Chapter 77
When the four of them arrived at the bottom of the tenement building, many students were coming over for tutoring after school. They waved and greeted them when they saw them.
Han Shuo hadn't come for a while because of the snow and the baby's movements. When he came today, he found that both classrooms in the two houses were full of people.
Classes haven't even started yet, and these high school students are making a ruckus; you can hear them even in the hallway.
The layout of the apartment rented on the fifth floor is different from that on the second floor. The second floor has two bedrooms and one living room, while the fifth floor has three bedrooms, one of which is only a few square meters and was originally a storage room.
However, Han Shuo's educational institution lacked an office, so they tidied up and used the storage room as an office.
Yuanyuan went to the second floor, while Han Shuo, Meng Yuxiu, and Gao Ze went directly to the office on the fifth floor.
The senior students from Jinhua University that Dong Xin invited have been working at the tutoring center for half a month. The senior student's surname is Li, he looks very scholarly, and he speaks slowly.
The senior student's surname is Yang, and she wears glasses. She looks as serious as a high school dean of students, but she is very approachable in private.
Both of them were locals from Hecheng, and their homes were not far from the tutoring center, so when Dong Xin found them in Jinhua, they came over happily.
Senior Li and Senior Yang are older than Han Shuo and the others, so they are more mature and composed. Even though Han Shuo didn't come recently, they helped Meng Yuxiu and Gao Ze with the reception.
Furthermore, both of them are very upright people, and they would carefully count the tuition fees they handled with Meng Yuxiu afterward.
Therefore, Han Shuo and Meng Yuxiu were very relieved. Even if Han Shuo came to the office today and opened the drawer to check the accounts, they didn't have to worry about any mistakes.
Today, Han Shuo was going to sit here until they closed the door, so Meng Yuxiu filled a hot water bottle and put it in his arms.
Considering the large number of students, he specially bought a coal stove, a kettle, and more than a dozen thermos flasks. Every day when he opened the door, he would boil water for the students and tutors to use.
Sometimes when he arrived late, the other teachers would voluntarily go and boil water.
"I didn't expect business to be so good while I was away!" Han Shuo said, his mouth agape as he flipped through the ledgers and student registration forms.
Meng Yuxiu pulled up a chair and sat down next to him, saying, "Besides Gao Ze and his roommates, Senior Li, Senior Yang, Dong Xin, and Yuan Yuan are also recruiting students. I told them that as long as they recruit students, they will get the same commission as Gao Ze and his group."
"Yes, yes." Han Shuo nodded in satisfaction.
Each student's registration form has a note: if they come to the office for consultation, it will be noted that they are coming in person, and the rest will be the salesperson's name.
Han Shuo looked around and found that, apart from Gao Ze and his roommates who were professional recruiters, Senior Li had recruited the most.
Han Shuo immediately called in Li Xuechang from outside and showered him with praise.
"Thank you for your hard work, Senior Li. Come on, come sit here." Han Shuo immediately got up and pulled Senior Li to sit down.
Seeing Han Shuo awkwardly getting up with his big belly, Senior Li quickly said, "No, no, no, Teacher Han, please sit down!"
Meng Yuxiu then offered his chair to Li Xuechang.
"Senior, your recruitment efforts are almost on par with Gao Ze's!" Han Shuo clicked his tongue and gave a thumbs up in praise. "I was wondering, you usually have classes at Jinhua University, and then you come here for tutoring after class. Where do you find so much time?"
Hearing this from the doorway, Senior Yang peeked in with a smile and said, "Teacher Han, you might not know, but Senior Li's mom works for the neighborhood committee, haha."
"I knew it!" Han Shuo exclaimed enthusiastically, "Awesome!"
Senior Li laughed and said, "If the students in the tutoring class can improve their grades on the final exams, then business will definitely be even better next semester."
Senior Yang: "That's for sure. If the final exam scores improve, our organization's reputation will grow even more."
