A hundred flavors of life

Chapter 1418 I'll help you get revenge! (Please subscribe!)
With a sob in her voice, Wu Shanshan said, "We're going to junior high this year, and I want to apply to the city's No. 1 High School just like you and Tu Nan."

A few days ago, Wu Shanshan asked Hua Shier which junior high school he wanted to attend, and Hua Shier said that he would of course attend the best one.

The best one is the No. 1 Middle School in the city.

Hua Shier was a little surprised after hearing this: "I'm first in the whole grade in our school, and you're second. With your grades, getting into No. 1 Middle School shouldn't be a problem at all, right?"

“A few days ago I asked my dad if I could take the entrance exam for the top high school, and he said he would discuss it further.”

She paused, and tears welled up again:
"But last night, I overheard what Aunt Zhang was saying to my dad."

Wu Shanshan choked up as she recounted what had happened. It turned out that she had overheard a conversation between her stepmother and her father.

This is what her stepmother, Zhang Amei, said at the time:
"Old Wu, I have something to tell you. Shanshan and Xiaomin are going to junior high school this year. Shanshan said she wants to go to No. 1 Middle School, but I don't think it's necessary. Let her and Xiaomin continue to study at the factory school!"

Wu Jianguo was taken aback and asked:

"Why? No. 1 Middle School is a key school. Shanshan's grades are good enough to get into a key school, so why not let her go? Besides, junior high school is compulsory education, and the tuition is the same."

Zhang Amei sneered:

"Are you stupid? The tuition is the same, but there's also the travel expense! No. 1 High School is far from home. If you don't have a bicycle, you have to take the bus or walk. Does taking the bus cost nothing?"

"Walking back and forth is fine, but I'll definitely get home late after school, which will delay my chores at home!"

Wu Shanshan's primary school is just a short walk from home. After school, she would go straight home and thoughtfully help with laundry, cooking, and taking care of her younger siblings, saving Old Wu and Zhang Amei a lot of trouble.

Wu Jianguo was somewhat troubled after hearing Zhang Amei's words. How could he not love his own daughter? He said:
“Then I’ll do more work in the future. If Shanshan wants to go to No. 1 Middle School, let her go. If our child can get into a key school, won’t we look good to each other?”

As a result, Zhang Amei immediately became furious and started cursing:
"What a load of rubbish! Shanshan and Xiaomin are in the same year for junior high. If Shanshan gets into a top school, what will Xiaomin think? Won't the kids be heartbroken? Don't worry about saving face!"

"Shanshan is the older sister, and Xiaomin is the younger sister. The younger sister isn't doing well in school, so what's wrong with the older sister accommodating her?"

"Besides, what school uses different textbooks? If Shanshan were like that, even if she went to junior high school in the factory, she could still get into a good high school and a good university!"

After Zhang Amei's outburst, Wu Jianguo immediately fell silent and could only obediently say:
“You make a good point. Then let Shanshan attend the school in the factory.”

Wu Shanshan felt heartbroken at that moment and ran out to be alone for a while, but she couldn't help but cry.

She's been coming here often these past two years. Whenever something upsetting or upsetting happens, she comes here to spend some time. She never expected that just a few tears this time would attract Hua Twelve over.

After Wu Shanshan finished speaking, her eyes reddened again, and tears streamed down her face.

After hearing about Wu Shanshan's story, Hua Shier couldn't help but say:
"Your stepmother is a real scumbag, and your father is a coward too. Whatever his wife says goes. He just lets her control his own daughter's future like that?"

He knew perfectly well that what Zhang A-mei said—that if Wu Shanshan were like that, she could also get into high school and university—was utter nonsense.

In the original storyline, when Wu Shanshan took the high school entrance exam, she was clearly qualified to enter the senior high school of No. 1 High School. However, Wu Jianguo's shortsightedness and cowardice led him to listen to Zhang Amei's words again and change his biological daughter's application from No. 1 High School to a teacher training college.

The reason is that the teacher training college is tuition-free, and it can also give up a spot in the factory for her younger sister Xiaomin, so that she can graduate and start working earlier to help support the family.

Wu Shanshan still has feelings for her father and subconsciously defends him:
"It's because Aunt Zhang has a bad temper; my dad doesn't want to argue."

"Don't want to argue?"

Hua Twelve scoffed:
"So you just let others humiliate your daughter? Shanshan, let me tell you, if an old woman has a temper, you have to beat her. Beat her first, and if she's not satisfied, beat her again. After a few beatings, her temper will be fine. Do you need someone to teach you that?"

Wu Shanshan was speechless, feeling that this was some kind of old-fashioned speech.

"There are some people in this world who will take advantage of you the more you give in to them. If your dad had been more assertive the first time, would your stepmother have dared to talk like that?"

