She Wants to Divorce Me

Chapter 53

The hardware store at the village entrance had various tools. This trip depleted half of their spare change, leaving almost nothing. Without any income, they could forget about snacks; they might even have to tighten their belts. Seeing Chang Yu's setup, it seemed she wouldn't be going out. Ji Yaoguang checked some messages on her phone, a pleased smile spreading across her face. She waved to Chang Yu, saying, "I'm off to earn money!"

The elementary school fan she met last time was more helpful than expected. In no time, people had added the contact information she left, saying they needed the love letter writing service. The prices were already agreed upon; if they didn't stand her up, she would have a "windfall" today.

"Where are you going?" Chang Yu put down her tools and looked up to ask.

"To write love letters for people," Ji Yaoguang smiled, holding her phone up to Chang Yu, quite proudly saying, "Look, this one, this one, and this one, they all need letters written. One even paid a ten-yuan deposit!" Although it was brain work, it was Ji Yaoguang's forte. Years of study had finally found a use, and compared to the exhaustion of carrying bricks at a construction site, wasn't this much happier?

Chang Yu asked again, "Where do you plan to go?"

Ji Yaoguang replied, "Not too far, I've set up at the small open area by the inn's entrance. They're all locals, so it should be easy to find."

She would set up a table and chair, borrow some writing materials from the innkeeper, and since her calligraphy wasn't great, she'd have Jiang Yusheng make a copy. Chang Yu hadn't touched her small woodworking projects for a long time. Given this rare opportunity, Ji Yaoguang naturally wouldn't disturb her, though in her heart she preferred Chang Yu to come along. Suppressing a disappointed sigh, Ji Yaoguang smiled at Chang Yu and left the room.

Liu Ran, who had been waiting at the door like a sentry, quickly followed with his camera, occasionally looking back for signs of Chang Yu. These two had always been together, so why was Ji Yaoguang alone today?

"Teacher Ji," Jiang Yusheng, who was feeding cats in the courtyard, saw Ji Yaoguang come out. Like Liu Ran, she looked left and right, blinking her lively eyes as if asking about Chang Yu's whereabouts. Of course, her innate shyness made her blush and become flustered after just calling out those three words, let alone saying anything else.

"Little Sheng, how's your handwriting?" Among the other six guests on the show, Jiang Yusheng was the most amenable. Looking at the cute little fan before her, Ji Yaoguang's face also bore a pleasant smile. She softened her tone and asked gently.

Startled by Ji Yaoguang's sudden familiarity, Jiang Yusheng clutched the hem of her clothes, uneasy and nervous. She sneaked a glance at Ji Yaoguang and stammered, "It's... it's okay."

"OK!" Ji Yaoguang snapped her fingers, like a small team leader, responding with authority, "Then come with me." Jiang Yusheng, who saw Ji Yaoguang as her idol, naturally didn't ask any questions, her face full of delight, following like a little tail. Suddenly deprived of food, Siren meowed in protest, bounding to Ji Yaoguang's feet and circling her legs. Unfortunately, this was an owner who never fully embraced her responsibilities, offering only a heartless "Go!"

While moving tables and chairs, Jiang Yusheng learned the whole process from Ji Yaoguang. She didn't need to do much, just copy what Ji Yaoguang wrote. Back in school, she had admired this senior's talent, and now to see her write in person, how could she not be excited? Her face flushed, she trotted with the chair, not even hearing Bian Yuting's voice.

Long ago, Meng Village was quite backward, with very few literate people. Only one teacher would occasionally sit at the village entrance, helping people write or read letters when asked, and when no one needed help, he would read his blue-covered book, nodding and swaying. Ji Yaoguang's current setup greatly resembled that of the old teacher. Today happened to be a weekend, with students from nearby schools on holiday at home. After waiting a while, the elementary school student indeed came as promised, followed by two fashionably dressed girls in their late teens.

"Goddess, these are my sisters. They need love poems written!" The young fan's eyes sparkled, shouting even before getting close. Her two fashionable sisters, surely more worldly, turned their appraising gazes between Ji Yaoguang and Jiang Yusheng.

Ji Yaoguang could see right through their thoughts, wondering why Chang Yu wasn't there and which online rumors were true. Their love for gossip wrestled with their innate simplicity, but they ultimately showed politeness, restraint, and self-control. They took out some peach-colored stationery from their bags and stated their requirements. When they finally asked Ji Yaoguang for an autograph, they glanced at her nervously.

