Chapter 6: Are you two of the same ilk? Did Wang Hao contact you?
Jiang Yueming knew in his heart that someone like Wang Hao would never give up easily. He just hadn't expected the retaliation to come so quickly.
The back gate of the school was empty and quiet, with only the sour smell of garbage wafting through the wind. Two younger boys, his nominal underlings, were with Wang Hao, blocking Jiang Yueming at the back gate. They must have known that Jiang Yueming was on duty today and needed to empty the trash cans behind the classrooms into the garbage dump at the back gate. Sure enough, Jiang Yueming had just come out with the trash can when he came face to face with this group of people.
"Stop," Wang Hao said, a cigarette dangling from his lips as he glanced at him sideways.
Jiang Yueming slowly turned around, originally wanting to settle things peacefully, since he hadn't intended for Cuicui to come to school to take him home. He wasn't exactly a worry-free person, but he knew what he could and couldn't do; calling his parents in for fighting was a red line.
"Spit it out." Jiang Yueming didn't have time to chat with Wang Hao.
"Are you fucking bored? Why are you meddling in that mute's business?" Wang Hao took a step closer.
“He has a name and surname.” Jiang Yueming’s voice turned cold.
“Hey,” Wang Hao seemed to find this man’s words particularly interesting, “A mute is a mute, what, did I say something wrong? Can he talk or what?”
"You just have to meddle in his business, don't you?" Wang Hao said. "You really have nothing better to do. Does he even appreciate your kindness?"
Jiang Yueming was furious. He clenched his fists. There were no security cameras at the back door, and he guessed that was why Wang Hao and his group had cornered him there. This was the "battlefield" that Wang Hao had carefully chosen.
“I’m determined to get involved,” Jiang Yueming said decisively. “I have to take care of Li Leshan’s matter.”
"Damn it," Wang Hao was taken aback by his tough attitude and cursed, "Aren't you shameless?"
Jiang Yueming glanced at the two trembling figures beside him, raised his chin at them, and said, "You two, get lost."
The two younger boys trembled in fright. One of them mustered his courage and said to Wang Hao, "Hao, Brother Hao... we're still at school..."
"Damn it, you're afraid of him even though there's no surveillance?" Wang Hao was furious. These cowardly guys were useless to him.
"You're just like Li Leshan, a bastard without parents!" Wang Hao cursed viciously, using his usual tactic that was also the most hurtful.
Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Yueming suddenly lunged forward, grabbed Wang Hao by the collar with her left hand, and slammed her right fist into his face. Wang Hao staggered from the blow, clutching his face and still not quite reacting, when Jiang Yueming kicked him hard in the stomach.
"Try saying that again!"
Wang Hao couldn't bring himself to back down. Although he was a bit older than Jiang Yueming, he wasn't as strong or tall as her. Wang Hao simply knew a few gangsters from the streets, which allowed him to act arrogantly and bully others at school.
"Damn it!" Wang Hao threw a punch, but missed. The next second, Jiang Yueming seized the opportunity and kicked him to the ground, then pressed down hard on Wang Hao's wrist.
"Say that again if you dare." Jiang Yueming punched him.
"What are you two standing there for? Pull him away!" Wang Hao cried out in pain, one side of his face instantly swelling up, and he threatened the two idiots standing next to him.
The two men looked at each other, neither daring to take a step forward. At this moment, one of them suddenly hardened his heart and half-dragged, half-pulled Jiang Yueming away. Once Wang Hao had a moment to catch his breath, he punched Jiang Yueming in the face.
Perhaps to vent his anger, fueled by the frustration and shame of his previous inability to defend himself, he threw a few more punches in a fit of defiance.
Immediately, Jiang Yueming felt blood flowing from his nose.
He casually wiped it and found that it really was blood.
The younger boy who was holding him panicked when he saw the blood. He quickly let go of Jiang Yueming, muttering, "I didn't hit him...! I didn't hit him... Blood! He's bleeding!"
Seeing this, Wang Hao laughed heartily and said that three people could not defeat one person. No matter how capable Jiang Yueming was, he was just a child. How powerful could he be?
"Does it hurt? Now you know how powerful I am!" Wang Hao said. "You still want to protect that mute? Let me tell you, Jiang Yueming, I can easily take on both of you by myself!"
