HBWMA -Chapter 74 Confronting Labels

Very quickly, Fu Sui’er’s determination was shattered into pieces in front of the private tutor invited by Great-Grandma Wu.

The Shen family was a prestigious aristocratic household in Whale Harbor, and the old residence even had a clan school. Great-Grandma Wu placed great importance on the children’s education and specially invited a highly respected retired teacher from Xiangying to tutor Jiang Huashan and Fu Sui’er.

Who would have thought that on the very first day of class, Fu Sui’er, unable to understand a question about linear functions, would question Teacher Kong’s teaching ability.

Teacher Kong, adhering to the philosophy of “teaching without discrimination and tailoring instruction to the student,” adjusted his teaching approach again. Yet Fu Sui’er still remained completely confused.

At that point, instead of reflecting on herself, she insisted that Teacher Kong and her former school teacher taught differently, mocking him as some rural, unqualified teacher.

Jiang Huashan tried several times to stop her but failed each time. After Fu Sui’er’s reckless outburst, Teacher Kong stormed out of the clan school in anger.

Great-Grandma Wu was a traditional elder. In her view, disrespecting a teacher was a grave moral failing. Although the mistake had been made by Fu Sui’er alone, she still punished both girls to walk to the teacher’s home to personally apologize.

Xiangying was a small town where almost everyone knew each other. The teacher’s home wasn’t far from the old residence—about a twenty-minute walk.

For ordinary people, apologizing in person wouldn’t be much of a punishment. But for these two pampered young ladies, it was practically torture—especially under the blazing summer sun.

Fu Sui’er initially wanted to resist, but she was afraid that causing more trouble would drag Jiang Huashan into it as well.

Jiang Huashan remained calm and said nothing. She applied nearly half a bottle of sunscreen, put on full “battle gear,” and left holding the little turtle.

Fu Sui’er felt deeply regretful and quickly chased after her with an umbrella.

“Um… I’m sorry, Jiang Huashan. Believe me, I really wasn’t doing it on purpose this time. I don’t even know what happened… I feel like I just couldn’t control myself…”

The more Fu Sui’er spoke, the more guilty she became. Just moments ago she had confidently promised to change, and yet she had already caused trouble again. Jiang Huashan must surely be looking down on her now.

Jiang Huashan glanced at her. “Have you figured out how you’re going to apologize later when you see the teacher?”

“Ah?” Fu Sui’er was momentarily stunned. “Why do you not look angry at all?”

Jiang Huashan put on her baseball cap. “Because I’m not angry in the first place.”

No one understood better than her the binding force of “labels” on characters. She could understand Fu Sui’er’s feeling of “not being in control.” Guiding her upward in the first place was something that went against the storyline, and she never expected it to succeed on the first try.

Fu Sui’er quietly looked at her, unsure what to say.

Jiang Huashan patted her head. “I’ll teach you a method: think about what you’ll say when you apologize on the way there, so you don’t end up saying the wrong things again out of control.”

“Mm.” Fu Sui’er quietly raised the umbrella, shading Jiang Huashan completely.

Her mood suddenly improved. When there is someone willing to go through trial and error with you, even mistakes can feel beautiful.

“You saw it clearly? Sui’er really went out with her?” On the other end of the phone, Shen Jiao raised her voice in disbelief.

Aunt Feng, eyes red, wiped away tears of relief. “Yes. I originally thought Sui’er would throw a tantrum, but she really obediently went out with Miss Jiang. Great-Grandma Wu doesn’t allow us to interfere, so I didn’t follow them.”

Shen Jiao fell silent for a moment, her voice carrying a hint of exhaustion. “Tell me what happens when she comes back.”

She knew her daughter well. She wasn’t inherently bad, but over the years the Fu family had spoiled her. Her temper was volatile and hard to control, and the thing she hated most was admitting fault or apologizing. This probably wouldn’t go smoothly.

And as Shen Jiao expected—

After hearing their intention, Teacher Kong did not make things difficult for them. But because of how harsh Fu Sui’er’s earlier words had been, although he accepted their apology, he refused to continue tutoring them.

