Chapter 37: Telegram

“Why wouldn’t Teacher Lin teach us next semester?” Junzi instinctively retorted.

The boy, who was usually quite honest, shrank back immediately. “Maybe I was wrong.”

However, the previously cheerful atmosphere had cooled down. Everyone suddenly remembered that Lin Qiao was only substituting for their regular chemistry teacher, Teacher Jiao.

With the end of the term approaching, it meant summer vacation, and by the time school started in the fall, Teacher Jiao’s leg would likely be healed.

Although Lin Qiao hadn’t taught them for long, not even two full months, the sudden realization that she might leave left everyone feeling empty.

Lin Qiao introduced them to a new possibility, making the once-dull chemistry subject exciting and engaging. Rather than just teaching, she guided them, making them lose track of time during her classes.

Moreover, Lin Qiao was their acting homeroom teacher, making them feel closer to her compared to Class Three, especially after she insisted on clearing Li Xiaoqiu’s name.

“We don’t even know who Teacher Lin will teach next semester,” Junzi said, already feeling a pang of jealousy.

Qi Huaiwen remained silent, his face cold. He twirled his pen in his hand, but it soon fell onto the desk.

“Can I get my copy of ‘A Girl’s Heart’ back?” The boy in front tried to lighten the mood. Unfortunately, it didn’t work. He laughed a few times, but no one else did. Everyone looked a bit down. They didn’t want Lin Qiao to leave, but they knew that Teacher Jiao was their actual homeroom teacher. They couldn’t wish for Teacher Jiao not to recover just because they didn’t want Lin Qiao to go.

Feeling dejected, someone poked their notebook with a pen. “If Teacher Lin is leaving, why should we keep studying?”

“Why not study? Teacher Lin has prepared all the materials.” Junzi quickly regained his spirit, rolling up his nonexistent sleeves. “I was going to hold back, but now I’ll show you my true strength.”

The others wanted to tease him, but then they thought they might never get the chance if they didn’t show Teacher Lin now.

“Study, study.” The two boys in front turned back. “I haven’t even memorized those chemical formulas yet.”

Motivating students is often a matter of striking while the iron is hot. Lin Qiao’s previous success was due to the short time frame. This time, the gap was too long, and some students had lost their momentum. That’s why she mentioned the final exam rewards again. Unexpectedly, the real motivation for the students to strive for good grades was her imminent departure.

That evening, Junzi returned home with not only copied notes but also previous assignments and exams, and a collection of mistakes organized by Li Xiaoqiu.

Afraid of getting distracted, he wrote on a piece of paper: “I must pass this time!” He stuck it on the wall and door in front of his desk and went to find Commander Liang. “Dad, keep an eye on me. If I fall asleep before 9:30, use the belt on me.”

Commander Liang, more tired than him, was already dozing off by the fan. He didn’t respond for a while.

Commander Liang’s wife, however, reacted. “What’s gotten into you now?”

“You don’t understand.” Junzi, with his newly deepened voice, looked serious. “I must pass this time. It’s do or die.”

He turned and went back to his room, leaving Commander Liang’s wife puzzled. “What does ‘do or die’ mean?”

Commander Liang, still half-asleep, mumbled, “It means if he doesn’t succeed, he’ll die…”

“What? He wants to die!” Commander Liang’s wife jumped up and rushed to their son’s room.

Commander Liang finally woke up. “It’s just a figure of speech. Why are you so excited?”

The next day, Vice Principal Qi had evening self-study duty. As usual, he walked around the hallway to check on the entire grade. To his surprise, Class Four had the highest attendance.

This used to be the troublemaker class, where empty seats were common. He couldn’t help but count again, and it was still the most in the grade. Looking through the back door, even the troublemakers in the back row were scratching their heads over chemistry.

Little Gao was in trouble this time; he smiled, shook his head, and then returned to class.

On exam day, Lin Qiao arrived early to remind the students to check their supplies and wished them well for the last exam.