Hua Shier took out a pack of Daqianmen cigarettes from his pocket, pulled one out, put it in his mouth, and then pulled out another one and handed it over.
"Would you like one?"

Wu Shanshan's eyes widened, and she completely forgot about crying, revealing a confused expression.

"Fine, I won't smoke anymore, I'll smoke one myself!" Hua Shier put away one cigarette, then took out a match and lit one for himself.

As soon as he lit the cigarette, Wu Shanshan snatched it from his mouth, threw it on the ground, and stomped it out.

"Don't smoke! You're going astray. If you smoke, I'll tell Aunt Huang Ling!"

“Hey, you,” Hua Shier explained:
"I'm trying to help you de-stress. Haven't you heard of 'A first-class Huangshan cigarette, with its vast sky and light clouds'? One puff and you'll feel like you're floating on air."

Wu Shanshan couldn't understand what he was saying, but he just wouldn't let him smoke. As she spoke, she seemed to remember her own situation and started crying again.

Hua Shier said, "Keep your voice down! If people come later, I won't be able to explain!"
Wu Shanshan said I was just heartbroken, and I couldn't help it.

Seeing her like that, Hua Shier put the cigarette case back in his pocket:

"I'm not smoking anymore, but you shouldn't cry either. If someone sees you like this, they'll think I did something to you, and I won't be able to explain myself!"

Wu Shanshan wiped her eyes and whispered, "I just feel unwell."

"What's there to be upset about?"

Hua Shier leaned against the wall and said with a smile, "It's just getting into No. 1 High School, right? I'll help you."

Wu Shanshan looked up, her eyes still glistening with tears, but then brightened: "Really? But what about my dad?"

You don't need to worry about your dad.

Hua Shier interrupted her: "Just focus on your studies and do well on the exam. When the results come out, fill in No. 1 High School as your college application. I'll have a way to make sure your stepmother doesn't cause you any trouble!"

Wu Shanshan hesitated for a moment, then became a little timid, and finally said after a long pause:

"Or we can just forget about it and try for the top high school again during the high school entrance exam."

Hua Shier gave Wu Shanshan a disdainful look:

"If you're not going to live up to expectations, then forget it, I won't meddle!"

"But you need to think this through. If you give in once, you can give in a second time. Can you guarantee that your stepmother won't take advantage of you next time?"

"You'll have middle school entrance exams, college entrance exams, jobs, and marriages in the future. Will your stepmother interfere time and time again? Will she make you 'give in' her time and time again?"

“If your dad continues to be such a coward, you’ll be completely under her control for the rest of your life.”

He paused, then lowered his voice:

"It's like a fight. The first time you're bullied, you gouge out his eyes and kick him in the groin, and he won't dare to do it again. But if you just tolerate it, he'll only become more aggressive because he knows you're easy to bully."

The evening breeze carried the aroma of food, and in the distance, someone was calling their child home for dinner, the voice trailing off.

Wu Shanshan remained silent for a long time. She lowered her head, picking at the moss in the cracks of the stone steps with her fingers, picking out a small piece, then another small piece, as if she was thinking about what Hua Shier had said. Thinking of the terrible consequences, she couldn't help but shudder.

"Brother Pengfei," she finally spoke, her voice soft but clear, "I'll listen to you."

Hua Shier smiled and patted her on the shoulder: "That's right."

The two stood up. Wu Shanshan's legs were numb from squatting, and she swayed as she stood up; Hua Shier helped her.

The little girl leaned on Hua Shier to steady herself, her face slightly flushed, and whispered, "Thank you."

"Don't mention it." Hua Shier released his hand.
"Let's go home. Wipe your tears, don't let anyone see. People who don't know better will think I've bullied you!"

Wu Shanshan nodded, wiped her face with her sleeve, and then tidied her hair.

After walking a few steps, Hua Shier suddenly said, "By the way, your stepmother is bullying you like this, we can't just let it go. I'll help you get revenge later."

Wu Shanshan quickly said, "Brother Pengfei, please don't do anything reckless."

"Don't worry," Hua Shier smiled mysteriously, "No one knows I did it."

That night, a strange thing happened in Textile Lane 3.

Around 11 p.m., a muffled thud came from the public restroom, like something had exploded, followed by a woman's piercing scream that woke up half the people in the alley.

"What happened?"

"Where did it explode?"

It looks like a toilet.

Neighbors ran out, wrapped in their clothes and carrying flashlights. A crowd had gathered at the entrance of the public toilet, and sobbing could be heard coming from inside.

When Zhang Amei came out, she was completely stunned. There was no telling what she was like.

My hair, face, and clothes were covered in filth. The stench was so strong it made me want to back away.