Han Shuo asked, "Right now, we're probably the only educational institution in Hecheng?"
Senior Li nodded and said, "Yes, we've caught a good time to start a training institution. Nowadays, families with the means are paying more attention to their children's education."
Han Shuo leaned back in his chair, rubbing his stomach, and muttered, "If business were to improve in the future, I could even take over the education and training programs for primary and secondary schools. What a pity..."
Senior Yang laughed and said, "What's the pity, Teacher Han? If business gets better in the future, we'll definitely continue to expand."
Senior Li and Senior Yang naturally didn't understand Han Shuo's sorrow, but Meng Yuxiu did. He saw the fleeting disappointment in Han Shuo's eyes and remained silent.
They were chatting in the office when a female student came in through the door and peeked inside.
Senior Yang asked her, "What's wrong, Xiaoping?"
Xiaoping: "I have something I wanted to ask Teacher Han."
Han Shuo beckoned to her, "Come in and talk."
Xiaoping went in and asked, "Teacher Han, I wanted to ask if your tutoring class will still be open during the winter break? My mom said that the college entrance exam is next semester, and she wants me to come for tutoring during the winter break."
To be honest, Han Shuo and Meng Yuxiu have only been focused on making quick money before their child is born, ever since they started the tutoring center. As for the future, all they've been thinking about is leaving the educational institution to their families after they're gone.
However, I've been too busy right now to plan it out carefully.
Chinese New Year is on January 25th, and winter vacation starts on January 12th. But today is already December 26th, and Han Shuo and Meng Yuxiu only now realize that their time is running out, and they must arrange everything before leaving this world.
However, when suddenly asked to arrange these trivial matters in an orderly manner, Han Shuo and Meng Yuxiu were unable to make sense of it at first.
Meng Yuxiu saw a hint of confusion in Han Shuo's eyes. After thinking quickly for two seconds, he asked Gao Ze to call Dong Xin and Yuan Yuan into the office as well.
After everyone had arrived, he asked them, "During your winter break, Chinese New Year, and the first month of the lunar calendar, who would like to stay at the tutoring center?"
Gao Ze, Dong Xin, and Yuan Yuan, like Han Shuo and the others, are all from out of town. In particular, Dong Xin and Yuan Yuan have to take three days by train. After considering it, they felt it was too far and decided to go back to their hometown during the holidays.
Gao Ze isn't much better off either. He's a boarding student, and when the holidays come, he'll probably be living alone in his dorm room without even hot water.
Senior Li and Senior Yang are locals, so they can stay, but they'll be visiting relatives during the Lunar New Year, so they probably won't be able to attend classes.
Meng Yuxiu thought for a moment and said to Senior Li and Senior Yang, "The tutoring class will be open until January 22nd, the day before the Lunar New Year, and then it will reopen on the eighth day of the first lunar month. Seniors, in addition to your original class hour commission, I will give you extra bonuses."
Senior students Li and Yang became acquainted with Meng Yuxiu and Han Shuo. During their time at the tutoring center, besides making money, their biggest takeaway was the passion of starting a business together with a group of friends of similar age.
After Senior Li and Senior Yang readily agreed, Han Shuo, taking advantage of the fact that winter break hadn't started yet, immediately suggested that they order some dishes and have a meal together.
Gao Ze asked, "Are we eating now? They still have to tutor the students."
Han Shuo: "Then let's wait until after the tutoring session, and then we can have a meal together."
"Where should we eat?" Meng Yuxiu asked.
Han Shuo thought for a moment and said, "Why don't we just eat in the office? We can have the restaurant owner downstairs bring the food up."
Senior Li said, "That's good too. The restaurants downstairs are too noisy. It's better for us to eat in the office."
"Okay!!" Everyone agreed, so Han Shuo said he would go downstairs and talk to the restaurant owner, asking him to cook a few dishes and deliver them upstairs at 8:30.
