Glancing at Kong Soo-ah, who had her head lowered, she never expected that a delinquent girl would live in Garibong-dong, Guro District, which is relatively remote and is one of the poorest areas in Seoul.
Most of the people living there, especially young people, are embarrassed to admit that they live there, just like many young people will go to Gangnam District to take a few photos and post them on social networking sites, lying that they live in Gangnam District.
Same.
Although the district covers an area of 30 hectares and is only separated from other districts by a road, it is completely hidden under the prosperity of Seoul. In 1988, Seoul hosted the Olympic Games. In order to beautify the city, the government relocated some of the poorest residents in Seoul.
When it comes to Guro District, most of the residents in the district are coolies or casual workers, and many are jobless vagrants who make a living by scavenging, especially the elderly.
Garibong-dong is the largest and poorest neighborhood in Guro District. It is home to tens of thousands of immigrants, or foreigners whose ancestors were immigrants. Most of them are Chinese, and there are an equal number of local Koreans. They all have a
The common characteristic is that they are poor, have no extraordinary academic qualifications or skills, can only do some relatively cheap labor, struggle to survive in a prosperous metropolis, live a life that can be seen at a glance, and place all their hopes for the future.
For my children, I hope that they will study hard, get into a good university, then work for a big company or the government, climb up the ladder step by step, and eventually become successful, leave the poverty and backwardness of Guro District, and move to a prosperous place where the upper class gathers.
It is best to live in the most prosperous Jiangnan District, and be neighbors with those powerful people.
Seoul is bustling at night. An old bus is driving along the street. In the simple carriage, Yuan Xudong and Kong Xiuya are sitting side by side. Yuan Xudong is sitting on the side near the aisle, and Kong Xiuya is sitting inside.
, close to the window, she was curling her mouth and saying unhappily:
"Hey, Mr. Prosecutor, can you stop being so stingy? You can take a taxi when you take those two beautiful sisters home, but you can take a bus when you take me home. Isn't this too different?"
"Otherwise? Do you want to sit in the police car?"
After glaring at Kong Xiuya, Yuan Xudong leaned back on his seat, closed his eyes, and said:
"Taxis in Seoul are so expensive, and you live far away. Taking a taxi costs tens of thousands of won, but taking a bus only costs two thousand won. The price difference is ten or twenty times. Why should I waste my money?"
"Hmph, stingy!"
With a snort, and seeing Yuan Xudong closing his eyes and ignoring her, Kong Xiuya waved her fist at him a few times, then turned her head and looked out the window, supporting her body with her right hand against the lower edge of the window, and touching the window with her left hand.
On the glass, he stared at the lights and feasting on the street in a daze. He didn't know whether he was thinking about something or not thinking about anything at all. He was just in a daze, thinking about a way out.
As time goes by, some old buses stop and go. After crossing a six-lane highway, the bustling streets and tall buildings outside the bus window suddenly disappear from view, replaced by old streets and dilapidated low-rise buildings.
, Guro District is here. A six-lane highway runs between prosperity and poverty. On both sides of the highway, it is like two completely different worlds. Prosperity and poverty are clearly distinct. It is difficult to imagine that there is such a poor and backward place in the economically prosperous city of Seoul.
.
"Ding dong, we have arrived at Qingchunyuan Community in Garifengdong, Guro District. Passengers who want to get off the bus, please be prepared!"
Looking at the familiar street outside the car window, Kong Xiuya came back to her senses, a smile burst out unconsciously on her face, and even her eyes became lively. She pushed Yuan Xudong, who had closed his eyes to rest, and reminded:
"Hey, wake up quickly, we have to get off the car!"
"Reached?"
Yuan Xudong opened his eyes and looked out the window. Seeing that he seemed to have just woken up, Kong Xiuya couldn't help but rolled her eyes and complained in her mouth a few words. Yuan Xudong didn't care. After the bus stopped,
He followed Kong Xiuya out of the car and started walking towards her home.
Soon after, Kong Xiuya's home arrived. It was an old residential building with no elevator. The large rusty iron door at the entrance to the stairwell was also open and rusty. Anyone could come in and out at will. The walls on both sides of the stairs were covered with
There are colorful small advertisements, and even some blatant advertisements for special services. It is unclear whether the information above is true or false.
After a casual glance, Yuan Xudong walked upstairs. Before he could take a few steps, Kong Xiuya, who was lagging behind, grabbed his clothes, lowered her head and whispered in shame:
"My family lives down there."
"What?"
Yuan Xudong didn't hear clearly, and Kong Xiuya didn't continue to explain. She turned around and walked downstairs. It turned out that after entering the residential building, Yuan Xudong habitually walked upstairs. After all, it was the first floor, but he didn't expect that he could continue going upstairs.
