Chapter 34

“How do you know he will?” Before Ye Wanqing could react, Chen Yuming seriously continued, “I know you don’t like hearing the words I say, yet I still want to say…… according to the general law of how things develop, he…… your fiancé, cannot be more outstanding than you.”

And also cannot be more outstanding than him……

This was Chen Yuming’s unfinished words.

Although Chen Yuming did not speak them out Ye Wanqing heard them.

From her understanding of Chen Yuming Ye Wanqing knew he had no intention of looking down on Ge Yuan. He simply felt Ge Yuan was weaker than him and did not understand her choice.

Therefore she also did not want at this time to become furious and retort, instead making people feel she also had no confidence in Ge Yuan and was only swelling her face to pose as a fat person.

Yet what needed to be said still needed to be said—and said with demeanor!

“Classmate Chen, I think you have misunderstood one point. Although Ge Yuan did not choose the same path as us it does not mean he will live worse than us.”

“Studying can open intelligence and clarify principles, yet it does not mean that not studying loses all hope. Similarly some people perhaps are not outstanding on the path of studying, yet they can also shine and give off heat in other directions!”

“Right now there are still many people who cannot change their concepts and feel doing business is capitalism and not attending to proper business. Yet is it truly so? It is not! Nowadays the central government advocates reform and opening up. The domestic economy is thriving and flourishing. I believe the future will only become better and better. And my Brother Yuan—he is one of the outstanding ones among them!”

Not speaking of the future—just speaking of the present. Ever since Ye Wanqing knew how much “wife capital” Ge Yuan had accumulated she truly admired his ability beyond measure.

Saying Ge Yuan was inferior? That was only people who did not know his situation who would think that way!

“What if?” Chen Yuming stubbornly asked in return. “What if he simply has no prospects and in the future also has no common language with you?”

Ye Wanqing froze.

What if?

What if in this life Ge Yuan could not reach the height of the previous life and was only a mediocre ordinary person? This was also not without possibility…… If there truly was a butterfly effect who knew whether one flap of the butterfly’s wing would fan away Ge Yuan the president’s halo?

Chen Yuming saw her silence and quickly said, “You also have to admit there is that possibility?”

“Mm……” Ye Wanqing nodded, yet she immediately smiled. “First I have great confidence in my family’s Brother Yuan. But if there truly is that possibility…… then I’ll just support him for a lifetime. Who told me I just like him.”

Chen Yuming: “……”

After a round of entanglement walking over with large strides and hearing the last sentence Ge Yuan: “……”

In his heart it was both sweet and complicated.

He Ge Yuan, a towering and upright big man, actually had to be supported by a little woman? Thinking about it was truly…… still pretty good.

“We’re leaving!” Grasping Ye Wanqing’s hand Ge Yuan coldly swept Chen Yuming once with his eyes. “Since you claim to be a scholar then you must understand a bit of propriety, righteousness, integrity and shame. Don’t pursue a woman who already has a fiancé!”

“Brother Yuan……”

“Going home.”

“Oh……” Ye Wanqing looked at her hand grasped in the tall man’s palm, smiled and pressed her lips, deciding it was better not to speak so as not to make the tall man lose face.

Even if seen by people then just seen by people.

—

Ye Wanqing thought her own tall man having suffered “grievance” would definitely find her to properly stick and get close for a bit—at the least also need a couple more kisses. Yet he did not.

After returning home Ye Wanqing after eating went into the study. Ge Yuan only pulled her and pecked once on her lips.

Under the thin moonlight his eyes were deep and his expression serious. “You only need to study with peace of mind. Other matters need not be worried about. I am absolutely not a useless man. I will definitely let you live good days. In other aspects I also will not lose to other men. Believe me.”

“I believe you!” Ye Wanqing forcefully nodded.

At this time she need not say anything else and even need not comfort him. She only needed to speak these three words. She knew men had men’s pride while she also needed to have her considerateness.

“Good girl.” Ge Yuan’s lips rose in a smile. He lowered his head and kissed her lips once. His low and pleasant voice was like clear spring water washing her ears. “Believe me.”

I definitely am the person most suitable for you.

And also definitely am that person willing to exhaust all strength for you and love and value you more than anyone else.

Because obtaining this opportunity was truly too not easy……

—

The moonlight was like water.

