Chapter 48: Everyone Has Their Own Hardships

After finishing just a bowl of rice and half a meat bun, Xiao Qingru was already full.

“It’s tasty, isn’t it?” Song Yuan asked.

“It is! I’ll make this for my family when I get back,” Xiao Qingru replied.

“Oh, you mean for Xu Muzhou?” Song Yuan teased.

“Do you really think I’d put him above my family and friends? He’ll just get some as a bonus,” Xiao Qingru said, feigning indifference.

“You’re just being stubborn!” Song Yuan smiled, noticing that Xiao Qingru seemed genuinely happy and that her relationship with Xu Muzhou was going well. It was a reminder of how crucial it is to have a good partner.

Song Yuan needed to return to her teaching in the afternoon, so the two wrapped up lunch quickly and went to buy some sweet potatoes. After two years of teaching in this village, Song Yuan knew which families could spare extra produce. She took Xiao Qingru to a household with plenty of workers and reasonably good conditions. When they expressed interest in buying sweet potatoes, the woman of the house hesitated.

“Ma’am, I’m using grain coupons and even adding cash,” Song Yuan assured her. “You won’t lose out.”

“Grain coupons are only worth so much, and we’d lose days of food for the family if we sold you our sweet potatoes,” the woman replied, reluctant to sell.

Song Yuan continued, “You know how valuable fine grains are. Why not save these for special occasions, to make dumplings or steamed buns for your family?”

After some persuasion, the woman agreed to exchange 50 pounds of sweet potatoes for five pounds of grain coupons and two yuan.

With the sweet potatoes in hand, they headed toward the Qin house to pick up the persimmons. Before they even arrived, they could hear the commotion of children’s voices mixed with crying.

Song Yuan’s face tightened in worry. “Qingru, you take your time. I’ll go check what’s going on.”

“You go ahead, I’ll catch up,” Xiao Qingru said, adjusting her grip on the heavy sweet potatoes.

Song Yuan hurried toward the noise, frustrated and anxious. It was likely that a group of kids was once again harassing someone.

“It’s my bun!” little Qin Tian cried out.

“No way your family can afford a meat bun, you must’ve stolen it!” a boy sneered.

“Song sister gave it to me!” Qin Tian protested.

“Liar! My family can’t afford a meat bun, so there’s no way yours could!”

Song Yuan arrived just in time to see the group surrounding Qin Tian and accusing him of stealing the bun. Furious, she confronted them.

“What are you kids doing, picking on others like this?” Song Yuan said sternly.

“We’re not picking on him! Qin Tian stole this meat bun, so we’re teaching him a lesson,” one boy said smugly, holding up the bun as if he’d performed a heroic deed.

“You didn’t see him steal it, so how can you accuse him? What have I taught you? You need evidence before accusing others!” Song Yuan’s voice was stern, making the kids hang their heads in shame.

“But they’re poor! They can’t afford meat buns!” one child protested.

“Maybe they don’t have it every day, but can’t they enjoy a little treat once in a while?” Song Yuan responded.

The children shifted awkwardly, unsure of how to respond. Song Yuan realized that changing their perceptions would take time, but she couldn’t let Qin Tian be unfairly labeled a thief. She knew how hurtful rumors could be and wanted to set things straight.

“I gave him the bun,” she said firmly, “so Qin Tian is no thief.”

“Oh, sorry, Teacher Song! We didn’t know,” one boy stammered, quickly pushing the bun back into Qin Tian’s hands.

The children looked up at Song Yuan, cowed and apologetic. “We’re sorry, Teacher Song,” they said, realizing they’d been unfair.

Song Yuan nodded. “As long as you understand. Remember to be kind, and only speak with evidence. Dismissing others without proof only hurts people.”

The children quickly dispersed. Just as they left, Qin Bei arrived. Spotting his little brother’s tear streaked face, he asked, “What happened?”

“Brother, they tried to take my bun, saying I stole it!” Qin Tian said, upset.

Qin Bei’s face darkened. “A man doesn’t cry so easily, especially over small things.”

“It’s not his fault,” Song Yuan interjected.

Turning to her with an icy gaze, Qin Bei replied, “If you hadn’t given him the bun, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Stunned, Song Yuan asked, “Are you blaming me?”

“Song Yuan, you’re not a savior. Can you stay out of our business from now on?” Qin Bei’s words were cold, as if to draw a line between them.

“Fine!” Song Yuan managed to say, feeling a pang in her heart. She quickly turned and left, clutching back tears.

As she exited, Qin Tian looked up at his brother. “Will Sister Song still visit us?”

“I don’t know,” Qin Bei said, his voice low.

Xiao Qingru, having watched the interaction, approached her friend with concern. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” Song Yuan said, brushing off her hurt feelings. “He’s just a stubborn man, he’s nothing to me.”

“If it’d make you feel better, I could go back and give him a piece of my mind,” Xiao Qingru offered.

“Not worth it. It’s clear that we’re not on the same page, and I’m not wasting my breath,” Song Yuan replied, brushing away the trace of tears in her eyes.

As she looked at Song Yuan’s face, Xiao Qingru felt a twinge of sadness, realizing that life’s path is seldom smooth.