It was Teacher Lu.
A shadow loomed in Yun Que'er's eyes.
Only core interests could move people. For such things, what wouldn't they do?
But according to what Shen Qingqing had said before, her family was well - off. There was really no need for them to go all out to harm Yun Mo Tan just for a little money.
Unless their family situation was not as good as Shen Qingqing had claimed.
Just then, Shen Qingqing came back and caught Yun Que'er looking at her.
Shen Qingqing rolled her eyes at Yun Que'er fiercely, looking extremely disdainful.
Instead of averting her gaze, Yun Que'er stared firmly at Shen Qingqing.
Shen Qingqing felt a bit uneasy, but still pretended to be calm and glared at Yun Que'er before sitting down.
Yun Que'er withdrew her gaze and whispered to Ji Chengxuan,
"It seems necessary to follow Shen Qingqing."
For the rest of the day, Yun Que'er deliberately observed Shen Qingqing.
After what happened to Yun Mo Tan, Shen Qingqing seemed to be the biggest winner.
Since kids basically had no well - formed values, and considering that Shen Qingqing had taunted Yun Que'er before, now everyone thought Shen Qingqing was one of them. They greeted her one by one, and even those who had hardly spoken to her before invited her to play with them.
Shen Qingqing looked very proud and was quite satisfied with the current situation.
It seemed that this incident might not be entirely instigated by Teacher Lu. Shen Qingqing must have played an active part in it.
However, Yun Que'er noticed something interesting. From the first day they met until now, Shen Qingqing had always been wearing thick clothes.
It wasn't even October yet. It wasn't cold enough to shiver. But Shen Qingqing was dressed like it was late autumn.
Moreover, Shen Qingqing never took off her clothes. Even when she was sweating profusely, she refused to roll up her sleeves.
There must be something hidden inside.
Yun Que'er didn't rush to find out but waited patiently for the right moment.
In the afternoon, there was another P.E. class.
Shen Qingqing was quite popular now. The girls called her to jump rubber bands with them, while Yun Que'er and Ji Chengxuan were naturally excluded and sat on the steps.
Yun Que'er stared at Shen Qingqing with a smile on her lips.
Jumping rubber bands was a strenuous activity. Shen Qingqing might get heatstroke when she worked up a sweat.
After playing for most of the class, Shen Qingqing finally seemed to be unable to bear it anymore.
She found some excuse and managed to get away. Then she headed towards the toilet at the back.
Yun Que'er grabbed Ji Chengxuan, "Come on, let's follow her."
The toilet was behind the last row of classrooms, surrounded by half - person - high weeds.
From afar, they could see the weeds swaying slightly.
Since only Shen Qingqing had gone that way, it must be her.
Yun Que'er held her breath and tiptoed up, hiding behind a big tree.
Sure enough, Shen Qingqing couldn't hold it in any longer and started to undo her clothes.
It was a normal thing to do, but when she undid the last button, a strange look flashed in Shen Qingqing's eyes, like hatred.
Then she took off her clothes, revealing a sweat - soaked undershirt.
The undershirt looked old. There were even patches on the shoulders and underarms.
Moreover, it was clearly not a kids' clothes but a modified version of an adult's old clothes.
The modification was very rough. The sleeves were too long, so they were simply cut off without hemming, and the threads were frayed, looking shaggy.
As for the waist and shoulders, they were not tightened at all, so the shirt was loose.
Yun Que'er also happened to see the lining of the coat Shen Qingqing had just taken off. It was a piece of rough red - checked cloth, a style that had been popular many years ago and definitely not something city people would like.
Only then did Yun Que'er realize that although Shen Qingqing dressed neatly on the outside, her inner clothes were shabby. Even the seemingly nice coat might have been picked up from someone else's cast - offs and worn after a botched repair.
Yun Que'er's previous speculation was confirmed. It seemed that Shen Qingqing's family was really not as well - off as she had claimed. This also explained why Teacher Lu wanted to harm Yun Mo Tan.
"Let's go."
Finally, school was over. Yun Que'er saw Shen Qingqing heading towards the teacher's office as soon as she left the classroom. She pulled Ji Chengxuan and hid beside a classroom for senior students nearby.
Soon, Teacher Lu and Shen Qingqing came out.
They left the school and walked westward. It seemed their home was in that direction.
Teacher Lu seemed to be in a bad mood today. She kept silent all the way. Shen Qingqing beside her would say a few words occasionally, but seeing Teacher Lu's gloomy face, she had to shut up.
Yun Que'er followed them from afar and could feel the oppressive atmosphere.
"Don't you think their family is really abnormal?" Yun Que'er said to Ji Chengxuan. "Look, as a mother, she not only fails to set a good example for her daughter but is even more domineering than her. If the upper beam is crooked, how can the lower beam be straight?"
Ji Chengxuan nodded, "And according to what the gatekeeper said, Shen Qingqing has a brother who may never have been to school. She has to stay at home to take care of him. It's really not a normal family."
Yun Que'er was really curious about what their home was like.
As they were talking, they had followed them quite far.
Yun Que'er suddenly noticed something wrong. "Don't you think we've been discovered? Why are they walking into such a remote place?"
"No way." Ji Chengxuan comforted her. "Teacher Lu is clearly absent - minded. She can't even walk straight. How could she notice us? Shen Qingqing's attention is all on Teacher Lu. It's even less likely."
Yun Que'er felt relieved.
So... did they originally live in such a remote place?
Yun Que'er endured and continued to follow them. It was not until it got dark and her legs ached that they finally seemed to arrive home.
It was a tiny yard with only a small house with peeling walls. There was also a sheep pen on the west side.
Why did they live here? Yun Que'er was shocked.
"I heard that the school doesn't provide accommodation for the newly transferred teachers. They have to find their own places to live." Ji Chengxuan explained. "But the school gives them a monthly subsidy, calculated per person. Although it's not a large amount, it's enough for these out - of - town teachers to rent a better house near the school."
Then why did they choose to live so far away and in such a shabby place?
Over there, Teacher Lu led the way in.
She pulled the cord beside the door, and a dim light came on.
Yun Que'er couldn't help but gasp.
Not to mention their current living conditions, even when they were in Yuhe Village, they had never used such a dim light. How poor was their living environment!