Chapter 35 (First Update)
After dinner, Luo Yan went home.
On winter nights, there are few people on the streets, and most shops close at eight o'clock, so people have no choice but to spend their time at home.
There aren't many people as energetic as Luo Hong; even if he has to work the night shift, he still has to go to other people's houses for a stroll.
When Luo Yan arrived home, she saw only her parents in the living room and asked, "Is my brother still sleeping?"
Liu Yinfeng: "I don't know where they went to play."
It was pitch black, and the north wind was howling. What was there to do outside?
Luo Yan was truly puzzled and asked again, "Why is there a bicycle at the door? I thought we had guests."
Liu Yinfeng said that her son had mentioned this before leaving home: "My brother said you can ride it first."
Luo Yan knew exactly where the keys came from. She put her brother's car keys on the table, grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds, and sat down to eat them.
She took a bite and thought it tasted better than usual, asking, "Mom, where did you buy this?"
Liu Yinfeng: "Did your Aunt Xiujuan cook this herself? Is it delicious?"
Luo Yan: "It's delicious. I never heard that she had this skill before."
The two families are frequent visitors, exchanging gifts throughout the year.
Liu Yinfeng: "We just set this up. We were thinking of setting up a stall before the Chinese New Year."
Luo Yan: "Then the business must be exceptionally good."
Liu Yinfeng laughed: "Aunt Xiujuan will definitely be happy to hear this. She was worried that she wouldn't be able to sell them."
Then she changed the subject: "She has a lot of kids, and they're all getting married soon, so she's trying to earn as much as she can."
This is mostly in comparison to the Luo family, since nowadays there are many families with four or five children.
Luo Xinmin interjected, asking, "Whose daughter is her third son talking about?"
Liu Yinfeng could recall these news items with ease: "Workshop Three..."
Nowadays, it's perfectly normal for three generations of a family to work in the same factory, so people naturally tend to associate with families they already know.
When Luo Yan was a child, she always thought that she would marry into a family in the alley. Now, thinking about it, she couldn't help but laugh.
She smiled to attract her parents' attention, and they asked, "What's wrong?"
Luo Yan put away those wild thoughts: "It's okay, I'm going to review."
She hadn't been sitting at her desk long when she heard her brother's voice coming from the yard.
"It's me, stop calling me."
"There's no food, you two should just shut up."
"Your tail hit me, Wangcai, are you asking for a beating?"
Luo Hong had so much to say to his two dogs, and he chattered even more with his sister.
The moment he pushed the door open, he said, "Did you see your 'new car'?"
Luo Yan: "I saw it."
He then asked, "Does the old one take a long time to repair?"
Luo Hong: "In a few days."
He made it sound so easy, and Luo Yan thought it would only be a matter of a day or two. Unexpectedly, it was only half a month later, the day Luo Yan went to school to take her last exam, Ideological and Political Education.
She excelled in this course, accumulating the most experience over time, and even her review was remarkably relaxed, allowing her to approach the subject with a light heart.
Liu Yinfeng knew her daughter would be on holiday after today, so she asked, "Will you be coming home for lunch?"
Luo Yan: "No, our class has an activity today."
The students will celebrate the New Year together in advance before going back to their respective homes.
Having activities is better than staying home and studying all day.
Liu Yinfeng took money out of her pocket and said, "Have fun with your classmates."
Luo Yan receives a ten-yuan stipend each month, which only covers her lunch at school. After buying a couple of books, there's not much left. She naturally accepted the money, saying, "Thank you, Mom!"
There are only two children in the family. If we don't spend money on them, who else can we spend it on?
Liu Yinfeng gestured for her to hurry up and leave: "You're welcome."
Luo Yan was almost late, and in her haste, she even forgot to take her hat.
Liu Yinfeng chased after her daughter for two steps, but couldn't even see her back anymore. She could only shake her head helplessly, pick up her hat, and walk back.
Aunt Li witnessed the whole thing: "I think Yan Yan can be quite energetic sometimes."
Indeed, Liu Yinfeng said, "She actually has a very impatient temperament."
Then, seeing her hanging out the quilts to dry, she said, "The weather isn't very nice today, how can you do this?"
Aunt Li: "Hongyu's mother is arriving tomorrow, so she has to wash up."
Liu Yinfeng: Didn't you say a few days ago that you couldn't come?
The city has tightened its control over migrant workers this year; even with a letter of introduction, it's not guaranteed to work.
