I Got Rich in Period Fiction
Chapter 304: Distorted Family Relationships

Chapter 304: Chapter 304: Distorted Family Relationships

Qiao Qingyu had a penchant for accusing others of grave offenses, and pointing her finger at Sun Xiuyuan, her voice was stern and earnest, "I think this matter requires not only your class advisor but also the comrades from the security section to thoroughly investigate whether you have leaked any scientific research results from the greenhouse."

Sun Xiuyuan’s face turned pale with rage as she retorted, "Qiao Qingyu, what right do you have to be so aggressive and confrontational?"

"I’m speaking the truth; how is that aggressive and confrontational?"

Finally, Professor Feng spoke up, "There’s no one guarding here because I believe that contemporary college students should at least possess the basic common sense that this is not your private vegetable garden; this is Xichuan Agricultural College’s experimental field. Not only did you enter without permission, but you also walked around taking photos with a camera. This has nothing to do with whether you have been to a rural area or not, first and foremost, your attitude and intentions are highly problematic."

Sun Xiuyuan’s face turned even paler; she dared not glare at Professor Feng, instead, she furiously bit her lip while staring daggers at Qiao Qingyu.

Professor Feng asked another student to go and fetch someone from the security section.

This was not a trivial matter. If they let it slide this time, his experimental field would really become someone’s personal vegetable garden.

It was like killing a chicken as a warning to the monkeys, serving a dual purpose.

Sun Xiuyuan was criticized by the whole school, and the film from her camera was pulled out and destroyed.

The initial plan was a public criticism but, as the vice president had good relations with the Sun family, a covert communication ensued, leading to an internal criticism. She went to Professor Feng to offer a profound self-criticism and wrote a letter of apology, only then was the issue considered to be resolved.

Sun Xiuyuan was fuming with hatred for Qiao Qingyu, but upon learning who Qiao Qingyu was, she could only swallow her anger and curse silently countless times in her heart, powerless to do anything.

No, it wasn’t accurate to say she was entirely powerless; she thought to herself that revenge is a dish best served cold and there would always be an opportunity eventually.

...

Su Yunyao had not expected her submitted report to be approved so swiftly, allowing her to hand over project A-04 to another engineer while she continued to be responsible for the new project.

Su Yunyao spent a nerve-wracking week waiting, not receiving any letters. Although she did not completely let her guard down, she speculated that the person who knew her secret was either not at the base or did not take the matter seriously.

So, she threw herself into the work.

However, she was not solely in charge of the project, nor was she the main person responsible. The major responsibility still rested with He Xiuyu; such an important project would not be entrusted to Su Yunyao alone.

Next in line was Shen Haoze, followed by an older comrade, and then her.

...

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was November. Qiao Qingyu found some time to buy pastries and canned food, and together with Liu Hong and Liu Min, she went to visit her mother at Li Bo’s house.

She had not informed Li Bo in advance. It was a Sunday afternoon, and Qiao Qingyu had just returned.

Li Bo’s house was located in Xichuan, and she usually went directly back to the college in the morning.

After all, her home was not too far from the college; otherwise, her mother could not have come to the school gate to find her.

They took a bus, passed four stops, and then boarded another bus, reaching Li Bo’s home after three stops.

Liu Hong had been to her home before and, knowing the way, knocked confidently on her door.

This was a typical tube-shaped apartment building of the era, where the corridors were cluttered with all sorts of belongings, and everyone’s kitchens were outside, making the walkways extremely narrow.

Li Bo’s family lived in the innermost room on the third floor, and after the door was knocked open, Li Bo herself was stunned for a moment before letting the three visitors in as she recognized them to be Qiao Qingyu and the others.

Upon entering, they heard a gentle voice, "Xiao Bo, do we have guests?"

The voice didn’t belong to Li Bo’s mother, and then a middle-aged woman with a refined face and glasses came into view.

Qiao Qingyu exchanged glances with Liu Hong and Liu Min. Liu Hong signaled with her eyes, and Qiao Qingyu guessed in her heart that this woman was probably the Aunt Shao that Li Bo had mentioned.

Since it was Sunday, Li Bo’s father was also at home. Qiao Qingyu held pastries in her hands, and Liu Hong placed canned goods on the table inside the room.

Aunt Shao did not expect Li Bo’s classmates to bring gifts and visit, standing to the side, she felt somewhat uncomfortable.

At the same time, she felt a mix of shame and annoyance.

Then they heard Qiao Qingyu cheerfully say, "Li Bo, I told your mom last time that I’d come to visit her. We’ve been busy and haven’t found the time. Is Auntie at home?"

Li Bo didn’t answer, and her expression turned awkward.

Qiao Qingyu saw her hands nervously twisting together, "Is Auntie at home?"

Liu Hong, always blunt, said, "Li Bo, why are you stammering? Is your aunt at home or not?"

At that moment, Li Bo’s father, Li Chengming, frowned. He was a man with a respectable appearance but not very tall; a hint of guilt flashed between his brows, and he exchanged glances with Aunt Shao.

Li Chengming looked at Li Bo, unprepared for the unexpected visit; he didn’t dare to risk lying and kept making signals to Li Bo with his eyes.

Qiao Qingyu’s brow involuntarily furrowed.

It seemed like the three of them shouldn’t have come.

There was something wrong with this household.

After all, Li Bo was still young and couldn’t lie as blatantly as the older two. She opened a north-facing room door nearby, pointing inside, "My mom is at home, but she’s fallen ill."

When the room was opened, an odor wafted out.

Liu Hong stepped aside, blurting out, "Yikes, why does this room smell so strong? Li Bo, you’re too lazy, your mom’s sick and you don’t even tidy up the room for her."

All the while, Liu Hong entered the room.

A frail-looking woman was lying in the bed, who, with difficulty, opened her eyes to look at the three visitors, knitting her brows as if trying hard to recall who they were.

Then the woman sat up, her complexion sallow, her hair somewhat grey, she looked much older than the last time they’d seen her.

Qiao Qingyu stepped forward and said, "Auntie, I promised to visit you last time. Sadly, we’ve been so busy, and it’s only today that we found the time. How did you fall ill? Have you been to the hospital? What did the doctors say?"

Lan Ju coughed a few times but then looked outside the door with a complicated gaze, one even Qiao Qingyu couldn’t decipher. Then she turned her eyes back and spoke softly, "It’s nothing serious, just the old ailment. It’s really a bother for you to come to see me. The air isn’t good in here, let’s go sit outside."

"Yes, let’s go. We can talk outside for a bit." Li Bo seemed not to want her classmates to stay with her mother at all.

Moreover, she felt humiliated and secretly resented these three for coming to her house uninvited, as if they really had nothing better to do.

So her expression bore a hint of impatience.

The three visitors also felt quite awkward. If they had known it would be like this, who would have come? There was no telephone in the household; if there had been, a simple phone call could have spared them this trouble, right?