"Yes, it's Sister Xiufeng!" Yu Jihong straightened up, composed herself, and looked at the child beside her. "And this is?"
“Jianjun’s son, they’re in the city now too.” Xiufeng patted the child’s shoulder.
"Oh!" Yu Jihong nodded. "Jianjun's child is so big now, is he here to attend kindergarten?"
"Yes, Ji Hong, you're here...?" Xiu Feng's eyes held a hint of inquiry.
“I work as a childcare worker here, and my daughter teaches here.”
“Your daughter is so grown up now, that’s great, she’s even working.” Xiufeng couldn’t help but look Yu Jihong up and down again, as if to confirm whether this efficient childcare worker was the “crazy person” who used to shout.
"I came to take my grandson to kindergarten, and I didn't expect to run into you." Her tone was full of surprise, but her gaze unconsciously drifted to Yu Jihong's hands. Those hands were now wiping the glass, clean and steady, without a trace of the frenzy she used to have when she grabbed dirt.
Yu Jihong could imagine that Xiufeng must be thinking, how can a woman who has been mentally ill take care of children in a kindergarten?
"Jihong, you go ahead with your work. I'll take the child around the kindergarten to play and get familiar with it."
"Okay!"
After Xiufeng left, Yu Jihong became restless, and a wave of unease washed over her. She remembered 1980, when she was pregnant with Fang Yu, rolling around in the mud, grabbing at the dirt, and shouting and screaming incoherently. Xiufeng lived not far from her parents' home and had seen her at her most disheveled.
Now that Xiufeng has also come to the county town and picks up her grandson every day, if she tells other parents that Fangyu's mother used to be a crazy woman, how will Fangyu hold her head up in kindergarten? Will the children laugh at her? Will her colleagues look at her strangely?
Yu Jihong put down the rag and went to find Xiufeng, who was playing on the slide with her grandson. "Sister-in-law Xiufeng, I have something to tell you. I was pretending to be crazy back then, not really stupid. I had no choice. Yes, I was pregnant with my daughter at that time. I wanted this child, so I could only pretend to be crazy to protect myself and my daughter."
Xiufeng was stunned, then sighed, "Jihong, so much time has passed, aren't you doing well now? You've raised your daughter and she even has a job now, it's all good, all good."
"Then could you... not tell anyone?" Yu Jihong's voice was pleading. "Our daughter is all grown up now, and we're doing very well. We don't want others to know these things and gossip about her."
Xiufeng looked at her reddened eyes and nodded. "Don't worry, I won't tell. We're both mothers, I understand what you're thinking."
Back home, Yu Jihong was still feeling suffocated. She thought, although Xiufeng had agreed, there might be other people in the future. What if she encountered someone else? Rumors are like weeds; once they take root, they grow wildly. For Fang Yu's sake, she couldn't take that risk; she couldn't work with Fang Yu.
The next morning, Yu Jihong said that she and Fang Yu were going to kindergarten together. "Mom, aren't you two not going today?"
"Fang Yu, Mom wants to talk to the principal and tell her that she won't be going to work anymore."
"Huh?" Fang Yu stood there, looking at her with a puzzled expression. "What's wrong?"
“Hmm,” Yu Jihong thought for a moment, “I want to find something else to do, to find some business to do.”
What kind of business can you start on your own?
"Let's think about it some more. If I don't sell breakfast, I can sell other things. There are plenty of businesses one person can run. Once I start working, it will be difficult to change the kindergarten staff. Let's go, I'll go talk to the principal."
"We were doing everything normally yesterday, but this morning they said they weren't going to do it anymore." Fang Yu still didn't understand.
"Okay, let's go. Let's go talk to the headmistress and ask her to find someone as soon as possible."
Upon arriving at the kindergarten, Yu Jihong went to the principal's office and said, "Principal, I don't want to work here anymore."
"Why are you suddenly saying you're not doing it anymore? You were doing so well last year, and the kids all loved you."
"There are still a few days before school starts. I'll try to find someone else to do it for me. I'll help out until someone else does it. Once I find someone, I'll leave. Don't worry, it won't affect the kindergarten's work. But I'm sure I don't want to continue doing it."
The headmistress looked troubled. Seeing how determined Yu Jihong was to leave, she had no choice but to agree. The childcare workers' wages were low, and they weren't even paid for social security. It was understandable that she wanted to leave, and she had no reason to force her to stay.
The headmaster sighed, "Alas, another good helper has been lost. It's a pity, our place is too small to retain people."
"No, Director, I was very happy working here last year, it was my own fault."
"You can always say you want to come back!"
Yu Jihong forced a stiff smile and said in a slightly weak voice, "Okay, thank you, Director."
Stepping out of the principal's office, Yu Jihong looked up at the sky. The sunlight was a bit dazzling, but she felt a little more at ease. She was willing to do anything to protect Fang Yu.
When Yu Jihong arrived at the classroom, Fang Yu was still decorating it. "Fang Yu, I've already spoken with the principal. I'll fill in for her when no one else is available. I'll leave once someone else is found."
Fang Yu held Yu Jihong's hand, "Mom!"
“Mom isn’t going to another city like before. We’ll still come home from school together every day! I’m giving you some space. I’m with you 24 hours a day, and I’m afraid you’ll get annoyed with me.”
"I don't mind you, I enjoy being with you."
"Mom's gone back. She'll cook you something delicious for dinner when she gets back."
Yu Jihong stood at the classroom door and glanced back. She remembered the figure she'd spent with her daughter, Fang Yu, at the beginning of last year's school year, comforting several crying children, distributing meals and snacks, and bending over to wipe the classroom clean. It was here that she and her daughter, Fang Yu, had spent half a year; Fang Yu taught crafts, and she helped the children with their projects…
She felt a void in her heart, a bittersweet feeling. She took a deep breath, turned around, and didn't look back.
Yu Jihong came by bicycle in the morning; she didn't go home but went for a walk in the street.
Yu Jihong already had a plan for what to do next. She had the idea of opening a clothing store when she first came to the county town.
Fang Yu said the kindergarten was recruiting childcare teachers, so she decided to give it a try. She and Fang Yu had a happy semester together, and now she's back to her original intention: if she wants to do something, she'll do it. She'll start by looking for a shop.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com