Chapter 104 – Being a Woman Is So Damn Annoying

The New Year days were actually pretty boring.

You think about going out to have fun?

It’s the dead of winter, and the wind outside slices your face like knives.

But if you don’t go out…

Then you’re stuck at home like Jiang Ning, being forced to clean the house by Ms. Tian Cuilan, who also hadn’t gone out.

From the bedroom to the living room, from the kitchen to the bathroom.

“Mom, I’m not feeling well, my period’s here…”

“Don’t try to fool your mother—I know it’s not time yet!”

“Mom, I want to do some homework…”

“Finish the chores first, then study!”

“Mom… I’m hungry…”

“You brat, how can mopping the floor bring up so many complaints!”

Tian Cuilan reluctantly got up from the sofa, grumbling as she walked into the kitchen.

Seeing her mother get busy in the kitchen, Jiang Ning leaned against the entryway with a mop in her arms, grinning like a fool.

By then, the costume drama on the TV had already ended, replaced by a legal news report.

“According to our latest update, at the end of December, the city’s Inspection Bureau cracked a major illegal fundraising case.”

“They lured victims with high returns and a pyramid scheme, using in-person gatherings disguised as physical storefronts to attract unsuspecting investors.”

“The ringleader, Chen Moumou, had long maintained a public image of charity and goodwill, but in reality, used these tactics to illegally raise 1.2 billion yuan…”

Chen Moumou…

That had to be Chen Tianhong, right?

Only that guy could get this kind of name-drop treatment from the local news.

Next, the TV started showing footage of arrests at the gatherings.

In one blink-and-you-miss-it shot, Jiang Ning spotted her mom’s boyfriend on-screen.

Also named in the report as one of the mid-level culprits caught—Chen Moumou.

Normally, once someone makes it onto TV like this, it means their final sentence is not far off.

Now, it was just a matter of waiting for the verdict.

But then—As the camera zoomed out, Chen Zhenguo’s side profile got frozen right on the TV screen.

And of course, right then, Mom walked out of the kitchen with a bowl of fried rice in her hands.

Too late to grab the remote.

Her gaze landed squarely on the TV screen—on that face.

Then…

Jiang Ning watched in horror as the bowl slipped from her mom’s hands and smashed onto the floor with a loud crack.

My fried rice…

“Is… is that really him?”

Seeing the dazed disbelief in her mother’s eyes, Jiang Ning sighed, nodded, and bent down to clean up the broken bowl.

One shard, two shards, three…

Just as she picked up the big pieces, her mom unexpectedly crouched down beside her to help.

Expressionless, quietly gathering the shards.

Jiang Ning was stunned.

From what she knew of her mom’s personality, shouldn’t she already be on her way to the detention center to get answers?

Why…

Just as she was wondering—A single drop of clear liquid hit the floor.

Now Jiang Ning felt really awkward.

If it were some random girl tearing up, she could’ve comforted her.

But when it’s your own mom…

If she said the wrong thing, she might get smacked.

So she just crouched there, frozen.

The living room fell into an awkward silence, with only the TV playing in the background.

After a moment, when the biggest shards were picked up…

From where Jiang Ning sat, her mom’s eyes just looked a little red, her mood clearly not great.

Emotional control is a skill too, Jiang Ning thought to herself.

In the following days—Even though her mom mostly stayed home, she remained emotionally low.

Which made Jiang Ning a little down herself.

But there was no helping it.

These things were part of the process.

She’d survived worse in her past life—Jiang Ning didn’t believe this little storm would be enough to break her mom now.

The ninth day of the Lunar New Year.

Thursday.

Clear weather.

Temperature: -3°C to 6°C.

It was the first day of school.

Early in the morning, Tian Cuilan made breakfast, then came into the bedroom to give a long list of reminders to the lump under the blanket.

When that lump mumbled a few “got it” responses, she finally turned and left.

Not long after, a loud bam came from the front door.

Jiang Ning’s pale face poked out from under the blanket.

She called out “Mom” a few times to make sure she was gone.

Then—She flung the blanket off, looked down at the glaring patch of bright red on the bed…

And her face filled with melancholy.

Seriously? Period came early?

And if you’re coming, can’t you send a heads-up first?

Now look what happened!!

Ugh!!

To keep her mom from finding out, Jiang Ning had to crawl out of bed with her cramping belly.

And for the next hour—She went all out cleaning the sheets, mattress, everything.

Scrub, wash, wipe.

Used every method she could think of.

Finally, close to noon, she managed to clean up the whole “crime scene.”

Looking at the fresh, spotless bed, Jiang Ning clutched her aching belly and sighed softly.

Being a woman is so damn annoying.

After lunch—She stuffed her winter homework into her backpack and slung it over her shoulder.

