Chapter 66 Chapter 66 Extra: The Dean of Beiyan has a junior college...

"You are lying." Fan Shuling stood by the wall and observed the room carefully.

When she and Hao Fan were newly married, the school allocated them welfare housing. She even used her own savings to buy industrial vouchers at a high price to replace the furniture. Now, it seemed like a passing cloud, everything was gone.

Not long after she became pregnant with her daughter, Hao Fan cheated on her with Qian Ying. Qian Ying showed up with a big belly and begged him for a divorce.

Fan Shuling refused to divorce even if she died.

Without good care during pregnancy, quarrels, fights and not having enough food to eat are common.

After giving birth to her daughter, she didn't even have time to choose a name, and Qian Ying came to the hospital to make trouble...

When she returned home, she had no breast milk and her four-month-old daughter was sick. She was exhausted and fell seriously ill. When she woke up, Hao Fan told her that her daughter was dead and showed her her body. It was so tiny, placed in a wooden box.

She knew that Hao Fan was still in contact with Qian Ying, and she would never divorce him.

However, man proposes, God disposes. When something happens to my mother's family, the disaster spreads to the fish pond.

She had no choice but to change her name and move away, but even so, she still did not divorce Hao Fan. She would never let the mistress get the status.

I saw Hao Fan still mumbling that the child was dead and he couldn't remember where he was buried. It had been so long that he had forgotten.

Fan Shuling was furious. She looked around at the dilapidated environment of her home, suddenly walked to the shoe cabinet and opened the door.

"Since my daughter is dead, how come you have shoes for young women here? Don't tell me you found another younger one." Fan Shuling picked up Zhong Anhua's cloth shoes with disgust. The embroidered uppers were extremely dirty.

She placed the shoe next to her foot, which was the same size as her foot.

Hao Fan was afraid that his son-in-law would come home suddenly and question Fan Shuling when he saw her. If he didn't explain clearly, he would definitely get beaten.

He anxiously told Fan Shuling, "It's not like I found another one. After I married Qian Ying, we lived a respectful life."

Fan Shuling looked at him, not knowing what he was afraid of: "Are you married to Qian Ying?"

Hao Fan hardened his heart, nodded and said, "Since you won't divorce me, I'll pretend to be a widow. Anyway, you've gone abroad, I'll tell people you're dead..."

"Okay, the ugliness of your humanity always makes me look at you with admiration."

The Fan family is a scholarly family. Fan Shuling married Hao Fan despite her parents' opposition, and ended up suffering a lot.

She suspected Hao Fan was hiding something. Perhaps her daughter wasn't dead after all? After all, Qian Ying was also pregnant at the time. What if... what if the baby girl they showed her was Qian Ying's?

Hao Fan knew that she was even less likely to divorce after having a child. So it was not impossible that she was being plotted against by a vicious woman in order to provoke her.

Hao Fan was most afraid of her using her brain, and it seemed that he could not hide anything from her.

Hao Fan simply told her what he had been thinking back then: "Your daughter is so beautiful. She was born with light blue eyes and looks like a foreign doll. You work in the diplomatic office and often come into contact with foreigners. They are open-minded and have a bright future and money. Who knows—"

Fan Shuling slapped Hao Fan in the face and scolded him harshly, "Idiot! That's because the child is anemic and has thin sclera! Go to the hospital and see, this isn't a special case! He'll be like a normal person when he grows up!"

"What?"

Hao Fan felt as if he was doused with ice water, and his entire body felt cold to the bone.

"You won't lie to me, will you?"

"You are not worth being deceived by me now."

Fan Shuling was so angry that she paced back and forth in the living room. No matter how well-mannered she was, she couldn't stand such dirty water being thrown at her.

She suddenly thought of her childhood classmate who was the subject of rumors. She was so calm and confident, and she should learn from her mentality.

"The fact that you cheated on me is established, so don't try to throw dirty water on me."

Fan Shuling suppressed her anger and raised her wrist. It was already late. She was now very sure that her daughter was still alive. She looked at Hao Fan's gradually pale face and asked one last time: "My daughter is still alive, right?"

Hao Fan was stunned for a moment, then slowly turned his head and smiled a smile that was uglier than crying: "Dead, really dead."

There was a chill in Fan Shuling's tone: "I want to report the case."

Hao Fan shuddered and said hurriedly, "It's been twenty years! Why are you reporting this case? Maybe our daughter has already been reincarnated and is living a good life. You have your status and position now, can't you live your own life? Why are you still trapped in the pain of the past?"

"You don't understand a mother's heart."

