"Mom, with your skills, why are you selling snacks at a street stall? Wouldn't it be better to just become a head chef at a restaurant?" Wei Deng's eyes darted around. "These days, head chefs at restaurants earn at least ten thousand a month!"
“That’s someone else. Mom only knows a few dishes. How can she be a chef? She can’t handle that kind of work intensity.”
Wei Deng felt a little regretful, as he had never tasted such culinary skills outside of his hometown!
"Mom, after the New Year, can I bring my classmates to eat here?"
"Male students are fine, but female students are out of the question."
Weiden retorted loudly, "Why?"
Song Xia glanced at him: "Doesn't your mother know what you're thinking? You brought your female classmate here. Does she not mind my small rented room? Besides, if you two really get together, I don't want to be serving your girlfriend so soon."
Wei Deng looked around. Come to think of it, Mo Ru didn't know about his family's situation. If Mo Ru saw that his mother was a street vendor and his sister was unemployed and staying at home, living together in such a small rented room, Mo Ru definitely wouldn't want to associate with him.
His eyes darted around, and Song Xia knew what he was thinking, so she immediately interrupted his thoughts.
"Then you can make more on weekends, and I'll take it to school, okay?"
Song Xia snorted: "Didn't you complain before that bringing food would make your classmates look down on you? Besides, I don't cook every meal these days. It's just today for the New Year. Usually, your sister cooks."
Wei Zhu nodded upon hearing this. She had already learned several dishes from her mother. Not only her, but Yue Ting had also learned them. However, neither of them could cook as well as their mother.
“Mom, I’m going to take this to school. Can’t you make it yourself?” Wei Deng complained, dissatisfied.
Fearing he would make a big fuss, Song Xia had no choice but to agree after much hesitation: "Since you insist, it's not impossible. Anyway, the food at your school is expensive. Bringing a couple more meals will save you some money on living expenses."
Wei Deng choked. Was this a case of shooting himself in the foot?
However, if I can eat this kind of food every week, I'll accept a little less living expenses. Besides, I'll get a salary after the winter break!
"By the way, when you go back with your sister this time, take care of her and be careful of strange men."
Not only was Wei Deng puzzled, but even Wei Zhu was somewhat confused: "Mom, what danger could there be at home? Besides, we'll be right back."
"Have you forgotten about that person named Jing Jun?"
"Who is Jing Jun?" Wei Deng asked blankly. "What did he do?"
"A worker at the factory where your sister used to work pursued her for a long time. He's very persistent. He's from the county next to our hometown. He might be waiting near our house these next few days. Humph, your sister is going to take the civil service exam. How could he be good enough for her?"
Wei Zhu hesitated and said, "He probably can't!"
"It's better to be safe than sorry." Seeing her sister's attitude, Wei Deng was afraid that she would be deceived. If she was deceived by an ordinary worker, would she be able to come up with a high dowry?
“Your brother is right. I don’t think Jing Jun is a good person. You haven’t been in contact with him for a long time, have you?”
“No.” Wei Zhu shook her head. “After getting on the bus that day, I deleted all of his contact information.”
"Okay, you're not allowed to associate with people like that in the future. Your task now is to focus on your studies. Wei Deng, be more careful tomorrow."
"Okay, Mom, but Mom, you're not going?"
“Why would I go back? I finally get two days off, and the journey back and forth will only make me more tired. Unlike you, Mom doesn’t have to start setting up her stall on the second day of the Lunar New Year. Given our family’s situation, how can we allow Mom to rest?”
Wei Deng fell silent. In his mind, the more money his mother earned, the better.
The next day, Wei Deng and Wei Zhu set off early. Just as Song Xia had said the day before, Wei Zhu made breakfast. Although it tasted good, Wei Deng was still thinking about the meal from the previous night.
The two of them took a train, which took two hours to arrive. They first went to the cemetery to buy some paper money and incense before going inside.
Once inside, Wei Zhu's mood became depressed. Since childhood, only her father loved her the most, but such a good father left her at a young age.
After Wei Deng finished kowtowing and burning paper money, he went outside to wait. Wei Zhu stayed inside alone for a long time, and when he came out, his eyes were red.
To Wei Zhu's surprise, she actually saw Jing Jun outside the cemetery!
Jing Jun was overjoyed to see her: "Wei Zhu, it's been so long! I looked for you at your house for days but you weren't there. After asking your neighbors, I thought I'd try my luck here, and I actually found you! Why didn't you go home for the New Year?"
Unlike his joy, Wei Zhu was terrified. Jing Jun had actually found her house and had been waiting for her for several days! Even though she had deleted his contact information and rejected him many times, he still hadn't given up. What was this guy trying to do?
Wei Zhu took a deep breath: "Did you need something from me?"
"I told you I'd come visit you during the Chinese New Year," Jing Jun said with a smile, completely oblivious to where he was. "By the way, where in the provincial capital are you staying now? When are you planning to leave? I'll see you off."
"Who are you?" Weiden walked over rudely. "What are you trying to hit on me for?"
Jing Jun, far from being angry, offered Wei Deng a cigarette: "You must be Wei Zhu's younger brother, right? My name is Jing Jun, and I'm your sister's suitor."
Wei Deng's mind went on alert. So this was the guy who was after his sister. He looked respectable enough; no wonder his mother had told him to keep an eye on him. What if he really managed to trick his sister away? He's quite cunning, knowing to wait here!
"Did my sister accept your advances? And you still came all this way here, what are you up to?"
“I have your sister in my heart.” Jing Jun expressed his deep affection, “I just want your sister to give me a chance.”
"There's no way we can be together, Jing Jun. You should leave."
"Then tell me what the obstacle between us is? Distance? I can quit my job and go to the provincial capital to find another one. Education? I can go to night school like Yue Ting. Just tell me, and I can do anything for you."
The more he said this, the more disgusted Wei Zhu felt: "I've said it before, I don't need you to do anything for me, and I don't have to agree to anything you do. Jing Jun, this isn't pursuing me, this is harassment. Your behavior has already disrupted my normal life, and I don't want us to have any contact in the future."
Wei Deng was slightly surprised. She didn't expect her sister to be so assertive and cold at times. But when dealing with someone like that, you have to be cold.
"Did you hear that? My sister doesn't like you at all. If you bother her again, don't blame me for being impolite."
Jing Jun's eyes instantly turned sinister. He had already lowered himself so much, yet Wei Zhu was still acting high and mighty? Wasn't he just a college student?
Wei Zhu looked at him warily and pulled Wei Deng back: "Let's go."
Jing Jun watched her retreating figure and called out, "Wei Zhu, I won't give up like this."
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