Chapter 92

Tang Qingqing had forgotten all about it until she saw Shi Zhan again.

She asked directly, "Were you here to cause trouble that day? When did I offend you?"

Tang Qingqing's voice was not loud, but the surrounding students heard her and turned their gazes toward her.

Shi Zhan did not expect her to be so straightforward, completely unaware of tact. He was caught off guard by her bluntness in public.

Tang Xiaoxiao swallowed nervously, surprised that Tang Qingqing, who seemed so gentle, had such a direct personality.

She knew Shi Zhan well. Shi Zhan was not the son of a worker but the son of the Tobacco Bureau director. Because the Tobacco Bureau was close to the Machinery Plant, he attended school at the Machinery Plant from a young age.

In junior high, Shi Zhan was in the class next to Tang Xiaoxiao's. He was famous among the girls for his good looks.

However, his personality was entirely different from his appearance. He looked very handsome, with an androgynous charm, but his temper was explosive.

Especially when someone mistook his gender, he would lash out like a firecracker, known far and wide as a fighting champion. Plus, his father was a leader, so no one dared to provoke him.

Tang Xiaoxiao was a bit scared, worried that Shi Zhan might lose his temper. She glanced between Shi Zhan and Tang Qingqing but did not dare to say anything.

At this moment, the homeroom teacher walked in, and the noisy classroom quieted down.

Tang Qingqing stopped pursuing the matter and sat up straight.

The homeroom teacher was a balding man in his forties who cherished his remaining hair. Despite having little hair, he kept it neatly combed.

Some mischievous students stared at his head, making faces and snickering.

The teacher gave them a sharp look, freezing their expressions in place.

"Anyone who causes trouble in my class will face their parents, regardless of who they are! Repeat offenders will leave my class!"

The teacher's gaze swept over Shi Zhan, who was sitting improperly, and gave him a pointed look.

Shi Zhan rolled his eyes, completely dismissing the warning.

Tang Qingqing, as usual, sat upright, listening attentively to everything the teacher said.

Even though it was the first day of school and mostly consisted of routine matters, she remained very focused.

Tang Xiaoxiao usually dozed off during these talks. If it were any other time, she would have taken out her notebook to draw, but seeing Tang Qingqing so attentive, she felt embarrassed and also sat up straight.

However, it soon became clear that being a good student wasn't easy for everyone. Soon, Tang Xiaoxiao slumped onto her desk.

On the first day of school, there were no formal classes; instead, it was mainly about getting to know each other and distributing textbooks.

Everyone was familiar with this routine and didn't feel much about it.

Although it was a new school and a new class, many students had known each other since childhood or at least recognized each other, so there was no sense of novelty.

After school, Tang Qingqing approached Shi Zhan again to ask about the unfinished conversation.

Being classmates and sitting close meant they couldn't avoid interacting.

It was better to speak openly than to hide things. She didn't want to be scolded without knowing the reason.

Shi Zhan, however, couldn't bring himself to speak, stuttering and even considering ignoring Tang Qingqing and leaving.

Tang Qingqing did not stop him but spoke calmly:

"I'm going to the Public Security Bureau later. Captain Shi shouldn't be too busy recently."

Having taken only a few steps, Shi Zhan stopped immediately, recognizing the threat in her words. He said angrily, "How can you still resort to tattling like a child!"

Tang Qingqing guessed correctly; Shi Zhan was indeed afraid of his cousin, Shi Pengfei.

"Since you're not a child, act like a man and explain yourself clearly."

Hearing this, Shi Zhan's eyes widened, and his ears turned red.

"I came to give you a hard time, what's wrong with that!"

"Why? When did I offend you?"

"You didn't offend me; I just didn't like you before."

Tang Qingqing raised an eyebrow: "Because of Tang Zhenzhen?"

"Yes... No! It's my own idea, has nothing to do with anyone else."

Tang Qingqing became more certain of her guess, "What did Tang Zhenzhen tell you?"

"Don't make wild guesses; it has nothing to do with her!"

Seeing his reaction, Tang Qingqing was even more convinced. She sensed something was off when she entered school today, noticing some hostile glances.

She was confident that she did not have a face that naturally provoked dislike. There must be a reason for their behavior.

Now it seemed related to that impostor.

She hadn't sought trouble with her because she thought it was a waste of time and energy, but if trouble came to her, she couldn't ignore it.

"What did she tell you?"

"She really didn't say anything! It was all my own speculation. I know I was wrong. You're actually quite alright. I apologize for my previous behavior."

Saying this, Shi Zhan's face turned bright red.