However, Great-Grandma Wu’s condition was that they must bring the teacher back. Fu Sui’er had no choice but to say many more nice things.

Just when it seemed Teacher Kong still wouldn’t budge, Fu Sui’er suddenly snapped. In a burst of anger, she pointed at him and shouted, extremely agitated, “Old man, don’t be ungrateful! Do you know who my grandfather is?!”

Jiang Huashan: “……”

One minute later, both of them were kicked out.

The scorching sun hung high in the sky, making it feel like their souls were about to evaporate.

Fu Sui’er silently opened her umbrella. “If I say I lost control again just now… would you believe me?”

Jiang Huashan glanced at her. “Let’s go. If we don’t leave now, then…”

Before the words had even finished, several barking sounds suddenly came from the courtyard.

Both of them turned around. A big yellow dog bared its teeth viciously and charged straight at them.

A small boy with a round, spirited face chased after it, shouting, “A-Huang! Bite them to death! Bad people! How dare you bully my grandpa!”

Jiang Huashan and Fu Sui’er exchanged a glance. One folded her umbrella, the other scooped up the little “poor thing,” and they both turned and ran for their lives.

The next day.

Fu Sui’er stood there holding a bundle of lingzhi and ginseng in one hand, and precious tea and fine liquor in the other, looking extremely serious.

Jiang Huashan asked, “You remember the key points you memorized before coming out, right?”

Fu Sui’er nodded. “No losing my temper, no personal attacks, be sincere! And absolutely no talking back!”

“Good. Knock on the door.”

Fu Sui’er took a deep breath. Just as she was about to raise her hand, she realized both hands were full and inconvenient. Without hesitation, she lifted her foot instead.

Teacher Kong had already seen them through the video doorbell. Seeing the two of them lingering outside without daring to come in, he felt a moment of softheartedness.

Forget it. Why bother arguing with kids?

The moment Fu Sui’er lifted her foot, the door opened.

Her intended kick landed squarely in Teacher Kong’s groin. His eyes nearly popped out as he collapsed to his knees, clutching his vital area in agony.

“!”

Even Fu Sui’er froze. She turned to Jiang Huashan. “I swear I didn’t mean it. Do you believe me?”

“Grandpa!” the little boy heard the scream, rushed out of the room dragging A-Huang with him. Seeing his grandfather on the ground, he pointed angrily at Fu Sui’er and Jiang Huashan. “A-Huang! Hurry! Protect Grandpa! Bite them to death!”

Jiang Huashan scooped up the little “poor thing,” Fu Sui’er dropped the gifts, and without a word the two of them turned and ran again.

The third day.

The two set out once more.

Jiang Huashan asked, “Recite the rules before we go in.”

Fu Sui’er replied, “Don’t talk, don’t use hands, don’t use feet.”

“Good.”

But this time, the moment they reached the courtyard gate, A-Huang rushed out again. The little boy was already waiting there like a guard, declaring proudly, “I knew it! You won’t stop until you’ve angered Grandpa to death! A-Huang, bite them to death!”

Once again, they retreated in defeat.

Fu Sui’er slumped in the courtyard like a defeated rooster, listless and dejected.

“Why is apologizing so hard?”

Jiang Huashan poured her a glass of water. “Are we going again tomorrow?”

Fu Sui’er looked up at her in surprise.

The dog had chased them all the way, running back under the scorching forty-degree heat. They were both exhausted, and Jiang Huashan looked even worse—her pink cheeks were sunburned and peeling.

“You still want to go with me?”

Jiang Huashan smiled faintly. “Yeah.”

Fu Sui’er’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Those peach-blossom eyes before her were filled with starlight, brighter than the Milky Way on a midsummer night.

She smiled too, suddenly energized. “Alright. Tomorrow I’ll ask Aunt Feng to prepare some ham. When A-Huang comes, I’ll distract it, then I’ll—”

Jiang Huashan listened carefully, her gaze resting lightly on the top of Fu Sui’er’s head.

The words on the character label—stupid, impulsive—had already shrunk by a full circle compared to before.