Song Xinya sized up the man who had appeared in Jian Yiyi's home.
He was skinny and lanky, like a sun-dried bamboo pole. Heavy, dark circles hung under his eyes. With his hunched back, his entire being exuded an air of lethargy and wickedness.
He looked like a zombie from "Plants vs. Zombies" that had come to life.
The man was also sizing up Song Xinya. Her beautiful face, exquisite makeup, and designer clothes gave her an aristocratic aura that was completely out of place in this old, dilapidated self-built house.
His tone was full of impatience. "You must have the wrong door. I don't know you, and you're not from around here. Leave."
He reached out to close the door.
When you are out and about, you create your own identity. Song Xinya said, "I am Jian Yiyi's teacher."
The man's hand paused on the door. "Oh, so it's a teacher from the school doing a home visit."
Song Xinya asked, "May I come in now?"
The man pulled the half-closed door wide open. "You can."
Song Xinya smoothly stepped into the house.
In the dim light of the living room, she saw Jian Yiyi's grandmother crying.
The cushions that should have been on the sofa were thrown on the floor, stamped with a few men's footprints.
On the peeling floorboards, shards of a broken glass were scattered everywhere.
Song Xinya could tell that a fierce argument had just taken place here.
The man looked at the weeping grandmother. "Stop crying. Jian Yiyi's homeroom teacher is here."
The grandmother wiped her eyes, looked up, and saw Song Xinya. She exclaimed in surprise, "Ms. Song!"
The grandmother was the one who always attended Jian Yiyi's parent-teacher conferences, so she knew what Jian Yiyi's homeroom teacher looked like.
She knew Song Xinya wasn't the homeroom teacher, but she didn't expose her.
"Ms. Song, what brings you here?"
Song Xinya placed the two boxes of gifts she was carrying on the table. "A friend gave me two boxes of walnut milk. The kids at home don't like it, and since I was passing by today, I thought I'd bring them over for Yiyi."
Grandmother said, "Thank you, Ms. Song. That is very thoughtful of you."
Song Xinya looked around the room. "Where is Yiyi?"
Grandmother replied, "She went to the library today to look up some information."
The shriveled, gloomy man muttered, "Instead of selling tofu at the market like she should, she goes to some library. What is the point of a girl reading so many books? As long as she can wash clothes, cook, and have kids, that is enough."
Taking the opportunity, he added, "Since Jian Yiyi isn't home, Ms. Song, you have wasted a trip today. Hurry up and go back."
The grandmother shot him a glance. "Shuibing, it is rare for Ms. Song to visit. Hurry and pour her a cup of hot tea."
Jian Shuibing scoffed, "What hot tea? I just smashed the thermos. You really are getting senile, you can't even remember what happened five minutes ago."
He turned his head to look at Song Xinya. "Ms. Song, Jian Yiyi always stays at the library for a long time. Who knows when she will be back. Don't waste your time here, just leave."
The dark wooden door was pushed open, emitting a hoarse, heavy creak. Jian Yiyi was back.
Seeing Song Xinya, her eyes lit up with a bright sparkle. "Ms. Song!"
The young girl ran happily toward Song Xinya, her high ponytail bouncing in the air with a clean, gentle arc of youth.
"Ms. Song, I happen to have a physics problem I can't solve. I looked up a lot of information at the library, but I still don't quite get it. Could you explain it to me?"
Just as Song Xinya opened her mouth to say yes, Jian Shuibing's scolding voice cut in. "What physics problem? Go to the market and sell tofu! Because you weren't there, no one sold the tofu today. We lost out on making dozens of bucks! That is enough to buy me several packs of cigarettes!"
Jian Yiyi bent down to clean up the broken glass on the floor, showing little reaction.
Clearly, similar scoldings had happened many times before.
Jian Shuibing continued cursing, "Look at other people's kids. They drop out of middle school and go out to work and make money. Look at you! I raised you all these years and spent so much money, and you haven't paid me back a single cent. Yet you still dream about going to college every day. That will just cost me more money. You are nothing but a money-losing burden!"
Grandmother cried out, "Stop it! Don't talk about Yiyi like that in front of a guest!"
Jian Shuibing retorted, "It is because you always protect her that she is so willful! Staying in school instead of dropping out and working to make money for me!"
Failures are always especially good at making excuses for themselves.
Blaming heaven, earth, and everyone else, but never themselves.
Cowards like dogs outside, but emperors at home.
