Chapter 45: Helping Out

Lin Qiao saw Song Jing a few days ago. She is currently interning with the first-year high school students. However, Lin Qiao has been busy and hasn’t interacted much with her. In their few encounters, Song Jing didn’t seem as friendly as before, perhaps noticing Lin Qiao’s attitude.

Now, hearing Ji Ze mention her, with a hint of worry in his tone, Lin Qiao, as an elder, asked a question, which unexpectedly stumped Ji Ze.

Ji Ze was quite confused, especially after hearing Lin Qiao’s calm “Hmm.”

He was doing business, and his mother must not find out about it. Otherwise, with the current scale, his mother would definitely find a way to ruin it. Fortunately, his father had moved, and his mother followed, leaving her with little influence in the military. That’s why she hadn’t discovered he had taken annual leave. With Song Jing now in the military and frequently asking him for help, wouldn’t he eventually be exposed?

However, being exposed in front of Ye Minshu was one thing, but in front of Lin Qiao, it was different, right?

Ji Ze never expected that seeking help from his uncle would bring this matter to Lin Qiao’s attention, “Where’s my uncle?”

“He has some matters to attend to and isn’t home.” Since Ji Duo hadn’t told Lin Qiao to inform the old house, she naturally wouldn’t tell Ji Ze either. She asked again about the previous matter.

She didn’t like meddling in others’ affairs, but Ji Ze seemed a bit anxious. As an elder, with Ji Duo not around, she thought she could offer some advice.

But how could Ji Ze answer? Was he supposed to say, “I’m afraid my mother will find out about my business with you”?

He could only vaguely reply, “It’s nothing, really. I’ve just been underperforming lately and don’t want my mom to find out and nag me.”

Ji Duo was indeed a reliable uncle, helping his nephew hide his poor work performance from the family. However, Ye Minshu asking Ji Ze to look after Song Jing was likely an attempt to match them up. After all, she almost daily expressed her satisfaction with Song Jing. But Ji Ze saw her as a monitor, guarding against her at every turn.

Lin Qiao immediately knew Ji Ze wasn’t telling the truth. As a relatively unfamiliar aunt, it was normal for him not to want to share. She just said, “Oh,” and didn’t ask further.

But even without her asking, Ji Ze felt guilty and quickly changed the subject, “Aunt, did you resolve that issue from last time?”

“Last time? You mean the formula issue?”

“Yeah, I heard you and Uncle talking about it, so I just asked.”

“There’s been no movement for now, so it should be fine.”

“Then it should be fine. My uncle is always reliable, and his friends must be too. Don’t worry, Aunt.”

Was he trying to comfort her or just avoiding the previous topic, making small talk?

Lin Qiao felt a bit speechless, and the other side probably realized the awkwardness, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up?” he asked tentatively.

However, his words reminded Lin Qiao of something, “Your uncle has a friend named Su Zheng. Do you know him?”

“Yes, I know him. Uncle took me to play with him when I was little.” Though it was more like he insisted on going along.

“Can you get his phone number? Or at least tell me which unit he’s in,” Lin Qiao said. “I need to talk to him about something.”

“Aunt, hold on a moment.” Ji Ze hung up and called back a while later, “Got it. Aunt, grab a pen and paper.”

Liu Cuiying was home and had already helped Lin Qiao find paper and a pen. Lin Qiao quickly wrote down the number.

Seeing how serious she was, Ji Ze, not waiting for Ji Duo to return, directly asked for the number, guessing the matter was urgent, and asked, “What’s going on?”

“A student from our class ran away from home,” Lin Qiao didn’t hide it. “It’s been three days, and we still haven’t found him.”

“Do you want Uncle Su Zheng to help find him?”

“Just to ask. The student took his household registration and food card, so he probably hasn’t left Yandu. If it’s convenient, he could keep an eye out.”

If Su Zheng wasn’t in the public security sector, she wouldn’t have asked, but he was, and his information would be more reliable than hers, a teacher from out of town who stayed at school all day.

