After lunch, Lin Fang suggested that Teacher Wang take a nap while Teacher Guo was asleep, but Teacher Wang refused, insisting that Lin Fang practice the piano while she provided guidance.
Meatball, having nothing else to do, pulled out a small booklet he always carried in his pocket and began mumbling to himself as he memorized vocabulary. He had long given up on the idea of inheriting his father’s position and no longer harbored any illusions. Now, his sole focus was on getting into a good school to secure a decent job. The booklet had been prepared by Lin Fang—not just for English, but for all subjects in middle school, except those he hadn’t studied yet. She had made simplified handbooks for him to review anytime, anywhere.
Guo Hongping, finding herself the only one with nothing to do, looked around and decided to clean the house from top to bottom. By the time Lin Fang finished her two-hour piano practice, the entire place was spotless, earning her enthusiastic praise from Teacher Wang.
Lin Fang suddenly remembered something and discussed it with Teacher Wang: “Teacher Wang, since you like Hongping so much, could you do us a favor? Hongping will officially be helping me at the bookstore from now on. Before school starts, she can stay with me while we look after the teachers’ dormitory. But once school begins, students return, and outsiders aren’t allowed in the dorms. It wouldn’t be safe for her to stay alone at the shop. We don’t know many people in town—could you help find her a place to stay?”
Teacher Wang shook her head. “Why look elsewhere? She can stay right here. If Hongping doesn’t mind, we can clear out the opposite room and set up a bed, just like how Teacher Gao’s family uses their opposite room as a kitchen and storage. I don’t cook at home to avoid disturbing Teacher Guo, so our opposite room is just for storage—it’s even more spacious than Teacher Gao’s.”
“Of course we don’t mind! We’re overjoyed! Hongping, hurry up and thank Teacher Wang!”
This was an unexpected blessing. Due to Teacher Guo’s seniority, their apartment had three rooms, just like Teacher Gao’s. Unlike Teacher Gao’s book-filled home, theirs had simple furniture, making it feel even more spacious. Lin Fang had only mentioned it casually, never expecting Teacher Wang to agree so readily. She was thrilled.
Hongping, too, was stunned by her good fortune. Aside from thanking Teacher Wang repeatedly, she could only grin sheepishly, which only endeared her further to Teacher Wang.
“Oh, and Meatball,” Teacher Wang added cheerfully, having just praised Hongping, “I don’t spend much time in my office during the day, and I go home at night. If you’re serious about studying, would you like to stay in my office? It’s a private space where you can focus without interruptions.”
Meatball was overjoyed. “What? Good fortune for me too? Of course I’d love to! Thank you, Teacher Wang! Haha, this year must be my lucky year—I’m catching all the blessings falling from the sky!”
Lin Fang teased, “Don’t get too cocky. Watch out for the day a blessing smacks you dead.”
Meatball retorted, “Nah, I’m not that dumb. I’ll catch the good ones and dodge the bad. Thanks again, Teacher Wang! Now I’ll have my own space to study without distractions or worrying about the dorm’s power cuts. I can study longer—hahaha!”
His infectious delight made everyone laugh.
Lin Fang told Teacher Wang about the three of them opening a bookstore together. Teacher Wang approved but reminded Lin Fang and Meatball not to let business interfere with their studies. Both promised solemnly that they wouldn’t neglect their schoolwork.
After arranging to have lunch and dinner at Teacher Wang’s until the second semester began, the three returned to the bookstore.
It was their first day back, and they had only hastily wiped down the desks and chairs for the children’s lessons. The rest of the shop was still dusty. Earlier, a parent had pointed at the dusty bookshelf and whispered to another that young teachers weren’t reliable. Though the comment was hushed, Lin Fang heard it clearly and regretted her oversight. Now, with time to spare, she made sure to thoroughly clean the entire store.
When they returned, Lin Guicheng and Sun Siyuan were already waiting inside—Lin Guicheng had a key.
Lin Fang told him about the arrangements at Teacher Wang’s. Lin Guicheng nodded. “Perfect. Sun Siyuan is busy with the resort and can’t commute daily from the village. Renting in town is an option, but since your bookstore is empty at night, he can stay there temporarily. It solves his housing problem, gives you nighttime security, and saves the hassle of house-hunting—three birds with one stone.”
