The prospective son-in-law visits (Part 1)
The elders at the door were still chatting about this and that, seemingly with endless topics to discuss.
Gao Junxiao looked at Qingcheng uneasily from the sofa, his eyes asking why his teacher and his wife had come.
Qingcheng also wanted to ask this question: whether her godparents had come to visit a friend's house by chance or deliberately came to join in the fun. She really didn't know. She could only hold her boyfriend's cold hand and tell him to relax. "We'll deal with whatever comes our way. What's there to be afraid of?"
Seemingly sensing the strength given by his girlfriend, Gao Junxiao's stiff body relaxed slightly. Hehe, I've never seen him so guilty and reserved before, which successfully aroused some of Qingcheng's wicked sense of humor.
Before the elders arrived, Qingcheng stood up and whispered in his ear, "Don't worry, your godfather won't undermine you; I know him. But your godmother might be a different story."
Gao Junxiao deliberately said, "Heh, your teacher's wife is also your godmother. Don't let me hear some of your past stories. It might not be me who gets publicly executed."
Qingcheng observed Gao Junxiao's forced composure with great interest, but the man's accelerated heartbeat, which she felt through her fingertips, betrayed his master.
“Don’t be afraid. You have too much dirt on you from your school days. My godfather probably doesn’t even have time to tell my godmother.” Qingcheng kindly patted the man’s chest to help him calm his heartbeat. “But if you could get even five pounds out of ten tons of dirt, that would be enough to make you suffer. I’d also like to hear your verdict.”
"What are you talking about? I was a top student when I was in school, where would I get such a scandal?" Gao Junxiao said in a lighthearted tone, "It's just that the thought of so many people watching me, like a joint trial by the three judicial authorities, makes me a little shy."
Little did she know how adorable Gao Junxiao's bravado was in Qingcheng's eyes. Qingcheng suppressed a laugh and pinched his cheek: "It's okay, you're thick-skinned, you can't tell if you're shy."
Suddenly, Gao Junxiao stood up abruptly from the sofa, standing as straight as a stone tablet. It turned out that Tan Dachuan had brought his wife over. He probably would never admit that he was nervous.
Qingcheng got up and straightened Gao Junxiao's collar, then whispered a few words of encouragement in his ear. His older cousin coughed twice to let his attention in, probably to remind the two not to be so oblivious to others.
However, Qingcheng not only did not restrain herself, but instead sneered and ordered her younger brother: "Young Master, don't you see that we have guests? Hurry up and pour some tea. If your throat is not good, drink more water. You are a medical student and you don't even know this."
My older cousin, who was lounging on the sofa, paused for a moment, looked around to make sure they were talking about him, and without saying a word in rebuttal, touched his nose and went to the kitchen to make tea.
Gao Junxiao saw He Qingcheng's aggrieved look as if she had encountered a wicked mother-in-law. He was full of curiosity, probably wondering what her status was in the Fang family.
In the blink of an eye, Gao Junxiao had been pulled in front of the Tan couple by Qingcheng. He habitually called them "Teacher" and "Teacher's Wife," but Mrs. Tan seized the opportunity to tease him for not calling them "Godfather" and "Godmother" along with Qingcheng. Her husband, Mr. Tan, wanted to experience what it felt like to marry off his daughter in advance.
Before Qingcheng could come to Gao Junxiao's rescue, Tan Dachuan patted Gao's shoulder and laughed, trying to smooth things over. He said that "teacher" or "godfather" are both respectful terms for elders, and there's not much difference. Don't nitpick and assume everything is wrong. It's better to sit down and talk it over.
Chinese people believe that one should not visit a temple without a reason. From her aunt and Mrs. Tan's whispered conversation, Qingcheng learned that the Tan couple had been invited by her aunt because they knew Gao Junxiao very well. And Gao Junxiao was right. It was a joint trial by three judicial departments!
Is it really necessary to make such a fuss over a first visit? Look how scared Ah Xiao is, slowly following behind, his eyes fixed as if he's thinking about something. I wonder if he's come up with a plan yet. Qingcheng is quite looking forward to seeing how he performs.
We sat down, and a plate of melon seeds, a bag of roasted chestnuts, and a few pieces of candy became the essential snacks for chatting before the meal. In order not to make it seem like a surprise interrogation, my godmother and her friends deliberately rambled on about this and that, exaggerating how sensible my cousin was and talking about how their second daughter was already engaged in Hong Kong, but there was no news about their eldest son at all, which made them very anxious.