There aren't many people left in the class now, and those present were all very shocked by this scene.

Zhan Shiyi, the fighting king, has never backed down before anyone. No one expected him to apologize today.

Tang Xiaoxiao looked at Tang Qingqing with admiration, finding it unbelievable what she was seeing.

"What kind of speculation made you come over specifically to stop me?" Tang Qingqing wasn't going to let him off easily.

According to the current atmosphere, unless something particularly infuriating happens, a man wouldn't cause trouble for a woman, as he would feel it's beneath him.

Zhan Shiyi didn't expect Tang Qingqing to be so difficult to talk to. No wonder rumors say she is hard to get along with.

"I didn't mean to do anything; I just wanted you to not be so arrogant in the future."

"Arrogant?"

"Aren't these just rumors? Now I know you're not that kind of person." Zhan Shiyi muttered, lowering his head.

Those outside don't know the details, but he knows how capable Tang Qingqing is.

In such a short time, she has helped the police solve many cases.

His uncle often mentions Tang Qingqing, wondering how a young girl could be so impressive. Her parents are also curious about her.

Zhan Shiyi suspects that he was assigned to Class 9 because of Tang Qingqing.

Although his grades are poor, he should be in Class 9 or even Class 10, but with his father's influence, he could have been placed in Class 5 or even higher.

Classes 9 and 10 are full of students with poor grades, either idling away their time or ordinary transfer students from elsewhere.

Zhan Shiyi believes in strength, and Tang Qingqing's abilities are both mysterious and impressive, changing his perception of her significantly.

Especially after she helped solve a mass murder case, showcasing her uniqueness, he respects her greatly.

Seeing Tang Qingqing, he felt embarrassed, realizing he still acts like a child while she is already a guest of honor among adults.

"What did they say about me?"

"Oh, don't worry about it. It's just our wild guesses."

Zhan Shiyi isn't foolish; he knows what Tang Qingqing wants to ask and won't tell the truth.

Seeing his demeanor, Tang Qingqing realizes she won't get any answers and lets him go.

Zhan Shiyi scurries away like a monkey, disappearing instantly.

Tang Xiaoxiao looks at Tang Qingqing with admiration: "Qingqing, you're amazing!"

Tang Qingqing chuckles: "What's so amazing about this?"

"I've never seen Zhan Shiyi fear someone so much. He used to argue even with teachers."

Tang Xiaoxiao's eyes are shining.

Tang Qingqing walks home with Tang Xiaoxiao. Since they are all children of Machinery Plant workers, they take the same route home. During this walk, Tang Qingqing clearly senses others' strange gazes and deliberate distance.

The road isn't wide, and most people walk side by side, but there's an empty space around Tang Qingqing.

She can feel some people pointing and whispering behind her back.

Tang Xiaoxiao is more reserved than in the classroom, almost wanting to shrink into a tiny ball.

Tang Qingqing purses her lips and asks: "Xiaoxiao, did someone say something about me?"

Tang Xiaoxiao stammers and can't utter a word. Tang Qingqing doesn't pressure her and stops asking.

But Tang Xiaoxiao feels guilty and, since it's not a secret, honestly says:

"Everyone thinks you bullied Tang Zhenzhen, so they think you're not a good person."

Tang Xiaoxiao keeps glancing around, speaking in a low voice, and continues when no one is nearby:

"Tang Zhenzhen is a flower of our factory compound. Many boys like her, and she has a group of girls around her, like a small clique. They think she was bullied, so they think you're not good."

"Not everyone thinks that, though. After all, everyone feels you've had bad luck, and having resentment towards her is understandable. But they are timid and don't want to cause trouble, so they don't speak up."

Tang Qingqing seizes the key point: "Does this small clique often bully others?"

Tang Xiaoxiao can't hide the bitterness on her face: "If you don't get along with them, life in the compound becomes very hard."

Though Tang Zhenzhen joined the Art Troupe early, her status hasn't changed; in fact, her promising future makes her even more enviable.

After joining the Art Troupe, Tang Zhenzhen has more reasons to dress up, becoming even prettier and more popular.

Boys admire her beauty and worship her as a goddess.

Girls want to emulate her, learning from her to become as beautiful as she is.

They form a small clique, and half of the group who caught the thief are its core members.

They all support Tang Zhenzhen, so whatever she says goes. Some boys try too hard to stand out, nearly causing problems.

These people are the trendiest in the Machinery Plant and nearby areas, transformed by Tang Zhenzhen's touch, each one more fashionable than the next.