Lin Fang had no objections to free security. She thanked him, though Sun Siyuan merely nodded without a word. Unfazed by his coldness, Lin Fang ignored it. Meatball, used to Sun Siyuan’s icy demeanor from spending so much time at the Lin household, barely noticed. But Guo Hongping, facing Sun Siyuan’s frosty expression, felt uneasy.
After two and a half days of repaying debts, Lin Fang had Sun Siyuan’s personality figured out—he simply didn’t care about most things. But when something did matter to him, he acted swiftly and decisively.
On the third day of the new year, after leaving Lan Xiang’s house and hearing her vicious remarks, Sun Siyuan had turned back without a word and shattered Lan Xiang’s jaw, knocking her unconscious. Before Lan Xiang’s mother could scream, he knocked her out too. Lin Fang only learned the details later when Lan Xiang’s father came begging for mercy, asking the Lins to spare his daughter.
At the time, Lin Fang had been shocked—no wonder the courtyard had fallen silent after Sun Siyuan returned. Though the Lins hadn’t harmed Lan Xiang, her father blamed them anyway. Lin Fang didn’t care—Lan Xiang had brought it on herself.
Strangely, Lan Xiang’s father didn’t press charges or leverage his past financial help to demand repayment. A shrewd man, his subdued reaction suggested he’d weighed the consequences. From then on, anyone thinking of targeting the Lins would think twice—their safety was, for now, assured.
After discussing her own matters, Lin Fang asked Lin Guicheng about his errand in town. “Uncle Cheng, how did it go?”
Lin Guicheng shook his head. “Not well. Most officials are still on holiday—I barely handed out any of the gifts I prepared.”
“Don’t worry, Uncle Cheng. Work on both fronts—start preparing the construction team while handling the paperwork. By the time the resort is built, the permits might be ready too,” Lin Fang reassured him.
This was common locally—unless it was an urgent matter, most offices remained empty until after the Lantern Festival. Lin Fang didn’t know how efficient Liangping’s government was, but here, Lin Guicheng’s usual methods might not work as well, especially since he was unfamiliar with the area.
“Only option now,” Lin Guicheng sighed. “I slipped a big red envelope to a junior clerk. She hinted that I’d snatched a plot of land a higher-up wanted, so my permits might face delays. For now, I’ll focus on building the resort—it’s my land, after all. As for the paperwork, I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.”
Lin Fang offered more encouragement, though she knew a nationwide crackdown was coming in a few months. Many would be investigated, and government positions would see a major reshuffle. Lin Guicheng’s permits would likely be approved amid the chaos.
Over the next few days, the other five children returned for lessons. Like on the sixth day, Lin Fang gave each a calligraphy brush, and Lin Guicheng handed out ten-yuan red envelopes. Thanks to Lin Fang’s advice, Guo Hongping no longer visibly winced at the expenses—she now saw them as investments that would pay off later.
Parents who asked Lin Fang to make up missed lessons were promptly accommodated.
Time passed quickly, and aside from one unpleasant incident, things went smoothly.
On the eighth day, while the three were having lunch at Teacher Wang’s, Teacher Guo’s nephew barged in with a folding bed, heading straight for the opposite room. When Teacher Wang asked what he was doing, he said his son had found a job in town with meals but no housing, and since the room was empty, his son might as well stay there.
After he finished, Teacher Wang replied calmly, “You’ve been talking to yourself this whole time. Did you ever ask me?”
“This is my uncle’s house. Why would I need your permission?” he retorted, older than Teacher Wang by over a decade and unafraid of a mere woman.
“I married your uncle, making me your elder. In this house, I have a say. Your uncle isn’t in his right mind anymore, so I’m in charge. Even if you hate it, no one moves in without my approval.” Her tone was steady—this wasn’t the first time.
The nephew hesitated. With Teacher Guo incapacitated, throwing his weight around was pointless. Then he tried threatening her: “You can’t manage without me watching my uncle. You have no family—you’ll need me to support you in old age.”
Teacher Wang laughed bitterly. “I pay you to watch him—it’s not charity. I can hire anyone. And you’re older than me—you’ll die first. How could you support me? I’ve tolerated you out of respect for Teacher Guo, but since you’ve lost face yourself, I won’t hold back. Get out. You’re fired.”
“You bitch! You’re kicking me out?”
Enraged by her defiance, he lunged at her—only to collapse to his knees before he could touch her. Struggling to rise, he crawled toward her, swiping at her legs. The folding table overturned, dishes shattered, and food splattered everywhere.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage