Chapter 243: Where Did They Come From?

Upon arriving at the school, at a fork in the road near the teaching building, the two parted ways. Zhang Yueran headed for the laboratory building, while Nan Zhiyi went towards the literature and history building.

As soon as she entered the classroom, she saw Shan Xiaoyan waving at her, "Nan Zhiyi, there's a seat here!"

Nan Zhiyi was somewhat surprised. Since their minor conflict, the two had only maintained a superficial politeness, occasionally exchanging nods of acquaintance. She didn't quite understand why Shan Xiaoyan had suddenly taken the initiative to be friendly again and save her a seat, but she still walked over politely with a smile: "Thank you, Shan Xiaoyan."

Shan Xiaoyan waved her hand, a hint of embarrassment on her face.

After observing for a period of time, she found that Nan Zhiyi was gentle and polite to everyone, but maintained an appropriate distance. She participated in group activities based entirely on her personal interests and was not targeting anyone in particular.

She realized that her previous competitive spirit was somewhat childish and was too embarrassed to bring it up again.

Furthermore... knowing that Nan Zhiyi's husband was a high-ranking military officer, she felt even more ridiculous about her previous thoughts.

She was much calmer at this moment. "Zhiyi, you're welcome."

After Nan Zhiyi sat down, there was an empty seat next to her, and she thought she could leave it for Gao Huiqin.

However, Gao Huiqin did not arrive until the school bell rang.

In this lesson, the teacher mainly explained the key points and difficulties of the midterm exam. Although Nan Zhiyi had some doubts, she still concentrated on listening attentively and taking notes.

After the first class ended, Nan Zhiyi couldn't help but ask Shan Xiaoyan, "Xiaoyan, have you seen Gao Huiqin? Why didn't she come to class today?"

Shan Xiaoyan seemed to have been waiting for her to ask, and immediately leaned close to her ear: "I was just about to tell you! Yesterday, Gao Huiqin's husband from the countryside, along with her two children, came to the school! They started making a scene downstairs in the dormitory!"

Upon hearing the words "made a scene," Nan Zhiyi's heart tightened, and she quickly asked, "What do you mean? What's going on?"

Dan Xiaoyan's face showed deep sympathy, and she sighed, "Sigh, it's Gao Huiqin's husband. He blocked her way, demanding money, complaining that the family couldn't afford to eat, that the elderly were sick and there was no money to see a doctor, and that the children were crying from hunger... The two children, the older one was timid, and the younger one just kept crying, clinging to Gao Huiqin's leg and refusing to let go... It's really heartbreaking to see."

Nan Zhiyi frowned as she listened: "And then what? Doesn't the school care?"

"Why was no one in charge? The dormitory supervisor was the first to hear the commotion and came out, then the security guards came, and then our counselor, Teacher Li, came too. Gao Huiqin was crying uncontrollably, saying that she sends most of her monthly stipend back home as soon as she gets it, and she can't even afford to drink hot water... What more do they want?... There was also an older woman, probably her mother-in-law, who sat down on the ground, slapping her thighs and crying and cursing, saying that her daughter-in-law abandoned her family after going to university, that she was heartless and so on... Anyway, she said some really nasty things. A lot of students gathered around to watch."

"In the end, the dormitory supervisor and counselor persuaded her husband and his family, including Gao Huiqin, to go to the department office for a talk. Gao Huiqin didn't go back to the dormitory all night, and we don't know how she is."

Dan Xiaoyan murmured, "This isn't the first time something like this has happened at our school. Many of the educated youth who went on to university had married and had children in the countryside. When they returned to the city, it was fine if their spouses in the countryside couldn't find them, but if they did, they'd likely cause a scene at the school. Gao Huiqin scrimped and saved to send money home, only to be driven to desperation in the end. It's truly pitiful..."

Nan Zhiyi then pieced together the fragmented information about Gao Huiqin's frugal lifestyle and was shocked: "She...she really wouldn't even drink hot water?"

Shan Xiaoyan nodded heavily, her eyes a little red: "Yes! I've seen her several times. She only eats a hot meal at noon, and the rest of the time she just eats dry steamed buns with cold water. When I ask her why she doesn't get some hot water, she just says she's used to it and it's no big deal. Now that I think about it, she's saving every penny she can to send home. She doesn't even have a kettle... She takes cold showers... Sigh, what kind of life is she living..."

She now regrets not pouring her a glass of hot water.

Nan Zhiyi felt a pang of sorrow upon hearing this.

She never imagined that behind Gao Huiqin's frugality lay such a heavy situation.

Yang Mei, who had been listening for a while, also came over and whispered, "Yes, I also heard her mother-in-law yelling at Teacher Li, saying something like, 'What's the use of a woman studying so much? She should just go home and serve her in-laws and take care of the children! I want her to drop out of school!' It's really... so unreasonable."

Upon hearing the words "drop out of school," Nan Zhiyi was about to ask something when the class bell rang, the teacher entered the classroom, and she had no choice but to concentrate on the lesson.

Gao Huiqin did not show up all morning.

On her way to the cafeteria at noon, Shan Xiaoyan couldn't help but mutter to herself, "Could Huiqin really have been forced to drop out of school? What exactly does that family want? They're not satisfied with just getting money; do they have to ruin her future? Sigh..."

Yang Mei sighed as well, "Exactly, it's so pitiful..."

The three of them lined up together to get their food in the cafeteria. They had barely sat down and taken a few bites when they overheard someone at the next table saying, "Hey, did you hear? There's trouble at the school gate again! Looks like it's another guy looking for his wife!"

Nan Zhiyi, Shan Xiaoyan, and Yang Mei exchanged glances, their hearts skipping a beat. Could it be Gao Huiqin's family?

They quickly finished their meal, put down their plates, and rushed to the school gate.

Along the way, many students who love excitement also flocked towards the school gate.

Shan Xiaoyan was quick-witted. She pulled Nan Zhiyi and Yang Mei around to the side of the crowd and found a spot with a good view that wasn't too crowded, so they slipped inside.

Outside the school gate, in the open space, an old woman with gray hair, wearing a dark coarse cloth jacket, was slumped on the ground, pounding the ground with her hands and wailing in a long, drawn-out voice.

Beside the old woman stood a dark-skinned, stocky middle-aged man. Behind him, a five- or six-year-old boy was holding a wailing baby girl...

Counselor Li Jianjun stood anxiously in front of them, trying to reason with them. Several school security guards were also present, maintaining order and preventing the family from rushing into the campus.

Shan Xiaoyan whispered in Nan Zhiyi's ear, "It's Gao Huiqin's family! Huiqin isn't here..."

Nan Zhi, the counselor, kept persuading the family to leave, so she guessed that Gao Huiqin had probably been settled in by the counselor.

Sure enough, the old woman wailed a few times. Seeing that more and more people were gathering, she raised her voice and pointed at Teacher Li, crying out, "...The school leaders are bullying us! They're hiding my daughter-in-law and won't let her see me! Damn it, they're tearing our family apart! Let her come out! Come home with us!"