The Real Daughter Just Wants to Pilot Mechas - Chapter 83

E Mingjun’s expression only returned to normal after Jiang Momo finished the lesson.

Closing the slides Ling Yelin had sent earlier, the scene shifted back to the classroom. Jiang Momo walked up to E Mingjun who had just looked up from his light brain, seemingly he had just sent a message. She leaned on his desk with one hand and asked, “What’s wrong? You looked so worried earlier.”

“It’s nothing. I’ve already taken care of it.” E Mingjun stood up. “Class is over. Do you want to get food?”

“You guys go ahead. I need to take care of something.” Yan Chang glanced at Jiang Momo, swiftly packed up his completely blank notebook, and strode out the door.

Jiang Momo and E Mingjun exchanged a glance and followed.

“What’s so urgent?” Jiang Momo asked, hurrying behind Yan Chang.

Yan Chang didn’t slow down. “I’ll tell you in a couple of days. You two go eat first.”

“We can’t help at all?” Jiang Momo pressed, unwilling to give up.

Yan Chang stopped and turned, hesitating. “Actually, this does have something to do with you. Your Jiang family members have all been released.”

Jiang Momo did a quick mental count. “Right, even the one who was detained the longest would’ve only been in for seven days. They were locked up the weekend before last, so they should be out by now.”

“After getting out, they handed over 50% of their assets to the Federation. So the Federation government just secretly halted the energy reform.” Yan Chang took a deep breath. “After what they did to you, I can’t even get back at them for you!”

Jiang Momo blinked, eyes oddly warm. “…So the energy reform was purely to vent your anger for me?”

“What else would it be for?” Yan Chang looked at her strangely. “What other reason could there be?”

Little Eight popped up.

[Be alert. I warned you before that he seems to be deliberately weakening the familial ties around you. Though, to be fair, you don’t really need those ties.]

Jiang Momo was confused. She mouthed silently, “When did you ever say that?”

[The first time you guessed it.]

The Siamese cat turned its back to her angrily.

Jiang Momo honestly didn’t remember and was about to ask more when Yan Chang’s voice pulled her back to reality. “Momo, what were you just saying?”

“Nothing.” Jiang Momo snapped back. “If it’s just to vent for me, then forget it. There’s no need to go through all that trouble.”

“Of course there is…” Yan Chang looked anxious.

E Mingjun raised a hand to rest on Yan Chang’s shoulder. “What Momo means is, with the Jiang family’s resources, they’ll be fine no matter what. But what about their employees?

“The energy reform wouldn’t just affect a few companies, it’d impact countless livelihoods. If it’s all over a personal grudge and ends up hurting a bunch of innocent people, how are we any different from those we despise? Isn’t that right, Momo?”

Jiang Momo rarely heard such thoughtful words from E Mingjun. She paused a moment and then nodded. “Yeah.”

Yan Chang clicked his tongue. “Speaking of employees, that’s what puzzles me. They’re not even that big but they hire so many people. Their economic contribution is only about 10% of the Federation, yet they employ nearly 30% of the human workforce. Where do they get so many positions?!

“And they work overtime constantly. I had a friend who worked there for six months and got fired right after the probation period. He came back in a daze, like he’d been on something. It’s been almost a year and he still hasn’t recovered.”

Jiang Momo and E Mingjun instinctively exchanged a glance.

Jiang Momo didn’t even know why she looked at E Mingjun just then but when she met his clear eyes, a thought clicked into place.

That dazed state sounded a lot like what happened to the teachers and students on the tourist planet.

The tourist planet’s governor said he bought those small animals in recent years, while the Jiang family also got rich recently. Their main business was also ‘energy’…

Her thoughts, tangled like yarn, slowly untangling.

What if those interstellar pirates were telling the truth and that legendary device that could extract human energy and convert it into power was really built? And the reason no one has seen it is because the interstellar pirates sold it to the Jiang family in a secret deal.

If she thinks darker, what if the Jiang family were the ones funding that lab from the start?

Realizing she was spiraling, Jiang Momo quickly shook her head to clear the thoughts.

She looked at Yan Chang, still seething, and asked, “Is employee turnover high in the Jiang family’s companies?”

“Very. Other than the higher-ups, almost no one lasts more than two years,” Yan Chang said angrily. “Most get kicked out right after their probation period. Sure, it saves money, but this is excessive. And it’s not even illegal, or I would’ve reported them long ago!”

Jiang Momo and E Mingjun exchanged another glance.