Unexpectedly, Ji Ze paused, “Aunt, do you have a photo of the student?”

Lin Qiao immediately understood, “You want to help find him?” She remembered Ji Ze was a local with a vast network.

Sure enough, Ji Ze responded with an “Hmm,” “I have a few…” He initially wanted to say “salespeople,” but changed it to “friends,” “who usually go around the streets and alleys, meeting a lot of people. If you have a photo and a general direction, I can help you ask around.”

Having another way to search was better than looking for a needle in a haystack. Lin Qiao thought for a moment, “Focus on places where he might find temporary work.”

Qi Huaiwen had returned to get his things, clearly planning to stay out for a while. He didn’t have much money, so he would need to find work to eat and live.

They talked a bit more and arranged a time for Ji Ze to come and get the photo. Lin Qiao then hung up the phone.

“Has Junzi’s deskmate been found yet?” Liu Cuiying couldn’t help but ask, “He’s been sighing and talking about it every day.”

“Not yet, but he probably hasn’t gone far,” Lin Qiao replied honestly.

Liu Cuiying sighed, “This kid, why is he so angry with his dad? There’s no parent in the world who doesn’t love their child. His dad wouldn’t harm him.”

This was a common thought among people who didn’t understand the situation. They just saw it as a rebellious child not listening. The situation was too complex for Lin Qiao to explain, so she just smiled and thanked her, then asked, “Can I make another call?”

“Go ahead. Finding the child is important.”

Hearing it was about finding someone, Su Zheng didn’t hesitate. He asked for Qi Huaiwen’s photo and the phone numbers of Liang’s family and Lin Qiao’s school, “I’ll keep an eye out for you.”

Unexpectedly, the first to give her news was Ji Ze.

“You said you found him? At a construction site?” Even Lin Qiao, usually calm, couldn’t help but confirm again.

“Yes, we found someone who just started a few days ago. He doesn’t talk much, and his clothes don’t look like he’s from a poor family. But he doesn’t ask for much pay and works hard. The contractor thought he was an adult and kept him because he was cheap.”

When it came to asking around for temporary work, Su Zheng couldn’t compare to Ji Ze’s salespeople, who sold liquid soap everywhere. After all, these people were also temporary workers. Before being hired by Ji Ze, they relied on these underground networks and information to make a living all over Yandu.

“I’ll go check it out. Give me the address.” Lin Qiao couldn’t be sure without seeing him, so she decided not to notify Vice Principal Qi yet.

Ji Ze, upon hearing that she was coming over, said, “Get off at Beicheng, and I’ll pick you up.”

When Lin Qiao got off at the bus stop, Ji Ze was already waiting. He wasn’t wearing his uniform, and his hat was pulled low, covering half his face. Lin Qiao might not have recognized him if he hadn’t called out to her from his bicycle.

“Have you been waiting long?” Lin Qiao walked over. “There was some road construction, so it was a bit congested.”

“Not long. Let’s talk as we go.” Ji Ze handed her a bottle of soda.

It was a glass bottle, orange-flavored, with a few bits of orange floating at the top—something new and fresh that wasn’t available back home.

Lin Qiao thanked him and couldn’t help but think of Ji Duo.

If Ji Duo were out with someone, he probably wouldn’t think of buying them a soda. In this regard, his nephew was much more considerate.

Lin Qiao settled on the back seat of the bicycle, and Ji Ze pedaled away. “The place is under construction, and it’s quite chaotic. It’s hard to find without someone to guide you,” he explained why he came to pick her up.

But more than being hard to find, he probably thought it was chaotic and unsafe for her to go alone.

Lin Qiao wasn’t a local, and some places were indeed hard to find without a guide, especially in newly redeveloped shantytowns. She looked at the partially demolished buildings and the messy environment around her. “You have a wide network of friends to find a place like this.”

