People in the alley: A woman dressed as a man shouldn't be foolishly filial, Zhuang Chaoying

Zhuang Chaoying was having a lively discussion with her colleagues in the office about the new system for the next semester, especially the controversial issue of separating students into fast and slow classes, with everyone expressing their opinions.

The practice of separating students into fast and slow classes likely started around this time and has continued ever since.

Just as the discussion was in full swing, Teacher Liu rushed over to call him. "Teacher Zhuang, someone's looking for you!"

Zhuang Chaoying asked casually, "Teacher Liu, is it a man or a woman?"

“Teacher Zhuang, it’s an old lady who says she’s your mother.”

Zhuang Chaoying paused slightly, then put down her teacup. "Thank you, Teacher Liu. I'll go take a look!"

As he stood up, he pondered to himself. The old man and woman had always called before, but now they had come directly to the school. He knew this family's style all too well; they never thought of him for good things, but whenever it involved money or trouble, they would definitely think of him first. This time, it was probably no exception.

A thought suddenly flashed through his mind: it's been a long time since I've annoyed the old lady. Today I'll take this opportunity to annoy her and finish this "task" quickly so I can have some peace and quiet. Forget it!

Zhuang Chaoying strode towards the school gate and saw an old woman standing in the shade from afar—it was Zhuang's mother. "Mom, what brings you here?"

Mrs. Zhuang held a handkerchief in her hand, wiping the sweat from her forehead. "Chaoying, the last time you came home was during the Chinese New Year. Mom missed you, so I came to see you!"

Zhuang Chaoying went straight to the guardhouse and took out a stool. "Mom, please sit down. If you've come to me, just say what's on your mind! Don't bother with these formalities; no matter how nice they sound, they're useless to me!"

His eyes were fixed on Zhuang's mother, trying to see through her thoughts.

"Chaoying, your sister Hualin lives in the countryside of your province. You know, the education level in rural areas there is not good. Hualin can't come back now, but she only has one son. I was thinking of having Pengfei come over during the summer vacation so you can tutor him."

Zhuang Chaoying's lips curled up slightly, revealing a faint smile. "Mom, there's a question I've always wanted to ask you: why are you so biased towards Ganmei? Hualin is also your daughter, flesh of your own flesh. How could you bear to send a sixteen-year-old girl to work in the countryside in your province alone?"

When Zhuang's mother was asked this, the smile on her face froze a little. She looked at Chaoying and said, "Chaoying, your sister is a girl. Girls will eventually get married and become someone else's family. That's how our ancestors have always lived."

"Chaoying, you're the eldest brother. When Pengfei comes over this time, you'll have to help him with his studies. Your sister only has one son; she can't just watch him skip school and go back to farming! Pengfei's vacation is all yours! Come pick him up next Sunday!"

Zhuang Chaoying was silent for a moment: "I'm only doing this because of my sister Hualin. I can help Pengfei with his studies, but we can talk about the rest when he arrives! I have other things to do here!"

Seeing that he agreed, Mrs. Zhuang smiled again. "I knew it! My eldest son is sensible and knows how to take care of his younger siblings!"

Zhuang Chaoying immediately waved her hand, her expression serious as she corrected him: "Let me correct you, it's because I'm looking after my sister! You all have your brother to take care of, I don't need to look after him!!"

After saying that, he walked into the campus without looking back, leaving his mother standing there, the smile on her face gradually fading away.

He liked Pengfei, but he couldn't accept him so easily. If the old couple didn't suffer some hardship, then his trip would have been in vain!

How can the mission proceed?!

Are you guys?

Zhuang Chaoying was still wondering why the system hadn't given any notification sound when she got back to her office.

Could it be that Zhuang's mother, who was often angered by him, has become immune to his words?

,,,,,,,

Zhuang Chaoying carried her small bag and walked home.

Along the way, neighbors greeted him warmly. "Teacher Zhuang!"

Zhuang Chaoying smiled and politely replied, "Hello!"

"Teacher Zhuang, I heard you went to proctor the exam?"

Zhuang Chaoying nodded slightly: "It's the last day, the exams are finally over. Aunt Li, where's Yiming?"

Upon hearing this, Aunt Li waved her hand vigorously: "Don't mention him, mentioning him makes me so angry right now."

When Zhuang Chaoying returned home, she heard Huang Ling, Xiao Ting, and Dong Zhe's voices as soon as she entered the courtyard.

Xiaoting immediately came up to him: "Dad, go wash your hands, Mom made steamed buns today!"

Zhuang Chaoying looked at the adorable Xiaoting and leaned closer to her: "Xiaoting, what kind of filling is it?"

Xiaoting pouted, feigning disgust: "What other fillings are there? Daddy, of course it's snake gourd! I'm almost tired of eating snake gourd."

Zhuang Chaoying turned around and pulled Huang Ling aside, complaining softly, "Ling, we're not short of money now, why do we eat snake gourd every day? Can't we change things up! You can't eat anything every day!"

Huang Ling pulled Chao Ying to the pool: "Song Ying wants to save money and says she wants to pay back the money I lent her as soon as possible. Song Ying and I are best friends. If she wants to eat, I have to eat too. You men don't understand the friendship between us women!"

Zhuang Chaoying pouted helplessly and rolled her eyes at her.

He doesn't understand? He understands perfectly well!

Huang Ling took Chao Ying's briefcase and turned to take it into the house.

Zhuang Chaoying looked at Xiaoting: "Xiaoting, where's your brother?"

"My brother went out to play!"

Zhuang Chaoying nodded and followed Huang Ling into the house, lowering her voice: "Ling, did Tu Nan go out with a male or female classmate?"

Huang Ling stuffed the steamed bun into his hand: "I don't know either. We'll find out when Tu Nan comes back and we'll ask him."

Zhuang Chaoying took the basin: "Let's forget about it. Tu Nan is a junior high school student now, right in the middle of puberty. He's still a bit clueless about things between men and women. It's normal for kids to have their own privacy as they grow up! As long as he doesn't go down the wrong path, it's fine!"

Xiaoting took the bowl and chopsticks and placed them on the table.

At this moment, Zhang Amei also came over, and the three families prepared to have dinner together.

As Zhang Amei set out the bowls and chopsticks, she asked Dongzhe curiously, "Dongzhe, where's Tunan?"

Dongzhe answered honestly, "Brother Tunan went out to play!"

Zhang Amei's eyes darted around, and with a gossipy expression, she guessed, "Tu Nan isn't dating anyone, is he?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Dongzhe immediately rolled his eyes at her: "No, these past few days, several male classmates have been coming over to play with Brother Tu Nan every day. They're all boys."

Song Ying came out of the room: "Even without moving, I'm covered in sweat in this sweltering heat. Tu Nan really has a lot of energy!"

The three adults sat together.

Shanshan, Xiaomin, Xiaojun, Dongzhe, and Xiaoting sat around a small low table.

Lin Dongzhe looked at Sister Shanshan with envy: "Sister Shanshan, Brother Tu Nan didn't have any homework during the summer vacation of fifth grade. Do you guys not have any homework either?"

Shanshan nodded gently: "No, we've already graduated from elementary school, there's no homework."

Lin Dongzhe couldn't help but sigh, "That's great! When will I ever be free from homework?"

Song Ying sighed helplessly, "Summer vacation is coming again. I hate summer vacation the most!"

Zhuang Chaoying picked up a steamed bun, took a bite, and said while chewing, "Time really flies. Shanshan and Xiaomin will be going to junior high school soon, right?"

Zhang Amei picked up a steamed bun and replied, "They'll be in junior high when school starts. Lao Wu and I plan to have them take the entrance exam for vocational school or technical school. Didn't the news say that postal service, teacher training, and electricity were all popular jobs in the 1980s?"

Zhuang Chaoying swallowed the steamed bun in her mouth and looked at Lao Wu seriously: "Lao Wu, times are changing, a vocational school diploma is far from enough. Shanshan is doing so well in her studies, aren't you planning to let her go to high school? I think Shanshan has no problem getting into university with this kind of drive..."

Before he could finish speaking, Huang Ling stomped on his foot under the table, forcing Zhuang Chaoying to swallow his words.