Chapter 81: A Meal
At Zhang Wenda’s words, Teacher Rabbit’s pricked-up ears drooped slightly. "You haven’t left this thought-stream yet, which proves you’re still trapped here. I want to help you. Whether it’s leaving this place or escaping the control, I can help."
"I can handle it myself. I can handle it. I don’t need your help."
Zhang Wenda looked at Teacher Rabbit with a complicated expression. He knew he meant well, but he really didn’t want to cause him trouble, especially since he knew Teacher Rabbit was already having a hard time.
’The place I’m heading to next is extremely dangerous. And because I know he’s good to me, I absolutely cannot drag him into this.’
"I regret that I was never able to help with the rule punishment you received." Teacher Rabbit took a lollipop from his pocket and offered it to Zhang Wenda again.
Zhang Wenda didn’t take it, pushing it back. "I know. You’re just a teacher, and you have to follow the teacher’s rules. You can’t interfere in my family’s affairs. I don’t blame you. Besides, you wouldn’t be able to convince them anyway."
Things he once couldn’t understand, Zhang Wenda was now gradually beginning to grasp. Teachers had their own rules. It meant that even if they understood what was tormenting him, they were powerless to stop it.
"Teacher Rabbit." Zhang Wenda looked at him seriously. "I really appreciate your concern. It’s rare to see a teacher with such professional integrity these days. But you’re a teacher, and I’m not a student anymore. You’ve fulfilled your obligation. You can go take care of other students. You don’t need to come looking for me anymore."
Teacher Rabbit watched Zhang Wenda quietly. "You want to resist the rules that bind you all by yourself? Or, to put it another way, you want to resist your parents?"
"That’s right. And I know what you’re going to say. Don’t give me any platitudes about communication being a bridge. I can’t communicate with them! I can’t even understand what they’re saying!"
Zhang Wenda clenched his fists tightly. "I won’t and I don’t want to understand how they think. Right now, I only understand one thing: I have to be stronger than them! That’s the only way I can break free from them completely!"
"Can you really do it?"
"I can do it. I have a lead now. I can get rid of this rule punishment in a week at most."
"I’ll help you."
"I already told you, I don’t need your help!" Zhang Wenda’s voice rose. "Why do you insist on helping me? I can do it alone! I’ve been on my own my whole life! And haven’t I been doing just fine?!"
Zhang Wenda stared at him, breathing heavily. After calming himself slightly, he spoke, "Teacher Rabbit, I’ve actually always respected you. I hope you can respect me, too. When someone needs help and you help them, that’s called helping. When someone doesn’t need your help and you force it on them, that’s not helping. That’s control! Just like my parents."
"I really don’t want it to come to that. I’m sorry, Teacher Rabbit. This is the last time I’ll call you Teacher Rabbit. Goodbye."
With that, Zhang Wenda turned and left.
Teacher Rabbit watched Zhang Wenda’s retreating back and spoke slowly, "Wenda’s guardian, this is the current problem. He rejects me and doesn’t want my help. I hope that you, as his elder, can persuade him."
A voice came from behind Teacher Rabbit. "The kid’s still as stubborn as a mule. A true nephew of mine. If he doesn’t want to study, then let him be. I didn’t study much either, and I’m getting by just fine."
Teacher Rabbit continued to watch Zhang Wenda’s fading figure. "It’s not just about his studies. That’s the least of his problems. There’s a great shadow in his heart, but he can’t see it himself. I’m afraid he won’t be able to accept it when he finds out the truth, just like me, all those years ago."
"Like you? Aren’t you doing just fine now?"
Teacher Rabbit ignored him, wheeling a nearby bicycle as he turned to leave. "There’s no need for me to tell you."
Zhang Wenda didn’t see Teacher Rabbit at all the next day. Guessing that he had probably given up, he breathed a small sigh of relief.
Whatever happened next, good or bad, he would have to bear it alone.
"Here. The money we earned today." As the sun set, an exhausted Song Jianguo, with a group of cats in tow, handed 3.60 over to him.
"Only this much?"
Before Song Jianguo could get angry, Zhang Wenda placed a purple fifty-cent bill and a ten-cent coin in her hand. "Here. Your wages for today."
"For real? Money for me?" Song Jianguo’s eyes lit up as she looked at her earnings. This was the first time she had ever seen money, and what’s more, it was money she had earned herself.
"Of course. Since my aunt told me to be nicer to you, I have to be nicer to you. Sigh, I’m just too kind-hearted. I’m not cut out to be a boss." Back to his usual self, Zhang Wenda stuffed the three dollars into his pocket as he spoke.
"MEOW MEOW MEOW!" The black cats gathered around, stacking on top of each other until they formed the shape of a fish.
Although the cats couldn’t speak, Zhang Wenda understood what they meant. It was time to keep the promise he had made to them. He had, in fact, promised these cats before.
"You’ve been hunting mice all day, and you’re still not full?" Zhang Wenda waved his hand in resignation. "Let’s go, we’ve got money now! I’ll take you out to a restaurant for some fish!"
Both Song Jianguo and the cats cheered at once.
After everything that had happened recently, with several narrow escapes from death, Zhang Wenda really did need to take them out for a proper celebration.
Although prices were low in the children’s world, a no-holds-barred feast would still be quite expensive.
Inside a small restaurant not far from the school, watching Song Jianguo and the black cats wolfing down their food, Zhang Wenda glanced at the piles of fish bones and couldn’t help but start calculating in his head whether three dollars would be enough.
Zhang Wenda had actually ordered eight dishes, but now the entire square table was covered with empty plates. The fish, meat, and egg dishes were their favorites, disappearing the moment they hit the table.
"Boss! Another braised fish!" Song Jianguo yelled at the top of her lungs, holding up a fish skeleton picked clean.
Zhang Wenda picked up his bowl and began to eat a piece of lotus root. "Go ahead and eat. If we don’t have enough money, we’ll just leave you here as collateral."
"Stingy! I have money!" Song Jianguo said, waving the 60 cents in her hand.
Soon, a plate of braised fish came out, steaming aromatically. The restaurant waiter saw the circle of green eyes around the table and didn’t dare get close. The plate hadn’t even touched the table before even the sauce was gone.
But soon, a glistening roasted suckling pig was brought to the table, making Song Jianguo’s eyes light up with hunger.
This stunned Zhang Wenda. He glanced at the prices on the restaurant wall and saw that a roasted suckling pig actually cost two dollars! With all the previous dishes, they were already way over budget!
He quickly spoke up, "You must have the wrong table! I didn’t order a roasted suckling pig!"
Just as Zhang Wenda finished speaking, more meat dishes were brought out, one plate after another.
Seeing these dishes, he started to panic. All this food had to cost at least eight dollars!
"Wait, stop! All of you, stop! I didn’t order any of this!"