Jiang Cheng listened to Shen Xing for a long time. She didn’t show impatience or fatigue.

She knew Shen Xing needed to vent, and this was his way of finding peace.

As the night deepened, Shen Xing’s voice gradually softened.

“Sis, did I talk too much?”

“Did you? I was just getting into it.”

Jiang Cheng’s eyes were clear, and Shen Xing scratched his head with a smile.

Jiang Cheng stood up, helped Shen Xing to his feet, and said, “Go to sleep.”

“Okay.”

Without saying more, Shen Xing went back to his room to rest. As he lay there, staring at the ceiling, he thought about writing a letter to his older brother tomorrow.

He wondered if his brother could manage to get a watch ticket for him.

After returning to her room, Jiang Cheng checked the time in her space. It was already very late.

She decided to give herself a break, balancing work and rest.

The next morning at four, Jiang Cheng got up and dressed.

This time, she carried her backpack and walked straight out of the courtyard.

Following the address Old Xu had given her, Jiang Cheng ran all the way there, treating it as exercise.

Old Xu lived in a small courtyard, not large but clean and simple.

After knocking on the door, the middle-aged man from yesterday opened it.

“Come in.”

The man pulled the door open and stood aside.

“Thank you, Uncle!”

Jiang Cheng thanked him politely, flashing a bright smile that made the middle-aged man nod somewhat sheepishly.

“Jiang Cheng’s here? Have you eaten? Join us for breakfast.”

“Hello, Old Xu. I’ve already eaten.”

Old Xu didn’t press further. The two sat at the square table in the main room, one on each side, and began the day’s lesson.

From 4:40 to 7:40, Jiang Cheng prepared to leave.

“Wait, Jiang Cheng. Have you always been learning like this with Lü Da Dao—I mean, Teacher Lü?”

“Teacher Xu, am I learning too slowly? In today’s three-hour session, I only managed to study two books. I’m ashamed, ashamed!”

Though Jiang Cheng spoke of shame, her face showed no trace of it.

Old Xu had a thousand words on the tip of his tongue, but not a single one came out. He simply couldn’t find the right, elegant words.

“I understand. You don’t need to see me out.”

Jiang Cheng left.

Old Xu: Who said I was going to see you out?!

After Jiang Cheng left, Old Xu sat alone in his seat for a long time, unable to snap out of it.

“No wonder, no wonder!”

“No wonder what?”

The middle-aged man came out with breakfast and chimed in.

With a loud “thud,” Old Xu slapped the table and stood up abruptly.

“No wonder Lü Da Dao kept pushing so hard!”

“No, I need to make a phone call!”

Old Xu ran off in a hurry.

The middle-aged man quickly followed, and the two ran to a place where they could make a call. Old Xu dialed the number of the senior brother Teacher Lü had mentioned.

“Hurry up with those procedures!”

“If you can’t even handle a few books, you might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes!”

“Hah! Who are you trying to scare? I’m telling you, my disciple is a genius!”

After a torrent of words, Old Xu hung up the phone. His flushed face instantly broke into a smile.

“Hehe, it’s settled. It should be done in a few days.”

Old Xu walked back, hands behind his back, humming a tune, feeling quite pleased.

“Old Xu, when did Jiang Cheng become your disciple?”

The middle-aged man’s question interrupted Old Xu’s good mood.

He shot him a glare and snorted coldly.

“What do you know? Jiang Cheng didn’t refuse me.”

“But she didn’t agree either!”

Old Xu choked on his words, then retorted stubbornly, “That’s because I haven’t asked yet!”

The stubborn Old Xu took two angry steps forward, then turned back.

“Xiao Zhong, what do young girls like these days?”

After asking, Old Xu shook his head.

“Forget it, what would an old man like you know?”

Xiao Zhong was speechless.

Shouldn’t you take a look at who’s actually older here??

Jiang Cheng didn’t know about the conversation between Old Xu and Xiao Zhong. She was too busy.

Really, apart from sleeping, she had to make every second count.

After leaving Old Xu’s place, Jiang Cheng ran all the way to the scrap station.

Panting heavily, Jiang Cheng had only one thought: she absolutely had to get her hands on a bicycle.

When Jiang Cheng entered the scrap station, she saw Sister Wang, beaming with joy, smiling at the entrance.

“Jiang Cheng!”

“Sister Wang, you look radiant.”

Jiang Cheng’s words made Sister Wang’s smile even wider. Little Jiang really knew how to talk.

Now, Sister Wang practically regarded Jiang Cheng as her own younger sister, treating her with immense affection.

The two returned to the office together, and Sister Wang handed Jiang Cheng a net bag of apples.

“Take these home to eat.”

“Sister Wang, I’ll just take one.”

Jiang Cheng took one apple and said, “Sister Wang, I read in a book that eating apples is good for pregnant women. It supplements vitamins and helps the baby grow healthy.”

“Really?”

Sister Wang didn’t know much about it.

She just thought fruit was precious and wanted to thank Jiang Cheng, so she brought them all for her.

“Really, you should keep them. When the time comes, you’ll have a healthy and adorable baby.”

Jiang Cheng’s words hit the mark for Sister Wang.

“Alright, I won’t stand on ceremony with you. Jiang Cheng, if you ever need anything, just tell me. I’ll do whatever I can for you!”

These words carried significant weight.

“What could I possibly need? Sister Wang, you just sit back and relax. If there’s any heavy lifting, call me.”

Jiang Cheng laughed, steering the conversation elsewhere, and the two began their work in harmony.

At noon, Sister Wang insisted on treating Jiang Cheng to a meal, and Jiang Cheng didn’t refuse.

When they went to get food, Sister Kong, who was serving, still seemed a bit evasive when she saw Jiang Cheng, but it was clear she was trying to control herself.

Jiang Cheng guessed that whatever Dongzi was planning might involve Sister Kong.

At that moment, Jiang Cheng decided she couldn’t eat the extra dinner she had been getting from now on.

As for lunch, Sister Kong didn’t dare to tamper with it.

The workday ended, and Jiang Cheng left at 4:30.

She ran off again, leaving Sister Wang feeling slightly heartbroken and thoughtful.

Jiang Cheng arrived on time and attended her usual class.

During the lesson, Teacher Lü casually brought up Old Xu several times, with a hint of comparison in her tone.

Jiang Cheng coaxed her a bit, and though Teacher Lü appeared calm on the surface, she was secretly overjoyed.

As expected, she was still the most important!

At the same time, an older woman arrived at the night school and was asking the gatekeeper, Old Wang, about someone.

“Which classroom is Jiang Cheng in?”

Old Wang pretended to be clueless. “Jiang Cheng? I don’t know. There are so many students here, and I’m old. How could I remember all their names?”

“But why are you looking for a student?”

The woman being questioned had a stern face, her eyebrows naturally imposing, giving off an intimidating aura.

“I have business.”

Old Wang wasn’t having any of it. He stood his ground and said, “That won’t do. This is a school! I can’t just let you in because you say you have business.”

The woman frowned and revealed her identity. “I’m Sun Jiandong’s mother. I’m here to see my son. Is that allowed?”

Just as He Dan was about to enter the school, her eyes lit up.

Sun Jiandong’s mother?

The look on her face suggested trouble, and He Dan’s mind began to race.

“Hello, Auntie. I know which classroom Jiang Cheng is in.”

Old Wang glanced over and curled his lip.

Putting on airs, acting like a peacock. Always sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong!