Study System: I'm a 38-Year-Old Student-Chapter 119 - 94: Xu Pipa’s First Barbecue
Men like Shen Qiushan don’t appreciate the so-called slender beauty!
In his view, women should be a bit more voluptuous to be truly attractive.
If they’re too skinny, it’s really not interesting.
As the grilled beef wrapped with sauce was sent into her mouth, Xu Pipa chewed slowly and carefully, afraid to miss any subtle flavor by eating too hastily.
On the other hand, Shen Yixiao was the exact opposite; he was devouring the meat joyously while constantly exclaiming how delicious it was!
"Shen Yixiao, can you eat more like a gentleman? Eating like you do, which girl would ever like you in the future?"
Shen Yanran teased with a look of disgust.
"Sorry, I already have a girlfriend~"
Shen Yixiao boasted, shrugging his shoulders and then smacking his lips provocatively.
"I really can’t understand why Luo Yao would choose you!"
Shen Yanran rolled her eyes.
"I can’t understand why some people say you’re the school flower of our school either!"
"I don’t get how their eyes went blind!"
It was typical sibling banter between the two.
Even Xu Pipa was used to it since similar scenes played out almost every lunch. It would be unusual if they didn’t bicker a bit.
The BBQ meal was enjoyed thoroughly.
However, the price was equally delightful, costing Shen Qiushan 925 yuan!
It equaled nearly the income of two Alliance Leaders.
With one thousand for the two Leaders, after-tax it would just surpass nine hundred.
By the time they left the BBQ restaurant, it was already past eleven.
Lin Xiamo asked Xu Pipa for her home address and decided to take her home first.
The advantage of this timing was that there was no traffic, so within a dozen minutes, Lin Xiamo arrived at the place Xu Pipa mentioned.
This location was quite close to Sanjiang High School, about 1.5 kilometers by foot.
However, this was an urban village overshadowed by tall buildings, with narrow roads that were hard to drive through, especially at this time. The already narrow roads were further squeezed by parked cars on both sides.
"I can walk in from here."
Xu Pipa pointed to a nearby small alley.
Lin Xiamo immediately parked at the alley entrance, turned her head, and glanced down the alley, where it was pitch black with only sparse dotted lights.
"I’ll walk you in."
"And smoke a cigarette along the way."
Shen Qiushan, seeing the worry in Lin Xiamo’s eyes, got out of the car voluntarily.
"Uncle Shen, no need to trouble yourself, I’m used to walking this way."
Xu Pipa said softly after getting out of the car.
"It’s much later than usual at this time."
Shen Qiushan said as he lit a cigarette for himself, and then took the lead into the alley.
Seeing this, Xu Pipa hurried to follow him.
This alley was long and dark, with five or six-story buildings on either side as well as low and broken shanties.
These buildings were self-financed by villagers who demolished small shanties to build five-story buildings, each floor divided into three or four separate rooms for rent.
A single building typically had a dozen or twenty rooms, with the rent being a considerable income each month.
The rest of the shanties were left because those villagers couldn’t afford to build taller buildings.
Later, when they had money and wanted buildings, the policies no longer allowed it, leaving the current situation.
As they walked, Shen Qiushan just silently smoked without saying much, while Xu Pipa walked in the front leading the way.
After walking about 100 meters into the alley, Xu Pipa turned into an even narrower lane.
Looking up, Shen Qiushan noticed this alley was darker than the last, with almost no light at all.
Xu Pipa, prepared, took out a small flashlight to illuminate the path.
Watching the petite figure walking ahead of him, Shen Qiushan couldn’t help but sigh; he used to think raising two kids on his own was tough.
But clearly, there are people having it tougher than him!
Like Little Mushroom Head, Xu Pipa, leading the way.
"Uncle Shen, I’m here."
Xu Pipa stopped in front of a shabby little house.
