"Really not?" Teacher Zhao asked.

Wen Qing's answer was consistent: "No."

"Alright, I'll show you something." With that, Teacher Zhao took out her key, opened a small drawer in her desk, pulled out a piece of paper, and handed it to Wen Qing: "Take a look."

Wen Qing took a piece of paper with a puzzled look on it. The paper was written in blue ink: “Report: Wen Qing, a student in Grade 11 (2), is having an affair with Zhang Lei, a student in Grade 11 (9). This has seriously affected the school’s atmosphere and led other students astray. We hope that the teachers and principal will deal with this matter seriously.”

"Is that the case?" Teacher Zhao said seriously, "This kind of thing will be criticized at the principal's meeting, and not only you, but also your parents will be in a difficult position. If the circumstances are serious, you will be expelled."

Wen Qing was naturally aware of the public pressure and methods of dealing with "dating" in this era, but she asked, "Who is Zhang Lei?"

Teacher Zhao looked at Wen Qing, who indeed looked completely bewildered.

"You don't recognize him?" Teacher Zhao asked.

Wen Qing: "I don't know him."

"You really don't recognize me?"

Wen Qing looked at Teacher Zhao: "I don't even know all the students in my own class, how could I know students from other classes?"

Teacher Zhao said in a low voice, "That's strange. Why would someone who doesn't know you report you? Besides, Teacher Wu, Zhang Lei's homeroom teacher, and I received the report at the same time."

“Then the principal must have received it too,” Wen Qing suddenly said.

Teacher Zhao was taken aback.

The next second, the principal strode into the office, followed by Teacher Wu and the boy who had delivered the letter to Wen Qing in the past two days.

"Is he Zhang Lei?" Wen Qing felt like she had suffered an undeserved misfortune. Fortunately, she had grown up amidst rumors and gossip. If it were any other girl in this era, she would probably be crying her eyes out.

"What's going on?" the principal asked with a dark face, clearly having also received a report.

Teacher Zhao quickly smiled and said, "Principal, I just asked Wen Qing, and it's all a misunderstanding. The kids were just playing around."

The principal was a pedantic old man, a conservative and traditionalist who often criticized the children of today for going astray. He also abhorred those who engaged in promiscuous relationships, so once he discovered any signs of such behavior, he would immediately nip it in the bud.

"A misunderstanding? A misunderstanding spreading throughout the school could have such a bad impact?" the principal said sternly.

"It hasn't spread yet, has it?" Teacher Zhao said.

Teacher Wu chimed in, "That's right, if the person involved doesn't know about it, it must be a misunderstanding."

Both homeroom teachers defended their own students, especially Teacher Zhao, who went to great lengths to absolve Wen Qing of any involvement in the matter.

Wen Qing felt a warmth in her heart. Originally, she wasn't afraid of this matter, but seeing how much Teacher Zhao was protecting her, she was truly grateful and even more unwilling to let Teacher Zhao take the blame for her.

The principal, however, believed there was no smoke without fire, and said, "I heard that Wen Qing doesn't attend evening self-study sessions every day. What is a student doing if he doesn't attend evening self-study sessions?"

Before Teacher Zhao could speak, Wen Qing said, "Principal, my family is poor, and I don't attend evening self-study sessions to earn tuition fees."

"Earn tuition fees?" The principal squinted at Wen Qing.

Wen Qing said calmly, "Well, if I don't make money, I won't have money to pay tuition. I'm so focused on making money that I don't have time to date."

Seeing this, Zhang Lei quickly said, "Principal, I was the one who gave Wen Qing a love letter, but she didn't accept it. She's not dating me."

"Then why did someone say that you were shouting at school that Wen Qing had accepted you?" the principal asked rhetorically.

"That, that, that was just my personal fantasy."

The principal was speechless for a moment.

Teacher Zhao and Teacher Wu exchanged a glance, and quickly took the opportunity to speak well of the principal.

Zhang Lei glanced at Wen Qing secretly, feeling quite guilty.

Wen Qing didn't even glance at him.

