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Twenty-Eighth Period (2)
T/N: Translated by Jen on Broken Jinsei! Please do not repost my translations! All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Zhou Yanli has been constantly lecturing her these days, letting her be a bit more tough, learn to say no to people or things that she didn’t like, also try to make some more new friends, and don’t always have herself shut away in a little corner that no one can reach.
Although for Jiang Huihui…..it was a bit difficult, she still tried her best to change.
Every day when she returned home, she would stand in front of the mirror and repeatedly practice smiling, wanting to let herself appear a bit more lively.
In the past, even her mom would always say that she didn’t have the vitality that a young girl should have, always sulking and gloomy all day long, seemingly dead inside.
She repeatedly lifted the corners of her mouth, all the way until her entire face was sore, before finally reaching up to massage her cheeks.
So hard.
Because it was nearing the New Year, everyone was busy preparing New Year goods. The entire building was filled with the smell of cooking oil.
The walls of the old residential complex were thin, so during mealtimes, the place inevitably filled with shouting sounds.
Occasionally, the clattering sounds of quarrels would be mixed in as well.
“Just know to play games all day long, have you done your homework? How I see it, don’t even bother studying anymore, just go downstairs and help your Uncle Liu collect junk. Quickly get your ass over here and eat!”
“Why are you saying these things now? Want to get a divorce? Fine, let’s get a divorce!”
“It’s almost the New Year, what are you saying this for? Are you not afraid of getting laughed at by others?”
“You just needed to come, what are you bringing presents for? Quickly come in, come in.”
These were practically an ever-present part of the daily life in the neighborhood. Jiang Huihui was long used to it.
Her mom was also preparing the essential fried dishes for the New Year’s Eve dinner.
It was fried meat balls[1] and fried lotus root fritters[2].
It’d just come out of the frying pot, still steaming. Her mom separately filled a bowl and called over Jiang Huihui, letting her take it to Zhou Yanli.
TN: All translations outside of Broken Jinsei are stolen and reposted without permission!
Her mom had an inexplicable fondness for Zhou Yanli. Although he appeared rather well-behaved in front of her mom, in this building, there was never a shortage of well-behaved children.
But her mom was just particularly fond of him. This kind of fondness was nearly about to surpass her affections for Jiang Man.
“That child lives all alone by himself over there, don’t know if his family can be by his side for the New Year. Here, take these to him.”
Jiang Huihui nodded, taking that bowl of fried food. Thinking for a moment, she still mustered up her courage, softly asking her mom, “If his family doesn’t come…..can he come to our place for New Year’s Eve dinner?”
Because of her quiet and introverted nature, she had never invited anyone over before, let alone taking the initiative.
Her mom seemingly detected something, lifting her eyes to look at her.
Jiang Huihui hurriedly explained, “Because he’s my classmate, I’d heard some things about him before, and feel he’s quite….quite pitiful.”
Her mom sighed, “Indeed quite pitiful.”
As for specifically how he was pitiful, her mom didn’t know either. Every time asking about his parents, he would always lower his head and fall silent.
Her mom inferred from his silence that his parents weren’t around anymore, her heart softening. Thus, she nodded and said, “Then why don’t you go tell him, if he doesn’t mind, let him come to our place to celebrate the New Year together. Your dad and Yingying will also be coming back.”
Jiang Huihui nodded again, not daring to appear too happy, afraid of getting noticed by her mom.
Before leaving the kitchen with the bowl, she saw that bowl of steamed ribs[3] on the cutting board. It was a dish her mom specially made for Jiang Man. He was sick lately, with bronchitis, and had stayed at the hospital for a few days.
Jiang Huihui fell silent for a moment, then secretly used the chopsticks to take a few pieces that had the most meat.
Zhou Yanli had bought rat poison, sticky traps, and mouse traps. In the end, he even looked for a professional rat exterminators.
But those people just brought a few cats over.
After spending a whole day at his place, the rats did get fully annihilated, but the furniture inside was almost completely destroyed too.
The sofa was torn to shreds by cat claws. The tables and chairs were full of marks. Even a few of his clothes ended up ruined too, reeking of cat urine.
When Jiang Huihui came over, he was in the middle of cleaning up the place.
He was so hot that he’d taken off his clothes, just wearing a T-shirt, with the sleeves rolled up to his shoulders.
