Qin Nian frowned.
"Please step aside. If you say this is your family's matter, why are you blocking my way?"
"Comrade Qin, the dean is your mentor. If you hadn’t made such a fuss, the dean wouldn’t have suspended my work just to defend you."
Wang Aimin was indignant and blocked her path again.
"I didn’t make a fuss. Your suspension is your own problem, not because of anyone else. Yes, the dean is my mentor, but he is absolutely not the kind of person who would mix personal matters with professional ones. You should choose your words carefully."
Qin Nian felt like the man in front of her simply refused to listen to reason.
"Nian Nian, what’s going on?"
Xiao Ranran had taken a little longer to pack her things and came out later. Seeing the tense situation, she hurried over.
"Researcher Wang here believes the dean is biased in my favor as his student and had his work suspended because of it. Now he’s here to argue with me."
Qin Nian explained. Xiao Ranran widened her eyes in surprise, then quickly composed herself when she met Wang Aimin’s gaze.
"Researcher Wang, your work was suspended because your team’s data contained major errors. The decision was made to avoid further wasting funds while the issues are corrected. How is this Qin Nian’s fault?"
Though no official notice had been posted, everyone knew the reason—the data discrepancies required thorough review.
Wang Aimin stiffened. He had been a key participant in the problematic section. During that time, his mother had constantly nagged him because his wife had given birth to a daughter, causing chaos at home.
"Please move. I need to pick up my children."
Qin Nian didn’t want to waste any more time. With so little time left to spend with her kids, she refused to let an irrelevant person take it away.
As she reached the entrance, she saw Shen Xianjun waiting with their children.
"Mom!"
The two children cheered and ran toward Qin Nian.
"Nian Nian, so that’s your husband? Not bad-looking. I’ll get going now—don’t let me interrupt your family time."
Xiao Ranran teased, nudging Qin Nian with her elbow before leaving.
Shen Xianjun took the bicycle from her while Qin Nian held the children’s hands.
"That man was looking at you strangely. Do you have some kind of conflict?"
Shen Xianjun suddenly spoke up. Qin Nian instinctively turned in the direction of his gaze and saw Wang Aimin still lingering.
"The day before yesterday, when the leaders came to visit you, Mom got into an argument with his family. But we weren’t at fault. His team made mistakes, so the whole research group’s work was halted. He thinks the dean is deliberately targeting them to favor me."
Qin Nian lowered her voice as she explained.
"That man seems petty. I’m leaving tomorrow—you and Mom should be careful. But honestly, if your father really is favoring you, it might be better to just have him transferred."
Shen Xianjun finished, glaring at Wang Aimin, who didn’t dare approach.
Qin Nian, still holding the children’s hands, barely registered what they were saying to her as she stared at Shen Xianjun in disbelief.
"Not an option? Fine. Either way, an average person wouldn’t stand a chance against Mom. Once you leave for your studies, she can handle the rest."
Shen Xianjun thought about his mother’s formidable nature. A meek scholar like Wang Aimin wouldn’t stand a chance—even his grandmother only dared to mutter complaints and stir up minor troubles.
The next day, Qin Nian wanted to see Shen Xianjun off.
"No need. Go to work. My brother-in-law is coming to pick me up. I’ll drop the kids at the nursery on the way."
Shen Xianjun had woken up early.
"Go on. It’s not like he’s traveling far."
Yang Yufen stuffed candies into Qin Nian’s pockets, then gave one each to Da Bao and Er Bao to sweeten their morning.
After Qin Nian left, Yang Yufen packed a portion of the snacks she had bought and handed them to Shen Xianjun.
"Are you up to no good again?"
Just as Shen Xianjun was about to feel touched, his mother’s sharp question startled him.
"Mom, don’t say things like that."
Yang Yufen simply gave him a knowing look. Shen Xianjun rubbed his nose sheepishly.
"Da Bao, Er Bao, let’s go. Dad’s taking you to school. Ah, Dad has to go back to school too. You’re lucky—you get to stay with Grandma every day. Dad isn’t so fortunate, and your mom has it even worse..."
Shen Xianjun spoke so pitifully that Da Bao even tried comforting him.
Yang Yufen chuckled from behind.
After dropping the kids off, Shen Xianjun met Hu Jun, who had come to pick him up.
"Brother-in-law, yesterday when I took the kids to meet Nian Nian, a man named Wang followed her and even stopped her on the way. Maybe you should mention this to Father?"
Without ceremony, Shen Xianjun opened the car door and climbed in.
"Did you pack everything?"
Hu Jun glanced at him.
"All set. Just grab and go."
Hearing the car pull up, Yang Yufen double-checked the bundle she had prepared, making sure it was tightly secured before carrying it out.
"Xiao Hu, here—this is for you. It’s pickles. I noticed you liked them last time, so I packed some extra."
"Thank you, Auntie."
Hu Jun accepted it with a smile.
"Mom, what about me?"
Shen Xianjun couldn’t believe it—first, his wife took priority, and now even his brother-in-law ranked above him? If this kept up, after his time at the Party School, his own mother might forget she even had a son.
"Always causing trouble. Hurry up and get your things. Don’t make your brother-in-law wait."
But as Shen Xianjun picked up his belongings, he spotted an identical bundle left on the table—just like the one his mother had given Hu Jun.
"Mom, I’m leaving. I’ll call you at the end of the month."
No outings were allowed, but phone calls were permitted.
"Go on, go on."
Yang Yufen waved him off.
Watching the car drive away, she turned back inside and tidied up the house. The chicken coop, once full, now had even the hens reduced by two.
Ever since Shen Xianjun returned injured, the family had stopped selling eggs. Every morning, Yang Yufen boiled the freshly laid ones for him to take.
Thirteen egg-laying hens remained, two of which were brooding. Yang Yufen let them be. With no roosters left, the rest of the eggs would simply be eaten.
In the car:
"Father already has plans regarding Nian Nian’s situation. First, report in, then I’ll go pick someone up."
Hu Jun dropped him off at the Party School shortly after. Shen Xianjun carried not only his own belongings but also his brother-in-law’s share—they had been assigned the same dormitory.
After checking in, Shen Xianjun began unpacking. Just as he finished, Hu Jun returned with two others.
"Xianjun, this is Lin Hui, and this is Liao Yuanjie."
"Xianjun and I have met."
Liao Yuanjie spoke up.
"Long time no see. Hello."
Shen Xianjun set down the rag he was holding.
Neither Lin Hui nor Liao Yuanjie were idle. Together, they had the bedding arranged and the room in order within ten minutes.
"Time to eat."
At the sound of the bell, Hu Jun announced. The group grabbed their lunchboxes and followed him to the canteen.
