Home Visit: Jiang Xu, does it hurt?

With that attitude, what's the point of studying!

Liang Xiaoqing was still on the muddy path when she heard the harsh cursing from behind the trees.

"What's the point of reading! I didn't raise you to eat for free!"

She vaguely heard a woman's sobbing, followed by a weak, pleading voice.

"Stop hitting her, stop! Jiang Daguo, you're going to kill her!"

"Jiang Xu, Jiang Xu..."

The commotion frightened Liang Xiaoqing so much she almost turned back.

It had rained yesterday, and today was gloomy and misty. The path up the mountain was all mud, and her shoes were soaked through, water squelching inside with every step.

The trees in the forest were hung with rainwater, and when the wind blew, it shook loose, splashing her face.

She wiped the water from her forehead and stood still for a moment, her heart racing, regretting that she had come alone for the home visit.

Qing Middle was the only school in Shuiqing Town, covering primary, junior high, and senior high. As a teacher, home visits were routine for Liang Xiaoqing. But for students who had dropped out, her job was to persuade their parents to let them return.

Clearly, this job wasn't easy.

The country was still developing, and many children had already gone to work in distant cities at a young age; even a high school education wasn't yet common.

Liang Xiaoqing was probably one of the most qualified teachers at Qing Middle, having attended university. Several of her students had managed to escape Shuiqing Town.

That made it even harder for her to see school-age students dropping out for one reason or another.

This time, according to the list, it was a student named Jiang Xu.

Jiang Xu's family lived on a hillside, too poor to move down. Liang Xiaoqing had thought it was no big deal to visit alone, but now, seeing the surroundings, she felt a bit scared.

After standing still for a while, she no longer heard any commotion, so she mustered her courage and walked toward the shabby tiled house behind the trees. The area was full of trees, and besides Jiang Xu's family, no one else lived here.

As she got closer, she noticed a young girl in the yard, wearing an ill-fitting blue cloth top and holding a rusty iron basin, seemingly... feeding the chickens.

The rain was drizzling, and Liang Xiaoqing wasn't sure at first, but as she came closer, she confirmed the girl really was feeding the chickens. She thought to herself that this must be the little girl named Jiang Xu.

Looking around, there was only messy muddy ground and no one else in sight, so Liang Xiaoqing softly called out, "Jiang Xu."

Jiang Xu, startled by the sound, turned to look at her. "Who are you?"

"I'm Liang Xiaoqing, a teacher at Qing Middle." Seeing the girl's nervousness, Liang Xiaoqing tried to keep her voice gentle.

Jiang Xu's face practically leapt into Liang Xiaoqing's eyes. She was too thin, her complexion sallow, her hair dry and brittle, and the way her clothes hung empty made her look nothing like a junior high school girl.

But her eyes were extraordinarily bright in her gaunt face, and there was a noticeable slap mark on her left cheek—likely from being hit by an adult just now.

Liang Xiaoqing was so startled that even the smile froze on her lips.

"Clatter!"

The iron basin fell to the ground, scattering the rice bran inside, and all the chickens crowded around to eat. Jiang Xu, however, backed away warily.

Liang Xiaoqing softened her voice again. "Don't be afraid. I'm here to see your parents. Is anyone home?"

As she spoke, she stepped through the mud toward Jiang Xu. But with so many chickens around her feet, she had to stop, and she lowered her head to wave at Jiang Xu. "Jiang Xu."

She smiled again. "Come here. Let me see what happened to your face."

Although Jiang Xu wasn't her student, she had paid special attention when other teachers mentioned her in the office. Her subject teachers said she was very smart, quick to catch on, and if she kept studying, she could definitely get into high school.

"Your face is all red. Does it hurt?"

"..."

Jiang Xu didn't speak.

The woman spoke earnestly, her voice gentle and patient. Jiang Xu relaxed a little, her round, bright eyes wide as she studied the beautiful woman before her.

Her skin was very fair, like jade, and she wore a denim jacket and jeans, all splattered with mud.

The drizzle had lasted through the night until morning, and the air still felt damp and cold. In Jiang Xu's memory, few people ever came to their house, let alone teachers. Besides, Jiang Xu remembered that none of her teachers matched this person.

But... Jiang Xu suddenly realized she was a teacher at Qing Middle.

Although Liang Xiaoqing wasn't her teacher, she would always hear about her from her classmates. Both the girls and boys liked her a lot, saying she was a good teacher who never lost her temper.

Whenever classmates discussed teachers, the girls would take turns complaining about all of them, except Liang Xiaoqing, who got unanimous praise for being beautiful and kind.

Jiang Xu had heard so much about her that her ears were practically callused, but she never joined the conversation.

