Chapter 72: Deductions of Fifty Points Every Week
Jin Hang protested, feeling somewhat wronged. “Teacher, I really didn’t do anything. It’s Qin Mo who’s deducting points randomly.”
Hearing this, the homeroom teacher grew even angrier. “Qin Mo hasn’t deducted points from anyone else, but he specifically deducted from you. It’s clear that you’ve done something wrong. Jin Hang, you usually mess around, and I haven’t said anything, but now you’re slandering your classmate? Go home and copy all the classical poems and literature again!” With that, she walked off.
Jin Hang, who now had to copy classical poems again: “…”
He was fuming inside, as Qin Mo had been causing him trouble all week.
In the past, even if Qin Mo saw something, he wouldn’t care, so everyone had been quite relaxed.
After school, Jin Hang waited outside the Rocket Class classroom and blocked Qin Mo, who was waiting for Wen Xia to go to the bathroom, holding a pink backpack.
Jin Hang was half a head shorter than Qin Mo. He lifted his chin and said, “Qin Mo, what’s your problem? Deductions for no reason? You think you’re the king of demerits?”
Zhao Zichuan and the others quickly stepped in to intervene when they saw the tension. Pan Sen, who got along decently with Jin Hang, said, “Jin Hang, speak properly.”
Qin Mo’s gaze lifted slightly, and he stared directly at Jin Hang. “Yeah, I am the king of demerits. If you keep harassing my Xia Xia, I’ll deduct fifty points from you every week.”
Jin Hang: “…”
He was so angry that he felt like his breath was stuck in his chest. After a few seconds, he cursed inwardly, ‘What a jerk.’
Wen Xia’s first peach blossom in No.1 Middle School was crushed to death, and no others would bloom after that.
…
After having a milk tea with Qin Mo, Wen Xia finally returned home. She opened the door and took the backpack from his hands. “Husband, you should go back now.”
Qin Mo gave her a look of mock sorrow, lowered his head slightly, and pouted. “Don’t you want to let your husband in for a while?”
Wen Xia glanced around and, standing on tiptoe, kissed him lightly. “Wait a bit, Dad will be back soon.”
Before the word “soon” could even leave her mouth, a stern voice interrupted, “Xia Xia.”
It was Wen De’s voice.
Both Wen Xia and Qin Mo were startled. Wen Xia forced herself to turn around, seeing Wen De standing not far away.
She whispered, “Dad.”
Qin Mo responded respectfully, “Uncle Wen.”
Then, awkwardly, he cleared his throat and said, “Uncle Wen, Xia Xia, there’s something I need to take care of at home. I’ll be leaving now.”
Seeing how he looked like he wanted to escape, Wen Xia lowered her head, holding back a laugh.
Wasn’t he going to come in and sit for a while? Why was he suddenly leaving?
After entering the house, Wen Xia found that there was another woman in the living room. She had light brown, large wavy hair, a black, androgynous trench coat, giving off a mature vibe—her mother, Liu Yan.
Liu Yan smiled faintly at her. “Xia Xia, you’re back.”
Wen Xia nodded, then averted her gaze. “Dad, I’ll go do my homework.”
Wen De pursed his lips. “Your mom wants to take you to your grandmother’s to celebrate her birthday.”
Wen Xia had never liked going to the Liu family’s home. Liu Yan had three siblings, and they all lived in the same courtyard. Every time they visited, it felt like they were vampires, always asking Wen De for things and money.
The Liu family were farmers, with a strong preference for sons over daughters. They looked down on her, and the children from the Liu family would bully her.
When they went to the Liu family’s house, Wen De often followed her, and back then, she found him annoying, always tagging along wherever she went.
Looking back at it now, she realized Wen De had always been quietly protecting her.
Although she didn’t want to go, she bit her lip and agreed, “Okay.”
Her grandmother had always been very kind to her. Every time she visited, her grandmother would sneakily slip her a little money, though it was only a few yuan each time.
Because her own money was scarce too.