The more incompetent a man is, the more he likes to throw his weight around at home and strike out heavily against the women in his family.
Looking at Jian Yiyi squatting on the floor cleaning up, Jian Shuibing cursed even more vigorously. "Every time I talk to you, you don't listen. You act like a mute gourd every day. You grew a mouth and a tongue for nothing! I couldn't beat a single word out of you if I tried!"
He raised his hand to smack Jian Yiyi on the head.
Song Xinya reached out, grabbed his arm, and forcefully yanked it backward.
Jian Shuibing stumbled backward and fell toward the floor.
Song Xinya stretched out her foot and kicked a shard of glass right under where his buttocks were landing.
Jian Shuibing landed hard on the glass shard. The sharp edge sliced through his clothes, cut his skin, and pierced into his flesh!
He opened his mouth and let out a miserable shriek, "Ah—!"
He certainly had a mouth and a tongue, and he screamed quite loudly.
Clutching his buttocks, Jian Shuibing stood up from the floor and pointed at Song Xinya. "You..."
Song Xinya said mildly, "I used a bit too much force. I didn't mean to."
Grandmother chimed in, "Ms. Song is a good person. She definitely didn't do it on purpose."
Jian Yiyi added, "Ms. Song works out regularly, so she is quite strong."
Jian Shuibing pointed his finger back and forth at Grandmother and Jian Yiyi. "Every single one of you is siding with an outsider! Anyone who didn't know better would think she was your family."
"Good thing I ransacked the place earlier and got my hands on Jian Yiyi's tuition money, otherwise I wouldn't even have the cash to go to the hospital to get my ass looked at."
Jian Yiyi whipped her head around to look at him. "That is my tuition money! My tuition for my senior year of high school! How could you take it to gamble?!"
Jian Shuibing sneered, "You should quit that useless schooling as soon as possible. Drop out early and get a job. Not only will you stop costing me money, but you can also earn money for me every month to pay off my gambling debts."
Jian Yiyi lunged forward, reaching for Jian Shuibing's pockets. "Give me my tuition back! Grandma and I earned that by selling tofu!"
Jian Shuibing yelled, "You are out of control, daring to snatch money from your old man! I have been too good to you, you little brat!"
He raised his hand and swung a slap toward Jian Yiyi's face.
Smack! Song Xinya beat him to it and slapped him across the face!
She didn't hold back her strength at all. She swung her arm in a full arc and struck Jian Shuibing's face heavily, leaving a blood-red handprint!
Jian Shuibing was slapped so hard he spun around on the spot, crashing his head into the door with a loud bang, instantly forming a large lump on his forehead.
While he was still dazed, Song Xinya took a step toward him, seized the opportunity to reach into his pocket, and pulled out a wad of cash.
After Jian Shuibing came to his senses, he glared at Song Xinya with bloodshot eyes. "Are you going to use the 'I didn't do it on purpose' trick again this time?"
Song Xinya replied calmly, "No need. I have already called the police, and they will be here shortly."
Jian Shuibing was furious. "You barged into my house, hit me, and you dare to call the police?"
From the conversation she had just overheard between Jian Shuibing and Jian Yiyi, Song Xinya had already deduced that Jian Shuibing was a gambler.
Someone so addicted to gambling that he would even squander a child's tuition money couldn't possibly have any conscience left. He must have committed his fair share of crimes.
"Those who gather crowds to gamble or make a living out of it don't just face administrative penalties. If the offense is severe enough, they can be held criminally liable. Why do you think I'm calling the police? To get you arrested, of course."
Terrified, Jian Shuibing spun around and bolted for the door.
But as he reached the threshold, a wave of indignation washed over him. Beaten and berated by a woman in his own home—how could he ever hold his head high and throw his weight around again?
A gambler's mind doesn't work like a normal person's. It is volatile, reckless, and impulsive.
Jian Shuibing abruptly turned back. Snatching up a long tofu-cutting knife from the side, he lunged at Song Xinya, swinging the weapon wildly.
The icy steel glinted menacingly. A strike from that blade would undoubtedly slice right through flesh and bone.
He was going to teach this wretched bitch a lesson today no matter what!
Suddenly, with a heavy thud, a sharp hand chop struck Jian Shuibing right on the neck.
It was ruthless, unstoppable, and overwhelmingly powerful.
Jian Shuibing's eyes rolled back into his head, and he crumpled to the floor like a sack of wet mud.
Looking up, Song Xinya saw Qin Yuhe's face.