Finally, the principal said sternly, "I'll let them off this time, but let them write proper self-criticisms and reflect on their actions. Any signs that hinder learning or negatively impact the school's atmosphere must be nipped in the bud. If you're going to be anything, be a pillar of the nation, putting the country before your family. You can't write secret letters anymore! It's outrageous!"

“The principal is right, the principal is right,” Teacher Zhao and Teacher Wu said in unison.

The principal then left.

Teacher Zhao and Teacher Wu exchanged a glance. Teacher Wu quickly led Zhang Lei away, afraid that if Wen Qing and Zhang Lei stayed together, rumors would spread again.

Before leaving, Zhang Lei said to Wen Qing again, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

Wen Qing didn't say anything.

Zhang Lei silently followed Teacher Wu.

Teacher Zhao said, "Wen Qing, you need to be more careful in the future."

"Yes, Teacher Zhao." Wen Qing bowed her head.

"Knowledge changes destiny, don't be fooled. This matter can be a big deal or a small deal; if it's blown out of proportion, it can ruin a person's future."

"Yes, thank you, Teacher Zhao."

"Okay, go back now, study hard, and talk to me if you have any questions."

"Yes, Teacher Zhao."

Wen Qing came out of the school office.

She was puzzled. Who would bother with all this nonsense? Ji Ningzhi?

It shouldn't be Ji Ningzhi. Ji Ningzhi always believed that Wen Qing liked her brother, so she wouldn't play matchmaker. Besides, Ji Ningzhi isn't a smart person. She thinks that yelling and shouting are the most powerful way, regardless of whether she's right or wrong, and she would never use such a subtle approach.

So who is it?

Clearly, the person who reported her treated her like any other girl, thinking that by giving her the accusation of "dating," she would be ashamed and embarrassed like other girls, not even bothering to defend herself, and just crying? And then dropping out of school?

So, if the person who reported her doesn't know her, then who is it? She doesn't think she's offended anyone, so could it just be someone who can't stand her pranks?

As Wen Qing pondered these thoughts, she arrived at the classroom.

"Report!" she called out.

Political science teacher: "Come in."

Wen Qing sat back down and glanced at Ji Ningzhi. Ji Ningzhi still disliked her as usual, and she ignored her as well.

Wan Min leaned closer and asked, "Wen Qing, what did your teacher want with you? Did he say you're dating someone?"

"How did you know?" Wen Qing asked.

"Everyone in the class is talking about it."

"Oh, I didn't talk about it."

"I knew it! You definitely didn't talk to them, and everyone believed you."

"Thank you," Wen Qing said with a smile.

During the break, all the students went out to exercise, but Wen Qing and Wan Min remained in their seats. Wan Min then leaned over and said, "Actually, Ji Ningzhi is dating someone."

Wen Qing looked at Wan Min and suddenly remembered that not long after the start of the semester, when she left the school gate, she saw a boy walking alongside Ji Ningzhi while she was treating someone to a meal.

"I heard his name is Li Chuanli, and he is in Class 10 of the second year of high school."

"Li Chuanli?"

“Yes.” Wan Min’s voice became even softer: “Last night, Li Chuanli even threw stones at the window of dormitory 202 and brought snacks to Ji Ningzhi. Ji Ningzhi was very happy.”

"Li Chuanli is particularly good to Ji Ningzhi?"

I guess so.

Wen Qing remained silent upon hearing this, then suddenly stood up.

"What's wrong, Wen Qing?" Wan Min was startled.

"Next class is math, I'm going to ask the math teacher a question." With that, Wen Qing grabbed her books and headed for the office.

The math teacher loves discussing math problems with people, especially with high-achieving students.

Therefore, when Wen Qing came to ask questions, he explained them to Wen Qing very seriously.

Wen Qing looked at the math workbooks on the desk, belonging to the students of Grade 11 (2) and Grade 11 (10).

“Teacher, you’re absolutely right. I understand now that you’ve explained it,” Wen Qing said.

The math teacher chuckled: "Do you understand now?"

"Understood, understood." Wen Qing nudged him with his elbow, and a stack of homework books from Class 10 of Grade 11 scattered on the ground.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Wen Qing said.