"No problem," Ji Yaoguang readily agreed. Now her customers weren't just fans, but patrons. For them, a love poem necessarily included the name of their beloved, focusing on an acrostic rather than overall poetic flavor. Ji Yaoguang pondered for a moment before starting to write on draft paper, while Jiang Yusheng rested her chin on her hands, gazing at her adoringly, occasionally blinking with a look that said, "How amazing is my goddess?"

"Thank you, goddess. We won't badmouth you online anymore," the two sisters said in unison, happily accepting the peach-colored letters. They took out twenty yuan from their bags and handed it to Ji Yaoguang before turning and leaving excitedly. The elementary school fan bounced away, her two pigtails swaying in the wind, suddenly turning back to wave at Ji Yaoguang before disappearing.

After these people left, the love letter writing stall was quiet for a while before someone else came to inquire. The girl, seemingly in her twenties, had sweet dimples when she smiled. After asking a few questions, she looked hesitant and conflicted, stepping away as if to leave, but then returning. Just then, Chang Yu's voice reached Ji Yaoguang's ears. Jiang Yusheng had the biggest reaction, jumping away from Ji Yaoguang's side like a startled rabbit. She had a deep-seated fear of Chang Yu, and using the excuse of an appointment with Bian Yuting, she quickly ran back into the inn without lingering.

Chang Yu lowered her gaze and sat beside Ji Yaoguang, touching her own face and asking casually, "Am I that scary? Why does Yusheng react like that when she sees me?"

"I don't know," Ji Yaoguang shook her head and then asked, "Why did you come out?"

"Felt stuffy, came out for some air," Chang Yu snorted, "What, am I disturbing you and the young girl?"

"What young girl?" Ji Yaoguang narrowed her eyes and chuckled, putting the money she earned from selling her writing skills into Chang Yu's pocket before turning to look at the hesitating young woman, "Miss, what would you like written?"

"I—" The young woman had been staring at Chang Yu since she appeared, watching her dip the wolf-hair brush in ink and write the character "Yao" over and over on the paper. She seemed moved. After pondering for a moment, she said softly, "I don't know. I want to write something to my first love, but I haven't seen her in a long time. I heard she's still single, but I'm not sure about the details."

Ji Yaoguang chuckled, "Need help?"

"Then I'll trouble Teacher Ji and Teacher Chang," the young woman paused, lowering her eyes to express thanks.

Ji Yaoguang didn't start writing. She reached out to nudge Chang Yu, looking at her profile and humming softly:

"Closely examining ink marks on red letter paper,

Five or seven character lines, always fresh.

Past events suddenly dreamed without reason,

Where to express these hidden feelings of parting?

Visiting old places, asking neighbors,

Learning you're still unattached.

Once you called me a peerless talent,

Now where do I rank in your heart?"

Ji Yaoguang spoke slowly, this "Partridge Sky" poem lingering on her lips. Her voice was clear and pleasant, like a song that touched the heart. Soon after she finished speaking, Chang Yu also put down her brush, blowing on the ink marks on the paper, and said softly, "It's done."

The young woman's eyes lit up. She took the poem from Chang Yu's hand, hesitated for a moment, then timidly asked, "Teacher Chang, could I trouble you for an autograph too?" She was Chang Yu's fan, with various posters collected at home. She was merely surprised to see Ji Yaoguang, but Chang Yu's appearance was a pleasant shock. Chang Yu's online presence showed coolness and distance, but seeing her in person, she found her more approachable than imagined. Happily accepting the autograph, the young woman directly took out a hundred-yuan note from her bag and handed it to Chang Yu.

It seems that good looks add value to business.

Ji Yaoguang chuckled, her eyes sparkling: "Teacher Chang, I want an autograph too."

Chang Yu turned to look at her and replied calmly, "Alright." She picked up the brush she had set aside and leaned close to Ji Yaoguang, quickly writing two characters on her face. A ticklish sensation spread from where the brush touched her skin. Ji Yaoguang frowned, reaching out to touch it.

"What did you write?"

"Don't wipe it off," Chang Yu snorted lightly, "Didn't you ask for an autograph yourself?"