Ji Ze was momentarily speechless, causing the bicycle to wobble. But he quickly steadied it. “It was just a coincidence. My friend happened to know there was a project nearby and helped check it out.”

Fortunately, Lin Qiao wasn’t really trying to pry. Her mind was on her student, and soon, they arrived at the construction site.

Construction sites in those days weren’t as regulated as they are now. There were no fences, no safety warnings, and the workers had no protective measures. Lin Qiao frowned as she searched and soon found a boy among the tanned men and women who wasn’t as dark from the sun.

He was thinner than when he left, looking like an unbending bamboo pole, standing out among the cheerful temporary workers. He didn’t seem to mind, silently loading bricks into a wheelbarrow, pushing it to the half-built structure, unloading, and returning to load more. The early autumn sun beat down, sweat dripping from his brow, but he just shook it off, silently and stubbornly, as if in a wordless protest.

“Is that the student you’re looking for?” Ji Ze parked the bike by the roadside and asked Lin Qiao in a low voice.

“It’s him.” Lin Qiao got off the bike and handed the soda to Ji Ze. “Wait for me. I’ll go talk to him.”

Ji Ze nodded, and Lin Qiao navigated around the debris on the ground, calling out, “Qi Huaiwen.”

The familiar name and clear voice instantly made the boy’s back stiffen. But he didn’t respond or turn around, quickly resuming his work as if he hadn’t heard.

Seeing his attitude, Lin Qiao guessed that even if she grabbed him, he might pretend not to know her. So she didn’t say anything more and simply went up to help him.

Lin Qiao’s hands were naturally beautiful, and after months of not doing rough work, the calluses had faded, and her nails had a healthy shine. But because they were well-maintained, the contrast between her delicate fingers and the rough bricks was striking.

Qi Huaiwen’s brows immediately furrowed. He glanced at her, seemingly wanting to say something.

But Lin Qiao didn’t look at him, efficiently filling the wheelbarrow and reaching out to push it.

Those hands that graded assignments and led them through countless fascinating experiments were now helping him move bricks…

The boy pressed his lips tightly together and hurried to stop her, but someone was faster, “Aunt, let me do it.”

Ji Ze didn’t have such a good attitude towards Qi Huaiwen. “Don’t worry, I’ll do all the work for you. It won’t interfere with your earnings. Just go and talk to her for a bit. She’s been looking for you for days.” Without waiting for a response, he pushed the wheelbarrow and walked away.

In their family, women didn’t do rough work. If his uncle knew his aunt was working while he watched, he would be in big trouble.

Ji Ze’s big nephew was quite adept at pushing the wheelbarrow. Lin Qiao dusted off her hands, “Can we talk now?”

Her gaze was the same as that day in the corridor—no anger, no blame. Yet he hadn’t listened to her and had run so far…

Qi Huaiwen lowered his head and walked a few steps to a secluded spot.

Lin Qiao followed and, once they were settled, heard the boy say stiffly, “I won’t go back, teacher. Don’t try to persuade me.”

“Who said I was going to persuade you?” Lin Qiao raised an eyebrow.

Qi Huaiwen was stunned.

Lin Qiao quickly scanned the construction site and changed the topic, “How much do you earn a day working here?”

It was a completely unrelated question, but Qi Huaiwen instinctively answered, “1.57 yuan.”

“That’s less than a teacher’s salary and not as stable. When it rains or snows in winter, there’s no work.” Lin Qiao commented and then looked directly at him, “If you do this for a lifetime and your family gets sick, can you afford their treatment and medicine?”

The boy was stunned again.

Lin Qiao didn’t give him time to react, “If you do this for a lifetime, working hard every day, can you rush back home when your family needs you?”

This question hit his sore spot, and the boy’s eyes reddened instantly. He turned to leave.

Lin Qiao didn’t chase after him, nor did she raise her voice, “If you hate him and can’t forgive him, then prove yourself. Don’t become him.”

