Zhang Guiying got angry. "What are you saying? Why should I go to the toilet with you? Who are you to me?"

Jiang Xuan smiled and said, "Auntie, I didn't want to disturb your rest. You see, the government built a toilet for our courtyard to make life easier for everyone."

"If you lock it like that, won't the toilet become just for show? And it will also affect the harmony between neighbors. If the neighborhood committee finds out, what do you think they will think?"

Zhang Guiying had no choice but to say sullenly, "I know, I'll open it in a bit, but I have to make it clear beforehand that the manure truck will come once a month, and it will cost six cents each time. We'll split the cost between our two families."

“That won’t do. There are eight people living in your house, but only four in mine. My husband is not home most of the time, so it’s just the three of us. I will only pay one-third of the cost.”

Zhang Guiying was so angry that her teeth were chattering. "You really know how to calculate. Then let's talk about water. Look at your house, you hang clothes out to dry every day, and the water flows out like a riverbank in front of your house. How are you going to calculate the water bill?"

"That's easy to calculate. I'll reluctantly split the water bill with you."

"What did you say? You used so much water, why should you split it equally?"

"Like I said before, there are more of you. Although you wash less often, you wash a lot each time you do, so in the end, you use about the same amount as us."

Jiang Xuan continued, "If you still feel you've been taken advantage of, then you can only let the neighborhood committee or the street office decide."

Knowing she couldn't win an argument with her, Zhang Guiying simply stopped talking and started chopping potatoes.

Having not cooked for a long time, she had forgotten how to cook and was too lazy to cook. She would just stir-fry some potatoes and heat up a few steamed buns to make do.

Although it's a communal kitchen, only the cabinets are shared; there are two stoves, so it doesn't affect cooking for two families.

Jiang Xuan poured in peanut oil, and once the oil was hot, he added the minced meat. Soon, an enticing aroma filled the kitchen.

Zhang Guiying couldn't help but swallow.

Jiang Xuan then added soy sauce and sweet bean sauce. When the sauce was almost ready, she helped Dian Dian serve a portion, added chopped green onions, and served the rest.

Zhang Guiying was stir-frying potato dumplings. She leaned over to take a look. The sauce not only smelled delicious but also looked bright and appetizing.

More importantly, this is pure minced meat sauce; no vegetables are added.

She scoffed inwardly: What a spendthrift!

In their family, the meat is just a garnish; the main ingredient is potatoes.

Then look at Jiang Xuan, who brazenly took a big bite.

Zhang Guiying couldn't hold back any longer. If Ma Xiaolan were like her, would her whole family be eating nothing?

"You'll need half a pound of meat for this meal."

"I don't know. I wouldn't weigh something just to cook a meal, would I?"

"What I mean is that you're wasting food like that."

"What's the waste if it's already in your mouth?" Jiang Xuan said casually as she poured water into the pot. "Especially for children, they're growing, so they need to eat more meat, otherwise they won't grow tall."

Zhang Guiying's expression was very unpleasant. She realized that the person was talking about Xiuxiu, so she didn't say anything more.

For the two of them, Jiang Xuan poured in less water, and the water boiled quickly. She added some salt to the pot and then put in the noodles.

These actions made Zhang Guiying feel a pang of heartache again.

She really knows how to ruin things.

*

*

Jiang family in Hongxing Village.

It was only eight o'clock in the morning when Yang Shuying sat at the table, holding a pair of Jiang Qiaoyun's long trousers, carefully mending the small hole in them.

On the old wooden table next to her, there were items prepared for her daughter: new clothes, a handbag, and some daily necessities.

And of course, there was the sweater she had mended.

Jiang Qiaoyun walked in and said, "Mom, don't bother, these clothes are enough."

"That's not enough. You need to dress more presentably for college. All of this is new. No one will notice your undershirt and underpants. I'll sew them for you. You can wear them for now."

Yang Shuying skillfully tied a knot, bit off the thread, stood up and said, "Qiaoyun, listen to your teachers at school and don't get into conflicts with anyone." She opened her handbag and organized her daughter's belongings, "If you encounter any difficulties, write home. Don't bear it all alone."

"Mom, I understand." Jiang Qiaoyun also helped fold the clothes.

Yang Shuying stopped what she was doing, looked at her daughter, her eyes full of love and expectation.

She gently patted her daughter's shoulder. "Qiaoyun, I know you're timid, but don't feel guilty. The records are all set up, the school won't find out."

Jiang Qiaoyun nodded gently, "Mom, I will study hard and live up to your and Dad's expectations."

Yang Shuying nodded with satisfaction, "That's right. Your uncle will find a way to get Hailong's job transferred, and everything will be perfect."

Whenever Jiang Qiaoyun thinks of Yang Hailong, she inexplicably compares him to Lu Shengye.

She gets annoyed when she compares herself to others.

She quickly said, "I understand, Mom. Let's pack our things now."

"Qiaoyun, remember, when you get to school, make more friends and don't let anyone bully you," Yang Shuying continued to instruct. "I'll pack you two jars of pickled vegetables; you can share them with your classmates when you get there."

Just then, Jiang Qiutang walked in. "I got the train tickets."

Tickets to Ningzhou have been hard to buy these past two days. They had to ask their son in the county to buy these tickets, and they were just brought down from the bus today.

"The train leaves at 2 PM, let's set off at 11:30."

"Okay, could you also check if Qiaoyun has all her documents?"

Jiang Qiaoyun said, "I've packed everything."

“Oh right,” Yang Shuying opened the cabinet on the kang (heated brick bed) and took out a pair of cloth shoes, “bring these shoes with you too.”

"Mom, people in the city don't wear cloth shoes. Besides, didn't I already buy sneakers?"

"Give these to Jiang Xuan. She'll take care of you from now on. Oh, and bring a few pairs of insoles too."

Jiang Qiaoyun pursed her lips and didn't say anything.

Judging from the way they acted when they came back last time, they're not the kind of people who would wear cloth shoes.

Yang Shuying then asked Jiang Qiutang, "His father, are you sure Jiang Xuan received the letter?"

“I received it. I went to the post office to ask, and they said that within the same province, it would take at most two days, and at the latest three days. It’s been four or five days already, so I received it a long time ago.”

"That's good. We're unfamiliar with the area up there. There are cars in Shengye. We can ask them to take us around."

Yang Shuying was excited at the thought of going to the provincial capital, saying, "I've never seen a tall building before."

“That car belongs to the military region, not him personally. How can he drive it whenever he wants?”

"Didn't you hear what Jiang Xuan said? His dad has a pretty high position, so getting a car for his son would be as easy as a hair's breadth for him, right?"

Jiang Qiutang nodded: That's true.

"Then hurry up and cook, let's eat quickly and leave as soon as possible, so as not to delay things."

"Okay, then help Qiaoyun see what else she needs."