Though none surpass Tang Zhenzhen, they are still impressive outside.

Since the opening up, people are increasingly pursuing beauty. Clothes used to be uniform, but now people want more variety.

However, after being closed off for so long, there are few places to buy fashionable clothes.

Taking cloth to the tailor, the tailors all follow the same old routines.

However, Tang Zhenzhen is different; she has a plethora of quirky and unconventional ideas. Even the most ordinary fabrics can be revitalized and shine with new brilliance through her designs.

This attracted a particularly large number of young men and women around her, all hoping to be as fashionable and beautiful as her, showcasing their individuality.

However, the number of siblings in the large courtyard was not small, and they did not fall for Tang Zhenzhen's tactics.

Some people disapprove of her being too flamboyant, always thinking about how to dress up, which is too inconsistent with the spirit of hard work and simplicity.

If anyone dares to utter a single negative word, and it gets back to the rest of the clique, they'll corner the person.

This also made it so that no one dared to speak ill of Tang Zhenzhen, as she was completely untouchable.

Tang Qingqing couldn't help but frown as she listened. Indeed, in the book, the female protagonist was surrounded by many people, and they all had an exceptionally close relationship, with her at the center.

However, since the majority of the book focuses on the female protagonist's life after marriage, it doesn't delve deeply into this aspect. It merely mentions that when the female protagonist encounters problems, there are always people who appear to help her, some of whom are her good friends from the Machinery Plant, and thus they are mentioned occasionally.

Now it seems that the replaced Tang Zhenzhen also has a group of friends around her, only they are much more domineering than described in the book.

Though Tang Xiaoxiao's words were veiled, Tang Qingqing, having dealt with numerous cases, immediately sensed something unusual.

"Did Tang Zhenzhen participate?"

Tang Xiaoxiao shook her head: "She has always advised everyone against resorting to violence, but her fans are too fanatical, unable to tolerate even a single negative remark. Sometimes it's not even a negative remark, just a comparison, and they can't bear that either."

Someone casually remarks, "Your hair is so beautiful, even better than Tang Zhenzhen's hair quality."

If those people were to find out, they would definitely go and teach them a lesson.

"I had a friend who even had his head shaved because of it."

Tang Xiaoxiao hung her head low, her entire being exuding profound sorrow.

After Tang Xiaoxiao gained weight, she found herself with fewer friends. Everyone thought she was unattractive due to her weight and was unwilling to associate with her, fearing that being friends with her would lead to ridicule.

Tang Zhenzhen once said, "There are no ugly women in the world, only lazy ones."

Not just girls, but boys as well.

If one is overweight or unattractive, it must be due to a lack of effort and a lack of positivity in life, which leads to indulging in one's own moral decline.

Tang Xiaoxiao's plumpness implies a lack of self-respect and self-love, and who would be willing to associate with someone like that?

That friend was one of the few people Tang Xiaoxiao was willing to interact with, but sadly, ever since she was forced to have her hair shaved, she became increasingly introverted and reluctant to go out.

Originally, we had planned to go to high school together, but that friend has given up as well. Now, her parents are arranging her marriage.

Tang Qingqing was extremely furious upon hearing this: "What on earth are you talking about? Your weight gain is due to your illness, not something you desired. Besides, what's wrong with gaining weight? Did they eat someone else's rice?"

"Tang Qingqing... you, do you really think so?"

Tang Xiaoxiao's throat tightened, and her eyes welled up with tears.

"Everyone has the desire to be beautiful, and there's nothing wrong with pursuing beauty. But using it to attack others and making it the sole standard for judging someone is problematic. Don't listen to their nonsense!"

Tang Xiaoxiao nodded repeatedly. "Just like you, even Lian Shizhan apologized to you."

Tang Qingqing thought of Lian Shizhan and felt it was hard to explain.

"Is there no one who can stop this?"

Cutting an innocent person's hair just because of someone else's words is too malicious!

Many girls cherish their hair very much, and being forced into such a situation would leave anyone traumatized.

Tang Xiaoxiao glanced at her and gave a bitter smile.

Tang Qingqing understood immediately. Anyone who spends all day thinking about how to become more beautiful and has the means to achieve it must come from a well-off family where their parents have some status or technical skills in the factory.

Moreover, Tang Zhenzhen is the daughter of the factory director. Who would dare to provoke her?

Perhaps their own parents are workers under the other's parents, and if they create enmity, the leaders might make things difficult for them, jeopardizing the family's livelihood.

It's just hair; the other party cut it but didn't take it away, and even helped sell it for a good amount of money. Who could blame them?

