Before they could rush over, Xuan Yuanqi's men had already darted out and grabbed them. The women immediately began to struggle, both anxious and frightened.
Ling Ruoke took a breath and walked up to them. "How much money did the person behind this pay to make you go against your conscience and frame someone you've never even met? You dare to take such ill-gotten gains? Aren't you afraid of shortening your lifespan?"
This was the first time Ling Ruoke had considered hitting someone. When she raised her hand and slapped the first woman twice, everyone around was stunned.
These women hadn't expected her to be so fierce. The teachers and students at the school were also quite surprised; their usually gentle and kind teacher, Ruoke, could actually get angry!
After delivering two slaps to each person, Ling Ruoke felt a sense of satisfaction.
“I’ve lived for 23 years, and I believe I haven’t wronged anyone except my parents and my lover! I know you were just following orders, and I believe it must have been a considerable income, but your conscience isn’t even worth that much money. For that reason alone, those two slaps were absolutely right! Get out of my sight right now, and don’t let me see your faces again, get out!”
After she finished yelling and shouting, Ling Ruoke returned to her original spot and stood there.
The principal was stunned for a long time before he stammered on. But everyone's attention was not on the principal's speech; instead, they were all secretly watching Ruoke.
After the principal finished speaking, Ling Ruoke stepped forward. "Principal, may I say a few words?"
"Huh?" The principal paused for a moment, then nodded quickly. "Go on, go on."
Ling Ruoke then stood on the stage and slowly scanned the entire school. "I believe everyone has seen what was on the bulletin board. Because of those fabricated stories, I had to leave my post. To be honest, I love this job and I love every one of my students. I have a clear conscience and believe I have done right by this job and every student. I know some parents have come to the school to cause trouble, and I believe they must have been manipulated because I offended someone I couldn't afford to offend. I don't expect everyone to like me; I only ask that when my students face their parents, they can tell them the truth about what kind of person Teacher Ling is."
After speaking, she bowed deeply and closed her burning eyes. She loved these children, and she enjoyed these peaceful days, but alas, the tree wished for stillness, but the wind would not cease.
Ling Ruoke walked ahead alone, quickly returning to her office. She sat down and buried herself in her books. She didn't want to face the complicated looks from others; it made her uncomfortable.
"Teacher Ling!" The familiar voice came from Zhuang Yuqi's friend. He was slightly out of breath, clearly having rushed over.
Ling Ruoke quickly put on a smile and patted his head. "Zhuang Yuqi, what's wrong?"
Zhuang Yuqi stared at her intently, his lips pressed tightly together. He looked as if he was about to cry. "Teacher Ling, are you leaving? Please don't go!"
"Who told you that?" Ling Ruoke was taken aback. She almost choked up; she truly loved these children.
"What you just said! Teacher Ling, you said you offended someone you can't afford to offend, so that person won't let you be a teacher anymore, right? Teacher Ling, don't be afraid, I'll tell my dad and have him arrest that bad guy! That way, Teacher Ling won't have to leave! Teacher Ling, please don't go, I like you, I like you the most!"
Zhuang Yuqi, who never cried, threw himself into her arms, his eyes finally welling up with tears. He loved her, loved this teacher who was like a mother to him. If she left, no one would ever kiss him so gently again!
Ling Ruoke looked at him, then hugged his small body tightly. She closed her eyes, tears welling up in them.
"Teacher Ling, don't go!" The child finally cried out, sobbing as she voiced her innermost feelings. Two hands gripped her clothes so tightly they almost tore them apart. Her little hands turned white from the effort.
"Teacher Ling, don't go!" came the unified voice of the class.
Class monitor Song Ling led the children to stand outside the office door, calling out in unison. Several children were already crying.
Ling Ruoke released Zhuang Yuqi, looked at the children, and finally couldn't help but burst into tears. She loved each and every one of them wholeheartedly, and the children loved her in return. How could she bear to part with such adorable children?
Seeing the tear-streaked faces, Ling Ruoke quickly wiped away her own tears. She then went over to wipe the tears of the crying children. "Don't cry, everyone. The teacher is still here, isn't she? Go back to your morning reading class. Disobeying the rules isn't good behavior, and the teacher doesn't like that. Come on, let's go back to the classroom together for our morning reading class."
The principal watched her lead the child towards the classroom and sighed deeply. Ruo Ke was indeed a rare and excellent teacher; she was capable, and even more so, responsible and loving. These days, it's rare to find teachers who truly treat their students like their own children.
The morning reading, which is usually loud and clear, was rather sparse today, and the children didn't seem very enthusiastic. If the teacher hadn't been watching, they probably wouldn't have read at all. They were just reciting aloud, but their eyes weren't on the books; they seemed somewhat distracted.