Qingcheng couldn't help but complain in her heart. Her godmother was too modest. Was it really true that there was no news? The matchmakers who came to propose marriage could stretch from the Tan family's gate to the Huangpu River and then back again.
However, her dear classmate Zhenzhen was obsessed with the male protagonists in novels and movies. She was only interested in the "beautiful woman" in the books and certain movie stars, and all other men were just fluff.
After all, most outstanding men like her godfather are already married. But then again, no matter how outstanding a man is, it's useless. Zhenzhen has an ideal partner model in her heart, the perfect man she has imagined.
For example, if someone helps her find her lost wallet, the hero-saves-the-damsel-in-distress scenario fits into that model, and she falls in love at first sight with a stranger.
Just 24 hours later, she unilaterally declared that she had "broken up." Love comes and goes quickly. Fortunately, she is very clear about her own nature and has no intention of hurting others. Anyway, her godfather spoils her.
Compared to the other two, Su Su is the most pitiful one. What good is being a lady from a respectable family? Uncle Gu is old-fashioned and conservative. Her marriage must be a marriage alliance that benefits the family. She loves Kunqu Opera but can only secretly sing a few lines at school.
Even her job as a pharmacist was only secured by Gu's mother threatening suicide, which earned her a nod from Gu's uncle on the condition that she resign immediately after marriage and return to be a wife and mother.
Thanks to Gu's mother's insistence, Su Su's talent was not allowed to rot in the desolate old mansion. However, even though she stepped out of the high walls and saw the vast world, the high walls in her heart could not be removed. She cared about everyone but forgot about herself. In fact, she was just a young woman in her early twenties!
In addition to family circumstances, the emergence of these two extreme situations necessitates scapegoating the era itself. These individuals are living in a time of transition between the old and the new, a time when old social morality is gradually collapsing while new morality has not yet been fully established.
Every progressive young person shouts against arranged marriages and advocates for free love, but how does one achieve free love? Does a poor boy marrying a rich girl or a wealthy young master marrying a maid count as free love? Even if no one intervenes to separate them, how long can their marriage last? Plays won't tell you, otherwise who would buy tickets to see them?
If Kiyosumi wanted to write such a love story with such a huge difference in social class, she would first need to create a social circle shared by men and women from different social classes, and then the male and female protagonists would create "love"—whether it's love or just passion is hard to say, but at least they would be free.
The process should be tortuous, with the two having to break up, get back together, and break up again due to societal pressure and the hardships of reality. If possible, add some melodramatic elements such as a body double, amnesia, two women vying for one man, and a gentle second male lead who never abandons her. Wow, just thinking about this plot is captivating, and Qingcheng has an urge to write it down.
After overcoming all difficulties, the two naturally got married and had children. If it were a comedy, it could end there; if it were a tragedy, it would continue. Not long after their marriage, their love "died," and their life became nothing but a mess.
Either the two of them resign themselves to a mediocre life filled with mutual loathing, which seems no different from an arranged marriage, then what was the point of their initial resistance?
Alternatively, one could divorce, return to their original circle, find another free relationship, keep the romance fresh, and just have fun; in that case, the previous struggle would be a joke.
Are bread and love truly mutually exclusive? Qingcheng glanced at Gao Junxiao, who was sitting upright with his legs crossed like a deity in a supernatural tale, desperately trying to suppress his tail as if afraid of being exposed.
She was very curious as to why Gao Junxiao had approached her. At first, the man's eyes held no affection whatsoever, at most a hint of admiration, a stark contrast to his current expression.
Haha! Love at first sight? Do you think she'd believe that kind of nonsense? She always felt things weren't as simple as he made them out to be. What was it that she had that others didn't?
To build a closer relationship, her aunt even changed how she addressed him: "Junxiao, how many people are in your family now?"
“My parents are both alive and well. They live with my older brother and sister-in-law. I also have an older sister who is already married,” Gao Junxiao answered truthfully.
"Oh, you're the youngest. Are your parents in good health?" My aunt seemed a little surprised.
"Everything is fine. My mother stays home to help my brother take care of the children, and my father still works at the firm, doing administrative work," Gao Junxiao answered honestly.