As they approached home, Tang Xiaoxiao realized she had said too much and worried that her words might influence Tang Qingqing. She said:

"Actually, Zhenzhen is a very nice girl. She often stands up for those who are bullied. It's just that there are too many people around her, so some take advantage of her influence."

Tang Qingqing merely smiled without saying anything.

She did not believe this explanation. While others might be unaware, Tang Zhenzhen certainly was not.

If she were truly someone who hates injustice, how could those around her be so indulgent in their behavior?

Those people admire her greatly, and her stance directly influences their decisions.

When Tang Qingqing returned home, she saw Su Rong, wearing an apron, warmly welcoming her.

Although Su Rong also has a job, it is not busy; she only needs to sign documents.

Her office is close to home, and as the chairperson, no one dares to say anything if she arrives late or leaves early. Therefore, she always finishes work early.

By the time everyone gets home from school or work, Su Rong has almost finished preparing the meals.

"Qingqing, how was your first day of school? Are you getting used to it? Did you make any friends?"

Tang Qingqing: "Everything is fine."

"That's good, that's good." Su Rong saw that Tang Qingqing didn't seem to want to say much more and felt very uneasy. She quickly explained:

"Your father is just stubborn. I asked him to talk to the principal to get you into Class One, but he refused. He's like that; he's always afraid others will say he's not principled. It's the same with everyone. Qingqing, don't blame your dad. He's not being unloving; he's just too principled."

Given Tang Qingqing's background, she could easily enter the best class with the strongest faculty by just making a call. However, Tang Jianguo did not do so.

The current high school principal isn't a smooth operator either. Without any recommendations, he follows the rules strictly and doesn't try to curry favor secretly.

Thus, Tang Qingqing, a newcomer from a small place whose grades couldn't be counted, was placed in Classes Nine and Ten.

The school's original intention wasn't to give up on underperforming students but rather to use different teaching methods for different students.

Underperforming students need foundational lessons, while top students require faster and deeper instruction. Putting them together can make the curriculum too easy or too difficult for some.

Regardless of the original intention, the outcome often becomes what it is now.

The advanced classes have stronger faculty, and most students are more proactive in their studies, leading to better results.

On the other hand, the remedial classes have many lazy students who influence each other negatively, causing performance to decline, making no one want to join these classes.

Tang Qingqing didn't mind this. She had heard Zhai Hongyi's lectures and knew that the education quality at the commune middle school wasn't great.

For example, middle schools here already teach English to prepare for college entrance exams.

However, the commune middle school still doesn't offer English classes, leaving students at a disadvantage compared to those in big cities when it comes to future college exams.

Despite these conditions, Tang Qingqing still managed to achieve good grades. She believed that as long as she worked hard and took the initiative, she could overcome external influences.

If she didn't understand something, she could study and ask questions after class until she figured it out.

Moreover, class placements weren't fixed and would be adjusted based on performance later.

Tang Qingqing also didn't think there was anything wrong with Tang Jianguo's approach. Sticking to principles isn't bad.

Tang Jianguo might not be a good father, but his rigorous attitude towards work was something she admired.

From the book, Tang Qingqing knew that in the future, many people like Tang Jianguo would become corrupt officials, harming ordinary workers.

Tang Qingqing hoped Tang Jianguo would continue to uphold his principles, as described in the book, leading the workers through tough times and standing firm in the new game of rules.

"This is fine. Sticking to principles shouldn't be compromised for personal gain. I'd rather rely on my own abilities to get into the advanced classes."

Su Rong felt relieved yet heartbroken.

If Tang Qingqing had been raised by her side, how could she be so independent?

It was because in the past, when she faced difficulties, no one helped her or supported her. These experiences were etched in her heart, shaping her strong-willed nature and habit of relying on herself.

"Qingqing, you don't have to be so strong and work so hard. Your parents are here."

Tang Qingqing tilted her head, puzzled: "Why is this about being strong and working hard? Isn't it natural to rely on one's own hands for the future?"

"Girls don't need to work so hard. Those are things men should worry about. Women just need to take care of the family. Find an easy job and marry a good man..."

"Stop. I don't agree with this idea, and I don't want to hear it."

Su Rong held back her words, sensing Tang Qingqing's impatience and not wanting to strain their relationship.

Since Tang Qingqing had just returned, she needed to be accommodating.

"Alright, Mom won't say more. I just wanted to know that with me and your father, you don't have to work so hard or worry. We can arrange everything for you."

Tang Qingqing didn't respond this time, knowing that nothing she said would change Su Rong's mindset.

