Rebirth begins with an arranged marriage

Chapter 39 Invitation

As Teacher Hou spoke, a girl with a hunched back and long black braids among the students cleaning up in Class Two looked up.

"Teacher Hou, is there anything I can help you with? I'm doing a spring cleaning."

The female student named Liu Fangfang said this, her tone clearly reluctant.

"Something's up... I need to talk to you about... something related to political studies."

Teacher Hou spoke with a slurred speech and smelled of alcohol.

Liu Fangfang looked at him, then at Teacher Xu Ruyun: "Teacher Xu, should I still do the spring cleaning?"

Teacher Xu was actually a little embarrassed.

To say that not letting Liu Fangfang go in front of so many people would be a bit disrespectful to Teacher Hou would be inappropriate.

But if we let her go, this Teacher Hou is a bit frivolous. When he talks to women, he puts his hands on their shoulders and backs, deliberately bringing them close to their eyes, which is really disgusting.

He's so drunk right now, what good things can he possibly say?

He's probably deliberately trying to harass the female student.

"My desk is dirty too, Liu Fangfang, could you clean it for me while you're at it?" Xu Ruyun finally couldn't ignore the student's pleading eyes, and said, gesturing for Liu Fangfang to come to her office with her, "I'll also listen to what good teaching methods Teacher Hou has for politics, and learn from him."

Liu Fangfang breathed a sigh of relief and quickly followed Xu Ruyun with a smile.

"Okay, Teacher Xu!"

Teacher Hou was immediately disappointed: "You all talk... I'm not in a hurry... not in a hurry..."

After saying that, he waved his hand and walked away unsteadily.

"Monkey Butt" was known for his improper conduct, and many teachers and students at the school knew about it. He even went to the girls' dormitory at night to call female students out to "talk about their studies" more than once... But it's hard to say exactly what he did. Most of the time, he would just linger next to women and do some "overly enthusiastic" and lewd things.

None of the female students or teachers were willing to talk to him much.

Seeing this scene, Tang Huaiyi felt even more that Teacher Xu was a good person; if she really became his third aunt, she would definitely not do such a despicable thing as Widow Ma, who made her third uncle borrow money to provide for her.

After the spring cleaning was completed, it was still before dinner time. Some students went to the classroom to study and do their homework, while others went to the dormitory to clean, wash clothes, and beat their bedding.

Tang Huaiyi also went back to his dormitory to tidy up.

Although Teacher Chen and his wife both told him to send the bedding over for washing and drying, he couldn't always take it for granted that he would give Teacher Chen and his wife something to do.

After cleaning up, I returned to the classroom. Just as I reached the classroom door, someone called out to me.

"Excuse me, are you Tang Huaiyi?"

Tang Huaiyi looked up and saw the boy from the class who waited for Guan Xiaolin to come home every evening after self-study.

"Yes, my name is Tang Huaiyi." Tang Huaiyi asked, "And you are?"

"Oh, my name is Zhao Weimin, I'm from Class 3, Grade 12, and I like playing basketball."

As he spoke, Zhao Weimin pulled a basketball out from behind him: "You're quite tall. Since you have a lot of free time after the big clean-up today, how about we play basketball for a bit?"

Tang Huaiyi glanced at him and thought to himself, "If I don't talk to Guan Xiaolin, you probably won't even bother to know who I am."

Was Zhao Weimin here to make friends, or did he have ulterior motives?

Tang Huaiyi was not interested in this and had no intention of playing basketball—although he could play one-on-three half-court basketball, it was just for fun.

He was focused on his studies and didn't have the time for that; especially since Zhao Weimin's invitation to play basketball was no coincidence and had a social element, Tang Huaiyi was even less interested.

To him, this was utterly pointless socializing.

"I can't play basketball."

Upon hearing Tang Huaiyi's words, Zhao Weimin's smile widened even more: "If you don't know how, you can learn. I'll teach you. You're quite tall; you must be good at basketball."

"I haven't finished my homework yet, I really don't have time." Tang Huaiyi declined again, then smiled and nodded before entering the classroom.

"Why?"

Zhao Weimin called out, and when he saw Guan Xiaolin looking over in the classroom, he smiled and greeted her before quickly leaving.

During dinner, Guan Xiaolin stood with Tang Huaiyi and Li Xiujuan to eat.

"Tang Huaiyi, did Zhao Weimin want to see you after the big clean-up today?" Guan Xiaolin asked.

He said he would take me to play basketball, but I don't know how to play, so I didn't go.

Tang Huaiyi said.

Guan Xiaolin was a little surprised: "You just wanted to play basketball with me? You didn't say anything else?"

"He didn't say anything else," Tang Huaiyi said. "After all, we didn't know each other before, what could he possibly say?"

"You don't know each other? He asked you to play basketball? I thought you knew each other."

Guan Xiaolin said, her brows furrowing slightly.

"I don't know him. He said he saw I was a bit taller and asked me to play basketball," Tang Huaiyi said.

Guan Xiaolin nodded, remained silent for a moment, then smiled and said, "Do you want to learn to play basketball? I can, and I can teach you."

Tang Huaiyi was somewhat surprised: "You can do that too?"

"Yes, I can do that too. Actually, it's very simple. Just throw the ball into the basket. All the other rules are just for this purpose. You'll get to know them gradually. If you want to learn, I can teach you when I have time, like if you come home half a day early on Sunday, or leave half a day late on Saturday, or after the big cleaning next Friday."

When Tang Huaiyi saw that Guan Xiaolin really intended to teach him basketball, he quickly waved his hand and refused.

"Let's forget about it. We're in our final year of high school now, studying is the most important thing."

"That's true, let's talk about it later." Guan Xiaolin didn't insist and nodded.

After evening self-study ended that night, Guan Xiaolin, Wang Man, and Zhao Weimin pushed their bicycles out of the school.

Zhao Weimin rode a bicycle with a headlight, while Wang Man and Guan Xiaolin each rode a women's bicycle.

"Zhao Weimin, what did you do in our class this afternoon?" Guan Xiaolin asked while riding her bicycle.

"Oh, we're short one for basketball. Tang Huaiyi from your class looks pretty tall, so I called him over," Zhao Weimin said with a smile. "I didn't expect he can't play basketball, haha, I thought he probably could."

"Students' main task is to study, so it's normal that they don't know how to play basketball," Guan Xiaolin said casually.

Zhao Weimin stopped laughing and said, "That's true."

Riding a bicycle ahead.

Wang Man leaned closer to Guan Xiaolin and whispered, "Did he go to see that male classmate because of... you?"

Guan Xiaolin also answered in a low voice, "I think it looks a bit like it."

"But he was being roundabout, so there's nothing I can say."

Wang Man nodded and said, "Actually, we should also thank Zhao Weimin; he meant well."

"I specifically asked Tang Huaiyi to help me tidy up the classroom so that I could go home with you earlier. I never intended for him to come along; he insisted on coming... and now it seems he's caused trouble."

Guan Xiaolin stopped there, seeing that she was almost home, and said goodbye to Wang Man.

When Guan Xiaolin got home, she saw that the crows in the cardboard box under the eaves were still awake, and her mood immediately improved. She squatted down and reached out to touch them.

"Little crow, how's your injury healing?"