“You’ve reviewed everything you needed to. Stay relaxed. If you can’t, just think about the upcoming summer vacation. No more me with a little whip urging you to study.” Her humorous words made the students laugh, but then they fell silent again.

“Don’t feel pressured.” Lin Qiao clapped her hands. “I’ve prepared all the materials. Even if you don’t do well, they won’t give me a refund.”

This made the students laugh again, and they perked up. “We’ll definitely do well this time!”

The whole class shouted, especially the troublemakers in the back row, louder than anyone. The noise reached the hallway, where Teacher Bi from Class Five, just leaving her classroom, couldn’t help but step back. “What’s going on? Are they going to an exam or a battle?”

After the exam, the school was completely empty, with only the teachers left in the office, enduring the summer heat to grade papers.

Lin Qiao bought a big bag of ice cream and popsicles. “Everyone, have one to cool down. We’ll grade the papers later. No one’s rushing us for results this time.”

Hearing this, Group Leader Gao remembered how, after the last monthly test, students from Classes Three and Four took turns finding excuses to ask for news. He smiled and took one. “Then I won’t be polite.”

“No need to be polite,” Lin Qiao said with a smile, handing out more. “You might not get another chance next time.”

This made everyone look at her, especially Group Leader Gao, who directly asked Vice Principal Qi, who was grading papers nearby, “Is she leaving?”

“Not sure yet,” Vice Principal Qi replied. “But with her skills, she can teach well anywhere. No need to worry.”

“That’s true,” Group Leader Gao said, biting into his popsicle. “I’m afraid she’ll surpass us this time.”

At that moment, another physics teacher exclaimed, “Which class is this? Perfect score in physics.” He quickly checked the sealed exam paper.

“Really?” Vice Principal Qi, who wasn’t eating a popsicle and was still grading, couldn’t ignore this.

Other subject teachers also looked over. Soon, the name on the exam paper was revealed. “Qiu… Xiao Qiu… Is it Li Xiaoqiu from your class, Lin?”

Lin Qiao didn’t know, so she came over to check. “Looks like her handwriting.”

“Not bad at all. How long has it been since our school had a perfect score in physics?” the physics teacher asked Vice Principal Qi.

“The last one was Wu Haiyang,” Vice Principal Qi remembered clearly.

“All taught by you,” the physics teacher sighed, then asked Lin Qiao, “I remember Li Xiaoqiu is also good at chemistry.”

“She’s good at all sciences, but her Chinese and English are a bit weak.”

The chemistry papers had just been graded, and they were preparing to tally the scores. Group Leader Gao took one, biting his popsicle as he opened it. “Let’s see hers first.”

Soon, Li Xiaoqiu’s paper was pulled out—94 points. It didn’t seem high, but with class averages around 60, scoring over 90 was rare.

Vice Principal Qi couldn’t help but say, “Two subjects, 194 points. She’s a promising science student.”

As soon as he spoke, Lin Qiao thought of Qi Huaiwen and was about to look for his paper when Group Leader Gao had already found it. After calculating the score, it was 87. “Your class’s chemistry has improved quite quickly. I remember he barely passed midterms and didn’t even score 80 last time.”

Class Four’s progress in chemistry was not just quick; it was almost terrifying. This time, Class Three didn’t surpass Group Leader Gao’s Class One, and Class Four surpassed Class Three.

This was the class with the lowest grades in the entire grade. Even Lin Qiao joked, “After all, our class has a lot of room for improvement.”

Even if they only surpassed by a little, when the results came out, Class Four couldn’t believe it. After the initial shock, they cheered and then ran to thank Li Xiaoqiu. “You’re amazing. You got the last big question right!” Then they collectively went to thank Lin Qiao.

Lin Qiao was caught off guard and was hugged by a bold girl, then another, leaving her both amused and exasperated. “Let me tell you what to bring tomorrow. Bring everything, and we’ll do the experiment.”

She had prepared the materials, but they had to bring their own basins from home.

