Returning to High School to Save My Wife - Chapter 17

Hearing those words, Jiang Yuan was momentarily dazed and met Liang Qi’s gaze.

Liang Qi’s cheeks were tinged with a shallow blush, and her expression was slightly awkward. She looked just like a young girl in the first throes of spring, harboring thoughts she wanted to express but hesitated to voice.

“Mhm,” the curve of Jiang Yuan’s lips softened a few degrees. “Thank you.”

She glanced at He Wei on the podium. Seeing the teacher’s gaze patrolling toward them, she quickly lowered her head and continued her homework.

Jiang Yuan finished tidying her notebooks and put them back into her drawer. Just as she was about to pull out the books for the next class, she noticed her phone light up in the drawer.

Her hand paused. She took the phone out, and the moment she saw the caller ID, she stood up to head out. “Sorry, I need to step out for a moment.”

Liang Qi shifted in her seat and caught a glimpse of a “Lin” displayed on Jiang Yuan’s phone. She suddenly felt curious about who was calling that required Jiang Yuan to take it in the hallway.

Jiang Yuan jogged to a secluded spot before answering.

“Sister Yan? I just finished class.”

The woman on the other end, called “Sister Yan,” had a very pleasant voice. Though she didn’t sound old, she possessed the charm of a mature woman, sounding like an oriole in a valley—gentle, refined, and feminine.

“Xiao Yuan, I’ve found a part-time job. I’ve decided to take it, and they’re looking for one more person. I recommended you, but I still wanted to ask if you’re interested.”

“Sister Yan, where is the job?”

“At a convenience store. Because they need people urgently, the pay is quite high and the hours are stable. It’s on the weekends, so it shouldn’t interfere with your studies. That’s why I’m calling you today.”

“Which convenience store is it? Are the hours long?”

“Meijiale. You should know it; it’s about six bus stops from your place. You can take the 616. It’s an eight-hour shift.”

Jiang Yuan was taken aback.

Meijiale? Could it be…

“Sister Yan, are you sure you’re going?”

“Yes. Xiao Yuan, you should come too. There aren’t many part-time jobs suitable for high schoolers right now. It’s rare to find one this fitting; shouldn’t you seize the opportunity?”

“I… let me think about it some more, Sister Yan. Thank you for the recommendation.”

“Jiang Yuan, do you have some concerns?”

“I…” Jiang Yuan hesitated for a moment, but ultimately didn’t say it. “Let me think about it.”

“Alright, give me an answer by Friday. The job starts this weekend. They need to confirm people in advance, so I can only hold this spot for you until Friday. If you’re not willing, they’ll need time to find someone else.”

“Okay, I’ll give it serious thought. Thank you, Sister Yan.”

“Mhm, that’s all then. Hanging up.”

Jiang Yuan hung up and returned to the classroom. Liang Qi asked, “Who was that?”

“A friend.” Jiang Yuan didn’t say more and put the phone back in her drawer.

Because of that call, Jiang Yuan was somewhat preoccupied for the rest of the afternoon. After all, the academic load in eleventh grade was heavy, unlike the more relaxed tenth grade. She had time for part-time work in tenth grade, but that might not be the case now.

Xu Chengyu had always been opposed to her working part-time. In tenth grade, she used the excuse of going to the library with classmates to hide it from her mother and Jiang Mu. Ever since Xu Chengyu resigned due to illness, the family’s income relied entirely on odd jobs. Moreover, since Jiang Mu suffered from congenital bone disease with a high risk of lesions, she truly couldn’t bring herself to ask the family for money.

As for that person… there was even less need to mention him.

When Jiang Yuan went home after school that day, she didn’t mention the job to anyone. However, Jiang Mu keenly sensed she had something on her mind, though he waited until after Liang Qi had parted ways with them to ask.

“Sis, why have you been moping all day? Did something happen?”

“Nothing. Stop guessing.”

“Let me guess… did you have a fight with your desk-mate?” On the way home, Jiang Yuan and Liang Qi had barely interacted.

“We didn’t fight,” thinking of Liang Qi, the heaviness in Jiang Yuan’s heart inexplicably lightened quite a bit. “I told you to stop guessing.”

“Then I really don’t get it. Shouldn’t you be happy today?”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

“Haven’t you heard? That Yue Suxin who always gives you trouble stood like an idiot on the playground for half a period today. Word is she was waiting for Cheng Zhuocheng, but he never showed up.”

“How do you know that?”

“Our class was having PE then. We saw her standing there for a long time. Later, she went around asking people from other classes where Cheng Zhuocheng’s class was. After asking a bunch of people, she finally found out they weren’t even having PE,” Jiang Mu said with a laugh. “Her expression was so ugly then; it’s a shame you didn’t see it.”

“I have no interest in looking at her.”

“I’m just hoping to make you happy! Who told her to keep troubling you? It’s karma.”

Jiang Yuan didn’t speak, but Liang Qi’s face, slightly flushed while saying her smile was beautiful, surfaced in her mind.

In her memory, this was the first time someone had ever said that to her.

Jiang Yuan was a bit distracted, so much so that she didn’t notice a fruit stall at the upcoming intersection and nearly walked right into it.

“Sis, look out!”

Jiang Mu stepped forward quickly to block her, and Jiang Yuan bumped right into him.

“Ouch!”

