Chapter 165: Strike

Twenty-nine people ran back to the classroom, slammed the door open, and leaned against the desks and chairs, swaying from side to side.

Yin Siqi's chest heaved violently and he gasped for breath.

His face flushed red, and his steps stumbled. "You didn't catch up?"

Zhang Sheng staggered to the window. He leaned forward, looked back, and slowly shook his head. "No."

When everyone heard this, the taut strings suddenly loosened, and they all breathed a sigh of relief at the same time.

Someone raised his hand and gently patted his chest, saying with lingering fear: "I won't dare to go to the cafeteria to eat in the future. The aunt is too enthusiastic."

They were only teenagers, so inexperienced that they had never seen such a straightforward person. He immediately came up to them and enthusiastically proposed to marry his daughter. He even excitedly took out the handkerchief embroidered by the daughter and insisted on showing it to them.

This would never happen in Kyoto or Juzhou.

Thinking of that scene, everyone's faces were filled with helplessness and embarrassment.

"What will we do if we don't go to the cafeteria to eat? Will we starve to death?" A voice suddenly came out, breaking the brief peace.

Everyone fell silent in an instant and looked at each other.

Yes, if not going to the cafeteria, where can they go to eat?

Can't you cook for yourself?

Look at them, with delicate skin and tender flesh, and they have never done any cooking. They don’t look like people who can cook.

Everyone looked at each other, with a hint of despair in their eyes.

Chen Shuyan can cook, but if he is asked to cook for twenty-nine people by himself, how can he study?

"It seems that we have no choice but to sacrifice Brother Yin." Zhang Sheng's mouth corners slightly raised with a hint of cunning.

He reached out and patted Yin Siqi's shoulder heavily, and said seriously, "Squad leader, as the leader of the class, it's time for you to give everything for us." After that, he winked at Yin Siqi.

Upon hearing this, Yin Siqi's eyes instantly widened to the size of bells, his face filled with fear and resistance. He clasped his hands tightly to his chest and shrank back, as if this would preserve his innocence. "No, no, absolutely not!"

This is another price!

"Sergeant, stop struggling. If you don't go to hell, who will? Maybe the girl in your aunt's family is as beautiful as she said. When the time comes, you will return to Beijing with not only knowledge but also a wife. Your mother will definitely be very happy." Zhang Sheng's smile became more intense, full of sarcasm.

Happy? Yin Siqi knew that if his mother knew that he had agreed to a marriage just to make a living, she would definitely break his legs.

Thinking of this, Yin Siqi was about to cry. When choosing a monitor this morning, no one told him that being a monitor would require selling his "body".

He regretted it. Is it okay if he just stopped being the squad leader?

"Okay, maybe Auntie was just joking. Let's not worry about it." Song Zhixu looked at Yin Siqi's pitiful appearance. Although it was very funny, he still spoke to comfort her.

"Yes, yes, auntie must be joking." Yin Siqi nodded hurriedly.

He took a deep breath, tried to calm himself down, and said, "Okay, let's go back to the classroom and get ready for class."

Jiang Luli teaches the afternoon class.

Before Jiang Luli entered the classroom, everyone felt a chill coming towards them.

Their bodies shuddered involuntarily.

As soon as Jiang Luli stepped into the classroom, everyone seemed to be under a spell, not daring to breathe, and their heads were lowered so low that they almost buried them in the desks.

Jiang Luli glanced coldly at the crowd and snorted. "A bunch of idiots! I don't know how you have the nerve to live in this world. If you can't even solve such a simple problem, what's the point of studying? Why don't you just go home and be a lazy bum, a playboy, a dung-making machine?"

His brows were furrowed, his eyes filled with disgust and anger.

Everyone was scolded so much that their faces turned red and they wished they could find a hole to crawl into.

Some lowered their heads, biting their lips, faces etched with shame; others stared blankly ahead, their eyes hollow, as if they had lost their souls. If there had been a rope nearby, someone would have probably tried to commit suicide right then and there.

"I really don't want to say anything to you. Take out the essay papers." Jiang Luli said impatiently, folding his hands over his chest.

He paced in the classroom, his steps heavy, and every step seemed to be stepping on everyone's heart.

"The first question is too easy. You should all know it, right? Then I won't explain it."

"Look at the second question. It's too difficult. You won't understand it even if I explain it to you. Why bother explaining it?"

"Okay, let's look at the third question..."

Jiang Luli's voice echoed in the classroom, and the entire afternoon was spent in difficulty amid his occasional sarcasm.

