The next morning, Yang Shuying went with Jiang Xuan to sell guanbing (a type of pancake).

Because of Zhang Junrui's bullying of Jiang Xuan, Jiang Xuan's pancake sales went quite smoothly today. By 8 a.m., all 20 pancakes were sold out, plus the one Guo Caiyun had ordered, for a total of 21 pancakes sold.

Seeing that Jiang Xuan had earned 10 yuan in a short time, Yang Shuying was almost stunned. This was much more profitable than farming.

Her desire to transfer her son to a different job became even stronger.

The fact that the provincial machinery factory could provide housing was attractive enough on its own.

She had long been tired of living in their dilapidated house and courtyard.

If Lu Shengye doesn't agree, she can go directly to her in-laws.

She didn't even ask for a bride price, so they should be able to help with this small favor.

Just as she was about to ask Jiang Xuan to take her to meet Lu Shengye's parents, Wang Yingqiu, heavily pregnant and carrying a bag, showed up at the door.

"Jiang Xuan? Are you home? I heard your mother-in-law is here?"

Yang Shuying quickly came out, looked Wang Yingqiu up and down, and then affectionately took her hand, calling her "mother-in-law" repeatedly.

It was as if the two were long-lost sisters.

"Jiang Xuan and Sheng Ye went out, I think they went to pick up their wedding photos or something. Oh my, mother-in-law, how come you look so young?"

Wang Yingqiu laughed and said, "Oh, what's so young about it? We're all old."

"How many months pregnant are you? Looking at your belly, it's definitely a boy."

"It's been almost seven months."

“You look like you’re only 30 years old. Who would have thought you have a son as old as Shengye?”

Wang Yingqiu smiled, unsure whether Yang Shuying was deliberately mocking her or unaware that she was Lu Shengye's stepmother.

Logically, someone should know something so important.

Even if Lu Shengye harbored prejudice against her and didn't say it, Jiang Xuan would surely tell her family.

This only proves one thing: Jiang Xuan's relationship with her family is not very good.

It's normal that they aren't their biological parents.

“Mother-in-law, you’ve come to Ningzhou. Why don’t you come over to our place? I only just heard from someone that you’re here.”

Yang Shuying said with a smile, "I just dropped my child off at the university to register and stopped by to see Jiang Xuan. I didn't prepare anything and was thinking of visiting you all next time."

"Oh, we're all family, don't be so polite. I brought you a piece of cloth, don't mind it, you can make yourself some clothes when you get back."

As she spoke, Wang Yingqiu took out a piece of dark blue cotton cloth. "This color is stylish. You'll look great in it."

"I feel so bad about this, I didn't prepare any gift for you."

"Hey, what gift should I prepare? I'm so happy to see you, I just want to sit and talk to you."

The two walked into the house while talking.

Wang Yingqiu looked around the room. "It's quite spacious here. Since you rarely come up here, stay a little longer."

Yang Shuying wanted to cry; she was too embarrassed to admit that she had slept on the sofa last night.

well.

The two chatted for a while, and Yang Shuying steered the conversation to the children, mentioning her son's job in the process.

Wang Yingqiu was overjoyed. "My dear in-law, what a coincidence! I happen to know Director Chen from the machinery factory. We met a few days ago, and he seemed to have mentioned that the factory has a few openings. I'll go ask him about it for you later. You should also get your child ready. These things are better done sooner rather than later, so that others don't get the better deal."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Mother-in-law. I'll head back today."

“It’s no trouble at all. We’re family. You’re a great parent. Look how successful your children are. I’d really like you to stay in Ningzhou so I can learn from you.”

Wang Yingqiu's words made Yang Shuying feel lightheaded, as if she couldn't even tell which way was which.

In fact, Wang Yingqiu also had her own selfish motives. She knew that Jiang Xuan and Yang Shuying did not get along, and she wanted Yang Shuying to stay in Ningzhou to annoy Jiang Xuan.

For the sake of her son's future, Yang Shuying had no interest in sightseeing in the city and rushed back home that very day.

*

Ningzhou University.

It was midday, and sunlight streamed through the tall sycamore trees along the edge of the playground, casting a scorching heat on the ground.

On the playground, freshmen dressed in camouflage uniforms gathered at 1:50 a.m. and sat on the grass chatting.

“Jiang Xuan, the more I think about it, the more amazing you are. This year’s college entrance exam math questions were so difficult, and you actually got a perfect score.” Sun Xiaodie leaned closer to Jiang Qiaoyun and said.

Jiang Qiaoyun said shyly, "No, we're in the same class, and our grades are about the same."

“It’s different. My family is from Ningzhou. There are quotas for local students, so the cutoff score is lower than for those from other places.”

“You’re quite the celebrity at our school now,” Sun Xiaodie leaned closer. “You might even be transferred to Dongda University next semester. Sigh, how come there’s such a huge difference between people?”

Several other female classmates also gathered around, chattering amongst themselves, all expressing their envy of Jiang Qiaoyun.

There are 8 girls in Class 1 of the Mathematics Department, living in two dormitories.

After three days of getting to know each other, everyone had become quite familiar with each other.

Just after two o'clock, a line of upright instructors walked in with neat and powerful steps.

They wore crisp camouflage uniforms, wide leather belts around their waists, and black military boots. Their faces were expressionless, their eyes resolute, and their gazes piercing.

Jiang Qiaoyun secretly fixed her gaze on Zhang Wei, the instructor in charge of the mathematics department.

Zhang Wei was a young soldier in his early twenties. His skin was tanned dark, his facial features were well-defined, and his eyes shone with an unwavering determination.

She's quite good-looking.

Although they were all soldiers, Zhang Wei was different from Lu Shengye's cold and ruthless demeanor. He was more gentle and would chat and joke with them during breaks, never keeping them at arm's length.

Jiang Qiaoyun still remembers how he patiently guided her movements while holding her arm during the first day of military training.

At that moment, she felt as if her face was on fire.

Every time Jiang Qiaoyun sees a handsome and tall boy, she can't help but compare him to Yang Hailong, and the more she compares them, the more disheartened she becomes.

In her eyes, Yang Hailong didn't even deserve the word "man".

Oh, how unlucky she is!

"Attention!" Zhang Wei commanded, and Jiang Qiaoyun snapped out of her daze and quickly stood up straight.

"First, let's practice standing at attention for 30 minutes. Ready, go!"

Jiang Qiaoyun felt a chill run down her spine upon hearing this, and muttered a complaint in a low voice: "Oh my god, we have to stand at attention again. I'm going to die if we keep doing this."

“Yeah, standing at attention every day, and with the sun so strong today, I’m afraid I’ll get heatstroke. I really don’t know what the point of standing like this is,” Su Manqing said, turning her head to the side.

Su Manqing is also a local of Ningzhou, and she and Sun Xiaodie were classmates in high school.

The two of them, along with Jiang Qiaoyun and Wang Zhaodi, shared a dormitory room.

Zhang Wei blew his whistle and said sternly, "Those two students who were talking, step forward."