Walking down, Kong Xiuya’s home is on the first floor of this residential building.
Following Kong Xiuya, she walked into the house. It was a basement of about sixty square meters. It was dark and humid, with no windows. There was only an exposed vent leading to the outside, separated by an iron fence, and a milky-white fluorescent light that kept flickering hung from the ceiling.
Stick lamp, the room was filled with cardboard boxes, mineral water bottles and other recyclable garbage that could be sold to the waste recycling station for money. She found a bench and wiped it for Yuan Xudong to sit down. Kong Xiuya walked around the waste paper boxes and the toilet filled with beverage bottles.
Snakeskin Bag walked to a bedroom, knocked on the door gently and said:
"Grandma, I'm back, are you asleep?"
"My little darling is back, grandma will open the door for you!"
There was a sound of footsteps, the shabby door creaked open, and an old woman with a face full of vicissitudes of life walked out of the bedroom, with a pair of reading glasses hanging around her neck, wearing a pair of gray and white shabby clothes, walking excitedly
When she came to Kong Xiuya, she wanted to reach out and touch her face. However, she noticed the calluses and stains on her hands and wanted to retract her hand. Kong Xiuya quickly took her right hand, put it on her face, caressed her face and said coquettishly:
"Grandma, have you eaten?"
"Have you eaten? Have you eaten? Have you eaten?"
"Well, I ate in the school cafeteria and ate two large pieces of delicious and cheap fried pork chops!"
"That's good. You are growing, but you can't starve yourself!"
Noticing the bright red dress Kong Xiuya was wearing and the heavy makeup on her face, Kong Xiuya’s grandma said with some confusion:
"Xiuya, what's wrong with you?"
Without waiting for grandma to finish, Kong Xiuya explained directly:
"Grandma, it's like this. Our school held a literary competition today. I wore this outfit and went on stage to perform. Oh, by the way, I won first place in the competition, and the school awarded me 200,000 won!"
After that, Kong Xiuya took out the 200,000 won given to her by Yuan Xudong from her shoulder bag and stuffed it into her grandmother's hand and said with a smile:
"Here, take it, aren't you going to the hospital to get medicine this week?"
"Xiuya, grandma is sorry for you!"
Looking at the 200,000 won in her hand, Kong Xiuya’s grandmother wiped away her tears, stuffed 100,000 won into Kong Xiuya’s hand, and said with a choked voice:
"Xiuya, I'll just take 100,000 won. You can use this 100,000 won to buy yourself two pieces of clothes, buy some food, and go out to play with your classmates. If your parents are still alive, you also need to spend money."
You don’t have to suffer with me, an old woman, it’s grandma who has dragged you down, grandma is sorry for you!”
"Grandma, what did you say?"
Kong Xiuya put the 100,000 won back into her grandma's hand. She held her grandma's arm and shook it gently:
"Grandma, you have raised me since I was a child. Without you, wouldn't I be an orphan? Use these 100,000 won to check your health and buy medicine. You must live a long life and wait until I make money in the future.
Don't worry about being filial to you, didn't I say that? I am now working part-time in a convenience store and I can make money to support myself!"
"Xiuya, my little darling, grandma is really shameless to see you, you are still so young."
After listening briefly to the side, Yuan Xudong walked out from behind piles of waste paper boxes and plastic bottles, looked at Kong Xiuya's grandma with white hair, and greeted with a smile:
"Grandma, hello, I am."
Afraid that Yuan Xudong would scare her grandmother by telling the truth, Kong Xiuya quickly interrupted before he could finish speaking:
"Grandma, he is a teacher at our school. He is here for a home visit and wants to talk to you!"
"teacher?"
After that, she saw her grandma looking at Yuan Xudong who suddenly appeared. Kong Xiuya stood behind her and looked at Yuan Xudong with a pleading look on her face. She clasped her hands together and bowed repeatedly. Seeing how pitiful she was, Yuan Xudong smiled and cooperated with her.
:
"Yes, I'm Xiuya's class teacher. I'm here for a home visit. Sorry for disturbing you!"
"Don't bother, don't bother!"
The first time a teacher came to visit her home, Kong Xiuya’s grandma was a little excited and at a loss as she said:
"Teacher, I don't have anything to entertain you at home. I'm so sorry!"
"It's okay, it's okay, I'm disturbing you!"
"Xiuya, quickly pour the teacher a glass of hot water!"
"oh!"
