A Plea: Her Eyes Suddenly Welled Up

As Liang Xiaoqing grew older, she realized more and more that not everything could go as she wished. She was still young, and young people always had naive ideas.

She didn't tell Jiang Xu about this.

In the morning, she had waited for Li Jingquan at the entrance to his home. At that moment, Liang Xiaoqing's mood was as full of hope as the rising sun.

Li Jingquan's family lived in the county town and had a four-wheeled vehicle; the drive to school only took half an hour. Liang Xiaoqing had learned from Yang Man where Li Jingquan lived, and before dawn, she had ridden her bicycle all the way from Qingshui Township. She pedaled quickly, and by the time she reached the county town, a sliver of dawn light was breaking on the horizon. Liang Xiaoqing parked her bike and waited for Li Jingquan at the entrance to the residential complex.

"Director Li!" She hurried over and grabbed him as soon as she saw him come out. The morning was still cold, and a layer of mist hung low, obscuring the road ahead. Liang Xiaoqing had stood at the entrance for half an hour, and the sweat from her bike ride had turned cold against her back. She rubbed her hands together to warm them, her nose red from the chill. When she finally saw Li Jingquan returning from outside, a heavy stone lifted from her heart.

"I never expected you to live this far!"

The moment Li Jingquan spotted her, his face twisted with disdain. He looked at her askance, his mouth downturned, clearly annoyed at being bothered so early. He had come back from outside, wearing only a thin athletic jacket.

"What's the matter?" He asked in a low voice, clasping his hands behind his back.

Liang Xiaoqing let out a couple of tentative laughs. She was still clumsy at social niceties, her brows curving into a smile as she rubbed her frozen hands, which had become stiff as icicles. "Director Li, you haven't had breakfast yet, have you? Why don't we grab a bite somewhere?"

Li Jingquan waved his hand dismissively. "They're making food at home!" As he spoke, he walked slowly inside. "Liang Xiaoqing, is it? I know you came here from elsewhere."

He suddenly turned to glance at Liang Xiaoqing. "College graduates are rare these days. Even I don't have your level of education. The fact that you were willing to come to our school—those kids don't know how lucky they are. But then again, you're a college graduate, and staying here won't offer you much room to grow. Today, are you here to—"

"No." Liang Xiaoqing quickly waved her hands. "..."

"If there's something you want to say, just say it directly. For talented people like you from the new era, the school leadership has stressed time and again that we should do our best to accommodate whatever requests you have. Whatever difficulties you're facing, speak up."

"...It's about one of my students." Liang Xiaoqing hesitated for a moment before finally getting the words out. She followed Li Jingquan as he walked. "She's the student whose father came to the school to cause trouble last time. Her name is Jiang Xu. She's not in my class, but she's currently living with me. When I went to her house, her mother agreed to let me bring her down. But then, a couple of days ago, Jiang Daguo came to the school and insisted that Jiang Xu go back... Jiang Xu studies diligently and ranks at the top of her class. If she drops out now, what a shame that would be!"

Liang Xiaoqing frowned, her face full of regret. "Director Li, the country is strongly promoting education these days. Children are the future of the nation. If we can keep one more student like Jiang Xu in school, that's one more talented person for the country."

Li Jingquan raised his hand, his ordinarily calm brows knitting slightly. "So what is it you want to do?"

"I hope you'll come with me to Jiang Xu's house, Director Li, and do some ideological work on Jiang Daguo."

"..." Li Jingquan continued walking forward. "Teacher Liang."

He seemed to think for a moment. "Ah, him. I remember I made it very clear to you that night. Although the students' futures are important, the teachers' safety is equally important. Qing Middle is enrolling more students every year, and the national policies are getting better. But change and development take time—you can't rush it. The same goes for the parents' way of thinking. So, Teacher Liang, you..."

"Director Li!" As they entered the residential complex and the gate closed behind them, Liang Xiaoqing could no longer follow him.

Li Jingquan waved her off. "Go on back, Teacher Liang."

Liang Xiaoqing called out once more through the gate. "Director Li!"

Li Jingquan ignored her completely. Liang Xiaoqing didn't dare raise her voice too loud; everything around them was silent.

