Being Sold Like A Cabbage

"Mom, don't talk nonsense. Shen Lin might already have a wife or a girlfriend." 

"No, he doesn't. A few days ago, your Aunt Wang told me that Shen Lin is still single."

"Damn it." Zhou Xia suddenly felt like she was being sold in the market like a cabbage by her own mother. "Did you tell Aunty Wang about me too?" she asked.

Wu Yanqing suddenly choked. She pretended to cough a few times and lowered her head to avoid looking at Zhou Xia. "It's nothing. We're just exchanging our experiences and thoughts as mothers of two marriageable young kids."

Zhou Xia was completely convinced. Judging from Wu Yanqing's expression, she must have told Shen Lin's mother everything about her. Perhaps, she would be the one to try to match her with Shen Lin next time.

"Mom, I'm so busy with Chen Xie's matter that I don't have the time or mood to date. Besides, our family is in such a mess now. You should be more concerned about my dad and worry about my relationship later."

Wu Yanqing wanted to say something, but when she saw Zhou Xia's unhappy expression, she did not dare to say anything. After all, she was the one who had pushed Zhou Xia and Chen Xie to be together, but it had turned into a farce in the end. Their family couldn't live a good life anymore.

"Xiaxia, it's my fault. I won't try to match you randomly again." Wu Yanqing's heart was filled with regret for her daughter.

Zhou Xia could feel her mother's depression and could not bear to blame her anymore. She comforted her. "Mom, you didn't do anything wrong. You're doing this for my own good, but you don't have to worry about my marriage. I'm earning my doctorate degree, and I'm still abled. I can find a partner easily, can't I?"

"Ah, if you didn't say that, I wouldn't be so worried. It's your doctorate degree that I'm worried about. You'll be in your thirties by the time you graduate."

Zhou Xia was a little speechless. "When I said I wanted to continue my studies, didn't you and my dad agree happily?"

"It's indeed necessary to study more," Wu Yanqing said earnestly. "But as a girl, the best times of your life are only those few years. It's also important to find someone you can spend the rest of your life with."

Zhou Xia pretended to complain. "Mom, don't be too greedy. You can't expect me to make a name for myself and also help my husband and raise my children. I can't do that."

Wu Yanqing looked at Zhou Xia and sighed deeply. Now that things had come to this, she could only take things one step at a time. As Zhou Xia dragged her upstairs, Wu Yanqing nagged, "It was all your teacher's fault back then. She kept telling me that dating would affect your studies. It's all good now."

Zhou Xia looked at her mother helplessly. She suddenly recalled that when her classmates found out that she and Shen Lin were together, they told on her. The teacher was so angry that she asked them to go to the office to talk. The teacher ranted on. 

Zhou Xia and Shen Lin lowered their heads in silence. At that time, Zhou Xia felt that she was innocent. After all, she did not think that she was in a relationship with Shen Lin. She thought that they were just acting for her revenge. Therefore, she didn't care at all about the great principles that her teacher mentioned. 

Her teacher reminded them to avoid being mindful of trivial things. Otherwise, they might neglect important matters. She also emphasized that there are things that should be given focus at each stage of life. More importantly, she warned that they would regret it for the rest of their lives if they didn't study hard. 

Zhou Xia had to take one step at a time in her own life, and it wasn't something that could be arranged with a few words from a teacher. Moreover, her purpose was very simple. Shen Lin had caused her to drop out of the top three in the class. She wanted to make Shen Lin's grades drop too.

Zhou Xia didn't want to hear the teacher's ramblings, but she never showed it on her face. She only swore in her heart. No matter how much her teacher tried to persuade her, she turned a deaf ear. It wasn't until the teacher couldn't take it anymore and ordered her to bring her parents to school that she started to panic.

At that time, Wu Yanqing and Zhou Cheng had been very strict with her. If they knew that she was in a relationship, she would be skinned alive.

Shen Lin, who had been keeping his head down and not explaining, suddenly interrupted the teacher. "Teacher, can you only ask my mother to come over?"

The teacher was so angry that she slammed the table. "No! Both of your parents must come here! Shen Lin, I don't want to criticize you, but you're still protecting her at this time! Do you think this is a fairy tale where a hero saves a beauty?! The two of you should break up immediately for the benefit of each other!"

Shen Lin was neither humble nor arrogant. He said slowly, "Teacher, I'm the one who likes her and pesters her. It has nothing to do with her."