"It's okay, just pick it up."

Wen Qing immediately squatted down and picked up the notebooks one by one. When she found Li Chuanli's notebook, she put his notebook on top. Looking at the words "Senior 2 (10) Class" in the class column, she found that the handwriting of "Senior 2 (2) Class" in her mind was completely consistent. Wen Qing flipped through a few more pages of the notebooks uncertainly. After confirming that it was correct, she closed the notebooks and put all the homework on the table.

Just then, the school bell rang, and the math teacher said, "Let's go to class."

"Okay," Wen Qing said with a smile.

Having identified the whistleblower, Wen Qing was in a good mood. However, she hadn't yet come up with a way to retaliate. When the school bell rang in the afternoon, she remembered that Aunt Xiao should be waiting for her at the school gate after delivering the goods. So, carrying her cloth bag, she rushed out of the school gate as usual and, unsurprisingly, saw Aunt Xiao.

"Aunt Xiao."

"Wen Qing!" Aunt Xiao walked over quickly, a smile on her face.

"Did you hand them all over to Zhang Xiuying?" Wen Qing asked.

"Okay." Aunt Xiao handed over a slip of paper with a number written on it, saying, "This is our shop's phone number. The phone is installed."

Did you give your number to Zhang Xiuying as well?

"Given it!"

"That's good. Here, take the note. I've memorized the number."

Aunt Xiao asked in surprise, "You remembered that already?"

Wen Qing laughed: "These are just a few numbers."

“People who go to school are so smart.” After saying that, Aunt Xiao pulled Wen Qing away from the crowd and took out a handful of money from her pocket: “This is the money Xiuying gave me for the clothes next time. She’s really enthusiastic. There’s a total of a thousand yuan. She said it’s like an advance payment so you won’t leave her any clothes.”

"Okay." Wen Qing took the money.

"Get it set up properly, there are always people coming and going here," Aunt Xiao reminded her.

"Mm." Wen Qing smiled, and then returned to Green Garden with Aunt Xiao.

As they walked and talked, they said that the tailor shop across the street hadn't sold any clothes in the past two days, except for a very few people who had made a few pieces.

Wen Qing said, "As the weather gets cooler, short-sleeved shirts naturally won't sell as well."

"But they want to buy our goods to sell."

"Do you want to buy our goods to sell?" Wen Qing asked.

"Um."

Wen Qing was deep in thought.

Aunt Xiao said, "This morning, the fifty pairs of khaki high-waisted pants that had just come out were sold to them. Bao Hong only found out after she received the money that the people who bought these fifty pairs of pants were from the tailor shop across the street."

Wen Qing remained silent.

Aunt Xiao: "Bao Hong asked me to ask you if she did something wrong?"

“That’s right,” Wen Qing said.

"I think that makes sense," Aunt Xiao said. "We're in business, we just sell things to make money, it doesn't matter who we sell to, we're just worried about what might happen with the tailor shop across the street."

Wen Qing smiled and said, "Wouldn't you be more likely to cause trouble if you didn't sell?"

Aunt Xiao agreed with this statement.

Wen Qing smiled and said, "Sell! As long as Zhang Fangfang dares to want it and has the money to buy it, I'll sell as many as she wants."

“Alright! We’ll do business honestly and squarely, we’re not afraid of anyone,” Aunt Xiao said with a smile.

Wen Qing laughed: "That's right! We're going to make money off her!"

“Yes!” Aunt Xiao laughed.

After arriving at Green Garden, Wen Qing told Aunt Xiao that October 1st was a Friday, and she would have a day off. After Friday, Aunt Xiao's daily task was to transport the semi-finished clothes from the state-owned garment factory back to Wangcheng County for final processing, and then transport them to the city for Zhang Xiuying and the others. At the same time, when Wen Qing had free time at the garment factory, she would make khaki high-waisted pants.

"Okay, Wenqing, don't worry. It's just a matter of bringing a few hundred pieces of clothing back to the county town every day. It's no problem at all," Aunt Xiao said.

"Yes, Aunt Xiao, I trust you to handle things," Wen Qing said. "Starting tomorrow, I'll be busy with something else."

