Who was the person who was persuaded in Chapter 10?
Ji Shengzhou's words silenced everyone. After a long while, Zhou Xiuzhen hesitated before speaking, "Isn't that a bad idea? What if that old woman goes too far and Xiao Gu regrets it?"
"We've already got the marriage certificate, what's the use of regretting it now? Besides, I definitely won't let things get to that point. I'm doing this for my sister's and our own good. And the Xie family will find out about my sister's remarriage sooner or later anyway." By the end, Ji Shengzhou's tone had become seductive.
Zhou Xiuzhen was still somewhat hesitant: "Considering the time, Xie Fei has been gone for two years. It's reasonable for Weiwei to remarry. Perhaps the Xie family won't care anymore. Maybe we should just forget about it."
"Back then, when I went to the Xie family to take my sister's dowry, it caused such a mess. They didn't really want my sister to stay with Xie Fei; they were just deliberately causing trouble. Mom, don't worry, I will protect my sister. I'm her own brother; how could I possibly harm her?" By the end, Ji Shengzhou's tone was a little impatient. His mother was always like this, hesitant and indecisive, and in the end, she pleased neither side.
"Let's do as Shengzhou says. Doesn't that girl think she's all grown up and doesn't need us anymore?" Ji Dahai finally decided.
Zhou Xiuzhen wanted to say something, but Ji Dahai glared at her, and she swallowed all her words. Li Shuhui, who was sitting next to her, looked even more mocking. The whole family was hypocritical and would only push the blame onto her when something went wrong.
"Then I'll find an opportunity to mention it to the Xie family first thing tomorrow morning." The Xie family is also in Wu'an Town, and the two families are about half an hour apart.
"Keep an eye on the Xie family's people. Be alert when they come to cause trouble for your sister." Ji Dahai said, glancing at Zhou Xiuzhen with a hint of displeasure. "Alright, you're worrying about her here, but she doesn't appreciate it at all. Besides, Sheng Zhou is right. The Xie family will find out about this sooner or later, and it's only a matter of time before they cause trouble for her. We might not be able to find out in time then, so doing this now can be considered helping her resolve this issue in advance."
Zhou Xiuzhen was gradually persuaded by the father and son. In the end, she did not forget to tell Ji Shengzhou to remember to go next door and call his cousins to support Ji Wei. In addition to scaring away the Xie family, it was also to intimidate Gu Zhiyuan and let him know that Ji Wei had someone backing her up. The more Zhou Xiuzhen thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. She even began to think that she was doing this for Ji Wei's sake.
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Because she had taken Monday off, Ji Wei had almost a full day of classes today. She could only bring Lulu to the office and ask her to wait for her. The little girl nodded to her and said, "I'll wait for Mommy here."
"Good girl." Ji Wei patted her head, feeling that this was not a long-term solution. She had originally planned to send her to kindergarten in September, but now it seemed that this matter had to be brought forward. She planned to go to the kindergarten next door at noon to resolve this issue.
This was a math class for Class 3. Because of a student's question, she didn't return to the office until five minutes after the bell rang. She practically ran to the office, having imagined all sorts of possibilities in her mind. But when she got there, she saw Ms. Li, the art teacher of the same grade, teaching Lulu to draw. Hearing the noise at the door, the two of them looked up at the same time. Lulu looked at her happily and said, "Mom, you're back! Do you think my drawing is pretty?"
"Teacher Ji, your Lulu is very sensitive to colors. You could cultivate that in her development," Teacher Li said with a smile.
"Really?" This was something Ji Wei didn't know in her previous life. She looked at Lulu's drawing on the table with some surprise. Rather than a drawing, it was more like lines drawn with various watercolor pens. Although she couldn't appreciate it, she was still willing to believe Teacher Li's words.
"Of course, you can leave Lulu in the office from now on, and I can teach her when I have time." As she spoke, Teacher Li handed Lulu another book in different colors.
By this point, Ji Wei understood perfectly well that Teacher Li was willing to take care of Lulu while she was teaching, but was worried that it would be a burden for her, which was why she said that. If it were her stubborn self from her past life, she would definitely have refused, but this time, she smiled and accepted her colleague's kindness: "Okay, then I'll trouble Teacher Li."
Teacher Li was prepared to be rejected, and the words of persuasion were already on the tip of her tongue. But when she heard Lulu agree, she paused for two seconds before reacting: "What trouble is this? Besides, I really like Lulu. By the way, a boy came to the office right after class. I thought he was looking for you, but I saw him staring at Lulu for a long time before leaving."
"Really? I'll ask later." Ji Wei had a guess in her mind, and her heart warmed at that moment. She remembered that in her previous life, when her colleagues in the office learned that she had left Lulu at her parents' house and that she gave her salary to Zhou Xiuzhen every month, they had also subtly suggested that she could bring the child to the office. They could help her take care of the child when they didn't have classes, but she refused. She had always been competitive, and she felt that any help she received was out of pity. She didn't need anyone's pity, so she preferred to spend money to settle the matter.
Xie Fei died while performing an act of heroism. During that time, all she heard were praises for Xie Fei and pitying glances. She had always been strong-willed, so she hated those pitying looks. This was also one of the reasons she was grateful to her family for accepting her. Having lived a second life, she realized that it was precisely because her family understood her that they took her home, knowing she wouldn't let them take care of Lulu for nothing. Thinking that all her reactions had been anticipated by her family, Ji Wei couldn't help but sigh. In her previous life, she had been too self-righteous and too foolish.
Other teachers in the office gradually joined their conversation, some even sharing snacks with Lulu. When Lulu looked over, Ji Wei smiled and nodded at her, then turned to ask the director of the academic affairs office next to her, "Director Fu, I'd like to transfer Lulu to the kindergarten's junior class. Would that be difficult?"