Though educated, Su Rong's thoughts remained stuck in the past, unable to grasp the concept of women holding up half the sky.

Although Su Rong had a job, due to her special status, she could spend her days drinking tea and reading newspapers.

These privileges came from Tang Jianguo. Without him, she wouldn't be so carefree and would have to do tedious work like other women, reinforcing her belief that "marrying well is more important than working hard."

Thus, arguing was pointless. Su Rong would only see her as a country girl with limited experience, and as a child, her opinions wouldn't be taken seriously.

In the book, it was similar. The character in the book, due to her upbringing, didn't object to such ideas and often followed her parents' arrangements without complaint.

But now, as an observer, she couldn't agree.

Today was Tang Qingqing's first day of school, a memorable day. Her two busy brothers both came home.

After a while apart, Tang's eldest brother looked haggard, with sunken eyes and dark circles, showing how busy he had been.

Seeing him like this, Su Rong felt heartbroken: "Even if you're busy, you must take care of yourself! Look at how thin you've become!"

Tang's eldest brother smiled: "Mom, we'll soon see results and can rest for a while."

Seeing him like this, Su Rong felt even more distressed and glared at Tang Jianguo.

"Look at what you've done to your son!"

Tang Jianguo shrugged: "Doing work requires full effort. Otherwise, how could our country be where it is today? This little hardship is nothing. Back in the day, we..."

"Stop, stop. You've talked about this for years. Today, the whole family is together. Let's eat."

Tang's eldest brother looked at Tang Qingqing and took out an iron pencil box from his pocket.

This iron pencil box was different from the ones sold outside; it had no colorful paint and was very plain.

Tang Qingqing was surprised. In the book, Tang's eldest brother had given her the same pencil box.

Don't be fooled by how simple the tin pencil case looks; a lot of thought went into it.

The pencil case has two layers, but instead of having to remove the top metal plate, the first layer automatically lifts up when opened, making all the pens inside clearly visible.

Such a design is already quite remarkable even by today's standards, as most pencil cases are just plain and single-layered.

Moreover, not everyone could buy one like this; many people simply sewed a cloth bag or didn't have a pencil case at all.

When Tang Zhenzhen saw the pencil case, her face changed instantly.

"Big Brother, why didn't you make one for me!"

She had never thought about this before, so she didn't mind not having one, given that she was different from the original protagonist in many ways.

But now, the plot was strangely overlapping, and the main character wasn't her!

A scenario that should have happened years ago was now playing out again.

Tang Zhenzhen, too surprised, spoke with an unpleasant tone.

Feeling everyone's strange gazes, she quickly composed herself, pouting and blinking her eyes as she said, "I want one too."

Big Brother smiled, "Didn't I make you a hair clip before? I thought you'd prefer things like that, but I didn't do a good job."

Big Brother had skills, but his taste was lacking.

This pencil case wasn't particularly attractive either, but its primary function was practicality, so it didn't matter much.

Hair clips were different; for Tang Zhenzhen, they were purely decorative.

Putting an ugly metal piece on her head would only happen if she were crazy.

Still, Tang Zhenzhen wasn't satisfied with this answer, yet she couldn't say much because of the change in others' gazes.

She looked too much like someone who couldn't stand seeing Tang Qingqing favored. She wasn't interested in such an ugly thing, so there was no reason to ruin her image over it.

"Sister, open it and take a look. Don't mind if it doesn't look nice; I'll wrap it in cloth for you later."

"I think it looks great," Tang Qingqing said calmly, opening the pencil case and thanking Big Brother, "Big Brother, thank you. I really like your gift."

Given how busy Big Brother was, taking the time to make this showed how much he valued her as a sister.

Big Brother scratched his head, embarrassed, "I'm glad you like it. Next time, I'll try to make something even prettier."

"This one is already perfect."

Second Brother also had a gift; he gave Tang Qingqing a fountain pen.

"I know you already have one, but having another allows you to switch ink colors, which will help you highlight important points in your notes."

"Second Brother, thank you."

Tang Jixue couldn't help but complain, "Why didn't you guys tell me you were preparing gifts!"

Tang Qingqing smiled, "Third Brother, you don't need to specially prepare a gift for me. I'm just going to school."

"Who said I don't need to!" Tang Jixue rummaged in his pocket and took out a watch, "Good thing I prepared one, otherwise I would have been embarrassed!"

Before Tang Qingqing could say anything, Tang Jianguo's face darkened, and he slammed the table, shouting:

"Tang Jixue! Where did you get that watch!"