Chapter 96
Tang Qingqing was very worried when she saw that Tang Xiaoxiao hadn't come to school for three days, so she went straight to her house to find her after school.
Tang Xiaoxiao's home is in the bungalow area of the machinery factory compound. It is one of the earliest houses built for married workers. Compared with the small Western-style buildings built later, it looks relatively old and is also quite far away from the newly built residential buildings.
The houses here are built in rows, and the passage in the middle is rather narrow because every household has built a shed at the door of their house to use as a kitchen.
So the passage left is very narrow, and if a fat person walks side by side with others, he will feel a bit crowded.
Tang Qingqing asked for the address of Tang Xiaoxiao's home along the way. Many people recognized her and gave her directions very enthusiastically.
"You are the found daughter of the factory director, right? Xiaoxiao, her house is in that row. The third house you walk in is their home. Speaking of which..."
The old lady who was talking turned around and asked another old lady: "Grandma Maoqiu, I remember I haven't seen Xiaoxiao for several days, right?"
Grandma Maoqiu nodded as she picked vegetables and said, "Now that you mention it, it's true. I didn't see her go to school this morning."
"Is that girl sick? She has so much flesh for nothing. Her body is so weak that she gets sick every now and then. Her mother has a hard time too."
"I don't think he's sick." said another thin old lady, her eyes rolling around as she spoke.
"What's that?"
Tang Qingqing, who was about to leave, was also attracted by these words.
"She came back very late a few days ago. I saw that she was covered in dust and was limping."
Grandma Maoqiu said, "I'm afraid he fell somewhere."
The thin old lady didn't say anything else. Tang Qingqing felt that these words were clearly said intentionally for her to hear.
Tang Qingqing thanked the old ladies and went directly to Tang Xiaoxiao's house.
At this time, many families had already started cooking, but there was no movement in Tang Xiaoxiao's house. The door was locked, but there was no lock on it, which meant that someone was home.
Tang Qingqing went up to the door and knocked: "Xiaoxiao, I'm Tang Qingqing, are you home?"
There was no response from inside, but Tang Qingqing could hear some movement with her sharp ears.
Tang Qingqing knocked on the door again: "Xiaoxiao, I'm Tang Qingqing, I'm here to give you your class notes. Is anyone here?"
There was a 'dong dong' sound from inside, but still no one responded.
The auntie who was cooking next door heard someone knocking on the door. She stuck her head out with a spatula and said:
"Are you looking for Xiao Xiao?"
Tang Qingqing nodded to her aunt, "Aunt, aren't Xiaoxiao and the others at home?"
"There should be someone there. It might be because it's so noisy outside and your voice is too quiet, so I can't hear you clearly inside. Let me knock for you."
Before Tang Qingqing could respond, the aunt came over quickly, banging on the door with her big hands, her voice as loud as a bell.
"Xiao Xiao, your classmate is here to see you! Come and open the door!"
The movement was like a thunderclap, as if someone had come to collect a debt. It seemed as if the whole row of houses was shaking and that there was finally movement inside.
The door was opened, and the aunt shouted inside: "Xiaoxiao, why don't you take your classmate home quickly? They came to see you specially."
"Thank you, Aunt Zhang."
Aunt Zhang waved her hands and went back to cook.
Tang Xiaoxiao's door was only half open, with half of her body hidden behind it.
"Qingqing, thank you for coming to see me. I'm not well yet. Don't get close to me. I'm afraid I'll infect you. Ahem—"
The cough that followed was very deliberate, which made Tang Qingqing even more certain that something was wrong.
Tang Qingqing did not expose it. She opened her backpack, took out the handwriting inside, and handed it over:
"These are the notes I've taken over the past few days. I've written down what the teacher said and what I understand."
Tang Xiaoxiao was very moved and took it with both hands, thus exposing herself to Tang Qingqing.
When Tang Qingqing saw her face clearly, her face suddenly darkened.
"Xiao Xiao, what's wrong with your face?!"
Tang Xiaoxiao finally reacted and quickly half-closed the door to cover half of her face.
But Tang Qingqing had just seen the slap marks on her face. Tang Xiaoxiao's skin was very fair, and the marks were very obvious.
It's been three days, and there are still such clear marks, which shows how hard the person who did it hit her really hard.
"I, I'm fine."
Tang Qingqing looked at Tang Xiaoxiao seriously: "Xiaoxiao, do you consider me as your friend?"
"Of course!" Tang Xiaoxiao hastily affirmed, "You are my best friend! No one treats me as sincerely as you do."