The snow was melting outside, and even sitting in the office, a chill seeped into your bones. Meng Yuxiu didn't want Han Shuo to go out and catch a cold, so he suggested that Han Shuo go downstairs.
Han Shuo replied, "Then go ahead and remember to tell the boss to bring it up at 8:30. Don't cook it too early, or it will be cold by the time it arrives."
Meng Yuxiu said "I know" and was about to leave the office.
Han Shuo then continued chatting with the others: "Seniors, when you go back on the 22nd, make sure to close and lock the doors and windows..."
However, as he was talking, he saw Meng Yuxiu walk up to his side.
Han Shuo looked up and asked him, "Hey? Why haven't you come downstairs yet?"
Meng Yuxiu glanced at the others, pondered for a couple of seconds, then leaned slightly forward and whispered to Han Shuo, who was sitting in a chair, "Han Shuo, give me some money."
"You're out of money?" Han Shuo asked. "I remember giving you twenty yuan a while ago."
Meng Yuxiu was somewhat embarrassed.
His colleagues were watching closely, especially since he had seemed calm and composed when assigning tasks, looking every bit like a boss, but the next second he was awkwardly asking Han Shuo for money.
Now, apart from the majority of their earnings deposited in the bank, the rest are all in Han Shuo's hands.
Actually, Han Shuo didn't necessarily want to manage the money. It was just that Meng Yuxiu felt that now that they were married and had a family, according to the traditional virtues of the Meng family, the wife should manage the money. So he wanted to experience what it was like to have his wife manage the money, and he insisted on handing the money over to Han Shuo.
Han Shuo said this at the time: "Why are you giving me all this? A man needs to have some money on him, otherwise it's inconvenient to get things done."
Meng Yuxiu said, "Take this, and you can give me pocket money from now on."
"This is too much trouble! Can't you just carry it yourself?"
"No," Meng Yuxiu insisted. "You keep it."
"Alright, alright, alright." Han Shuo was both amused and exasperated. "This is the first time I've ever seen such an outrageous request. How about I give you twenty yuan a month?"
"good."
However, he never asked Han Shuo for money, and as time went on, Han Shuo couldn't remember how long it took Meng Yuxiu to spend the twenty yuan.
Meng Yuxiu said in a low voice, "They've all been spent."
Han Shuo frowned and asked, "All spent? Where was it spent?"
Meng Yuxiu: "I'm going to buy groceries and breakfast."
"Oh, oh, oh." Han Shuo suddenly realized. That made sense. He was only responsible for providing the money and didn't take care of anything else in terms of daily life. Meng Yuxiu took care of everything. The food for the two of them did cost a lot.
He quickly took out another twenty yuan from his schoolbag and handed it to Meng Yuxiu.
Meng Yuxiu asked him, "What would you like to eat?"
Han Shuo asked the others, "Hey, what dishes do you guys want to eat?"
The others said it didn't matter.
"Whatever? So I'm really just letting the boss cook whatever he wants?" Han Shuo joked, but after thinking about it, he decided to go downstairs to the restaurant with Meng Yuxiu to order food. This was the first time their organization had a get-together, and they had made quite a bit of money. He was afraid that Meng Yuxiu would still be thinking about saving money and would order some shabby dishes out of stinginess.
After the young couple left the office, everyone burst into laughter.
Yuanyuan said, "Hey, is Teacher Meng a bit henpecked? How come such a grown man still lets his wife manage the money?"
Senior Yang laughed and said, "That kind of man is the best, obedient and worry-free."
Han Shuo and Meng Yuxiu ordered a fish, three meat dishes, and a dry pot dish at the restaurant, and even a few bottles of beer. At 8:30 p.m., the restaurant owner brought the stir-fried dishes to his office on the fifth floor with a tray.
There was only one desk in the office, so they moved in a desk from outside and combined it into one. This was Hanxiu Education and Training Institution's first gathering before the new year, and also Han Shuo and Meng Yuxiu's last.