When the bell rang for the end of get out of class, everyone breathed a sigh of relief as if they had heard an amnesty.

Jiang Luli glanced at them and said, "Everyone should submit a policy paper tomorrow."

After saying that, he left without looking back, looking as if he would be infected with "stupidity" by these students if he stayed any longer.

Zhang Sheng slumped in his chair like a deflated ball, slowly turning around to look at Su Yichen. "Is your principal Jiang always this fierce in class?"

Su Yichen tilted his head, his eyes clear and innocent, "Is he fierce? I don't think so. Jiang Shanzhang is just a bit strict. Besides, a strict teacher produces excellent students. If the teacher is not strict, how can we become useful?"

He spoke seriously, with a hint of reverence on his face.

Zhang Sheng's eyes widened as he stared at Su Yichen in disbelief. It was as if he had heard something out of the ordinary. He simply couldn't understand how Su Yichen could say something so unconscionable with his eyes open.

Chen Shuyan covered his forehead with his hands, looking helpless. Zhang Xiong was also very good at searching, and he found Jiang Shanzhang's "brainless fans" right away. In Su Yichen's eyes, Jiang Shanzhang had no flaws, he was simply perfect.

Seeing that the two were about to say something, Chen Shuyan quickly reached out and pulled Su Yichen to stand up, "Brother Zhang, we have something else to do, let's talk another day. See you later."

After saying that, without waiting for Zhang Sheng's response, he pulled Su Yichen out.

Su Yichen was pulled, and although he looked puzzled, he still staggered and followed, "Brother Chen, why are you pulling me? I haven't explained to Brother Zhang clearly that Jiangshan is good."

Chen Shuyan sighed helplessly and said, "Brother Su, have you forgotten the punishment from the headmaster? We have only been doing this for two days."

"Yes, yes, let's go quickly. Yesterday we helped Uncle Gu carry manure, and today we have to help Aunt Li chop firewood." Su Yichen reacted instantly after hearing this. Not only did he stop struggling, but he pulled Chen Shuyan and ran forward quickly.

Chen Shuyan looked at the school which was constantly declining, feeling sad.

He felt that his life was really hard.

After entering the village, Su Yichen shouted at the top of his voice: "Auntie Li, we are here to help you with the work." The voice echoed in the village, startling several birds perched on the branches.

Aunt Li was cooking in the kitchen. When she heard someone calling her, she quickly came out, knife in hand. "Who is it?"

Su Yichen pushed the door open and entered the yard, smiling widely. "Auntie, it's me, Xiao Su. Didn't I tell you yesterday that I would come to help you chop firewood today?" As he spoke, he walked quickly to Auntie Li with a particularly bright smile on his face.

Aunt Li looked at the two young men standing in the yard, a smile spreading across her face, her eyes narrowed into slits. "Oh, it's Xiao Su and Xiao Shen. I thought you weren't coming. Have you eaten yet? Auntie is making dinner, let's eat together later." She greeted them warmly, her eyes full of love.

After entering the yard, Su Yichen continued to chat with Aunt Li, while Chen Shuyan walked to the kitchen and saw some wood piled there, and an axe hanging on the wall not far away.

He reached out and took the axe, tested the blade with his hand, and found it was not sharp enough, so he took the axe and walked to the well in the yard, where there was a grindstone.

He got some water in a basin, squatted down and began to sharpen the knife carefully.

Su Yichen felt embarrassed to just stand there, so he rolled up his sleeves and walked forward to carry the trees and put them in the yard.

He hugged the tree trunk with both hands, moved his feet with difficulty, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

After the axes were sharpened, the two took turns chopping wood.

Chen Shuyan had done some housework at home before, so he was very skilled. He raised the axe and swung it hard. With a "crack", the wood broke. In just a few strokes, the firewood was chopped.

But Su Yichen had never done this before. His face flushed red as he tried his best to chop, but either he missed and the axe drew an awkward arc in the air; or he chopped in and couldn't pull the axe out.

The axe almost hit his feet several times, and he turned pale with fear.

Seeing this, Chen Shuyan hurriedly stopped him and said helplessly, "Forget it, forget it. I'll chop it by myself. You carry the chopped ones to the corner and pile them up."

Su Yichen scratched the back of his head and said awkwardly, "Teach me again, I'll learn."

Chen Shuyan glanced at him, only to see his friend's face full of innocent stupidity. He sighed helplessly and lowered his head in resignation. "Forget it, let's finish it early and go back to do the homework left by the teacher."