Now, Liang Xiaoqing had come to her house. She didn't know how she had found her home, and she was even more surprised that she knew her name—or perhaps she was overwhelmed by the honor.

Because almost no one in her class actively wanted to play with her, and even the teachers paid her little attention.

Looking at that warm, smiling face, Jiang Xu felt a sense of familiarity and slowly walked toward Liang Xiaoqing.

"Teacher Liang." Her voice was timid as she tilted her head up slightly to look at her, catching a faint, pleasant scent.

"You're up so early." Liang Xiaoqing didn't mind at all that Jiang Xu was dirty. Seeing her thin outer jacket, she took off her own thick coat and draped it over her.

She led her toward the eaves. "It's gotten colder these past few days. You need to dress warmer, you know."

Stopping under the eaves, Liang Xiaoqing peered into the dark, drafty doorway. "Is there an adult at home?"

A tall and a short figure stood by the low mud-brick house, water dripping from the tiled eaves onto the stone floor below. As Liang Xiaoqing spoke, she looked down at Jiang Xu. Jiang Xu's big eyes stared straight at her, bright and liquid.

It was then that she noticed how pretty Jiang Xu's eyes were.

"There is. Mom's feeding the pigs. Dad's already gone to work in the fields." Jiang Xu's hand was still held by Liang Xiaoqing, and she sniffled. "After I feed the chickens, I need to go work in the fields too."

Perhaps from the cold, Jiang Xu's hoarse voice trembled slightly. Every time Liang Xiaoqing did home visits and heard what the students said, her heart ached.

She crouched down and straightened Jiang Xu's clothes. "Don't you want to keep studying? If you can continue, you'll have the chance to get into college. Once you get out of Shuiqing Town, your parents won't have to work so hard. Do you want to stay in Shuiqing Town working forever? And I've heard from Teacher Yang that your grades are pretty good. Getting into high school isn't hard for you at all."

Yang Man was Jiang Xu's homeroom teacher.

Liang Xiaoqing sighed as she spoke, a wisp of white breath curling from her lips. "Jiang Xu, you're still so young. If you don't study, what else are you going to do?"

In places where the economy wasn't developed, education was a luxury for some.

Jiang Xu didn't seem to hear what Liang Xiaoqing was saying. She only saw Liang Xiaoqing's mouth opening and closing. Liang Xiaoqing had soft, gentle features—not particularly striking, but harmonious; overall, she looked comfortable to the eye. What was more eye-catching was her pale, flawless skin, which was dazzling to Jiang Xu.

A healthy blush radiated from her full cheeks, complementing her fair skin perfectly.

Jiang Xu never imagined that one day she'd be this close to the Teacher Liang her classmates always talked about. The faint scent wafting over was about to make her dizzy—it came from Liang Xiaoqing, and it smelled wonderful.

Jiang Xu's gaze fell on her pink lips.

Liang Xiaoqing said earnestly, "Can I meet your father or mother? I—"

"Teacher Liang, you're here again!"

The one who interrupted was a middle-aged woman with graying hair and dark skin. Looking closely, her features somewhat resembled Jiang Xu's. She emerged from the dark doorway, her tone not very polite.

"Hey, Sister Wang." A big smile blossomed on Liang Xiaoqing's face as she quickly straightened up to extend her hand.

But Wang Cai was wary and pulled Jiang Xu back a step. "Teacher Liang, I told you clearly the last time you came. Jiang Xu isn't going to study! Everything in this house is decided by her father. If he doesn't pay, how can we afford to send her to school? Besides, her brother's schooling costs money too. How easy do you think it is to support two students?"

Liang Xiaoqing was about to speak, but Wang Cai cut her off again. "Teacher Liang, I know you mean well, but you have to understand the difficulties of us parents! The whole family is counting on her brother to make something of himself."

Jiang Xu had an older brother, one of the few students from Shuiqing Town in recent years who had gotten into a university. In the few days after the admission letter arrived, her father had been grinning ear to ear, hosting several tables of food for the neighbors to celebrate.

Liang Xiaoqing's hand closed on empty air, but she wasn't annoyed. She smiled at Wang Cai. "Sister Wang, you can't say that! If Jiang Xu also gets into college, you'll have two university students in your family—that would bring great honor to your household. And Jiang Xu's grades are good. I guarantee she'll do no worse than your son!"

Wang Cai's expression shifted subtly, her brows knitting as she said impatiently, "Teacher Liang, stop it! Don't I know what's best for my own daughter? No matter how many times you come, our answer will be the same... Teacher Liang, I'd advise you not to meddle in other people's business!"

Working people were strong, and Liang Xiaoqing was pushed out by Wang Cai.

Jiang Xu hurriedly reached out to steady her, realizing belatedly that this wasn't the teacher's first visit to their home.

