Chapter 70: Didn’t See That Coming

“Give it to me.”

Su Qinghu reached out her hand.

Er Dan’s eyes instantly widened in disbelief as he stared at Su Qinghu. He had trusted her so much, thinking she was different from those other parents who took their kids’ New Year’s money and pocket money and never gave it back!

So she’s just the same after all?

He hung his head, reluctantly and even a little aggrieved, as he dug into his pants pocket. All that happiness for nothing—it was just empty joy in the end...

“Here you go,” Er Dan said, handing her the five yuan.

Su Qinghu asked, “Didn’t you already buy a soda?”

“That was with the money I’d saved up before,” Er Dan mumbled, not even looking up, scuffing his toes on the ground, his voice listless.

He thought with five yuan now, it wouldn’t matter if he spent his savings from before. Who knew he’d end up with nothing at all...

Su Qinghu nodded, praising him, “Not bad, you actually managed to save up some money.”

Then she turned to Da Dan and held out her hand. Da Dan obediently handed over his money without protest or question.

“This weekend,” Su Qinghu put the money into her bag, “I’ll take you both to the bank and open a savings account for each of you. From now on, whenever you get New Year’s money or gifts from elders, once you save up five or ten yuan, I’ll take you to deposit it.”

Da Dan looked at her suddenly, shocked and a bit suspicious.

Er Dan gasped, staring at his brother in disbelief.

No way! Did his brother spill everything to her?

Da Dan felt Er Dan’s gaze and, worried he might let something slip, looked at Su Qinghu and said, “We’re not old enough yet.”

“So what? I’m your guardian. I’ll get the necessary documents sorted in the next few days, and we’ll handle it this weekend.” Su Qinghu narrowed her eyes. “Why are you so nervous?”

“I’m not!” Da Dan denied flatly.

But right after denying it, he felt a little annoyed at how quickly he’d answered...

Su Qinghu tilted her head back and laughed heartily.

“All right, all right, I’ll stop teasing you.” Su Qinghu had already spotted the breakfast shop ahead and said with a smile, “You can keep your own secrets—I won’t ask. But remember, if there’s ever something you can’t handle, you must tell me. I’ll help you solve it.”

Without waiting for a reply, Su Qinghu strode ahead to the breakfast shop, getting in line before anyone else. Er Dan, quick as lightning, darted over to grab a seat the moment the previous customers stood up.

Su Qinghu turned and asked, “What do you two want to eat?”

“Steamed buns, fried dough sticks, and soy milk—I want them all,” Er Dan said bluntly.

“Anything’s fine,” Da Dan replied.

Su Qinghu nodded knowingly and ordered steamed buns, fried dough sticks, soy milk, and plain porridge. She carried the food over to the seat Er Dan had snagged and sat down. “Eat up first. If it’s not enough, we’ll order more.”

She handed over the change, giving each of them a dime. “If you get hungry, go buy something from the shop.”

These two kids, like the children of other dual-income families, now had their lunches at the home of a retired teacher near the school. They paid by the day, with fees collected every three months. If there was any leftover at the end of the three months, it would be rolled over or refunded.

Su Qinghu remembered Chen Lie mentioning this after they got married.

Thinking of something, Su Qinghu paused, fried dough stick in hand, and asked, “Do you need to pay for lunch again before the holidays?”

“No,” Da Dan answered. “At the end of the month, just prepare the tuition and fees for me and Er Dan in advance.”

He didn’t want to be laughed at again for being late with school fees.

Su Qinghu nodded. “No problem. How much do you need?”

“The teacher said there’s been an education reform this year—compulsory education has started, so there’s no tuition, but there are still miscellaneous fees. We’ll know the exact amount at the end of the month.” Da Dan spoke calmly, showing no sign of having ever worried about school fees.

Er Dan didn’t join the conversation, happily munching on fried dough sticks and sipping soy milk, content and satisfied.

“Hurry up and eat,” Su Qinghu tapped the table, reminding Da Dan. “If it’s convenient, help me ask your teacher—I’d like to meet them.”

Er Dan nearly choked on his soy milk at that. “Cough, cough, cough!” Did his new mom just say what he thought she said?

Meet the teacher? Why? What’s so great about meeting the teacher?

“That’s not necessary, is it?” Da Dan hesitated. “The teacher’s never asked to meet our parents before. Only the naughty kids who don’t like studying have to call their parents in...”

Seeing how nervous they both looked, Su Qinghu thought for a moment, then nodded. “All right, we won’t go.”

Apparently, at this time, having your parents meet the teacher wasn’t exactly an honor.

After breakfast, the three of them went their separate ways—off to work and off to school.

====

Not long after Su Qinghu arrived at the newspaper office, Sister Li hadn’t even had time to check her story ideas before the department called everyone for the morning meeting.

“Let’s get started. Xiao Su, you go first.”

Su Qinghu was caught off guard, not expecting to be the first to present her topics. But since she was prepared, she nodded to everyone and said, “Okay, Director, I’ll go first.”

“I have two topics. The first is ‘Why Should We Learn First Aid?’ The second is ‘Which Exercises Cause the Least Joint Wear?’”

After she finished, Su Qinghu nodded slightly to everyone, then looked at the director. “Director, that’s all for my topic report.”

The director thought for a moment. “Both are health-related?”

“Yes,” Su Qinghu nodded. Seeing the director didn’t say anything, she hesitated for a few seconds, then added, “I also have one about students showing respect for the elderly.”

“You have an idea for that one?” The director encouraged her. “Or have you already found interviewees?”

“Sort of. I haven’t confirmed the specific interviewees yet,” Su Qinghu stood up again. “Right now, I’m thinking of reporting on elderly people who don’t live in nursing homes.”

“Why?” asked the director.

“You mean why choose this group?” Su Qinghu clarified, and the director nodded. “Yes.”

Su Qinghu replied, “There are some elderly people living alone who don’t want to be a burden to the state, so they choose not to go to nursing homes. I thought if we report on them, maybe it’ll draw attention from caring people in society and help improve their lives, whether materially or spiritually.”

The director listened and then smiled. “I feel like I know this group well—they’re mostly retired veterans, right?”

These people’s outlooks are already quite different from the average citizen, indeed...

“Let’s assign this topic to the men,” the director said. “If there’s heavy lifting to do on site, they’re tougher and can handle it.”

After assigning that topic, the director asked if Su Qinghu could finish her two topics today. Su Qinghu hesitated, then finally voiced her doubt, “Aren’t I supposed to be learning from Teacher Yuan today?”

Wasn’t she assigned to the photography team?

Why did this work not feel much like a photojournalist’s job?

[Recommendation: “Chu He’s Chronicles” by Jingji Zhige, a female author on this site.

Summary: A tough, straightforward heroine slaps the face of the so-called ‘chosen one’—quick transmigration, small worlds, and scum-bashing.]"