Zhuang Yuqi didn't say a word, just pursed her lips and looked at Ling Ruoke on the podium with red eyes.
Ling Ruoke had no choice but to walk to the podium and make a stop gesture. "Classmates, the exam is coming up soon, how can you all be so listless? The teacher likes students who get good grades and are obedient the most. If our class gets the highest score in the grade this time, then the teacher will give you a reward."
"Teacher, what's the reward?" A group of children's eyes lit up immediately, looking at her expectantly, as if to say: Teacher, don't lie to us!
"The teacher will bake cakes for everyone, and then take everyone out to play and take lots of fun photos, okay?"
"Great!" They clapped enthusiastically.
"Teacher Ling, we will definitely get first place!" Zhuang Yuqi shouted, and the other children immediately responded.
"Then be a good student and do your morning reading, review well, and get good grades. The teacher is watching, let's begin." She sat down on the podium.
The class monitor took the lead in reading the first sentence, and the children immediately began to recite it loudly, as if the louder they read, the better they would do on the test.
Little Zhuang Yuqi was secretly using his phone under his desk. He didn't want Teacher Ling to leave; he was sure his dad would find a way!
For the rest of the day, the children practically clung to Ling Ruoke. The math teacher, unable to bear it any longer after a while in the classroom, rushed to the office to fetch Ruoke, but she couldn't control the group of agitated children.
After the last class, Zhuang Yuqi repeatedly confirmed that she would come to school tomorrow before reluctantly walking towards the school gate, turning back every step of the way.
Ling Ruoke watched him leave, stunned for a long time.
When I got home, Fu Peigang had just returned from the army. He was playing with the little guy, and it was quite a lively scene.
Tan Peishi kept glancing at her expression, and Ling Ruoke knew that Peishi had known about this all along. "You and Xuanyuan both advised me to continue taking leave because you already knew?"
“Yes. We were all afraid that you would be knocked down again after just recovering.” Tan Peishi hugged her, and the two of them pressed their heads together.
Ling Ruoke nuzzled against her, touched. "I'm not that fragile." As long as Qingfeng is alright, she's not afraid of these monsters and demons.
...
Ling Ruoke went to sleep that night.
After a long workout, Fu Peigang and Tan Peishi chatted with their bodies close together.
Tan Peishi poked Fu Peigang's chest and said with a smile, "Honey, I feel so happy right now." Their marriage has been smooth sailing, and the two have a deep affection for each other.
"Yes, you don't know until you compare. I really hope things can be resolved soon and that the captain can return to the unit as soon as possible. Then we can apply for military dependents to live with you and your wife in the family quarters. The people there are more innocent and it's safer." At least, it's impossible for someone like Cang Weiwo to take her away.
Tan Peishi sighed heavily, turned around in his arms, and looked at the ceiling with a somewhat gloomy expression.
"I just don't understand. Ruoke and the captain are such a perfect match. Although Ruoke is divorced, she is kind-hearted and has a good temper. A daughter-in-law like that is hard to come by! Is family background really that important? Does it mean that as long as you have a good family background, it doesn't matter if the other person is a despicable and promiscuous woman?"
The more she talked, the angrier she became. She could only tolerate it if possible; if it were Fu Peigang's parents who dared to treat her like this, she would have started cursing!
Fu Peigang smiled helplessly. The more prominent the family, the more they care about face and interests. "We are not like that, so we will never understand. It's like some men commit domestic violence, which we soldiers cannot understand, because in our hearts, our wives are treasures."
Tan Peishi was almost in tears from his words, feeling more and more like she was living in a honeypot. She hugged his lean waist and buried her face in his chest, nuzzling against him. "Fu Peigang, you're so good to me!"
Fu Peigang was aroused by her unintentional movements and immediately became aroused. He rolled over and pinned her down, starting another round of activity.
When it was finally over, Tan Peishi couldn't even move a finger. Despite years of training, she couldn't keep up with his stamina; if he pushed her too hard, she would still faint, much to her dismay.
Fu Peigang put on his trousers, wrapped her in a sheet, and carried her into the bathroom to wash her. As he passed through the living room, he stopped, his eyes sharply fixed on the balcony. After a moment, he sighed silently and went into the bathroom.
The two of them washed up and went back to bed. Fu Peigang held his wife in his arms, thinking of the lonely person on the balcony, and felt a tightness in his chest.
Ling Ruoke sat on the balcony, using newspaper as a cushion. The sky was pitch black, looming over her like a suffocating weight, making it hard to breathe.
