Shen Mo quickly returned.
Teacher Cheng and Tan Xiao followed behind him.
Bai Youwei was just about to ask about matters upstairs when she heard another set of light, quick footsteps coming down the stairs—thump thump thump, thump thump thump…
Two male students came running down, carrying a bag of rice and a bag of flour into the dormitory, saying: “Teacher Cheng, Brother Xiao, thank you! These things are a small token of our appreciation—please be sure to accept them! We’re truly very grateful to you!”
They spoke rapidly, then rapidly turned and ran back upstairs, giving no opportunity for refusal.
Bai Youwei stared in astonishment. “What’s going on?”
Just moments ago they’d been utterly disdainful of Tan Xiao, and now they were calling him “Brother Xiao”?
How was she supposed to continue her villain script???
“They have an injured student. Teacher Cheng used clay once.” Shen Mo paused, then added, “The injury was sustained in a game.”
Bai Youwei asked: “Serious?”
Tan Xiao gestured with his hand, his expression tense: “A gash this big on his body—no idea what kind of animal bit him. It’s a miracle he’s alive!”
“Oh…” Bai Youwei tilted her head, thinking. “Since he could come out of the game alive, that means they cleared it… They have tools? What kind?”
Tan Xiao froze. He hadn’t thought of this.
Seeing his expression, Bai Youwei couldn’t help rolling her eyes. “You two are really something. Didn’t find out what tools they have, but exposed your own tool first.”
Teacher Cheng looked guilty. “It was an emergency…”
The clay was given by Bai Youwei. Using it without telling her first, and not even getting intelligence—he felt rather apologetic.
“Forget it.” Bai Youwei said lazily. “Expecting you all to gather intelligence was my mistake. I was too naive and lovely.”
Tan Xiao: “……”
Teacher Cheng: “……”
Speechless from being choked up.
Shen Mo was used to it and glanced at the two, helping them out: “It’s not like we learned nothing. When I went up, Teacher Cheng and that Teacher Tu were chatting quite well.”
Bai Youwei: “That woman’s surname is Tu?”
Teacher Cheng hurriedly continued: “Yes, surname Tu, named Tu Dan. She’s a teacher from Hangzhou Middle School. Those kids are all students from her class, in their first year of high school. They also came to Yangzhou seeking refuge. Unexpectedly Yangzhou had thick fog and everyone fled. Teacher Tu, with an injured student, found it inconvenient to board a ship, so they’ve been delayed here for several days—resting while looking for medicine.”
He finished in one breath, then looked at Bai Youwei.
Bai Youwei: “Oh…”
Teacher Cheng and Tan Xiao both breathed sighs of relief.
Bai Youwei: “You’re lying to ghosts, aren’t you?”
Teacher Cheng: “???”
The honest old man froze, unable to react for a moment.
“One student is injured and can’t board the ship conveniently, so all the students give up seeking refuge to stay with him—is this something a teacher would do?” Bai Youwei’s lips curved slightly. “More than a dozen students all holed up here—to say they have no scheme, ghosts wouldn’t believe it.”
No one in the room spoke.
Perhaps too ashamed to make a sound.
Bai Youwei glanced at them with disdain, saying lazily: “Whatever, as long as they don’t provoke me, let them scheme whatever they want.”
Teacher Cheng finally had some reaction, saying: “No, no. I think Teacher Tu is a very responsible person. She won’t harm her students, and she won’t harm us either.”
“Old Cheng, hearts are separated from bellies by skin and flesh.” Tan Xiao patted Teacher Cheng’s shoulder with a grave expression. “When we wander the rivers and lakes, what’s most important is one phrase! Careful sailing makes for ten thousand year ships!”
Bai Youwei couldn’t even be bothered to roll her eyes this time.
Just how many phrases is that—could you please count again?!
Shen Mo suddenly said: “Someone’s coming.”
Everyone froze, then fell silent.
They could only hear footsteps gradually approaching, then knocking sounds. Teacher Tu asked softly outside the door: “Mr. Shen, may I come in and talk with you all?”