Chapter 193: So Evil It’s Smoking
The more Luo Xiaoling looked at Su He, the angrier she got.
“We’ve said everything that needs saying. Now hurry up and leave!”
Su He leaned back against the sofa.
“No rush. Xiaoling, tell me more about Shen Ruyi and Auntie Song.”
Luo Xiaoling couldn’t wait to get this plague out of her house, so she rambled on without caring if anything made sense—just saying whatever popped into her head.
Su He narrowed her eyes.
“Listening to you, it kind of sounds like Auntie Song is a little afraid of Shen Ruyi?”
Luo Xiaoling was stunned.
“Afraid? Maybe a little… but it’s probably just guilt. After all, you lived in luxury with the Shen family, and Shen Ruyi suffered in the countryside.”
Su He scoffed.
“Is that what she told you?
Then you probably don’t know that when she was born, she was extremely weak. My parents went everywhere looking for doctors to treat her. Only after she recovered did they even consider having a second child.
And even though we were a rural family, not only did we let her go to school, we hardly made her do any chores. She was famously lazy and greedy in the village.
Between you and me, I even suspect Auntie Song swapped me and Shen Ruyi on purpose back then.
But keep this to yourself, okay? Don’t go repeating it. You could get in serious trouble.”
Luo Xiaoling was fuming.
You know that last part is dangerous, so why are you telling me?!
You’re obviously dragging me into this mess on purpose!
Su He, you’re rotten to the core!
Even your lies have twists! So evil it’s practically smoking!
“I’ve said everything that should and shouldn’t be said. Now get out!”
This time, Su He nodded and agreed. She left behind her contact numbers for the machinery factory and the night school, telling Luo Xiaoling to call if anything urgent came up.
As for Luo Xiaoling’s home phone number, Su He already knew it from before.
Luo Xiaoling finally relaxed when she saw Su He stand up—only to hear her say:
“Xiaoling, I’m a little short on cash lately. Can you help me out?”
Luo Xiaoling almost spat blood from anger.
You’ve got that many jobs and you’re claiming you’re broke? Who are you trying to fool?!
In the end, Su He packed up all the apples from the coffee table to take with her.
It wouldn’t be good to visit Director Lu empty-handed—might as well bring some apples.
Luo Xiaoling slammed the door so hard the walls shook. She never wanted to see Su He again in her life.
Su He walked out of Luo Xiaoling’s home in high spirits.
If you want to control someone, you need to know their weak spot.
Clearly, Luo Xiaoling was afraid of Shen Ruyi—or more accurately, she was afraid of retaliation from the Shen family. That’s why she was so easy to manipulate.
Whether or not Luo Xiaoling would actually report to her was hard to say. Human hearts are fickle and ever-changing.
Of course, the better Su He did, the more likely it was that Luo Xiaoling would side with her.
Su He carried the apples and took the bus to the provincial night school.
At that moment, in Director Lu’s office, Principal Chen was on a humblebragging spree.
“Old Lu, my appetite hasn’t been great lately. Mostly because I stayed at the foreign affairs guesthouse recently and the food was too greasy. I haven’t felt like eating meat since.”
“Old Lu, it’s really true what they say—it’s easy to go from frugal to extravagant, but hard the other way around. In S City, I had a private car taking me everywhere. Now suddenly riding a bus feels weird.”
“Old Lu, back when funding was tight, I worried. Now that we have U.S. dollar donations, I’m still worrying—how the heck do I spend all this money?”
…
Director Lu was practically steaming.
He’d thought Chen the Bald would be punished this time. But no—he got praised instead!
And judging by what the higher-ups said, they were going to give him a certificate for being an “Outstanding Educator”!
It was infuriating!
He couldn’t take it anymore and sourly said:
“Old Chen, cut the crap. You’re just basking in Su He’s glory! You’re a grown man shamelessly riding on a young girl’s coattails. Aren’t you embarrassed?”
He figured Principal Chen would be embarrassed and hang his head in shame.
Instead, Chen burst out laughing.
“Old Lu, you’re absolutely right. I am basking in little Su’s glory!
Can’t help it—what can I say? I had the eye to recruit such a talented teacher!
She only has a high school diploma, and not everyone had the guts to hire her like I did. That’s what you call a rare talent and a wise judge!”
Director Lu: “…”
Chen the Bald, you’ve changed!
You’re no longer that refined, reserved scholar. Your shame—just like your hair—has run off and never come back!
By the time Su He arrived, Director Lu was fuming like a teapot.
But the moment he saw Su He, his face lit up like a flower in bloom.
Especially when he noticed the apples she brought. He thought, Now this is a girl who knows how to handle things—so much better than that bald Chen!
All talk and not even a piece of candy to show for it!
“Little Su, have some tea to quench your thirst.”
The more he looked at Su He, the more pleasing she was to the eye—especially when he thought about those U.S. dollar donations Chen had mentioned.
“Little Su, our provincial night school is currently recruiting logistics teachers. For special cases, we can lower the educational requirements. I think you’d be a great fit—”
Before he could finish, Principal Chen stuffed an apple into his mouth.
“Old Lu, save your energy. Little Su doesn’t want to stay in the provincial capital. If she did, she would’ve stayed in S City.
Besides, she’s now the secretary to the factory director at An County Machinery Plant, and also the deputy director of sales at both the textile and food factories in An County. Where would she find time to come here and be a logistics teacher?!”
Director Lu glared at Principal Chen while holding his apple. He looked at Su He.
“Little Su, what do you think?”
Su He rubbed her hands together.
“Director Lu, I can’t commit full-time, but if it’s part-time, I might consider it. Like, maybe just two or three days a month?”
Director Lu: “…”
You know what? You’d better just stay in An County.
Principal Chen was secretly relieved the negotiation failed.
It wasn’t entirely out of self-interest. He was genuinely worried Su He would get too exhausted.
Little did he know, Su He was thinking: This provincial night school is a great place. Once I have enough leverage, I can come back and negotiate for a part-time gig.
Su He and Principal Chen stayed for lunch at the night school. When they left, Principal Chen pulled two packs of S City-brand cigarettes from his briefcase and handed them to Director Lu.
Director Lu laughed and cursed:
“You bald old fox! I thought you were a total cheapskate!”
Su He and Principal Chen left the night school and waited for the bus at the station.
There were only two buses a day between the provincial capital and An County. They’d make it back just in time for the afternoon ride.
Su He was casually chatting with Principal Chen when someone said hesitantly,
“Little He?”
She turned her head. It was a young man in his early twenties, holding two books and looking scholarly.
It was Qi Yuansheng.
The same scumbag who had once sweet-talked the original Su He under the moonlight, tried to get her into bed, and dumped her with a breakup letter as soon as she was sent back to the countryside.
When Qi Yuansheng saw Su He, his eyes lit up in amazement.
Little He’s even prettier than before!
If only her background wasn’t so poor, I might’ve just taken the loss and married her…
“Little He, when did you get to the provincial capital? Why didn’t you tell me? I could’ve picked you up from the station.”
Su He replied lazily,
“Why would I tell you I came to the capital? Who do you think you are—some big deal? And how would I even tell you? Should I burn some ghost money and send word that way?”