Han Shuo couldn't drink alcohol, so he substituted it with plain water. He stood up and raised his glass to everyone, saying, "Let me say a few words."
"Great, great!" the others applauded. "Teacher Han, please give us your year-end remarks."
Han Shuo thought for a moment and said, "First of all, I would like to thank everyone for your hard work over the past two months. Thank you all for your hard work. Secondly, I hope that our educational institution will have a prosperous business next year and get better and better in the future. I also hope that you all will get better and better."
"Great! Great! Great!!!" Everyone applauded wildly and cheered, "May next year be even better!!"
"Senior Li," Han Shuo raised his glass to Senior Li, "Thank you for your hard work."
Senior Li quickly stood up and raised his glass, "Teacher Han, you're being too formal..."
However, Han Shuo raised his glass to each person at the table.
"Han Shuo, I feel like you're acting a bit strange today." Gao Ze and the others at the table all felt that something was off about Han Shuo, but they couldn't quite put their finger on it.
Because Han Shuo was still saying auspicious things like wishing everyone would make a lot of money smoothly in the future.
But only Meng Yuxiu could understand the sadness in Han Shuo's eyes behind his smile. It was a blessing, an explanation, and a farewell.
After the dinner, everyone went their separate ways. Meng Yuxiu locked the door and went to wait for the bus with Han Shuo.
This was the last bus of the day, and the bus was quite empty. Meng Yuxiu helped Han Shuo to his seat.
From the moment they left the tenement building until the bus started moving, Han Shuo stared out the window without saying a word. It wasn't until they were almost at their alley that he spoke to Meng Yuxiu, saying, "We need to make some plans tonight."
"Um."
Back in their rented room, the two quickly washed up and got into bed, then sat on the bed making plans for their departure.
There are only two things surrounding them: settling their families and settling their educational institutions.
They now have two savings books, one for their savings and the other for the income of their educational institution.
"We'll have a holiday on the 12th, so let's pay this month's wages on the 11th?" Han Shuo said to Meng Yuxiu. "You should calculate their wages first."
"Hmm." Meng Yuxiu sat in bed, pen in hand, calculating everyone's salary. Last month, everyone received a considerable amount, and this month, with good business, the salaries were even higher. He tallied the number of students Gao Ze and the seven students in his dormitory enrolled, and also calculated the teaching hours of the tutors.
After deducting everyone's wages, the organization's savings account had a little over 4,200 yuan left, plus their original 1,600 yuan, for a total of 5,800 yuan.
Han Shuo was filled with emotion upon hearing this number.
"I can't even imagine how much I'll earn in just two months. I can't even imagine my future income."
Meng Yuxiu put down his pen and agreed, "If this trend continues, we can expand our classrooms and recruit more students next year. In addition to high school and junior high school, we can also prepare courses for elementary school."
"Sigh!" Han Shuo grabbed a pillow and put it behind his back. "Yeah, we can rent a building then, with the second floor for elementary school, the third floor for middle school, the fourth floor for high school, and the fifth floor for the cafeteria and offices. Speaking of which, we haven't even had an opening ceremony for our tutoring center yet."
"If only we had more time, I'd like to bring my brother and Tingting to Hecheng to stay for a while..."
Han Shuo paused for a moment, then grinned at Meng Yuxiu, "Of course, we'll bring Mom and Dad over too. If we have more time, we'll have an opening ceremony so they can all come and see how well our educational institution is run. My brother will definitely praise me for being awesome and be beaming from ear to ear when he sees it. And my Tingting, that little country bumpkin has never been to a big city before."
"Hmm." Meng Yuxiu's lips curled into a slight smile.
He listened quietly as Han Shuo continued speaking.
"If only we had more time." Han Shuo sighed again, then gestured with his chin towards Meng Yuxiu and asked, "Do you know what I'm thinking?"
Meng Yuxiu asked, "What are you thinking?"