"What happened?" someone asked.

Zhang Amei was crying so hard she could barely speak: "I was in the toilet when I heard an explosion, and then... the ground below exploded too."

The flashlight beam shone into the toilet, revealing a mess inside and splattered all over the walls.

The scariest thing is that there's even a human figure on the wall!

The experienced old man took a look and shook his head: "The biogas exploded. Did some naughty child throw a firecracker into the toilet?"

The crowd was buzzing with discussion. Zhang Amei stood there, crying her eyes out, though it was hard to tell which was which now.

In the end, Wu Jianguo rushed over after hearing the news and took her home to wash up.

This became the headline news in the alley the next day. At breakfast time, everyone was talking about it, and it even attracted the attention of the police. Uncle Hat came over, looked around, but found no clues, and the matter was eventually dropped.

"Have you heard? Zhang A-mei got covered in dung from a latrine last night!"

"Really? How did it explode?"

"They say it's biogas. I think it's karma. Everyone knows how she treated Shanshan."

"Shh, keep your voice down." Hua Shier sat in his own yard eating breakfast, listening to the discussions coming from next door, and continued drinking his porridge without changing his expression.

Across from her, Zhuang Xiaoting whispered, "Brother Pengfei, did you hear any noises last night?"

"I heard you." Hua Shier picked up a piece of pickled vegetable. "I was sleeping soundly, and I got a fright."

"That's terrifying." Zhuang Xiaoting shrank her neck. "I'm afraid to go to the toilet at night from now on."

Zhuang Tunan chimed in from the side: "I heard Aunt Zhang has even pasted wallpaper on the walls!"

Huang Ling couldn't help but laugh: "This child, don't talk nonsense, hahaha."

Hua Shier was speechless and reminded her, "Auntie, please keep your voice down so no one can hear you!"

On their way to school, Wu Shanshan caught up with him. The little girl had dark circles under her eyes, clearly indicating that she hadn't slept well.

She looked around to make sure no one was watching, then lowered her voice: "Brother Pengfei, was that you?"

"What do you mean, is it me or not?" Hua Shier looked completely innocent.
"I didn't throw firecrackers into the latrine, that's too dirty."

Wu Shanshan stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled.

The smile was faint, but her eyes curved into crescents, sparkling with light.

She didn't ask any more questions, but simply whispered, "Thank you."

"What are you thanking me for?" Hua Shier asked, pushing his bicycle. "I didn't do anything."

"Hmm." Wu Shanshan nodded, the corners of her mouth curving into a deeper smile: "You didn't do anything."

The days that followed were peaceful and uneventful.

Wu Shanshan indeed didn't mention going to No. 1 High School again, but she studied even harder.

During breaks between classes, she always sits alone in her seat doing her homework.

"Working so hard?" Hua Shier couldn't help but ask once.

"Hmm." Wu Shanshan didn't even look up. "I need to do well on the exam, so well that they have nothing to say."

Hua Shier smiled and didn't bother her anymore.

Zhang Amei behaved herself for a few days after that day, but soon reverted to her old ways.

She still wouldn't let Wu Shanshan take the entrance exam for the No. 1 Middle School, implying that the school in the factory was just fine.

Caught in the middle, Wu Jianguo was in a dilemma and finally decided to pretend to be deaf and dumb.

Wu Shanshan didn't argue; she just studied.

Sometimes when Hua Shier came back from Li Yiming's place at night, she could still see the light on in her window, and the young girl would be studying late into the night.

Time flies, and it's already the end of May, the time for the entrance exams to junior high school.

The day of the exam was sunny. Hua Shier got up very early, and Huang Ling cooked him two eggs and a fried dough stick, which had a symbolic meaning: '100 points'.

Zhuang Chaoying, unusually, didn't go to school and personally escorted him to the examination venue.

"Don't be nervous." At the school gate, Zhuang Chaoying patted him on the shoulder. "Just do your best."

"I'm not nervous," Hua Shier smiled. "Uncle, you can go back now. I'll go home by myself at noon."

He entered the examination room, found his seat, looked around, and saw Wu Shanshan. She was sitting by the window, looking down at her stationery, her profile tense.

The exam bell rang, and the exam papers were handed out. Hua Shier glanced at them and thought they were too easy.

He wrote quickly and swiftly, finishing his work without even checking it, then immediately lay down on the table to sleep.

The proctor came over and tapped on his desk.

Hua Shier looked up, and the teacher frowned: "Student, answer the questions carefully."

“I’ve finished answering,” Hua Shier said.

The teacher was taken aback, picked up his test paper, looked at it, and then said nothing more.

The days waiting for the results to be released are the hardest.

The results were released in mid-June.

