Chapter Eleven: Who Truly Has a Black Heart and Rotten Soul?

The principal, the head of discipline, and Teacher Zhang decided to give Ye Nuanxin one more chance, considering she was about to graduate. However, she must be publicly reprimanded in front of the entire school, read her self-criticism over the loudspeaker, apologize to Xiang Yu in public, compensate for all the damaged property, receive a major demerit, and have the record filed. If any further disciplinary issues arise, she will be suspended immediately.

Upon hearing this verdict, Ye Nuanxin covered her face and burst into tears. “You want me to apologize to Xiang Yu in front of the whole school? I’d rather be suspended.”

With that, she ran off. The principal and the head of discipline frowned deeply. They had never seen such a bold, unruly, and undisciplined student behave so defiantly in front of them. Teacher Zhang, having witnessed Ye Nuanxin’s repeated excuses and theatrics that very morning, was somewhat more composed, knowing her psychological resilience was quite formidable.

Ye Fen held back her anger—not towards her own daughter, but towards Xiang Yu, the Xiang family, and several teachers. It was this group that had blown a minor issue out of proportion and bullied her daughter.

Su Bozi, Ye Nuanxin’s father, aware of his wife’s temperament, quickly grabbed Ye Fen’s arm. “The leaders are right. We must comply fully. Let the child apologize in person and compensate for everything.”

The principal’s expression softened slightly but remained stern. “If it weren’t for Ye Nuanxin’s impending graduation, the punishment would not be so lenient. If she cannot comply, then she can pack her things and leave. We cannot educate students like this.”

Once outside the office, avoiding the teachers’ gaze, Ye Fen couldn’t help but lash out at Li Meilan and her husband. “When you came, you promised me that not a single cent of that thousand yuan would be handed over to you. You gave birth to such a vicious daughter—a child so stubborn she won’t even make a sound under a beating, yet her heart is poisoned, putting Nuanxin through hell. You’re truly cruel and heartless.”

Li Meilan and Xiang Fuqiang stepped aside, perhaps avoiding spit or feeling guilty. Li Meilan whispered a retort, “It’s not really our fault. That damned Xiang Yu is growing up disobedient.”

Ye Fen shot back fiercely, “If that were my daughter, such rebellion and disrespect would have gotten her beaten to death.”

Xiang Yu had no intention of replying, not wanting to stir up more trouble, and she hadn’t even eaten yet. But hearing this, she couldn’t help but get angry. She retorted coldly, “Then why don’t you go beat Ye Nuanxin to death? She just openly defied a teacher in front of everyone. Respecting teachers is a basic principle of being a decent person, just as important as filial piety toward parents. Before you incite my parents, you should teach your own child properly. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have done such greedy and shameless things. You know well who’s truly cruel and heartless.”

With that, she turned and ran off, leaving the mess for Xiang Fuqiang and his wife to clean up. She had no time to argue.

There was nothing left to eat in the cafeteria. After searching through her belongings and dorm room, she found only two yuan. She thought about not eating, but her young body felt especially hungry, her stomach rumbling in waves. The rice noodles she had that morning, lacking oil and flavor, had long since been digested.

Clutching the two yuan, Xiang Yu wandered around the small shop and picked out a dry biscuit costing fifty cents. She recalled that during middle school, her parents hardly gave her any pocket money. The little she had came from her older sister, who either sent it in letters or quietly slipped it to her when they met. The clothes she wore were all hand-me-downs from her sister.

Her sister had no money either. The factory job she worked at was found through their parents’ connections, and her wages were directly transferred to their parents’ bank card. The parents would then send her two hundred yuan for meals on her one day off per week, as the factory did not provide food that day.

Those two hundred yuan had to cover four days’ meals, daily necessities, the occasional piece of clothing, a pair of socks, a pair of shoes, travel expenses home, and any financial support. Li Meilan considered herself generous and felt proud in front of the villagers because her daughter earned the most money for the family.

Her sister’s monthly income was about two thousand yuan, while other girls from the village working in factories could only send back one to one and a half thousand yuan per month. Her sister had it particularly hard but was the only one who cared about Xiang Yu’s studies, constantly reminding her to study hard and aim for high school and university.

Yet Xiang Yu drifted along aimlessly, without any plans for the future or a clear grasp of reality. She was simply immature, slow to grow up.

Her sister had been married off early for a high bride price and forced by her in-laws to work hard. She gave birth prematurely at eight months from exhaustion, and both mother and child died.

Thinking of this, Xiang Yu shivered suddenly. Her sister’s marriage had apparently been arranged just before her high school entrance exams. She didn’t even know if her sister had managed to take the exams.