Chapter 10: What Right Do You Have to Come and Go as You Please
Chen Song and Fang Zixin started arguing after just a few exchanges. The two became hostile, trading verbal blows back and forth. The teachers in the office, seeing the situation deteriorating, rushed over to mediate.
“Come on now, can’t we discuss this calmly without fighting?” “Please, both of you say less.” “You’re both teaching the same grade, don’t ruin the harmony.” “That’s right, keep the peace, just say less.”
Chen Song threw down a final jab: “With your Class 17’s terrible grades, you think I’d want to teach them?”
The office teachers exchanged uncomfortable glances, not knowing what to say, words of comfort stuck in their throats.
Fang Zixin got angry too: “I’ll apply to the school to change English teachers.”
“Good! I can’t stand teaching a class like this for even one day. If anyone in your class can make it into the top ten, I’ll apologize in front of everyone. Mark my words.”
…
News of Fang Zixin and Chen Song’s fight spread quickly. Yang Shikun clicked his tongue: “Chen Song’s words were harsh, but it’s true. Our class grades are really bad. We can’t even get anyone into the top hundred in exams, let alone the top ten.”
Hao Ming sighed in response: “He was too harsh with Teacher Fang, but there’s nothing we can do about it.”
Yang Shikun looked at Xu Si, who was playing a matching game: “Si-ge, what do you think?”
“Don’t know.”
Jiang Qiang heard their conversation and paused her writing for a moment before continuing with her math problems.
The class atmosphere was gloomy. They liked Teacher Fang and wanted to stand up for him, but their abilities didn’t allow it.
At noon.
“Si-ge, Si-ge, there’s a new restaurant that opened on the back street. Want to go eat?” Hao Ming asked Xu Si.
Xu Si grunted in agreement.
Yang Shikun’s eyes lit up: “Let’s go, let’s go! I heard it’s really good.”
The new shop served stir-fry dishes. It was crowded, and the three found a corner to sit.
“Si-ge, what do you want to eat?” Yang Shikun asked, looking at the menu.
“Anything is fine.”
“Boss lady, we’ll have sweet and sour ribs, carrot and wood ear mushroom with eggs, tomato and egg stir-fry, three delicacies tofu soup, and five bowls of rice.”
As Yang Shikun was about to order more, Hao Ming reminded him: “Stop ordering, how much are you planning to eat?”
Yang Shikun asked Xu Si: “Si-ge, anything specific you want?”
“No, this is enough.” Xu Si tossed his phone on the table.
“Hey, Si-ge, your phone lit up. Looks like someone’s calling.”
Xu Si picked it up, saw it was an unknown number, and rejected it. The phone flashed again.
Xu Si looked at it and rejected it again.
“Wow, they’re persistent. Could it be someone you know? Si-ge, are you sure you don’t want to answer it?”
Xu Si watched the phone continue to ring and told them: “You guys eat first, I’ll go take this call.”
He walked outside and answered: “Hello?”
“Xiao Si.” It was a woman’s voice. Xu Si checked the number again, confirming it wasn’t saved in his contacts. He replied coldly: “Who are you? What do you want?”
“I’m your mother, Xiao Si. Can we meet? Just for a meal and to talk. I haven’t seen you in so many years. I want to see how you look now. I’ve missed you so much all these years.”
Xu Si was silent for a moment, then laughed mockingly: “No need. Don’t disturb my life.”
There was a brief silence on the other end, seeming hesitant to speak. Xu Si hung up.
He put his phone away and went back inside, telling the others: “I’ve paid the bill. You eat, I’m not eating.”
“Hey, Si-ge!” Hao Ming and Yang Shikun exchanged glances, not knowing what happened, but judging by Xu Si’s expression, it wasn’t a good call. They didn’t dare follow him – when Xu Si was angry, he preferred to be alone and didn’t like being disturbed.
Even though they’d known Xu Si for several years, they only knew he had a father who was rarely home.
“Boss, besides the dishes just now, make another portion to go.”
Hao Ming looked at the five bowls of rice in front of them: “Why didn’t you ask for fewer bowls of rice earlier? Can just the two of us finish this?”
Yang Shikun: “It’s just five bowls of rice, who are you looking down on?”
“Hope you can keep that attitude later.”
Yang Shikun: “I’ve always been tough, okay?”
There was one last piece of rib left in the dish. Just as Yang Shikun was about to take it, Hao Ming snatched it.
“Damn you, Hao Ming, that last rib was mine!”
Hao Ming: “Want the bone?”
“You’re disgusting.”
Yang Shikun finished the last grain of rice in his bowl and rubbed his stomach: “Damn, I’ve never been this full in my life. Feel like rice will come out if I talk.”
“Don’t get too close to me. If you throw up on me, I’ll kill you.”
After Hao Ming said this, Yang Shikun suddenly leaned close to him and made a retching sound.
“Damn you, Yang dog, you’re really disgusting!”
“I won’t throw up the food I worked so hard to eat. The farmers worked too hard for this.”
Hao Ming was speechless: “You just ate too much, stop making excuses.”
“Get lost!”
Yang Shikun took the takeaway food from the boss: “Wonder if Si-ge is in class or not.”
Hao Ming: “It’s fine, take it back first. If Si-ge isn’t there, you can eat it anyway.”
“You really think I’m a pig?”
“Aren’t you?”
…
Xu Si dialed a number, and after a brief pause, it connected.
“Did you give her my number?”
Xu Hengyu tapped his fingers on the table a few times and took a sip of coffee: “Your mother really misses you.”
“Misses me? Don’t forget she was the one who abandoned us both. I’m not some object she can want or throw away as she pleases. I’m a person.”
Xu Hengyu paused, then spoke: “It was my fault back then. I wasn’t capable enough to keep her. Don’t blame your mother.”
Xu Si spoke mockingly: “If you want to see her, go yourself. Don’t drag me into it.”
“She really misses you.”
“Tch, now you’re saying this. How laughable. Tell her I don’t miss her, and don’t let her message me again.”
Xu Si hung up.
Xu Hengyu was still the same as before – as soon as she beckoned, he would rush over eagerly. In Xu Hengyu’s eyes, there was only her, no room for anyone else, not even his own son.
He clenched his fist, not even noticing when his nails dug into his flesh.
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