"You two are in good health, that's wonderful. Which alley do you live in? My husband and I used to live in Beiping, back when it was still called Beijing, right on Xieyandai Street. I liked the liveliness there," my uncle chimed in.
“His family lives in Jinyu Hutong, a single-family courtyard, in the wide alley next to ours. You pass by it when you come to my house, right?” Her godfather joined in the casual conversation. Whether it was because her godfather’s words were more credible or because Jinyu Hutong was something special, her aunt and uncle became increasingly happy.
Seemingly not wanting to appear too radical, the uncles and aunts started chatting about their past lives in Beijing, casually asking about Gao Junxiao's family. During a break while the elders went to the restroom, Qingcheng playfully asked Gao Junxiao, "Jinyu Hutong sounds quite cute. Are there goldfish in Jinyu Hutong?"
“Yes, you’ll see when you come back with me,” Gao Junxiao replied without hesitation.
“I can get it as soon as I ask. You just bought it now, didn’t you?” Qingcheng glanced at the man, exposing his trick.
"No way, let me tell you, Goldfish Alley isn't just about goldfish. There are also vendors selling windmills, shadow puppeteers, monkey trainers, magicians—you name it, they have it." As Gao Junxiao spoke, his gentle gaze reflected a clear smile.
"You've had a lot of fun, what about food?" Kiyosumi leaned back on the sofa, clearly intrigued.
"Putting everything else aside, they have the best candied hawthorns and roasted chestnuts in all of Beiping. And the roasted chestnuts from my hometown are small, about the size of a preserved plum," Gao Junxiao continued, promoting his hometown's specialties.
"Why is everything so sweet? What about other dishes? Any restaurant recommendations?" Qingcheng smiled at Gao Junxiao, feeling as if she had crossed mountains and rivers to reach the ancient city of Beiping.
"How could I take you to a restaurant? You can definitely eat at my house." Gao Junxiao blinked and continued, "Nothing tastes better than dumplings! I'll have my family make dumplings for you."
Just then, Qingcheng heard her older cousin teasingly say, "Sister Cheng, forget about dumplings, let's eat first."
The two were instantly brought back to reality. Sure enough, the dishes had been served. Their eyes met, and they smiled at each other.
Tonight's dinner was quite a feast: roasted lamb chops, braised pork belly, and if you find it too greasy, there were also light dishes like steamed grouper, three-yellow chicken, stir-fried shrimp with ginkgo nuts, and clams with steamed eggs. Any two of these home-style dishes would be a luxury in an average family.
After getting to know each other, everyone felt comfortable at the dinner table and didn't feel the need to save face. They poured drinks, raised their glasses, clinked glasses, and drank it all. Following etiquette, Gao Junxiao toasted everyone in turn. While others' faces turned red after a few bowls of wine, he remained unaffected.
Qingcheng thought this wouldn't do. If he didn't reveal his thoughts before going home, his trip today would have been a waste. However, since everyone had to go to work tomorrow, the elders didn't take turns getting Gao Junxiao drunk. Judging from his expression, he seemed a little disappointed. Tch, does he only feel happy when he has a hangover and headache at work? His position can't be compromised.
Although no one spoke during the meal, the aunt and godmother kept enthusiastically serving Gao Junxiao food, which was a tacit admission that they were satisfied with him. This created a harmonious atmosphere, and the chopsticks were constantly moving back and forth. A dish was served, and soon the white base was revealed.
After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, Aunt Wu came over to clear away the dishes and replaced them with a fresh plate of fruit cut into pieces the size of mahjong tiles.
"Chengcheng, go help Aunt Wu clear the dishes. Xianhua and Fuhua, you two go help too, don't just sit there." A kitchen doesn't need so many people. Auntie clearly wanted to get rid of them. It seems the real trial is about to begin.
Sensing the approaching interrogation, Gao Junxiao secretly grasped Qingcheng's soft hand under the table. Qingcheng gently squeezed it back in encouragement, then gave Gao Junxiao a knowing look before going to help in the kitchen.
As soon as Qingcheng and the others left, four pairs of eyes stared at him without any attempt to hide it. Gao Junxiao suddenly felt his throat was dry and itchy. The fruit plate was right in front of him, but he didn't dare to take a piece to moisten his throat.
