Chapter 152 Skipping School: If Thread
"I..." How could Qin Yizhou answer that? It would be a lie to say that he didn't want to be with Song Fenglan.
"Do you want to?" Song Zihang asked.
"I want to," Qin Yizhou said.
“But Mom can’t remarry you,” Song Zihang said. “Grandpa and Grandma have too many problems. If Mom remarries you, it would mean getting involved in endless troubles. Mom has many important things to do, and she can’t stop to solve those troubles.”
"Yes, that's right." Qin Yizhou understood this, which is why he was now somewhat hesitant to appear in front of Song Fenglan.
“But you don’t have to remarry,” Song Zihang said. “You’re not legally married since you haven’t registered your marriage again. That means the Qin family can’t act like mother-in-law in front of your mother, and they can’t cause her any trouble. Of course, they can still cause trouble if they want to, but since you’re not legally married, if you go to the police station, it can’t be considered a family dispute.”
If you've already registered your marriage, you might be subject to some ambiguity. But if you haven't registered, isn't it much better?
"you……"
“This is my idea, not Mom’s,” Song Zihang said. “Mom didn’t say these things.”
Song Zihang had lived abroad for quite some time and had met his classmate's mother, who had been with different men before. Foreign countries are more open-minded, so Song Zihang could accept that his parents were together without remarrying.
Song Zihang knew how difficult things had been for Qin Yizhou. His mother had never spoken ill of his father; if she did, it was always about his good points. Song Zihang felt that his parents were forced apart by circumstances, and if his father truly loved his mother and wanted to treat her well, that wouldn't be so bad. Song Zihang didn't want to see his mother always working so hard and hoped someone could cherish and care for her.
“My mother is fine on her own,” Song Zihang emphasized, adding that his mother doesn’t necessarily need a father.
"You...you want your mom and dad to be together?" Qin Yizhou asked.
“If you don’t want to be together, then don’t be together. I’m not a three-year-old child who doesn’t need my mom and dad to be together,” Song Zihang said.
"Yes, that's true," Qin Yizhou said. "You've grown up."
"I have to go back," Song Zihang said. "If I don't go back, Mom will find out."
Song Zihang turned and left; he was going to be with his mother.
In fact, Song Fenglan saw what happened downstairs from her room upstairs. Song Zihang still cared deeply for Qin Yizhou. Even though Song Zihang and Qin Yizhou met infrequently and for short periods, Song Zihang still respected Qin Yizhou very much.
When Song Fenglan and the others talked about Qin Yizhou with Qin Zihang, they all spoke highly of him. Qin Yizhou had indeed treated the Song family well.
When Song Fenglan divorced Qin Yizhou, the Song family felt they had wronged him. However, Song Fenglan wanted to study abroad; she couldn't stay in China indefinitely, and she didn't know how well she would excel or how many years she would remain abroad.
Song Fenglan knew Song Zihang had returned, so she stopped looking out the window. By the time Qin Yizhou turned around, Song Fenglan had already left the window, and Qin Yizhou no longer saw her.
Song Fenglan came downstairs; she planned to sit in the living room and watch TV for a while.
"Mom." Song Zihang felt a little guilty. He saw his mother sitting there and wondered if she knew everything. "I... I saw Dad outside and didn't know if he had eaten, so I brought him some pastries."
“Your father is in the army, and he basically has to eat on time. Only after eating can he have the energy to work,” Song Fenglan said. “You can take out any small things from the house, it’s not that you can’t take them.”
Song Fenglan didn't say Song Zihang had done anything wrong, and Song Zihang didn't need to be so cautious. Song Fenglan couldn't possibly criticize Song Zihang, saying, "Your father and I are divorced, but we're not enemies. I didn't say you couldn't do that."
“Yes, that’s right.” Song Zihang nodded. “Mom… that…”
"Is something the matter?" Song Fenglan asked.
"My school starts in two days. Should I register myself?" Song Zihang asked.
“She goes to the junior high school at my workplace,” Song Fenglan said. “If you want me to come with you…”
"I want my dad to help me register, is that okay?" Song Zihang said. "You've always been the one running around taking care of everything before, I want my dad to go and experience it for himself."