Although the two have not known each other for long, Tang Xiaoxiao has determined that Tang Qingqing is her good friend and cherishes this friendship very much.
"Then why don't you tell me what's wrong with you? As your friend, I hope that we can be together not only in happy times, but also stand by your side when you encounter difficulties."
Tang Xiaoxiao pursed her lips and her eyes turned red.
"I, I'm really fine..."
Tang Qingqing sighed, "If you don't want to say it, I won't force you, but please remember that we are friends, you can tell me anything."
Tang Xiaoxiao lowered her head and said nothing.
Seeing that she looked like she wanted to keep people away, Tang Qingqing knew that she couldn't force her yet, so she could only say goodbye to her.
Tang Xiaoxiao murmured, "Qingqing, I'm really fine, it's just that my skin is like this, it easily leaves marks with a slight touch. You, you don't have to worry about me, I will go to school in two days."
Tang Qingqing saw her like this and knew that she was unwilling to speak, so she didn't want to force her. She just smiled at her, waved goodbye and left.
Tang Xiaoxiao watched her back until she disappeared before he reluctantly closed the door, looking lonely.
Tang Qingqing did not leave as Tang Xiaoxiao thought. She walked out for a while, then turned around and went back.
But this time she didn't go looking for Tang Xiaoxiao, but went to find Aunt Zhang next door.
Aunt Zhang had already prepared two dishes and was now preparing the soup. She was very surprised when she saw Tang Qingqing.
"Why are you back again? Did you drop something?"
Tang Qingqing shook her head, "Aunt Zhang, can I talk to you for a few words?"
Aunt Zhang wiped her hands on her apron and said, "Are you here to ask about Xiaoxiao's matter?"
Tang Qingqing nodded: "I want to know if she has encountered something, I want to see if I can help her."
"Xiaoxiao, having a friend like you means that my high school education is not in vain."
Aunt Zhang led Tang Qingqing into the house and poured her a cup of tea.
There is only one house in this row of houses, which is about 30 to 40 square meters. Many people will divide it into one bedroom and one living room or one bedroom and two living rooms. If there are many people in the family, they will also build a loft on top, which is separated from the small Western-style building where Tang Qingqing lives.
Aunt Zhang is a capable person. Although her house is not big, it is kept clean and tidy, with many award certificates posted on the walls.
"After Xiaoxiao fell ill, you were the first friend who took the initiative to visit her instead of going to school."
Tang Xiaoxiao, a third grader at an elementary school, started gaining weight after taking hormone drugs.
She actually doesn't eat a lot, it's just the medication that caused her obesity.
"Aunt Zhang, is Xiaoxiao often bullied?" Tang Qingqing asked straight to the point.
Aunt Zhang is also a straightforward person. She nodded and said, "Ever since she gained weight, she has been often laughed at by her peers. Her father died a long time ago, and her mother is just a temporary worker, so some children like to bully her."
Tang Qingqing really didn't know Tang Xiaoxiao's situation. She didn't expect that she came from a single-parent family.
Tang Xiaoxiao has two dimples on her face. Even though she has grown fat, they are still visible.
She likes to laugh, so she looks carefree.
Her clothes were neat and tidy, without any patches. She would bring some snacks to the classroom from time to time to share with her. Tang Qingqing thought that her family must have two working people and a happy family.
The couple only has one child, and the parents don't have too much burden, so they live a comfortable life.
"But that was when she was a kid. Later on, fewer people bullied her. But she was just like her mother, not having a bad temper, so some of her female classmates liked to ask her to run errands and do things for them."
"What happened this time, auntie, do you know?"
Aunt Zhang shook her head and said, "They never tell anyone about anything. I also felt something was wrong that day, but when I asked her and her mother, they refused to tell me. They kept it a secret."
Speaking of this, Aunt Zhang couldn't help but sigh.
"You said we were all neighbors, but they were really too reserved, afraid that saying one more word would offend others."
"You mean, the people who bullied the little ones were from the machinery factory?"
"It must be from our factory. Xiaoxiao doesn't like to run around, so she has no chance to meet or meet people from outside. Her mother loves her very much and treats her like the apple of her eye. She didn't dare to say anything even though she suffered such a great injustice. It must be that the other party is not easy to deal with, so she pretended that nothing happened."
Tang Qingqing frowned slightly.
"I also told them that the child's matter would not be involved in the work, and no matter who the other party is, they should not bully others like this. Xiaoxiao is also a worker's child, even if she is the daughter of the factory director..."
