Chapter 4
The teacher slammed the lesson plan on the podium. The classroom, which had been noisy before, suddenly became silent. Several students who were chatting there under the pretext of handing in homework also hurried back to their seats.
I was afraid that if I wasn't careful, the teacher would use me as a scapegoat.
Jiang Rong also silently withdrew her hand, still trying to take out the book. She originally thought it had nothing to do with her, but in the end...
Teacher Wang cleared his throat and said seriously, "Ahem, yesterday the dean caught several students in our grade working outside the school. Although none of them are from our class right now, do you know how badly this has affected us? Remember, we're approaching the critical period of the college entrance exams, so please focus on what you have."
Jiang Rong felt inexplicably guilty. Fortunately, she did not look for a job in front of the school. However, the teacher on the podium gave her an indifferent look. Jiang Rong's body stiffened. She didn't know whether the teacher was looking at her because of her job or because of the words "focus your thoughts".
But she soon moved on to someone else. Jiang Rong then breathed a sigh of relief and silently lowered her head to reduce her presence.
The teacher continued to ramble on, "Besides, the higher-ups are cracking down so strictly now. It's simply bringing shame to the school. Don't blame me for saying such harsh words. I'm doing this for your own good..."
She said those words for your own good, but it was clearly for her own salary. Lin Yue curled her lips and muttered to Jiang Rong, "Actually, someone was caught in another school a few days ago, so every school has started checking."
Jiang Rong was a little curious. After the teacher on the stage gave the warning, she said, "Continue with morning reading." Then she left the classroom. She licked her lip and turned to look at Lin Yue curiously: "You, how do you know so much?"
Lin Yue smiled slightly, eyes full of cunning, patted his chest, and said proudly: "Because I have a lot of friends in junior high school, we are scattered all over the sky... ahem, and we chat from time to time."
Jiang Rong nodded thoughtfully. It was normal for her to have many friends. You have to know that Lin Yue was not her first deskmate since she entered high school, but she was the first one who had been so close to him for such a long time.
She is really talkative.
Lin Yue stuck out her tongue. "My teacher often tells me that if I had put more time into studying than talking and chatting, I would have been admitted to the No. 1 Middle School. But I don't mind."
Jiang Rong pursed her lips and silently brought the topic back to the topic: "So, what happened to those workers?"
Lin Yue shrugged. "I heard he was punished. After all, the school involved was severely criticized."
Although her part-time job was clearly over, Jiang Rong's heart still trembled. She finally understood why the urban management came to ask questions yesterday. It seemed that her job search today would not be easy.
Lin Yue realized that Jiang Rong wasn't as repulsive as she had imagined, so she asked the question she had been scratching her head all night: "By the way, what did Teacher Wang ask you to do yesterday?"
Jiang Rong didn't think it was a secret, and explained naturally, "We didn't talk about anything, just about individual recruitment and tutoring. He asked me if I needed tutoring."
Lin Yue snorted indignantly and couldn't help but say, "She's still the same."
She lowered her voice and said, "Many senior students said that Teacher Wang really likes to take kickbacks. She seems to be kind enough to let people apply for independent recruitment, but in fact, she is just trying to make money from the money given to her by the school."
Jiang Rong was even more frightened. Fortunately, she did not believe her sweet words. Although she was moved for a moment, those schools were still in the province and were not her target schools.
But... Jiang Rong thought of her own poor words and couldn't help but praise: "Lin Yue, you are amazing. You have a lot of friends in junior high school. Do you know all the seniors in our school?"
Lin Yue touched his nose and said, "It's mainly about browsing forums and Tieba. Many of us got in through the same junior high school entrance exam, so we get to know each other very well after a while."
Jiang Rong was a little confused and muttered, "Forum, Tieba?"
Lin Yue's eyes widened: "You don't know all this?"
Jiang Rong pursed her lips awkwardly. Lin Yue didn't despise her and just said, "Then bring your phone secretly on Friday and I'll teach you."
Jiang Rong was stunned for a moment, and couldn't help but say, "Lin Yue, you are so nice."
Lin Yue smiled and said, "After all, we are friends."
Jiang Rong, however, was like a snail extending its tentacles. Lin Yue only said one word, and she silently retreated into her shell: "Forget about friends."
None of my friends will stay with me forever.
Although Lin Yue was puzzled, she felt that she was being too abrupt, so she changed her address: "We are desk mates after all, and we will be desk mates for another year."
Jiang Rong could obviously accept this name. She curled her lips and smiled and nodded. Lin Yue was stunned again. She quickly held her blushing face, turned her head and looked at the textbook and screamed silently. Her deskmate was so beautiful, so whatever she said was the truth!
The day's classes passed in a flash. At lunch time, Lin Yue originally wanted to take his friends to find Jiang Rong for lunch. However, when he arrived at the cafeteria, he looked everywhere but couldn't find Jiang Rong. He could only sit with his friends and praise the beauty of his deskmate.
