Director Cai was a learned person and naturally understood the pride of a teacher.
Her husband was also present, yet she still expressed sympathy for Teacher Xue's predicament.
It was only when she later discovered the truth that she felt ashamed.
Teacher Xue was not struggling financially; she was using her spare time to help others.
"Help whom?" Bai Suxiang asked curiously.
"Those in need!" a clear, resonant voice declared.
"Teacher Xue, you're finally back. It's midday, rest for a while, and go out again when the sun isn't so strong!" Director Cai said quickly, without stopping her work.
"Who are you?" Teacher Xue asked, seeing Liu Sandao and Bai Suxiang as she entered.
"Hahaha, Teacher Xue, recognize them, see if they are children you've helped?" Director Cai laughed heartily, playing a joke on Teacher Xue.
Teacher Xue, thinking they were indeed children she had helped, pushed her glasses up and examined them closely.
She looked at Liu Sandao first, did not recognize him; then at Bai Suxiang, also did not recognize her.
"Tsk tsk, no, no, I really don't recognize them!"
"Hahaha!"
Director Cai laughed and immediately pulled Teacher Xue over, revealing the truth.
"You little trickster, you dare to fool your teacher!" Xue Guilan playfully hit Director Cai, feigning anger.
"In that case, you two can join this girl here and stay for a while!" Director Cai was already accustomed to Xue Guilan calling her "girl" and "trickster."
Although their relationship was that of teacher and student, they appeared more like mother and daughter.
During the meal, Director Cai mentioned that Xue Guilan had taken care of her mother's funeral when she passed away.
As the saying goes, three women make a chorus. In their presence, Liu Sandao was invisible, only eating.
Perhaps Xue Guilan was hospitable, or Director Cai was sincere, or maybe Bai Suxiang hit it off with them, but this meal felt like a chat among three generations of a family.
Liu Sandao thought the gathering would end after the meal, but then Xue Guilan said, "I really like hearing this girl talk, it would be wonderful if she could stay! Hahaha!"
"Really? Then I won't be polite. I brought him here to experience life, and I was just looking for a place!" Bai Suxiang said, pointing at Liu Sandao.
"What do you mean?" Director Cai asked.
"He's just a rich young master, idle all day. His parents scold him for being pampered, saying he's got no ambition. If he knew what hardship was, he wouldn't be like this."
Liu Sandao didn't understand, inwardly grumbling, "Experience life? When have I been idle? Even this Heavenly Venerable has stooped this low, and I'm still considered idle?"
"Oh, really? Then that's perfect. This is an excellent opportunity for him to experience life. Why don't you both stay here for a while and let him experience it properly!" Director Cai said cheerfully.
"Great, great. Are there any inns or hotels nearby?" Bai Suxiang asked.
"There's no need to go to a hotel; there are rooms here. I'm telling you, several people often come here and occasionally stay overnight," Xue Guilan said, gesturing towards Director Cai.
"Yes, yes, there are rooms here. See?" Director Cai said, pointing to the main hall. "The room on the left is for men, and the one on the right is for women. They are fully equipped with pillows and bedding."
"Really? Hahaha, if I'm staying at a hotel like this, I suppose I'll have to pay!" Bai Suxiang teased.
"Look at you, girl!" Xue Guilan said, playfully nudging Bai Suxiang with a smile.
While washing dishes after the meal, Bai Suxiang truly understood that the people who came were all Xue Guilan's students or those she had helped in the past.
Xue Guilan collected scraps to help children who had dropped out of school due to poverty.
She had been doing this for nearly thirty years, relying on her scavenging and her meager retirement income. Her capacity was limited, but she had still helped many.
In her words, she found fulfillment in personally helping others.
But Director Xue felt that this was the most moving aspect of her actions.
As for why, Bai Suxiang would understand later.
When the sun was not too strong, Xue Guilan was about to go out, carrying a tattered snakeskin bag, when Bai Suxiang saw her.
"Teacher Xue, where are you going? Why didn't you call us?"
"I'm going scavenging. You..."
Before she could finish, Bai Suxiang snatched the bag from her hand. "We really came to experience life. If we don't participate physically, how can it be called experiencing life?"
Bai Suxiang immediately called out to Liu Sandao, who was resting in the room.
Liu Sandao was using his lunch break to refine the two good fruits within him. The effect was a bit slow.
He heard the shouts and immediately came out.
"Here, take this." Bai Suxiang was decisive and efficient, acting as if she were the leader and Liu Sandao a subordinate.
This scene amused Xue Guilan; it was rare to see such interesting young people.
The three went out together, heading towards several residential areas near Wu Kui Park.
Upon reaching the entrance of one of the neighborhoods, Liu Sandao suggested they split up and go into three different communities to scavenge for faster results.
But Xue Guilan refused, giving them a reason that made both him and Bai Suxiang speechless.
"You are here to experience life, not to steal other people's livelihoods!"
Stealing livelihoods by scavenging? What kind of logic was this?
It turned out that Xue Guilan was familiar with the regular scavengers in the vicinity. They were either sick and unable to do heavy labor, or they relied on scavenging for a living.
Although Xue Guilan needed to scavenge to raise money to help others, what was the point of helping if she took away their means of survival?
After Xue Guilan explained the reason, Bai Suxiang felt a deep respect.
Liu Sandao suddenly understood. This must be what "Goodness knows no bounds" meant.
Following Xue Guilan, they both received a profound education, both mentally and physically.
"Ring ring, ring ring!"
As Xue Guilan was sifting through a garbage can, her phone rang.
She used a simple, loud, and inexpensive older person's phone.
"Hello, Jian Guo, what's wrong?"
"Teacher Xue, you must go and see Su Xiaowen quickly. I heard her father is forbidding her to go to school again!" A man's voice came from the phone, loud and anxious.
"Oh, what's going on? Wasn't it all agreed? Alright, alright, I'll go and see right away! School is about to start, this..."
Xue Guilan quickly hung up the phone, put it in her pocket, picked up her snakeskin bag, and said to Bai Suxiang again:
"Let's go, come with me to see!"