AWB Chapter 44 The Farce at the School Gate
Chapter 44 The Farce at the School Gate
The day after Li Shiqing's birthday, the sun still shone leisurely on the streets, as if still savoring the joy of the previous day. Li Yuan, as usual, led Li Shiqing and Liu Yixin on their way to school. Li Shiqing and Liu Yixin were still chattering about the fun they had at the birthday party the day before, while Li Yuan listened quietly with a smile, occasionally interjecting a few words.
"Mom, yesterday's cake was so delicious! I'm still thinking about it!" Li Shiqing said with sparkling eyes.
"You're such a glutton, be careful you don't turn into a little fatso!" Liu Yixin teased from the side.
"Hmph, I won't! I'm the type of person who can eat anything and not gain weight!" Li Shiqing retorted confidently.
Just as they were chatting and laughing and were about to reach the school gate, a discordant voice suddenly broke the harmony.
"Hey, isn't this Li Yuan? Taking the child to school?" Wang Qiang's somewhat annoying voice rang out. Li Yuan looked up and saw Wang Qiang standing at the school gate with his current wife, Xiao Liu, and his mother, looking at them with a smug expression.
"Wang Qiang, what are you planning to do now?" Li Yuan frowned, a sense of foreboding rising in her heart.
"Happy birthday, daughter!" Wang Qiang said with a smile, completely ignoring Li Yuan's questioning.
Li Shiqing frowned as if she had seen something annoying, and refused without hesitation: "I don't need your blessing, so stop pretending."
Wang Qiang's face instantly turned somewhat embarrassed, but he quickly regained his self-righteous demeanor. "Daughter, how can you talk to your father like that? I've always cared about you."
"You care about me? When have you ever cared about me? You have no right to say such things since you left us!" Li Shiqing said angrily. Her small hands clenched into fists, her body trembled slightly, and the anger in her heart continued to burn.
At this moment, Wang Qiang's current wife, Xiao Liu, couldn't help but speak up: "How can you be so ill-mannered? Your father came to congratulate you out of kindness, and this is how you respond?"
Liu Yixin, who couldn't stand it any longer, stepped forward and said, "Who are you calling ill-mannered? You came here out of nowhere to cause trouble, and you have the nerve to criticize others?"
Wang Qiang's mother-in-law also joined the fray. Pointing her finger at Li Yuan, she shouted, "It's all because of your good daughter! She doesn't know how to respect her elders at all!"
Li Yuan sneered: "Respect is mutual. You come here to cause trouble, and you expect us to greet you with smiles? Wang Qiang, if you have any conscience at all, don't disturb our lives here."
Wang Qiang, however, didn't take it seriously. He took out a small box from his pocket and waved it at Li Shiqing: "Daughter, Dad brought you a birthday present. Look, this is that new bracelet."
Li Shiqing didn't even glance at it and said, "I don't want your gift. Do you think a gift can make up for the harm you've done to us?"
Liu Yixin chimed in, "Exactly! Do you think money can buy everything? Li Shiqing has so many of us who love her now, she doesn't need your things."
Wang Qiang's face grew increasingly grim, and he raised his voice, saying, "Don't be ungrateful! I am, after all, her biological father!"
"So what if he's your biological father? Have you fulfilled your responsibilities as a father all these years?" Li Yuan said angrily. Her eyes were filled with disappointment and resentment. Recalling the hardships of raising Shi Qing alone, the grievances in her heart surged like a tide.
By this time, a group of students and parents had gathered around, pointing and whispering among themselves.
"Look, isn't that Li Shiqing? What's going on?"
"It seems like her father and stepmother have come to cause trouble, really."
Li Shiqing felt somewhat embarrassed, but she stood there firmly, refusing to back down. She looked at Wang Qiang and said loudly, "Go away. I don't want to see you again. I have a happy family now, and I don't need you causing trouble here."
Wang Qiang wanted to say something more, but Xiao Liu tugged at his arm and said, "Forget it, Brother Qiang, if she doesn't appreciate it, let's go."
