Mr. Xie truly lived up to his title as factory director; he was ticulous and always had a backup plan.
Mr. Xie then looked at Jie Jingchen, who was lying on the bed. Seeing his fourth son’s condition, he couldn’t help but wonder, ’In Xiao Si’s state, can he really be of any help?’
"Xiao Si, is your back feeling any better?" Mr. Xie asked with concern.
"A little better," Jie Jingchen replied.
Qin i turned her head to look at Jie Jingchen and jumped in surprise. ’Why is he lying down now? Wasn’t he just sitting up in bed reading a book?’
"Don’t be in a hurry to go back to work at the factory. Rest well at ho. A back injury is nothing to be careless about." Mr. Xie had high hopes for this son. He had agreed to let him join the army, not expecting him to bring glory to his ancestors, but hoping he would serve and protect the country. He never imagined that his son would be injured and forced to retire just when his future seed so bright. It was such a pity.
Jie Jingchen nodded.
Mr. Xie then said to Qin i, "Xiao i! You’re a good child. This must be hard on you."
Mrs. Xie expected Qin i to follow Mr. Xie’s lead and say it wasn’t hard at all. But instead, Qin i said, "Thank you for your consideration, Dad."
Qin i’s response completely threw Mr. Xie off. How was he supposed to reply to that?
Jie Jingchen’s eyes narrowed slightly. He shot Qin i a look, his thin lips pressed into a firm line, his face a mask of displeasure.
"Alright, it’s getting late. Xiao i still has to treat Jing Qi’s leg tomorrow. We shouldn’t disturb their rest," Mrs. Xie said, pulling Mr. Xie to his feet. Before leaving, she asked, "Xiao i, have you two had dinner yet?"
"No," Qin i answered truthfully.
Mrs. Xie stopped in her tracks. She glanced at her son lying on the bed, then looked at Qin i and said in a scolding tone, "You silly girl, why didn’t you say so earlier? Your father and I could have brought sothing back for you. What would you like to eat?"
Qin i’s heart leaped with joy. Just as she was about to place her order, Mrs. Xie added, "I’ll go make you two a couple bowls of noodles."
Qin i’s face fell. She really wanted to say that she didn’t eat noodles, but facing her mother-in-law, she was too embarrassed to say it out loud.
"Mom, I don’t want noodles. I want congee," Jie Jingchen said.
Mrs. Xie shot him a glare, then asked Qin i, "Xiao i, what about you?"
"I’m fine with anything," Qin i said agreeably. Congee was better than noodles. She shot Jie Jingchen a grateful look and then reminded her, "Mom, Jing Qi hasn’t eaten either."
"Jing Qi already ate. Her third sister-in-law prepared her dinner," Mrs. Xie said with a smile.
Qin i fell silent. ’So envious!’ The three of them had co ho together, but while their dinner was up in the air, Jing Qi’s had already been prepared by soone else.
Qin i saw Mr. and Mrs. Xie to the door. After closing it, she folded her arms, leaned back against the door, and looked at Jie Jingchen with great interest.
Jie Jingchen sat up and explained, "My mom only knows how to make noodles and congee."
Qin i’s gaze faltered for a second, then she said irritably, "I’m not a picky eater."
’This guy actually misunderstood . I may not like noodle dishes, but as long as it’s made from rice, I like it. I even like congee. Eating congee for dinner is good for digestion anyway.’
Jie Jingchen gave her a disdainful look. ’Not a picky eater? How dare she say that.’
"Jie Jingchen, do you not like working at the machinery factory?" Qin i asked. The impression Jie Jingchen gave her was that he wasn’t very passionate about his job.
Jie Jingchen’s gaze dimd as he lowered his head, remaining silent. It was true, he didn’t like it.
Between the machinery factory and the army, he much preferred the army.
"Jie Jingchen." Qin i walked over to him, stood by the bed, and looked at him with a serious expression. "Do you want to take the exam to get into university?"
Suddenly, Jie Jingchen looked up, his gaze deep and probing. ’She actually used the word "exam." Doesn’t she know that you need a recomndation letter to get into university?’
With his parents’ connections, it wouldn’t be hard for them to get him a university recomndation letter.
Qin i took a deep breath and said cryptically, "Jie Jingchen, opportunity always favors the prepared mind. That’s the only way you’ll be able to stand out when it’s like a million soldiers fighting to cross a single-plank bridge."
’In a few months, the college entrance exam will be reinstated to select talented people.’
’A good education is really important. It’s the key to moving up in social class.’
"What are you trying to say?" Jie Jingchen’s brows furrowed.