Instructing her granddaughter to pour a cup of hot water for Yuan Xudong, Kong Xiuya's grandma took a bench and wiped it for Yuan Xudong to sit down. She sat opposite and looked at the suit and leather shoes. The gentle Yuan Xudong smiled and said:
"That's great, teacher, is our Xiuya doing well in school?"
"fine!"
Looking at the expectant old man, Yuan Xudong smiled and said:
"Xiuya is very well-behaved and sensible, and she studies hard. She is a rare good child!"
"That's good, that's good!"
Hearing Yuan Xudong, the head teacher, personally praise her granddaughter, Kong Xiuya's grandma's face was filled with joy, and then she sighed and confided with some sadness:
"Xiuya, her parents died early, and I, an old woman, was the only one left to raise her. I am old now and my health is not good. I have to go to the hospital every month to check my health and buy medicines.
In order to support me, an old woman, she went out to work at a young age. I have never seen her spend money to buy food and clothing for herself. She spent all the money on my medical expenses. Sometimes I really want to
She is about to die, but she is also worried about leaving us Xiuya all alone, what should she do?"
Yuan Xudong listened quietly. When he saw Kong Xiuya coming over with two cups of hot water, he reached out and took one cup and handed it to the grandmother opposite. Then he took the remaining cup and held it in his hand. Kong Xiuya glanced at Yuan Xudong and herself.
Kong Xiuya's grandmother walked to the only bedroom. Kong Xiuya's grandmother invited Yuan Xudong to drink tea, and then continued to talk, her voice was somewhat proud of her granddaughter:
"I heard from Xiuya that she found a new job and worked part-time in a convenience store. The boss liked her very much, treated her very well, and the salary was good. I was finally relieved!"
"Yeah?"
Looking at the happy old man, Yuan Xudong felt incomprehensible. Sure enough, poverty makes people look down upon. The biggest original sin of a person is to have no money when you need it, so you can only sell everything you can, including ordinary migrant workers.
Isn't it just selling one's time, or life, in order to survive and make money? Thinking this in his heart, Yuan Xudong said with a smile on his face:
"Xiuya is very filial. Grandma is so lucky to have such a wonderful granddaughter!"
"Oh, how can I be so lucky?"
After waving her hand, Kong Xiuya’s grandmother smiled bitterly and said:
"I just hope that our Xiuya can get into a good university, but I'm also afraid that I won't be able to pay the tuition and living expenses by then. If it delays Xiuya's future, I, an old woman, will really have no shame in going to see her parents. I heard
I said that college tuition is very expensive. Teacher, how much did you spend when you went to college?"
"me?"
Yuan Xudong thought for a while and replied:
"Different universities and different majors cost different money. I went to the Law Department of Seoul National University. Not counting living expenses, the tuition and materials fees cost almost 200 million won. But you don't have to worry about Xiuya's tuition.
You can apply for loans in college, and you can just pay them back slowly after you graduate and start working!"
"Two hundred million won, is the tuition so expensive?"
"The legal major is relatively expensive, but there are also cheaper ones. In fact, you can study and do part-time jobs at the same time, and you don't necessarily need a loan of 200 million yuan!"
"That's it, then our family is Xiuya."
Yuan Xudong chatted with Kong Xiuya's grandmother, and the topic always revolved around Kong Xiuya's future, such as which university is better to attend, what major should girls choose, whether they can be teachers like Yuan Xudong, etc. Yuan Xudong smiled.
As soon as he responded, he was very nervous. His intuition told him that it was hard to say whether Kong Xiuya's academic performance could be admitted to a local university, let alone a famous university in Seoul. If he graduated from high school,
It is not impossible to find a good and decent job in the future, but it will definitely be very difficult and requires more effort than a college student in Seoul.
Time passed, and just when Yuan Xudong was about to get up and leave, Kong Xiuya walked out of the bedroom. Her long red skirt was replaced by a black and white female high school uniform. The short pleated skirt barely covered her thighs.
At the base, under the short skirt, a pair of flawless white jade long legs are tightly together, and they are a perfect fit. They are wearing a pair of starry-white canvas shoes under their feet. They are not wearing socks. There are a few abrasions on the feet and ankles. Look up.
, a slender waist that is not too tight, slightly perky breasts, fair and delicate collarbones and neck, the heavy makeup on the face has been removed, revealing a moist and shiny face, and a little bit of baby fat, which makes people feel...
An urge to give it a gentle squeeze.
Her long black hair is simply tied back, and her long bangs cover her eyebrows. Her big, watery eyes are bright and attractive, her nose is high, her thin lips are pink and tender, and the corners of her mouth are slightly raised, giving her a playful and cute look.