Yan Chang noticed. “There you go again! What’s with the eye contact? You two got a secret?”

“Don’t overthink it. It’s just a coincidence,” Jiang Momo replied.

Yan Chang didn’t believe it but let it slide. He looked at her and asked, “You’re really giving up on punishing them?”

“Just giving up on this approach,” Jiang Momo said.

“Alright then, let’s go eat. What do you want? My treat.” Yan Chang relaxed again, cheerfully throwing his arm around her shoulders and whispering so E Mingjun couldn’t hear, “I know you’ve probably already prepared to take over the Jiang family. When the time comes, if you need help, just say the word. I’ll give it my all.”

Yeah, after all, wouldn’t toppling the Jiang family be less effective than taking over their assets directly?

In Yan Chang’s mind, the only reason Jiang Momo would stop him was that she had a better solution.

But Jiang Momo hadn’t thought that far ahead. She just nodded casually at his offer. “I’ll definitely come to bother you then.”

“I’ll be waiting,” Yan Chang whispered, quickly patting her shoulder before E Mingjun could shove his hand away.

E Mingjun actually hadn’t planned to act this time. His eyes quietly lingered on where Yan Chang had touched her before looking away casually.

The three walked out of the lift side by side. Just a few steps out, the elevator doors opened again and a group of students poured out.

Their cheerful chatter rang out behind them.

“Aww, it’s such a pity. I wanted to attend Teacher Momo’s class. I even signed up a week early but then this happened today. I feel so bad for her.”

“Don’t feel bad. That’s 5,000 star coins, anyone would take the money.”

“Still, who thought it was a good idea to schedule Teacher Ling Yelin and Teacher Momo on the same day? And come on, drawing twenty students at random to win 5,000 star coins? I couldn’t focus all class. I was just waiting for the raffle.”

“First time I’ve ever seen a lecture held in the main hall. Probably the whole school went. So impressive!”

Jiang Momo: “…”

Mystery solved. Now she knew why no one had come to her class.

“What’s Ling Yelin up to? Paying students to attend his class?” Yan Chang scoffed. “I guess he knows he can’t compete with our Teacher Momo, so he’s buying popularity.”

“Don’t say that. He gave me the course materials I use.” Jiang Momo rubbed her nose guiltily.

“That’s just because you’re a good teacher.” Yan Chang coughed, changing the subject. “So, what do you two want for lunch?”

***

After lunch, Jiang Momo said goodbye and headed straight to the Mecha Arena’s manufacturing area for the afternoon’s practical lesson.

When she arrived, twenty-five students were lined up neatly inside, their expressions mixed.

She put down her backpack. “Are the others are in the material warehouse?”

The students exchanged uncertain glances but didn’t speak.

Shi Qin stepped forward. “Teacher, they’ve graduated.”

“That fast?” Jiang Momo blinked in surprise.

Didn’t the study tour just end last Friday?

“They applied for graduation the same day.”

The academy approved it overnight. They’re probably prepping for entrance exams to the research institute by now.

Shi Qin stopped mid-sentence, unwilling to say more, afraid she’d feel hurt.

Xiang Jiuming didn’t care about being tactful. “Ungrateful jerks who couldn’t even wait until after the weekend. The least they could’ve done was say goodbye. Without Teacher Momo, they wouldn’t have graduated this fast!”

“It’s fine. Everyone has their own goals.” Jiang Momo looked around. Seeing the familiar faces still there, she felt much better.

“It’s not fine! When I get into the research institute, I’m going to give them an earful!” Xiang Jiuming huffed.

“When do you plan to go?” Jiang Momo felt warm inside seeing his loyalty but she also remembered how determined he’d been earlier. Worried that he would only be there to say goodbye, she gently asked.

“As soon as I’ve mastered my skills!” Xiang Jiuming answered without hesitation. “I heard from Teacher Li that the environment in the research institute is harsh. Without real skills, you can’t even protect yourself if someone tries to push you around.”

He’d already started practicing close combat. His coach said he could fast-track it in three months, so he’d be around at least that long.

“So, do we have anyone here to say goodbye today?” Jiang Momo raised her hand, looking at the students lined up by the wall.

Xiang Jiuming blurted out, “No way any—”

Before he could finish, a few students stepped forward.

“Teacher Momo, we’ve decided to graduate.”

Jiang Momo nodded, about to say something, before noticing Xiang Jiuming’s eyes turn red.

He snapped, “What’s the rush?! You’ll lose a limb if you stay two more days, huh?!”