Having just done some manual labor, his muscles were all tense, the lines well-defined, crawling with slightly protruding veins.
Hearing the sound of the door opening, he went over to the door.
He saw a round head stick in from outside the door. She had a very typical round head. When tying her hair into a high ponytail, the back of her head was full and round. A pair of clear, watery eyes carried a curious gleam, “What are you doing inside? How come it’s so noisy?”
He opened the door, “I’m cleaning up the place. It got completely wrecked by those cats.”
Jiang Huihui came in holding the bowl. She recalled that there were indeed constant cat noises all morning. She’d thought that it was the stray cats downstairs.
She placed the bowl on the table, letting him eat first and clean up later.
Zhou Yanli went to wash his hands in the bathroom. When he came out, he’d rolled down his sleeves on his shoulder.
Jiang Huihui held the chopsticks and smiled at him just as she’d been practicing in front of the mirror.
Zhou Yanli halted in his steps, “What’s wrong?”
She blanked, “What?”
“Why are you suddenly making a funny face?” He sat up laughing, “Run into something good?”
“…..”
Jiang Huihui silently put away her smile, “Why don’t you eat.”
He glanced at the food on the table, “You made it?”
She shook her head, “My mom made it, preparing for the New Year’s Eve dinner.”
Zhou Yanli momentarily in a daze. Time sure passed quickly. Can’t believe it’s almost the New Year.
Jiang Huihui said, “My mom agreed to let you come to our place to celebrate together. Do you have anything you want to eat?”
Zhou Yanli took a bite of the ribs, asking her, “Anything?”
Jiang Huihui was a bit troubled, “I don’t know how to make anything too complicated.”
Zhou Yanli randomly said a few dishes.
It just so happens to be all ones that Jiang Huihui knew how to make, so she nodded, letting him eat slowly, while she got up to tidy up the place for him.
He’d already cleaned up once and showered an hour ago. The dirty clothes he changed out of were still in the laundry basket. He was going to shower again later when he finished cleaning up, and then wash those clothes together with the ones on him.
Jiang Huihui saw and went over, just about to go take out his clothes.
He seemingly thought of something and suddenly rushed over, “What….what are you doing?”
Jiang Huihui was dumbstruck by this reaction of his, “I was…going to help you wash your clothes.”
“No need.” He rejected with a stiff and dry tone, as he shoved his clothes back, “I’ll wash it myself.”
He suddenly felt a bit of a headache and pressed his temples.
He seemed to have just realized in this moment that he and Jiang Huihui were the same age. Even if they were mother and son, maintaining a certain distance was still necessary.
–
The homeroom teacher called Jiang Huihui for her information, because they needed to buy tickets and arrange accommodation for the competition.
Her mom gave her two fifty-yuan bills. This will be her living expenses for the next few days.
As for transportation, the school will be covering it.
Because winning the competition comes with prize money and also extra credit for the national college exam, her mom was still relatively supportive, telling her to not help out with the chores at home these next few days and also turning down that cashier job at Aunt Fang’s place downstairs for her.
“Your top priority right now is to just study with a peace of mind and aim to get a good place, understand?”
Jiang Huihui looked at those two brand new bills in her hand and nodded her head, “En.”
The competition just happened to coincide with the sports festival, so she didn’t need to worry about falling behind in her studies.
Because the flu has been running rampant recently, the school let out half a day early on Friday. And in the afternoon, there will be people coming in to do a thorough disinfection.
Zhou Yanli had skipped the classes in the morning, unknown as to where he went.
He probably went to play basketball or went to the net cafe to play games.
Jiang Huihui was deeply worried. If he continues like this, what will he do about the national college exam?
As she walked, she suddenly got blocked in her path.
“Yo, I was wondering who, isn’t this our pure and innocent little white flower?”
Jiang Huihui looked up. A few girls with colorful dyed hair had walked up in front of her. They were wearing short skirts and flesh-colored leggings, paired with a pair of snow boots.
Their hairstyles were all matching large, wavy curls.
These were the girls who would always stop her outside the school before.
Jiang Huihui lowered her head, her hands nervously clutching the straps of her backpack. She wanted to go around them and leave.
But in the next second, she once again got blocked in her path.