Seeing someone hug Lin Qiao, the students started to make a fuss. Another person went up to hug her before sitting back down to listen seriously.

However, Lin Qiao didn’t expect that the next day, as soon as she arrived at school, Li Xiaoqiu handed her a wad of small bills.

At that time, Junzi was with her, along with two other boys from the class, helping her carry various materials. After putting down the items, the boys were fanning themselves with their shirts when Li Xiaoqiu was pushed forward. “Um, Teacher Lin… we can’t let you pay for this experiment.”

The girl blushed as she spoke, but her eyes were bright. “This is what we collected from both classes. We don’t know if it’s enough.”

It was indeed a thick wad, all small bills, some crumpled, but carefully organized. It was the heartfelt contribution of over a hundred students from both classes.

Lin Qiao once again felt that bittersweet sensation, looking at the young faces below, momentarily speechless.

“Teacher, please don’t refuse,” the chemistry class representative from Class Three, who was more talkative, immediately said with a smile. “We didn’t keep track of who paid how much when we collected the money, so no one knows.”

This was indeed a bit cheeky, and Lin Qiao, holding the money, found herself unable to refuse.

At that moment, she noticed the second-year students taking graduation photos on the playground and had an idea. “Wait for me.”

She quickly returned. “I won’t take this money. But I’ve talked to the photographer, and we’ll use it to take a group photo for both classes.”

That morning, the students went home with their handmade soap, which hadn’t yet been unmolded. The remaining steps were simple, and Lin Qiao told them to finish at home.

Seeing what Junzi brought back, Commander Liang’s wife couldn’t believe it. “Is this how soap is made?”

Junzi, afraid she would ruin it, quickly took it back. “Of course, our Teacher Lin can do anything.” He hugged it protectively and said, “This box has four pieces. When it’s done, I’ll give one to Teacher Lin with my name on it.”

“Does your teacher need your soap?” Commander Liang’s wife was speechless.

Junzi, however, was uncharacteristically downcast. “Teacher Lin won’t be teaching us next semester. I’m afraid she’ll forget me.”

“What? Teacher Lin won’t be teaching you next semester?” Commander Liang’s wife reacted even more strongly than Commander Liang. “Why won’t she teach you?”

Commander Liang couldn’t help but interject, “Teacher Lin was only substituting for them. Besides, didn’t you dislike her?”

“Who said I disliked her?” Commander Liang’s wife stammered. “I just didn’t understand her and thought she couldn’t manage a household. Who knew she was so busy?”

When she didn’t have a job, not cooking meant she couldn’t manage a household. When she did her job well and didn’t cook, it was because she was busy…

Commander Liang didn’t want to say anything to his wife, but he did feel a bit regretful that Lin Qiao wouldn’t be teaching Junzi anymore. After all, Junzi’s grades had been improving day by day, and he even passed chemistry this term. Although his progress in other subjects wasn’t as significant, it was still better than before.

The students had to wait until the new term to get their photos, but Lin Qiao received hers as soon as they were developed—two in total.

Because there were too many people, one photo couldn’t fit everyone, so she took separate group photos with each class and placed them on her desk.

When Ji Duo came home and saw them, he looked at the photos with his hands behind his back. “The students graduated?”

Lately, this man had been leaving early and coming home late, sometimes not even being home on Sundays. It was unclear whether he was busy with military matters or his own affairs. He had gotten tanned, and his speech had taken on a more authoritative tone. Once, he even forgot and called her, “Xiao Cui, get me a glass of water.”

Lin Qiao went to get it for him, and he took it without looking up, drank it, and continued working.

That night, as they were getting ready for bed, she asked him leisurely, “When did I change my surname to Cui?” The man was confused for two seconds. “Xiao Cui is my subordinate.”

Today, he came home early, so Lin Qiao asked, “Your friend’s first batch of liquid soap should be ready to sell, right?”

Ji Duo had no idea. He couldn’t chase after his nephew every day to ask. He pointed to the classes in the photos. “Class Four, Class Three?”

