I didn't know how to comfort her, so I could only say, "You're very brave."
She was indeed brave, willing to leave a man like that behind.
She gently patted the little girl's head and introduced her.
"This is Chen Nan, my daughter."
I smiled and nodded.
"Nan Nan, this is Sister Liu Shang."
The little girl sweetly called out to me, "Sister Liu Shang."
She was adorable.
"From today on, she will be your tutor."
The girl nodded.
"Okay."
I began to help Chen Nan with her homework.
She was a bit careless but very smart; she grasped things quickly.
After finishing the homework, as I was about to leave, Chen Qian called out to me.
" teacher Liu, why don't you stay for dinner?"
I thought for a moment but decided to decline.
"No, Aunt Chen, I'll just eat at home."
She quickly insisted, "That won't do! You came to help my daughter with her homework; it's only right for me to treat you to a meal."
Without giving me a chance to refuse, she pulled me toward the dining table.
"You are my invited tutor; you’re like family here, so don’t be polite—just treat it like your own home."
She enthusiastically served me food.
"Come on, eat more."
"Thank you, Auntie."
She served me a large shrimp.
"Don't mention it, you're too thin; you need to eat more."
She enthusiastically helped herself to my bowl, just like my mother used to do.
For some reason, I suddenly felt like crying.
I used to have a mother who would also serve me food in my bowl.
But ever since I went to college, she hasn't called me or sent me any money.
By the time the meal was over, my bowl was piled high with food.
"Thank you, Aunt Chen."
"You're welcome, teacher Liu. You should come over more often."
I smiled and nodded.
"Sure."
As I left her house, I couldn't help but glance back.
The lights were bright and welcoming.
I knew that even a stranger could be kind to me.
But why couldn't my own family treat me well?
Thanks to Chen Qian's introduction, I took on a new tutoring job.
This student's grades improved rapidly after the midterm exams.
Chen Qian was very pleased with my performance and helped me negotiate a higher rate.
I'm now earning sixty yuan an hour.
I tutor every weekend and can make about thirteen hundred a month.
With the money I earn from my part-time job at the cafeteria, I make around eighteen hundred each month.
This money is enough for me to maintain my daily life.
I let out a sigh of relief.
My student loan has arrived, and I have some extra money, so I’m saving it up. During the winter break, I stayed at school and worked as a substitute teacher for a tutoring institution, earning four thousand over the break. My dad said he would come to see me, but I haven’t seen him yet. He might be close to retirement and doesn’t want to stir up trouble.
After school started, I quit my part-time job at the cafeteria but continued with my delivery pickup service job. I already have repeat customers, earning a stable income of over thirty dollars each day. To thank my roommates for their care last semester, I took them out to eat. They always look out for my self-esteem and often ask me to pick up packages for them. I know they treat me like a little sister and take care of me intentionally or unintentionally.
Since leaving home, I've only encountered good people. In the second semester of my freshman year, my life has improved significantly. I no longer need to do housework in exchange for breakfast, nor do I get scolded by my parents every time I ask for tuition fees. I can share milk tea with my roommates and treat myself a little better within my means.
In my sophomore year, I decided to start a partnership with my roommate Ningning.
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