RIRW – Chapter 183

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Xiao Qiu received news from Nanjiang and remembered what Zuo Dan had asked of him before. Now he was in a bit of a dilemma—if he didn’t listen to Zuo Dan, Mr. Chen would be displeased. But if he did listen, Mr. Chen wouldn’t approve either.

“Miss Dandan seems very concerned about Guo Caiping’s situation.”

Chen Zhisen looked at Shen Youyou, who was focused on playing with a puzzle, and remained silent for a moment before sighing, “If she asks, just tell her. There are some things she’ll have to face sooner or later.”

“Yes, Mr. Chen.” Xiao Qiu understood now.

After Xiao Qiu left, Chen Zhisen stayed with Shen Youyou until they completed a small puzzle. When the picture was finished, it showed his little jeep, and Youyou clapped his hands happily.

“Grandpa, car! My car! Beep beep beep beep!”

Chen Zhisen smiled and said, “Yes, it’s your car. Youlin, you have to rely on your own efforts to get what you want.”

Then he took out another small puzzle, only ten centimeters in width and height. The completed image was of an airplane, and inside the box next to it was a model of the plane from the picture.

Chen Zhisen asked, “Do you want it?”

Shen Youyou could now understand the meaning and pointed with his chubby little finger, “Yes, I want this one. Airplane!” He pointed at the image. Grandpa had told him before—this was an airplane.

Chen Zhisen smiled and patted his little head. “If you finish the puzzle, I’ll give it to you.”

Shen Youyou didn’t quite understand the words, but still picked up the puzzle and began assembling it. He liked this activity—putting pieces together to make a car appear. Now he wanted to make the airplane appear too.

Chen Zhisen watched him seriously bent over the puzzle, a smile appearing on his face—one tinged with regret.

How I wish I could have taught your mother like this too…

At this moment, Zuo Dan was being admired by her classmates at school.

After reading her manuscript, Professor Qin’s opinion of her rose significantly. She even believed Zuo Dan was capable enough to serve as her teaching assistant. So she invited Zuo Dan to take on the role part-time, officially making her part of the university staff. From now on, she could follow Professor Qin for further study and attend various academic conferences.

Once the news spread, Zuo Dan became a celebrity in the education department. A sophomore becoming a teaching assistant… it basically guaranteed she’d be retained at the university.

Everyone knew that after graduation, she would definitely get assigned to a good job. But to already be a teaching assistant during her college years—if she chose not to stay at the university, her assigned workplace would definitely be excellent. Plus, she could start receiving a salary early.

Most importantly, she’d be able to attend all kinds of conferences with her professor, gaining exposure and access to abundant learning resources.

To avoid provoking too much envy and jealousy, Zuo Dan tried her best to keep a serious expression. While accepting the admiring gazes and congratulations of her classmates, she said solemnly, “This isn’t just my personal honor—it’s the honor of our entire class. It’s because of everyone’s collective effort that Professor Qin values us so much. Classmates, today I was fortunate enough to become a teaching assistant. That means our class has become well-known within the department and will attract attention from other professors. I hope everyone seizes this opportunity, strives to improve, and earns the same or even better opportunities.”

Zhao Qianjin applauded excitedly—he was the class monitor after all. Now that the branch secretary Zuo Dan had been recognized, maybe he’d be next.

The others joined in the applause too. What she said was true—their class had made a name for itself, and more opportunities would surely come.

Standing in the crowd, Zhu Min pursed her lips and looked at Zuo Dan with contempt.

Soon after, the Academic Affairs Office made the announcement official: Zuo Dan from the Education Department had become Professor Qin’s assistant. When Zuo Dan passed by the bulletin board and saw the notice, she felt wonderful. Just as she was about to leave, Xiang Honghua came running over, visibly excited.

“Zuo Dan! Zuo Dan!”

Zuo Dan gave a calm smile. “What is it?”

Xiang Honghua grinned and said, “Tell me, how are you and your husband both so outstanding? You’re truly a pair of excellent revolutionary comrades!”

Zuo Dan was confused. “Why are you so excited?”

“Of course I’m excited! I just heard from a fellow from my hometown in the Economics Department—they posted a notice over there too. Your husband, Shen Yiming, has become Professor Gao’s assistant. Professor Gao is the department head! My gosh, how are you two so amazing?”

