The Secret Realm of Time, His and Her Life Through the Changes

Chapter 198 Making trouble

After a quick wash, Zhou Yanruo went downstairs to the hall. Her grandmother, Zhou Xidi, was already sitting upright at the table, waiting for an important meeting.

Seeing Zhou Yanruo approach, Zhou Xidi's expression turned serious. She said, "Are you planning to eat something first before listening to me, or would you like us to talk first and then go eat?"

Zhou Yanruo silently chose to sit down without answering.

Seeing this, Zhou Xidi got straight to the point: "Regarding what happened to your father and mother, it has been preliminarily determined to be a liability accident. Further investigation is needed to reach a final conclusion in the detailed accident report."

She paused briefly, seemingly composing herself, before continuing with difficulty, "But regardless, the accident report will ultimately point to where the responsibility lies. As the leaders of the experimental center, your father and mother cannot shirk this responsibility."

"As you have seen, many troublemakers have come to our house these days. They are all relatives of the students who died in the accident. It is only natural that they come to our house to demand an explanation."

Zhou Yanruo looked up at her grandmother with teary eyes and whispered, "How could they do this? My parents' bodies aren't even cold yet..."

However, Zhou Xidi interrupted her, saying seriously, "They also lost loved ones. Those two students came from very poor families. They were about to graduate with their doctorates and start working and earning money when this happened. You have to understand how difficult it is for families like theirs to raise a doctoral student."

"Then the school won't do anything? Shouldn't there be a compensation payment?" Zhou Yanruo asked unwillingly.

"There are some, but not many," Zhou Xidi sighed helplessly.

Then, she took a deep breath, her eyes hardening: "We shouldn't run away. I believe Zhou Fang and Yang Man would support us if they knew in the afterlife."

"Not running away? Grandma, what are you going to do?"

As the grandfather and grandson were talking, the door was suddenly pounded on loudly, and a series of noises and a woman's wails came from outside.

"Grandma, they're here again." Zhou Yanruo suddenly stood up and looked at her grandmother nervously.

Zhou Xidi sat there motionless, only pointing to the door at Zhou Yanruo, "Go, open the door."

Zhou Yanruo hesitated for a moment, but still obediently went over and opened the door.

As soon as the door opened, seven or eight people rushed in. The two burly men leading the way each carried a wreath, which they placed on the table as soon as they entered. Behind them were two elderly women and a young woman who looked like a newlywed, holding a child of about two years old. These women sat down in the hall as soon as they entered and began to wail loudly.

The last two people to enter were wearing a black leather jacket and a black wool coat, respectively. Judging from their attire and expressions, they were clearly not part of the group that had come in before. Sure enough, as soon as they entered, they began to persuade the troublemakers to stop their antics. When they tried to stop the two burly men, the two groups nearly came to blows.

Zhou Yanruo had never seen anything like this before. Terrified, she quickly stood next to her grandmother and shouted, "What are you doing here? Why are you causing trouble in our house?"

At this moment, two young men who had come in later approached and greeted Zhou Xidi. The young man in the leather jacket said, "Grandma, I am Professor Zhou's student, and he is Professor Yang's student. We came from Haicheng yesterday. After attending the funeral of our two mentors this morning, we were planning to visit you and Yanruo at home this evening, but we didn't expect to encounter these people who came to cause trouble at our home."

The young man in the wool coat was Yan Shao. Zhou Yanruo was familiar with him because he was her mother's student. A few months ago, when Wang Jie's grandfather was critically ill and she and Wang Jie were in a hurry to return to Xichuan but could not get tickets, it was this senior student Yan who picked them up at Haicheng Station and drove them to Xichuan in time.

With tears in her eyes, Zhou Yanruo greeted Yan Shao: "Senior Brother Yan, you're here too."

Yan Shaoxian nodded respectfully to his grandmother, then turned to Zhou Yanruo and softly comforted her, "Junior sister, please accept my condolences. Don't worry, I have already called Sunan University, and they will send someone over to handle this matter soon. Leaders from my alma mater will also come with us."

At this moment, one of the burly men heard them say that they had notified the school leaders to come, and he shouted fiercely, "No matter who comes, we are not afraid! We are a widow and her children, and we can't even survive. What leaders are we afraid of?"

At his urging, the woman and child sitting on the ground cried even louder.

Zhou Xidi's face was solemn as she spoke righteously, "You've made enough of this. I feel deeply for your children who tragically perished in this explosion, because my son and daughter-in-law also died in this disaster. No matter what, they were your children's teachers. Don't you feel ashamed of your deceased relatives if you continue to make such a fuss?"

Although her voice wasn't loud, every word she spoke was firm and powerful.

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent, and the hall instantly became quiet.

Zhou Xidi then continued, "I will give everyone a clear explanation. Once the leaders arrive, I will ask them to witness the event before announcing the specific arrangements. Please be patient and wait a little longer."

Zhou Xidi gently nudged Zhou Yanruo's arm and instructed, "Ruoruo, go and pour everyone a glass of water. There are also some snacks in the kitchen; bring them over as well, everyone must be hungry."

Zhou Yanruo looked reluctant and muttered softly, "Grandma, don't you think they've made enough trouble? You want to give them more energy?"

“Go ahead, and be a good girl,” Zhou Xidi said softly.

Although she was dissatisfied, she reluctantly nodded when she saw her grandmother's serious expression.

Just as Zhou Yanruo was about to turn and walk towards the kitchen at the back, she heard a series of hurried footsteps coming from the doorway. She turned around and saw three people who looked like leaders walk in. One of them, Zhou Yanruo recognized, was Vice Principal Chang, who had been helping with her parents' funeral arrangements these past few days.

Vice Principal Chang walked quickly ahead, his expression concerned but his tone stern, saying, "Why are you causing trouble here again? The school leaders are already studying the resettlement plan. Can't we wait any longer? How can the deceased rest in peace with this kind of disturbance?"

He then turned to Zhou Xidi and said, "Grandma Zhou, don't worry too much. The school will handle this matter as soon as possible and give everyone a satisfactory answer."

At this moment, the other two leaders also came forward and expressed their condolences and support to the Zhou family.

A hint of relief flashed in Zhou Xidi's eyes as she responded, "Thank you very much. Principal Chang, and other leaders, please have a seat."

She then stood up and said to everyone in the hall, "I have some arrangements to make, and the leaders here will be our witnesses."

The hall fell silent once again.