Moved, Teacher Zhai took Grandma Xiao's hand and said, "Thank you, Auntie. By the way, what are you doing here? Weren't you going to do research?"
“We were doing research before, but now that we’re older, the medical care there is too rudimentary. I got sick, and they were afraid that the two of us would die there, so they made us come back!”
They are both nearly 80 years old, not young, and not really suited for working day and night. Sending them back would reduce the burden on the other side.
"So where are you living now? Where's Yanzi?"
"She'll be back soon. By the way, did you have any children before?" Old Mrs. Xiao asked cautiously towards the end.
Teacher Zhai shook her head: "Thank God, I don't know why, but I just can't have children with that bastard. Having children would be torture!"
Just then, Xiao Gengwu came over with a cup of tea: "Grandma, Grandpa, why are you hiding here? I was trying to get you a cup of water, but I couldn't find you!"
Teacher Zhai looked at Xiao Gengwu: "Is this Yanzi's son? He's so big already?"
Teacher Zhai's envy was undisguised. She said she was glad she didn't have children so they wouldn't have to suffer with her, but when she saw children, she was genuinely envious.
At her age, how could she not want a child? She's already so old, even if she remarries, it will be difficult for her to have children!
Old Man Xiao took the teacup: "Ah Geng, you call her Aunt Zhai. This is your mother's childhood playmate!"
Xiao Gengwu had just seen Aunt Yao greet Teacher Zhai, but he didn't call out to Aunt Zhai: "Hello, Teacher Zhai, you're Aunt Yao's teacher, right?"
Teacher Zhai was surprised by Xiao Gengwu's way of addressing her, but didn't say anything: "You know Yanxin?"
These words made Old Mrs. Xiao laugh: "He and Yanxin's daughter are engaged!"
Teacher Zhai looked at Xiao Gengwu in surprise: "You two are quite a good match. No wonder you wouldn't call me 'Auntie,' it turns out you were afraid you wouldn't be able to explain it to your mother-in-law!"
These words made all three of them burst into laughter, and everyone looked over. Yao Tongjia walked over and asked, "Grandma, Grandpa, Teacher Zhai, what are you all laughing about here?"
"I laughed at him, saying if he calls me 'Auntie,' then what should I call your mother?"
These words made Yao Tongjia blush a little. Sigh! Being around shy people all the time has made her skin thin too!
Old Xiao didn't want to embarrass the young people: "You guys go ahead and do your work, we'll just chat here!"
After the two young people left, Old Man Xiao remembered to ask, "Are you teaching at Peking University now? Was that girl's mother one of your graduate students?"
Teacher Zhai took a sip of tea and nodded: "Her mother is very spiritual, so I accepted her. But she seems to be only seven or eight years younger than me, and she seems as innocent as a blank sheet of paper?"
Grandma Xiao took a sip of tea: "She's lucky. She was spoiled too much by her parents when she was young. You've seen the man she married later; he's a loving husband too!"
"She gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl, who are very good at taking care of their mother. Of course she can live a life of luxury!" No woman wouldn't envy such a life.
Every family has its share of problems. The only reason you can live carefree is because someone else is taking care of your worries.
Teacher Zhai was genuinely envious, and said with a hint of sourness, "She's really lucky!"
Old Man Xiao pulled the two women back to reality from their dreams: "You've talked about the good life she enjoys, but why don't you mention how she was forced by her in-laws to take her two children, who weren't even a year old yet, and leave for a distant place?"
"Is that so?" Teacher Zhai really couldn't see any signs that Yao Yanxin had suffered.
"Her wicked mother-in-law wanted to pass off her daughter's illegitimate child as their own and sell the three of them. When she found out, she hurriedly left the capital without taking anything with her!"
She left Beijing with nothing but two children who weren't even a year old: "So she suffered a lot too?"
"She worked in the countryside for more than ten years!"
"And what about her husband? He seems to love her very much!"
"He's been on missions for over a decade, and now he's showering her with affection—it's all selfless and doesn't feel like compensation!"
Now everyone is at peace. In those times, everyone suffers while you're the only one enjoying the good life, which is bound to make people resentful.
This was also Old Man Xiao's intention in bringing these two people back to reality. Everything should be nipped in the bud, otherwise it will be troublesome once it takes root and sprouts!
After talking about others, Professor Zhai asked about the two elderly people. Mrs. Xiao was very happy: "We are now living with Ah Geng at Huada University."
"Are you two teaching at the University of Washington now?"
"Yeah, they said it's for us to come back and contribute what we have. Anyway, we can't stay idle, so we'll teach 12 classes a week, which means we'll teach one class a day. It's very easy!"
Because of their advanced age, the school arranged fewer courses for them this time.
The two of them have 12 classes a week, usually two classes at a time. So from Monday to Saturday, they go there once a day and attend two classes.
They've spent their lives doing experiments in scientific research, so this time they weren't asked to do any research, which gives the two elderly people more free time.
The two elderly men, who refused to admit their age, actually started studying weapons with Xiao Gengwu and the other two, showing great interest. Xiao Gengwu was naturally very happy to take these two "subordinates" under his wing.
Just as the three of them were chatting enthusiastically, the students from Teacher Xue's TCM class arrived, with the person in front carrying two fruit baskets.
Yao Tongjia was somewhat surprised: "Where did you buy this fruit basket? I've never seen a basket like this before!"
Squad leader Luo Wanru raised her scratched hand: "I wove the basket, and they bought the fruit."
Looking at the exquisite basket, Yao Tongjia exclaimed, "Class monitor, you're so skillful! Amazing!"
Luo Wanru was clearly a little embarrassed: "Everyone in our village knows how to do it, please stop praising me!"
All 18 people went in one after another, with Wu Xinyue trailing behind at the back of the line, her face pale.
Her steps seemed a little heavy, and Yao Tongjia was startled: "Are you... feeling unwell?"
Wu Xinyue shook her head: "I'm like this all the time, it's nothing!"
Since she's already here, Yao Tongjia can't just stop her from going in. She can only keep an eye on Wu Xinyue and make sure nothing happens to her at the clinic, otherwise the clinic won't be able to stay open!
As soon as the students from the Traditional Chinese Medicine class rushed in, the hall immediately became crowded. Wu Xinyue was probably not used to such occasions, so she found a corner to sit down.
Just as the students in the Traditional Chinese Medicine class were about to leave, someone suddenly exclaimed, "Wu Xinyue has fainted!"
Yao Tongjia rushed out and ran towards Wu Xinyue. She had only gone to get water for someone, so how did she collapse?
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