Chapter 9
Last weekend, Yan Qing spent the whole day walking with Cheng Jiaming, and the soreness in her calves hadn't subsided for several days. She had planned to take advantage of Wednesday's free day to rest and recover, but a text message from Huang Qian ruthlessly shattered her hopes:
"Girl, I forgot to submit the invoices from the project meeting with Tengyue Group last time. I only remembered them last night when I was rummaging through my drawer. I'm on a business trip today, so could you submit them to the finance department for me? I know things might be difficult, but if you can do it, great; if not, don't force yourself."
When Yan Qing arrived at the laboratory, she indeed saw a stack of receipts left by Huang Qian, with a note attached next to it. The note had no words on it, only a hastily drawn heart.
Yan Qing sighed helplessly at the same tactic every time. Huang Qian was meticulous and serious when it came to academics, but she was often careless in other areas. For example, she missed Huang Yanxiang's parent-teacher meeting because she misremembered the time, and even more seriously, she posted a message she intended for students to complain about the school leaders in the college's group chat. Whenever she made some silly mistakes and attracted slightly suspicious looks from her students, she would defend herself with the same sentence: "Those who achieve great things don't sweat the small stuff!" Although everyone could hear the guilty conscience in her words.
Yan Qing glanced at the time and suddenly realized that today was the last day for expense reimbursement this month, and the finance department would close the books tomorrow. A sense of foreboding washed over her. L University's finance department was notoriously meticulous and strict; submitting receipts in such a rush would most likely result in a rejection.
Sure enough, the accountant simply glanced at the stack of invoices she handed over and threw them back.
"The expert fee invoice exceeded the budget."
Yan Qing asked, "Then do we need to revise the budget?"
The accountant said, "What else?"
Yan Qing looked troubled: "The revised budget won't be approved until at least tomorrow, but the finance department will close the books tomorrow, and expert fees can't be reimbursed across months. Does that mean this expense can't be reimbursed?"
The accountant said, "That's right."
Yan Qing patiently asked, "Then what should we do?"
The accountant shrugged: "Why don't you guys pay for it yourselves?"
Yan Qing was dumbfounded. Finally, she asked, "Is there any other way?"
The accountant slowly picked up her cup, took a sip of water, and then looked up from her computer: "You're asking me? Who should I ask?"
Yan Qing then went to the finance team leader, deputy director, and director, running up and down the building several times, but all she got was the same answer: the invoices exceeded the budget and could not be reimbursed.
Yan Qing was at a loss, hesitating outside the administration building with a stack of invoices in her hand, unaware that a pair of eyes were fixed on her from behind.
Just when she was at her wit's end, the finance department called and told her to submit the invoices as soon as possible. As for the budget overrun, she could submit a written explanation after the dean of the college signed it.
Yan Qing was overjoyed; she had finally managed to hand in the receipts before leaving work. Stepping outside, she breathed a sigh of relief. A glance at the door caught sight of a familiar figure. Zhuge Xiaoxiang was talking to a woman at the stairwell. Seeing Yan Qing, Zhuge Xiaoxiang smiled and nodded. The woman opposite him turned around: "Is this Yan Qing, my junior?"
Yan Qing stepped forward, and Zhuge Xiaoxiang greeted her: "Long time no see, junior. This is Teacher Hu Rui, my classmate, who now works in the school's administration office."
Just then, someone behind her called out loudly to Hu Rui, "You're not off work yet?"
Hu Rui smiled and replied, "Just want to chat with a friend for a bit."
Yan Qing looked and saw that it was the financial accountant she had just met.
The finance girl added, "Bring your child over next week. My little one says he misses his little brother."
Hu Rui said, "No problem!"
Yan Qing had already vaguely guessed what was going on. Zhuge said, "Junior, the invoice issue is resolved. You should thank Teacher Hu properly. Teacher Hu's husband is a talented young man and the deputy director of our school's finance department. He put in a good word for you."
Yan Qing quickly thanked him.
Hu Rui laughed and said, "What young talent? He's just an employee like me. Finance has so many rules, and sometimes I even say he doesn't know how to be flexible. But then again, things related to money are always sensitive, so being cautious is understandable."
Yan Qing quickly agreed.
Zhuge changed the subject: "What good meal is Teacher Hu planning to treat me to today?"
Hu Rui said, "Of course, it's the faculty canteen, which is known for its terrible food."