Not only do they have schoolwork, but they also have daily work experience.

"Yes, yes, we still have homework to do, and we both have to write a work report. Oh, I don't know how long we'll finish writing tonight. How about I go to your room and write with you? We can even discuss it."

Chen Shuyan was so frightened that he almost dropped the axe in his hand. He quickly waved his hand and said, "Goodbye. I like quietness when I'm studying."

"Okay then." Su Yichen felt a little disappointed. Alas, he couldn't copy the homework.

The two men lowered their heads to work, and for a moment the yard became quiet, with only the sound of axes chopping wood.

"Grandma, I'm back." At that moment, a girl of fifteen or sixteen pushed open the courtyard door and walked in. She carried a bamboo basket on her back, and her steps were brisk. The hem of her blue cloth skirt, stained with mud from the mountain path, swayed gently as she walked.

She reached out to hold onto the doorframe, the straw bracelet on her wrist rustling against the grain of the wooden door. A bamboo basket of mugwort was piled high, and a few wild chrysanthemums were inserted diagonally along the edge, swaying gently in the breeze.

The collar of his coarse shirt was stained with dark sweat marks, and he wore a wooden hairpin in his hair, with a delicate and small wooden hairpin with a half-opened lotus carved on the head.

The girl did not notice the two people working at the kitchen door. She walked straight to the eaves, put down her backpack, and then went to the well to wash her hands.

As she washed her hands, she said crisply, "Grandma, the mugwort on the back hill is growing beautifully. I picked a lot. Can you make me some steamed mugwort rice cakes tomorrow?"

The sound is clear and pleasant, like a clear spring in the mountains.

After washing her hands, she turned around and planned to go to the kitchen to find her grandmother, only to find two unfamiliar men standing at her kitchen door, staring at her blankly.

She was stunned at first, then screamed, and hurriedly raised the bucket by the well to protect herself, asking in a trembling voice: "You... who are you?" Her eyes were wide open, full of horror.

Chen Shuyan knew he was misunderstood, and quickly put down the axe in his hand and explained anxiously: "Girl, don't get excited, we are not bad people."

As he spoke, he took a cautious step forward.

Gu Maisui looked at the man walking towards her with an axe in his hand, and her face turned pale with fear. She screamed and threw the bucket in her hand. "Ah! Don't come over here. What did you do to my grandma?"

Chen Shuyan quickly dodged to the side, and seeing the girl getting even more frightened, he stopped immediately. "We are really not bad people. We are students from Qiushi Academy, and we came to your house to help with the work."

Gu Mai Sui still didn't believe it. Just then, grandma came over from behind the house. "Hey, Mai Sui is back?"

Then the grandmother noticed that her granddaughter and the two young masters were a little on edge, so she quickly stepped forward and comforted her with a smile: "Don't be afraid, Mai Sui, they are students from the academy. They have been helping with work in the village these past two days. Did you forget what I told you last night?"

Mai Sui remembered that her grandmother had indeed mentioned that last night. She suddenly realized, "Oh, they are the two young men that Uncle Gu mentioned who were so stupid that they couldn't even pick up manure."

Chen Shuyan and Su Yichen: Don’t they have any face?

Grandma glared at Gu Maisui and said, "What nonsense are you saying in front of others, kid? They are chopping wood quite well. Look, it's only been a short time, and they've already chopped so much." Grandma pointed at the firewood on the ground.

Gu Maisui stretched his neck to take a look and found that the wood was indeed chopped well.

She was no longer afraid, and walked over quickly to help carry the firewood. She also chatted with them generously: "Why did you come to my house to work?"

She had a bright smile on her face and her eyes were full of curiosity.

Su Yichen had never met such a generous girl before, and for a moment he was at a loss. His face flushed red, and he stammered, "Well, this is a lesson the teacher assigned to the two of us. It's to train our willpower."

"Oh, I see. By the way, I saw you running in the village this morning. Why was that?" Mai Sui was very talkative and kept asking questions like a machine gun.

After a while, the two were chatting enthusiastically.

"Hey, gentlemen, you came to my house before me?" A familiar voice suddenly appeared in the yard.

When the two looked up, they saw the aunt who was very enthusiastic at noon and insisted on introducing her daughter to them standing in the yard with a smile, looking at them kindly.

Su Yichen and Shen Shuyan looked at each other and saw disbelief in each other's eyes.

It’s a small world.

[The author is talking nonsense, today's update is completed, love you. 】