“Today is the final exam at County No. 1 High School, so it’s normal for Sister Xiaolan to be here,” Zhang Cui tried to maintain her composure. After her first failed attempt, she became hesitant to make another rash move.

Xia Hongxia bit her lip as she watched Xia Xiaolan being surrounded by female students, enjoying treatment like the moon among stars. Though dressed simply, Xia Xiaolan radiated vitality and appeared remarkably spirited!

With her walnut-sized brain, Xia Hongxia didn’t judge people’s success by their career or academic achievements – she only looked at appearances. Yet Xia Xiaolan, without any makeup or cosmetics, had somehow become more beautiful. In the past, though pretty, Xia Xiaolan had been empty inside, her beauty merely a facade.

Now, Xia Xiaolan’s beauty was backed by self-confidence and ability. No longer just a beautiful shell, her former modest prettiness had transformed into a commanding beauty.

Xia Hongxia couldn’t think of such literary descriptions – she just felt that every movement Xia Xiaolan made was inexplicably graceful.

This made Xia Hongxia jealous.

The Xia family members were all quite good-looking, and among the three Xia sisters, Xia Hongxia was the most ordinary-looking. But this was only in comparison within the family – compared to others outside, she would still be considered of medium attractiveness.

However, she was greedy yet brainless, ambitious but lacking capability, and unwilling to work hard. Without outstanding looks or the ability to change her life through study like Xia Ziyu, she dreamed of getting lucky without effort. Unable to achieve her desires, how could she not constantly feel resentful and envious?

“Aunt, she’s doing this on purpose, isn’t she?”

Huang’s Quick Meals had opened to compete with Zhang’s business, and Xia Xiaolan deliberately led a group of people there to eat. No one would believe it wasn’t intentional.

But Xia Xiaolan had already fallen out with the Xia family – why would she still care about Zhang’s business when Zhang Cui and Xia Hongxia wanted to make things difficult for her?

Zhang Cui forced herself to look away. “Xiaolan has grievances against all of us. Whether she comes to eat at Zhang’s isn’t important. I just don’t know when our family can be harmonious again. When your Sister Ziyu returns, let’s see if she has any good ideas.”

Xia Hongxia’s eyes lit up. “Sister Ziyu is coming back?”

Zhang Cui nodded, “She’ll definitely return for winter break, and she’ll bring your brother-in-law too.”

Zhang Cui couldn’t hide her pride. Though sons were considered important for continuing the family line, Xia Ziyu was her most proud daughter. Without this daughter, how could she enjoy such a good life today?

If Xia Ziyu hadn’t been successful, Zhang Cui would surely have been confined to Da He Village as a village woman like Wang Jingui. Old Mrs. Xia would never have agreed to let her move to the city.

“But doesn’t Xia Xiaolan have feelings for brother-in-law…”

Xia Hongxia hesitated, looking concerned about ulterior motives.

Yes, Xia Xiaolan had been so fond of Wang Jianhua that she had hit her head against a wall in distress. Zhang Cui still remembered Old Mrs. Xia scolding Xia Xiaolan, saying she was like a toad lusting after a swan’s flesh, telling her to look in the mirror and see what she was. Why would Wang Jianhua be interested in damaged goods when he had Ziyu, a female university student?

These words had provoked Xia Xiaolan so much that she hit her head against the wall and nearly died.

Zhang Cui firmly believed that Xia Xiaolan wanted to attend university because she still harbored feelings for Wang Jianhua.

When Ziyu brought Wang Jianhua home for winter break, would it provoke Xia Xiaolan?

Zhang Cui worried that Xia Xiaolan might shamelessly try to seduce Wang Jianhua, but she also feared that Xia Xiaolan might hold back, bottling up her feelings until she got into university before causing trouble… She was weighing how to use this to her advantage.

Xia Xiaolan was indeed doing it on purpose.