"Sister Wang, just listen to me, and you won't go wrong! Jiang Xu is a real gem..."

"...Ow!..."

Jiang Xu's hand missed, and before she knew it, Liang Xiaoqing had fallen into the mud.

It was raining again now, the rain falling on her and soaking her hair. Her hair was very black, and her skin glistened in the rain's sheen.

As she dodged the rain, she kept persuading, "Sister Wang, listen to me..."

Wang Cai looked at her sorry state and finally let out a sigh, pulling her up from the ground. "Teacher Liang, I'm sorry."

"...Sister Wang, I know you just want what's best for Jiang Xu." Liang Xiaoqing waved her hand good-naturedly. "As long as you let—"

"Teacher Liang, why put yourself through this?" Wang Cai sighed and interrupted her. "In the end, what is Jiang Xu to you? It's just this child's fate... You can talk to me all you want, but I don't have the final say in this house."

With that, she glanced at Jiang Xu, who was still dazed, her face full of worry.

Jiang Xu stared at Liang Xiaoqing, tilting her head slightly.

The rain fell in a fine drizzle, rustling softly like a gentle whisper. Liang Xiaoqing wiped the rain from her face and looked at Jiang Xu's bewildered expression.

A warm current inexplicably flowed through Jiang Xu's heart. She didn't want the teacher to go through any more trouble for her, so she said, "Teacher Liang, the rain's about to get worse. You should hurry back."

A flicker passed through Liang Xiaoqing's eyes. She suddenly remembered that when she taught, the few students who looked up at her in class had bright, sparkling eyes glowing with a hunger for knowledge.

A nameless ache welled up in her chest, and she patted Jiang Xu's head.

Jiang Xu blinked.

Liang Xiaoqing didn't give up.

This wasn't her first time at Jiang Xu's house; it was just the first time she'd met her. Since Wang Cai had no say, she would go find the one who did—following Wang Cai all the way to the fields to see Jiang Xu's father, Jiang Daguo.

Having done shameless things many times, she no longer felt embarrassed.

When they reached the fields, Jiang Daguo was picking corn. Liang Xiaoqing followed him along the way, talking the whole time. But no matter what she said, Jiang Daguo wouldn't agree to let Jiang Xu continue her studies.

She argued with him for a long time. Jiang Daguo had a bad temper, and Wang Cai was afraid things would get out of hand, so she persuaded Liang Xiaoqing to stop by the time it was almost dark.

With the rainy day making the mountain paths slippery, Wang Cai had no choice but to let Liang Xiaoqing stay the night.

When Jiang Xu heard the news, she rushed home early to cook dinner and boiled a big pot of hot water, waiting for Liang Xiaoqing to have a bath.

She'd thought the teacher wouldn't stay long, but she hadn't expected her to spend the night. Jiang Xu couldn't quite put into words what she felt inside, only that she was happy because Liang Xiaoqing could stay one more night.

It had been a long time since she'd felt this happy.

During school, Jiang Xu had heard her classmates say that Teacher Liang always smelled nice, and what she'd smelled today confirmed it. She must be very particular about cleanliness too. Today, she'd been drenched by the rain and had gotten mud all over her in the fields—messy indeed.

At dinner, Liang Xiaoqing tactlessly brought up the matter again, and Jiang Daguo barely held back his anger but started cursing at Jiang Xu, who was clearing the dishes, blaming her for bringing the teacher to their home. Even Wang Cai didn't dare say a word.

Jiang Xu just lowered her head and stood obediently, letting Jiang Daguo scold her. Her dark eyes fixed on the flames in the brazier, barely moving. Even when Jiang Daguo kicked her to the ground, she didn't cry or fuss.

If she dared to resist, Jiang Daguo would hit her even harder.

Without warning, as he was cursing, Jiang Daguo really did kick her—right in the chest.

Her first reaction wasn't pain, but a dull thud. The kick had come fast, and it felt to Jiang Xu like it had slowed down, but the force had been multiplied tenfold. She was knocked to the ground, feeling a piercing pain in her chest. Before she could even react, Jiang Daguo was already gearing up for a second kick.

It hurt too much.

Jiang Xu wanted to dodge but couldn't, and tears spilled from her eyes involuntarily. Her vision blurred, and she seemed to hear a woman's voice rising sharply in question, along with Wang Cai's sobbing.

She didn't move, but the anticipated second kick never came. Someone gently lifted her, and she caught a faint, familiar scent. Then the woman pulled her into an embrace, softer than anything she'd ever known.

She struggled to open her eyes and saw Liang Xiaoqing's wide, horrified expression.

"Jiang Xu, does it hurt?"

Jiang Xu shook her head. She finally let her body relax, leaning safely against Liang Xiaoqing.

She thought to herself, at least today, Liang Xiaoqing had saved her.