"You're actually reading senior high school textbooks?"
A voice full of disbelief came from beside her.
Hua Qingqing stopped writing and looked up blankly. Chen Mengshu, the study committee member of the class, was standing beside her at some point.
"?"
Was it strange to read senior high school textbooks?
She had a particularly deep impression of this classmate Chen. The girl had been the second - place finisher closely following her in the joint entrance examination. She was a highly motivated and enthusiastic student when it came to studies.
After learning that Hua Qingqing was the top scorer in the high - school entrance examination in Nan County, Chen Mengshu regarded her as a rival. Three days after the start of the semester, she found Hua Qingqing and delivered a rather puzzling "challenge speech".
At this moment, Chen Mengshu was tilting her head, carefully looking at the books on Hua Qingqing's desk. Her eyes were wide - open, filled with shock, as if saying -
'How dare you secretly study behind my back!' 'Why is your progress different from mine? Are you even human?'
Hua Qingqing didn't mind. She moved her hands to the side, neatly exposing the books in the middle for Chen Mengshu to see.
"Yes, they're senior high school textbooks. What's wrong?"
Huh?
Huh huh?
She still said "huh"?
Chen Mengshu almost choked. With a serious and earnest expression, she said, "I admit you're a bit smarter than me, but you're only a freshman. It's only been a short time since the semester started. Don't you think it's... too fast to be reading senior high school books? You've just started your freshman year, for goodness' sake!"
In response to her intense reaction, Hua Qingqing casually dropped another bombshell.
"I started reading these during the summer vacation. I've already finished several textbooks. Do you need them? I can lend them to you. I also received some freshman notes. I can lend those too, but you have to return them to me when you're done."
No, she didn't come here to borrow things!
Chen Mengshu's first reaction was to refuse, but when her eyes fell on the notes... Well, she was really tempted.
After thinking about it with gritted teeth, she ran back to her seat, rummaged through her desk drawer, and took out a few candies.
Chen Mengshu placed the candies on Hua Qingqing's desk and lifted her small chin.
"Don't worry, I won't borrow your things for free. These candies were brought back by my dad from Shanghai. I'll give them all to you, but you have to lend me the notes for a few more days."
Hua Qingqing looked at the candies on the desk. She could vaguely recognize that they were from a well - known food brand in the later generations. Then she looked at the girl, whose eyes were fixed on the candies, looking rather reluctant.
Hua Qingqing stuffed the candies into her own desk drawer.
The light in Chen Mengshu's eyes shattered.
Haha.
Hua Qingqing took the candies out of the drawer again. She kept only one and pushed the rest back to Chen Mengshu.
"I'll get the notes for you when I go home during the holiday. I'll just take one of these candies. How could I take away your dad's loving gift for you?"
Chen Mengshu was instantly touched to tears. She deeply felt that Hua Qingqing was a true - to - life person. She grabbed back the candies and patted her chest in assurance.
"From now on, you're my friend. If you have anything, you can come to me."
Hua Qingqing: "..."
How could there be such a one - sided way of making friends?
Unexpectedly, when Chen Mengshu said she wanted to be friends, she really meant it.
As soon as the class was over, Chen Mengshu would come over and ask if Hua Qingqing wanted to go to the toilet. Besides, she often asked Hua Qingqing questions. She even invited Hua Qingqing to her birthday party this weekend.
"This weekend?" Were they that close?
"Yes. I told my parents about you. They know you're coming and they're going to prepare a more sumptuous meal. That's the same standard as for festivals!"
When did I say I was going?
But seeing the girl's eager face, Hua Qingqing felt too embarrassed to refuse.
"I have something to do on Saturday. I'm only free in the afternoon. Give me your address. I'll go find you then. Tell your parents not to go to so much trouble."
Chen Mengshu told her the address.
Hua Qingqing took a deep breath. Wasn't this like the floodwater washing into the Dragon King's temple?
Chen Mengshu lived in the cadres' building. Xu Guangzong's family also lived in the cadres' building.
It seemed that Chen's parents had pretty good jobs.
What should she give as a gift?
This was the first time Hua Qingqing was attending a classmate's birthday party. She didn't know how to choose a proper gift. After all, in her previous life, when there were happy events among business partners, her assistant would always arrange the gifts properly.
Hua Qingqing wracked her brains and finally thought of the most suitable thing!
...
The matter of setting up a factory had sparked a wave of enthusiasm in the two communes.
The recruitment for the factory had caused quite a stir.
The Yu family was even talking about it during dinner.
"I heard the factory is a textile factory that specializes in making bags. They sell them to big cities. It's very profitable."
Granny Fang couldn't hide her envy in her words. "They said the factory is only recruiting twenty - five people, all women. There's an age limit, from eighteen to fifty. Alas, if I weren't too old, I might have been able to go for the interview."
"Second daughter - in - law, you should go and try. If you get in, you'll earn twenty - five yuan a month. The work isn't heavy. You'll get off work at five every day. If you hurry back, you can still do some farm work. Tsk tsk, it's really a great opportunity that has fallen from the sky. Otherwise, they'll finish recruiting soon."
Granny Fang looked at her second daughter - in - law, waiting for her reaction.
Wan Yindi didn't say a word. Her face was gloomy, clearly showing her unhappiness.
Her mother - in - law was so biased. The eldest son's family was working in the coal - brick factory in the commune. Why didn't she suggest that they go and do farm work after work?
Just make her do it! Was she born to be a hard - worker?
"Second daughter - in - law, why aren't you saying anything?"
Granny Fang tapped her chopsticks on the edge of the bowl. Her voice sank, and she glared at Wan Yindi.
The eldest daughter - in - law, Feng Xiang, interjected, "Yes, it's such a good job. If I weren't working in the coal - brick factory now, I'd be happy to go."
Wan Yindi couldn't stand her attitude of taking advantage while acting innocent.
"If you really want to go, there's a way. Just quit your job at the coal - brick factory and let me take your place. Then you can go for the interview at Dongxing Factory."
In your dreams!
Feng Xiang sneered. If it weren't for the thought that if Wan Yindi got the job in the factory, the money she earned would go into the old lady's pocket, she wouldn't have been able to swallow this anger. She didn't even think about her own status and still dared to covet her job.
"You're not willing?"
Granny Fang's eyelids drooped. She asked rhetorically in a rather sarcastic tone.
Wan Yindi didn't look at her. She just stared at the dishes in the bowl. She felt intimidated whenever she saw her mother - in - law. It was better not to look at her. At least she could speak more smoothly.
"Mom, you can make me go if you want, but I'll say this first. If I really get into Dongxing Factory, out of the twenty - five yuan I earn every month, I'll keep five yuan for myself."
Hearing this, Granny Fang was so angry that she slapped the table.
"You're rebelling, Wan Yindi. Are you trying to split the family? Go and have a look outside. Which family with the elders still alive has the daughter - in - law in charge of the money!"
"Your father and I aren't dead yet!"
She poked her second son with her chopsticks and cried, "Your wife is bullying your mother, and you don't even say a word? You're so unfilial!"
Yu Jianshan's dark face showed a look of embarrassment. He grabbed his wife's hand, trying to make her behave.
Little did he know that Wan Yindi hated his timid look!
She directly shook off his hand.
"What are you stopping me for? Am I wrong?"
"I don't believe that Feng Xiang gives every single one of the thirty yuan she earns in the factory to mom. Oh, if the eldest sister - in - law can keep some money, why can't I?"