“Sure, if you want him to go, then let him go,” Song Fenglan said. “You’re his only child, he doesn’t have any other children. If he had other children, it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to go with you, since most schools start around this time. If you want him to go, just talk to him.”
“Okay,” Song Zihang said. “I haven’t told Dad yet. I wanted to ask for your opinion first. If you agree, I’ll have Dad help me register.”
“Okay, sure.” Song Fenglan didn’t say no. It was just registering, nothing serious.
Song Zihang wanted to spend more time with Qin Yizhou, and Song Fenglan couldn't possibly say no. Song Fenglan thought that her son, living in a broken home, might also yearn for his father's love.
"Then... can I go and tell Dad now?" Song Zihang asked cautiously.
“Okay, you go and say it,” Song Fenglan said. “It’s such a small matter, I don’t need to go and say it for you.”
“I’ll go, I’ll go,” Song Zihang said. He knew his mother wouldn’t tell his father, so he was the only one who could go.
Qin Yizhou didn't expect Song Zihang to come out so quickly. "Did you upset your mother?"
Since he couldn't possibly take the pastries out again, Qin Yizhou figured he could just say he ate them all.
“No, I told Mom to ask you to register me,” Song Zihang said. “Mom used to register me for school. She said I should go to the junior high school affiliated with her workplace. Their school also teaches foreign languages, but it might be a little less prestigious than a dedicated bilingual school. But it’s a very good school, and many people want to go there.”
Song Zihang also wanted to be closer to his mother and didn't want to go to a completely unfamiliar school. His mother's workplace school was also unfamiliar, but it would be much better.
"Okay." Qin Yizhou breathed a sigh of relief. He had thought Song Fenglan was unhappy that Song Zihang had given him pastries. Thank goodness, Song Fenglan wasn't unhappy; it was their son who wanted him to help him register. "Is your mother going?"
“If you go, my mother won’t go,” Song Zihang said. “My mother is very busy right now. She has a lot of things to do and can’t keep an eye on me all the time.”
Song Zihang understood; he didn't dare to cause his mother any trouble unnecessarily.
"Okay, I'll go register you," Qin Yizhou said.
"Will you pay for the tuition, or will Mom pay?" Song Zihang asked.
"I'll pay, I'll pay," Qin Yizhou quickly said, how could he let Song Fenglan pay?
Qin Yizhou had a smile on his face; he was very happy to be able to enroll his son in school.
Song Fenglan didn't stop Song Zihang from associating with Qin Yizhou; there was no need to. The teaching methods in China and abroad are different, and Song Fenglan planned to hire another tutor for Song Zihang to ensure he wouldn't fall behind the other students. Song Zihang was intelligent, but there were always those more capable than him, and Song Fenglan could only strive to create better learning conditions for him.
On the morning of the first day of school, Qin Yizhou came to pick up Song Zihang. Song Fenglan was at home at the time. Song Fenglan and Song Zihang went together. The school was near Song Fenglan's workplace, so Qin Yizhou and Song Zihang could get out of the car first.
When Qin Yizhou saw Song Zihang, he reached out to take the schoolbag from Song Zihang's hand, but Song Zihang refused.
"Dad, I'm all grown up now, you don't need to carry my schoolbag for me." Song Zihang said a little embarrassed.
"Dad doesn't carry your schoolbag very often." Qin Yizhou still carried Song Zihang's schoolbag, then looked at Song Fenglan, "Have you eaten? I bought some pickled cabbage pancakes, would you like some?"
“I’ve already eaten,” Song Fenglan said, “but you can have one piece.”
"I'll have a piece too, I'll have a piece too," Song Zihang said quickly.
"You'll definitely get your piece," Qin Yizhou said.
After getting on the bus, Song Fenglan and Qin Yizhou didn't speak, but Song Zihang spoke.
"After I enroll in school, Mom, should I wait for you to get off work and come back with you?" Song Zihang asked, "or should I come back by myself?"
