Chapter 12: Tingting 10

Tan You zipped up her schoolbag. "It was just a weekly test. I still don't know how I'll do on the final exams. You know, I'm not very good at math and physics."

Tan You was adept at liberal arts, but when it came to science, she relied purely on the "sea of questions" tactic. She would take out the exercise books she had already completed and redo them over and over again.

Han Tingting’s family didn't place much importance on education, and her parents didn't care about her at all, so she couldn't afford those extracurricular exercise books. If it weren't for Teacher Shi helping Tan You find practice papers, Tan You wouldn't have had so many problems to drill.

Thinking of Han Tingting’s parents, Tan You’s hand paused. Since arriving in this world, she hadn't yet met them, but with the Lunar New Year approaching, one of them was bound to return.

Although they had divorced years ago, they still shared a daughter, so meeting was inevitable.

If she were to see Han Tingting’s parents this time, how should she handle it? For a moment, Tan You was lost in thought. Unfortunately, no matter how much mental preparation she did, when she got home and saw Han Cunming, Tan You didn't know whether to feel sad or happy.

Han Cunming was very calm. "Your parents both called. They aren't coming back for the New Year. Your father is a live-in son-in-law; how could he get away? Your mother has another child over there, too."

Tan You blinked. "Oh, did they send any money back?"

Han Cunming was stunned. "Send money?"

Tan You was someone who had her eyes set on money. "Doesn't Dad send you money throughout the year? How much can you possibly make farming so hard at home? School starts after the New Year; has he sent my tuition?"

"And after the divorce, I stayed with Dad, but Mom hasn't paid child support in ages..." Calculating this, Tan You put down her bag and started tallying. "I remember it was agreed that Mom would pay five hundred yuan a month in child support. I haven't seen a cent of that in a long time. I need to get all of that back."

Han Cunming hesitated. "That's your mother... if you ask her for money, her life isn't easy either..."

"I don't care if her life is easy or not," Tan You stared at Han Cunming. "If I don't ask for money, how am I supposed to pay for high school? I am definitely going to continue my studies, and Grandpa, you certainly can't afford to support me, so I have no choice but to ask them for it."

"Compulsory education is free now, so it doesn't cost much, but once I enter high school, there are too many expenses." Tan You was very serious. "They have their own lives and no time to care about me, so I have to plan for myself. Don't stop me."

Han Cunming was silent for a long time before sighing. "Fine, I won't stop you."

He paused and added, "If you really can't get the money, I will continue to support your schooling as long as you keep studying."

"I am their responsibility, not yours." Tan You saw this very clearly. "They have the responsibility to raise me and the obligation to support you, but clearly, they haven't done either."

"I understand what you mean, but you have it hard enough as it is."

As she spoke, a string of numbers appeared under Tan You’s pen. "They’ve been divorced for five years, but I haven't seen a cent of child support from Mom since I turned ten. That’s six thousand a year, which makes twenty-four thousand over four years."

"With this money, if I work hard and manage to get a scholarship in high school, it should be enough to cover my living expenses for all three years."

Han Cunming found it amusing. "With your grades? You can get a scholarship? Haven't you always been at the bottom of the class?"

Tan You narrowed her eyes. "Didn't Yang Shun come back and tell you about me?"

"Tell me what?" Han Cunming asked curiously. "Did you cause trouble at school?"

Tan You understood; Yang Shun had kept her situation at school well-hidden. Then again, how was Yang Shun’s behavior any different from her old childhood friends?

They never bragged about their grades in front of their families because it would only invite scolding or comparisons from their parents.

"Of course I didn't cause trouble," Tan You smiled. "The final exam results won't be out for another two days, but I think I did well. If you don't believe me, come to school with me to pick up my books when the time comes."

Han Cunming: "You're so confident. Have you really started studying hard?"

Tan You: "Of course. There's no point in talking about it now; you'll see the day after tomorrow when we go to school. By the way, I'm going to call Mom first."

"I expect getting the money won't be easy. If I can't get it over the phone, I'll go to her doorstep."

Although Han Cunming had a fiery temper, he was generally decent to others, and since she was his former daughter-in-law, he didn't want to burn bridges. "If you do that, your mother might not have an easy life afterward."

"That's her problem," Tan You said coldly. "She never cared about me, so I don't need to care about her."

She smiled. "Listen to me on this. Do you really want to be the one supporting my education? Even if you were willing, I wouldn't have the heart to let you."

"I suspect she’s been planning to make me quit school early to earn money, and I refuse to let her have her way." Thinking of how Chen Fengqin had forced Han Tingting to drop out in her past life, Tan You had no affection for her at all.

Han Cunming sighed helplessly. "Fine, I can't win against you. But you're not wrong. I'll go with you when the time comes."

Having persuaded Han Cunming, Tan You didn't say anything else. She didn't stay idle during her two days off, spending most of her time cleaning the house. Han Cunming lived alone, and he never did any chores; the house was like a pigsty.

Tan You couldn't stand it. In the two days she had been back, she washed and dried everything, with several bedsheets and covers hanging in the courtyard. Thinking of the front-loading washing machine she had seen in Han Tingting’s memories, she really wanted one.

But thinking of the price, she gave up on the idea. If she successfully got the money this time, she would buy a semi-automatic washing machine; at least it would make doing laundry in the autumn and winter easier.

With these thoughts, Tan You wielded her spatula even faster.

Ever since Tan You returned home, Han Cunming’s standard of living had skyrocketed. To be honest, Tan You’s cooking wasn't exactly world-class, but compared to Han Cunming’s, it was like night and day.

In just two days, Han Cunming’s complexion seemed much better. He was currently squinting as he leaned against the woodpile to tend the fire, looking lazy, and his usually fierce face appeared much gentler.

Tan You said she would take Han Cunming to school to see for himself, and he was naturally going to go along. He had his own calculations: if Han Tingting’s grades were poor, he likely wouldn't support his granddaughter burning bridges with her father and former mother-in-law.

But if Han Tingting’s grades were excellent, Han Cunming would change his mind. He hadn't had much schooling himself, but he knew the importance of education.

People worked themselves to the bone in the fields for only two or three thousand yuan a year. But those who worked in offices—how high were their salaries? And it wasn't even hard work. So, Han Cunming had his own scale for measuring things.

Thank you to my friends for the recommendation tickets, thank you all!

(End of chapter)