"What is it?"

"Winter clothing, and Feng Qing's shop in Nanzhou City."

"You want to open a shop in Nanzhou too?" Aunt Xiao asked. "How much would that cost?"

Wen Qing smiled and said, "Aunt Xiao, do you know that after these three thousand pieces of clothing are sold, Fengqing Garment Factory can have at least fifteen thousand yuan in capital?"

"Fifteen thousand yuan?" Aunt Xiao's mouth dropped open: "You've suddenly become a ten-thousand-yuan household."

“That’s right, 15,000 yuan. So I’ll be very busy during this period. Besides going to school, I also have to work on the winter clothing samples and the entries that Wang Zhishan asked me to submit for the competition. It’s the beginning of spring, so Aunt Xiao, please work hard. I will find someone to help as soon as possible.”

Aunt Xiao laughed: "Wen Qing, what are you saying? You are a great benefactor to our family."

Wen Qing smiled and then said, "Now I'll go find the landlord and buy this house."

Why buy this house?

"live."

As she spoke, Wen Qing stood up, said a few words to Aunt Xiao, and then went out of the room to find the landlord.

The landlord was taken aback when he saw Wen Qing. His first reaction was, "You're not buying the house?"

Wen Qing laughed: "No, I'm here to pay the rent for the house."

The landlord was taken aback: "You have money now?"

"Yes, I made a profit."

The landlord was shocked: "It's only been two days!"

"Yeah, I made it in two days."

The landlord couldn't believe that Wen Qing had such ability, earning four or five hundred yuan in just two days. Looking at the entire Nanzhou City, there really aren't many people who can earn four or five hundred yuan in one or two days.

Wen Qing took out five hundred-yuan bills and handed them to the landlord with a smile, saying, "Landlord, thank you for giving me so much time to prepare. But I think we can complete the formalities today, so it won't delay your and your partner's schedule."

The landlord stared at the five hundred yuan for a moment, originally thinking that if Wen Qing couldn't come up with the money, he might feel embarrassed. But now, Wen Qing was so capable, bringing the money ahead of time. He was overjoyed and reached out to take the money: "Then I'll take it."

"Mm." Wen Qing smiled.

After receiving 500 yuan, the landlord returned the 68 yuan that Wen Qing had previously left with him. Then, he took Wen Qing to the housing management bureau, arriving before closing time. They handed over their identification documents, property deeds, and other materials. The landlord and Wen Qing then signed several documents and went to the finance office to pay a 5 yuan property ownership tax based on the room's area. Wen Qing then officially received the property deed, meaning that Room 201, Unit 4, Building 5, Greenland Garden, was now Wen Qing's home.

"Thank you, landlord. Have a safe journey and wish you and your loved one a safe and healthy trip." Wen Qing extended a friendly hand and shook hands with the landlord.

The landlord smiled and said, "Wen Qing, you are the most capable girl I have ever met."

"Thank you," Wen Qing smiled.

After saying goodbye to the landlord, Wen Qing was thrilled, clutching the property deed. She now had her own house to live in, and the deed was in her name. In two years, with the development of demolition and construction in Nanzhou City, all the property deeds would be replaced with property ownership certificates, and the property ownership certificates would then be in her name again.

Since her rebirth, she has learned one thing: even the darkest life can be brightened up through one's own efforts.

In a cheerful mood, she bought some meat dishes from a restaurant outside the Green Garden and celebrated with Aunt Xiao.

"Wen Qing, you're amazing," Aunt Xiao praised.

Wen Qing smiled and said, "So-so, third in the world."

Aunt Xiao laughed.

That evening, Aunt Xiao made clothes with a sewing machine, while Wen Qing hunched over the table drawing.

The next morning, Wen Qing went to class, and Aunt Xiao went to get her clothes and took them back to the county town.

When Wen Qing got out of school at noon, she went to a public phone to make a call. Bao Hong answered the phone and, upon hearing Wen Qing's voice, quickly said, "Sister Wen Qing, Zhang Fangfang wants to buy fifty sets of our clothes!"