A gust of wind blew past, blowing the leaves into a sparse clattering sound.

Ge Yuan carried a bottle of wine into Old Zhong’s room.

“Drink two cups?” He reached out and knocked the table, digging Old Zhong out of the books.

Old Zhong took off his reading glasses and slanted a glance at him. “Speak. What’s the matter.”

Saying this he also examined the wine Ge Yuan carried in a bit. His nostrils flared as he sniffed. “This wine is not bad. Looking at it the matter you request of me this time is definitely not simple. Otherwise it is that you have no good idea.”

“……” Ge Yuan’s thoughts were guessed in one go. He was a bit angry from embarrassment and huffed, “What bad idea can I still have? Didn’t you say you wanted to teach me to study? Brother…… previously I definitely would not agree, yet looking at your advanced age I’ll just satisfy this wish of yours.”

“Oh?” Old Zhong leisurely took the wine, poured it into his own small wine cup and sipped once. He did not speak and also did not express an attitude.

“What do you mean?”

“What do I mean? Is this the attitude of acknowledging a master?”

Ge Yuan: “……”

“Call Grandfather.”

“Grandfather.”

“Good grandson, what do you want to learn?” Old Zhong smiled and asked.

“You look and teach. Anyway…… in the future I am a person who will do big matters. Perhaps I will need to deal with those scholars. I don’t want them to look down on me so I cannot lack that common language.”

“Oh…… wanting to have common language with scholars—then not planning to learn archaeology with me?”

Ge Yuan rubbed his nose and could not help quietly muttering, “Dealing with dead objects—what interest is there? Always need to first make the relationships with living people firm? I don’t want to be a tomb robber. Afraid of meeting ghosts.”

“You think archaeology is tomb robbers? Brain has water!” Old Zhong hatefully glared at him once, knowing that this time he actively requested to study—the purpose was not pure.

It truly was for that little girl.

Forget it. Looking at his own child’s dejected appearance he also could not bear it. Just like this. In short this fellow agreeing to study was good—always better than being an illiterate.

Old Zhong sighed once. “Alright! To cultivate you into an archaeology professional first need to let you clearly recognize the big characters. You arrange the time. Starting tomorrow follow me to study. The curriculum will be planned by me. You must not have any dissenting opinion.”

“Alright.”

“Pour the wine for me.”

“……Alright.”

“Call Grandfather once more for me to go with the wine.”

“……”

“Call.”

“Grandfather!” Ge Yuan secretly gritted his teeth.

A real man can bend and stretch. He would not argue with this bad old man!

“Good grandson.” Old Zhong raised his head and laughed loudly. He put on the reading glasses and in the blink of an eye began driving people away. “Get lost.”

Ge Yuan: “……”

This person was truly changeable.

When begging him to study he still said studying one day would give him one gold bean. Now that he actively wanted to study the person told him to get lost…… Get lost then get lost! Tomorrow just roll back. Anyway he was determined to study!

—

Ye Wanqing had just sat down in her seat when she was knocked on the desk by Jiang Lili.

She turned her head and met Jiang Lili’s sympathetic gaze.

“The old stick-in-the-mud called you to the office.” Jiang Lili said in a small voice. “I estimate it’s for the matter of you receiving love letters. Be careful.”

The old stick-in-the-mud was the “affectionate name” the class students gave Class Teacher Zeng. Because Teacher Zeng always wore a stiff face, spoke very severely, and looked extremely difficult to approach.

Ye Wanqing: “……”

She frowned a bit, stood up and walked toward the direction of the office.

Speaking of having been a teacher for so many years she now…… toward the matter of being called to the office by a teacher for a lecture truly felt a bit complicated. After all previously she was the one scolding people. Now she was the pitiful lectured object.

While randomly thinking she had already walked to the office doorway. Ye Wanqing raised her hand and lightly knocked the door panel.

“Come in.” From inside came Teacher Zeng’s serious voice.

Ye Wanqing pushed the door and entered. “Teacher Zeng, you looked for me.”

Teacher Zeng raised her eyes and glanced at her once, indifferently. “Do you know why I called you over?”

“……Don’t know.”

“I heard you recently received quite a few love letters? Ye Wanqing, do you still remember how you guaranteed to me on the first day you came to school? You said you thanked No. 3 Middle School for giving you an opportunity to study and you would properly cherish it. As a result? Look at what you did!”

