Wu Jin’s eyes widened as she watched Jiang Chan put down the chalk and gather the examination papers on the lectern. “All right, that’s it. Class dismissed.”
Jiang Chan set down the chalk and glanced out the window, meeting Wu Jin’s eyes. She looked away first, as though she had seen a stranger, and walked toward the back of the classroom with her papers.
She had only taken two steps when a girl suddenly caught hold of her. “Qiaoqiao, I still don’t quite understand this part. Could you explain it again?”
Wu Jin recognized the girl who had snapped at her that evening. Seeing her smile so sweetly at Jiang Chan, Wu Jin tightened her grip on her schoolbag straps, turned away from the classroom, and strode off campus.
At the school gate, Lian Shuguo leaned against the car, waiting for Wu Jin. As for his younger daughter, Lian Qiao, he had long since forgotten her. A group of parents stood around the gate, all there to collect their children.
“I heard the Placement Test results are out. My son is in his second year. When he came home, he said this test was terribly difficult.”
“I wonder what rank he’ll get this time.”
“What do you have to worry about? Your son has good grades. You don’t need to worry so much.”
“Your child is in the second year? What a coincidence. My daughter is too. She’s in Class Two.” Hearing the two parents chatting happily beside him, Lian Shuguo joined in.
“Class Two? Then she’s in the top hundred on the honor roll. That’s impressive. My son is in Class Two too.” The two parents immediately brightened. Parents were always happy to associate with families whose children did well at school.
“Mine is in Class One. We live in the same residential complex, so we usually come to pick up our children together.” A mother with a gentle smile smoothed the stray hair at her temple, subtly showing off her child.
“That’s wonderful. Your child must have done well on this test!” Once grades came up, the parents had plenty to say. In fact, during their children’s school years, grades were what parents could boast about.
The school gate immediately grew lively. Everyone chattered about their children’s grades, interests, special talents, awards, and so on.
When Wu Jin came out, she saw Lian Shuguo chatting animatedly with a group of mothers, praising her as though she were unrivaled in heaven and on earth.
If Jiang Chan had not skipped a grade, Wu Jin would have accepted all this praise as her due. But now, comparing Jiang Chan’s grades with her own, she felt that almost every compliment from Lian Shuguo was mocking her.
She tightened her grip on her schoolbag straps. “Dad, school’s over. Let’s go.”
“My daughter’s here. I won’t keep chatting. See you next time.” Lian Shuguo took the schoolbag from Wu Jin’s back and opened the car door with a smile, ready to leave.
Watching Lian Shuguo’s car drive away, one parent still standing at the gate said, “That father is really responsible. He comes to pick his daughter up even this late.”
The other parents nodded. There were too few people like Lian Shuguo, who personally took care of everything.
A boy who had followed them out curled his lip. “All right, what’s there to say about other people’s business? Mom, I’m hungry. Has Dad made my dumplings?”
The gently smiling mother laughed. “Of course. I just messaged your dad. You’ll have a piping-hot late-night snack when we get home. You’ve worked hard at school.”
On the way home, Wu Jin looked out at the night scenery through the car window. “Dad, is Lian Qiao boarding at school?”
“I suppose so? I don’t know the details. Ask your mom.” Lian Shuguo turned the steering wheel, looking very pleased.
“Of course you don’t know. You have no idea what people at school are saying about me!” Wu Jin suddenly erupted in the back seat, tears falling.
“Lian Qiao never attended her first year at all. She skipped into the second year on the first day of term. The Placement Test results came out today, and she ranked first in the whole school. Aren’t you thrilled?”
Wu Jin practically screamed these words. Lian Shuguo braked sharply. “Is that true? That girl really entered the second year? How is that possible?”
“Why wouldn’t it be possible?” Wu Jin angrily wiped her tears. “Now everyone in our year knows I’m her older sister. Look how nicely I dress, then look at what Lian Qiao wears. My classmates all say I bully her!”
“Have I bullied her? You’re the ones who treat her badly. Why has everyone turned this on me?” Seeing that they were nearly home, Wu Jin angrily pulled open the car door and strode away.
Lian Shuguo was left in the car, his expression shifting. As Wu Jin went farther and farther away, he hurriedly drove after her, growing increasingly dissatisfied with Lian Qiao.
Wu Jin angrily opened the door, and Wu Xiuzhen hurried over. “Ah Jin, you’re home. How did your studies go today? Are you tired?”
Wu Jin glared at Wu Xiuzhen. “The same as usual. I’m going to my room.”
She left Wu Xiuzhen standing there, bewildered. Lian Shuguo followed her in, carrying Wu Jin’s schoolbag. “Leave her alone. I have something to discuss with you.”
“What is it? Why are you both so worked up?” Wu Xiuzhen wiped her hands and sat on the living room sofa.
“Tell me, how much tuition money did you give Lian Qiao? How does she have money to board at school?”
“I gave her the tuition money and twenty yuan in spending money. Nothing else.” Wu Xiuzhen was baffled. “Lian Qiao is boarding? Where did she get the money for that?”
“That’s what I’m asking you. Ah Jin came home crying and said Lian Qiao had actually skipped into the second year. What’s going on? Haven’t you called to ask her?” Lian Shuguo glared. This was the first time he had lost his temper with Wu Xiuzhen in all their years of marriage.
“What are you talking about? Lian Qiao doesn’t have a phone. Who am I supposed to call? That child hasn’t called home once either!” Wu Xiuzhen was displeased too. “Why are you coming home and losing your temper like this?”
“You’re her mother. Don’t you know anything about her? She hasn’t come home for days. Aren’t you worried?”
“Yes, I’m her mother. Aren’t you her father? Why are you pushing all the blame onto me?” Wu Xiuzhen was unhappy too. “I’ve said all along that wretched girl was born to bring me misfortune. She was an accident in the first place!”
Lian Shuguo waved a hand. “Go get some rest. I want some peace and quiet on my own.”
In the bedroom, Wu Xiuzhen took Wu Jin’s hand. “Tell me what happened again. Why is your dad so angry?”
Sniffling, Wu Jin recounted what had happened after the Placement Test. At the end, she wiped away her tears. “Now everyone in Class One knows I’m her older half-sister. They say neither of Lian Qiao’s parents cares about her, that she’s like a poor little waif anyone can bully!”
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