Zhuge's face was full of rejection: "We haven't seen each other for so long, and this is what you take me to eat?"
Hu Rui patted his shoulder: "Let's reminisce about the past and appreciate the present!" Then she warmly took Yan Qing's hand, "Junior, come along too!"
At the dinner table, Hu Rui asked Zhuge, "How did your application for a math teacher position at a wealthy family go last time?"
Zhuge said, "I did get the job initially, and we even signed the contract. But after only two days, they suddenly terminated the contract without giving a reason, only saying that the plans had changed. However, they were quite considerate and paid me a penalty for breach of contract."
Yan Qing kept her head down and ate, not daring to respond.
After lunch, everyone went their separate ways.
Back in her dorm, Yan Qing sent a message to Zhuge Xiaoxiang: "Thank you, senior. Did you ask Teacher Hu Rui for help?"
Five minutes passed and Zhuge Xiaoxiang still hadn't replied.
Yan Qing edited another message and sent it: "That expert fee was quite a lot. If it weren't for you, senior, our teacher would have had to pay for it out of our own pocket. We are truly grateful."
It took Zhuge Xiaoxiang a long time to reply, with only two words: "Keep it up."
On Saturday, Shen Hanyang, unusually, stayed home to have breakfast with Cheng Jiaming.
Cheng Jiaming seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood. While eating, he swayed his head and hummed a faint tune from time to time.
Suddenly, he said, "Old Shen is a loner."
Shen Hanyang glanced at him.
Cheng Jiaming seemed dissatisfied and immediately objected, "No, no." His eyes darted around as he reorganized his words, "Old Shen is a perpetual loner!"
After saying that, Cheng Jiaming continued eating as if nothing had happened, but he couldn't suppress the smugness in his eyes, which occasionally flashed with delight. Shen Hanyang usually left early and returned late, and the two of them rarely saw each other even once a week. This time, sitting across from each other for dinner, he deliberately remained mysterious, waiting for Shen Hanyang to discover his astonishing transformation. He had planned that when Shen Hanyang asked in surprise about his method for overcoming his stutter, he would deliberately not tell him, leaving him to guess in his own suspense!
Shen Hanyang sipped his coffee, observing the little guy across from him without making a sound. He noticed the boy wasn't stuttering today when Cheng Jiaming spoke his first sentence. He could utter each word fluently, although the syllables seemed a bit long, making the sentences sound like a soft, limp caterpillar.
Setting down his coffee cup, Shen Hanyang asked leisurely, "Who taught you that?"
Cheng Jiaming's face lit up with joy, instantly forgetting all about maintaining secrecy: "Teacher Yan!"
"Was it Teacher Yan who taught you to say I'm a loner?"
"I learned that line from a novel." Cheng Jiaming stuffed a piece of bread into his mouth in a few bites and urged, "Old Shen, eat quickly, and then take me to Xiangxiang's house. I want to give them a surprise today!" As he spoke, he turned around and said loudly to Aunt Chen, who was tidying up the room, "Auntie, I'm wearing that blue outfit today. Teacher Yan said I look the best in it!"
Today is Huang Yanxiang's birthday party. Yan Qing arrived at Huang Qian's house early in the morning to make preparations, and Gu Feimeng also came to help. Huang Yanxiang, who likes to sleep in, was so excited that she got up before eight o'clock and immediately asked Yan Qing to braid her hair.
Yan Qing said, "I'll come over as soon as the meat is stewed."
She took out the pig ears, pig tails, large intestines, duck wings, and duck hearts she had bought at the supermarket the day before from the refrigerator, and washed them thoroughly in a basin. Then she chopped the meat and blanched it. After completing this process, she weighed out the galangal, cloves, cardamom, angelica root, cinnamon, and Sichuan peppercorns using a small electronic scale and wrapped them in gauze. Finally, she put the prepared meat and spice bag into a pot, added rock sugar, dark soy sauce, light soy sauce, ginger slices, and cooking wine, and began to braise.
The nanny who had been taking care of Huang Yanxiang's grandmother was also helping in the kitchen. Watching Yan Qing bustling around, she was quite surprised. This young girl, who had a scholarly air about her, worked efficiently and neatly, completely unlike an intellectual who had never lifted a finger.
After Huang Yanxiang finished braiding her hair, she wanted to put on makeup. This gave Yan Qing a headache.