Teacher Zeng opened the drawer, took out two love letters from inside and directly threw them in front of Ye Wanqing. “Ever since you came the atmosphere of our school has gone bad. Previously there never were these messy matters!”

Ye Wanqing did not pay attention to the love letters thrown on the ground. She pressed her lips and said, “Teacher Zeng, if you understand the situation then you should know I never responded to any love letter and every day only seriously study.”

“Then what about you and Chen Yuming of the science class? Why did someone see you pulling and tugging with him, entangling with him?”

Ye Wanqing frowned.

Involving Chen Yuming, and they…… in other people’s eyes perhaps had indeed “pulled and tugged” that one time. She did not know how to explain this matter and could only lightly explain that she and Chen Yuming had no relationship.

“Teacher Zeng, Chen Yuming and I once discussed a certain problem, yet we did not fall in love. In my heart there is only studying.”

Teacher Zeng: “Didn’t you also tell people you have a fiancé?”

“Yes.” Ye Wanqing openly nodded. “Therefore I even more have no possibility of falling in love with Chen Yuming. This point you must believe me. Don’t misunderstand Chen Yuming and me.”

“……” Teacher Zeng deeply inhaled once and unhappily said, “Chen Yuming is a top student of the science class. His opportunity of testing into a good university is very good. His class teacher treasures him very much. Do you understand? Teacher Wang has already gone to complain to the principal, saying you don’t attend to proper business and at school seduce male classmates. The only thing that can prove yourself is your grades…… If this monthly exam you cannot enter the top twenty of the class, Ye Wanqing, you very possibly will be expelled by the school.”

“But……”

“No buts. If you truly love studying as much as you say then use grades to speak!”

“……” Ye Wanqing pressed her lips. “Alright!”

“Go out. Incidentally call Jiang Lili over.”

“……Alright.”

—

Ye Wanqing sat down in her seat, conveyed Teacher Zeng’s words, and watched Jiang Lili walk out of the classroom.

After Jiang Lili returned the front-desk Jiang Wen also went.

One after another the students sitting near Ye Wanqing were called to the office. Even the class cadres were also called over to ask about the situation. Clear-eyed people looking once knew Ye Wanqing had some matter.

Associating with Ye Wanqing recently being pursued so high-profile, for a time quite a few people quietly examined Ye Wanqing.

Some people were purely curious. Some people took pleasure in others’ misfortune. There were still people who directly laughed out loud and deliberately said cold words.

“Calling her so arrogant.”

“Ordinarily pretending so cold, actually the relationship with boys is messy beyond measure. Loves randomly hooking up with people the most.”

“Whoever’s family conditions are good she likes to hook onto.”

“Otherwise why do so many boys like her? Just because she’s easy to pursue! If I were a boy I truly would not dare pursue an iceberg beauty. Clearly so-called iceberg beauty is fake. Actually hiding a ball of fire in the heart.”

“Still saying she has a fiancé. Who knows how many green hats the fiancé has been made to wear by her. That man is truly useless.”

“……”

Ye Wanqing was not that she did not hear these messy words, yet she truly could not be bothered to pay attention. With this time it was better to recite two more historical knowledge points. Yet hearing others use that contemptuous tone speaking of Ge Yuan she instantly could not endure it.

Speaking of her was fine. Speaking of Brother Yuan was not okay!

Clean almond eyes swept over. Ye Wanqing coldly looked toward that girl who was speaking idle talk.

She remembered that girl was called Yi Yuan. She also remembered when Jiang Lili gossiped about Chen Yuming she said Yi Yuan had always secretly liked Chen Yuming, yet because of a girl’s reserve had never confessed.

Standing up from her seat Ye Wanqing carried the water cup and walked in front of Yi Yuan. She coldly asked her, “The words you said just now—dare you say them once more in front of my face?”

Ye Wanqing was born pretty. Her brows and eyes were delicate. Her skin was white as snow. A head of pretty short hair made her look energetic, sunny and also very fresh and likable. Yet when she put on a cold face the chill emanating from her body also made people unable to help trembling in their hearts and feeling she was not easy to provoke.

