As soon as Liu Fen arrived at the school, she saw Chen Qing waiting at the entrance.
“Aunt Fen, you’re here?”
Chen Qing was responsible for receiving parents from Class Three today. He spoke to the security guard: “Uncle Zhao, this is the mother of our student Xia Xiaolan. She can go in, right?”
Xia Xiaolan?
Old Zhao had received quite a few cigarettes from Xia Xiaolan. Among this year’s students, or perhaps until his retirement, there might never be another student who left such a deep impression on him as Xia Xiaolan.
“Student Xia is outstanding. Pardon my familiarity in calling you sister, but your daughter will achieve great things in the future!”
Liu Fen’s features actually resembled Xia Xiaolan’s quite closely, but Liu Fen appeared dark, thin, and weathered from years of hard work without self-care. During her time with the Xia family, it would have been hard to believe she was Xiaolan’s birth mother. Now with improved living conditions, Liu Fen didn’t look so worn down, making their mother-daughter relationship more believable.
Liu Fen didn’t know how to respond to Old Zhao’s praise.
Being a straightforward person who wasn’t good with words, Liu Fen could only say “Thank you, brother” to Old Zhao’s effusive praise, unable to manage any more pleasantries. Old Zhao thought to himself, how did such a simple rural woman give birth to a daughter like Xia Xiaolan? Not only was she brilliant in her studies, but she was also exceptionally good with people. Dealing with Xia Xiaolan always left one feeling particularly comfortable.
Old Zhao smiled warmly and urged Chen Qing to quickly escort Liu Fen inside.
Just as they left, a man rushed forward, “My wife just went in. I’m Xia Xiaolan’s father, here for the parent-teacher conference.”
Xia Dajun’s burly build was intimidating just standing there.
Old Zhao instinctively touched the baton at his waist, fearing the man might try to force his way in. Xia Xiaolan’s father? He knew better – Xia Xiaolan’s parents were divorced, and she had specifically warned him that anyone with the surname Xia claiming to be her father, sister, uncle, or aunt was surely trying to cause trouble!
After receiving so many cigarettes from Xia Xiaolan, Old Zhao finally had a chance to help. He looked at Xia Dajun as if facing a class enemy: “Comrade, someone has already come for Xia Xiaolan’s parent-teacher conference. You say you’re her father, but I don’t know you. My apologies!”
Sorry, but you can’t go in.
Old Zhao was County First High’s guardian general – one man guarding the pass against ten thousand. The small iron gate remained closed.
Xia Dajun grew anxious, but he was typically timid around strangers. Old Zhao wore a security guard’s uniform with a baton at his waist, and Xia Dajun couldn’t distinguish between security guards, doormen, and police officers. He instinctively feared anyone in uniform.
But he had to get in!
Xia Yuzi watched from afar as Xia Dajun was blocked. She couldn’t intervene – this was something Xia Dajun had to handle himself. Her appearance might have the opposite effect. Today’s opportunity was perfect – Xia Xiaolan hadn’t come to school, and Liu Fen was always easy to deceive!
Old Zhao steadfastly refused to let Xia Dajun enter. Just as Xia Dajun was about to give up, Principal Sun passed by. The principal had reluctantly taken on the task of mediating the couple’s reconciliation, despite his wife and niece saying it was inappropriate. Now he was in a difficult position.
“Old Zhao, this is Student Xia Xiaolan’s father. I know him, I’ll take him in myself.”
Old Zhao couldn’t disobey the principal’s orders.
Xia Dajun followed Principal Sun into the school. The principal, still holding his speech notes for later, sternly told Xia Dajun:
“This kind of personal matter should be handled privately after the parent meeting. If you become emotional during the meeting, I’ll have you removed from school regardless of whose father you are!”
“Principal Sun, I understand, I understand!”
Whether he truly understood would soon become clear. Principal Sun had thought Xia Xiaolan’s parents would meet privately for mediation, but this was turning into an ambush. The school had an auditorium where parents could sit instead of enduring the cold wind on the back playground.
Principal Sun’s guess was right – Xia Dajun was planning an ambush.