"Teacher Huang doesn't even wear sunscreen, and there's no makeup in her house."
Gu Feimeng said, "Have you forgotten that your sister me puts on a full face of makeup even when I go out to take out the trash?" She then pulled a makeup bag from her purse and waved it around: "See? Just like my ID card, I carry it with me everywhere. Huang Feihong, come here!"
Huang Yanxiang cheered with joy.
The pot sat on a low flame, bubbling gently. The aroma gradually filled the air, almost making Huang Yanxiang's mouth water. She asked several times, "Sister, is it ready yet?" Yanqing smiled and said, "Almost!"
As noon approached, the friends who came to the birthday party began to arrive one after another.
Yan Qing lifted the lid of the pot and scooped out a small bowl of glistening braised tofu and a plate of duck wings. The children rushed over, and even the parents couldn't resist sharing. The dish was quickly devoured.
"Be careful, it's hot," Yan Qing warned.
A parent asked, "Xiao Yan, where did you learn your cooking skills?"
Yan Qing smiled subtly: "I learned it from my family."
Parents praised it, saying, "It tastes even better than what you buy outside."
Watching everyone enjoy their meal, Huang Yanxiang's grandmother, Gong Meiping, sat in her wheelchair and licked her dry lips.
Yan Qing came over and put her arm around her shoulder: "Grandma, this is high in salt, you can't eat it."
Gong Meiping snorted unhappily, "Was it Huang Qian who told me not to eat? That brat, she's outrageous, going on business trips and not even coming back for her daughter's birthday. She's a complete slacker, smoking, drinking, gambling, and all sorts of vices, yet she treats me like a prisoner. I told her long ago, eating one more bite won't kill you, and eating one less bite won't send you to heaven. Xiao Yan, go get me a bowl!"
Yan Qing considered for a moment, then said in a consultative tone, "How about... just a little bit?"
Gong Meiping rolled her eyes, reluctantly agreeing.
The living room had been set up as a play area for the children, while the parents huddled in the small dining area, chatting and eating sunflower seeds. As the children arrived, the atmosphere gradually became lively. Gu Feimeng, the leader of the group, mingled among them like a big sister. Yan Qing pushed Gong Meiping's wheelchair to the bedroom door, bringing the entire living room into her view.
Gong Meiping sighed, "Before Huang Qian got divorced, her ex-husband was always making trouble at home, and I suffered along with him. Now it's so much better. That grumpy face is gone, and there are only a bunch of happy little ones. The house is full of vitality and positive energy, and I can live a few more years."
Yan Qing smiled and then moved a small round stool to a spot outside the bathroom door and sat down.
"Xiangxiang!"
"Cheng Jiaming, why are you only arriving now!"
"Happy birthday! This is for you!" Cheng Jiaming presented a beautifully packaged gift box with both hands.
He quickly smelled the aroma in the air, then spotted a large plate of braised food on the table. Just as he was about to grab some, a man's voice sounded from behind him: "Cheng Jiaming, you haven't washed your hands yet."
Everyone looked towards the doorway.
Yan Qing was surprised that Shen Hanyang, who rarely showed his face, had personally brought Cheng Jiaming to Huang Yanxiang's birthday party.
Cheng Jiaming glanced at Shen Hanyang with a disgruntled expression, silently mouthing, "Lonely guy."
Huang Yanxiang picked up a piece of braised pork intestine with her chopsticks and handed it to Cheng Jiaming: "Open your mouth!" Cheng Jiaming swallowed it in one big gulp and chewed it with relish: "So delicious!"
Shen Hanyang's appearance would likely make him the center of attention wherever he went. The parents who brought their children were mostly mothers, and Shen Hanyang's arrival caused a small stir among these women. Some outgoing and cheerful ones greeted him directly, while the more socially awkward ones only dared to peek from behind.
Gu Feimeng ran over and whispered in Yan Qing's ear, "Wow, she looks even more dangerous in person than in the photos!"
Huang Qian's home wasn't spacious, and when Shen Hanyang arrived, there weren't any extra seats in the dining room. A mother stood up to make room for her, saying, "Jiaming's dad, please sit here. Xixi's mom and I can squeeze in."
Shen Hanyang looked around, then took a plastic stool from the corner of the wall, placed it next to Yan Qing's stool, and nodded slightly to the parent who had just given him the seat, saying, "Thank you, I'll sit here."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