Aunt Zhang finally realized what she meant when she said this. She looked at Tang Qingqing with an embarrassed look on her face and said, "I didn't mean what you said. I was just giving an example."
Tang Qingqing shook her head: "I know."
"Anyway, no one can bully others. Why do we work so hard? It's for the sake of our children. If we are bullied to this extent, how can we swallow our anger? But, hey——"
"But I can understand it. Xiaoxiao's mother is from the countryside, she has no education and no skills, and she got this temporary job because she is taken care of by the factory. In addition to her and her daughter, there is also an old lady in her family. The old lady is not in good health, and the old and the young have to take medicine from time to time. The pressure of life is particularly great. Xiaoxiao's mother is also afraid of any accidents, so she has to endure it."
湯小小爸爸是廠子裏的電工，因為個人操作失誤被電死了，還給廠裏帶來了損失，雖然損失不大，可他的行為按常理是沒法獲得撫恤金的。
不過廠子看他們家條件不好，處理的時候還是比較人性化的。
不僅給了一些補貼，還給小小媽媽安排了個臨時工，工資雖不高好歹不讓一家人餓着。
“我剛才怎麽沒看到小小奶奶？”
“她去賣菜了，小小媽媽和小小奶奶在荒地種菜，既能省菜錢還能賣點錢。我鍋裏的絲瓜湯，那絲瓜就是小小奶奶給的。”
唐青青沒法從張阿姨這裏打探到太多信息，謝絕了她的留飯就離開了。
她又去走訪了附近一些老太太，看能不能獲得一些有用信息。
轉了一圈，唐青青回到家已經晚了。
蘇蓉對她的晚歸已經習慣，唐青青時不時就會被公安局那邊叫走，經常會晚歸，有時候來得及打招呼，有時候來不及。
只要唐青青別太晚，唐家人都不會說些什麽。
現在治安太差，大家也希望公安局的辦案效率能高點。
“青青，還沒來得及吃飯吧？我把你的菜留出來了，我現在給你去熱一熱。”
“不用了，我自己來就好。”
蘇蓉卻不理會她的意見，直接去給她熱飯。
若說蘇蓉和書裏有什麽不同，那就是比書裏更加勤快，是個閑不下來的。
書中原文女主是個從小就乖巧懂事的，經常幫蘇蓉做家務。
因為經常幫廚，還練了一手的好廚藝。唐青青也多虧了那些記憶，才會了很多菜式。
不過沒有經過鍛煉，她的廚藝只能說還行，應該是沒有原文裏那麽好的。
但是現在命運被改變以後，唐珍珍明顯沒有那麽勤快，雖然時不時也會幫忙，可大多都是動嘴不動手。
蘇蓉沒有人分擔，她又是個有些強迫症和潔癖的，因此回到家就跟個陀螺一樣轉個不停。
而且她明顯很享受這種忙碌，你想分擔一些她都不樂意，尤其是廚房，會覺得侵犯了她的領地。
蘇蓉的動作很快，唐青青将書放好，洗了把臉，飯菜就已經熱好了，飯也都給她盛好放在桌上。
“今天有糖醋排骨，我特意給你多留了兩塊。”
唐青青看着那些飯菜，心中五味雜陳，“下次不用給我留那麽多，您也記得吃。”
蘇蓉雖然有這樣那樣的問題，可對孩子好也是真的好。
在這個家裏，她都是把自己放在最後的，最先是要滿足孩子的需求，然後到丈夫的需求，最後才是自己的。
唐青青看着碗裏至少四五塊的排骨，就知道蘇蓉肯定把自己那份留給了她。
現在買肉不容易，哪怕是排骨也是不好買的。
他們家人又多，一個人分不了幾塊。
蘇蓉聽這話笑容更加燦爛了：“我吃了的，你不用管我，你快點吃，一會涼了就不好吃了。這菜不能再熱了，味道會差很多。”
唐青青夾了一塊排骨，遞到蘇蓉嘴邊：“您也吃一塊。”
蘇蓉連忙撇過臉：“我吃很多了，你趕緊吃吧，不用管我。”
“您吃了這塊我再吃。”
蘇蓉看她态度堅決，無奈只能張嘴吃了那塊排骨。
面上念叨唐青青，可心裏卻很是高興。
唐珍珍怎麽也沒有想到，自己一下樓就看到這一幕，心中又氣又鄙夷。
自從唐青青回來後，一副對唐建國和蘇蓉愛答不理的樣子，原來背地裏竟然耍這樣的花樣！
難怪她怎麽覺得蘇蓉越來越偏向唐青青，她原本以為是血脈的力量，現在才知道是有的人當面一套背後一套，慣會琢磨人心！
唐珍珍深吸一口氣，讓自己不要急，先忍耐。
距離國慶彙演越來越近了，她絕對在中間出錯。
最近她确實有點浮躁了，很多事都沒有做好。
一來是唐青青的突然出現，讓她感受到了巨大危機感，尤其對方直白地表達不喜歡她，并不畏懼唐建國和蘇蓉是否因此不喜，讓她難以發揮；
其次，她心心念念了這麽長時間的男主就要出現了，她很害怕這兩個命定之人又會牽扯在一起。
若是這般，一切将功虧一篑。
她內心無法平靜，才導致很多事沒做好，差點毀了現在的形象。
唐珍珍看着那對有些許相似的母女相處得其樂融融，她告誡自己不要着急，整個故事是從婚後才開始的，今後誰輸誰贏尚未可知呢！
她只要能嫁給男主，就肯定會把唐青青給壓下去。
唐青青敏銳地感受到身後有目光，她不用回頭就知道是誰，她只當不存在，該吃吃該喝喝。
第二天，唐青青去學校并沒有踩着點進教室，而是提前了十分鐘。
她守在教室門口，看到施展走過來，将他叫到一邊。
施展雙手捂胸，一臉警惕：“你想幹什麽？！”
