Chapter 5
Yan Qing took a two-hour long-distance bus ride and got off at Anchuan Bus Station.
Yasukawa and S City are not far apart, yet they seem like two different worlds. S City is a first-tier metropolis, while Yasukawa is slow-paced and old-fashioned, with narrow streets, winding alleys, and the occasional sound of bicycle bells, all preserving memories like old film reels.
Entering the residential compound of the Yaskawa Waterworks, you'll be greeted by that familiar soapberry tree. Its canopy reaches for the sky, casting a tranquil shade. Several elderly men, wearing T-shirts and fanning themselves with palm-leaf fans, are playing chess under the tree.
This leisurely and peaceful scene warmed Yan Qing's heart.
The family apartment building is an old building from more than 30 years ago. The plaster walls in the stairwell have peeled off, revealing mottled cement ash.
Yan Qing's backpack was filled with meat, vegetables, and fruit, and the straps were digging painfully into her shoulders. She was already panting heavily when she reached the seventh floor.
Opening the door, a familiar feeling of stuffiness hits you. In this old house, only the balcony receives a little sunlight; the living room and bedrooms are perpetually shaded and dark, requiring lights to be on even during the day.
Yan Qing took off her backpack, but her heart felt increasingly heavy.
The sounds of someone getting up and putting on slippers could be heard coming from the bedroom.
"You're here so early! Wait a moment, I need to change my clothes!"
On the sideboard against the right wall are two black and white photos, one of a man and one of a woman.
Yan Qing took out three sticks of incense, lit them, and bowed three times to the photo.
Qiao Yi came out of the bedroom in slippers: "It's already ten o'clock, I overslept." As he spoke, he put a T-shirt over his vest.
Yan Qing took the items out of her backpack one by one and put them away. Opening the refrigerator, a look of displeasure crossed her face: "How long has the refrigerator been empty? What have you been eating these past few days?"
Qiao Yi was brushing his teeth when he peeked out from the narrow bathroom door: "I'm not hungry, don't worry!"
After tidying up the refrigerator, Yan Qing tied the amulet she obtained from Xingren Temple to the bedside lamp on Qiao Yi's bed.
"Good health," she murmured to herself.
The kitchen was covered in a layer of dust, clearly indicating that the stove hadn't been used for a while. Yan Qing tied on an apron, quickly cleaned the stove, and then began washing and chopping vegetables. Qiao Yi wanted to help, but Yan Qing shooed him out of the kitchen.
Qiao Yi pulled up a small stool outside the kitchen and sat down, watching Yan Qing's busy figure. He said, "Little girl, why have you lost weight again?"
Yan Qing said without turning her head, "I'm angry because of you."
Qiao Yi chuckled. Yan Qing turned her head and saw Qiao Yi raising his withered arm, reaching into his back through the back of his collar to scratch an itch. The gray T-shirt he had worn for several years was now much looser on him.
Qiao Yi pretended not to see the sorrow in her eyes and joked around, "Don't all the girls envy me for my slender figure? It's just a pity that although I have a devilish figure, I don't have an angelic face. Unlike our Qingqing, who is perfect. Speaking of which, how are those toads who chased after you, the one surnamed Fan, the one surnamed Cai, and the one surnamed Mi, doing? Have any of them caught our goddess's eye?"
Yan Qing forcefully chopped the potatoes into shreds, the blade making a dull thud as it struck the cutting board: "What rice, vegetables, and whatever? Do you think I run a cafeteria?"
Qiao Yi smiled: "L University is such a good school, there must be plenty of boys who are both academically and morally excellent. If there is a suitable one, you might as well give it a try."
Yan Qing said, "I know myself. I'm not suited for dating. I shouldn't hold other people back."
Qiao Yi said, "How can you say it's a delay?"
Yan Qing soaked the shredded potatoes in cold water, brushed the stray hairs from her forehead with one hand, and said, "If it were you, would you be willing to date someone from the countryside whose father died young, whose mother committed suicide, and who has a pair of bloodsucking uncles and aunts?"
