Chapter 43
After that, Xia Zhiheng did as he had promised. Every time they met, he would look at her with his smiling eyes and give her little compliments.
"Sister, your bun is so cute today!"
"Wow, you take notes so carefully. Can you teach me?"
"Can you call me again? Sorry, your voice is just too beautiful."
After hearing these words one by one, Zhang Jusong gradually changed her attitude from blushing at the beginning. One time, she walked back to the dormitory in the sunset, passing by the mirror in the bathroom, she looked at herself in the mirror shrouded in the twilight, and thought: I look so beautiful today.
The next moment, she was shocked by this thought. Ah, why did she think like this? Was she too narcissistic?
It’s all Xia Zhiheng’s fault. He kept reciting it every day and brainwashed her.
Zhang Jusong secretly glanced at the mirror again. Hmm, it seems, maybe, probably, indeed, it is still beautiful?
She looked at herself in the mirror and couldn't help laughing.
This level of narcissism seems to feel pretty good.
She seemed to have come to a small reconciliation with herself.
However, she is still a little hesitant about the upcoming preliminary round of the campus singing competition.
To go or not to go, this question always bothered her. She was still thinking about it until the day before the preliminary competition when she went out to do social research again.
What if...what if she breaks her voice? People will laugh. What if no one listens? She sings by herself, and others don't listen at all, or play with their phones, or get up and leave. That would be embarrassing.
"Ju Song? It's time to get off."
Senior Ayan's voice pulled her out of the horror drama of her imagination. She quickly followed the crowded crowd to get off the bus.
This is the last field investigation for this project, the purpose of which is to find out the omissions and fill in the gaps, and to put an end to the previous hastily completed investigation.
The destination was still the small hotel where many migrant women workers gathered. This time, Teacher Ju led the team personally, and the group squeezed into the crowded and dark corridor.
When I arrived, the lady boss was folding waste paper boxes at the front desk. She smiled and said, "Thank goodness you're here. I was afraid you'd be late, so you'd all be gone now."
Zhang Jusong asked Senior Sister Ayan in a low voice: "What do you mean?"
Senior Ayan said, “I heard that the higher-ups issued an order that it’s against regulations for so many people to live together here, so it has to be demolished.”
Zhang Jusong was very surprised to hear the news. If this women's dormitory was demolished, then what would happen to those female migrant workers?
Teacher Ju talked to the proprietress in a friendly manner and said, "You have worked hard over the years. I understand that you have been maintaining this place out of kindness."
The proprietress sighed, "Who says it's not true? I've been running this place for nearly ten years, and it only costs thirty yuan a night. If this place is demolished, I don't care. At worst, I can go back to my hometown. But these old customers, eh!"
She sighed and led everyone in.
Zhang Jusong followed behind with heavy steps. When we did the survey before, many residents explained their situations. Some of them ran away from the countryside because of domestic violence, and some of them came out to work because of debts caused by family illness. The reasons were different, but they all had the same thing in that they lacked money. If it wasn't for saving money, who would be willing to live in such a dark coffin bed?
If they leave here, they may not find a place with cheaper accommodation than this one in the whole city of A. What should they do in the future? Thinking of this, Zhang Jusong frowned.
After entering several rooms, I saw that some beds were empty without mattresses, but there were red buckets, tied quilts and other gifts. Compared with the last time I came, it was obviously much more spacious.
The old lady I met last time was sitting by the window basking in the sun. The narrow north-facing window allowed only palm-sized sunlight to enter. Even so, the old lady carefully adjusted the angle of the bamboo chair to welcome that spot of light.
Seeing them come in, the old lady tried to look around for a while, her eyes fixed on Zhang Jusong. She waved her hand deliberately and said with a smile: "Come, children, come over here, the sun is there."
Zhang Jusong looked around and was very surprised after confirming that the old lady was talking to him.
Teacher Ju turned around and said, "Go ahead and talk to the old man."
"Oh well."
She leaned forward, greeted him, and then stayed quietly by his side.
Teacher Ju’s ability is beyond doubt. He taught the students present with his own hands, and his questions were clear and thoughtful.
At the end of the questioning, Senior Sister Ayan received a phone call and asked two boys to go out and carry something.
As a result, he actually brought back a set of takeout hot pot and roast duck.
Teacher Ju smiled and closed the notebook in his hand, saying, "Meeting is fate, thank you all for your cooperation. It's dinner time, I ordered some takeout, how about we eat together?"
The guests looked at each other, and no one refused, they just smiled shyly.
The proprietress clapped her hands and said, "Okay, I have a bottle of wine hidden there, waiting, I'll go get it now, it can be regarded as a practice for the sisters."
The table was set, the wine was served, and the small room suddenly became lively.
As everyone was talking, they heard a voice as loud as thunder: "Hey, who won the lottery? It smells so good. What are you eating?"
When she looked up, Ah Hong appeared at the door. When she saw Zhang Jusong and the others, the smile on Ah Hong's face disappeared immediately. Obviously, she also remembered the unpleasant experience last time.
