Inside the textile factory, a female worker said something to Li Wenxiu, who then stopped the machine and turned to leave.
"Qiu Xue?" Li Wenxiu ran over excitedly. "When did you get back? What brings you to my factory? Did something happen to your second brother...?"
"Don't be nervous, my second brother is fine!" Song Qiuxue held Li Wenxiu's hand. "I came back yesterday afternoon. I missed you so much after not seeing you for so long."
We met before you went to the provincial capital, less than two months ago.
"You don't want to see me?" Song Qiuxue asked. "Then I'll leave!"
"Oh no!" Li Wenxiu quickly grabbed Song Qiuxue. "You're my future sister-in-law, and also the matchmaker between Baogen and me. I'm so grateful to you, how could I not want to see you!"
Li Wenxiu blushes shyly whenever Song Baogen is mentioned.
Anyone could see that she was very satisfied with this man.
Song Qiuxue came to Li Wenxiu wanting her to take her to the town market to look around. Li Wenxiu had to go to work, but since Song Qiuxue had suggested it, she hesitated for two seconds before simply asking for leave.
The two were old classmates and would later become sisters-in-law, so their relationship was naturally extraordinary.
In order to please Song Qiuxue and to thank Song Qiuxue for introducing her second brother to her, Li Wenxiu paid for all the expenses when they went to the market.
Song Qiuxue wanted to buy everything she saw, and she always picked the most expensive items.
Li Wenxiu felt the pinch from paying the money, but she was too embarrassed to say anything.
"Wenxiu, I'm still studying now. When I find a job in the provincial capital, I'll invite you and my second brother to come visit me. I'll buy you whatever you like."
After hearing this, Li Wenxiu stopped worrying about the money that had been spent.
There may be many places where Song Qiuxue will be needed in the future.
The two strolled through the market for almost half an hour, and it was already noon.
Song Qiuxue chose the most expensive restaurant in town to eat at.
"Qiuxue, it's too expensive here. Let's eat at home. I'll cook for you..."
"Can it be more expensive than the provincial capital?" Song Qiuxue affectionately linked arms with Li Wenxiu as they walked to the dining table. "I rarely come back, so let's eat here this once."
The waiter came out enthusiastically.
"Wenxiu, what would you like to eat?"
The walls are covered with pictures of various meals and their prices, as well as package deals.
"A tomato and egg stir-fry costs 86 cents? A small bowl of smashed cucumber costs 35 cents?" Li Wenxiu whispered to Song Qiuxue, "Qiuxue, it's too expensive here."
The displeasure in Song Qiuxue's eyes flashed by so quickly that it was almost imperceptible.
That displeased look was as if he were looking at a poor, petty citizen.
Li Wenxiu didn't notice any of this; her attention was focused on the exorbitantly high prices of vegetables.
"Wenxiu, this meal is on me." Song Qiuxue ordered the food generously.
"Braised prawns, steamed fish, and... I'd also like some scrambled eggs with mushrooms..."
"Qiuxue, there's too much for us to finish," Li Wenxiu whispered a reminder.
She discovered that Song Qiuxue always ordered expensive items.
"Let's add another plate of smashed cucumber," Song Qiuxue said, "and two bottles of soda."
“I don’t want soda, I won’t drink it,” Li Wenxiu said quickly.
"It's my treat." Song Qiuxue looked down on Li Wenxiu's poverty from the bottom of her heart, but she didn't show it.
People from the countryside are stingy and frugal, unlike people from the provincial capital.
"You can't just spend money like this when you're treating people," Li Wenxiu said, feeling a pang of regret.
The dishes were served quickly.
"The taste is just so-so, some of them aren't even as good as what we make at home." Looking at this table of dishes, Li Wenxiu felt as if she were cutting off her own flesh to cook, her heart aching as if it were bleeding.
This Song Qiuxue went to the provincial capital for a few days of university, and now she doesn't even know how to manage a household.
"Wenxiu, we girls should learn to love ourselves and not be stingy with spending money on ourselves." Song Qiuxue educated Li Wenxiu, "If we eat well, dress well, and make ourselves look beautiful, men will love us more."
As she spoke, Song Qiuxue touched the pearl necklace around her neck and tidied her hair.
Today she was wearing a floral shirt, paired with jeans, and a trendy long blazer over it. Her beautifully permed curls were tied with a light-colored headscarf, making her look like a capitalist's daughter from the city.
Li Wenxiu knew that she was not pretty, and could even be described as ugly.
From the moment she first met Song Qiuxue today, she was overwhelmed by a deep sense of inferiority. Standing next to Song Qiuxue, she felt like a servant who paid for and carried bags.
Hearing Song Qiuxue's words, she could guess that Song Qiuxue would become a city dweller in the provincial capital, and would probably marry a rich and handsome man, with a bright future ahead of her.
She has the right to say that.
"I'm full." Song Qiuxue asked the shopkeeper for a tissue and elegantly wiped her mouth.
Li Wenxiu looked at the barely touched food and the soda that had only been opened and taken a small sip, and asked, "Qiuxue, why are you eating so little?"
"I need to maintain my figure."
"You can't eat this much, why did you order so much? It's such a waste."
"We only ordered a few dishes!" Song Qiuxue said nonchalantly. "Wenxiu, I'm treating you to dinner. You just need to say thank you. Why make such a fuss?"
Li Wenxiu didn't know what else to say.
Song Qiuxue rummaged through her handbag and saw several dozen yuan in cash inside. "Wenxiu, I didn't bring that much money with me. Could you pay for this for me? I'll pay you back when we get home."
Li Wenxiu felt embarrassed to refuse, so she called the shopkeeper over to settle the bill.
"It's twelve dollars and eighty cents in total."
"So expensive?" Li Wenxiu's jaw almost dropped in shock.
She works herself to the bone for a month and only earns a little over twenty yuan. She even gets penalized for taking time off.
Song Baogen works as a technician, earning only thirty or forty yuan a month. He can only earn fifty yuan when he works overtime every day and earns a good salary, and sixty yuan is the maximum he can make.
Song Qiuxue's meal cost half a month's salary.
"Wenxiu, hurry up and pay!" Song Qiuxue urged.
Li Wenxiu took out all the money she had on her. She had asked the factory for an advance on last month's wages when she took leave, thinking she would accompany her future sister-in-law to the market and give her some money to buy her something as a token of appreciation. However, she did not expect that the 28 yuan she had earned from working overtime last month would all be spent.
When Li Wenxiu finished paying and was about to leave, she wanted to pack the food up.
Song Qiuxue objected, "You can barely carry all this stuff. These dishes are all oily and will spill everywhere."
"You bought all these bags. If you help me carry a few, I can free up my hands to carry the groceries."
"My hands hurt, I can't carry them," Song Qiuxue said with a smile. "Wenxiu, don't take these dishes. Although the temperature has dropped now, it's still high during the day, and the vegetables will spoil if you take them home. Besides, the restaurant won't let us pack them up, right, boss?"
From the moment Song Qiuxue entered the store, the shopkeeper gave her a second look because of her outfit. At this moment, the shopkeeper immediately cooperated and said, "Our store does not allow takeout; you can only eat in the store."
Li Wenxiu had no choice but to pick up her chopsticks and stuff the rest of the food and a bottle of soda into her stomach so as not to waste any.
She ate until she felt like throwing up; her stomach was so full she couldn't hold anything more, yet she still stuffed more into her mouth.
Seeing her like this, Song Qiuxue muttered disdainfully under her breath, "Poor wretch!"
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