Wen De pursed his lips again. “I’ll take you there.”
“No need, Yong Cheng is downstairs.”
Liu Yan, her well-maintained face still smiling, added, “Xia Xia, go pack two sets of clothes.”
“No need, I’ll be back tomorrow. Dad, can you come pick me up tomorrow afternoon?” Wen Xia didn’t want to stay at the Liu family’s house for long.
Seeing that she wasn’t very happy, Wen De almost said she didn’t have to go if she didn’t want to, but he opened his mouth, then closed it again. “Okay, call me if you need anything.”
The Liu family’s home was in a small village in Jia County, about a half-hour drive away.
The Liu family had once been very poor, but with Wen De’s help, they had built a large yard, which cost over 400,000 yuan at the time.
Wen Xia looked at Liu Yan and Wei Yongcheng beside her, her eyes lowered. Wen De had been doing his best to take care of this family, so why couldn’t Liu Yan appreciate him more?
The group carried their things into the Liu family’s house and saw Wen Xia’s grandmother, Li Xiang, who was preparing food. Wen Xia sweetly called out, “Grandma.”
Li Xiang smiled when she saw her, quickly standing up. “Xia Xia.”
Liu Yan’s three siblings heard the noise and came running out, about ten people in total.
After chatting for a while, Li Xiang went into the kitchen to cook.
Wen Xia didn’t like to engage in pleasantries, so she squatted in the yard, texting Qin Mo on her phone. Just as she sent a message, her phone was snatched away.
It was Liu Yan’s third grandson, Liu An, who was 15 and a bit of a troublemaker. “Let me play with it.”
“Give it back to me.” Wen Xia scowled.
Liu An, being rebellious, took the phone and ran. Wen Xia chased after him, shouting, “Liu An! Give me back my phone!”
The ground in the countryside was uneven, and she tripped, falling and scraping her palm. Immediately, tears welled up in her eyes.
When Liu Yan saw this, she hurried over to help her up, worried. “Xia Xia, are you okay? Don’t chase him, let him play with it. I’ll give you my phone.”
It had always been like this—Wen Xia had to give in. Her tone wasn’t harsh, but it was firm. “Why should I give in? It’s my phone.”
Liu Yan seemed taken aback by Wen Xia’s words. She paused for a moment. “Xia Xia…”
Wen Xia got up and ran after Liu An, but she couldn’t find him anywhere.
Meanwhile, Qin Mo received a message from Wen Xia and returned her call. When no one picked up, he dialed several times before the call was finally answered. “Xia Xia,” he said.
“She’s dead,” the voice on the other end said before hanging up.
Qin Mo’s expression darkened immediately. He recognized the voice—it was Liu An’s. In the next second, he grabbed his car keys and rushed out.
At 7:30, when it was time for dinner, Liu An returned with the phone, but it was already damaged beyond repair and couldn’t be turned on.
Wen Xia was getting angry. She raised her hand and slapped him—something she had wanted to do in her previous life.
The children of the Liu family were just like this—if she didn’t give them what they wanted, they would destroy her things.
The slap echoed loudly, and everyone in the Liu family froze. Liu Yan hurriedly pulled Wen Xia aside. “Xia Xia.”
Liu An’s mother immediately scolded, “What do you think you’re doing, Wen Xia!” She moved to strike Wen Xia.
Wei Yongcheng quickly stepped in to block, and Liu Yan quickly apologized. “Second Aunt, Xia Xia didn’t mean it, please don’t be angry with her.”
“She didn’t mean it? She just slapped my son and bruised his face!” Liu An’s mother was relentless.
Liu Yan, wanting to smooth things over and also fearing her sister-in-law, said, “Xia Xia, apologize to Liu An, and I’ll buy you a new phone.”
Although Wen Xia had long grown indifferent to these kinds of things, she still felt wronged by this remark. In the past, Wen De would have defended her here.
“Why should I apologize? He broke my phone.”
She shot Liu Yan a glance before running out of the Liu family’s house.
