37: Chapter 22: Mutated White Jujube 37: Chapter 22: Mutated White Jujube Lin Xiaoguai scooped half of the finished fermented rice wine fish from the pot into an aluminum lunch box, sealed it with a rubber band, then put it into a net bag, and was ready to leave for school.
“Grandma, I left half of the wine fish in the pot, there are steamed eggs in the rice cooker, and I’ve already washed and chopped the greens.
You just need to stir fry them, I’ll be back soon,” she said to Luo Yufang, who was mixing chicken feed, as she walked out.
“Slow down, slow down!” Luo Yufang hurriedly stood up and wiped her hands.
“Do you want me to come with you?”
“No need, I’ll be careful on my own.”
“Then come back early for the meal.”
The county school was not far from home, it was just a ten-minute walk.
If the school hadn’t required boarding, Shen Xiu would have definitely been able to commute.
Lin Xiaoguai hadn’t even entered the school gate when a series of urgent bell rings came from the school.
She smiled slightly, having timed her arrival perfectly.
Shen Xiu followed the crowd out of the classroom when someone suddenly called her name.
“Shen Xiu, isn’t that your sister-in-law over there?”
In the past few months, Lin Xiaoguai brought delicious food to Shen Xiu every now and then, enticing the envy, jealousy, and resentment of her classmates, who then couldn’t concentrate on their studies.
With Lin Xiaoguai being such a beauty, her presence was strong, so it was no surprise that someone recognized her so quickly.
Shen Xiu was stunned, looked up and sure enough, it was her sister-in-law approaching.
She quickly squeezed through the crowd and greeted her with excitement.
“Sister-in-law, what delicious food did you bring today?” Shen Xiu supported Lin Xiaoguai, her eyes brightly looking at the lunchbox in her hands.
“I made fermented rice wine fish for you,” Lin Xiaoguai said with a light smile as she passed over the lunchbox.
The wine fish can last a few more days without worrying about it getting cold.
I can even save it to eat with porridge tomorrow.” Shen Xiu was very happy; although the school canteen filled them up, it lacked flavor, and they hardly ever had any meat.
Catching the envious looks from the other students out of the corner of her eye, Lin Xiaoguai sighed to herself.
She had told Xiuxiu that they could eat with everyone, but whether Xiuxiu was willing to or not, those students would never agree.
In this era, at least among students, it was rare to find those who would take advantage of such situations without hesitation.
Lin Xiaoguai didn’t stay long, merely telling Shen Xiu to send back the lunchbox when she had time before she left.
Shen Xiu watched her sister-in-law’s figure disappear around the street corner before she turned towards the canteen.
“Shen Xiu, what did your sister-in-law bring for you today?” someone suddenly approached her and asked.
Shen Xiu glanced at the person and said bluntly, “What do you care?”
Although occasionally defiant, Shen Xiu was mostly a shy and kind girl.
But the person in front of her was definitely an exception.
“What’s with that attitude?” Jiang Youliang frowned unhappily, huffed, and walked away with his chin held high.
Shen Xiu rolled her eyes.
Posturing as if he were number one in the grade—my sister-in-law is the provincial top scorer.
You think everyone is within your reach?
Ever since Lin Xiaoguai first brought food to Shen Xiu and he saw, Jiang Youliang had heard about her from Shen Xiaohua’s big mouth and began showing up to chat with Shen Xiu now and then, insinuating that the Shen family was feudal, mistreated their women, and wanted to “save” Lin Xiaoguai from the “fire pit.”
At first, Shen Xiu had tried to explain patiently.
But, seeing that he wouldn’t listen, she grew indifferent.
Who didn’t know what he was really aiming for?
Jiang Youliang’s family used to be quite renowned; his dad and several uncles were Red Guards in the town.
During special periods, they were extremely influential.
But once the Gang of Four was overthrown, his family suddenly had several more idle mouths to feed without much income to support them.
Neighbors, once afraid to offend them, began to express the resentment that had accumulated over time now that the Red Guards were out of favor.
Jiang Youliang’s sisters all married well, but it was challenging for him.
Despite being only in junior high, he was already eighteen due to starting school late.
At an age when marriage prospects should be taking shape, yet none were in sight, gossip started, and his mom even despondently mentioned finding a young stepmother for him after several marriage proposals were rejected.
How could Jiang Youliang be satisfied?
Despite his academic prowess and a continued air of arrogance even with his family’s diminished circumstances, he was acutely aware of reality.
Neither in the town nor in the county were the good families willing to marry their daughters to him.