The feeling, the charming before makeup removal, the innocence and cuteness after makeup removal, made Yuan Xudong's eyes light up, and he had the urge to go to jail. Fortunately, Yuan Xudong had strong control, he only glanced at it, then withdrew his gaze and said goodbye:
"Grandma, Xiuya, it's getting late. I'm going back first. You guys should go to bed early. Good night!"
"Okay, teacher, walk slowly, Xiuya, please see the teacher off!"
"No, I'll just leave by myself. Please stay, bye!"
"Okay, slow down on the road, bye!"
"Thank you, Teacher Yuan, bye!"
Leaving the basement where Kong Xiuya and her grandmother lived, Yuan Xudong started walking to the nearby bus station. Passing by a supermarket, he thought of Kong Xiuya's bare feet, the abrasions on her feet and ankles, and the flickering lights in the basement.
Yuan Xudong walked into the supermarket after hesitating for a moment and bought two boxes of milk, a few pairs of cotton socks, a box of band-aids, several large packages of snacks, a fluorescent stick lamp, an envelope and
Corresponding pen and paper.
After paying the bill, Yuan Xudong lay on the counter and wrote a few words of encouragement to Kong Xiuya. Then he stuffed the banknotes with a value of more than 10,000 yuan in his wallet into the envelope together with the letter paper, and put the envelope into his arms. Yuan Xudong held these
Things began to return to Kong Xiuya's home.
After a while, he walked back to the basement door of Kong Xiuya's house, knocked gently and said:
"Grandma, Xiuya, are you asleep?"
"Teacher Yuan, why are you back?"
There was a sound of brisk footsteps. Kong Xiuya opened the basement door and saw Yuan Xudong standing outside the door carrying milk and shopping bags from the supermarket. She couldn't help but said in a daze:
"Teacher Yuan, you"
Before she could finish speaking, grandma's voice sounded behind her:
"Teacher Yuan, did you leave anything behind?"
"No, I think the fluorescent light in the room seems to be broken and keeps flashing. I bought a new one and put it in for you!"
"Teacher Yuan, thank you so much!"
"It's okay, it should be!"
Yuan Xudong walked into the house carrying his things and asked Kong Xiuya to turn off the fluorescent lights and turn on the mobile phone lighting. He took off his leather shoes and stood on the bench to replace the broken fluorescent tube. Then he asked Kong Xiuya to turn on the switch and try it out. In the dark basement
It suddenly became much brighter.
After putting on his leather shoes, while Kong Xiuya and her grandma's eyes were attracted by the new fluorescent lights, Yuan Xudong took out the envelope from his arms and put it into the shopping bag. Then he handed the milk and shopping bag to Kong Xiuya's grandma and said with a smile:
"Grandma, these things are bought for Xiuya, and this carton of milk is bought for you. I'm going to leave first. You and Xiuya have a rest early. I'll come to visit you next time. Bye!"
"Teacher Yuan, how is this possible? You."
Without waiting for Kong Xiuya's grandmother to refuse, Yuan Xudong said hello to Kong Xiuya and then left, starting to walk towards the nearby bus stop. After he left, Kong Xiuya's grandmother handed Kong Xiuya the shopping bag she was carrying.
smiled and said:
"Teacher Yuan bought this for you. Open it and take a look. Our Xiuya is really nice. The teacher also likes you very much. He even changed the light tubes in our house. You are such a careful and good person!"
"Who wants him to mind his own business?"
After mumbling with her mouth raised, Kong Xiuya took the shopping bag and opened it:
"Let me see what the cheapskate bought. It must be very cheap. It's at the nearby Youyi Supermarket. I've been there!"
"Oh, you can't say that, does the teacher know?"
Seeing her granddaughter's disrespect for Yuan Xudong, Kong Xiuya's grandmother blamed her:
"In the past, teachers were just like my father, the most respected person in my life. Teacher Yuan is a very kind person at first glance. Do you know that you have to respect him?"
"I know, grandma!"
Kong Xiuya rolled her eyes, thinking that her teacher would never take care of her. She was completely in a self-destructive herding mode. He would only take care of good students who had the hope of being admitted to a well-known university in Seoul. Delinquent girls like herself were among those to be punished.
A group of people who give up sit in the corner of the classroom and do whatever they want, as long as they don't disrupt the order of the class. It doesn't matter if there are teachers like this.
With random thoughts in her mind, Kong Xiuya opened the shopping bag, rummaged through various snacks, and looked at the socks and band-aids at the bottom. She couldn't help but blush slightly, and took the pink stockings and band-aids into her hands.
, the corners of his mouth raised slightly and he complained:
"It's so old-fashioned, who wears stockings these days?"