“There’s a house next to the office where you can rest at noon,” Song Fenglan said. “In the evening, you can come back by yourself and take the driver back. Make sure you’re sure you’re not mistaken for someone else.”
"No, my eyesight is still very good," Song Zihang said. "I wouldn't mistake someone for someone else."
Qin Yizhou was listening, and Song Zihang certainly couldn't just talk to his mother.
“Dad, could you pick me up when you have time?” Song Zihang said. “Mom has been picking me up for so many years, it’s time for you to pick me up too.”
Although Song Fenglan didn't pick up Song Zihang every time, she did so more often than Qin Yizhou.
Upon hearing this, Qin Yizhou looked at Song Fenglan. Since Song Fenglan didn't say no, Qin Yizhou said, "I'll pick you up when I have time."
The car stopped at the school gate, and after Qin Yizhou and Song Zihang got out, it drove away. Song Fenglan had to go to work, so she didn't accompany Song Zihang to register.
Qin Yizhou took Song Zihang to register. The school teachers already knew that Song Fenglan's son was coming to register. The teachers didn't know the details of Song Fenglan's family situation, and that wasn't something they needed to ask. As for Song Zihang taking Song Fenglan's surname instead of his biological father's, that wasn't something the teachers needed to concern themselves with.
School registration is in the morning, cleaning and distributing new books are in the afternoon, and school starts again tomorrow.
Then, Qin Yizhou and Song Zihang walked around the school to get familiar with the environment.
"I thought the teacher was going to ask a lot of questions," Song Zihang said.
"Do your teachers ask you a lot of questions when you're abroad?" Qin Yizhou asked.
“Not necessarily,” Song Zihang said. “Many people really like their mothers. My classmates’ fathers always like to talk to their mothers.”
"Really?" Qin Yizhou felt a pang of sadness.
“Mom didn’t pay much attention to them,” Song Zihang said. “Mom’s biggest concern is her studies, so she doesn’t have time to deal with them.”
"Hmm." Qin Yizhou thought to himself, "That's good."
In Nancheng, Zhang Xiaohu's grades were terrible, even worse than his older brother's. Zhang Xiaohu had always known how to play and never studied properly, which caused his older sister-in-law a great deal of worry.
No matter what Fatty Sister said to Zhang Xiaohu, it was no use. She had tried hitting him, she had tried scolding him, but it was all to no avail. Zhang Xiaohu just didn't like studying. Whenever she tried to get him to study, he would either have a stomachache or need to go to the toilet. Lazy people need to poop and pee a lot.
"What will you do in the future if you continue like this?" The fat woman had a headache just thinking about it. "School starts now, so you have to study hard. Don't not study hard, you know? Your brother went to a vocational school to study to be a teacher. What about you? What will you do in the future? Your grades are even worse than your brother's."
Fatty Sister and Fan Yani had a good relationship. Fan Yani didn't marry Guo Peng, but married Yue Hongwei. Fatty Sister and Fan Yani were on good terms, and when Fatty Sister was worrying about Zhang Wen's future, Fan Yani suggested that Zhang Wen go to a teachers' college. Fatty Sister thought about it and felt that Fan Yani's words made sense; she was the kind of person who listened to advice.
Gao Xiuxiu next door only has two daughters. She ruined her health by drinking folk remedies and can no longer have children. Gao Xiuxiu dotes on her eldest daughter, but not on her younger one.
Fatty Sister-in-law didn't want her son to have poor grades and end up only being able to be with Gao Xiuxiu's daughter. Of course, that was unlikely; Fatty Sister-in-law was just worried that her son wouldn't be able to find a good partner in the future.
“I want to get good grades too, but they just won’t go up. It’s not my fault,” Zhang Xiaohu argued. “Mom, you never went to junior high school.”
“I didn’t go to junior high school, but you did. You can study hard; you’re not incapable of doing so,” the plump woman said. “Do you think that just because you have a city residency permit, you can skip your studies?”
"Mom, I'm just not cut out for studying," Zhang Xiaohu said. "I get a headache just looking at the blackboard."
Zhang Xiaohu didn't want to study; he wanted to go out and play more.
