Chapter 445: The Old Wu Family

At the sight of her father coming out, Gui Yun, who had just touched her clothes, wanted to go back to the room, but Lu Cheng held her.

"Don't be afraid; today I'll fully fight for your right to freedom."

Upon hearing "freedom," Gui Yun was instantly moved; since returning to Hui Cheng, she has long forgotten what freedom is.

Every day she just stays in the house studying, studying, still studying, and doesn't even know what time the sun rises or sets.

"Teacher Wu, I'm not trying to fool Sister Gui Yun; you, being a teacher yourself, should understand the balance of work and rest better than anyone."

Wu Guiwen hummed and said, "Her foundation is too weak, so she must exert ten or a hundred times the effort of others; the hard sweat now is just sowing seeds for a future harvest—that's what we call reaping what you sow."

Lu Cheng, wanting to argue, said, "There's nothing wrong with studying hard, but one should also learn other things appropriately. From what I see, Sister Gui Yun spends every day hunched over language and math; politics is also a required subject. Ask Sister Gui Yun which month the th 3rd Plenary Session is convened."

Wu Guiwen was stunned for a moment, and at that moment Gui Yun shook her head.

"You see, she doesn't even know this most basic political knowledge; when the Plenary Session convenes, she won't know what policies are announced, let alone how she'll take the exams next year."

It sounds somewhat reasonable, but buying newspapers costs money.

Wu Guiwen hesitated briefly and said, "Political material is easy to supplement; I'll go to Hu Tong Li to see which household has old newspapers, get a few, and then we can just read them daily."

Truly a tightfisted goose; they don't even buy ready-made newspapers.

Lu Cheng sighed, "The stuff in newspapers is also one‑sided; policies change daily now, what good is that old newspaper?"

If you want to learn political knowledge and keep up with policies in real time, you still have to watch the News Broadcast. You say your household has a television, but leaving it on all the time just wastes it.

The News Broadcast officially premiered on January 1st of this year, starting at 7 a. m. daily, lasting twenty minutes.

Wu Guiwen has always wanted to watch it, but several times held back; even if the neighbors scolded him, to avoid disturbing his daughter's studies, he endured the pressure and firmly refused to turn on the television.

But today, hearing Lu Cheng's reminder, he couldn't help but waver.

After hesitating for a while, he resolved, "Hmm, what you say has some merit; we should watch the News Broadcast to learn, so I'll allow twenty minutes of viewing each day."

Hearing this, Gui Yun, who was washing clothes, almost jumped up.

Now she could rest twenty minutes daily and even watch the television—she felt incredibly happy.

She guessed that once this news spread to Hu Tong Li, everyone would be delighted.

It's one thing not to have a television, but Hu Tong Li clearly has one yet can't watch it—that's pure torment.

She glanced again at Lu Cheng, her eyes filled with excitement and gratitude.

Lu Cheng still hit the nail on the head; a few words made her father step back.

Although Gui Yun was very excited, Lu Cheng remained unsatisfied.

"Teacher Wu, twenty minutes of rest per day is still too little; frankly, those twenty minutes are still spent studying…"

Gui Yun tugged at Lu Cheng, "That's enough, that's enough; twenty minutes is more than enough for me."

Usually she doesn't even have those twenty minutes, so being able to watch the television makes Gui Yun already content.

She knows that giving her father these twenty minutes is already the limit; it can't be any more.

Lu Cheng patted her arm, telling Gui Yun to continue washing clothes and not waste time.

Wu Guiwen this time resolutely refused to back down: "Twenty minutes is plenty, and it's watching television; if you call that learning, it also counts as relaxation. We must persist—endure the bitterest hardships to become superior."

Lu Cheng knew that in this regard Wu Guiwen was too stubborn; winning the argument was basically impossible.

So Lu Cheng changed his line of reasoning.

"Teacher Wu, there's nothing wrong with enduring hardship, but one must rest more when needed; only with a healthy body can study become twice the result with half the effort…"

Seeing Wu Guiwen about to argue, Lu Cheng gave them no chance and said directly.

"Look at Sister Gui Yun's condition each day—dazed and confused, almost becoming a lunatic. And her hair—how many days hasn't she washed it? She doesn't look like a young lady at all."

"What's wrong with the hair…"

"Not washing hair isn't a big deal, but her mental state is off. I'm not trying to scare you, Teacher Wu; if you keep pressuring her, the stress could drive her to suicide, and then you'll regret it."

Wu Guiwen wasn't scared at all; instead he laughed, "Ah, you're just spouting nonsense. The policies are fine now, the college entrance exam has been restored; many people want to study but lack the conditions. I've never seen anyone forced to suicide by study."

Unlike later times, back then students didn't constantly jump off buildings to kill themselves because of study pressure.

Now that situation truly doesn't exist.

Lu Cheng could only give Gui Yun a look; Gui Yun didn't get it at first, until Lu Cheng made a choking gesture, and Gui Yun finally understood.

She immediately let out a "wah" and began to sob dryly.

"Dad, the pressure is really too much, I don't want to live anymore, I, I…"

Gui Yun saw the pants in the basin, took them out and hung them on the drying line, saying, "In this life I have failed you, I am an unfilial daughter…"

Wu Guiwen was instantly stunned; his daughter had always been obedient, never defiant, so what kind of scene was this today?

"You, what are you doing?"

Gui Yun was tying the pants into a knot, and Lu Cheng, adding fuel to the fire, said, "Teacher Wu, you still don't get it—Sister Gui Yun can't bear the pressure; she's about to hang herself."

Wu Guiwen, flustered, spread his hands, "I can't see it, it's because you pushed her, my daughter is so well‑behaved."

"Hey Teacher Wu, don't blame me; this is a homicide case, I can't take responsibility!"

"You should pull her down then, why are you just standing there watching…"

"Oh, I wouldn't dare to pull her, lest you blame me."

Wu Guiwen suddenly jumped up in agitation, and Wu Dama also came out; seeing her daughter stretching her neck to hang herself, they both burst into frantic tears.

"Gui Yun, don't be foolish, come down quickly."

Seeing her mother crying desperately, Gui Yun hesitated a moment and glanced at Lu Cheng.

Lu Cheng still gave her a look, meaning to hold on; today was a good chance, since the whole scheme was in place, it couldn't be wasted.

To gain more free time each day, Gui Yun resolutely said, "Mother, I am an unfilial daughter; I can't achieve good grades, I have let my father's upbringing down, I truly have no face to stay any longer; I'll only be able to repay you in the next life…"

"No, no, Gui Yun, listen to mother, come down quickly, you mustn't do anything foolish!" Wu Dama, unable to pull her daughter down, immediately shouted at Wu Guiwen.

"Hey, at least say something; you're driving our daughter to death…"

Wu Guiwen remained unmoved; although he was anxious inside, he absolutely did not believe his daughter would dare to commit suicide.

Lu Cheng saw that this wouldn't work, thought the success would be decided today, and grabbed the washbasin.

While clanging in the courtyard, he strained his throat and shouted, "Come out quickly, Old Wu's daughter is about to hang herself, come watch the fun…"