Just cooking some instant noodles, Jiang Xinyu was too tired and hungry to make homemade ones.
Forty minutes later, the two were having dinner, sitting in the yard, enjoying the cool breeze.
"Jiang Xinyu, do you know what happened?"
"I don’t know? What’s going on? Is it serious?"
"You could say that. But it has nothing to do with you."
Qian Jun stopped there and didn’t intend to continue.
He had three big bowls of noodles and then left.
Jiang Xinyu was a bit puzzled. It wasn’t a factory issue, so it was a personal matter? It’s been a while since she’s contacted Wei Kaiyun.
Jiang Xinyu felt uneasy, checked the time, and pushed the cart to the factory.
She went into the office and dialed Wei Kaiyun’s number.
"It’s me, you sound down."
"Where are you calling from?"
"Went to a meeting today. The fundraising issue was resolved today. When I returned, our factory manager seemed off, thought I’d call you."
While on the phone, Jiang Xinyu knew she couldn’t say too much, balancing between public and private matters seemed appropriate.
"I’m still at work, everything’s fine, the issue’s addressed."
Knowing Wei Kaiyun was fine, Jiang Xinyu chatted for a bit, hung up the phone, and went home.
Wei Kaiyun put down the phone and rubbed his forehead.
He really dared not contact her during this period; the girl is quite sensitive, Qian Jun must have hinted something, and she got anxious.
There’s currently no major issue on his end, but the future depends on higher-up negotiations.
After Jiang Xinyu left, Qian Jun came out from the shadows, having overheard Jiang Xinyu’s conversation, found nothing unusual.
Back home, Jiang Xinyu took a bath and went to sleep, relieved that Wei Kaiyun was okay.
Entering July, the weather got hotter, the office felt like a steam room. Wang Jianqiang specially came over and brought her a bag of flour; this year, the village planted three hundred acres of wheat—a bumper harvest, easing supplies. However, not much was kept, only about twenty pounds per person, the rest taken by the commune for next year’s seed wheat.
This new flour was delicious with the fragrance of wheat, though dark and coarse. Still, it’s quite good.
She steamed a pot of buns and had Wang Ailing and the others taste them.
"Sis, aren’t they fragrant? It’s a gift from Uncle."
"My dad also gave me some, haven’t had a chance to steam them yet. But they’re definitely fragrant."
"Director Jiang’s buns taste better than the canteen’s." Pan Xiulan said with satisfaction.
On Saturday morning, Jiang Xinyu set off at five to the peach garden, still two large baskets of peaches on top covered with a burlap bag.
Back home, she busied herself making preserves. By four o’clock in the afternoon, everything was done. She kept a pot aside to take to Lv Beiguang’s house.
At home, she steamed two large trays of buns with a three-delight stuffing and set off at six to the Lv family.
The two children warmly greeted Jiang Xinyu.
"Now we can eat, it’s all your favorites."
Everyone got a bowl of sweet syruped peach, followed by a big bun in hand.
"Auntie, your cooking is delicious."
"Is it? There are many buns, eat more, you can have them for breakfast tomorrow, don’t save them till noon or they’ll spoil."
"Auntie, come to our house for meals every day."
Jiang Xinyu laughed, "This Auntie can’t do that. Sorry."
Lv Beiguang just ate, not speaking much, he doted on the kids a lot, though Jiang Xinyu didn’t quite agree with that approach.
Jiang Xinyu brought two trays, totaling twenty buns, finally keeping six for herself.
"Alright, you all take a break. I have to go; it’s already late."
"I’ll go see you off."
"No need. It’s not far, I’ll be home soon."
"Auntie, let my dad see you off."
"Really no need, Auntie’s not afraid. You two hurry up and go shower."
Returning home, Jiang Xinyu thought about going to work tomorrow.
The next day, at noon, Wang Ailing brought her two sweet melons. "Chen Guoliang brought these from home."
"Sweet melons, already ripe?"
"I ate one yesterday, it’s nice."
Jiang Xinyu was generous, divided the two melons into four parts, each of them four getting half.
Nearby, Kong Mengjie watched the sweet melons, wanting to eat some, but there were none for sale, and she felt embarrassed to ask, the more she thought, the more she wanted.
Ever since getting pregnant, she’s been craving more and more things. She sees anything new and wants to eat.
Across from her, Huang Hongwei, while eating, noticed his wife’s expression, quickly understood, whispered, "Honey, I’ll go inquire in the countryside after work."
"Hmm, I don’t know what’s happening. I just want them when I see them."
Sure enough, Huang Hongwei came back with two, spending a whole yuan, which could buy over a pound of flour.
Kong Mengjie enjoyed one, saving the rest for tomorrow. Actually, she’s quite thrifty, but the price of these melons made her heart ache.
On Monday morning, Jiang Xinyu looked at the gloomy weather, wondering if it would rain? She’d rather walk to work since she had her raincoat. Walking back was also an option.
Unexpectedly, the rain lasted all day, and after work, Jiang Xinyu wore her rain boots, braving the rain home. The road already had ten centimeters of water; it either doesn’t rain or rains endlessly.
Back home, she still decided to start a fire, otherwise, the bed would surely be moist.
It rained all night, causing floods again?
It rained for another half-day before finally clearing up in the afternoon.
On July third, at five in the morning, she biked to the city, today was the high school exam.
The exam lasted two days, she stayed at a hostel, feeling thinner after those two days. The school classrooms were extremely hot.
She attracted a lot of attention as a student. Everyone was curious, and she even made two friends. These two girls had excellent personalities, both locals, and they showed kindness to Jiang Xinyu.
"Jiang Xinyu, you’re not attending the tutoring?" Zhou Qingying asked, enviously.
"Where will I find time, it’s hard to get leave from work."
"I don’t want extra classes either, it’s too hot, clothes always sticking, too uncomfortable." Qiao Jingyi echoed, equally envious.
The three walked out of the school gate, coincidentally meeting Shen Xueqi.
"What brings you here?"
"To take the exam. Don’t know if I can get into the second year of high school?"
"Finished the exams?"
"Coming to the city is not easy, let me treat you to a meal."
"No, or it’ll be too late to return. Thank you, Mr. Shen."
"No worries, I can see you off."
"Really no need, I’ve been scorched these two days, no appetite at all. I’m leaving, maybe next time."
Seeing Jiang Xinyu insist, Shen Xueqi relented, realizing it was indeed late.