"I..." Qin i didn’t know how to explain. He probably wouldn’t believe her if she told him directly. She nervously picked at her fingertips. ’Forget it, let him think what he wants.’ "I’m just being crazy."
"Then go ahead and be crazy," Jie Jingchen said, picking up his book to read again.
Qin i gritted her teeth and glared at Jie Jingchen. ’What do I do? I have a massive urge to crack open that thick skull of his.’
"Qin i." Jie Jingchen looked up, his expression just as serious as hers had been. "Do *you* want to go to university?"
"..." Qin i was speechless.
’How did he turn the question back on ?’
"Mom and Dad have connections. They can figure out a way to get you a recomndation letter." The implication was clear: if Qin i wanted to go to university, he would talk to his parents about it.
Qin i’s mouth twitched. She glared at Jie Jingchen and snapped, "What’s an illiterate person like going to do at a university? I can’t even figure out what one plus one is, and you’re talking about university? You’ve got a wilder imagination than I do."
"Are you really illiterate?" Jie Jingchen stared at her, his eyes sharp and suspicious. ’She can read newspapers, read books, and write prescriptions. For an illiterate person, she’s certainly full of surprises.’
Qin i’s eyes narrowed for a mont, and then she burst out laughing. "Hahaha, you found out! Alright, I’ll lay my cards on the table. I’m a scholarly genius, fluent in several languages, and my dical skills are extraordinary. Especially in Chinese dicine—my hands can practically bring the dead back to life."
Qin i was telling the truth, but unfortunately, Jie Jingchen didn’t believe her. He was convinced she was just lashing out in anger.
"Qin i." Jie Jingchen sounded helpless. He raised a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose.
"You don’t believe ?" Qin i furrowed her brow, held out her hands, and shrugged. "Fine, don’t believe then."
Qin i turned and walked out of the room with her head held high, as proud as a peacock.
Qin i went to the kitchen, where Mrs. Xie was cooking on the honeycomb coal stove. Qin i asked with a bright smile, "Mom, do you need any help?"
"Xiao i, perfect timing. Keep an eye on the pot. I’m going to your Second Aunt’s place to buy so pickled vegetables for you two," Mrs. Xie said with a smile.
Qin i’s mouth twitched. ’They don’t even have pickled vegetables at ho?’
"Okay," Qin i agreed, steeling herself. She didn’t even know how to cook, so how was she supposed to "keep an eye on" it? She had only drifted into the kitchen because she didn’t want to be in the sa room as Jie Jingchen.
She thought to herself, ’Second Aunt is a neighbor, so it shouldn’t be far. It won’t take too long. Nothing should go wrong before my mother-in-law gets back.’
Qin i had underestimated the magnetic pull of a chat between two middle-aged won. Second Aunt was a warm-hearted busybody who could strike up a conversation with anyone, let alone Mrs. Xie.
Mrs. Xie had been raised well; as long as no one crossed her bottom line, she wouldn’t lose her temper on the spot, no matter how much she disliked soone. Besides, she and Second Aunt actually got along quite well.
The pot boiled over, spilling onto the honeycomb coals with a SIZZLE. Qin i panicked. "What do I do? What do I do?"
Qin i paced around in a fluster, about to run and get help from Jie Jingchen when Xu Chunyan ca in carrying a bucket. Seeing the situation, Xu Chunyan rushed forward, lifted the lid off the pot, and yelled, "Fourth Sister-in-law, are you an idiot? The water’s boiling over, why didn’t you take off the lid?"
The words "thank you" were on the tip of her tongue, but Qin i forced them back down.
"Fourth Sister-in-law, do you even know how to cook or not?" Xu Chunyan demanded.
"I don’t," Qin i answered honestly, staring at the boiling water and rice in the pot.
Hearing Qin i admit she couldn’t cook, Xu Chunyan’s interest was piqued. She looked at Qin i with unconcealed disdain. "I really don’t know what Jing Si was thinking. Teacher Lin is virtuous and gentle, has a good job, a good character, good looks, and a good figure. She’s kind to everyone, and most importantly, she’s an excellent cook. Marrying her would guarantee a life of supporting her husband, raising her children, respecting her in-laws, and complete happiness."
"Hmph!" Qin i snorted. ’As they say, you are who you hang out with. Xu Chunyan’s character is rotten, and if Teacher Lin can be close friends with soone like her, her character can’t be much better.’
’A good job, an elentary school teacher—that is indeed a good job. As for looks and figure, she’d never t Teacher Lin, and everyone has different tastes, so she couldn’t pass judgnt on that.’
"Qin i, what was that ’hmph’ for?" Xu Chunyan roared, glaring at Qin i. She didn’t even call her "Fourth Sister-in-law" anymore, using her na directly.
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