Fan Shuling said sadly, "I want to hold my daughter in my arms every minute of every day. If I didn't miss her so much, I would never set foot on this land again in my life. No matter how you hide it, the truth will never be buried. I want to see her alive, and I want to see her body in death!"

Fan Shuling left.

Hao Fan was left standing blankly in the living room, the spatula in his hand falling to the ground with a clanging sound due to exhaustion.

Zhong Anhua held the child and secretly saw everything through the crack of the door.

That woman must be very rich, right?

*

Dean Guo fed the old donkey in the private villa built for him by the school, led the old donkey for a long walk with sighs, and then went to the teaching area along the path with his assistant.

After all, life in Donghe Village is more comfortable. He is already sixty years old this year. Why should he still accept teaching instructions? Why can't he hide in the village and retire?

Those guys in Beijing don’t know that the village nest is a golden nest, and he has seen a lot of ancient books!

People say Dean Guo is low-key, not even showing up at the opening ceremony. He usually walks around campus with his back straight, and if it weren't for his crisp Mao suit, you'd mistake him for an elderly man strolling around.

All I have left to reach the master is a donkey.

Unfortunately, his assistants refused to let him take his old friend out to the street, saying that it would affect the school environment.

There are many places to visit in the newly built campus. Dean Guo walked around the North Courtyard with his hands behind his back and then went to the South Courtyard.

It was morning broadcast time, and the students at the radio station were energetically reading the campus news. Dean Guo listened with one ear and ignored it with the other.

Walking along Student Road, he noticed a large crowd gathered in front of the school bulletin board. He walked over and coughed twice. The students standing in front turned around and saw an old man who looked like a school leader, so they made way for him.

Dean Guo walked over without originally planning to take a closer look.

But the big-character poster on it was truly eye-catching. Written in scarlet ink, it bore the palm-sized title: 'A widow gave birth to an illegitimate child, damaging the reputation of Beiyan students! — We vow to drive this black sheep out of the ivory tower!'"

It detailed the classmate's major crimes and was signed by more than ten classmates.

A female student holding a pen near the bulletin board shouted, "As long as we students work together and put pressure on the school, we will definitely expel this girl from the campus! Please sign this joint letter and ask the school to deal with it promptly—"

"Putting pressure on the school? You're so bold." Dean Guo looked at Qingmei's grade and class number on the list and said sinisterly without waiting for her to say anything, "I'll deal with you first!"

He asked his assistant to tear down the big-character poster on the bulletin board and took it in his own hands: "What's your name?"

Ning Wenting wanted to stop the poster from being torn down, and said unconvincedly, "Who are you?"

Dean Guo's assistant said, "This is Dean Guo, the head of our Beiyan branch. Student, you have a big question. You're a freshman, right? What's your name?"

When Ning Wenting heard that it was the elusive Dean Guo, she was immediately frightened and turned pale. She turned around to look for Xiao Yanjing, but Xiao Yanjing had hidden in the crowd.

"You're not focusing on your studies at school, but are instead engaging in these filthy and evil ways. Those of you who signed here, every one of you, follow me to the faculty building."

Dean Guo was severely criticized by students when he was young. Educational level and human nature are not linked. He knows all too well that some people are born with evil nature, extremely evil! Another group of people who are used as pawns and are subject to arbitrary decisions are also despicable!

He may not understand others, but he knows Qingmei too well.

How could such a clever and intelligent girl be as despicable as the big-character posters said?!

He was well aware of the rumors circulating on campus these days, and today he caught the culprit!

Dean Guo was furious. Holding up the joint letter, he sneered, "You're framing others and putting pressure on the school? Do you really think I'm a ball that anyone can kick?"

The assistant saw that Dean Guo's face was red with anger and knew that his blood pressure was rising. He quickly took out antihypertensive medicine and gave it to the old man.

The old man swallowed the antihypertensive medicine and went to the faculty building holding the joint letter tightly.

"Qingmei hasn't been to class for a week. I didn't approve her request for leave." Qingmei's counselor's name was Wang. She had originally made her the class monitor, thinking she had a good family background.

Qingmei had misbehaved and something had gone wrong, making her feel that her overtures to Qingmei were a slap in the face. She had been working with Ning Wenting, Little Glasses, and others in her class lately, frequently to taunt someone when they were down.

She was also planning to give Qingmei a warning for skipping class.

Dean Guo's sudden visit this time scared Teacher Wang out of his wits.

Dean Guo's assistant said, "Teacher Wang, please put down your work and wait in the office over there."

Dean Guo asked the counselors of each class to call the students on the joint letter to his office. When he turned around and heard that Qingmei had not attended class for a week, his face turned red with anger again.