The teacher's wife seemed to see through Gao Junxiao's concerns and handed him the fruit along with the fork. He gratefully accepted it, but under the elder's watchful eye, the taste was like chewing wax. Not only did it not relieve the dryness and itchiness in his throat, but it also made him feel uncomfortable all over.
Unable to bear the restrained atmosphere, Tan Dachuan said bluntly, "Alright, ask whatever you want. He was at the top of his class when he was in school, respected his teachers, and cared for his classmates. After graduation, he could have taken a position in the Beiyang government, but he went to Guangzhou to join the revolutionary army. I can vouch for this kid's character."
“Zhenbai, we didn’t mean to make things difficult for their child. It’s just that my sister is in Wuhan, and I have to keep an eye on things for her,” Mrs. Fang replied earnestly.
"Weren't you going to marry off your daughter? How did it turn into a 'one-day teacher, lifelong father' situation? I knew I shouldn't have brought you along," Mrs. Tan scolded.
“Their parents aren’t around, so I have to help them out,” Tan Dachuan replied matter-of-factly. Gao Junxiao felt incredibly touched by the teacher’s words; he had initially thought the teacher still disapproved of his pursuit of Qingcheng.
"It's alright, we feel more at ease with Brother Tan vouching for us." Mr. Fang also jumped in to smooth things over. "Junxiao, we are actually very satisfied with you. What do you think of our Chengcheng's personality?"
"Gentle yet firm, kind yet somewhat unconventional." Gao Junxiao blurted out without careful thought. She seemed fierce, yet so gentle. She wasn't fierce either, yet she feared no one.
"It's not surprising that you feel that way. You haven't known her for long, so you can only see the good side of her. It's easy to befriend someone, but difficult to get along with them for a long time. People will reveal their true colors after you've known them for a while," Mrs. Fang said with a sigh. "My daughter's temper isn't actually as good as it seems on the surface. She couldn't stand unfair things when she was in middle school."
Oh, Mrs. Fang is about to drop a bombshell! Gao Junxiao waited expectantly for Mrs. Fang to give her examples, his nervousness somewhat relieved by the gossip.
"It's not Chengcheng's fault; their homeroom teacher is unfit to be a teacher." Mr. Fang said, still filled with righteous indignation.
Mrs. Fang sighed and began to give examples. When Qingcheng was in girls' school, her homeroom teacher was very greedy for money. He would praise those who had received bribes, but would insult those who hadn't.
Their homeroom teacher liked to say: Girls study only to marry into a good family and gain prestige. Girls can't compete with boys in physics and chemistry anyway. Doing experiments is just for fun. They should focus on Chinese, English, and housekeeping so they can be good wives and mothers and occasionally make their husbands look good.
Math is just about being able to count and keep accounts, right? But physical education class is just a vulgar act of showing your face in public. How can a lady expose her arms and legs? It's really indecent.
They even deliberately canceled all physics, chemistry, and physical education classes in their class, forcing them to study on their own. The other children dared not speak out against it, and even if they complained to their families, they could do nothing about it, because that teacher had a very strong backing in the Ministry of Education.
Powerful parents might at most slip in a red envelope for peace of mind, or help their child transfer to another school or class to avoid her.
"But do you know how our Chengcheng handled it?" Mr. Fang asked with a smile. Gao Junxiao just shook his head, but he was already convinced that his Qingcheng was going to cause quite a stir.
Mrs. Fang continued to recall that Qingcheng secretly collected the homeroom teacher's remarks, reworked them, and used her meager pocket money to edit them into a comic strip, complete with humorous illustrations. She signed it "Female Virtue Teacher" and secretly distributed it to students of different grades, even sending two copies to the city's Minister of Education.
The plot is updated in real time, so everyone knows that a certain church school has a female teacher with outdated ideas of virtue, and the protagonist's attire in the illustrations makes it easy for acquaintances to recognize her.
Haha, how did He Qingcheng come up with this idea? Self-publishing a satirical comic book. Gao Junxiao wondered if this would be Qingcheng's first published work.
The homeroom teacher suddenly became a hot topic of gossip. Even students from St. John's next door would point and whisper about her. The homeroom teacher also realized that one of her students was playing a prank on her and intensified the humiliation. However, apart from a few close friends, even the parents did not know what Qingcheng had done.
