Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Beating the Retreat Drum
Lin Aibao nodded in agreement, “Uncle is right. Studying inherently strains the brain, so it’s only right that Mianmian eats some nutritious food. Even the students in our class who come from well-off families eat eggs and meat every day, and they even drink milk.”
Although she herself did not eat eggs every day at school, every time she went home, her parents would cook her eggs and braised pork.
“Aibao, the students in your class are city folks who can afford such meals, but we rural people are poor. Auntie hasn’t had an egg in nearly a month,” Sun Lixia said sarcastically, determined not to let San Ya snatch her sons’ portion.
She had even begun to dislike Lin Aibao because she always took that dead girl’s side!
Jiang Changhai couldn’t be bothered with her and directly discussed with the most authoritative person in the house, Jiang Dashan, “Dad, think about it, Mianmian only needs to eat eggs for two months, and besides saving two yuan, she could also earn a bunch for the house at the end of the term. By then, who in the entire village wouldn’t envy the Old Jiang Family? This is a great deal!”
Listening to his firm belief that his daughter could come first place, Jiang Changtao couldn’t help but say, “Big brother, it’s still not certain whether San Ya can make it to fourth grade or not.”
Dad, please don’t be fooled by big brother!
However, Jiang Dashan felt his eldest son made some sense, so after pondering for a moment, he looked at Jiang Mianmian and asked, “San Ya, can you master everything in two months?”
His tone and expression were very serious, and everyone else looked over, suddenly putting Mianmian under pressure to perform.
Her academically challenged nature reemerged, and she began to have doubts in her heart.
She couldn’t guarantee it!
Feeling her hesitation, the system hurriedly comforted her, “Host, don’t worry, the knowledge from first to third grade is very simple, and for every book you finish, you can earn intelligence points to increase your IQ.”
Jiang Mianmian felt reassured after hearing this, and remembering the delicious large meat buns, she finally mustered the courage and said, “I can!”
After speaking, seeing that Grandpa was still staring at her intently, she puffed out her small chest and repeated with full confidence, “Grandpa, I can do it!”
Jiang Dashan then shifted his gaze away, “Old lady, from now on, cook an egg for San Ya every day.”
Upon hearing this, besides the couple from the big house who were thrilled, everyone else was dumbfounded—that was sixty eggs in two months!
Zhang Guihua shrieked, “Old man, we don’t have that many eggs at home!”
Jiang Changhai jumped in again, “We have three chickens at home. If Mianmian has one egg a day, there are still two left.”
“Dream on, you think those chickens lay eggs every day!” the old lady glared at him disapprovingly, “Besides, the eggs at home are for trading for kerosene and occasionally for supplementing the family’s diet.”
Realizing there really were not many eggs at home, Jiang Dashan hesitated for a moment and then said, “Zhiwen and Zhiwu will also not go to school for these two months, and they’ll just temporarily stop eating eggs.”
“Dad?!” Sun Lixia stared wide-eyed in disbelief. Was her father-in-law losing his mind?
Zhiwen and Zhiwu were the boys meant to carry on the Jiang Family lineage!
Yet, Jiang Dashan said solemnly, “That’s settled then. Go and cook now.”
As the head of the family, his decision was final, and no matter how reluctant the others were, they had no choice but to comply.
But Sun Lixia wasn’t satisfied!
Why should her sons’ eggs be rationed to pay for the loser?!
If outsiders knew about it, who knows how they’d mock her!