Chapter 98: Schadenfreude

"Teacher Gao, you can take Fang Rong to the health center, but we must follow the whole process to watch the examination. If he really was beaten badly, we have no problem paying the medical expenses!"

Su Qingyue changed the subject. "But regarding the schooling, except for Qingxi, all the other children have signed up for preschool. On what grounds are you not allowing our other children to come to school?"

"If Qingxi hitting someone is wrong and she's not allowed to study at your school, then I demand a thorough investigation of the truth and that Fang Rong, who deliberately bullied a classmate, also be expelled! Otherwise, I won't accept it!" Su Qingyue added indignantly.

Gao Ying hadn't expected Su Qingyue to be so difficult to deal with. She said impatiently, "Fine, let's go to the hospital for a check-up first!"

Widow Liu finally understood: this was just city people bullying village people for having no background.

"I don't accept it either! Teacher Gao, please call your principal! Let's investigate this matter clearly before talking about whether the children can attend school!"

Gao Ying said unpleasantly, "The principal has already finished work. Don't delay; I need to take Fang Rong to the hospital first. If anything happens to him, none of you combined could afford the compensation!"

"He just had a nosebleed, what could possibly happen!" Widow Liu rolled her eyes.

Su Qingyue turned her head and asked softly, "Qingxi, when you stopped Fang Rong from hitting people, did any other classmates see it?"

Su Qingxi looked toward the door. The few classmates standing at the door and in the hallway had clearly seen Fang Rong push Jiang Rong to the ground first, but they hadn't said a word just now.

She knew she couldn't count on those classmates.

"At that time, there was also a thin, tall boy carrying a red notebook who passed by me and whispered to me, 'Don't meddle in other people's business,' but that boy is gone now."

Gao Ying frowned. Su Qingxi must be talking about Zhang Haoyang, who didn't study well and spent his days writing and drawing in a red notebook.

Zhang Haoyang was the son of Zhang Dongfeng, the leader of the Hongqi Supply and Marketing Cooperative where her sister-in-law worked, and he was very slick for his age.

Fang Rong was the young master of Fang Youcai, the president of the Shengli Supply and Marketing Cooperative. Fang Youcai was also her cousin-in-law, and her rapid promotion over the past two years was largely thanks to his secret help.

It would be better to have her sister-in-law help bridge the gap and have Zhang Haoyang testify for young master Fang, confirming the fact that Su Qingyue's sister had started a fight. That way, the Fang family would be satisfied, and she could drive Su Qingyue and her group of poor children out of the school.

Gao Ying finished her thoughts and said to Su Qingyue, "You come with me to the hospital for Fang Rong's check-up. I'll have a teacher find that classmate, and we'll know once we ask tomorrow during class."

Su Qingyue saw that it was getting late. "Captain Xiang, you and Sister Liu take the children back first. Don't worry, A Ye and I will handle it!"

The children were all hungry, so Xiang Jianming and Widow Liu took them to catch the bus.

Pei Huaiye squatted down and spoke to Jiang Rong. "Don't cry. Is your dad Lao Jiang? Jiang Chao?"

Jiang Rong widened his eyes and nodded timidly.

Pei Huaiye patted the child's head. He stood up and pulled Su Qingyue to the side. "You and Qingxi go to the health center first and take Jiang Rong for a full body check-up."

"I'll go find his father and will be there shortly. I'll take Zhuangzhuang; you just keep an eye on Qingxi."

"Alright, see you at the health center later!"

Su Qianqian, having finished watching the good show, had long since returned to the village humming a tune.

Liu Chunxing and her husband had just finished making tofu, and she and several women like Wang Juqin were talking about the children's schooling.

"The Qingshan Team has a grudge against our village. If we send the kids there to study, I'm afraid they'll be bullied. If we don't send them, the kids' education will be delayed."

Wang Juqin frowned. "Exactly. Gousheng is already eight. We aren't like the Su family or Captain Xiang's family, who have money to send their kids to the county town to study."

Liu Chunxing's parents-in-law were in poor health and needed medicine all year round. She and Chen Min couldn't save any money; after household expenses and medical costs, there was nothing left.

Su Qianqian pricked up her ears and listened, then quickly walked over to interject. "Sister Wang, Sister Liu, you don't know yet, do you? Su Qingxi beat a city kid until they had a nosebleed at Yucai School today. The teacher there won't let them go to school."

"Really?" Liu Chunxing was only worried, but Wang Juqin began to gloat. "Then what will the two Su kids do about school?"

"I don't know. It seems they have to apologize to the city people and pay medical expenses. They should still be at the health center now. Not only that, but because Su Qingxi started a fight, the Xiang family's and Widow Liu's children can't study in the city either."

Su Qianqian said with a pained expression, "Qingyue really did a bad thing with good intentions this time." After saying this, she smiled and went home.

Wang Juqin continued to kick them while they were down. "I have to say, Su Qingyue really knows how to stir up trouble. If it weren't for her, our village kids could have studied at the Qingshan Team."

Liu Chunxing was unhappy. "Juqin, didn't you earn money making bean sprouts? Didn't you earn money selling vegetables? You need a conscience. Su Qingyue went to the Qingshan Team to find cooperation for the benefit of the brigade. If they don't cooperate, what can Qingyue do?!"

"If our village kids get bullied when they go there, it just means our village people don't have the ability to protect them or build a school!"

"If you want your kids to study sooner, just make bean sprouts well and earn more money. Yucai isn't the only school in the county; you can send your kids to other schools."

Liu Chunxing shook her head and turned to leave. Wang Juqin's eldest daughter had once caused such a scene with Pei Huaiye, and Su Qingyue had let bygones be bygones and let her make bean sprouts, yet she was talking about her like this behind her back.

Wang Juqin stood frozen in place, her face flushed with shame.

Widow Liu and Xiang Jianming brought the children back to the village, all of them dejected.

It was dinner time, and everyone was holding their bowls at their doors, asking, "Did Su Qingxi get into a fight with the city students?"

Some were worried, some were gloating.

"Widow Liu, we were just saying how envious we were that you could send three kids to school. You can't go anymore?"

"Why not send them to the neighboring village? It's closer."

"Don't send Liu Nian; girls studying is just for other people's families!"

Widow Liu raised her eyebrows. "Eat your food, Auntie. The thin rice soup in your bowl is already cold. Don't trouble yourselves with our affairs!"

The villagers had a strong prejudice against Widow Liu, and some looked at her with ill intent, gossiping.

Xiang Jianming waved his hand irritably. "Go, all of you go eat. Don't wag your tongues; this matter is still under investigation."

Xiang Jianming's wife, Du Ruoying, had also heard the rumors. Seeing Xiang Jianming return, she asked anxiously, "What's going on? Can the kids really not study?"

Their family had prepared new school bags, bought clothes for their grandsons, and even gave Su Qingyue eggs to help teach them how to introduce themselves, all for the sake of their two grandsons' schooling.

Xiang Xiaole walked over calmly and held his grandmother's hand. "Grandma, Auntie, Mom, don't listen to what people outside are saying. Sister Qingxi was acting righteously."

Xiang Jianming's tightly furrowed brow relaxed instantly. He didn't know who Xiang Xiaole took after in their family, but he was as smart as a little adult.

"Alright, let's all eat. I'll go ask about the situation when Qingyue gets back." ===== CHAPTER 99 =====