Jiang Ling stood there, somewhat bewildered. The atmosphere in the classroom gradually quieted down until you could hear a pin drop.
Hu Yue'er and Wu Xiucai stared at each other in astonishment for a long time without saying a word.
The baby's loud cries broke the previous tranquility.
The two were also "activated" again by the sound, with Wu Xiucai in a slightly better state than Hu Yue'er.
Hu Yue'er pointed a trembling finger at Wu Xiucai in front of her, her eyes red and choked with sobs, and said, "I...I'm not dreaming, am I? Teacher...how come you're here?"
Wu Xiucai smiled, his gaze falling on the baby on Hu Yue'er's back. "So many years have passed since we last met. Yue'er has grown up and is now a mother!"
Hu Yue'er wiped away the tears that had welled up in her eyes with some emotion, and said in a trembling voice, "Teacher, where have you been all these years?"
Scholar Wu smiled faintly and shook his head: "Let's not talk about it. But Yue'er, what's wrong with you..."
“I…” The days of being a refugee were the last thing Hu Yue’er wanted to recall. She bit her lip, her expression one of extreme pain.
Seeing this, Jiang Ling quickly took the baby from Hu Yue'er's back out of the basket and gently placed it in her arms to soothe it. Under Jiang Ling's comforting care, the baby gradually calmed down and slowly fell asleep in Jiang Ling's arms.
"Yue'er, didn't you come to ask about Scholar Wu's child? Have you forgotten?" Jiang Ling quickly changed the subject when she saw Hu Yue'er's unpleasant expression.
Hu Yue'er nodded and looked at Wu Xiucai, saying, "Teacher, at what age can my child start going to school?"
Wu Xiucai looked at the child in Jiang Ling's arms and said, "Two or three years old is fine!"
Hu Yue'er nodded after hearing this, seemingly wanting to say something, but in the end she only moved her throat and nodded to Wu Xiucai, saying, "Thank you, teacher!" Then she turned and left, even leaving Jiang Ling, who had come with her, behind in the school.
Jiang Ling watched Hu Yue'er walk away and then looked at Wu Xiucai with a serious expression. For a moment, she was at a loss.
Just as she was hesitating whether to leave the school to find Hu Yue'er, Wu Xiucai, who was standing behind her, suddenly kissed Jiang Ling.
"Yaojie's mother, you...you don't leave yet, can you sit down and chat?"
Jiang Ling hesitated for a moment but finally nodded. She wasn't gossipy, but she was worried about what problems might arise if things weren't clear.
"Please sit down, Yaojie's wife!" Wu Xiucai said, pointing to the seat opposite him.
Jiang Ling sat down naturally. Seeing that Wu Xiucai hadn't brought up the topic beforehand, she knew that Wu Xiucai was a smart man and must have his own reasons for stopping her.
"Why is she here with you?" Wu Xiucai asked tentatively.
Jiang Ling glanced at Wu Xiucai and asked, "Are you talking about Yue'er?"
Wu Xiucai nodded, waiting for Jiang Ling to continue.
Jiang Ling bit her lip and recounted the events involving the refugees in detail. However, she concealed the fact that Hu Yue'er had been humiliated by the refugee leader, as such an incident would be a devastating blow to any woman.
Upon hearing this, Wu Xiucai's eyes reddened, and he shook his head repeatedly, his heavy sighs echoing throughout the school.
After an unknown amount of time, she spoke again: "Yue'er shouldn't be like this. When I saw her that year, she was only six years old. She was a young lady from an official family, clever and very lovable!"
Wu Xiucai's words stunned Jiang Ling. She never expected that the young lady of an official family would fall into such a state of destitution.
Although she was curious, it was a painful topic, so she could only keep her thoughts to herself.
"At that time, I needed to earn money for the imperial examination, so I worked as a tutor at their house for a while. But then, they offended a powerful person, their house was seized, and I was kicked out. I don't know what happened after that."
At this point, Scholar Wu sighed heavily again.
Seeing this, Jiang Ling comforted him, "Don't worry, Scholar Wu, Yue'er is doing just as well as you are now in Lujia Village!"
Wu Xiucai nodded and looked at Jiang Ling, saying, "Thank you, Yaojie's mother. Lujia Village is truly a blessed place!"
The two exchanged a smile, and that was the end of the story.
Jiang Ling tactfully left and headed towards Hu Yue'er's house.
"Moon, are you home?" Jiang Ling gently knocked on the door and asked.
A short while later, the door was opened, but it wasn't Hu Yue'er who opened it, but Zhou Daxia.
"Is Yue'er home?" Jiang Ling asked.
Zhou Daxia nodded, pointed towards the bedroom, and then made a tearful gesture towards her face.
Jiang Ling nodded and walked into the bedroom.
"Moon, may I come in?" Jiang Ling asked again from the doorway.
After receiving permission, Jiang Ling pushed open the door. Hu Yue'er's eyes were red, and there were still a few tears on her cheeks.
Jiang Ling sat down opposite Hu Yue'er and comforted her, "Seeing your teacher is a good thing, why are you crying?"
Hu Yue'er wiped away her tears and said with great sorrow, "I never imagined that after so many years, seeing my teacher again would be like this!"
Jiang Ling knew a little about Hu Yue'er's identity from Wu Xiucai, and she gently comforted her, "We have to look forward and not be troubled by the past. Look how well you and Wu Xiucai are living in Lujia Village now, that's enough!"
Hu Yue'er nodded, but still clutched her chest and said to Jiang Ling, "But, big sister, I... I really feel so bad!"
Jiang Ling smiled and comforted her, "I know. If you're sad, cry; if you're happy, laugh. I can't give you much else, but at least in Lujia Village, I can ensure you have enough to eat and wear!"
Jiang Ling's words seemed to touch the softest part of Hu Yue'er's heart again, and Hu Yue'er couldn't hold back her tears and started crying again.
Upon hearing Hu Yue'er's cries, Zhou Daxia quickly pushed open the door and entered. Jiang Ling gently shook her head and pointed at Hu Yue'er, making a shushing gesture.
Zhou Daxia nodded and quietly left the bedroom.
After a long while, Hu Yue'er, having completely vented her inner turmoil, rubbed her red, tear-filled eyes and looked at Jiang Ling somewhat embarrassedly, saying, "Big sister, I...I..."
Jiang Ling shook her head and interrupted, "It's okay, it's good to vent. Forget about those unhappy things in the future, and let's live in the present."
Hu Yue'er nodded and whispered, "I understand!"
After comforting Hu Yue'er, Jiang Ling felt much more at ease.
Before she even got home, Jiang Ling saw several people standing at her door.
I often saw Jiang Ling, who was in charge, but the two thirteen or fourteen-year-old girls with her were unfamiliar faces.
"Sister-in-law Erleng, why aren't you going in?" Jiang Ling greeted her.
"Oh dear, I was too embarrassed to come in when I heard you weren't here!" Zhao Erleng's wife smiled.
"What's the big deal? Come on, let's go inside!" Jiang Ling pulled Zhao Erleng's wife inside.
"To be honest, I've come here today to ask you for a favor!" Zhao Erleng's wife said with a helpless expression as soon as she sat down.
Jiang Ling took a sip of tea, looked at Zhao Erleng's wife with a frown, and asked, "What's wrong?"
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