Li Jingquan hadn't said yes or no, but his stance was clear. Liang Xiaoqing had considered going to Jiang Xu's house herself, or bringing Yang Man along, but last time everyone had seen what happened, and Yang Man had a quick temper—she was afraid something might go wrong. After mulling it over, getting Li Jingquan was the safest bet.

After standing there for a long while exposed to the cold wind, Liang Xiaoqing wrapped her scarf tighter to cover her mouth and her nose, which was red from the cold. She walked a short distance, feeling a bit deflated, then went to get her bicycle.

An hour later, Liang Xiaoqing was back at the entrance to the residential complex, waiting for Li Jingquan. She didn't know if she'd be able to catch him. But the moment she saw him, she shoved milk and fruit into his hands, one after another...

Li Jingquan gave her a stern scolding. "Liang Xiaoqing, what do you think you're doing!"

He tore into her without warning, and Liang Xiaoqing felt mortified for the first time. She pleaded and reasoned with him for a long while, and if she hadn't been on the verge of kneeling to beg him, she might as well have been. Still, Li Jingquan's attitude never softened.

Left with no other choice, Liang Xiaoqing took her milk and fruit, climbed onto her old, beat-up bicycle, and headed back.

The road back was full of potholes, rattling her bones, and she even took a spill. Bearing the pain, she rode back to the school, then carried the milk and fruit toward the teacher's dormitory.

At least she could give Jiang Xu some nourishment, she thought. Using your brain meant you needed to drink plenty of milk.

But it turned out Director Li's car had arrived at the school long before she did. When Liang Xiaoqing reached the office, Yang Man excitedly told her Jiang Xu's results: "The papers aren't all graded yet, but there's only one subject left. If nothing unexpected happens, Jiang Xu is first!"

"Really?!" Liang Xiaoqing's whole face lit up.

Yang Man sighed in admiration: "Truly unexpected! Nice one, Xiaoqing. You've got a keen eye—you judged her right. Impressive, impressive!"

Yang Man then told her that Li Jingquan wanted her to come see him.

Director Li had finally agreed, so the milk and fruit in her hands became gifts for Jiang Daguo and his wife.

Along the way, Liang Xiaoqing was filling Li Jingquan in on Jiang Xu's family situation.

"She has an older brother who's currently in college."

Li Jingquan, getting on in years, wasn't used to climbing such steep hills anymore and was panting from exhaustion. "Good, Qing Middle has another college student."

Liang Xiaoqing followed his lead. "Jiang Xu scored first in her class this semester on the final exam. At her current pace, she'll be able to get into college too."

"Middle school and high school are two different things." Li Jingquan reminded her. "But if she's a promising seedling, then it's worth salvaging if we can."

"Exactly, Director Li!"

The happier the climb up the mountain, the more miserable the descent.

"We agreed that Jiang Xu would come back in these few days! What do you mean by this! Huh! You think I'm just a farmer you can push around! Jiang Xu is my daughter—I feed her and clothe her. What, so I don't even have a say in her life now?!"

Jiang Daguo, who had been working in the fields, came back to fetch a jug of water and happened to see Liang Xiaoqing and Li Jingquan standing at the door. For Li Jingquan's sake, Jiang Daguo put on a civil face for Liang Xiaoqing and invited them in to sit.

Liang Xiaoqing was too anxious, too eager, too desperate to try and change Jiang Xu's fate.

The moment she saw Jiang Daguo, Jiang Xu's face flashed in her mind, and she felt her blood boiling hot again, warming her whole body.

Liang Xiaoqing didn't think she was foolish. After seeing a pair of such clear, bright eyes looking at her, she felt anyone would soften.

Isn't the progression from strangers to acquaintances just a matter of warm approaches? And she was a teacher, after all.

Back in school, her teachers often said that a teacher's decision could influence a child's entire life. She always thought, if she persisted, would Jiang Xu's fate truly be different?

"Mr. Jiang, I hope you'll pay more attention to Jiang Xu's grades. She ranked first in her class this time—not bad at all for a transfer student." From school to Jiang Xu's home, Liang Xiaoqing had said these words no fewer than ten times. "Jiang Xu is staying at my place for now. As her teacher, I can take care of her meals and daily needs. You won't have to spend a single penny!"

"First, first! Can you eat first place?!" Jiang Daguo bellowed in his coarse voice. "Is she an orphan or something? What makes you think you need to look after her?!"