A large red notice was posted at the entrance of the No. 1 Middle School, attracting a large crowd.

Huang Ling couldn't wait and dragged Zhuang Chaoying there early in the morning.

Hua Shier waited at home for news, and also helped Zhuang Xiaoting and Lin Dongzhe with their summer homework.

Around 10 a.m., the courtyard gate was suddenly pushed open.

Huang Ling rushed in, her face flushed red, waving a piece of paper in her hand.

"You got in! You got in!" Her voice trembled. "Pengfei! Your name is first. You got into the top high school."

Zhuang Chaoying followed behind her, her face beaming with an irrepressible smile, though her eyes were a little red.

Hua Shier put down his pen, stood up, and smiled: "I told you I could pass the exam."

"Yes, my nephew is really promising!"

Huang Ling held her nephew's hand and laughed happily.

Zhuang Xiaoting and Lin Dongzhe gathered around: "Pengfei, you're amazing!"

Just as things were getting lively, a loud argument suddenly broke out next door, so loud that it could be heard through the wall.

"Who told you to fill in No. 1 Middle School?! Who told you to fill it in?!" It was Zhang Amei's shrill voice.

"I filled it in myself." Wu Shanshan's voice was calm, but trembling.

"You think you're all grown up now?! Huh?! You think my word doesn't count anymore?!"

Then came the sound of things being smashed, Wu Jianguo's attempts to break up the fight, and Wu Shanshan's suppressed sobs.

Song Ying from next door came over at this moment and said to Huang Ling, "How did Shan Shan offend A-mei!"

Huang Ling was also unsure: "The results were released today, did I not do well on the exam?"

Hua Shier explained, "Shanshan also passed the exam, but her stepmother won't let her go to the No. 1 Middle School!"

He explained the situation, and then said to Huang Ling and Song Ying:

"Auntie, Aunt Song, could you please help me with this?"

The Wu family's house was in a mess, with an enamel mug lying on the ground, water spilled everywhere.

Wu Shanshan stood in the corner, her face streaked with tears and stubbornness, while Zhang Amei stood in the middle of the room with her hands on her hips, her chest heaving violently.

Wu Jianguo squatted at the door, holding his head, without saying a word.

"Oh, what's going on here?" Huang Ling pushed the door open and came in with a smile on her face, as if she hadn't seen what was happening inside.

Song Ying followed behind her, smiling, "I heard Shanshan got into No. 1 High School? Oh my, that's wonderful news! We came here especially to congratulate her!"

Zhang Amei's face flushed red and then paled; she tried to force a smile, but what came out was more like a grimace: "It's nothing. The child is just being silly."

"Immature?" Huang Ling walked to Wu Shanshan's side and took her hand. "Getting into No. 1 High School is immature? Then what is mature? Is it only mature if you don't get in?"

Her voice was not loud, but every word was clear.

Zhang Amei was choked and speechless.

Song Ying also came over and patted Wu Shanshan on the shoulder: "Shanshan is really amazing. It's so hard to get into No. 1 Middle School. You've really brought honor to our neighborhood!"

She turned to look at Zhang Amei: "Amei, you must reward the child properly."

Zhang Amei's face turned completely pale. Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but seeing the looks in Huang Ling and Song Ying's eyes, she swallowed her words back.

Wu Jianguo then stood up, chuckling awkwardly, and said, "Yes, yes, you deserve a reward, you deserve a reward."

Huang Ling glanced at him, said nothing more, and pulled Wu Shanshan outside: "Come on, Shanshan, let's go to Auntie's house. Auntie will cook you something delicious to celebrate."

Song Ying followed them out. The three of them walked into the courtyard, where they could still hear Zhang Amei's suppressed cursing and Wu Jianguo's attempts to persuade her from inside the house.

Wu Shanshan remained silent until they reached the courtyards of the Zhuang and Lin families, at which point she whispered, "Thank you, Aunt Huang and Aunt Song."

"No need to thank me." Huang Ling patted her head: "If anything happens in the future, just come and tell your aunt. Don't bear it all by yourself."

Song Ying nodded in agreement: "Yes, if your stepmother bullies you again, tell us. We're all neighbors in this alley, we can't just watch a child suffer."

Wu Shanshan's eyes reddened, and she nodded emphatically.

That night, the Wu family didn't argue anymore.

Zhang Amei was seething with anger, but she didn't dare to lash out. Huang Ling and Song Ying's "congratulations" were ostensibly well wishes, but in reality, they were protecting Wu Shanshan.

The alley is only so big. If word gets out that she stopped Wu Shanshan from going to a key school, her reputation as a stepmother will be completely ruined, and she will be gossiped about at the factory.

It's settled that Wu Shanshan will attend No. 1 Middle School.

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