“…,” Zuo Dan twitched at the corner of her mouth. She had planned to brag to Shen Yiming when she got home at noon. Now she realized that having an outstanding partner could sometimes be a frustratingly joyful experience.

But then she thought—now both she and Shen Yiming were employed. They both had paying jobs. That thought filled her with happiness.

On the way home after school in the afternoon, Zuo Dan casually said with a smile, “Shen Yiming, I heard you’ve become Professor Gao’s assistant. Congratulations, congratulations.”

Shen Yiming smiled and replied, “Comrade Zuo Dan, thank you.”

Neither of them said anything after that.

Zuo Dan was suddenly annoyed. She had taken the initiative to congratulate him! There’s no way Shen Yiming didn’t know about her situation—after all, both of them had informants in each other’s departments. Even the slightest news would reach the other side. He definitely knew.

Heartless guy!

She pinched Shen Yiming hard. He inhaled sharply in pain. “Assistant Zuo, this won’t do. You’ll be a bad influence on the students!”

Zuo Dan huffed. “I congratulated you, and you didn’t say a word back. Don’t you know what reciprocity is?”

Shen Yiming chuckled, “Wasn’t I planning to properly congratulate you once we got home? A couple of words on the road can’t express my admiration for you. I want to show it with action.”

“Scoundrel!” Zuo Dan pinched him again.

Shen Yiming’s bike wobbled under her assault. The two of them only quieted down once they reached home, putting on the appearance of two composed young people.

Seeing Xiao Qiu standing at the door, Zuo Dan got off the bicycle and smiled warmly. “Comrade Qiu, why didn’t you come inside?”

Xiao Qiu smiled and said, “I came especially to see Miss Dandan. Didn’t you say last time you wanted to ask me about Nanjiang? Well, there’s some news from there, so I came to report it.”

Upon hearing that, Zuo Dan raised her eyebrows high in interest and said excitedly, “Alright, alright, go ahead and say whatever you want.”

“Actually, Mr. Chen has been investigating the whereabouts of that letter from back then. After the New Year, he became convinced it was Guo Caiping and stopped looking for further evidence. He directly tracked down the person who delivered the letter and sent them to probe Guo Caiping. Sure enough, it was her.”

When she heard that it really was Guo Caiping, Zuo Dan was so furious she wished she could rush to Nanjiang and kick that wicked woman to death.

She had ruined two lives! If it hadn’t been for Zuo Dad back then, her mother and unborn child would have both died!

“It’s such a pity there’s no solid evidence. Otherwise, we could’ve had her thrown in prison. A person like that deserves to rot in jail for life!” Zuo Dan said angrily. She suddenly realized how mild her past methods were. When it came to people like Guo Caiping, no punishment was too extreme. Even stabbing her twice wouldn’t be enough to vent her rage.

But even knowing the truth now, there was no real way to make her pay. At most, they could leave her destitute and struggling for the rest of her life. But so what? She would still be alive and kicking, and might even manage to scrape together a decent life using her petty tricks.

Zuo Dan quickly racked her brain for a way to get Guo Caiping thrown into prison.

Xiao Qiu whispered, “Miss Dandan, since we already know it was her, evidence doesn’t really matter anymore. China is a society ruled by law, but overseas, in many places, no one really cares. You may not know this, but in many foreign places, people at the very bottom of society suffer from extreme poverty and disease, living their whole lives like they’re in hell. Sir intends to send Guo Caiping abroad… and let her live in that hell.”

He had previously followed Chen Zhisen to those countries—plagued by terrifying diseases, drugs, poverty, hunger, and endless labor… Only when you see those places can you realize how lucky your own life is.

When Zuo Dan heard this, she understood. She suddenly remembered how Chen Pingping once jokingly talked about sending people to dig mines.

As expected, her imagination just wasn’t wild enough. Compared to that, letting Guo Caiping go to jail would’ve been too easy on her.

Seeing that Zuo Dan wasn’t shocked, Xiao Qiu felt relieved. “Miss Dandan, Mr. Chen was unsure whether to tell you these things. He was worried you wouldn’t be able to accept it, since you’ve never been exposed to this kind of thing before. He really cares about you.”

