When the Side Character Gets a System and Travels through Difference Worlds-Chapter 27: Tingting

Seeing Han Guangzhi raise his hand to strike, Han Cunming slammed his bowl on the table, his eyes wide in fury. "What are you doing? You want to hit Tingting right in front of me?"

The moment his father spoke, Han Guangzhi immediately wilted. He subconsciously lowered his voice. "Dad, why didn’t you discuss such a big matter with me? Her grades are so good, it’s a waste for her to go to a regular school."

Han Cunming scoffed, "She was attending a regular school before, so why didn’t you think it was a waste then? Fine. Since you want to act like a father, go on and take out some money. You think high school is free?"

A bitter taste filled Han Guangzhi’s mouth. "But doesn’t she go to school for free now?"

Not only was it free, but the school also provided a living stipend; Han Guangzhi had heard all this from the villagers long ago. ’Why is Dad asking me for money right off the bat?’

Han Cunming shot back, "Doesn’t she need money for daily expenses? Doesn’t she need new clothes for the holidays? You think just paying a tuition fee means you’ve fulfilled your responsibility? Where do you get the nerve?"

"Back when you were in school, no matter how hard things were, I bought you a new set of clothes every single year. From the time you got divorced until now, have you ever bought her a single outfit? Aren’t the clothes she’s wearing all hand-me-downs from others?"

Li Xiaomei quickly tried to smooth things over. "Dad, you’re right. I’ll take Tingting into the city tomorrow to buy some clothes."

Tan You frowned. ’I’m busy; when would I have time to go shopping? Besides, I have plenty of clothes now, many of them gifts from the aunties at the factory.’

Practically every family had a daughter, and clothes their own kids had outgrown would just gather dust at home. As a result, Han Tingting received these loving gifts from the aunties every few days.

She didn’t feel it was beneath her; it was a kindness for people to give her things. ’Besides, even if some of the clothes aren’t great, I can just take them apart and alter them myself later, once my skills are better.’

Han Cunming said nonchalantly, "Then go tomorrow evening. Tingting has to work during the day. She’s busy."

Han Guangzhi said jealously, "Every word out of your mouth is about her. Is she really worth all this effort?"

"The proof of whether she’s worth it is right here," Han Cunming said, unperturbed. "When you were her age, you weren’t nearly as sensible. Were your grades as good as hers? Were you as diligent?"

"If I could raise someone like you, I can certainly raise her. She’s so much better than you ever were." Han Cunming narrowed his eyes. "I can’t count on you to take care of me in my old age, so in the end, I’m counting on her."

Li Xiaomei was filled with a mix of indescribable feelings. The old man was a real piece of work. But she was secretly relieved that he wasn’t counting on Han Guangzhi. As for Han Tingting, however, she truly couldn’t bring herself to like the girl.

Now that the girl showed no intention of clinging to them, Li Xiaomei felt a strange sense of emptiness. She had already prepared to trip up her stepdaughter, but who would have thought the girl wouldn’t take the bait at all?

’What am I supposed to do now? If even Han Guangzhi can’t handle Han Tingting, what can I, a mere stepmother, possibly do to her?’

The atmosphere at the dinner table was beyond awkward, but Tan You couldn’t be bothered with any of it. After dinner, she went to her room to study. As for Han Guangzhi and Li Xiaomei, she really didn’t have the energy to deal with them.

And she wanted to deal with their son, Han Xiaobao, even less. ’Who wants to come home after a long day of work just to babysit a kid? Besides, he’s clearly the apple of Li Xiaomei’s eye. Why should I get involved?’

Tan You was studying in her room with her desk lamp on. Han Guangzhi certainly wasn’t going to disturb her, and Li Xiaomei was even less likely to. However, when Li Xiaomei came out to use the bathroom at ten o’clock, she saw the light in Han Tingting’s room was still on.

Back in the bedroom, she whispered to Han Guangzhi, "Didn’t the high school entrance exams just end? Why is she still studying so late?"

What could Han Guangzhi say? "Dad said not to disturb her. He said she doesn’t go to sleep before midnight any night."

While he certainly didn’t like Han Tingting, if she became successful, it would bring him, her father, some glory. So, deep down, Han Guangzhi was actually happy that Han Tingting was so studious.

In the summer, the sun rose very early. Before it was even five-thirty, Li Xiaomei heard the sound of someone reading aloud outside. One moment it was Chinese, the next it was English, interspersed with various math formulas.

Li Xiaomei couldn’t stay in bed any longer. Seeing Han Guangzhi snoring away next to her, she had no choice but to get up. As soon as she went outside, she saw Han Tingting by the well, memorizing her studies. When Tingting saw her, she just gave a faint "Morning" and said nothing else.

Since the girl was studying, Li Xiaomei really couldn’t go over and disturb her. She fumed silently, but of course, no one was paying any attention to her mood.

At six o’clock, Han Tingting went into the kitchen to make breakfast, right on time. Just as Han Cunming had said, she wasn’t about to go out of her way for Han Guangzhi and the others, so breakfast was very simple.

A pot of congee and a plate of smashed cucumber. As for the fried eggplant sandwiches that Han Cunming had enjoyed so much yesterday, Tan You hadn’t made them at all. Making simple dishes like this was much easier when there were fewer people in the house.

If there were more people, making the eggplant dish would mean she alone would be slaving away. She had no intention of waiting on them.

When Han Cunming returned from the paddy fields, he saw the very simple breakfast. The old man nodded at Han Tingting. "Eat up and hurry off to work. It’s not easy for kids from rural families like ours."

"Got it, Grandpa." Tan You washed her face at the well. "I’m heading to the factory now. Goodbye, Auntie."

As for Han Guangzhi, he was still in his room, sleeping with his arm around his son.

As soon as Tan You left, the atmosphere immediately turned cold. Han Cunming and Li Xiaomei had nothing to say to each other. Though the old man didn’t say much, he could clearly see what was on Li Xiaomei’s mind.

’In my opinion,’ he thought, ’she’s the one who instigated this trip, coming back when it’s not even a holiday. And for what? To interfere in my granddaughter’s life? In her dreams! As long as I’m around, no one is going to ruin my granddaughter’s life.’

The return of Han Guangzhi and Li Xiaomei’s family of three really didn’t affect Tan You. She had to work at the factory during the day and burn the midnight oil studying at night. When she left for work, Han Guangzhi wasn’t even out of bed, and when she studied at night, Han Cunming would put on a stern face so that no one dared to disturb her.

Thus, even after being back for two days, Han Guangzhi and Li Xiaomei hadn’t found a single chance to speak with Tan You alone.

Li Xiaomei, on the other hand, ended up spending quite a bit of money. She wanted to act generous, so Tan You decided to oblige her. When Li Xiaomei took her clothes shopping, Tan You didn’t hold back in the slightest.

She didn’t pick expensive things, just bought a few new outfits—clothes, shoes, a jacket, and so on. Even so, it was enough to make Li Xiaomei’s heart ache with the cost. And yet, she couldn’t complain in front of Han Cunming and could only whisper about it to Han Guangzhi in private.

What could Han Guangzhi do? His hands were tied. His father was protecting her, and Han Tingting had a legitimate reason for working a summer job. What could he possibly do?

Besides, as a father, he couldn’t reasonably complain about buying his child a few outfits. If you have a child, you have to raise them. To be honest, ever since the divorce, he really hadn’t put much thought into Han Tingting, and he had certainly spent even less money on her.