“I…… what did I say?” Yi Yuan stuttered once then quickly became justified. “If you have no problem why would the teacher call you to the office? You receive so many love letters every day. Who knows whether you came to study or came to find a partner?”

Yi Yuan’s deskmate also mockingly opened her mouth. “Not coming to school one can only find a worker or find a farmer digging food in the fields to marry. Coming to school to study—if finding a partner like Chen Yuming who can test into university and whose family conditions are still very good—after marrying there is no worry. This abacus is calculated truly shrewdly!”

“Oh?” Ye Wanqing lightly laughed. “I receive many love letters so I have a problem. Then you have never received a single love letter—is it that you have a problem?”

Yi Yuan: “What problem do I have?”

Ye Wanqing examined her once and regretfully shook her head. “Dark skin, sparse hair, triangular eyes, upturned brows, flat nose bridge, teeth a bit yellow…… in short just ugly-looking. No wonder no one likes you. Being ugly is one thing. Character also not particularly good. Because of jealousy randomly smearing others, speaking sharply and meanly. Whoever marries you home is marrying a family-stirring spirit. No wonder no one takes a fancy to you.”

Yi Yuan: “……”

She froze a bit. Her eye sockets suddenly reddened. “Wah” she loudly cried out and lay on the desk crying earth-shakingly.

Yi Yuan’s deskmate seeing this wanted to make a move. Ye Wanqing’s cold and sharp almond eyes looked toward her, making her movement involuntarily pause. The raised hand also could not swing down toward Ye Wanqing.

“As for you……” Ye Wanqing examined Yi Yuan’s deskmate once. “I heard people say you previously were taken advantage of by a fifty- or sixty-year-old wretched old man. Your family people were afraid you would not be able to marry out in the future so they swallowed their anger and planned not to find trouble for people, right?”

“Wha…… what?” Yi Yuan’s deskmate suddenly froze then urgently and loudly screamed, “You’re talking nonsense! There is no such thing—simply none!”

Afraid others would believe she still while working hard looked toward the classmates watching the show and explained, “I was not taken advantage of by anyone. Truly none. I swear! It’s all Ye Wanqing framing me, deliberately harming me. She just wants to take revenge on me! I…… if I were taken advantage of by someone I would die!”

Yet even though she agitatedly explained like this many people’s gazes looking at her still changed.

Who knew whether this matter was true or not?

The girl was so anxious her whole head was full of sweat. Her eye sockets reddened. Tears continuously surged out. She wiped the tears and hatefully looked toward Ye Wanqing. Under impulse she wanted to fight it out with her.

Just at this time Ye Wanqing once again coldly and indifferently opened her mouth. “Felt it? One sentence I randomly arranged—yet when you explain to people it is very difficult. That feeling of being unable to defend yourself with a hundred mouths and having heart yet no strength—is it not tormenting?! And many people do not care about the truth and only watch the show. Even if afterward it is proven that what I said was all false they will still behind the scenes say cold words about you.”

The girl froze once and suddenly understood something.

“Know you were wrong?” Ye Wanqing asked. “When dirty water is poured on your body you are anxious. When you pour it on others it is very justified?”

The girl tightly bit her lip petals and no longer spoke.

She lowered her head. Although she did not apologize her demeanor tacitly agreed.

All around was a stretch of quiet. Even Yi Yuan’s loud crying stopped. She turned her head and dazedly looked toward Ye Wanqing.

Ye Wanqing raised the water cup in her hand. “Today I originally wanted to pour this cup of water onto your faces and let you wash your mouths. Yet now I also made you cry from anger. Counting it as even.”

“In the future if you let me hear you randomly speaking again or whoever behind the scenes arranges me then see who is more ruthless!”

“You also know our main task right now is studying. Speaking idle talk is a manifestation of incompetence. If you have ability then use grades higher than mine to slap my face!”

She again looked toward Yi Yuan. “Oh…… actually you look not bad. Yet what is most important for a person is not appearance but character. Hope you think thrice before speaking, have less jealousy, and in the future become a more lovable girl.”

Yi Yuan: “……”

She touched her own face and suddenly felt a bit moved…… no—she definitely had water in her brain!

After speaking these words Ye Wanqing indifferently walked back to her own seat and sat down. She took out books and again seriously looked.

The crowd: “……”

Silent as a crow.