Such a good daughter, I don’t know how she will cry at home, he must make the decision for her!

"Bring the newspapers and magazines." The assistant placed a stack of newspapers and magazines on the table. Dean Guo said nothing: "Show them all to me!"

Although they didn't know what to read, they didn't dare to ask. The nearly twenty students crowded in the office picked up the books and started flipping through them.

Soon, some sharp-eyed students saw the report about "Qingmei saving people".

Qingmei's life was introduced later.

March 8th Red Flag Bearer, Advanced Member, Individual First Class Merit, Collective Second Class Merit, etc. Some classmates even exclaimed: "She's a military wife? Not a widow, but a military wife?"

Dean Guo sneered and said, "Are widows forbidden from remarrying? How can you, a young student, be more conservative than me? Widows are pitiful to begin with, yet you still use tinted glasses, treating them as a stain on your life to bully them, insult them, and spread rumors about them! You are all unworthy of being Beiyan students!"

Professor Shen was hurriedly found by Teacher Wang. On the way, Teacher Wang pleaded with him: "Please persuade Dean Guo. He is in poor health and can't get angry."

Professor Shen had heard Qingmei talk about being a military wife before, and she thought that was her status. Teacher Wang then told her about the personal award she had received, and even Professor Shen, who was knowledgeable, was stunned for a while.

What an amazing girl!

No wonder she remained calm and composed in the face of rumors. It turned out that she gave herself great confidence.

Professor Shen arrived at the office and saw students reading reports about the Qingmei hero one after another.

Their faces were ashen and they couldn't even stand straight.

The people who first spread the rumors have been found out. One is Ning Wenting and the other is Xiao Yanjing.

The reason for spreading the rumor has also been stated.

Ning Wenting regards Qingmei as her love rival and wants to destroy her with rumors to prevent Wu Dan from continuing to pursue Qingmei.

Little Glasses failed to apply to be the class monitor, and when Qingmei offered her the position but refused, she felt insulted by her.

In fact, it is not a big deal, but the consequences are unimaginable.

Dean Guo has scolded them harshly.

After he had lost his temper, unusual footsteps were heard in the corridor.

"Hello, we're from the Liuqingqiao Police Station. We've received a report from Qingmei, saying someone is spreading rumors on campus, which has negatively impacted her academic life. As a military wife, she's been contacted by the 014th Unit's Legal Affairs Department. Qingmei's status is special, so we hope the school will cooperate with us to identify the student who spread the rumors. We must do our utmost to clear Qingmei's name."

Ning Wenting was completely terrified after being scolded by Director Guo. She had initially thought this was just a minor incident, but she hadn't expected Qingmei to report it to the police! She even brought the army's legal affairs department with her!

Such a fierce attack made Ning Wenting regret it so much.

"I can't have a criminal record. I, I want to apologize to Qingmei-san."

Ning Wenting regretted her decision and came to the police station, saying tearfully, "It's my fault. I'm willing to apologize to her, even if it means kneeling down and begging her!"

"You guys, even those kind-hearted students, are reporting this to the police. Look at how far you've pushed people."

Dean Guo knew Qingmei's helpful nature in Donghe Village, and Qingmei had helped him a lot at that time.

Dean Guo first explained to the police who spread the rumors, then pointed at Ning Wenting and Xiao Yanjing and said, "You two, there's no need to apologize to her in person. I'm her boss and I won't forgive you! School has just started, and you've already caused something like this. I don't think you're worthy of being Beiyan students."

After he said this, the boy with glasses' legs suddenly went limp.

She couldn't hold onto the table and sat down on the ground. "I, I was led astray by Ning Wenting. I also listened to rumors from others... As long as I don't get expelled, I'll do anything! Please! The village pooled money to buy my train ticket. If I go back, what will they think of me?"

Dean Guo didn't want to talk much with such students.

In the past, it was people like them who burned down schools and criticized teachers! Are they here to be students? Are they here to be accomplices?

When the public security comrades saw that the school had handled the matter, four or five of them came over, surrounded Ning Wenting and Xiao Yanjing, and took them to the public security bureau to deal with the illegal rumor-mongering incident.

Ning Wenting's family had gone to great lengths to get her into the school as a student of arts and sports. Her grades were only 70% of those of her classmates.

She was expelled from Beiyan, and her file was recorded as expulsion and illegal behavior. It is likely that no other school would be willing to accept her.

"If I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have done it. You deserve to be criticized and denounced in big-character reports on campus." Teacher Ou was standing at the door, with Fan Shuling standing behind her.

Teachers hate these kinds of students. The education system will be restored soon, and we must not allow these people to come back.

