Chapter 20: Twenty, don’t want to Chapter 20: Twenty, don’t want to The crowd heard the words and were all very happy.
“If anyone dares to bully you once you start school, just drop our names. We’ve got your back.”
“Our basketball team is untouchable in the school, especially Boss Ling.”
“Great!” Song Yan Ning smiled and nodded her head.
“Captain, you guys go back first, we will make sure Heizi gets home.” Chen Jun said to Ling Yu.
Ling Yu turned his head to look at Heizi, saw his face was no longer as pale, and nodded, “Call me later.”
“Sure.” Everyone nodded and watched as Ling Yu and Song Yan Ning walked away.
Ling Yu brought Song Yan Ning back to the Ling Family residence and saw Mr. Ling and Yang Lisheng playing chess in the living room.
“Grandpa, we’re back. How are you feeling now?” Ling Yu asked Mr. Ling with concern. His grandfather had always had back pain these days, especially when getting up in the morning. He had to be helped to walk for a while before he could walk on his own.
He spent some time in the hospital, but it didn’t improve. The doctor said it was a spine problem and that surgery was the only option, but surgery carried a great risk and could very likely result in paralysis.
Mr. Ling turned his head towards Ling Yu, “Much better. Look at you, all sweaty. Go wash your face.” He had great confidence in Old Yang’s medical skill, otherwise, he wouldn’t have asked Old Yang to come and treat him. Through Old Yang’s acupuncture and massage, his back was much better and he could sit for longer periods without the intense pain he used to feel.
“Mmm.” Ling Yu nodded and looked at Song Yan Ning, “Do you want to wash your face?” At first, they didn’t pass the ball to her, but she had run along with them. He noticed she wasn’t gasping for breath from exhaustion as they were, and she hadn’t even sweated much.
“No need.” Song Yan Ning shook her head. She often followed her grandfather to gather herbs in the mountains and had built up her physical strength. Plus, every morning she practiced Tai Chi with him. Tai Chi offers benefits like nurturing temperament, strengthening the body, and combat skills; it’s a form of boxing that balances internal and external, soft and hard, slow and spirited.
Of course, most importantly, her room was filled with low-level spiritual grass. Although the low-level spiritual grass couldn’t break the seal within her body, it nourished her meridians and made her body tough. Now, she wouldn’t feel tired, not even after a marathon run, let alone a basketball game.
“I’ll go wash my face and then come back.” Ling Yu said, heading inside.
Yang Lisheng placed a chess piece on the board and turned to Song Yan Ning, “Xiao Ning, come sit next to grandpa. After I finish this game, I’ll take you to see the school.”
“Mmm.” Song Yan Ning responded and sat down next to Yang Lisheng.
Mr. Ling took a chess piece from the box, considering the positions on the board, and placed his piece down, “Old Yang, have you really not considered what I just said?” He hoped Old Yang’s family would move to the city to live, so it would be more convenient for Song Yan Ning to get to and from school, and he could often play chess and drink tea with Old Yang.
Yang Lisheng smiled and shook his head, “I still prefer living in the countryside, climbing mountains, gathering herbs, it’s nice.” If not, he would have moved back to Beijing with his wife and Xiao Ning long ago.
“Aren’t you worried about her safety going to and from school?” Mr. Ling asked. He saw on the news a few days ago that not far from here, in a village, a three-year-old boy had been kidnapped. The parents and the police searched for several days but found no trace.
Yang Lisheng smiled and shook his head, taking a sip of tea, “No worries, there’s a direct bus to the school at the entrance of our village.” He would get Xiao Ning a bus card soon. Xiao Ning wasn’t an ordinary child; he trusted her completely.
“All right, let me know if you need anything,” Mr. Ling said. His relationship with Old Yang wasn’t an ordinary one.
“Sure!” Yang Lisheng smiled and nodded.
Ling Yu came out and saw that Song Yan Ning and Yang Lisheng were about to leave. He approached them, “Grandpa Yang, are you leaving already?”
Yang Lisheng smiled and nodded, “We’ll come again next time to see you and your grandpa.”
“Okay! Grandpa Yang, let me walk you out.” Ling Yu walked up beside Song Yan Ning and smiled at her, “When you start school, come find me. I’m in class 4-3.” He found that the longer he was with Song Yan Ning, the more he liked her.
“Mmm!” Song Yan Ning smiled and nodded lightly.
After leaving the Ling Family residence, Yang Lisheng first took Song Yan Ning to the bus service center to get her a bus card, then took her to the school.
Since it was summer vacation, there were no teachers or students at school, and the entire campus was deserted and quiet.
Yang Lisheng held Song Yan Ning’s hand as they strolled around the campus, “Xiao Ning, do you like this school?” It was considered one of the best schools in Yang City. Although they couldn’t give Xiao Ning the affection of her parents, they would do everything they could to provide her with the best and ensure she got the best education. Even if she went back to the Song Family later, she wouldn’t be worse off than her sister or brother.
“I like it.” Song Yan Ning nodded. She had previously asked Ling Yu about some details regarding the school.
Yang Lisheng gently ruffled Song Yan Ning’s hair, a hint of distress in his eyes, “Let’s go check out the library over there.” He had thoroughly researched the school when choosing it, so he was quite familiar with the layout.
“Mmm.” Song Yan Ning replied.
As the sun gradually set, the sky was painted red with the afterglow, beautiful and dazzling.
Li Meixiang was preparing dinner when she heard the door opening outside and knew it was Song Yan Ning and Yang Lisheng returning.
“Grandma, we’re back!” Song Yan Ning called into the house.
Li Meixiang wiped her hands on her apron and came out, “Go wash your hands, dinner’s almost ready. Oh, by the way, Old Man, Yufeng called today. He asked us to bring Xiao Ning back for a visit. His grandfather is celebrating his seventieth birthday.”
“Got it.” Yang Lisheng replied coolly. He really was angry with his daughter and son-in-law. Xiao Ning was their daughter, after all, they had never visited her even once, aside from sending some living expenses. Before they sent Xiao Ning to live with them, they used to visit him and his wife often.
Li Meixiang looked at Song Yan Ning and, seeing that her expression hadn’t changed, sighed internally. She approached and lovingly ruffled her hair, “Xiao Ning, tell grandma, do you miss your dad and mom?”
“I don’t.” Song Yan Ning shook her head. She truly didn’t. To her, Song Yufeng and Yang Xing’er were only the parents of her current physical body. They were indifferent to her, so why should she have any feelings for them?