It seemed he didn’t want to say much, so Lin Qiao didn’t press further. She trusted he wouldn’t cheat her out of her share, and she had kept a backup plan anyway.

She smiled. “It’s not the students graduating; it’s me.” Thinking of Xu Li, who was also a teacher, she asked, “There must be a lot of these photos at home, right?”

“Yes, about a dozen.” Ji Duo wasn’t busy today. After sitting down, he didn’t rush to read or go through documents.

Lin Qiao turned and sat on the desk. “I remember our mom was born in ’21. There weren’t many women studying back then, right?”

She had always been curious. Many women in the village of Xu Li’s age still had bound feet, let alone literacy. Yet Xu Li could teach middle school, indicating a high level of education.

As she sat sideways, her long legs had nowhere to rest, so she dangled her shoes, revealing a few delicate curves due to her new underwear.

Ji Duo didn’t say anything, but he reached out to pull her skirt down until it covered her knees. Lin Qiao hadn’t noticed, as the dress made by Xu Li before their wedding wasn’t short. Besides, they were at home, just the two of them. He was worried about others seeing, but there were only female mosquitoes to suck blood, probably not even male mosquitoes.

It was hot, so Lin Qiao instinctively moved away. She heard Ji Duo say, “Our mom’s family started the first girls’ school in her hometown.”

This surprised her. “Was our mom’s family that influential?”

“Not bad. They were well-known locally. Later, they donated all their property and joined the revolution.”

When they married, no one from Xu Li’s family attended, and she never mentioned them. Given her family’s background, why did she marry the old man? Despite his excellence, he was a widower, nearly ten years older, with a son from his previous marriage.

Ji Duo seemed to know what she was thinking. “When our dad met our mom, her family was gone. She was left with the students from the girls’ school, helping care for the wounded.”

In those days, it was normal for a few people to survive. Xu Li, always approachable and without a temper, turned out to have the best background. And she didn’t care much about her background, unlike Ye Minshu, who almost used it as the sole measure of a person. Once she crossed the class barrier, she defended it more fiercely than those born into it, revealing her lack of confidence.

Lin Qiao felt a bit emotional, then looked down to see Ji Duo pulling her skirt again. This time, she was speechless and kicked his leg. “Why don’t you mind my short clothes when we sleep?”

Ji Duo just frowned. “How long do you want to wear to sleep?”

After spending more time together, Lin Qiao realized that this seemingly quiet man could occasionally say things that left her speechless.

And “How long do you want to wear to sleep?”—wasn’t that a bit suggestive?

Lin Qiao simply turned around and placed her bare feet on the man’s knees. “Go ahead and pull, it’s closer this time.”

It was indeed closer, but her knees were bent, and the hem of her skirt hung down, revealing glimpses of her pretty knee hollows. Her slender legs were now just inches away from the man, and with a slight glance down, he could see the pale skin against his dark green military pants.

Ji Duo turned his head slightly and leaned back into the chair. “Are you sure?”

“Go ahead,” Lin Qiao lifted one side of her skirt.

The old cadre pretended to be proper, but he wasn’t. He even fussed about her wearing a skirt at home. Lin Qiao wanted to see how long he could keep this up and deliberately stepped on his knee.

At that step, Ji Duo’s large hand moved, but not towards her skirt. Feeling the heat on her ankle, Lin Qiao hadn’t yet reacted when her body lost balance, and she was pulled off the desk.

Startled, she instinctively grabbed the edge of the desk but was already caught in his arms.

Ji Duo remained in his relaxed position, making it seem like she had thrown herself into his embrace. He swiftly pulled and pressed her skirt, and in the next second, the fluffy skirt was neatly arranged on her.

Such strength and precise control—did the country know he used his training results for this?

Moreover, with his arm under her hips, the position oddly reminded Lin Qiao of holding a child. She propped her hands on his shoulders and couldn’t help but move. Her leg was immediately patted, not too lightly, not too heavily. “Behave.”