“I was content with earning a few thousand before, and then my brother and your parents would each get half. But now that business is so good and we’re making so much money, I’ve become greedy again.” Han Shuo suddenly thought of something, his eyes crinkling with laughter. He said, “Now I want to buy three houses in Hecheng. My brother and I will live in the middle, my brother will live upstairs, and my parents will live downstairs.”
But then he thought about it again and felt that he still needed to improve. "Let's buy a big villa, preferably one with a yard. How about my brother, parents, Tingting, and our whole family live together? Hahaha, that would be perfect!"
"Um."
However, Meng Yuxiu saw that as Han Shuo spoke, the smile on his lips slowly turned bitter, and he heard him say...
"Oh, what a pity, there's no time left."
Han Shuo sniffed lightly, then perked up again. "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. Let's get down to business."
"What are your plans?" he asked Meng Yuxiu.
Meng Yuxiu lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment, "We currently have 5,800 in our savings account. I'll open another savings account tomorrow and transfer 2,900 to the new one. I'll give it to your brother when I go home for the holidays."
Han Shuo said, "I'm not worried about how much money we've saved right now. Anyway, our educational institution is still there and will continue to make money in the future. My main concern is what will happen to the educational institution if we suddenly disappear."
Meng Yuxiu asked, "Should we call my dad or your brother to Hecheng and then transfer them? We can just go to the Industry and Commerce Bureau to change the registration then."
Han Shuo thought about it seriously for a moment, then frowned and said, "Call them over. What should we tell them? Should we say we're aliens or time travelers? Should we say we're leaving soon?"
"Forget it." Han Shuo shook his head. "The New Year is almost here, and I don't want to talk about these things. Whether they believe it or not, I don't want to make them sad. For the last New Year, I still hope they can be happy."
He asked Meng Yuxiu, "Are there any other ideas?"
Meng Yuxiu remained silent for a long time.
"Yes." He looked up at Han Shuo and said, "To make a will."
"Make a will?" Han Shuo frowned and pondered.
“But what if,” Han Shuo asked uncertainly, “I don’t know how we’ll leave this world after I give birth. If we die, then making a will is fine. If we’re gone and the original owners of the bodies are still alive, that’s fine too, since their identities are still there. But I’m worried about what if we become vegetative or mentally disabled?…”
Meng Yuxiu said, "I don't know if it's possible in this world, but we can consult with several law firms to see if we can make a will in advance under these factors. If so, we can leave the educational institution to my parents and your brother, so that we can make them happy after the New Year."
"It also made them..." He paused for a moment, then slowly said, "...happy until we left."
Han Shuo nodded. "That's good."
He removed the pillow from his back and slowly lay down.
“Then I’ll tell Gao Ze that if we become mentally disabled or die, I’ll ask him to help hand over the tutoring center to my parents and my brother.”
Meng Yuxiu turned off the light, but neither of them could fall asleep.
Listening to Han Shuo's slow breathing, he asked, "Aren't you going to tell them we're leaving?"
Han Shuo blinked in the darkness and said, "I don't know, I haven't thought it through, and I don't know how to say it. Anyway, there's still some time before I give birth, so I'll think about it some more."
Meng Yuxiu then asked him, "When are we going back from Hecheng? Since it's a holiday, are you going to stay at the tutoring center a little longer?"
Han Shuo shook his head on the pillow without hesitation.
"I won't keep it," he said.
"Are you going back home as soon as you have a holiday?" Meng Yuxiu asked.
"Okay." Han Shuo nodded. "I'll go back during the holidays."
"Okay." Meng Yuxiu tucked the blanket around Han Shuo's neck, and just as he was about to lie back down, he heard Han Shuo speak.
The night was deep, and those slightly sighing sounds slowly fermented into melancholy and sorrow in the darkness.
"I want to go home..."
"Sigh, Meng Yuxiu. I want to go home as soon as possible..."
A lump formed in Han Shuo's throat, and he opened his mouth, "I want to see them as soon as possible..."
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