She heard Fu Peigang and Tan Peishi come out, but didn't dare to say a word. Although she didn't look at them, Ling Ruoke knew that they must have experienced a passionate love affair.
Before, she would blush with embarrassment whenever she heard anything about sex, and dare not listen any longer. But now, how she longed to be passionately entangled with Qingfeng in bed on a night like this. How she regretted rejecting his advances so many times.
If we were once close, then at least on lonely and helpless nights like these, we can recall that passionate feeling. At least even after we part ways in the future, we can still savor the beauty of those times.
Qingfeng, how are you right now?
Looking at the dark sky, tears fell, one by one. Only in the dead of night, when no one was around, did the tears dare to fall freely.
She sat there on the balcony, curled up like a small animal, until dawn before finally going back to bed.
I spent the night sleepless.
...
Strangely, those things didn't appear on the bulletin board the next day.
As soon as Ling Ruoke arrived at the school, the principal called her into his office. He said that the parents had called voluntarily, no longer requesting a change of teacher, saying that the children all liked her. The higher-ups had spoken: the teacher should continue to be employed!
Ling Ruoke walked into the classroom and saw Zhuang Yuqi giving her a victory sign, then it dawned on her. She really didn't know what to say to this little brat.
I walked over, patted the child's head, bent down and said, "From now on, you have to ask the teacher first before you do things like this, okay?"
"Teacher, I asked my boss, and he said it's okay, so there's no problem!" He grinned, showing his bright white teeth, overjoyed. Teacher Ling wouldn't leave!
Ling Ruoke gently flicked his forehead.
Little Zhuang Yuqi scratched the spot where he had been hit, without even frowning, and still grinned with his white teeth showing.
Ling Ruoke sat on the podium for a while, then accidentally fell asleep. She'd been having nightmares these past few days, staying up all night, her mind a complete mess. In just over a week, she'd become incredibly thin. Her health was poor; she was barely hanging on. Pei Shi kept making her nourishing soups, making her feel nauseous, but it had no effect.
Her wounds were deep inside, and only a remedy for the heart could heal them; everything else was in vain.
Ling Ruoke slept soundly, lying on her stomach; the children's reading aloud became the best hypnotic. Humans are truly amazing...
At that moment, fast asleep, she was completely unaware that someone was stepping into the classroom, their eyes filled with malice. The rhythmic sound of high heels was drowned out by the children's recitation, leaving no trace.
Gu Zhenzhen stood at the classroom door, looking at the person slumped over the podium, her teeth almost grinding to powder. She'd ruined Brother Huo's life, and she was all relaxed!
Gu Miaomiao didn't care about her crying or the looks from her grandfather, uncle, and aunt!
The only thing she cared about was this person who was like a nail stuck in Brother Huo's heart! For her sake, Brother Huo actually risked his life and is still in the intensive care unit, not yet out of danger!
Ling Ruoke, what have you done to deserve this!
Some children noticed the intimidating look in the person's eyes, while others continued reciting intently. Zhuang Yuqi, however, quietly narrowed his eyes; he knew this person was going to bully Teacher Ling!
Gu Zhenzhen naturally paid no attention to the children; her focus was entirely on Ling Ruoke, consumed by hatred and rage. Her hand slowly clenched into a fist, for she desperately wanted to hit someone! To hit this foolish woman who didn't deserve Brother Huo yet clung to him, causing his life to hang in the balance!
"Ah—" Just as she was about to reach the podium, someone kicked her shin hard twice, and she, wearing high-heeled boots, immediately fell to her knees.
Then someone jumped on her and started punching her mercilessly.
"I'll beat you to death, I'll beat you to death! I'll teach you to bully Teacher Ling again!" Little Zhuang Yuqi rode on Gu Zhenzhen's back, swinging his fists incessantly while muttering incantations.
Two other children heard him muttering and knew that this person was bullying Teacher Ling, so they ran over to help him hold down Gu Zhenzhen's hands and feet, using all their strength.
Although Zhuang Yuqi is young, he has been practicing military boxing since he was a child, and his father and grandfather trained him as soldiers. His fists are not to be underestimated.
The other children were stunned at first, then, as if by unspoken agreement, they began to cheer. They didn't care about anything else; they were just watching it as a game.
Ling Ruoke was woken up by the increasingly loud cheers and by her class monitor, Song Ling, shaking her awake. She looked up, still a little groggy. After a while, she realized the children had all stood up, staring at one spot, chanting in unison, "Beat her! Beat her!"
He jumped up and saw that little Zhuang Yuqi was riding on top of him, swinging his fists fiercely. "Zhuang Yuqi, what are you doing?"
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