Chapter 19: Crying Out? This Is Clearly Tears of Joy!

“Professor Ruan, Fang Yifan’s mother is in such a state—say something,” Li Tiegun urged.

Seeing how much of a commotion this had caused at the school, with parents openly weeping, Li Tiegun, though beginning to feel a twinge of fear toward He Chen’s relentless persistence, still tried to suppress it and sought a resolution. She looked toward Ruan Lu.

“What on earth is going on?” He Chen interrupted. “Can’t you see she’s crying tears of joy?”

“Crying tears of joy?!” Li Tiegun stared incredulously at He Chen. “Are you serious, lying with your eyes wide open?”

“Lying with my eyes open?” He Chen sneered coldly. “You’re like a dog biting Lü Dongbin, failing to recognize a good heart!”

“He Chen, watch your language!” Ruan Lu finally spoke.

“All right, Aunt Ruan,” He Chen showed some respect. “Teacher Li, let me ask you—are you aware that gifting a nationally protected second-class animal can constitute a legal offense? Instead of appreciating my timely discovery and correction of this potentially illegal act that could implicate you, you glare at me with hostility. What’s that about? Are you blaming me for cutting off other parents’ channels to bribe you? Well, yes! If this time it weren’t a turtle you feared, you’d probably have gladly accepted it.

After all, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Parents must have communicated privately. It’s senior year—everyone knows each teacher’s personality. If you truly refused gifts outright, why would anyone bother? Could it be that Fang Yifan’s father is stingy, choosing his favorite gift with the hope that if you liked it, everyone would be happy, and if you didn’t, it could be returned? That way, he could justifiably expense the gift at home without angering his fierce wife. If that’s the case, that’s a cunning plan!

But even so, you should thank me! Before this, you had to spend time rejecting gifts one by one. You work so hard, no time even for dating; being single at your age partly reflects the responsibility of parents who give gifts. Thanks to my rigorous intervention, your previously adamant stance—‘all for the good of the students, disinterested in fame or fortune, certainly not accepting gifts’—can now be better upheld! You save effort and time, and cut off others’ chances to send you precious and peculiar items, thus avoiding bribery or legal risks. Other parents can relax, no longer suspecting hypocrisy or wasting money. This is the true ‘good for you, good for me, good for all’ you strive for.

So, tell me, aren’t you grateful?”

“I never accept gifts!!!” Li Tiegun shouted with a trembling voice.

Grateful? Not a chance! She was about to explode with anger. And to insult her for being single and old! That hateful youth was truly vicious and vindictive! His earlier threats of tenfold or hundredfold revenge were no idle words—they were etched deep in his heart, never forgotten.

“My life is so miserable…” Seeing Li Tiegun unable to respond to He Chen’s sharp retorts, Fang Yifan’s mother, who had only intended to cry quietly, now sobbed loudly, pouring out her grievances. The tears, her usual weapon, had been distorted by this brat into tears of joy. Such blatant lies, ignoring facts, were infuriating!

So she abandoned all dignity and tearfully voiced her worries. For someone strong and dominant at work and even more so at home, this was humiliating. Yet she could no longer care—only hoping her tears and complaints would have some effect, for there would be many more tearful days ahead otherwise.

“He Chen’s family, Professor Ruan, please have mercy, help our whole family…”

“No need to thank me, Aunt Ruan—I’m here to help you!” He Chen stepped in front of Ruan Lu, facing Fang Yifan’s mother, glancing at Li Tiegun with a smile. “See, I told you she’s crying tears of joy, but you wouldn’t believe it. Stop looking so incredulous. Listen carefully to what she’s saying!

She’s worried about her husband’s job.

But he’s middle-aged, hasn’t even passed the bar exam, and is always at risk of being ‘exported’ and needing to find new employment. Worst case, they rent out spare houses, drive the extra car from the garage, become a taxi driver or delivery man—turn their life around!

With their seven-thousand-yuan bag, a watch worth fifty or sixty thousand, and their air of wealth, it’s clear they’re no ordinary family. They have every right to stage a comeback, not fall into destitution over a minor setback.

Besides, she usually scorns her husband for being a slacker, spending days playing with fish and birds. Now, taking this opportunity to straighten him out might actually save their marriage.

If he serves a few months inside, after release, the separation might revive their relationship. With Fang Yifan essentially out of commission, they could start fresh—family and life both renewed.

Also, her husband studied law. The reason he committed this legal blunder is that law students often lose respect for the law, becoming numb to ethics and humanity. Now that I’ve pointed this out, he can turn back from the brink and avoid a bigger tragedy, which would harm both himself and others.

Fang Yifan’s mother is clearly a social elite, sharp as a tack. Seeing these benefits, how could she not cry tears of joy?”

As for the sorrowful complaints—doesn’t that just show a normal, human side? Like when a boss or rival suffers a setback, even if secretly delighted, they still put on a solemn face, maybe shed a few crocodile tears.

No one would be so rude as to grin openly, right?”

“I’m truly heartbroken, not pretending!” Fang Yifan’s mother snapped, desperate as He Chen twisted her sobbing into mockery.

“I get it, I get it! No need to explain!” He Chen wore the classic expression of the female doctor from that romantic movie.

“Now, about your worries for your son Fang Yifan—that’s downright laughable. Worried about his college entrance exam results? With him ranking last or second-last in the whole school, how much worse can it get? If anything, this will push him to improve.

After all, hardships make people mature. With this fiasco and you and your husband ready to start anew, maybe he’ll finally stop pretending to be cool, chasing girls, fighting, and causing trouble in his senior year, and actually buckle down!

As for affecting his future civil service career? Nonsense! Besides, his nickname is ‘Fang Monkey.’ You want a monkey to become a civil servant? That’s a joke.

Going on another havoc-wreaking rampage? Don’t say it’s impossible.

With his impulsive temper, learned from you, quick to lash out, and his father’s blatant disrespect for the law, even threatening police officers, he could really cause such chaos.

Now that his hopes of a government job are dashed, preventing him from harming more people, isn’t that good for you, me, and everyone?

It also spares your entire ‘Flower Fruit Mountain’ household from disaster and ruin.

Thinking of all this, if you can hold back from laughing out loud in your dreams and only secretly rejoice, crying tears of joy is very restrained indeed.”

Everyone remained silent…