"You're so old already, and you're still thinking about playing around," said the plump woman. "Do you know what you'll do after you graduate from junior high if you don't go to a good school? Go to work? Do you think you can get a good job just by graduating from junior high?"
“Doesn’t Dad have a good job too?” Zhang Xiaohu said.
"You...you..." The fat woman was furious with her son. She tried to reason with Zhang Xiaohu, but he wouldn't listen.
Aunt Pang was wondering if Zhang Xiaohu could be more obedient. All he did now was play; he had no idea what the future held. Aunt Pang, being an experienced woman, wasn't very educated and had been ridiculed a lot in the family compound. She hoped her son would be educated. Her eldest son had gone to a vocational teacher's college, and Aunt Pang worried that even if her younger son went to a technical school, he wouldn't be able to study properly.
When the fat woman told Zhang Chenghai that Zhang Xiaohu's grades were bad, Zhang Chenghai comforted her, "There's nothing we can do, he's just like the two of us. We just don't have much education, do we?"
“It’s precisely because we’re not highly educated that we wanted him to study more so he could go to a good school,” said the plump woman. “We’ve put in so much effort, but what does he do? He doesn’t study properly. We enrolled him in tutoring classes, but he skips them. He just can’t study properly. All the money we’ve spent has been wasted.”
The fat woman was furious. Zhang Xiaohu was completely disobedient; he didn't know how to study properly and spent all his time playing with those people. She worried that Zhang Xiaohu wouldn't be able to find a good job in the future, since he was a man and would have to support his family.
“There’s nothing we can do about it, he just doesn’t like studying,” Zhang Chenghai said. “We’ll have him join the army later.”
"Do you think he can just join the army whenever he wants?" the fat woman said. "So many people join the army, but how many of them stay? Zhang Xiaohu is uneducated, and times have changed. He can't stay in the army like you. If he comes out of the army, he'll still be uneducated. How will he find a job?"
Not everyone who joins the army can get a good job after leaving. Fatty Sister is worried that Zhang Xiaohu won't be able to find a good job.
"Don't you ever think about Xiaohu's feelings? As his father, you should talk to him," said the fat woman.
“I already said it, I did say it,” Zhang Chenghai said. “But his foundation is just not good, what can we do? We ourselves are not very educated, how can we expect him to be much more educated? It would be good enough if Zhang Wen could go to teachers’ college. After Xiao Hu graduates from junior high school, let him go to teachers’ college too.”
"Do you think just anyone can go to teachers' college?" the plump woman said. "Does Zhang Xiaohu look like someone who can be a teacher?"
The plump woman was worried. She thought about it and realized that her eldest son was much better than her younger son. At least her eldest son was more obedient and understood the importance of studying and being educated. Her younger son, on the other hand, didn't care about education at all; he was content with just a junior high school diploma.
No matter what methods Fatty's wife tried, it was no use. Zhang Xiaohu just ran around and lied everywhere. The teacher had talked to Fatty's wife several times, but she still couldn't control Zhang Xiaohu. If Fatty's wife and her husband couldn't control Zhang Xiaohu, then the school teachers were even less likely to be able to manage him. The teachers had so many children to take care of; how could they possibly keep an eye on Zhang Xiaohu all the time?
Song Fenglan did not accompany the soldier. She did not know Fatty, nor were they neighbors. While abroad, Song Fenglan was very busy, but she did not forget about Song Zihang's education. Song Fenglan did not work abroad; her family mainly sent her money so she could focus on her studies. Later, when she was financially independent, she no longer needed financial support from her family.
Song Zihang's academic performance abroad is quite good. Song Fenglan has hired tutors for him, focusing on more in-depth knowledge rather than so-called "fun learning." What's the use of happiness when our motherland is still so backward? Song Zihang should focus on his studies.
In the evening, Qin Yizhou went to pick up Song Zihang, but he didn't see Song Fenglan. Song Fenglan was still busy, so Qin Yizhou took Song Zihang home.
When they arrived at the door, Song Zihang looked at his father and asked, "Dad, would you like to come in and sit for a while?"
