Chen Lishu: "My child is already two years old."
Seeing her earnest expression, Li Zhiwei felt his heart shatter into countless pieces.
After a moment of self-pity, Li Zhiwei quickly composed himself and, with a smile, returned the apple: "It's a gift, just consider it from a classmate. Otherwise, you and Zhang Xue can split it."
Zhang Xue, hearing that she was also included, beamed with surprise and said, "Really? I haven't had an apple in ages. The fruit at the store is so expensive. Then I won't be polite."
Jiang Yuwei entered the classroom from the doorway and immediately saw Li Zhiwei solicitously offering apples. A pang of discomfort struck her.
"Yuwei, that slut Chen is actually snatching your boyfriend," Sun Ling said angrily from beside her.
Jiang Yuwei said with a sullen face, "Don't spout nonsense. I have no relationship with Li Zhiwei at all."
"Yes, yes," Sun Ling readily agreed. "But Li Zhiwei was clearly pursuing you before. How could he turn around and fawn over Chen? Aren't you angry?"
"Who cares if he pursued me?"
Jiang Yuwei dropped the sentence, walked straight to her seat, and was about to sit down when she paused, changed direction, and walked to Li Zhiwei's desk. She looked down at him, a half-smile on her face, and said, "Li Zhiwei, you're really something. Tricking girls with treats again? You haven't changed your tricks in years?"
Li Zhiwei was unconcerned: "What tricking? Chen Lishu and I are friends. I'm just giving her two apples."
"Li Zhiwei, why don't I see you giving Yuwei apples anymore?" Sun Ling asked indignantly.
Li Zhiwei spread his hands and shrugged, "Even if I gave them, she wouldn't eat them. Wasting food is shameful."
He had figured it out. Since Jiang Yuwei didn't like him anyway, why bother trying to curry favor?
Jiang Yuwei's expression soured at his words. She said nothing more and turned back to her own seat.
The morning classes quickly ended. Chen Lishu glanced at the apple in her hand, then thought for a moment and said to Zhang Xue, Li Zhiwei, and Feng Pangzi, "I'll treat you to lunch at the cafeteria today."
"Eating at the cafeteria is so boring, there's no sincerity at all. Why don't we eat out instead? I know a People's Restaurant. Their chef has good skills and the food is delicious."
Li Zhiwei's eyes lit up when he heard Chen Lishu was treating: "How about we go a couple of blocks over to Xinxiang Restaurant? That one is good too."
"Li Zhiwei, that's impressive. How long have we been back, and you already know all the restaurants around here by heart?" Zhang Xue teased.
"No restaurant, only the cafeteria. Are you going or not? If not, Zhang Xue and I are leaving," Chen Lishu said, standing up and pulling Zhang Xue along.
"Yes, yes, classmate Chen Lishu, if Zhiwei doesn't go, I will," Feng Pangzi quickly stood up.
"Fatty, that's all you'll ever amount to in life," Li Zhiwei scoffed. Seeing them leave the classroom, he thought for a moment and quickly chased after them, "Let's agree on this first, I'm not going if there's no meat!"
...
"Yuwei, haven't you seen how close Chen Lishu and Li Zhiwei have become recently? They're not only chatting and laughing, but they also go to the cafeteria together every few days. It's shameless!"
"Don't mention their names to me again. It annoys me just hearing them." Jiang Yuwei lowered her head, flipping through her book with a rustling sound.
Seeing her reaction, Sun Ling thought for a moment and suggested, "Next week, our department and another department are organizing a social gathering. Why don't you come with me?"
Jiang Yuwei looked up, "A social gathering?"
"Yes, the student union specifically borrowed a large classroom from the school. It's over in the Dingzi Building. I heard they've invited many outstanding students from the school. Most importantly, there's a dance in the evening."
Jiang Yuwei was tempted by her words: "I don't have anything planned that day anyway. Let's go take a look."
Meanwhile, Li Zhiwei was also trying his best to persuade Chen Lishu and Zhang Xue.
"...It's not like anyone can just go. Each student union member can only bring one person. You two are perfect. Fatty and I will each bring one. This opportunity is rare."
"It is quite rare, but the time is a bit late."
Having never participated in group activities, Chen Lishu was indeed a little tempted. However, the social gathering was scheduled for Saturday night, which meant she couldn't go home early.
"Just consider it a favor to me. Otherwise, I'll be so bored going alone," Zhang Xue added her persuasion.
"Alright then."
...
"Yuwei, I heard Chen Lishu and Zhang Xue are also attending the social gathering. It's a narrow path for enemies. Why are those two so annoying? They're like ghosts!" Upon hearing that the two were also going, Sun Ling felt both angry and anxious.
She had originally planned to steal the spotlight, but with Chen Lishu attending, who knew if people would still notice her.
"It's their freedom to go if they want. We can't control it," Jiang Yuwei said without showing anything on her face, but the knuckles of her hand gripping the pen were turning slightly white.
"Right, two bumpkins will only bring shame to themselves if they go." Sun Ling said, then her eyes lit up as she thought of something. She leaned closer to Jiang Yuwei's ear and whispered, "Yuwei, isn't your cousin a doctor at the hospital? Can you ask her to get some laxatives?"
Jiang Yuwei looked up, "What do you need laxatives for? Are you constipated?"
Sun Ling gave her a mysterious smile, "You'll find out then."
...
Qingshan Village. Li Xiulan and Gu Shoufou returned from working in the fields. Seeing the cold stove and empty pots at home, their expressions were rather displeased.
The second daughter-in-law was becoming increasingly unruly. Even though she was home, she wouldn't even cook.
"Dad, Mom, go back to the room and rest. I'll cook. I'll call you when it's ready."
Li Xiulan nodded, "No need for anything complicated. Everyone is hungry. If not, we can just have some flatbread with pickled vegetables to get by."
Zhang Xiaoju: "Sister-in-law, I'll help you."
"You're pregnant and worked all day. Go back to your room and rest."
"Working isn't tiring. How about I help Sister-in-law build the fire? That way, it will be faster."
As Li Xiulan and Gu Shoufou returned to their room, Liu Yuemin immediately came out of her room in tears, "Dad, Mom, you have to help me this time."
"Wife, what's wrong?" Gu Xingmin looked at her messy hair, the bruises and scratches on her face, and the grey dust on her new vermilion velvet coat. His expression immediately turned serious, "Who bullied you?"
"Husband..."
Liu Yuemin looked at Gu Xingmin and began to cry again, full of grievances, "Our family is really finished this time."
"What exactly happened? Weren't you at your mother's house? Who bullied you, tell me, and I'll deal with them."
Ever since Chen Lishu implemented 'assembly line operations,' the clothing parts handed to everyone were accounted for. Liu Yuemin could no longer steal fabric, but she had already accepted deposits from others. With no other choice, she thought of asking for leave from the team today to return to her mother's house to return the deposits.
"That bitch Zhao Xiaoju, she just can't stand to see me do well. All five people had agreed initially, but who knew she would instigate them? Besides returning the deposits, they also demanded ten yuan compensation from each person. I refused, and they wouldn't let me leave..."