Just thinking of the appearance of her deskmate, she felt like she could eat two more bowls of rice.
The person she was thinking about was sitting on the steps at the back door of the cafeteria, holding a solid steamed bun that cost one dollar each. He ate a mouthful of steamed bun and kelp soup, and he was full just like that.
As soon as school was over, Jiang Rong once again left the classroom under the gaze of the whole class. Over the years, this was the only moment when she had become accustomed to being the center of attention.
She hurried to the noodle shop, but found that the door was locked with a big lock hanging on it, and the back door was locked in the same way.
Only then did Jiang Rong realize that the only connection between her and her aunt was this noodle shop. Now, if she wanted to send a gift, there was no way to guarantee that it would reach her, after all, she didn't even know her name.
She could only hold her schoolbag and walk on the road in a daze. You know, yesterday she not only rejected the aunt's kindness, but more importantly, she had looked around and only the aunt could accept her age and part-time job needs, and finally took her in.
What's more, there is no way for her to find a job in this area now, because in the eyes of the urban management, she is already the daughter of the noodle shop owner.
Jiang Rong could only get on the bus, thinking of going two stops ahead to see if she could get in. But she was met with another rejection. Jiang Rong wasn't good with words, and this was the first time she knew that this bus route was full of schools, so every family she went to was met with a ruthless refusal: "Sorry, we don't accept students."
"Sorry, we are not short of people."
…
There were all sorts of reasons, but it seemed the main one was because the inspections were stricter now. After all, I just asked, "Boss, are you still looking for part-time workers?"
The bosses' expressions changed instantly, and basically didn't give me a chance to say a second word.
Jiang Rong sighed lightly and looked at the surrounding scenery. She knew that if she continued sitting there, she would have to go to the suburbs to work. The round trip fare and time were too much for Jiang Rong to afford. She could only go across the street and take the bus in the opposite direction, heading towards home.
Calculating the remaining money in her mind, which would be enough for her to find a job for a few days, Jiang Rong couldn't help but sigh while holding her schoolbag. She knew very well that she couldn't rush into finding a job. She glanced at the sky, touched her rumbling stomach, patted her face, and decided to think about something else first.
My mind started to wander, but apart from the urgent task of finding a job, I had to charge my phone when I got home and bring it to school the day after tomorrow. I also didn't know what forums and BBS were.
My originally depressed mood was lifted again because of curiosity.
The bus quickly stopped at the platform. Jiang Rong hadn't been back at this time for a long time. She pursed her lips. There were both advantages and disadvantages to coming back at this time.
The downside is that you may easily run into old ladies who are not nice to you, especially as soon as you get off the bus, you can feel other people's strange looks and special treatment.
If a child just wanted to walk past her, the old lady would pull him to the other side of her body, pat him all over, and say, "Next time you see this kind of jinx, you must avoid him."
Jiang Rong was used to it. She glanced at the child's confused eyes and calmly walked forward.
In the past, she would smile at the children, and some children would even ask their parents: "Mom/Grandma, why is such a beautiful girl a jinx?"
Then they would tell their children about the past events in their family that were not even a secret, and some of the children's eyes would turn into disgust, some into fear, and only a very few would show kindness to them. Then they would be slapped on the palms by their parents, and asked to be more careful and remember better.
Jiang Rong pursed her lips and continued walking forward.
But there is one advantage to coming back so early. At least the coffee shop is not closed yet. Jiang Rong originally just wanted to take a look at him from a distance, but when she turned a corner, she almost bumped into the person who came. Jiang Rong held on to the wall to steady herself before she breathed a sigh of relief.
The visitor simply raised his eyes and sarcastically said, "Hey, why are you back so early, you jinx?"
"It's been so long, don't you recognize me?"
Jiang Rong didn't want to pay attention to him. His home was diagonally across from hers. When they were young, they often went to play together at the old lady's house upstairs. It was the old lady who taught Jiang Rong how to fold paper.
In fact, when something happened at home at the beginning, he would speak up for himself, until the old lady moved away, and he completely changed.
Jiang Rong was too lazy to talk to him, but he wanted to reach out and grab her arm, saying, "Were you fired from your job again? You look so pitiful. Do you want me to find you a job? I guess..."
Jiang Rong pursed her lips and quickened her pace. She lowered her head to turn and nearly bumped into a warm, coffee-scented "wall." The young man behind her was still chattering nasty things, but Jiang Rong had no time to pay attention. Her cheeks quickly heated up, and her heart lost its rhythm in her chest, pounding uncontrollably. She subconsciously apologized quickly, "Yes, I'm sorry!"
The man's gaze only quickly swept across her blushing cheeks, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He was holding a plate of bread slices. Noticing Jiang Rong's gaze, he smiled and handed the plate to the girl, patiently asking, "Would you like to try our signature bread?"
“It’s fresh out of the oven and delicious.”
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