Aunt Li: "Jianjun got the certificate from someone, saying he could stay until the first month of the lunar calendar."
She couldn't help but sigh when she talked about her daughter-in-law.
Liu Yinfeng knew exactly what was on her mind, and said, "Although we're divorced, the children are still close, so let them handle it as they see fit."
Aunt Li: "Can good feelings fill an empty stomach? I'm worried about Hongyu now. If she doesn't go to school soon, she'll really fall behind."
The granddaughter doesn't have a household registration and will eventually have to go back to the countryside with her mother. But she has been taking care of her like her own flesh and blood for a year and is increasingly reluctant to part with her.
Liu Yinfeng couldn't help much with the child's situation, and could only offer comfort: "Perhaps the policies will change in the future, who knows?"
"Who knows?" Aunt Li sighed. "Let's leave it to fate."
Li Jianhong overheard this and couldn't help but retort, "What do you mean by fate? Everyone has to rely on themselves."
Seeing that the mother and daughter were about to argue, Liu Yinfeng quickly stepped in to mediate: "Jianhong, why are you setting up your stall so early?"
Li Jianhong was still polite to her: "My classmate is getting married today, and I'm going to help out."
No wonder it's so early. Liu Yinfeng: "Auntie, when are we going to eat your wedding candy?"
As people get older, it seems like they can't escape this phrase no matter who they meet. Li Jianhong was used to it: "I'll definitely invite you in a couple of years."
After saying that, he went out.
As soon as her daughter left, Aunt Li complained again: "If I dare to ask her about her marriage, she'll immediately give me a hard time."
Everyone knows what happened with the Li family.
But now that Li Jianhong can earn money, everyone feels that she shouldn't be at odds with her parents anymore.
Liu Yinfeng felt that this wasn't the right way to put it; as the opera goes, "Spilled water can never be recovered."
But she wasn't stupid, so she naturally said in front of others, "Mother and daughter don't hold grudges overnight."
Aunt Li: "Not everyone is as considerate as Yan Yan."
Liu Yinfeng accepted all the compliments about her child without question, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then went about her own business.
--
At school, Luo Yan was taking an exam.
She could answer the political exam with ease, but she would spend half an hour spacing out, her eyes unfocused and sleepy. Even when she yawned, she would squeeze out a few tears, and her vision would be blurry.
After finally getting through the exam, the atmosphere in the classroom immediately became lively.
After the teacher left, the class monitor knocked on the podium and said, "It's twelve o'clock at the door of 'Sister Zhang'. Everyone, don't be late."
Sister-in-law Zhang's restaurant is located in the alley behind the school. Because of its delicious food and reasonable prices, it has become the first choice for students to hold activities.
The whole class responded in unison, calling out to each other in a lively and bustling atmosphere.
Although Luo Yan didn't have any particularly close classmates, she got along well with everyone.
A female classmate, Ji Ning, saw her standing there blankly and asked, "Luo Yan, are you leaving?"
Luo Yan: "I need to go to the library to return the books first."
Otherwise, we'll be overtime when school starts.
Ji Ning: "It's okay, we still have time, let's go together."
Luo Yan: "Okay."
Several girls walked out chatting and laughing, talking about all sorts of things.
Someone asked halfway through, "Luo Yan, where did you buy that striped sweater you wore last time?"
“Horizontal stripes?” Luo Yan thought for a moment. “I bought it from a stall at the entrance of the Third Prince’s mansion.”
Qian Rongyan, who was asking the question, was from out of town and had only been in Beijing for half a year, visiting some famous scenic spots at most. Upon hearing this, she said, "Then I guess I won't be able to find it."
Luo Yan: "If you want to buy, I can take you there. The stall is run by our neighbor in the courtyard, and the prices are reasonable."
Qian Rongyan hesitated: she wanted to buy one for her younger sister, since such a nice style was not available in their hometown, but she wasn't very familiar with Luo Yan and felt embarrassed to trouble her.
Ji Ning gave it a push: "I also want to buy new clothes, can you take me with you?"
Luo Yan: "Of course."
Ji Ning: "Then why not do it now, right after we finish eating? I take the train home early tomorrow morning."
She was the leader among them, and almost everyone responded when she spoke.
Luo Yan rarely goes out shopping with so many people, so she couldn't help but worry about herself.
But now she was in a difficult position and could only mutter to herself.