This time, President Guo is making an example of someone to scare the monkeys and deter a group of students who want to wear red armbands.

Fan Shuling waited until Dean Guo was helped to rest on the sofa, then she walked over and tried to persuade him to calm down with kind words.

Dean Guo respected Professor Shen's character and knowledge, and whispered to her, "I once had some opportunities with Qingmei. We lived together in Donghe Village. She is a good child. It really makes me angry that she encountered such a thing under my nose."

No wonder Dean Guo often defended Qingmei verbally. It turns out there is such a thing.

Professor Shen had heard rumors about Dean Guo. He was once the director of the Central Education Commission and nearly nominated for academician. But during the most turbulent years of his life, he was backstabbed by colleagues and students. He endured many hardships, living in hiding for many years, barely escaping death.

He lost his wife and children and was disheartened. Beiyan University's leadership repeatedly invited him to step down, but he refused. Later, for unknown reasons, he agreed to take on the role of dean.

Now it seems that Qingmei might have contributed to this.

Fan Shuling guessed in her heart, and actually her guess was almost right.

In his dilapidated house, Dean Guo, or Uncle Guo, is entrusted by Qingmei to teach Zhao Xiaoxing and Xiaoyan, and gradually recalls his youth at the podium. Compared to the naughty students who criticized him, many students actually respected him and provided him with a lot of help during difficult times.

At a time when everything was in ruins, Uncle Guo was moved by the girls' eagerness to learn and finally agreed.

"Teacher Ou, please complete the withdrawal procedures immediately. Their registered residences must also be notified." Dean Guo said coldly, "Explain everything clearly, or else you'll spread bad rumors back to Beiyan."

"Okay, President Guo, I'll do it now."

Dean Guo added, "Our college will organize several performances of the play 'Qingmei Saves People,' and then have the Ideological and Propaganda Department organize an activity to learn from exemplary figures. The first person chosen will be Qingmei. This will last for two and a half months, until the end of this semester."

After Dean Guo assigned the task, he called Teacher Wang from Qingmei's class to talk.

"You're just aiding and abetting evil! Do you think I've never taught on the front lines?" Dean Guo didn't wait for Teacher Wang to explain, nor did he need her to. With a wave of his hand, he suspended her counselor duties, ordered her to reflect on her actions for two weeks, and then assigned her to the cleaning department.

Dean Guo handled the matter with swift action and decisiveness. After he finished, he coughed a few times and extended his hand to his assistant, who pulled a pack of Hongmei cigarettes from his pocket and offered it to him.

Dean Guo asked everyone else to leave. He smoked a Red Plum cigarette in his office and said unsatisfactorily, "Everyone says this cigarette is strong, but it's no match for my pipe. ... Let's get the car ready."

The assistant asked, "President Guo, where are you going?"

Dean Guo said, "Go visit Qingmei, the student who has been persecuted by rumors, and pay her a home visit. Let us express our college's stance."

He encountered his childhood sweetheart many times on campus, but for some reason he felt a sense of embarrassment, either avoiding her or ignoring her.

Qingmei must have seen him a few times, but she didn't even say hello to him, which was really unreasonable.

He couldn't hide today, so he could only apologize himself.

Ning Wenting was taken downstairs by the police. Many classmates had gathered downstairs to inquire about the excitement.

Among them, Wu Dan found out the whole cause and effect.

Seeing Ning Wenting coming down, he rushed forward, pointed at Ning Wenting's nose and cursed: "You really want to kill me! Do you know what it means to destroy a military marriage? How dare you spread rumors!"

Ning Wenting's face was completely pale, and she had no time to think about putting on lipstick at this moment. Not a trace of color was left on her lips.

Her face was pale, and she opened her mouth and spoke quickly, "She even asked the army's legal department to contact the police. She wants to kill me. Wu Dan, please consider my kindness to you over the past two years. Go find your uncle. Isn't your uncle also from the 014th Unit? Please ask him to let Qingmei let me go!"

Wu Dan had once boasted to Ning Wenting that his uncle was the head of the 014th Army. He had deliberately not mentioned that he was a distant relative, as he had never met him himself, so how could he help her with the relationship?

"Don't even think about it. Who do you think you are? No one has any feelings for you. Stop flattering yourself!"

Wu Dan shook off Ning Wenting's hand and watched her being taken into the police van.

He was very upset. Why did he believe her words and even said a lot of things that he shouldn't have said in front of Qingmei.

He was still hesitating about how to apologize, but Dean Guo had already gotten into his car and headed towards Zayuan Street.

"For this beef, you have to choose the beef from the tendon. I like it with more marbling, so it stays tender no matter how you grill it!"