This hour was precisely when the streets were full of people. Seeing docile-looking girl dressed as a student getting her path blocked by a group of delinquent girls, anyone could tell that this was bullying.
There were bystanders who’d considered helping out, but in the end, after much hesitation, they gave up.
Forget it, less hassle is better than more.
Pingjiang was just that big. It was better to not bring trouble upon oneself.
Thus, everyone turned a blind eye to the situation on this side.
“Haven’t gone through your bag in a while——you should have money today, right?” One of the girls, with pink highlights in her wavy hair, chewing on bubblegum in her mouth, walked over to unzip her backpack.
Jiang Huihui retreated a step, backing away from her, “I don’t have…..money.”
The other girl’s hand fell through the air. She coldly sneered, “Even dare to dodge now?”
She flew into a rage, jabbing her shoulder over and over again, “Little b*tch, has it been too long since we looked for you that you forgot about us? Huh?”
Those people behind burst into laughter, the shrill sound full of mockery.
Jiang Huihui shook all over in fear as she endlessly recalled what Zhou Yanli would always tell her.
“If you keep enduring, they will only keep going further. You need to fight back, ya know? If you can’t beat them, then just grab one of them and go at them with all your might. Beat them till they cry for their ancestors. That way, no one will bully you anymore.”
She didn’t know how to fight, but…….
That person’s hand was still jabbing her shoulder, “En? Little b*tch, why aren’t you talking? Can’t be that you’re so scared that you wet your pants?”
It was another round of laughter.
A person’s personality was unable to change overnight. Just like how a timid person yesterday can’t suddenly become brave the next day.
But people must gradually grow, slowly maturing.
Just like how Zhou Yanli said, only by learning to fight back will they finally stop bullying her.
Gotta fight back, gotta fight back……
Her hands were shaking, her teeth tightly biting her lower lip, to the point where her lip started to turn pale.
She closed her eyes, nervously took a deep breath, and then ruthless had her pushed away.
“If you all come find me again, I will call the police!”
She did her best to control her trembling hands. That push just now already took all her strength.
The other party staggered from the push, nearly falling on the ground. In this moment, they were filled with rage. They charged at her, about to deliver a slap.
However, they’d just taken two steps when they suddenly froze.
Standing less than ten meters away behind Jiang Huihui was a tall young man, his eyes and brows familiar-looking.
They’d met him before. He’d once thrown her before with his bare hands. With that super strong arm strength of his, picking her up was practically like picking up a small chick, completely effortless.
Currently, the only thing the other party had on him that showed he was a student was probably just the jacket of his school uniform that he’d tied around his waist.
His hair was cut back to a buzz-cut. His face was quite intimidating, with a lollipop in his mouth, his chin slightly lifted. In his eyes, there was an undisguised killing intent ruthlessness.
Just like if they were to dare retaliate, he will let them collectively go meet their maker.
The deep-rooted fear extinguished their swagger. In the end, they could only swallow this anger and leave.
After they left, Jiang Huihui looked at her own two hands that were still trembling in disbelief.
Just now, she…..actually drove away those girls who’d constantly bullied her.
A playful whistle sounded behind her. Zhou Yanli nonchalantly walked over, “Not bad, you were quite cool just now.”
Jiang Huihui still had a look of disbelief in her eyes. She opened her mouth, her finger pointing ahead, stammering, unable to speak.
After a long while, she finally found her voice again, “I drove them off.”
As if informing, but also like showing off.
“See, you can do it. In the future, if you get bullied again, just be like today, understand?” Zhou Yanli pressed her head and smilingly rubbed it, “It doesn’t matter if you have the ability to drive them off or not. Having the courage to do so is already the best start.”
Right, the best start.
Her hair got messily ruffled, but she didn’t care, still looking at her own hands in shock.
This was the first time in her life where she directly faced this nightmare-like bullying and fought back against them.
The scene that had appeared countless times before in her dreams was like a kind of psychological suggestion. She hoped that she can do this kind of thing, but reality was always the opposite of her dreams.
She was weak and easy to bully. When facing bullying, she could only give in and submit time after time.
But today, in this moment, her dream actually unbelievably came true.
[1] This is pretty straightforward, minced meat shaped into balls and deep fried.
[2] Deep-fried lotus roots stuffed with minced meat.
[3] Marinated spare ribs cooked in a steamer.
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