can get this treatment. Would he squander his time for someone else? Hah, dream on.

Although Li Chuan’s speech was quite deflating, he did speak the truth. Su Qin’s high school admittance exam was 30 points away from Yunzhong’s minimum passing score. In her previous lifetime, she only managed to attend technical college with her high school scores.

There is no problem taking the general high school exam in her current situation, but she has indeed overestimated her ability if she wants to take Yunyang High School’s exam. Since Li Chuan agreed to help tutor her, she can’t miss this opportunity.

She is not worried at all that Li Chuan will be interested in her. Professor Li is like a ferocious wolf in bed and obviously likes pretty girls with big breasts.

She, however, is now … ahem … like a little under-developed flat tablet. QAQ

From the previous lifetime’s perspective, Su Qin has to admit that Li Chuan is a good man and a good husband.

But getting reborn again, she didn’t want to have any emotional entanglements with Li Chuan. Both of them are entirely from different worlds and have few common topics in life.

The husband is highly educated with a high income, while the wife is a technical college graduate with an average income. Their common conversational topics were daily necessities and their daughter.

Putting aside Lin Xiaoyin, both of them in fact had unspoken problems for many years.

One would brood and say nothing when aggrieved, while the other was just too good-natured, that both were like two clumps of cotton that were powerless to strike anyone.

Both husband and wife treated each other with respect and no conflicts. But it didn’t mean there weren’t any conflicts, except it just accumulated and had never blown up. Once it blew up there probably would not be peace at home and the one suffered in the end would only be their daughter.

Su Qin’s heart aches thinking of her daughter.

Baobao was burned to death with her in the previous lifetime, which also had become a tangled knot that couldn’t be unraveled. If she marries Li Chuan again and gives birth to Baobao, it will still be Baobao who suffers if their accumulated conflicts blow up.

Never mind, she simply didn’t want to think about these troublesome matters anymore.

Since she is reborn again, she certainly wants to live her life a little more excitingly.

Even if she chooses not to marry Teacher Li, she will surely befriend someone like Teacher Li. This man has many resources around him.

After that day, she started calling Captain Lu every now and then to send her regards and ask about his well-being. Though Captain Lu was puzzled, he still praised the girl’s consideration inwardly.

Zhang Cheng’s workplace is in Su Qin’s residential area. He will come to see her every now and then, and will bring her some fruits and coconut milk.

At first Su Qin refused to accept these things and said politely, “How can I let you break the bank coming to see me?”

Zhang Cheng put the fruit and coconut milk on the table, “Laozi[1] is so poor that only money is left, so it’s not breaking the bank. You just eat these freely, I will send you more two days later.”

Su Qin, “ ……. “

Zhang Cheng is a warm-hearted policeman. She had heard from Li Chuan in her previous lifetime that Zhang Cheng’s monthly salary was still not enough to buy things for the victims and suspects’ families.

Reborn in this lifetime again, she actually experienced being cared for by Young Master Zhang. It’s really … special and very touching. QAQ

There is a small shop below Su Qin’s building.

When Su Qin returned from work today, the small shop’s uncle called her, “Su-su, a gentleman left a box of stuff here for you.”

Su Qin was startled and thought Zhang Cheng had come to deliver things again. Carrying the box upstairs, she opened it and was relieved to see that it was a box of study materials.

She took the books out and sorted them. When she went downstairs to throw out the trash, she went to the small shop to call Li Chuan.

On the other end of the phone, Li Chuan told her that the principal of Yunyang High School had agreed to give her a chance to take the exam at the beginning of June.

Grasping the telephone receiver, Su Qin spoke excitedly, “Really?”

“En.”

At this moment, Su Qin wished she could hug Teacher Li and kiss him frenziedly.

“This opportunity is not easy to come by, you should cherish it. Remember, come and report to me every Monday. Not everyone will have this sort of opportunity.”

The man’s voice from the telephone receiver was slightly serious with a sense of realism.

Suppressing her excitement, Su Qin thanked him with extreme solemnness.

The man on the other end arched his eyebrows and his tone became gentle again, “You’re welcome. You should be mentally prepared, I’m very strict with my students.”

 

[1] 老子 (Lǎozi) – in this context it’s self-proclaimed for I, used arrogantly or jocularly

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