The house was actually quite big, probably with three rooms and a small courtyard. The courtyard was walled with red bricks, covered with a lot of moss.
The red-painted door was slightly ajar, without any lock.
"Alright, go inside and get some rest."
Shen Qiushan nodded gently.
"See you tomorrow."
Xu Pipa pulled open the door and walked into the courtyard.
But as soon as she stepped inside, she stopped and turned to Shen Qiushan, saying, "Uncle Shen, thank you."
"The BBQ was delicious!"
"I’ll treat you next time!"
Shen Qiushan waved with a smile, "Hurry in now."
Xu Pipa nodded and walked into the shabby little house with a cheerful step.
Moments after, a faint yellow incandescent light came on.
Only then did Shen Qiushan turn to leave.
Inside the room.
Xu Pipa skillfully opened her schoolbag, taking out two exercise books and placing them on her desk.
Her desk, although a bit old, was clearly an expensive purchase back in its day, being solidly built, spacious, and fully equipped with drawers and bookshelves.
Xu Pipa originally planned to work through the exercise books, but she quickly noticed that the third drawer of the desk was slightly ajar.
This drawer had a lock, where Xu Pipa usually kept important things.
Including her bank card.
A sense of foreboding rose in her heart, and she hurriedly pulled open the drawer.
Just as she feared, the bank card tucked inside her journal was gone. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦
Along with it, the 500 yuan she had saved as living expenses vanished too!
Xu Pipa, who had been in a good mood, suddenly had her eyes filled with tears. As smart as she was, she couldn’t not know who had done this!
The tears circled in her eyes, eventually falling down her cheeks one after another...
This was all she had!
Now, Xu Pipa could only hope that her gambling-addicted grandpa hadn’t cracked her bank card’s password.
If so, then it meant losing only 500 yuan!
If her bank card password got cracked by the gambling grandpa, then she would lose everything!
Xu Pipa sniffled hard, wiped away the tears on her face, and sat down at the desk to start her exercises.
She had learned a crucial lesson from a young age.
Crying can’t solve any problems!
Except for expressing emotions, it serves no purpose.
The lost money won’t return just because a few tears are shed.
A hungry stomach won’t be filled by wailing cries; rather, crying tends to make one feel hungrier.
Tears are the least useful things.
They are the least valuable as well!
Even if she cried for a whole day and night, the world wouldn’t change a bit.
Grandpa would still be that gambling addict!
Her dad would still be the madman locked up in a psychiatric hospital!
She dried her tears.
And went back to solving the exercises.
Xu Pipa knew that to defy the odds and change her fate, she had to solve every problem in these exercise books.
If others slept six hours a day,
Then she would sleep for three.
If others did 50 problems a day,
She would do 100!
The stars do not question those who hasten, and time does not disappoint those who persevere!
Xu Pipa firmly believed that her hard work and efforts would eventually pay off!
It was unclear how long had passed.
From the yard came a loud clatter.
Followed by a man’s cursing voice: "Damn it, who left a brick here!"
Xu Pipa put down her pen and angrily walked out of her room.
At that moment, the front door opened from outside, and a skinny old man entered; it was her grandfather, Xu Zhengyi.
Despite having a name meaning "justice", this Old Xu didn’t have a hint of justice in him.
Seeing Xu Pipa, he guiltily asked, "Pipa, why aren’t you asleep so late?"
"Give it to me!!"
Xu Pipa extended her small hand, glaring fiercely at Xu Zhengyi.
"What?"
Xu Zhengyi played dumb.
"The bank card!"
Xu Pipa spat out the three words angrily.
"I didn’t take it!"
"What bank card?"
Xu Zhengyi shook his head, acting all innocent.
"Give it to me!!"
Without wasting words, Xu Pipa stepped forward and directly reached into his jacket pocket.
The bank card was indeed inside.
"Is the money still there?"
Holding the bank card, Xu Pipa’s eyes showed a complex mix of despair and hope.