Qingmei sat in the courtyard, with a charcoal fire in front of her and the marbled beef on the iron plate sizzling with oil.

The beef was a gift from the county collective she had helped, knowing she had given birth, and they had brought it to her specifically to nourish her body. They also spread the word that Comrade Qingmei would have plenty of beef to eat.

Gu Qingzhou added a piece of firewood to the fire beside her and said to her grandmother, "Would you like some more lamb skewers? These are the Alashan lambs my comrades brought back. We don't sell them here. Eat more and you won't get angry."

"I've eaten quite a bit, you guys have some." Grandma put the skewers aside, wiped her mouth politely, and said, "You young people are the ones who are really good at grilling anything."

Zhao Wuhe used chopsticks to flip shrimp, mussels, and large prawns, sprinkled chopped vermicelli on the oysters, and said with a smile, "It's better not to go to school. I've gained a lot of weight these days following Xiaomei. Let's just say, can we, as military wives, compare with ordinary people? Our mental strength is ten times better than those bad guys."

Gu Qingzhou hadn't known about the rumors surrounding Qingmei. Last week, while picking her up at the school gate, a female classmate sneaked up on him and slipped him a note detailing Qingmei's crimes. The couple went home and read it carefully, laughing so hard their stomachs hurt.

It just so happened that Ms. Zhao Wuhe and her grandmother had not recovered from their colds yet, and she was worried about others taking care of Gu Zhaozhao, so she simply took the opportunity to stay at home and take good care of her family.

However, she was not a dough that could be easily kneaded. After discussing with Gu Qingzhou, she decided to wait until the rumor spread to the maximum extent and then report the case to the police. This would also result in the most severe punishment for the other party.

Qingmei took a bite of the mussel meat, which was emitting a fresh and spiritual aura. She blew on it and put it in her mouth: "It's so hot, so hot——"

Before I could swallow the mussel meat, I heard an old voice at the door say, "Open the door if it's hot."

Qingmei swallowed the mussel meat in one gulp, then blew on it. She stood up suddenly and whispered, "Oh, is there a visitor from the school? Hurry and put away the barbecue grill!"

Uncle Guo heard it clearly from outside the door and said simply, "It's too late. The smell is coming over here."

Qingmei froze in her tracks and exclaimed in surprise, "It's Mr. Guo!!"

Uncle Guo said angrily: "Believe it or not, I'm leaving now!"

Xiao Zhang, the assistant following behind him, lowered his head, pursed his lips and tried to suppress his laughter.

Qingmei ran over to open the door, saw Uncle Guo, and pulled him in: "Come and eat. It's all grilled!"

Uncle Guo sniffed and said bluntly, "It's all messed up."

He turned to his assistant and said, "Just watch from the side."

Qingmei smiled and said, "Don't listen to him, come and eat together."

The assistant knew Dean Guo's stubborn temper too well. Seeing that he was willing to be manipulated by Qingmei, eating mutton and beef at one moment and had to look at her eyes when he wanted to smoke, it was really strange that he could be so happy after a barbecue without smoking a single cigarette.

When Uncle Guo saw that Qingmei was really fine, he greeted everyone and happily asked for a pot of rice wine to drink with Gu Qingzhou.

"Your wife is the best at dealing with people." Uncle Guo didn't say anything else, just this sentence to sum it up.

After dinner, he held Gu Zhaozhao and looked at him for a long time: "Call me grandpa."

Zhao Wuhe laughed and said, "How can he speak? It's too early."

Uncle Guo said, "Look at his eyes. Even though he doesn't say anything, his eyes are moving around. He's just like his mother, a clever little guy."

"I'll take that as a compliment." Qingmei asked, "How's your old friend? Didn't anyone make you into donkey meat pies?"

"It's fine. You have a nice yard. How about bringing the dog over to let it get familiar with the house?"

"Sure."

Qingmei and Uncle Guo sat in the courtyard and talked for a long time. The old man and the young boy were holding a little baby and laughing so hard that they fell over.

Qingmei told Grandpa Guo about Zhao Xiaoxing and Xiaoyan's recent situation. Grandpa Guo excitedly stood up and walked back and forth in the yard twice, bouncing back and forth with great energy. Zhao Xiaoxing was semi-illiterate at the beginning, but he played an indispensable role in her current situation.

Mr. Guo, the president of Beiyan University, was actually happy that Zhao Xiaoxing was admitted to a junior college.

When it got dark, Uncle Guo wanted to go back.

Before leaving, Uncle Guo warned, "Don't ever tell anyone that Zhao Xiaoxing is my student. If anyone knows, he'll get into a junior college and I'll be finished."