唐青青無語，她知道施展嘴硬後，就沒怎麽搭理他，沒想到這家夥竟然這麽大反應，好像她對他做了什麽似的。
“我想問你一些事。”
施展依然不放松：“我對之前跟你做的事道歉，但是你別問了，問就是我腦抽不幹好事。你要是不解氣可以打我罵我踹我，但是別問我為什麽腦子被門夾了。”
唐青青忍不住翻了個白眼：“我問的不是這事。”
施展這才松開手，“那你問吧。”
唐青青将他帶到沒人的地方，問道：“我想問小小的事。”
“湯小小？”
“嗯，你不是號稱打遍天下無敵手嗎，這種事應該很清楚吧？”
施展嘴角抽抽，“這兩者有什麽關系嗎？”
“在別人身上興許沒有，在你身上有。”
“承蒙看得起，不過我還真不知道。女孩子之間的恩怨，我才懶得搭理呢。”
“那你還替唐珍珍教訓我。”
“那不一樣……不是，你套我話！”施展瞪眼。
唐青青沒好氣道：“我又不是傻子，有什麽不好猜到的。”
依照破案原則，每個案子誰是受益者，那個人就有巨大嫌疑。
唐青青跟唐珍珍有無法磨滅的矛盾，彼此看對方不順眼。
她要是被教訓了，唐珍珍就是最大受益者——情緒上的歡愉。
唐珍珍在機械廠工人子弟中名氣很大，追捧者也非常多。
唐青青明顯感受到很多人對她的排斥，若說唐珍珍沒說過什麽話是不可能的。
她确實不會直接說她的壞話，讓人孤立她或者教訓她，可只要稍微引導，就能讓人浮想聯翩，有人會為她而沖動。
而自己清清白白，半點不沾。
“真的跟唐珍珍沒關系，她什麽都不知道！”施展就差沒對天發誓了。
唐青青懶得跟他糾纏這個問題，繼續追問湯小小的事。
“我真不知道，不過我可以幫你去查。”
唐青青這才放過了他，“我等你的結果。”
“我幫你的忙，你沒點表示？”
唐青青擡眼看他：“你想要什麽表示？”
施展眼珠子一轉，“我聽說你追蹤特別厲害，下次去現場也帶上我呗！”
“你表哥是刑警隊長，你怎麽不找他？”
“哎喲喂，我敢招惹他？我又沒活膩歪了。”
“這個我沒有辦法答應你，我沒有這個權利。”
萬一出來什麽事，比如因為毛手毛腳破壞掉證據等，唐青青可負不了這麽大的責任。
施展失望，“那你給我表演表演你識別足跡的本事呗？”
“我在家裏看圖識蹤的時候，你有興趣可以過來，不過你應該會覺得很無聊。”
唐青青現在雖然總結出一套經驗，可以應對別人的詢問，可以解釋自己推測的依據，但是對于非專業人士來說，依然會覺得非常無聊。
施展眼睛一亮：“好好好！就這麽說定了！”
施展的動作很快，第二天他就查明了真相。
“唐青青！我知道誰欺負湯小……哎呀，湯小小，你怎麽來了？”
施展看到唐青青就記得炫耀，沒看到後面位置上坐着一個人。
湯小小終于來學校了，臉上的印記還沒有徹底好，不過已經看不出是巴掌印了。
唐青青很是無語，“讓你被聲張，你是不是故意的？”
施展連忙舉雙手投降：“我真沒有，這不是看現在沒什麽人就大意了嗎。”
雖然還有五分鐘就上課了，可教室裏卻稀稀拉拉的。
開學這麽久，他們班的風氣已經逐漸形成了。
大部分人是來混日子的，早上進教室踩點都算表現優秀，很多人早讀基本都是遲到的。
既然已經說開，唐青青對湯小小也沒有隐瞞。
“抱歉，我不是打探你的隐私，只是……”
湯小小已經熱淚盈眶，抓着唐青青的手哭了起來：
“嗚嗚嗚——青青，你怎麽這麽好！”
“你可以試着信任我，多個人也多點辦法是不是？”
唐青青那天走訪，得知湯小小并不是第一次被欺負了。
只不過她被欺負後一直躲着人走，所以很多人以為她就被欺負過一兩次，加之她們一家也沒什麽動靜，也就不怎麽在意。
It is normal for children to have conflicts from time to time. Girls are generally more moderate, but boys fight more often. In serious cases, some even get their heads broken. Everyone is used to it.
"Qingqing, I know you care about me, but I, I..."
"Xiao Xiao, have you forgotten who I am?"
Shi Zhan also said: "Tang Xiaoxiao, is your brain still working properly? You have such a powerful backer in front of you and you don't even know how to lean on him! Do you still want to continue being a punching bag?"
Tang Xiaoxiao blinked, still a little dazed.
Tang Qingqing tapped her head and said, "Have you forgotten that I am the daughter of the factory director? Whose father is more senior? Is there anyone in this machinery factory who can surpass me?"
Tang Xiaoxiao continued blinking before she gradually reacted.
"Oh, I had forgotten all about it."
It’s not that Tang Qingqing doesn’t have the temperament of a factory director’s daughter. Tang Qingqing is very beautiful and excellent, but she doesn’t have the indescribable feeling that Tang Zhenzhen gives people. In any case, she is not someone that ordinary people can get close to.