Teacher Ju remained calm, took a plastic cup and poured some wine into it: "Would you like to drink?"
Ah Hong squinted at the plastic cup and pursed her lips: "Whoever dares not to is a grandson. Move aside and make room for me."
The small stool was placed right opposite Zhang Jusong. Thinking of the last time when Ah Hong got angry and smashed things, she couldn't help but feel a little nervous.
Unexpectedly, Ah Hong raised her head and drank all the liquor, then stared at her and said, "Uh, I was in a bad mood that day. I'm sorry, I didn't hurt you, did I?"
"No." Zhang Jusong shook his head.
Ah Hong pursed her lips, poured herself some more wine, and said, "This cup is my apology to you."
After saying that, he drank it all in one gulp.
The old lady laughed: "Oh, the sun is rising from the west. This guy actually apologized. Last time he got mad and even smashed the flower pots."
"I just made a new foam box and put the dead flower in it!" Ah Hong yelled, "Why are you still complaining?"
"Okay, okay, I won't say anything more. Let's eat."
Zhang Jusong ate a little and put down his chopsticks, still feeling a little worried.
She looked at the old lady sitting next to her. Thinking that the old lady had poor hearing, she spoke with a loud voice: "Grandma, what are you going to do next?"
The old lady picked up the plastic cup with a smile and took a sip of soju: "It's okay, just live one day at a time, there will always be a way to get by."
She looked at Zhang Jusong and said earnestly, "Why do you seem unhappy every time I see you, kid? This shouldn't happen. Don't think I'm nagging. Life is hard. You should learn to have fun and stop worrying too much."
Zhang Jusong smiled sheepishly: "Well, I will."
After eating and drinking, it was already getting late.
Although the lights were on, they were low-power incandescent bulbs, not very bright. Everyone worked together to pick up the garbage.
Zhang Jusong bent down, put the chopsticks into the garbage bag, and suddenly caught a glimpse of a spot of green in the corner.
She half-believed and half-doubted, "Um... this flower seems to be about to bloom?"
"What?" Ah Hong came over immediately, took out the flowers in the foam box, and placed them neatly by the window, which was where the old lady had been basking in the sun before.
The other residents also came over, and a middle-aged woman said in surprise: "What a strange thing, this flower is really going to bloom."
"Don't make any noise," Ah Hong commanded, "move to the side, your shadow is blocking the flowers."
The room fell silent, and no one dared to make a sound, just staring at the flowers that were about to bloom.
The bud gradually unfolds, revealing a white flower! People are in a hurry, but the flower is not. It slowly blooms little by little as the heart desires.
When the flower fully opened, Ah Hong clapped her hands and said, "My god, this flower can really open."
His usually loud and rough voice actually seemed to be choked with sobs at this moment.
The old lady exclaimed: "What beautiful flowers!"
"Really, how come this flower grows so fast?"
The guests started talking about it.
They looked at the flowers, and Zhang Jusong looked at them.
In a dim, shabby and small room, a group of women who are no longer young and weighed down by life are gathered around a weak flower that is blooming like a miracle and marvelling at it.
For some unknown reason, her vision became blurry.
It’s great that the flowers are blooming.
Perhaps sensing her mood swings, after returning to school and putting things away in the office, Teacher Ju said, "Okay, everyone go back and have a rest. Zhang Jusong, you stay for a while."
The seniors cheered and ran out. The door closed, and Zhang Jusong stood there obediently, his right hand resting on his left arm.
Teacher Ju sorted out the documents, looked up and saw her nervous look, and smiled: "Don't be nervous, this is not a punishment in kindergarten, sit down."
Zhang Jusong sat down as he was told, taking up only half the space on the sofa, still feeling somewhat restrained.
This student is really a bit like a mimosa, Teacher Ju thought.
She lowered her voice and asked, "How do you feel after completing this entire social survey?"
Zhang Jusong glanced down, thought for a while, and said seriously: "They are all very brave and kind people."
"Well, anything else?"
Teacher Ju waited for a while, and seeing that she was still thinking, he unscrewed the thermos and drank some water.
The girl sitting on the sofa lifted her hair and smiled shyly: "Also, um... I am also amazing for being able to sense this. Um, yes, I think I am quite suitable for this kind of work."
Teacher Ju almost choked on the water. This answer was beyond her expectations, but she smiled. This child is really funny. It's rare for him to say something affirming himself, but he's afraid that he doesn't have enough confidence, so he says "yes" to himself to cheer himself up.
That's so cute.
Teacher Ju cleared his throat and looked at Zhang Jusong with a smile: "Sure, that's good."
Zhang Jusong said "hmm". She really wanted to cover her face, but she restrained herself. She had just said those words to encourage herself, but when the teacher saw her, she blurted out her true feelings in a hurry.
It's really... so embarrassing.
However, Teacher Ju didn't seem to care about her rudeness at all and was still smiling.
"In that case, I wonder if you are interested in studying for my master's degree?"
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