Liang Xiaoqing's face tightened. "Jiang Xu might be the second college student your family produces."

"To hell with college students!" Jiang Daguo's face turned red as his neck bulged. "Whether Jiang Xu amounts to anything is not for you to decide! I don't care if her grades are good or bad—she has to get back here and work! There are pigs to feed, chickens to tend, meals for her to cook, and fields for her to work! Letting her study a bit is already a kindness! And she's gotten too big for her britches!"

Liang Xiaoqing's expression grew grim. "So a young girl is supposed to do all that?!"

"What else would she do?!"

Liang Xiaoqing's face turned cold. "Even if Jiang Xu did all that, it wouldn't stop her from studying!"

"Poor kids learn to grow up fast!"

Liang Xiaoqing's brows knitted tightly. "Then why is your son allowed to go to college?"

"..."

Anger surged up in Liang Xiaoqing, and she added, "Your family favors boys over girls!"

For some reason, Jiang Daguo suddenly raised his voice. "What can a daughter do! Next year, I'll marry her off!"

Liang Xiaoqing was furious. "Jiang Xu is still a minor!"

Jiang Daguo was enraged too. "None of your damn business! Even if I beat her to death, it's none of your business!"

Liang Xiaoqing was stubborn as well. "It is my business!"

The two squared off, their necks straining as they argued face to face until both were red. Jiang Daguo even got physical, throwing all the milk and apples Liang Xiaoqing had brought to the ground and yelling at them to get out!

But Liang Xiaoqing was someone who believed in reason. Her temper would flare and then quickly subside. As Jiang Daguo shoved her around, she kept trying to reason with him.

Jiang Daguo, however, wasn't like Liang Xiaoqing—he couldn't control his emotions. In a fit of rage, he grabbed a cleaver from the kitchen and swung it down: "You believe I'll chop you up?!"

It was the first time in her life Liang Xiaoqing had a knife held to her neck!

She dodged with quick reflexes, her face pale with terror, her body so weak she collapsed to the ground. Jiang Daguo's cleaver didn't land on her; it crashed down with a clatter onto the wooden table.

Jiang Daguo stood there huffing and puffing, breathing heavily.

Wang Cai came back and was so frightened she went pale. She hurried over to knock the cleaver aside, then fell to her knees in front of Jiang Daguo, wailing and pleading.

Dazed and disoriented, Liang Xiaoqing stood up.

Li Jingquan, who had never witnessed such a scene, was so frightened he almost fainted. He even needed Liang Xiaoqing to come steady him.

They parted on bad terms.

After returning, Li Jingquan unleashed a torrent of anger on her: "Teacher Liang, if you insist on pursuing your own agenda, I think this school isn't suitable for you. You should go find another post."

Bang!

Walking out of Li Jingquan's office, Liang Xiaoqing didn't register it at first. It wasn't until she was in the hallway that she realized she had just come within a hair's breadth of being dismissed. For a college graduate like her, that was an inconceivable thing.

In those days, college graduates were rare. Liang Xiaoqing had attended a teachers' college and studied education. After graduation, the school had helped arrange her job assignment. She'd given up schools in better condition than Qing Middle to come to this rural township school with its backward conditions. She had ideals and passion in her heart, but she never imagined that one day she'd have to pay a price for them.

She thought for a long time, the warm sunlight in the hallway casting her shadow on the floor.

When she entered the office, Yang Man asked her if she was all right. She shook her head, grabbed her bag and the milk and fruit that had been thrown back at her, and told herself she needed to go home and collect herself. What her heart thought was one thing; what her mind thought was another.

When she snapped back to reality, she found herself standing at the door of Class 5.

She froze, then peered through the window. In a single glance, she spotted Jiang Xu sitting by the window.

Jiang Xu's head was bent, her right hand holding a pen, a test paper spread before her—she seemed to be doing homework.

The students around her were all in a noisy uproar, too restless to focus on homework because of the upcoming holiday.

Jiang Xu was the exception.

The sunlight from outside gently brushed the back of her neck. Her shadow flickered faintly against the wall, and the hairpin in her hair gleamed with a soft, bright light that caught Liang Xiaoqing's eye.

She rubbed her eyes and quietly walked away. But for some reason, her nose tingled, and her eyes suddenly welled up.