Chapter 38: Worried About Her

A cup of clear liquor and a beggar’s chicken left Wei Dingshui feeling utterly content. Leaning back on the sofa, he finally spoke, “No one pays a visit without a reason. Out with it—what brings you here?”

“Grandpa Wei, I heard that Jingda University recently acquired a rare medicinal plant called Snow Fox Nether Armor. Could you spare me just a little bit?” Shen Chutang pinched her fingers together to show she truly only wanted a tiny amount.

Wei Dingshui immediately pointed to the door. “Out! That plant is priceless, and you think a single beggar’s chicken is enough to buy me off?”

At that moment, Wei Dingshui’s wife, Miao Rou, walked in. She wore a cheongsam with a shawl draped over her shoulders, exuding gentleness and grace. Upon seeing Shen Chutang, she smiled warmly. “Tangtang, you’re here! Sit down. I bought a fish—let’s make something delicious later.”

Shen Chutang feigned grievance. “Grandma Miao, Grandpa Wei wants to throw me out.”

Miao Rou immediately turned to Wei Dingshui. “What’s the matter with you? This child rarely visits, and you’re shooing her away… Have you been drinking again, Wei Dingshui? The meal’s not even started and you’re already drinking!”

Wei Dingshui, famously henpecked, quickly shifted the blame. “It was Tangtang who brought it.”

Shen Chutang recounted what had just happened, and Miao Rou said, “If Tangtang wants some, just give her a little. I recall that you found that plant together with your students, and the school granted you usage rights.”

Wei Dingshui couldn’t help but protest, “But I already handed it over to the university. It wouldn’t be appropriate to give it away—unless… Tangtang, you could do something for the school.”

Shen Chutang was curious. “You’re not going to ask me to donate a library, are you?”

She was really quite broke at the moment!

“Nothing so grand. The president of Jingda has been troubled by the issue at the affiliated high school. There’s a Z Class, created by the wealthy and powerful throwing money at the school, but the students are all hopelessly bad at their studies and have no hope of getting into university. The school’s been searching for outside teachers. If you’re willing, I’m sure the president will be delighted.”

Jingda was the most prestigious university in the city, and its affiliated high school was among the very best. But with so many influential families in the capital, they were constantly donating buildings and facilities, all for the sake of getting their children into a good school. Thus, Jingda’s affiliated high school established the Z Class—a group comprised entirely of the wealthy and privileged, but their academic performance was abysmal, and university was a distant dream.

Both the university president and the high school principal were at their wits’ end, desperate to find the right person to take on the task.

Shen Chutang thought for a moment and agreed. “Alright, I’ll do it.”

With her decision made, Wei Dingshui immediately contacted the principal, saying he had found a reliable teacher. Miao Rou cheerfully bustled off to the kitchen, insisting Shen Chutang stay for dinner.

After the meal, Shen Chutang received notice to begin her trial on Monday.

She hadn’t expected to find two rare herbs so quickly, and was naturally delighted as she carefully stored away the Snow Fox Nether Armor.

When Lu Beiqin returned home that evening, Shen Chutang had just finished cooking.

“Hurry and come eat! I made beggar’s chicken tonight!”

Seeing her so happy, Lu Beiqin asked, “Is today a special occasion?”

Shen Chutang brought out the last dish and smiled. “Guess what I got today?”

“What did you get?”

“Snow Fox Nether Armor!” Shen Chutang unwrapped the lotus leaves from the chicken and explained how she’d obtained the rare herb. “Try it—it’s my specialty.”

But Lu Beiqin didn’t move. Instead, he looked at her intently. “You agreed to work for the university just for the Snow Fox Nether Armor. If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to.”

Shen Chutang glanced at Lu Beiqin—was he worried about her?

“In any case, I’d be bored at home. I’ll give it a try first.”

Lu Beiqin’s dark eyes fixed on her. “Thank you.”

“Oh, eat up! The chicken is extra plump—I saved it just for you.” Embarrassed by his gaze, Shen Chutang changed the subject. Her cooking was excellent, and Lu Beiqin had found that ever since he started eating her food, the cafeteria meals at work had lost all appeal.

After dinner, Shen Chutang stood up to help digest, only to receive a message from Shen Xuejun: [Come home tomorrow, I need to talk to you.]

She lazily replied: [Not free.]

The next second, Shen Xuejun called. “Tangtang, don’t be stubborn. Come home tomorrow, just once.”

Unexpectedly, he wasn’t angry but instead became unusually solicitous, saying he’d prepared a gift for her.

“What happened last time was your mother and sister’s fault. I’ve told them to apologize to you.”

Shen Chutang curled her lips. Now things were getting interesting.

“Alright.”

She didn’t believe for a second that Shen Tingting and Liu Shuhua would sincerely apologize—if they meant it, they would have done so long ago.