Ugh…

Weak and weary, Jiang Old-Han felt the weight on her shoulders and grimaced.

This wasn’t just homework—it felt like she was carrying her entire winter break with her.

After a few grumbles, Jiang Ning headed out the door.

Outside, the cold wind howled.

Outside the house.

The cold wind was biting.

Even though the sun was shining brightly overhead, Jiang Ning didn’t feel the slightest bit of warmth.

She was biking.

Even with thick gloves on, the piercing wind cut right through, letting her fully experience what winter chill really meant.

It went on for a while.

Just as Miss Jiang was about to start cursing from the cold—She arrived at school.

Then, at the bike shed, when classmates greeted her, Jiang Ning barely responded and made a beeline for her classroom.

Once inside—Feeling the unusually warm air in the classroom,

Miss Jiang finally let out a small sigh of relief.

She returned to her seat.

Seeing Luo Shanshan frantically copying homework, too busy to even say hi, Jiang Ning chuckled to herself.

Then, she reached out her evil little hand toward a certain grapefruit succumbing to gravity.

The next second—Luo Shanshan let out a shriek, equal parts angry and embarrassed.

“Jiang Ning!!”

“Are you trying to die?!”

And just like that, the daily Battle Royale: Jiang the Old Man Edition began again.

But just then—Outside the door, Zhang Shuangshu, Li Duoyong, and several other boys appeared, each carrying a large bag.

They walked up to the podium and slammed the boxes they were holding onto the floor.

A series of heavy thuds: Bang! Bang! Bang!

“What’s that?”
someone asked Zhang Shuangshu.

He patted the dust off himself, flashed a big white-toothed grin, and said cheerfully:

“New school uniforms from the school!”

New uniforms?

The entire class’s attention was drawn to them—including Jiang Ning.

But before she could go take a look—

She heard the unmistakable loudspeaker voice of Sun Qian:

“Wow! It’s pleated skirts!!”

???

Pleated skirts?

Pleated skirts?!

PLEATED SKIRTS!!!

When Old Man Jiang saw a certain female classmate take out that blue-and-white plaid summer skirt—She was completely stunned.

For a long time…

She finally regained some sense.

Actually, Jiang Ning had known that Jiangzhou High had just been upgraded to a provincial key high school during winter break.

There had even been a dedicated TV segment during the New Year interviewing Jiangzhou High’s bald principal about it.

Even though the principal looked quite spirited in the interview, all Jiang Ning remembered was the blinding glare from his shiny bald head…

And the full-school uniform replacement—She knew about that too.

But in her memory, Jiangzhou High only changed to that preppy style uniform—like other provincial key schools—a whole year after she graduated.

So…

When Qi Wen handed her that blue-and-white plaid uniform—Jiang Ning was on the verge of collapse.

Especially when she saw Luo Shanshan already holding up her own summer skirt against her body, trying it on for size.

Old Man Jiang almost went insane.

Because she realized—The skirt was actually above the knee.

Meaning that if she wore this thing in the summer, and took slightly longer steps—There was a high chance someone might discover the shocking truth that her “little brother” had run away from home.

That was a terrifying prospect.

And worst of all, the school uniforms were mandatory—unless there were special circumstances, you had to wear them to school every single day.

Just the thought of the warmer weather coming—And herself having to wear that kind of pleated skirt to school—Sent goosebumps all over Jiang Old Man’s body.

No.

She had to find a way out of this.

At that moment—Class teacher Yang Mei walked in from outside the classroom, holding a notebook, expressionless.

Maybe sensing that Yang Mei was in a bad mood today—The classroom full of students instinctively fell silent.

In just a few seconds—The previously noisy room quieted down completely.

Seeing this—Yang Mei didn’t even mention the uniforms. She just slammed the notebook down onto the podium.

BANG!

The sudden sound startled most of the class.

“What’s going on with you guys?!”

“Last semester’s final exams—our class average dropped by two whole points!”

“Went from seventh place in the whole grade to third from the bottom!”

“Next semester, the classes will be split into humanities and sciences. You think that’s gonna make things easier?!”

“Keep dreaming!!”

“With your current attitude toward studying—Get ready to repeat a year!”

It was rare for Teacher Yang Mei to blow up like this. For a moment, the class was completely silent.

No one even dared to breathe loudly.

After a long pause—Yang Mei coldly said:

“Everyone I name now—follow me to the office!”

“Li Chun!”

“Ma Sucheng!”

“Tang Shengjie!”

“……”

She rattled off about seven or eight names, and just when everyone thought she was done—

She said the last two:

“Zhu Hui…”

“Jiang Ning…”

Huh?

AH?!

Miss Jiang pointed at herself in utter confusion.
(End of chapter)