“Ah…”

Jiang Yuan snapped back to reality. Seeing Jiang Mu staggering from the impact, she felt a wave of guilt. “I’m sorry, Mumu. Just now I…”

“Sis, what are you thinking about?” Jiang Mu rubbed his wrist and complained. “I think you really do have something on your mind, don’t you? And yet you won’t admit it.”

Jiang Yuan didn’t feel like bickering. She walked over. “Are you hurt?”

Jiang Mu grinned. “Nah, I’m good.”

Jiang Yuan turned her head and saw the fruit stall at the corner. She walked over, leaned down, and picked through the fruit for a while. “Sir, are these honey tangerines?”

The old man said cheerfully, “They sure are.”

Jiang Mu: “Sis, why are you being so nice today, buying me fruit?”

Jiang Yuan: “I’m not buying them for you.”

“Then who for?” Jiang Mu said before having an epiphany. “Oh, I get it. Sis, you’re not in love, are you?”

Jiang Yuan shot him a glare. “Don’t talk nonsense.”

She asked the vendor, “How much for these oranges?”

“Eight yuan per jin,” the old man answered.

“Whoa, so expensive!” Jiang Mu was shocked.

“These are imported honey tangerines, guaranteed sweet,” the old man said as if Jiang Mu didn’t understand. “If you don’t believe me, have a taste. If they aren’t sweet, I won’t be selling here tomorrow.”

Jiang Mu stroked his chin, looking at the man’s tricycle. “Maybe you really won’t be selling here tomorrow. You wouldn’t lose anything; we wouldn’t be able to find you, and we’d be the ones out of luck.”

The old man gave him a look of disdain. “Aiyoh, you’re so young, boy, why so many schemes? Would an old man like me lie to you?”

Jiang Mu: “Why wouldn’t you?”

Old Man: “Fixed price, no bargaining. These tangerines are the sweetest. I even let you taste them and you still don’t believe me? Are you trying to stop me from doing business?”

Jiang Yuan asked politely, “Can we peel a new one to taste?”

The old man’s face changed slightly. “There’s already a peeled one right there; why open a new one?”

Jiang Yuan weighed a tangerine in her hand. “If this one is sweeter than the one in your hand, we’ll buy a jin. If not, it means you’re lying. Sir, how does that sound?”

The old man suddenly began to stammer. “You, you can’t do that.”

Jiang Yuan: “Or, we could find someone to verify if these really are.”

The old man glared at her. “Two yuan per jin, take it or leave it!”

Jiang Yuan smiled. “Weigh out two jin for me. Pick the best ones, and don’t cheat the scale.”

The old man grumbled as he weighed them. “Young people these days, honestly…”

After leaving the fruit stall, Jiang Mu gave her a thumbs-up. “Sis, you’re amazing.”

Jiang Yuan remained calm. “You’re still green.”

Returning to Chengnan Village, Jiang Yuan entered after verifying her fingerprint. She called out toward the interior, “Mom, we’re back.”

There was no answer.

“Mom?” Jiang Yuan tried calling again. She looked around in confusion but saw no sign of Xu Chengyu.

Strange.

At this time, Xu Chengyu should have already prepared the meal and be waiting for them, and the scent of rice should be wafting through the living room. Why was no one around?

“Mom…” Jiang Yuan put down her backpack and the bag of oranges and walked toward the kitchen. She only got out one word before her voice stopped abruptly.

The gas stove in the kitchen was still on, and a pot of water was boiling. Xu Chengyu was collapsed on the floor. Dishes had shattered everywhere, and porcelain shards were scattered across the tiles, stained with small spots of blood.

“Mom!” Jiang Yuan rushed forward and helped Xu Chengyu up, her voice filled with worry. “Mom, are you okay?”

Xu Chengyu’s face was pale, and her eyes remained tightly shut. There was no response.

“Mumu, call an ambulance!”

“I already did!”

Ten minutes later, the ambulance took Xu Chengyu to the hospital. Jiang Yuan and Jiang Mu sat on the chairs outside the emergency room, waiting for the treatment to end.

The second hand on the clock ticked relentlessly. Jiang Yuan’s heart was suspended in her chest, thumping wildly without a place to settle.

Xu Chengyu was the only family she and Jiang Mu had. She couldn’t imagine what life would be like if her mother left them.

No matter how rational and calm she usually was, she couldn’t remain unmoved at a moment like this. After all, she and Jiang Mu were just two high school students with little experience in the world.

Just as Jiang Yuan’s mind was in a whirl, a warm hand covered her icy one, tightening slightly.

“Sis, don’t worry too much,” Jiang Mu comforted her. “Mom will be fine.”

“Mhm,” Jiang Yuan responded, but her eyes remained fixed on the hallway floor. Her heart felt incredibly cold.

She had always been used to restraining her emotions and facing every obstacle in life with strength because she didn’t want her family to worry about her. But now, she felt terrified.

“Sis, Mom’s situation is uncertain right now; she might need someone to care for her. I’ll take a leave of absence tomorrow, and you can go to class,” Jiang Mu said.

“No, I’m staying too,” Jiang Yuan said firmly.

They didn’t know what was wrong with Xu Chengyu yet. She didn’t feel right leaving Jiang Mu alone and if she had to be by her mother’s side, or she would regret it for the rest of her life.

In this critical moment, she suddenly thought of a certain person.

A few minutes later, she picked up her phone and dialed Liang Qi’s number.

“Liang Qi, could I ask you to help me request a day’s leave tomorrow?”

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