Liu Fen was directed to her seat by Chen Qing. As Xia Xiaolan’s mother, who would dare look down on her?
Not only did parents actively engage her in conversation, but even the students helping in the auditorium were especially warm towards Liu Fen. This gave Liu Fen a firsthand experience of what Chen Qing had mentioned on the way – that Xia Xiaolan was extremely popular at school. Of course, Xiaolan was popular; young men would blush just looking at her a few times, but most of the students helping in the auditorium were female students, and they were also particularly warm towards Liu Fen.
This feeling was quite novel.
Xia Xiaolan was beautiful and competitive. Judging by Xia Hongxia’s attitude towards her, one could tell how much girls her age disliked her.
For the first time, girls her age were saying good things about Xia Xiaolan, praising her as “helpful, studious, and hardworking.” Even someone as straightforward as Liu Fen couldn’t help but feel happy hearing these compliments.
As a mother, she naturally thought everything about her child was wonderful, but that was just maternal love’s beautification.
But when everyone around praised her like this, it meant her daughter truly was excellent in every way!
Parents asked how Xia Xiaolan studied at home, and how her test scores kept improving until she ranked second in her grade. Liu Fen answered honestly: “I’m not educated. I can’t understand a single character in her books. She studies by herself.”
“Private tutors? What tutors…”
“Someone to help her study? No, just her alone.”
Liu Fen didn’t even understand what a private tutor was. In 1984, the private tutoring industry hadn’t taken off yet. “Home teachers” were something only the most privileged could afford, and there were no tutoring agencies. Only families with financial means or power could arrange for teachers to provide extra instruction at home, targeting weak subjects or skills like piano playing.
How could Liu Fen possibly hire tutors for Xia Xiaolan?
The highest official she knew was the village chief, and her most well-connected acquaintance was Hu Yongcai!
She was dressed today, with many town parents better dressed than her. She didn’t look like someone of any importance, and Xia Xiaolan’s poor family circumstances weren’t a secret – students must have mentioned it at home… Without extra tutoring or help, her daughter was genuinely intelligent and studious. They were all raising children, but Xia Xiaolan was exceptional, making Liu Fen the object of much envy.
“If only our troublesome girl would learn from Xiaolan. Big sister, you’re so fortunate!”
Liu Fen looked older than her actual age, so being called “big sister” wasn’t inappropriate.
Parents arrived gradually, with paper signs indicating where each class should sit. The school leaders who would address the parents and grade leaders like Old Wang had also arrived. Though the meeting was scheduled to start at nine, they might wait for the few parents who hadn’t arrived yet.
Chen Qing spotted Xia Dajun first.
His impression of Xia Dajun was vivid – the image of him being pinned down by several men from Qijing Village, yet still trying to get up and fight ferociously, was unforgettable. Why had Xiaolan’s father come? Chen Qing had a terrible impression of Xia Dajun, and the parent meeting certainly hadn’t notified him to attend. He must be here to cause trouble.
Chen Qing instinctively blocked the entrance to Liu Fen’s row.
Liu Fen also saw Xia Dajun, and her entire body froze.
After the divorce, she had never seen Xia Dajun. Even during the divorce, there were many people present. Whether it was her brother Liu Yong, sister-in-law Li Fengmei, daughter Xia Xiaolan, or even the people from Qijing Village, they had all stood on her side… With their support and help, Liu Fen managed to get Xia Dajun to sign the agreement.
If not for those circumstances, had she tried to divorce him alone, she would surely have faced Xia Dajun’s fists.
Liu Fen unconsciously lowered her head.
She was trying to hide from Xia Dajun – but how could that work? Xia Dajun had come specifically for Liu Fen! Though the auditorium was crowded, after living with Liu Fen for twenty years, Xia Dajun could find her even in a larger crowd.
He wanted to sit beside Liu Fen – naturally, a couple should sit together.
Chen Qing blocked him. Though the young man’s build wasn’t as robust as the middle-aged Xia Dajun’s, Chen Qing wasn’t a weak student either. He blocked with his elbow:
“What are you doing here? This is County First High – don’t try to cause trouble!”