After returning the books to the restaurant, she was still thinking about this matter.
After more than half a year of school, the classmates had gotten to know each other and knew that she was quiet, so they didn't find it strange that she didn't talk.
Once everyone arrived, the private room was in complete chaos, and no one had time to pay attention to her.
The class monitor, being considerate, saw her standing silently in the corner, so he walked around halfway and said, "Let's meet up."
Luo Yan raised her soda and, using her prepared words, said, "Wishing you a Happy New Year in advance."
Squad leader: "Happy New Year to you too."
Then I took the opportunity to chat with her about other things.
When people ask, Luo Yan answers.
However, since she was sitting while others were standing, constantly tilting her head back was a bit uncomfortable, so she rubbed the back of her neck with her hand.
The class monitor, noticing the details, ended the conversation himself and went to take care of the other students.
However, his actions prompted even those who were usually quiet to raise their glasses and clink them together.
Luo Yan's stomach was churning with soda, and she urgently needed to go to the toilet.
She was walking fast, and when she lifted the curtain, she didn't stop herself from hitting someone squarely. She quickly apologized, "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry."
The other person covered their nose and said, "It's nothing, it's nothing."
Luo Yan thought his face looked familiar, but couldn't quite place his name.
The other person looked at her like a stranger and simply stepped aside to let her go first.
Luo Yan said "I'm sorry" and "thank you" again before leaving. Feeling relieved, she remembered that he was Zhou Xiuhe, the one who had been sick last time.
Zhou Xiu was so sick last time that he was completely dazed and didn't remember ever meeting the two of them.
He found the table where his roommates were, sat down, poured himself a cup of tea to moisten his throat, and asked, "Has the food not been served yet?"
Roommate A: "There are a lot of people here, let's wait."
Zhou Xiuhe: "We can wait, but Xiangzi can't wait for the 5 o'clock train."
Seeing no waiters around, he got up and looked around, eventually reaching the kitchen door.
There were people in the kitchen, but they were all too busy to carry it themselves. They asked, "Would you mind carrying it over yourself?"
Zhou Xiuhe: "Okay."
He readily agreed, but overestimated his own toughness. His hands burned so badly that he had to put them aside after a few steps to cool them down, and then rummaged through his pockets for something to put under his skin.
Luo Yan happened to see it and couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
She went back to the private room, tore a few pages from her notebook in her bag, handed them to him, and said, "Use these."
The sudden voice startled Zhou Xiuhe. He turned around, saw it was her, and said, "Thank you."
Luo Yan smiled and said she was welcome, then went back to drink her soda.
She really didn't eat much, and the more she shopped in the afternoon, the hungrier she got.
But everyone else was very interested and spent an hour or so browsing at Li Jianhong's stall, still wanting more and wanting to go to Xidan Building.
Luo Yan really couldn't take it anymore and whispered to Ji Ning, "I have something to do at home tonight, I have to go back first."
Ji Ning: "Okay, then take your time, see you when school starts."
Luo Yan said goodbye to everyone and slowly walked home.
Seeing her daughter Liu Yinfeng, he wasn't surprised, but seeing that she had walked back, he asked, "Did the car break down again?"
Luo Yan explained briefly, and finally said, "None of them had cars, so we took the bus together."
"It's good that it's not broken," Liu Yinfeng breathed a sigh of relief. "After all, it belongs to someone else."
Then I remembered: "The three parties sent someone to say that your car is fixed."
Luo Yan rummaged through the biscuits in the cupboard, saying, "I'll have a bite before I go to school to get the car and switch with him."
Liu Yinfeng: "Aren't we going out to eat at a restaurant for lunch?"
Luo Yan swallowed a bite of biscuit: "I've only been drinking soda."
She shared her day's events with her mother, chattering away quite a bit.
Liu Yinfeng poured her a glass of water: "Help yourself out, so you don't choke."
Luo Yan: "I don't want to drink anything right now."
She ate the dry food until she had filled half her stomach, then said, "I'm going to school now."
Since it was someone else's property, Liu Yinfeng also suggested returning it as soon as possible, adding, "Remember to pay for the repairs."
Paying the money was also a problem for Luo Yan.
She was thinking about how to run away later, so she wrapped herself up like a dumpling and went out again.
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Author's note: Since I started updating, I've been very active online, as if afraid others wouldn't know that I've truly reformed.
I swear: I will definitely get perfect attendance on this one!
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