Jiang Yueming gave a cold laugh, which made her cheeks ache slightly. This time, she couldn't hide it from Cuicui no matter what. Since she couldn't hide it anyway, she might as well go all out.
"I'm waiting," Jiang Yueming's eyes flashed with malice. Taking advantage of the man's momentary lapse in attention, she suddenly grabbed him by the collar and started punching him. No one could stop her. "Also, I'm protecting Li Leshan. You dare to mess with him again—"
As soon as he finished speaking, he slammed his fist into Wang Hao's swollen face.
...
In the abandoned old water room at the school, cold water gushed from the tap. Jiang Yueming scooped up the icy water and hastily washed away the blood and dust from his face. The cold water stung the wounds on his lips and cheekbones, causing him to gasp in pain.
Looking at his bruised and battered face in the mirror, Jiang Yueming didn't know how to explain it to Yin Guiying. If it came to the point of having to explain to Yin Guiying, his parents would definitely be called in... and the fact that Wang Hao bullied Li Leshan would probably be exposed too...
He had no choice but to gamble. He gambled that Wang Hao, out of pride, wouldn't reveal their fight, because later on, it was almost entirely Jiang Yueming who had beaten Wang Hao; he'd feel bad about complaining. He gambled that his two henchmen had been trembling with fear the whole time, afraid to get involved.
While the water truck was entering the school gate, Jiang Yueming quietly slipped out through the back door, then went around to the stationery store in front and asked the owner to borrow a phone to make a call.
The proprietress was intently eating sunflower seeds and watching the 1995 version of "The Return of the Condor Heroes." Louis Koo's handsome face appeared on the small TV screen, and the proprietress's gaze did not waver at all. Naturally, she could not see Jiang Yueming's disfigured face.
"Five cents a time," the proprietress said without even glancing at him.
Jiang Yueming took out a 50-cent coin, placed it on the counter, and dialed Yin Guiying's number.
"Hello? Who is this?" Yin Guiying's voice came through the landline.
"Teacher Yin, it's me!" Jiang Yueming tried to make her voice sound less strange.
"Jiang Yueming...?" Yin Guiying realized what was happening and hurriedly said, "Weren't you taking out the trash? Where did you go?"
"My aunt suddenly came to the school gate looking for me, it's urgent. It seems to be my little sister..." Jiang Yueming apologized a hundred times to Tian Tian in her heart, "Now she wants me to get to the hospital right away!"
"Oh dear, are you alright?" Yin Guiying asked anxiously.
"I don't know..." Jiang Yueming mumbled.
"Where is Cuiqin? Let me hear her voice," Yin Guiying said.
"My aunt took my little sister to the hospital, so I have to go find them right away. I just wanted to let you know—"
"Drive carefully on your way to the hospital! Be safe!" Yin Guiying hurriedly reminded her.
Jiang Yueming slammed the phone down, and he breathed a sigh of relief. Just as the landlady was about to turn her head, Jiang Yueming quickly covered half of his face and ran out.
Yin Guiying vaguely heard the "beep beep" sound on the other end of the phone. She didn't think much of it. After all, who would have thought that this kid would cause such a mess? She thought to herself: This child is so impulsive... I hope something really happens to Tian Tian.
When Jiang Yueming fought with Wang Hao, his school uniform tumbled on the ground several times, covered in dust. He didn't dare go home now, because Cui Cui would be worried if she saw him like this, not to mention his disfigured face!
He wandered aimlessly across the Lijiang Bridge, going up and down the bridge, the words Wang Hao had just said echoing in his mind—those insults about how cheap he was, how nosy he was… Jiang Yueming didn’t pay attention, but the phrase “a bastard without parents” was like a poisonous thorn, piercing his heart with pain.
Jiang Yueming had heard this countless times, to the point of numbness. It was the same old story: gossip about someone's family would spread like wildfire as soon as they stepped out of their house. The neighbors' spittle could drown a person. His parents had passed away early, leaving him helpless, but thankfully he had Cuicui, who provided him with shelter from the storm.
But what does the phrase "you are just like Li Leshan" mean?
Li Leshan's parents... or something?
The thorn in his heart seemed to have sunk even deeper. Li Leshan's always calm face reappeared before his eyes. His bangs were a little long, partially obscuring his eyes, but even so, he could still see those deep and bright eyes.