Although Tang Qingqing was not a passionate person, she was very easy-going and never emphasized whose daughter she was.
After not being with her for long, Tang Xiaoxiao forgot the identities of her parents and only remembered that she was a very good and powerful person.
She has a good relationship with Tang Qingqing entirely because of her.
Tang Qingqing smiled and said, "Can we tell you now?"
"Will it affect you?" Tang Xiaoxiao was still a little hesitant.
She also heard some comments and knew that Tang Qingqing's position was still rather awkward after returning to the Tang family.
Tang Qingqing couldn't bear it any longer, and did what she had always wanted to do, kneading Tang Xiaoxiao's face hard.
Tang Xiaoxiao is very fair, with particularly good skin. Her face is white and chubby like a steamed bun, and just looking at it makes you want to rub it.
But Tang Qingqing was afraid that doing so would hurt Tang Xiaoxiao's feelings, so she suppressed the impulse. Now she can finally take action.
"Don't hesitate, just speak up!"
Tang Xiaoxiao was nervous and hesitant, but she finally said, "She is the old factory director's granddaughter, Sun Jiaying."
"Sun Jiaying?" Tang Qingqing had no impression of this person.
Tang Xiaoxiao explained: "She is the tall, thin and dark girl who often follows Tang Zhenzhen."
When it was mentioned like this, Tang Qingqing seemed to have some impression.
Although she ignored Tang Zhenzhen, they lived together after all and ran into each other often, so she was more familiar with the people around her.
Tang Xiaoxiao sighed: "When my father got into trouble, my mother was able to get a temporary job because of the arrangement of the old factory manager."
At that time, the old factory director had already retired to the second line, but he did not completely let go of the factory affairs. He was still making use of his remaining energy and was responsible for handling some trivial matters in the factory.
Tang Jianguo still focuses more on production, while matters such as the management and arrangement of workers are more placed on the shoulders of other team leaders.
The old factory director is an old revolutionary who has worked in the machinery factory for many years and has deep feelings for it.
He is highly respected in the factory and is a senior who is worthy of admiration. Tang Jianguo visits him at home every New Year to show his respect.
Tang Qingqing immediately understood why Tang Xiaoxiao swallowed her anger.