Qi Huaiwen was very smart. He probably understood those main principles but couldn’t get over his feelings.

Vice Principal Qi valued students’ grades the most, so Qi Huaiwen didn’t study well. Vice Principal Qi produced a college student, but Qi Huaiwen dropped out. Was he doing this purely for revenge, or was he trying to get his father’s attention? Perhaps even he couldn’t say for sure.

So, Lin Qiao didn’t persuade him; instead, she hit him with the harsh truth.

Sure enough, the phrase “Don’t become him” rooted the boy to the spot.

Lin Qiao saw his fists clench, and he squeezed out the words, “I’m not him. Don’t compare me to him!”

“But you’re walking his path.” Lin Qiao stepped forward, her voice calm, “He neglected his family, wife, and child for others. You’re giving up on yourself and your future family for him. The result is the same.”

Is the result really the same? Qi Huaiwen wanted to argue but couldn’t refute Lin Qiao’s words.

Seeing his silence, Lin Qiao patted his shoulder, “You’ve lived for seventeen years. Your mom was with you for ten years, and he was with you for seven. It’s time to live for yourself. If you can study, then study. If not, I’ll find a way to transfer you to another class. Qi Huaiwen, don’t waste the good brain your mom gave you.”

Whether love or hatred, when another completely controls a person’s life, it’s the beginning of a tragedy.

Lin Qiao hoped he would make every decision for himself, not out of spite for someone else, so he wouldn’t regret it in the future.

Feeling the slight tremor in his shoulder, she deliberately lightened her tone, “Because of you, Junzi and the others got scolded by me. If you don’t go back, I’ll probably get criticized too. I just became the official class teacher and already lost a student. How unpopular must I be?”

She said this to let Qi Huaiwen know that life isn’t just about that one person; there are countless others who care about him.

Unexpectedly, the boy whispered, “I’m sorry.” His voice was hoarse, with a hint of choking, but he no longer seemed as prickly as when they first met.

“Then go back and write a 3,000-word reflection for me,” Lin Qiao said sternly.

The boy was silent for a while, “Teacher Lin, can I hug you?”

The request was sudden, but considering he had lost his mother at ten, Lin Qiao softened, “As long as you don’t say I remind you of your mom like Li Xiaoqiu did.”

Qi Huaiwen hesitated but then turned and hugged her politely and restrainedly, without even touching her body, but Lin Qiao clearly heard the suppressed sniffles in her ear.

She didn’t move. Seeing her big nephew’s surprised, wide eyes, she gently raised her hand to signal she was fine and told him not to make a sound.

Ji Ze, seeing Qi Huaiwen, felt even more displeased. He was helping him with work, and there he was, hugging his aunt. If his uncle knew…

Being calm and serious, his uncle probably wouldn’t mind knowing the context. But Ji Ze still felt uneasy, glancing over now and then until they finally separated.

“Where have you been staying these past two days? Go pack your things,” Lin Qiao said as they walked back.

“At the construction site.” Qi Huaiwen’s eyes were still a bit red, but he was calm. He told the foreman he was quitting and went to the nearby makeshift room to get his bag. He had worked half a day for nothing, but the foreman didn’t say anything, seeing he was a runaway and his family had come for him.

Watching Qi Huaiwen pack, Lin Qiao thanked Ji Ze, “Thanks for your help this time.”

“No problem, glad to help.” Ji Ze didn’t seem bothered at all, even feeling a bit relieved.

Ji Ze couldn’t explain it himself, but helping Lin Qiao made him feel less uneasy around her.

When they came, it was just one person, but when they returned, there were two. Qi Huaiwen sat next to Lin Qiao, occasionally glancing at her hands.

“It’s just a bit red, doesn’t hurt.” Lin Qiao moved her fingers, and the boy turned back to look out the window, looking a bit uneasy.

Bringing him back to school was like Lin Qiao bringing back a giant panda; everyone who saw him had to take a look. ‘Madam’ Bi was the most exaggerated, “You managed to find him? You’re wasted as a teacher; you should be a police officer, specializing in finding people and things.”

