Chapter 5 Lin Jinxiu’s Revenge

Old Master Lu’s real intention was exposed. He gave an awkward smile — mainly, he just found the young girl rather pleasing to the eye.
Gu Jinshu tugged the corner of her mouth and didn’t take it to heart.

After Old Master Lu left, Professor Zhang’s wife came back from grocery shopping, muttering about how the meat was overpriced and that she should’ve gone to the butcher on the east end of the market instead.

“Hello, Shiniang*.”
(*Shiniang = respectful term for teacher’s wife.)

Gu Jinshu was the first to stand, bowing respectfully to the elderly lady.

Professor Zhang’s wife had a head full of silver hair, wore well-fitted clothes, and her eyes were full of gentle kindness as she looked Gu Jinshu over.
“And you are…?”

“This is my new apprentice, Gu Jinshu,” Zhang Ping­tian introduced cheerfully to his wife, naturally taking the grocery basket from her hands. “You two sit down and chat, I’ll go cook.”

“Teacher, I—” Gu Jinshu began, wanting to help.

Before she could finish, Wang Ruizhi pulled her back down into her seat.
“No need, you just wait and have a proper taste of your teacher’s cooking later. Girl, where are you from? You don’t look like a city native.”

“Mm, good eye, Shiniang. I’m from a remote mountain area,” Gu Jinshu replied with a faint smile.

“Really? That’s impressive — going from a remote mountain area straight to the city for school!”

“Not quite, Shiniang. My biological parents brought me back to the city from that remote area. I… didn’t study much. I got into university through connections.” Gu Jinshu clarified, to avoid misunderstanding.

Now Wang Ruizhi was even more puzzled.
“No, that doesn’t add up. I might not know you well since this is our first meeting, but I do know my old man. He’s not the type to take on a student just because of connections. He must’ve seen your intelligence.”

Gu Jinshu smiled modestly and said nothing.

“Wait—” Wang Ruizhi suddenly seemed to recall something. She frowned and looked at Gu Jinshu again.
“Did you just say your surname was Gu?”

Gu Jinshu nodded. “Yes.”

“So you’re the biological daughter the Gu family recently acknowledged.” Wang Ruizhi’s breath caught, and she stared at Gu Jinshu in disbelief.

“Mm.” Gu Jinshu’s expression remained calm.

Wang Ruizhi had been classmates in university with Gu Jinshu’s grandfather, so she naturally knew her parents. She had heard bits and pieces about the Gu family over the years… but she hadn’t expected the real Gu Jinshu to be so different from what she’d heard.

“Well, this is quite the coincidence,” Wang Ruizhi said. “Do your parents know my old man took you in as a student?”

Gu Jinshu shook her head decisively. “They don’t. Besides…” — her voice paused for a moment — “Shiniang, I’ve already cut ties with my family.”

“What?” Wang Ruizhi’s face changed abruptly. “Why?”

Gu Jinshu told her the truth word for word.

Wang Ruizhi slammed her hand heavily on the table, furious.
“Those two shameless things! How could they do something like that? What’s the point of all the schooling they had — did they read it all into a dog’s stomach?!”

“Shiniang, please don’t be angry.” Gu Jinshu poured a cup of warm water and handed it to her, speaking gently. “I can understand, really. I wasn’t raised by them. Now that I can support myself, there’s no need to keep up a fake pretense of parental affection.”

“Precisely because you weren’t raised by them, they should feel guilty and treat you well!” Wang Ruizhi’s expression was ugly with anger. “If your grandfather knew what they’d done, he’d be turning over in his grave!”

Then she looked at Gu Jinshu again, her eyes full of compassion, and pulled the girl closer.
“Good child, you’re right — mountains can collapse, people can abandon you. No matter what, relying on yourself is always the most reliable path.”

“From now on, come over often, alright? If you want to eat something, I’ll have your teacher make it for you!”

“Thank you, Shiniang.” Gu Jinshu nodded obediently.

“What are you two chatting about so happily?”

Zhang Ping­tian came in carrying a half-basin of meatball soup, meant to be eaten with steamed buns.

“Nothing,” Wang Ruizhi quickly covered, not wanting to bring up Gu Jinshu’s sad past in front of her.

“Here, you’re far too skinny. Eat more meat!” Zhang Ping­tian piled her a big bowl of meatballs, stacked up like a little mountain.

“Teacher, I can’t finish this—”

“Yes you can,” Wang Ruizhi said generously, stuffing a soft, fluffy steamed bun into her hands. “Eat.”

Gu Jinshu: “…”

The familial warmth she had never felt in the Gu household… she was now feeling here, in her teacher and teacher’s wife’s home.

…

After lunch, Gu Jinshu was the first to return to school; Professor Zhang planned to rest before going.

—In the Chinese Medicine Department classroom—

The moment Gu Jinshu entered, she could feel something was off.
At this time of day, most students were in the cafeteria, with only a few occasionally passing by.

Sure enough, the classroom door behind her was suddenly kicked open—

She turned to see Lin Jinxiu leading the way, with four or five rough-looking girls swaggering in behind her, blocking the doorway with hostility.

They were here to cause trouble.

“Well, you finally came back. I’ve been waiting for you,” Lin Jinxiu sneered, hands on her hips, looking at Gu Jinshu as if she wanted to flay her alive.

“A bumpkin from the mountains daring to upset our Jinxiu? You must be tired of living!”

“You’d better hurry up and apologize to Jinxiu, then maybe she’ll consider forgiving you.”

“That’s right, best if you kneel while you do it — that’d show you’re sincere.”

“….”

Gu Jinshu’s gaze swept over them, and suddenly she chuckled.

The laugh was inexplicable, making Lin Jinxiu’s face darken.
“What are you laughing at?”

“I’m laughing at how reckless you are. This is a school. If you really dare to do anything, you might as well start packing your bags and get ready to be expelled.”

Her voice was cold, which only made Lin Jinxiu angrier.

Why wasn’t Gu Jinshu afraid, even though they had numbers on their side this time?

“Expelled? If anyone’s leaving, it’ll be you. Do you know who Jinxiu is? Who are you? Hah!”

Lin Jinxiu’s sense of superiority overflowed. She tilted her chin up, eyes full of provocation.

“You should’ve stayed in your mountain village. Why did you even come back? The Gu family never had a place for you.”

She stepped closer, voice sharp.
“Chuxue has lost weight because of you — you really deserve to die.”

Gu Jinshu flexed her wrist. “Looks like I didn’t beat you enough this morning.”

This time, Lin Jinxiu reacted quickly and stepped back, letting her little gang rush forward.
“Let’s settle both old and new scores today. Girls — get her!”

The gang fought like typical street punks — hair-pulling, clawing — nothing special.

Dealing with them was easy for Gu Jinshu.

Soon, they were all too scared to fight back, each sporting a red, swollen face.
Lin Jinxiu was frightened.

“You—” Damn it! How was Gu Jinshu this good at fighting?!

She retreated a few steps. “Gu Jinshu, I’m warning you, if you dare touch me, you’ll regret it. My dad is the bureau—ah!!”