Chapter 253 - 181: Lu Fan Offers an Irresistible High-Paying Job

Chapter 253: Chapter 181: Lu Fan Offers an Irresistible High-Paying Job

Jiang Yixia sounded a little helpless. "Maybe people will forget about this in a few days. You don’t have to worry about it so much."

"But I can’t take it anymore," Jiang Ming said, sounding aggrieved. "The way they look at me, it’s like they think I’m a regular at those kinds of places, but I’ve never been to one in my life. They think I hooked up with the massage therapist during a foot massage, we started dating, and then I just kicked her to the curb after I got what I wanted."

Hearing her brother out, Jiang Yixia tried to console him. "Alright, if that’s the case... what are you planning to do?"

"I want to take some time off. I’ve already bought a ticket home and I’m leaving in a bit. I’ll explain everything to Mom and Dad when I get there," Jiang Ming replied.

"And after your break, do you still want to be a teacher?" Jiang Yixia asked.

’She knew her brother didn’t actually like being a teacher—especially not a PE teacher who, in his students’ eyes, was always calling in sick.’

’But the pressure of life is so immense these days.’

’Being a teacher at least provides a stable job. If he’s not a teacher, what else can he do?’

Jiang Ming answered, "I don’t want to do it anymore. I’ll find some other line of work, but I have no idea what."

Jiang Yixia hesitated for a moment before tentatively asking, "Do you want me to ask someone for you?"

Jiang Ming knew exactly who she was talking about.

He shook his head. "Sis, I know who you mean. I don’t want to put you in an awkward position. Besides, he hurt you and our family so much. I don’t want to have to grovel and forgive him just because he gets me a job."

"Those are two separate things," Jiang Yixia explained. "Don’t worry, he wouldn’t use this to guilt-trip me. After all, you helped out a lot with taking care of Silu and Sifan back then. I’m sure he understands that."

Jiang Ming still refused. "I’m going to head home first. We can talk about it in a couple of days."

He waved. "Sis, I’m heading out then."

"Okay. Be careful on your way."

After Jiang Ming left, Jiang Yixia couldn’t help but worry.

’Her brother was already so introverted. After this incident, he’d probably be even more afraid to pursue girls in the future.’

’And now that he’s quit his job, his future prospects look a little bleak.’

’Jiang Yixia didn’t know what to do either.’

Leaving the flower shop, Jiang Ming soon boarded a bus back to his hometown in the countryside.

After a journey of over an hour, he arrived at the entrance to his village.

An older woman at the village entrance saw Jiang Ming and stared for a couple of seconds before breaking into a grin and waving. "Mingzai! What brings you back today? You’re free?"

Jiang Ming gave an awkward laugh and explained, "I got a few days off, so I came back to see my parents."

"Aiya, Mingzai, you’re such a good son," the woman said, nodding in approval. She then pointed toward the village. "Your parents just got back from the fields. You should hurry on home."

"Okay. I hope you’re keeping well, Auntie?"

"Yes, yes, yes, everything’s fine."

"Then I’ll be on my way."

When Jiang Ming got home, his mother, Pan Lanfang, who was busy with chores, froze in surprise.

She immediately broke into a surprised smile. "Son, what are you doing back?"

Seeing his mother after trying to make it in the big city, Jiang Ming felt a surge of grievance. "Mom," he called out.

Pan Lanfang quickly called towards the inner room, "Dear, our son is back!"

Hearing the commotion, an old man with a dark, weathered face walked out of the inner room.

He looked at Jiang Ming, a hint of joy on his face, but compared to his wife, Pan Lanfang, Jiang Guoqiang’s expression was a bit more composed. "You’re back."

Jiang Ming looked at his father, Jiang Guoqiang. "Dad."

Pan Lanfang stroked Jiang Ming’s face, her heart aching for him. "How come you’ve gotten thinner working in the big city? And you... it’s only an hour or so by bus, but you haven’t been back to see us in over two months."

Jiang Guoqiang retorted, "Our son is busy with work, not like you, just sitting around the countryside all day. The neighbor’s kid only comes back once a year."

"Mom, Dad, it’s my fault. I was planning to come back a while ago, but things got busy at school and I was held up," Jiang Ming said quickly.

’It wasn’t that he didn’t want to come back. It was that every time he did, his mother, Pan Lanfang, would brag about him to all the neighbors.’

’Anyone who didn’t know better would think he’d already been promoted to department head at his school in the big city.’

"Quick, quick, come inside with Mom. Come in and have some water."

Pan Lanfang pulled Jiang Ming back into the house.

His father, Jiang Guoqiang, looked at his son’s expression and felt that he had something he wanted to say.

So, after the three of them sat down, Jiang Guoqiang asked, "Son, it’s not the weekend. Why are you back?"

Pan Lanfang poured Jiang Ming a glass of water and chimed in as she handed it to him, "That’s right, it’s not the weekend. How come you’re back?"

"Dad, Mom... I... I quit my job at the school," Jiang Ming finally said after a moment of hesitation.

The moment Pan Lanfang heard this, she became agitated. "Why? It was such a good job as a teacher, how could you just quit?"

"Why would you do that? Your father and I had to pull so many strings just to get you that interview!" she said, growing more and more upset.

Although Jiang Guoqiang was also baffled, he signaled to Pan Lanfang. "Let the boy finish talking. You’re always in such a rush."

Pan Lanfang had no choice but to fall silent and look at Jiang Ming again.

Jiang Ming sighed and explained what had happened with the blind date and the massage therapist.

Upon hearing this, Pan Lanfang became furious. "What is wrong with Third Sister? How could she set someone up without doing a background check first? How could she introduce a girl like that to Jiang Ming? No, this won’t do. I’m going to go have it out with her right now."