County First High School agreed to Xia Xiao Lan’s terms.
What choice did they have? She scored 457 points on her second test.
Students had to let their grades speak for themselves. The school quickly processed Xia Xiao Lan’s enrollment. After appearing only on the first day, she was assigned to Chen Qing’s class, shocking everyone in Class 3. But while others were stunned, she simply went about her business as usual.
Xia Xiao Lan had her study plan.
She only needed to show up periodically for tests to prove to the teachers that her grades weren’t dropping.
Teacher Wang and others still felt regret, believing she would achieve better results next year with the enclosed campus study. But Xia Xiao Lan was firm in her decision and had convinced her family elders – nobody could change her mind.
Seeing Zhu Fang again was somewhat awkward.
Comrade Zhu Fang wasn’t problematic, but his mother was too arrogant. Xia Xiao Lan didn’t want anyone pointing fingers saying she was trying to marry above her station.
She truly had no such feelings for Zhu Fang – it was an unfounded disaster.
Zhu Fang hadn’t heard his mother’s words at the time. Though his attitude toward Xia Xiao Lan hadn’t cooled, she still thought to lay some groundwork: “I might stop making deliveries soon.”
The eel business could last until November, but Xia Xiao Lan was ending it early. Zhu Fang would surely be reluctant to let her go.
But what could he say? Xia Xiao Lan hadn’t expressed dislike for him or said she didn’t want to make money – she was returning to school. Compared to being a private business owner, college was the proper path. Zhu Fang wanted to confess, but the words stuck in his throat.
He only had a middle school education.
Though his family conditions and income were good, it depended on who you compared them to.
Real official’s children wouldn’t stop at middle school education. Even in years when college entrance exams were canceled, would they let Zhu Fang be a purchaser at Yellow River Restaurant?
Zhu Fang’s family was considered well-off among ordinary urban workers, enough to look down on rural people, but they only had minor authority.
“Xiao Lan, I hope you get into your dream university! If you’re too busy, you can have someone else make deliveries. I’m still the restaurant’s purchaser, so the business won’t fail.”
Zhu Fang hadn’t completely given up.
He kept hope alive – what if she didn’t get into college?
Whoever Xia Xiao Lan arranged for deliveries wouldn’t be an outsider, most likely her uncle.
If he built a good relationship with Xia Xiao Lan’s uncle, wouldn’t that maintain a connection with her?
Zhu Fang was proud but not stupid.
With him putting it that way, what could Xia Xiao Lan do?
Leaving Yellow River Restaurant, she couldn’t help patting her face – in her previous life, she never dared dream of such preferential treatment for her looks.
Zhu Fang was wrong – Liu Yong wouldn’t always make deliveries for Xia Xiao Lan; he had his own family to support.
With Li Feng Mei and Liu Fen buying eels everywhere, and even selling the pork cracklings Xia Xiao Lan brought back, she didn’t need to travel to Shangdu City every other day. She focused on selling several hundred jin of eels stored at home. With pork cracklings in high demand in rural areas, she quickly recovered several hundred yuan in capital.
Liu Fen had learned to ride a bicycle.
The supply chain remained intact – it didn’t matter who made deliveries to Shangdu City. When Zhu Fang discovered the delivery person was Xia Xiao Lan’s mother, how could he dare slight her? Despite his ulterior motives, Zhu Fang could only be more enthusiastic toward Liu Fen… She listened to everything he said but believed her daughter’s college education was most important. Even the best match couldn’t compare to getting into college.
Relationships might end, but college graduates were guaranteed job assignments.
Liu Fen had her simple values – crude but effective.
Liu Yong needed to make a long journey.
Before this, Zhang Er Lai and his gang had been sentenced. The thug who had blocked their way got 20 years, while Zhang Er Lai received life imprisonment. Even if beaten to death, Zhang Er Lai wouldn’t dare falsely claim a relationship with Xia Xiao Lan – adding hooligan charges would change his life sentence to the death penalty!
This troublesome nail had been unexpectedly removed.
As time passed, new gossip would naturally replace the rumors about Xia Xiao Lan.
Liu Yong breathed a huge sigh of relief:
“This trip will take a month if quick, over two months if slow. You three women staying home with Tao Tao, don’t shoulder everything yourself – ask villagers for help when needed.”
Liu Yong was anxious; his friend had been urging him, and he’d already delayed long enough.
Now that Liu Fen was divorced, mother and daughter had transferred their household registration, Xia Xiao Lan was in school, and the thugs were sentenced – Liu Yong couldn’t delay anymore.
Why did rural people want sons? It wasn’t just feudal old thinking or the need for labor – homes without men were easily bullied. Forget about fighting for interests – with Liu Yong away, leaving three women including the flower-like Xia Xiao Lan, wouldn’t reckless men get the wrong ideas?
Of course, the Xia family didn’t lack men – all three Xia brothers were robust. But when Xia Xiao Lan’s reputation was trampled, none of them stood up for her. Such men might as well not exist.
Before leaving, Liu Yong not only brought home two dogs as guards but also asked neighbors to keep an eye out.
“Tao Tao’s father, take care of yourself while away. I’ll handle things here!”
Li Feng Mei’s eyes were slightly red.
She naturally hated seeing Liu Yong leave, but as head of the household, his burden was heavy – he had to earn money.
If couples wanted to stay together lovingly all day, they’d have to accept poverty. Adults could endure poverty, but Liu Yong and his wife had a son – parents had to consider their child’s future.
Liu Yong still told others he was leaving to work as a mason.
Xia Xiao Lan felt her uncle’s secretiveness really didn’t suit a mason selling manual labor. Everyone had secrets – she just hoped Liu Yong would have a smooth journey!
After Liu Yong left, life went on as usual.
At Village Chief Chen Wang Da’s home, there was a discussion about Xia Xiao Lan.
“How worthless was Liu Yong before? Now he’s visibly improving.”
Chen Wang Da’s daughter-in-law whispered to her husband.
Chen Wang Da certainly had more than one son, but the village chief position would pass to his eldest. The eldest Chen couple had a good son – Chen Qing was the eldest grandson and would be the Chen family’s future college graduate.
Elder Chen rolled cigarettes with his son’s used homework paper. Most rural people smoked like this – a pack of cigarettes wasn’t cheap, and rural areas didn’t issue cigarette coupons, so they were used to smoking dry tobacco or rolling their own. Without filters, hand-rolled cigarettes were strong. Elder Chen exhaled smoke:
“He may have been worthless, but he never harmed the village. With him away, we should look after his family.”
Before leaving, Liu Yong had visited with gifts.
Cigarettes and alcohol are made for proper gifts.
Elder Chen’s wife softly agreed, “Fortunes change – I think Liu Yong’s family will do well from now on.”
Liu Yong was improving – he took in his married sister Liu Fen, who initially brought along a supposedly troublesome stepdaughter. But unexpectedly, the stepdaughter wasn’t as bad as rumors suggested – she was capable of earning money and clever too.
County First’s teachers had come to the village, wanting Xia Xiao Lan to attend school, saying she had great chances for college next year.
Elder Chen’s wife pondered this – as a mother, how could she not notice how her son Chen Qing looked at Xia Xiao Lan?
Previously, she would have disapproved.
But if Xia Xiao Lan got into college, it wasn’t impossible.
Just for this possibility, she naturally wanted to help Liu Yong’s family more. She nudged her husband:
“What about the land allocation for Liu Fen and Xiao Lan? The village hasn’t decided yet?”