Zuo Dan was surprised. Who wouldn’t be able to accept it? The only reason she hadn’t thought of it herself was because she didn’t have the means. Otherwise, she would’ve gone even further—dismemberment, all ten tortures of the Qing Dynasty, bring them all on!

“I know my dad is good to me. Comrade Xiao Qiu, thank you. You really are a gold-medal assistant,” Zuo Dan said with a smile.

Looking at Zuo Dan’s calm demeanor, Xiao Qiu had only one thought in his heart: She’s definitely Mr. Chen’s daughter!

After Xiao Qiu left, Zuo Dan and Shen Yiming looked at each other.

Zuo Dan said, “Comrade Yiming, you were right. My dad definitely doesn’t take the ordinary path. This is great—so powerful. Once she’s overseas, we can do whatever we want to her.”

Shen Yiming nodded in agreement. “Comrade Dandan, I finally know where your brain comes from.”

Zuo Dan looked at him proudly. “I was born with it!”

“No, it’s from your dad!” Shen Yiming joked as he pushed the wheelchair into the house.

Zuo Dan puffed up her cheeks and chased after him. “And you were born from your mom!”

That night at dinner, the whole family sat at the table. Zuo Dan proudly announced the results she and Shen Yiming had achieved at school.

Chen Pingping was the first to exclaim in surprise, “Dandan, you two are amazing! I only managed to become a teaching assistant after I graduated. You’ve already reached that point so quickly!”

“We’re only doing it part-time—it’s not official yet. Besides, the current situation in the country is special. There’s a talent gap, so we’re just tall ones among the short,” Zuo Dan said modestly.

Chen Zhisen, however, laughed and said, “That just proves you’re among the best of your group. I’m proud of you both. My daughter and son-in-law are so capable—it makes me feel very proud.”

Zuo Dan giggled, “Dad, you’re making me blush. But it’s true that Yiming and I are top students at school. That’s undeniable.”

“Pfft—” Chen Pingping couldn’t help but laugh, covering her mouth. She thought Dandan was just too funny.

Seeing his aunt laugh, Shen Youyou also giggled and started spitting bubbles from his mouth.

Zuo Dan quickly pinched his nose. “Eat properly!”

After dinner, Shen Yiming took Shen Youyou to play with a ball. But the mischievous boy had new toys and wasn’t interested in the ball anymore. After getting a stern talking-to from his dad, he had no choice but to obediently play ball. He thought his dad was too mean, making him keep him company like that.

Meanwhile, Zuo Dan accompanied Chen Zhisen on a walk in the courtyard to help digest dinner. It was rare for father and daughter to have such a leisurely moment. With a smile on his face, it was clear Chen Zhisen was in a good mood.

Zuo Dan held onto his arm. “Dad, Xiao Qiu told me about the situation in Nanjiang.”

Chen Zhisen stopped and looked at her.

“Dad, what you did was absolutely right. For people like that, even the ten tortures of the Qing Dynasty wouldn’t be too much—they’re just too wicked!” Zuo Dan said, filled with righteous indignation.

Apparently not expecting this reaction, Chen Zhisen was momentarily stunned, then smiled and said, “You’re right. For someone like that, no punishment is too much.”

Zuo Dan said sincerely, “Dad, don’t worry about how I’ll take it. I know you love me, so no matter what you do to her, my image of you won’t change. Even if you killed her, I’d still support you!”

Chen Zhisen let out a long breath, hugged his daughter, then let go. “I won’t let her die. She owes me, your mother, and you twenty years—she’ll never be able to repay it in her lifetime.”

Zuo Dan nodded. Sometimes, living is worse than death.

After explaining everything to her, Chen Zhisen felt much more at ease. His daughter was stronger and more open-minded than he had imagined. “Dandan, don’t bring this up again with your mother. She’s already been through too much and has made peace with fate. There’s no point in letting her know it was all man-made. It would only fill her remaining years with resentment.”

Zuo Dan hesitated, then nodded.

Back in Nanjiang, Guo Caiping tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

Mrs. Sam had agreed to take her abroad, but only if she got a divorce. As a married woman, she couldn’t leave the country. So now, she would have to ask Li Wenchang for a divorce.