"Is it appropriate?" Qin Yizhou asked.
“I don’t have a stepfather, you’re my biological father. It’s not like I can’t let you come in and sit down,” Song Zihang said. “Are you worried Mom will be unhappy?”
"..." Qin Yizhou was indeed afraid that Song Fenglan would be unhappy.
“Don’t worry about Mom being unhappy. She didn’t come to pick me up; she’s probably working overtime,” Song Zihang said. “Eating alone is kind of boring. You can eat with me; it’s just a meal, what are you afraid of? You’re my own father, don’t you want to spend time with your son?”
Then, Qin Yizhou went to have dinner with Song Zihang.
The furnishings in Song Fenglan's house were all arranged by the Song family, and she moved in directly. Qin Yizhou had to admit that the Song family was really willing to spend money; the things were all quite nice, including appliances.
The servants didn't eat with Song Zihang and his mother; they ate at a separate table. The cooking was done separately, and the servants didn't have to eat leftovers. These people were specially trained; some were veterans, and they all knew how to do things. They weren't there to enjoy themselves; they were there to work and earn money, essentially to complete a task, so naturally they had to do their job well.
"When your mother isn't home, do you eat by yourself?" Qin Yizhou asked.
"Mm." Song Zihang nodded. "My grandparents invited me over for dinner. I stayed there before my mom came back. After my mom came back, I stayed at my mom's and my home and ate at home. It's not that my grandparents aren't nice enough, it's just that I'm not used to being there. It's better to be at home."
Brother Song and his wife treated Song Zihang well. Perhaps because of his childhood experiences, and because Song Zihang has spent many years abroad, he prefers to stay at his parents' home. Even though his maternal grandparents treat him very well, Song Zihang doesn't like to stay there all the time.
“There’s food at home, so there’s no need to go out,” Song Zihang said. “My taste is a little different from my grandparents’, and they have to cook the dishes I like separately, which isn’t good.”
Song Zihang was afraid that Qin Yizhou would misunderstand, but the Song family were all very nice people, and they weren't bad people.
“You’re right, it’s always different to stay at home,” Qin Yizhou said.
“Isn’t that right?” Song Zihang said. “I lived abroad for many years, and when I first came back, I could still speak some foreign languages. My grandparents didn’t say anything, but when my mother came back, she told me to speak properly.”
Song Zihang wasn't used to it, but others wouldn't take it as him being uncomfortable; they would just think he was showing off.
Song Fenglan didn't want Song Zihang to be misunderstood by others, so she told him to be more careful.
“Your mother is right. You’re already in the country, not abroad, so you need to be careful,” Qin Yizhou said. “Your mother is only doing this for your own good.”
"Of course, my mom is the best mom in the world." Song Zihang said proudly, "I've always known that my mom does what's best for me and she doesn't do anything to harm me. On the contrary, since my mom has a son like me, she has to pay attention to a lot of things, and she can't do whatever she wants."
Song Zihang wasn't someone who didn't understand his mother; he knew she had sacrificed a lot for him, and he also needed to study hard. Song Zihang didn't know if he would go to a research institute in the future, maybe not, but he would do his own research, and he could even run a private laboratory.
Song Zihang knew about private laboratories while he was abroad, and that with enough money, one could do a lot of things. Song Zihang is quite different from his mother, perhaps because of his difficult childhood and the many challenges he faced abroad. Therefore, Song Zihang doesn't necessarily aspire to work within the system; he believes he can achieve much even without it. However, he's still young; he'll understand what to do in the future.
“My mother often tells me that I should speak my mind, otherwise she won’t know,” Song Zihang said. “She has a lot of things to do and doesn’t have time to waste time talking to me. I think my mother is right; I should speak my mind.”
"That depends on the situation. Sometimes... if you speak out, the status quo might not be maintained." Qin Yizhou didn't dare say too much in front of Song Fenglan. He was afraid that if he said too much, he wouldn't be able to appear in front of her anymore. If Song Fenglan didn't want to see him, his superiors would definitely not let him come again and would even prevent him from coming. Qin Yizhou was afraid.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
