In the city of Tomato.
Mo Qingyun stood at the classroom door, bidding farewell to the students one by one. It was her first day as a sign language teacher, and she had practiced countless times in the dormitory to prepare for her first lesson.
All the children had been picked up. Mo Qingyun returned to the classroom, meticulously cleaned the blackboard, and neatly arranged every stool. The classroom was spotless under her care.
She was so engrossed in cleaning that she didn't notice Xie Youlin, who was standing at the door watching her. This was the same man who had recently brought Mo Qingyun back to Athena.
"Careful!!!"
Xie Youlin rushed from the door to Mo Qingyun's back, steadying her. As Mo Qingyun bent down to mop, she had forgotten about the bucket of water behind her. If she had taken one more step back, she would have tripped over it. Fortunately, Xie Youlin had rushed over in time.
Mo Qingyun touched her chest and signed "Thank you" in sign language.
Xie Youlin was the founder of this school. In fact, he and Mo Qingyun had stayed in the same orphanage. He had been abandoned due to his hearing impairment. Not long after Mo Qingyun arrived at the orphanage, he was fortunately adopted by the Xie family. However, Mo Qingyun was very young at the time and could not clearly remember this older brother.
Xie Youlin quickly moved the bucket aside. "Why are you cleaning yourself? The school has cleaning aunties."
Mo Qingyun smiled and continued in sign language, "It's nothing to do it after school, so I just cleaned it up."
Xie Youlin smiled. "It's my honor to have hired such a good teacher like you. How about I treat you to a meal?"
Mo Qingyun quickly waved her hand.
"Do you have plans after work?" Xie Youlin looked at Mo Qingyun in surprise.
Mo Qingyun signed, "No, it's you who made an exception to let me be a sign language teacher, and you want to treat me to a meal. I should treat you."
"Okay, then let's go somewhere nearby. I know a great ramen restaurant."
Xie Youlin led Mo Qingyun to a very secluded little ramen shop. There were only four tables upon entering, with a small open kitchen at the back.
A middle-aged man was busy cooking noodles, and a woman of similar age to the middle-aged man was efficiently clearing a table. Seeing new customers enter, she quickly gestured for them to be seated.
"Boss, two bowls of ramen," Xie Youlin said, gesturing in sign language.
The proprietress nodded and walked to the small kitchen. On the glass, she drew a ramen icon, multiplied by two. When the chef inside finished an order, he would draw a horizontal line through the icon on the glass. When the proprietress brought the ramen, she would wipe away the writing on the outside, and at the same time, the chef inside would wipe away the writing inside. Mo Qingyun watched all of this, finding it a peculiar little shop.
When the proprietress brought two steaming bowls of ramen to their table, she smiled at Xie Youlin and then at Mo Qingyun, and signed, "It's been a while, what have you been busy with?"
Xie Youlin replied in sign language as well. It seemed the proprietress was deaf and mute. No wonder the proprietress and the chef did not communicate verbally, but instead used the glass to tell the chef what the customers had ordered.
After the proprietress left, Xie Youlin noticed Mo Qingyun's curiosity. He helped her open the disposable chopsticks, smoothed out any rough edges, and placed them in front of her.
"Do you want to hear a story?"
Mo Qingyun nodded.
The story was not long, but it had all the twists and turns. The characters in the story revolved around the proprietress and the owner of the shop.
It turned out that opening a ramen shop as deaf and mute people was many times more difficult than for ordinary people. The reason they were able to open successfully was largely thanks to Xie Youlin, who had helped them navigate the many visits to the Administration for Industry and Commerce.
Mo Qingyun looked up at the man who was carefully seasoning food behind the window. He was not only the chef but also the owner of the shop.
Mo Qingyun continued to ask in sign language, "They look to be in their forties or fifties. Do they have children?"
Xie Youlin paused as he picked up a strand of noodles.
"That might be another story."
Mo Qingyun eagerly awaited the new story, but Xie Youlin lightly flicked her forehead.
"Eat quickly. If you want to hear a story, you have to finish the noodles in your bowl first!"
The square was decorated with New Year's lights. The two of them, now full, did not feel the cold as they strolled and chatted in the lightly falling snow.
"I only learned about it through casual conversation when I was helping them with their affairs. Apparently, they have children, but they were sent away."
Mo Qingyun stopped and signed, "Sent where?"
"They said they were sent back to their hometown. I didn't ask for many details. You really are a little curious cat."