Era: Rise from the Wilderness

After class, the pregnant woman, carrying her lesson plan, didn't even bother to rest. With her belly protruding and her steps slightly heavy, she headed straight for the school store.

She knew that Li Yunjing's mother, He Ling, was there looking after the business.

The convenience store was open.

The pregnant woman walked in. The space was cramped, and the shelves were filled with all kinds of snacks, stationery and daily necessities. The air was filled with the smell of candy, dust and old wood.

He Ling was sitting behind the counter, knitting with her head down, when she heard the noise and looked up.

"Teacher Li? What brings you here? Please have a seat!"

He Ling quickly put down her work and got up somewhat awkwardly to greet them.

When a teacher personally visits your home, it's usually not a good thing.

"I won't sit down. I'll just say a few words and then leave."

The pregnant woman waved her hand, her face devoid of a smile, and cut to the chase, her tone filled with suppressed anger and indignation: "Mrs. Li Yunjing, I've come today to have a serious talk with you about Li Yunjing's recent behavior!"

She recounted Li Yunjing's various "misdeeds" since the start of the semester, like pouring beans from a bamboo tube: talking back to teachers, skipping classes, being caught by the dean of students for whistling in the teaching building, frequently disappearing recently, and skipping class again today without reason... She described each and every one of them in great detail.

"...This child is smart, but his mind isn't on his studies at all!"

"He's always scheming about some crooked and wicked tricks!"

"He hangs out with some shady classmates!"

"If this continues, my senior year of high school will be completely wasted!"

"Going to university? I doubt it!"

The pregnant woman grew increasingly angry as she spoke, raising her voice considerably, which drew furious glances from the students who occasionally came in to buy snacks.

He Ling blushed deeply, her face burning with shame and anger.

How could she, as a mother, bear to be scolded like this in front of her teachers and other students?

A surge of anger welled up inside me.

"That little rascal!"

"He's gone too far!"

He Ling gritted her teeth and slammed her hand on the counter, making the pencils on it jump. "Don't worry, teacher! I'll teach him a lesson tonight! I'll skin him alive!"

The pregnant woman's attitude towards the parents was relatively "proper," which calmed her down a bit, but she remained serious: "Just hitting and scolding won't work; we need to communicate with him properly and bring his mind back to his studies!"

"The monthly exam is coming up soon, and it's crucial to see how well he's learned lately!"

He Ling nodded repeatedly in agreement, but when she thought about the five thousand yuan from last night, her son's seemingly whimsical yet sinister "plan," and her husband's upcoming trip to help him with connections, she felt a mix of emotions.

After hesitating for a moment, she still mustered her courage and tentatively said, "Um... Teacher Li, I'm really sorry."

"Yun Jing is indeed in a bit of a special situation lately, and there are some things at home that require his help."

"I'd like to... formally ask you for leave for him, for about... fifteen days."

"He probably won't be able to attend classes normally before the National Day holiday."

"Fifteen days?!"

The pregnant woman's eyes widened instantly, her voice changed, and she could hardly believe her ears.

I'm a senior in high school now!

Need to take 15 days off?

What's the difference between this and taking a leave of absence from school?

This parent really doesn't take studying seriously at all!

He Ling felt even more guilty under the teacher's astonished gaze, but she still insisted on finishing her sentence, her tone carrying a resolute air of "what's the use of trying?": "But don't worry!"

"He'll definitely be on time for the monthly exam!"

"I'm staring at him!"

"If he dares to do poorly on the test and his grades drop, I'll break his legs!"

"You can do whatever you want with me then!"

The pregnant woman was stunned. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but felt that anything she said would be pale and powerless.

The parents have already said so much, even threatening to "break her legs," what else can she say?

Are we really forcing people not to grant leave?

She's just a homeroom teacher, not a parent.

In the end, she could only suppress her frustration, confusion, and vague disappointment, give He Ling a deep look, and sigh: "Sigh... alright, since there really is something going on at home... I grant you leave."

"But he absolutely has to take the monthly exam!"

"If the grades drop too drastically, we'll have a serious talk about it!"

After saying that, she shook her head, turned around, lifted the curtain, and left the convenience store with slightly heavy steps, returning to the teaching building.

The sunlight outside was dazzling, but she felt a heavy weight in her heart.

While the pregnant woman was complaining and listing Li Yunjing's various "crimes" at the convenience store, the "problem student" Li Yunjing was already sitting on a long-distance bus bound for Bincheng.

The bus engine roared, the body swayed constantly on the bumpy road, and the windows rattled.

The carriage was filled with a strong smell of gasoline, sweat, and cheap tobacco, mixed with the pungent odors emanating from the chickens, ducks, or local specialties carried by the passengers.

Li Yunjing sat by the window, his gaze fixed on the rapidly receding fields and villages outside, but his thoughts had already wandered far away.

At 10 a.m., Li Yunjing once again traveled from his ordinary small town to the bustling metropolis.

Li Yunjing disregarded everything else and went directly to the trust company in Bincheng City to find Manager Wang, whom he had dealt with before.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, he took out the portion of treasury bonds that he had brought with him, which were wrapped in brown paper.

Manager Wang carefully counted and checked the money, and after confirming that everything was correct, he handed over 1800 yuan in cash to him according to the agreed price.

The liquidation and settlement were completed cleanly and efficiently.

Holding this unexpected but planned "working capital" made Li Yunjing feel more at ease.

After leaving the trust company, he ate a bowl of noodles at a roadside stall to fill his stomach, and then jumped onto a crowded bus.

The words "Route 3" and "Railway Station - Industrial University" were painted in red on the vehicle body.

The bus, like a tired old ox, slowly made its way through the noisy streets. At each stop, more people would shove on and off, making the carriage stuffy, crowded, and filled with foul air.

After a bumpy ride with frequent stops, the bus finally stopped at the "Industrial University" stop after more than an hour.

Li Yunjing got off the bus with the crowd and stood opposite the magnificent gate of the Industrial University, which was adorned with a gilded plaque bearing the school's name.

The September sun shines on the lush trees and red brick buildings on campus, exuding the tranquility and vitality unique to the ivory tower.

Young people dressed in various colors, but clearly exuding a student vibe, came and went, some riding bicycles, some walking, chatting and laughing.

The air seemed to be filled with the scent of knowledge and youth.

Li Yunjing straightened his clothes, which were a little wrinkled from the car ride, composed himself, and stepped across the road toward the gate that seemed both familiar and unfamiliar to him.

He had to ask around to find out where Lü Ruoxi's department and dormitory were.

I wonder if she got tanned during military training?

If someone suddenly appears, will they be surprised, or... what other reaction will they have?

A rare, slightly nervous anticipation, typical of a young man, stirred within him.