"Can Lulu go to the toilet by herself?" Director Fu did not answer her directly, but instead looked at Lulu.
“Lulu can now use the toilet independently and express her needs,” Ji Wei added from the side.
"That shouldn't be a big problem. I'll ask for you later." The kindergarten next door is affiliated with the primary school. With Director Fu's words, Ji Wei was completely relieved.
Before she could give Lulu a few more instructions, the class bell rang again. Ji Wei hurried towards Class 1, which was their class. As soon as she entered the classroom, she was greeted by Gu Chen'an's big smile, and she smiled back. Sure enough, when class ended, Gu Chen'an ran to the podium: "Teacher Ji, I wanted to take my little sister out to play after class, but it seems Teacher Li is teaching her to draw. Can I take her out to play now?"
"Of course, how are you going to eat lunch?" Ji Wei asked him. At that time, the school cafeteria was contracted out to others. The school had a steamer room, and students usually steamed their rice in aluminum lunch boxes and brought their own side dishes or bought them from the cafeteria.
"I've steamed some rice. We can just get some vegetables from the cafeteria later," Gu Chen'an said, glancing at her.
"You don't need to go to the cafeteria to buy groceries today. Just bring your food and eat together in the teachers' dormitory." Ji Wei was already in the office when she spoke to him. Lulu was happy to see him: "Brother Chen'an, what brings you here?"
"I've come to visit you. Do you want to go outside to play?" Gu Chen'an asked for her opinion.
"Mom, is it okay?" Lulu turned to look at him.
"Of course you can. Come back to the office when you hear the bell, understand?" Ji Wei instructed.
"Okay!" Lulu said as she and Gu Chen'an walked to the office door. Her tone was unusually cheerful, and Ji Wei's lips also turned up.
"Teacher Ji, you didn't come yesterday, don't forget to collect your salary today," Huang Jing reminded her.
"Okay, I'll go in a bit." Ji Wei agreed with a smile. She really didn't have much money left; her salary had come just in time.
"I just heard Director Fu asking about the kindergarten accepting transfer students. Are you planning to send Lulu to kindergarten?" Huang Jing continued to ask.
"Yes, let her get used to it in advance." Ji Wei never talks about her family matters with her colleagues.
“It’s good to get used to it in advance. The kindergarten is so close, it’s convenient for you to pick it up and drop it off yourself,” Huang Jing tentatively added at the end.
“That makes sense.” Ji Wei lowered her eyes to hide her emotions. In her past life, she awkwardly rejected everyone’s kindness. This time, she wouldn’t be so stubborn.
“Whoever takes care of the child will be closer to them. Lulu is getting closer and closer to you now.” Seeing that she was no longer avoiding these questions as before, Huang Jing smiled and chatted for a few more minutes.
Feeling their kindness, Ji Wei kept smiling. However, today was destined to be a tiring day. After teaching all morning, she felt like her throat was on fire. She only felt better after drinking a whole glass of water.
When she led Lulu back to the dormitory with the food, Gu Chen'an was already waiting for them with a lunchbox in his hand. He also had a plastic bag in his hand, which contained the food he had just gotten from the cafeteria. When he saw the two of them, he called out happily, "Teacher Ji."
"Chen'an, you don't need to get any dishes tomorrow, just bring your rice, okay?" Ji Wei had three lunchboxes in her hand, one containing rice and the other two containing dishes from the cafeteria, one meat and one vegetable. Although the cafeteria was contracted out, those people knew all the teachers in the school very well. Every time the teachers went to buy groceries, they would buy more than the students, which could be considered a preferential treatment for the teachers. One meat and one vegetable was just right for the three of them. It was only then that she noticed that Gu Chen'an had also bought meat dishes. It seemed that the little guy wasn't short of money now.
Gu Chen'an originally wanted to refuse, but then he thought that Ji Wei would soon be a mother, and he figured he could just have his father hand over his salary to Teacher Ji. So he happily nodded and said, "I understand, Teacher Ji."
The food in the school cafeteria isn't very good, since it's all mass-produced, but it's the most convenient. However, I might consider cooking for myself after I get my marriage certificate.
Ji Wei and the two little ones finished the vegetarian dish she had prepared and the meat dish Gu Chen'an had brought. She opened the lid of the other meat dish in her lunchbox and put it in a bowl to keep it chilled with water, afraid that it would spoil if the temperature rose. Seeing that the two little ones were staring at her, she casually asked, "Chen'an, is your dad coming home very late tonight?"
“Yes, I’m already asleep every time he comes back,” Gu Chen’an nodded.
"So what are you having for dinner?" Ji Wei asked with concern.
"I'll cook noodles for myself, Teacher Ji. After you and Dad get married, I won't need you to take care of me. I can cook for you and my sister," Gu Chen'an quickly assured him.
Sensing the urgency in his tone, Ji Wei reassured him, "Don't worry, there will be plenty of things I need your help with later."
"I can do a lot of housework," Gu Chen'an said, sounding like a proud peacock.
A smile flashed in Ji Wei's eyes. Just as she was about to pick up all the lunchboxes to wash, he grabbed his own lunchbox and ran off in a flash. Ji Wei could only shake her head helplessly.
Before she could wash her lunchbox, a teacher from the next dormitory knocked on her door: "Teacher Ji, someone is looking for you at the school gate."
A flash of surprise crossed Ji Wei's eyes. She thanked her colleague and then heard her continue, "That person looks a bit fierce, Teacher Ji, please be careful."
"Okay, thank you." Ji Wei was even more curious now, wondering who had contacted her.
A note from the author:
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[Stand-up rabbit head emoji] Seeking submissions. Still offering 20 random small red envelopes, mwah!
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