“It’s not that I don’t know anything at all. Zhenzhen just draws in her room when she gets home, but she won’t show me what she’s drawing,” the teacher’s wife said helplessly. “They usually live at school, and I can’t control them when they’re back in their dorms.”
"If you don't care, if I don't care, if nobody cares, this whole thing started because we adults didn't do anything, which is why the children rebelled," the teacher said remorsefully.
One day, He Qingcheng snapped and led a few classmates to rush to the principal's office during the break. However, Principal Huang was helpless against these people with connections. Principal Huang himself had just been transferred and his position was not yet stable, so he could only agree to help them transfer to another class.
Most children might have agreed, but He Qingcheng said she wouldn't transfer classes, only asking to be brought to the Ministry of Education's banquet. Mrs. Fang didn't know how she persuaded Principal Huang, but the condition was probably that she would help Principal Huang get rid of this cancer in the education sector. In any case, Principal Huang finally agreed.
Gao Junxiao was somewhat speechless. It was obvious that their Principal Huang also wanted to clean up the campus atmosphere, and there was a silly girl willing to be used as a scapegoat, so why not? However, he greatly admired her boldness in heading straight for the principal's office; she truly lived up to He Qingcheng's reputation.
On the day of the Ministry of Education's banquet, Principal Huang led them in. While all the adults thought it was an ordinary banquet, Chengcheng took the microphone from the host and delivered an impromptu speech with great politeness, which shocked the entire audience.
Mrs. Fang and the others only learned Qingcheng's true purpose for attending the banquet the next day when they read the newspaper. By then, Qingcheng was already planning to be expelled, but she still acted as if nothing had happened and continued attending classes as usual. The other girls were so frightened that they hid in their dormitories, waiting for the expulsion notice.
Wow, He Qingcheng not only has courage, but also excellent mental fortitude. Gao Junxiao was also shocked. She went to class as if nothing had happened, probably wanting to annoy her homeroom teacher one last time. It was full of provocation.
Mrs. Tan chimed in, feeling deeply ashamed. She had been there that day, and had thought that giving a red envelope would settle things peacefully, but her conscience was less clear than that of a child.
The teacher's wife vividly recalled what Qingcheng said at the meeting: "A teacher is one who imparts knowledge, teaches skills, and resolves doubts. The so-called 'imparting knowledge' means telling students the principles of being a person, doing things, and pursuing knowledge. But there are always some people who turn back the clock of history, who do not pursue knowledge but only seek gold and silver, and who vigorously promote feudal female virtues in progressive girls' schools. Such people are not worthy of being teachers. They should be paired with a eunuch to serve their incompetent emperor."
Gao Junxiao was quite moved by Qingcheng's passionate past, but then this comment came out, which was both sarcastic and cute. He almost burst out laughing, and only managed to cover it up by pretending to eat fruit.
That wasn't all. Then, Qingcheng had two other classmates unfurl a huge petition banner demanding the dismissal of the nepotism-affiliated teacher. It bore the handprints and names of almost all the female students in the school. If any department head, the nepotism-affiliated teacher's backer, tried to obstruct the process, they should target her. Qingcheng said she could skip school, but this cancer couldn't be left unremoved.
That sounded vaguely familiar. Gao Junxiao suddenly remembered what he had said to his family before leaving for Guangzhou: "I can give up my official position, but I cannot renounce my fate." So their thoughts were so similar! Thinking this, he felt hot and dizzy. Was it the aftereffects of the alcohol, or was he just too happy?
Gao Junxiao could have predicted the outcome. This speech completely tore away the fig leaf of the homeroom teacher. Anyone who dares to defend them is turning back the clock. Which high-minded educator would dare to wear this hat, including those with connections? If that person still wants to stay in the education field, distancing themselves is the best way to protect themselves.
And then there are the parents who can afford to send their children to girls' high schools. They are all cunning and manipulative. They didn't act out just to save face for both sides. They will definitely follow up and kick someone when they're down. In addition, Qingcheng has obtained a petition signed by almost the entire school. The media is also watching closely. Even if it's just an act, they will expel that scourge that corrupts teachers' ethics.
"I'm just using this example to illustrate that once my Chengcheng has made up her mind, nothing can change it. She will never stand idly by when faced with injustice," Mrs. Fang said seriously.
This wasn't just scaremongering; Gao Junxiao probably knew what kind of warning his elders were about to give him.
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