She was going with the flow, and judging by the female students’ expressions, the results seemed quite good. The “rice with toppings” warmed their frozen hands and feet after eating. People in the 1980s generally had large appetites – there were no dainty eaters who claimed to be full after three bites. Huang’s plates for rice with toppings were large, and the rice was packed tightly… Each serving must have been close to a pound, if not more.

The rice alone was over half a pound.

Xia Xiaolan had suggested to Mrs. Huang that customers could get a free second helping of rice, but not the toppings.

A pound of rice only cost twenty cents and one could cook two pounds of rice. Letting people eat their fill of two pounds of rice only costs twenty cents in materials. Though profit would be less with such customers, at sixty cents per serving, Mrs. Huang wouldn’t lose money.

Such big eaters were rare anyway, but hearing about free rice refills made a different impression. At least the female classmates in Xia Xiaolan’s class were quite pleased about it.

“This is really good value!”

“Though I couldn’t eat a second bowl.”

“Now this is an honest business person…”

The female students chattered away, but none asked for a second bowl. Poor students ate steamed buns and drank cold water – the female students who could afford to spend sixty cents eating out weren’t lacking that extra bowl of rice.

At least it would be difficult for them to eat another bowl of plain rice without toppings, as the large serving of toppings was already finished.

Xia Xiaolan said she was going to wash her hands, but she had already paid for several classmates’ meals. Mrs. Huang refused to accept, but Xia Xiaolan insisted on giving her the money:

“It’s your grand opening, and this is my first meal at your restaurant, how could I not pay?”

She wasn’t giving Mrs. Huang advice just to take advantage of small benefits.

Mrs. Huang couldn’t refuse any longer and accepted the money for Xia Xiaolan’s classmates, though she still wouldn’t take payment for Xia Xiaolan’s portion.

When they were settling the bill, they discovered that Xia Xiaolan had already paid. They all asked Mrs. Huang to return the money, but Mrs. Huang smiled and insisted on respecting Xia Xiaolan’s wishes.

“What’s one meal? It doesn’t matter who treats whom – the friendship between classmates is priceless!”

Including Xia Xiaolan, there were only nine people. At sixty cents per serving of rice with toppings, nine people only came to five yuan and forty cents. Moreover, with Mrs. Huang charging less, it wasn’t even five yuan to successfully treat everyone. Manager Xia truly didn’t care about this amount of money now.

But others didn’t see it that way.

They all knew Xia Xiaolan’s family conditions weren’t good, and the school had only agreed to let her study part-time and skip regular classes. Five yuan must have been a significant amount for Xia Xiaolan.

Xia Xiaolan paid because she didn’t want others to look down on her, right?

Ah, how could they look down on their top student? She was beautiful, had good grades, and was very easy to get along with.

Someone took the lead in laughing: “Fine if you’re treating us this time, next time I must treat everyone – and no one can fight me for the chance!”

Several people joined in, “We’ll take turns treating, take turns treating!”

Xia Xiaolan was amused by their enthusiasm.

Mrs. Huang was happy too – after a few more visits, her reputation would be established. She had opened the shop here specifically targeting County No. 1 High School students as customers.

When Xia Xiaolan entered “Huang’s Quick Meals” surrounded by people, and after they finished their rice with toppings, their relationship seemed much closer. The group left chattering and laughing, all young, vibrant, and full of life. People say there are no ugly eighteen-year-olds, and with their abundant vitality, they radiated the beauty of youth.

Their presence drew frequent glances from passersby.

Several customers who had been walking toward Zhang’s Restaurant were attracted by Xia Xiaolan’s group.

They hesitated, “Why don’t we try that quick meals place? The sign mentions fried rice and rice with toppings, and it smells quite good.”

With that, they changed direction and went to Huang’s Quick Meals.

Watching potential customers slip away, Zhang Cui twisted the cloth in her hands out of shape.

—What was there to be angry about? It was just a few customers wanting to try something new!

Just then, Xia Xiaolan suddenly turned her head, meeting Zhang Cui’s gaze, and smiled at her. That smile was truly blinding.