Wang Qiang's mother also snorted: "You heartless bastard, you'll regret this later!"
After saying that, the three of them slunk away under the watchful eyes of everyone.
Li Yuan watched their departing figures, breathed a sigh of relief, and then turned to Li Shiqing and Liu Yixin, saying, "Alright, it's nothing. Don't let them affect our mood. Go to school now."
Li Shiqing nodded and walked into the school with Liu Yixin. Although an unpleasant farce had just occurred, Li Shiqing knew that as long as her mother and friends were by her side, she was not afraid of anything.
Li Shiqing and Liu Yixin walked into the classroom, the tense atmosphere from their earlier commotion with Wang Qiang at the school gate still lingering. Li Shiqing plopped down in her seat, pouting, her face full of displeasure.
Liu Yixin leaned closer to her, her big eyes blinking, and patted her chest, saying, "Qingqing, don't look so gloomy! With Dad and me here, that bad uncle won't be able to bully you and Mom anymore. My dad is super strong, just like Superman, he can send bad guys flying with one punch!"
Li Shiqing was amused by her confident demeanor and burst out laughing. "Dad isn't a real Superman who can knock people away with one punch. Don't brag!"
Liu Yixin immediately straightened her back and argued seriously, "Although my dad doesn't have superpowers, he's incredibly strong. Last time we changed the gas cylinder, he lifted it up with one hand. That gas cylinder was so heavy! Don't you think he's amazing?"
"Okay, okay, your dad is amazing. But don't be too reckless, that person is very cunning." Li Shiqing was still a little worried.
"What's there to be afraid of? There's strength in numbers. I can also ask my mischievous cousins for help; they're full of tricks. We'll set a trap for that bad uncle so he can't get out once he steps in, haha." Liu Yixin became more and more excited as she spoke, gesturing wildly.
Li Shiqing imagined the scene and couldn't help but laugh. "Don't do anything reckless. If something really happens, we'll be in big trouble."
"Nothing will happen, I know what I'm doing. I just can't stand his arrogant attitude, like he's so great. He's the one who did something wrong, yet he comes here to offer his fake blessings," Liu Yixin said angrily, her cheeks puffed out.
“Exactly, he thinks a birthday present can make up for so many years of neglect, he’s dreaming,” Li Shiqing agreed.
Just then, Xiaoming, who was sitting next to him, curiously peeked over and asked, "What are you talking about? Who's the bad uncle?"
Liu Yixin explained the whole story to Xiaoming. After listening, Xiaoming clenched his fist and said, "That's too much! People like that should be kept far away. But Liu Yixin, you said you want to protect Li Shiqing, what are you planning to do?"
Liu Yixin tilted her head and thought for a moment, "Hmm... I go to and from school with Li Shiqing every day. With me around, he doesn't dare to come near. If he dares to come, I'll shout for help and ask the people around to come and help."
"Haha, that's a good idea, but what if there's no one around?" Xiaoming continued to ask.
“Then let’s run! I’m really fast; I always win prizes at the school sports meet. I’ll run with Li Shiqing on my back; he definitely can’t catch up,” Liu Yixin said confidently.
Li Shiqing smiled and shook her head. "You're always overthinking things. But thank you anyway, I feel much more at ease with you here."
“We’re good friends, so this is only natural,” Liu Yixin said proudly.
"Okay, but for now, let's focus on our studies. It would be terrible if we failed the exam," Li Shiqing reminded her.
"Oh dear, I almost forgot, there's a math test today. But it's okay, I studied for a long time last night, I'm sure I'll be fine," Liu Yixin said nonchalantly.
"You're just bragging." Li Shiqing exposed her without any mercy.
“That time was an accident, but this time it will definitely be different. Let me tell you, I even guessed the difficult questions the math teacher might ask. I’ll definitely surprise you later,” Liu Yixin said confidently.
"Okay, then I'll wait and see," Li Shiqing said with a smile.
So, the two temporarily put their worries aside and began preparing for the upcoming math test. A relaxed and pleasant atmosphere filled the classroom, as if the unpleasantness from before had never happened.