Qiao Yi immediately disagreed: "Those are all external things. The most important thing in dating is the person themselves. With Qingqing's conditions, her unparalleled beauty, her intelligence, and her kind character, she is more than a match for the Crown Prince. You need to be confident and open your heart."
Yan Qing tossed two cloves of garlic to Qiao Yi: "Peel the garlic."
After crushing the scallions, ginger, and garlic, Yan Qing heated oil in a wok, and with a sizzle, the aroma filled the air.
Qiao Yi rubbed his stomach: "I'm hungry."
After a while, garlic sprouts with minced meat, stir-fried shredded potatoes, and cold fennel sprout salad were placed on the table.
Qiao Yi first picked up a large mouthful of shredded potatoes. Qiao Yi had once said that Yan Qing's stir-fried shredded potatoes were of state banquet quality. Such an ordinary dish, in her hands, could be transformed into something magical. Yan Qing's shredded potatoes were as thin as fishing lines. The seasonings she used were also very simple: only salt, white vinegar, white sugar, and dried chili pepper pieces. Stir-fried quickly over high heat, the shredded potatoes were distinct, bright in color, and translucent like jade. One bite revealed a sweet, sour, and slightly spicy flavor with a crisp texture; Qiao Yi could easily eat a large bowl of white rice with just a plate of shredded potatoes.
While they were eating, Yan Qing received a phone call.
"Hello? Oh?" Yan Qing looked slightly surprised. "Four o'clock this afternoon? But I'm not in S City. I'm in Anchuan. Okay, I'll try my best to get there."
After hanging up the phone, Qiao Yi asked, "Who was that?"
After having lunch with Qiao Yi, Yan Qing didn't linger for a moment. She immediately took a bus back to S City, and after getting off the bus, she took the subway for another thirty minutes. Finally, with five minutes left before four o'clock, she found the address given on the phone—Tan Chen Mansion.
Tan Chen Mansion is located in the city center, offering a quiet and peaceful living environment amidst the bustling city.
Sitting in the spacious living room, Yan Qing couldn't understand why the Shen family, who had clearly rejected her, had changed their minds and invited her back, and were now heading straight for the contract signing.
Across from me, the woman I'd met during the last interview was looking down at her phone, replying to messages.
After Yan Qing finished reviewing the contract, she waited for another ten minutes or so before the person opposite her finally looked up and asked, "Ms. Yan, have you finished reading the contract? Do you have any objections?"
Yan Qing put the contract back on the table and said, "No objections."
The woman said, "Then sign it first. The reason I called you over in such a hurry was because Mr. Shen was available at four o'clock, and we could sign the contract together. However, he has an important meeting at the last minute, so he can't make it. Once you sign it, I'll take it to the company for him to sign tomorrow. I'll return a copy to you as soon as the contract is in effect."
Yan Qing signed her name and pressed her fingerprint on the "Party B" side.
The woman accepted the contract: "Classes start tomorrow. I'll send you the detailed schedule to your email later. Teacher Yan, you can go back now."
With an automatic voice prompt from the combination lock, the door opened.
"Sir is back." The maid went up to him and took the suit jacket draped over his arm.
The woman also stood up: "President Chen, weren't you in a meeting?"
The man's tone was concise: "It's over early. Secretary Gao, you can go back now. I'll handle the rest with Teacher Yan." As he spoke, he nodded slightly to Yan Qingwei, "Teacher Yan, thank you for keeping me waiting. It's been a long time since you made this trip."
He sat down opposite Yan Qing, quickly flipped through the contract, and on the last page, he picked up a pen and signed his name.
Yan Qing took the contract and stared at the three words: Shen Hanyang.
She heard the man say, "I'll be leaving Jiaming's studies in your care from now on."
Yan Qing was surprised: Jiaming?
Shen Hanyang said to the maid beside him, "Aunt Chen, tell Jiaming to come out and say hello to Teacher Yan."
Not long after Aunt Chen left, Cheng Jiaming came out awkwardly. As soon as he saw Yan Qing, Cheng Jiaming covered his mouth and chuckled as if he had been caught doing something wrong.
Yan Qinggang just said, "You..."
Cheng Jiaming interrupted, "Hello, Teacher Yan! I... I'm Cheng Jia... Jiaming!"
Cheng Jiaming kept giving him meaningful glances, and although Yan Qing was completely confused, she could only pretend that it was their first meeting: "Hello, Jiaming."
Shen Hanyang said, "Jiaming's mathematical talent is average, so we'll have to ask Teacher Yan to put in more effort."
Yan Qing glanced at the time and said, "I'll get a feel for Jiaming first, and then we'll finalize the teaching plan."
Cheng Jiaming led Yan Qing to the children's study. After closing the door, Yan Qing asked, "What's going on here?"
Cheng Jiaming said smugly, "I...I...I saw my sister's...resume at home."
Yan Qing suddenly realized: "So you told your father to let me teach you?"
Cheng Jiaming nodded.
Yan Qing asked, "What did you tell Dad?"
Cheng Jiaming said with a grin, "I...I knew I liked...pretty older sisters."
Yan Qing was speechless.
Cheng Jiaming said, "Sister...sister, do you...think I'm stupid, and don't...want to teach me...?"
Yan Qing rubbed his little head: "You're not stupid at all, you're quite clever! Pretty sister, I can't believe your dad actually believed that."
"You...you're so beautiful! Actually...that male teacher before was quite handsome too. But...but, he wasn't as handsome as Old Shen."
Yan Qing sighed. Since things had come to this, all she could do was silently apologize to the teacher who had been inexplicably eliminated because of her.
She stopped worrying and quickly picked out a few questions from the summer homework for Cheng Jiaming to solve independently.
The results showed that Shen Hanyang had held back somewhat. Cheng Jiaming's situation was far more than just "average mathematical talent." Before coming, she had roughly familiarized herself with second-grade math online and had a general framework for her teaching plan. But now, that framework had to be completely overturned.
Gu Feimeng slept soundly for a whole day. When she opened her eyes, it was already dark around her, with only a lamp lit on Yan Qing's desk. She rubbed her eyes and asked groggily, "What time is it?"
"You're awake," Yan Qing glanced at the bottom right corner of the computer screen. "It's past ten." Gu Feimeng rolled out of bed and went to the bathroom to relieve herself. Returning from the bathroom, she glanced at the notebook spread out on Yan Qing's desk, filled with dense notes, Yan Qing still scribbling away. Yawning, she asked, "What are you writing?"
Yan Qing said, "I tailored a teaching plan for the Shen family's child based on his specific situation."
Gu Feimeng seemed to regain a slight sense of clarity: "The Shen family? They've hired you again?"
Yan Qing nodded and recounted the friendship between Cheng Jiaming and Huang Yanxiang.
Gu Feimeng muttered, "Dad's surname is Chen, and son's surname is Cheng? How unique!"
"Perhaps she took her mother's surname," Yan Qing said.
Gu Feimeng's curiosity was piqued, and she reached for her phone on the bed and opened a search engine.
"Shen Hanyang? Is that him?"
Yan Qing's attention was still on her teaching notes, and she casually replied, "His name is Shen Hanyang."
"Wow..." Gu Feimeng clicked her tongue in amazement, "This is so unreasonable..."
"What's unreasonable?"
Gu Feimeng pulled up a chair and held her phone up to Yan Qing's face: "Is he really this handsome?"
Yan Qing glanced at the photos on the webpage; it was probably a conference, with several people taking a group photo in front of a display board.
Although the image wasn't very clear, Shen Hanyang still stood out immediately, a figure that stood out from the crowd.
Gu Feimeng persisted, asking, "Are you sure it's not a photoshopped image? Is he really this handsome in real life?"
Yan Qing recalled the two times she faced Shen Hanyang face to face. Objectively speaking, that face seemed to be more impactful than in the photos.
But she only gave a vague answer: "It's alright."
Following the clues, Gu Feimeng found Shen Hanyang on the alumni page of S City No. 1 High School's website. After a quick calculation, she exclaimed in surprise, "This Shen Hanyang is only thirty years old, and his son is already eight. That means he became a father before graduating from university?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