The pitiful senior-year students of the early 1980s had not seen much of the world. So pure and easy to fool. After being fiercely criticized by Ye Wanqing this old soul who had taught for twenty years and lectured countless bear children and then had their exploded fur smoothed they were all shaken in their souls.

They were only a group of pitiful little animals while Ye Wanqing was a sharp and experienced animal trainer. The little animals trembled yet inexplicably felt the animal trainer was a bit cool.

After the brief quiet they chattered.

“Classmate Ye, in the future we won’t be like this again.”

“Sorry ah.”

“You’re so pretty—how could you be that kind of person?”

“You study all day. In the evening you go home together with your younger brother and sister. Even if wanting to mess around with boys there is no time. We all believe you—truly!”

“……”

Facing the classmates’ seven mouths and eight tongues of apologies and support Ye Wanqing smiled gently, lightly thanked them, then raised the book in her hand. “Recite.”

“Alright!”

Instantly the classroom rang with loud reading sounds. Jiang Lili glanced at her once and also as if injected with chicken blood took up the textbook and read very loudly.

Ye Wanqing pressed her lips into a smile and also seriously began reading.

She needed to properly work hard.

Although this incident was an unexpected disaster the only thing that could defend herself was producing good grades.

Teacher Zeng said if this monthly exam she could not enter the top twenty of the class she very possibly would be expelled by the school…… She did not want it like this.

No. 3 Middle School students were not many. Senior year altogether only two classes—arts class and science class. The arts class altogether had fifty-six people. Entering the top twenty meant defeating sixty-four percent of the classmates……

She must work hard!

This was also the best self-proof—more useful than saying ten thousand times she had no love brain!

—

Unknown whether Class Teacher Zeng heard the things that happened in the classroom. She did not again look for Ye Wanqing to speak of the love-letter matter.

Everything waited for the monthly exam to see the outcome.

Ye Wanqing originally was already very hardworking. Adding the task on her body of “defeating sixty-four percent of the class classmates in the monthly exam” the sense of urgency prompted her once again to adjust her study plan and rest schedule and become even more crazy and merciless toward herself.

Originally she still guaranteed six hours of sleep time every day. Now it was good—no need to sleep that long.

After studying according to the plan every day being able to sleep four hours was already considered not bad.

Under high-intensity studying Ye Wanqing’s attention toward other matters and people correspondingly lessened. She had worried whether Ge Yuan would therefore feel neglected. Yet her tall man said nothing at all and only fiercely kissed her once.

The next day when she prepared to ride the bicycle to school she discovered a vehicle similar to the rickshaws of the Republican period waiting outside the small courtyard gate.

This vehicle was just enough to seat one person. There was a canopy on top. The seat was wrapped with a layer of soft cotton pad. The slanted chair back also had a soft cushion. On the seat there were still two straps that could be tied on the person to play the role of fixing the body—just like the safety belts on cars.

Looking at it one felt sitting would be very comfortable and also very safe.

However this vehicle was not pulled by human power. Instead a bicycle was welded to it. The tall and long-legged Ge Yuan sat astride the bicycle. A pair of pitch-black eyes proudly looked at her.

“Get on. I’ll pull you to school. On the vehicle grab the time to sleep a bit. When almost at school I’ll call you.”

Ye Wanqing: “……”

“Come ah!”

“Thank you, Brother Yuan!” Ye Wanqing could not help laughing out loud. Looking around and seeing no one she first kissed her family’s tall man once. “Your blacksmith technique is not bad ah. From whom did you learn?”

Ge Yuan: “……”

This little woman—shouldn’t she first praise him for being gentle and considerate?

“Brother Yuan, set out!” Ye Wanqing got onto the vehicle and patted his back once, just like a rider raising a horsewhip.

“Alright—going!”

Ignoring thinking of other things all kinds of mental complaints swept clean. Ge Yuan’s long leg stepped once and full of spirit set out forward. After walking a stretch of road he turned his head and looked once. Discovering the little woman on the vehicle had truly fallen asleep he could not help blooming a brilliant smile and in his heart blew a whistle.

—

Time quickly arrived at May First.

Many classmates were discussing how to relax a bit in the rare holiday. Yet what Ye Wanqing thought of was that not needing to go to school again saved the time of going back and forth and she could recite one more text.

No way. After May First the monthly exam was coming up. Time was too tight.