Jiang Yueming once thought he was an exception, but now he realizes that Li Leshan is the exception among exceptions.
He managed to fool Yin Guiying for the time being, but he couldn't fool Li Leshan. After all, it was Friday. If he didn't show up in front of Li Leshan and stick to him to ask him to teach him sign language, and if Li Leshan asked Yin Guiying about it, or if Li Leshan just kept waiting like an idiot, then Jiang Yueming would be finished.
He tried his best to make himself look less embarrassing. He vigorously patted the dust off his school uniform. Actually, Wang Hao's patting... his patting was quite heavy.
But actually, Jiang Yueming's injuries were much lighter than Wang Hao's. Although they were practically the same, they were about equal in severity.
Otherwise, he could tell Li Leshan that he was accidentally hit by a car and that his face hit a speed bump or the edge of a step. Would Li Leshan believe that?
When he finally arrived at the agreed-upon location, Li Leshan was already waiting there.
"Did Wang Hao contact you?" Li Leshan signed rapidly, his eyes fixed on Jiang Yueming's face. The moment he saw the obvious wounds and bruises, his previously calm eyes narrowed abruptly. He took a few steps forward, grabbed Jiang Yueming's collar without saying a word, and leaned closer to examine her closely.
Jiang Yueming suddenly felt a little embarrassed. He was so close that he could see Li Leshan's eyelashes clearly. The eyelashes fluttered. Jiang Yueming didn't answer and just stared blankly at Li Leshan's face.
Looking at Li Leshan's top-tier face, Jiang Yueming thought to himself, "Thank goodness."
Fortunately, Li Leshan's face was not disfigured.
"Is that right?" Li Leshan asked again.
Jiang Yueming realized what was happening and quickly shook her head. Regardless of whether Li Leshan believed her or not, she decided to refute him anyway, "No! No! I was just hit by a car."
Because Li Leshan had no other options. He couldn't very well go and fight back against Wang Hao. Li Leshan was shorter and thinner than him, and he looked fair-skinned, so he couldn't win the fight back anyway.
And logically speaking, Jiang Yueming had already fought back. Wang Hao's face was swollen like a statue…
Li Leshan pursed his lips, his gaze sweeping over Jiang Yueming before settling on his dusty school uniform. The blue and white striped uniform stood out starkly against the dust. If Jiang Yueming's claim of being hit by a car was true, then he probably not only got hit, but his face slammed against the curb, and he rolled several times on the ground… Could that be any good?
He pointed to Jiang Yueming's dirty school uniform, gesturing for her to take it off.
Although Jiang Yueming was completely confused, he still obediently did as he was told. Was it because Li Leshan thought that his dusty appearance, as if he had rolled around on the ground four or five times, was too funny and silly?
The next second, a school uniform jacket suddenly appeared in his arms. Li Leshan threw his school uniform to Jiang Yueming. He was also wearing his summer school uniform properly underneath, unlike most students nowadays who, relying on having a jacket, didn't bother wearing their summer school uniforms.
Take Jiang Yueming for example. He was wearing a black short-sleeved shirt underneath. He thought he was a bit better than Han Jiang, who was wearing a floral shirt.
Jiang Yueming held the school uniform in his hand, still able to faintly smell the laundry detergent on it. He was a little incredulous and asked again to confirm, "Is this for me to wear?"
Li Leshan nodded affirmatively.
Jiang Yueming was delighted and quickly put the uniform on. It had a faint, clean scent of transparent soap and laundry detergent. Li Leshan's school uniform fit him perfectly, and Jiang Yueming twirled around as if he had received a new outfit, grinning broadly. However, this aggravated the injury on his cheek and the corner of his mouth, causing him to wince in pain.
Perhaps noticing that Li Leshan was staring at her quietly, Jiang Yueming quickly suppressed the pain and said with feigned regret, "If I had known, I would have made a fortune by lying on the zebra crossing and not getting up."
Li Leshan remained silent, but his gaze calmly fell on his face.
Jiang Yueming felt a little awkward and quickly changed the subject, saying with a smile, "Li Leshan, what laundry detergent did you use to wash your clothes? It smells really... nice."
A note from the author:
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Little Jiang is only tough on outsiders [Oh oh oh]
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