Why didn’t he say she should be a police dog?

Lin Qiao was speechless but still sent him back to the classroom, “The afternoon is all self-study. Catch up on the lessons you missed.”

Qi Huaiwen hesitated but nodded. As soon as he entered through the back door, Junzi pounced on him and shouted, “Qi Huaiwen, you’re back!”

“What? Qi Huaiwen is back!”

Other classmates heard and swarmed around, “Qi Huaiwen, where have you been these past two days? Do you know Vice Principal Qi is in the hospital?”

When Vice Principal Qi was mentioned, the warmth in Qi Huaiwen’s eyes from his friends’ concern turned cold again.

Junzi noticed something was wrong and quickly pulled the person aside, who then hurriedly changed the subject, “Did Teacher Lin find you? Teacher Lin is amazing!”

At that moment, Group Leader Gao hurried over, “I heard you found Huaiwen?” he said, looking into the classroom.

“Just found him, haven’t had time to tell Vice Principal Qi,” Lin Qiao whispered.

“Then take him to the military hospital. Old Qi’s condition hasn’t been good, and this hospital is small. They suggested transferring him to the military hospital, and he was just transferred this morning.”

“I won’t go.” Unexpectedly, the boy heard and stood coldly by the back door.

“This…” Knowing his heart knot, Group Leader Gao felt that finding him was already difficult and instinctively looked at Lin Qiao. It seemed like Lin Qiao had some extraordinary ability to find people and could also persuade Qi Huaiwen to resolve the father-son conflict.

Lin Qiao, however, said to the boy, “Then don’t go. I’ll go over and tell him you’re back.”

The boy hesitated, and Group Leader Gao was even more surprised.

Lin Qiao patted the boy’s shoulder, “Go back. No one can make you forgive him except yourself.”

Others might try to persuade him, telling him his father wasn’t easy either, but only Lin Qiao said no one could make him forgive.

Qi Huaiwen pursed his lips and suddenly changed his mind, “I’ll go.” His clear eyes looked at Lin Qiao, gradually firming, “I’ll go and talk to him myself.”

The group rushed to the military hospital when the sun was setting. As Lin Qiao entered the inpatient department, she heard a familiar low voice.

“How is the situation?”

“Not very optimistic. It’s mainly his mood swings. He’s been agitated.”

She quickly took two steps and saw a man talking to the doctor. He was broad-shouldered and long-legged, with an outstanding physique under his uniform.

She raised an eyebrow. Oh, wasn’t this her husband, who had been away for several days? He said he had to go far, and this was where he went?

Sensing Lin Qiao’s footsteps, Qi Huaiwen called out softly, “Teacher Lin?”

His voice was very low, but the man, with his trained hearing, immediately looked over and locked eyes with Lin Qiao.

Ji Duo was momentarily stunned, but Lin Qiao raised her hand and greeted him, “What a coincidence, Captain Ji.”

Receiving his wife’s greeting, Captain Ji: “…”

Before he could say anything, Lin Qiao pointed to the stairs, “I’ll go up first.”

Taking the boy straight away.

As they left, Su Zheng hurried over, “How’s Old Qi?”

“Not very optimistic.” Ji Duo repeated the doctor’s words, but his expression suggested the situation might be more serious.

Su Zheng’s expression changed, “Tell me the truth. I can handle it.”

Then he was inexplicably stared at by Ji Duo.

Su Zheng wanted to ask more, but Ji Duo’s footsteps suddenly stopped, not at the high-level ward they were heading to.

Confused, he heard a familiar female voice from the corridor, and his expression turned strange, “Your wife?”

“Yes.”

“Did you just run into her?”

“Yes.”

“Did you come straight here without going home or telling her?”

“Yes.”

“Does she know why you’re here?”

Ji Duo’s footsteps paused again, “No.”

“Then you’re in trouble.”