I Got Rich in Period Fiction
Chapter 316: Regret

Chapter 316: Chapter 316: Regret

Qiao Qingyu reined in her chaotic thoughts and said to Li Bo, "Li Bo, you’re in a good state right now. Don’t be too anxious, graduation is still two years away. I can’t promise that you’ll be able to join the Tenghai Research Base after you graduate. Maybe by that time, you’ll have even better opportunities."

But Li Bo was very eager, and that was exactly what she had been talking about. "Qiao Qingyu, I’m not asking you to give me a definite answer, even a vague one would do. I will have to explain this to my father and that woman."

"What does it have to do with them?"

"My father said if I don’t obey, he’ll pull some strings to send me off to some remote village to work as an agricultural technician."

Qiao Qingyu fell silent. She hadn’t expected Li Bo’s father to be so ruthless, either to prevent his daughter from seeking revenge on Shao Hui or to keep her from having a brighter future.

"I’m speechless about your father. If you are doing well, he should be happy."

Li Bo let out a cold laugh. For her, she had indeed understood much overnight. Sometimes she wished she were still as naive as before, living in a beautiful world woven with lies. Wouldn’t that be nice?

To remain blissfully unaware for a lifetime would at least spare her the psychological torment.

But there was no helping it, she thought. Even if she hadn’t overheard her father’s conversation with that woman that day, they both would have found her an eyesore. Fortunately, she had already been admitted to university. If she were still in middle school, she might not even have been able to finish her studies.

Li Bo was filled with regret. She regretted not listening to Liu Hong’s advice and disregarded Qiao Qingyu’s words.

But it was too late for regrets now.

"Qiao Qingyu, I’m really out of options. Just don’t expose me, and I’ll tell my father that the Tenghai Base farm has offered me a job after I graduate."

"Alright, no problem."

It’s not about going to the research center, only the farm. To Old Xie and Zhou Xiaoqin, that would be welcomed wholeheartedly as Li Bo was a very good student.

However, her spirits had been dampened by the blow, and she wasn’t as proactive or ambitious as before. Now she was more silent and reclusive, not keen on interacting with others.

It seemed to be the effect of that big-character poster.

"...I’m off then, Qiao Qingyu. Thanks for everything." No matter what, Li Bo was truly grateful to Qiao Qingyu.

Then Li Bo climbed onto the truck and left the Tenghai Research Base with the others.

And so the winter holiday activities came to an end, and next up was preparing to go to Yun City to celebrate the New Year.

...

Rongrong was in high spirits; after all, she could be considered a little girl who had traveled north and south, having been to many places.

Li Mingguang was outside with He Xuerong, Dashun, and Daji, having a snowball fight.

Kids never feel tired when they play games, and when they do get tired, it’s usually time to eat. As the hunger set in, it was time to head home for a meal. Li Mingguang grabbed He Xuerong with a frown and his round, dark eyes fixed on her, "Rongrong, if I tell Aunt Qiao that I want to go to Yun City with you, do you think she would agree?"

"Even if my little aunt agrees, shouldn’t you be at home with Uncle Li and Aunt Li, and your young aunt, celebrating the New Year?"

"But I really want to go to Yun City with you," he said. "I heard there’s also a zoo there, with elephants that have really long trunks, and huge pythons as thick as water buckets."

"Of course I’ll visit the zoo," she replied. "How about I draw them for you?"

"Your drawing skills aren’t that great," he teased. "What if you draw something completely unrecognizable and skew my perception?"

He Xuerong’s voice was like that of a lark; not even the current child stars could sing as well as her. But, unfortunately, her drawing skills were just a bit lacking. Li Mingguang, on the other hand, was brilliant at drawing, as if he was self-taught among the best of the best.

He Xuerong got upset. She stretched out her hand and pushed Li Mingguang in the chest, knocking him into the snowy ground with a smack. She wanted to step on him, but Li Mingguang rolled away and got up, sniffed his nose, and said with a grin, "Rongrong, why don’t you take photos instead? Not just for me to see, but Dashun and Daji can look at them too."

He Xuerong glared at him fiercely, then huffed away with her head held high.

Li Mingguang naturally jogged behind her, pulling faces and doing somersaults, until he managed to cheer her up. Then the two children ran home hand in hand.

On the way, they met Chu Ying. Li Mingguang and He Xuerong stopped to politely greet her.

Chu Ying asked He Xuerong, "I heard you’re going south for the New Year?"

He Xuerong rolled her eyes. "How do you always get your news so fast? You even know about that?"

"It’s not a secret," said Chu Ying. "Aunt Chu obviously knows. Rongrong, I didn’t tell you, my grandmother’s house is also in Yun City."

He Xuerong’s eyes widened, and then she laughed, "So what if your grandmother lives in Yun City? My dad is not in Yun City, you know."

Chu Ying was long used to He Xuerong’s sharp tongue, so she laughed it off, "I’m not going specifically for you. I truly have business in Yun City over the New Year. Can you tell me where your house is? When the time comes, I can take you out. I grew up in Yun City and know lots of fun places..."

He Xuerong blinked her eyes, tempted, but then she remembered she only had a few days and she needed to spend them with her little uncle and aunt.

Plus, she truly had no idea where her little aunt’s house was.

Chu Ying pursed her lips in disappointment. Nowadays, people liked to clip a pen to their clothing and carry a small diary in their pocket. So, Chu Ying wrote down her family’s address in Yun City and handed it to He Xuerong. Once she saw the paper safely tucked into her pocket, she said with relief, "If you have time, come find me here. I’ve got half a month off this time."

"Okay," He Xuerong replied very readily, knowing she wasn’t likely to go.

Chu Ying turned and left.

Li Mingguang blinked and said to her, "Rongrong, actually Aunt Chu does have her strong points."

"What strong points?" He Xuerong asked with wide eyes.

Li Mingguang pursed his lips and pretended to be profound, "Does having thick skin count?"

He Xuerong giggled, and Li Mingguang chuckled along, then added, "Actually, Aunt Chu is just thick-skinned with you. I’ve heard my dad say she’s really strict at work and quite capable."

"Alright, enough about her. You should go home. I need to get back for dinner too."

With that, the two friends parted ways at the crossroads.

He Xuerong thought about what Li Mingguang just said and felt a strange sensation inside. It seemed like Aunt Chu had split into two different people. Oh, how weird indeed.

Qiao Qingyu had already packed everything needed for the three of them to go out, and then she went to the market to pick up the baskets she had ordered.