His voice was deep yet inexplicably seductive. He tilted his chin, his cold eyes sweeping over her, even carrying a hint of command. This was quite lethal, and military uniforms really could make one think of many things.

At least Lin Qiao’s friend, who loves reading novels, could immediately imagine a 100,000-word erotic story with combat gloves, handguns, and being tied up…

Lin Qiao didn’t move but seriously asked, “Why don’t you keep your uniform on next time we sleep? I don’t mind it.”

Almost as soon as she finished speaking, the arm around her tightened. The man clearly understood. But just then, someone shouted from the courtyard downstairs, “Comrade Lin Qiao, you have a telegram!”

“A telegram for me?” Lin Qiao immediately forgot about the uniform. She had almost no relatives in this world, so if the Ji family needed her, they wouldn’t send a telegram. It could only be from Liu Yulan.

And if it wasn’t urgent, Liu Yulan could have written a letter. Lin Qiao jumped up to get her stamp from the drawer. “Wait a moment!” She rushed downstairs.

Ji Duo quickly followed and saw Lin Qiao stamping and taking the telegram. Her expression changed.

“What happened?” he asked in a deep voice.

“My cousin is missing.” Lin Qiao frowned and handed him the telegram with only four words: “Lin Wei missing.”

This was so abrupt that Lin Qiao couldn’t make sense of it. However, since Liu Yulan sent a telegram specifically to inform her, it was likely true and urgent.

Ji Duo immediately folded the telegram. “Come with me.” He asked, “Do you know the phone number for your hometown?”

It was already afternoon. Sending a telegram back would take at least until tomorrow to arrive. And telegrams charged by the word, making it hard to explain. However, there was only one phone in the village, located in the village committee office, usually used for important notifications. Villagers rarely had access to it. Moreover, the telegram was from Liu Yulan, so they needed to ask her, and Lin Qiao had never been to Liu Yulan’s village.

“I’ll find someone to help you check.” The couple left and headed to the military camp.

Commander Liang’s wife returned from buying groceries and saw them. “What’s the hurry?”

“To make a phone call,” Ji Duo nodded at her and was about to leave when she stopped him. “We have a phone at home. Why go out?”

Ji Duo didn’t want to trouble her because they needed to check numbers and might have to make several calls. It was more convenient in his office. But Commander Liang’s wife put down her basket. “Junzi, help Teacher Lin make a call!” She then asked them, “Who are you calling?”

It was hard to refuse, so Ji Duo took the phone and quickly dialed a number. With the address and the exact village name, finding the phone number wasn’t particularly difficult; it was just time-consuming.

Lin Qiao didn’t waste words. After confirming with the village secretary that she had the right number, she said, “Please help me find Comrade Liu Yulan.”

After more than ten minutes, Liu Yulan’s hesitant voice came through the phone, “Hello?”

“Mom, it’s Lin Qiao.” Lin Qiao identified herself and got straight to the point. “I just received your telegram. Did something happen at home?”

In those days, anonymous letters could still be sent, and although others shouldn’t know her address, Lin Qiao asked cautiously.

Sure enough, the telegram was from Liu Yulan. “Dawei is missing. He’s been gone for two or three days. Didn’t he come to find you?”

“Did he say he was coming to Yandu to find me?” Lin Qiao didn’t remember giving Lin Wei her address.

Liu Yulan was stunned and became more worried. “You didn’t give him your address? Then where did he go?”

“Mom, don’t panic.” Lin Qiao had to stay calm. “First, tell me who told you this news.”

“Your uncle and aunt. They came to me last night, saying Dawei was missing and must have gone to find you. They asked for your address.”

“Did you give it to them?”

“No, I checked around first and heard Dawei was indeed missing, so I sent you the telegram.”

Good, she didn’t give it. Liu Yulan was gentle but not foolish.

Lin Qiao thought for a moment, then reassured Liu Yulan and handed the phone to Ji Duo. “Can you call Shahe Village and say it’s about investigating Lin Wei’s disappearance?”

She needed to understand the situation before deciding the next steps.