"What is she here for?" Ji Ningzhi said unhappily.
Ever since Ji Ningzhi paid someone to smear Wen Qing, not only did she fail to drive Wen Qing out of the county, but Wen Qing's reputation soared while her own plummeted. She cried at home for days, and now she sees Wen Qing as an enemy.
“Ningzhi, don’t do this. Your brother will be unhappy if you treat Wenqing like this,” Zhang Fangfang said.
"I don't care! He'll always protect this shameless bastard!"
"How about we go buy stationery from another store?" Zhang Fangfang made a move to leave.
"Why should I? I'll buy it here!" Ji Ningzhi stormed inside.
Wen Liang and Wen Peng did not recognize Ji Ningzhi and Zhang Fangfang, and continued to look at the stationery as usual.
Wen Peng, in particular, reached out and grabbed Wen Qing's clothes, whining, "Big sister, I want stickers, I want stickers..."
"I'm not buying, I don't have the money!" Wen Liang retorted, "Can you eat stickers?"
Wen Peng lowered his head and remained silent.
No money?
Ji Ningzhi smiled maliciously. Poor rural people are just poor rural people; they can't even afford two cents a sticker. How shameful. Ji Ningzhi rolled her eyes at Wen Qing.
Wen Qing pretended not to see it.
As Zhang Fangfang walked towards Wen Qing, she smiled and waved to him: "Hi, Wen Qing, what a coincidence! I didn't expect to meet you here."
Wen Qing raised an eyebrow. She had no need to curry favor with the Ji family, no relationship with Ji Yanjun, and no business dealings with Zhang Fangfang. She remembered clearly how Zhang Fangfang had worked so hard to play the role of a "third party" between her and Ji Yanjun in her past life. Although Ji Yanjun remained unmoved until her death, Zhang Fangfang's behavior was enough to annoy her. She was not a kind person in her past life, nor was she a saint in this life. She also had a temper. She glanced at Zhang Fangfang, gave a dry laugh as a response, and then turned her head away.
Zhang Fangfang immediately felt like she had offered her warm face to a cold backside. Her expression stiffened, and she could only give an awkward smile.
Upon seeing this, Ji Ningzhi was extremely displeased and shouted, "Wen Qing, didn't you see Sister Fangfang greeting you?! Don't you know any manners?!"
Wen Qing and Wen Peng were choosing Journey to the West stickers. Wen Qing turned his head slightly and said seriously, "No noise in public places."
Ji Ningzhi's face flushed red. The school often put up slogans about manners and civility, such as "No making noise in public places" and "No spitting, let's all be good people." Wen Qing's words were an insult, implying that she was even less civilized and polite.
Seeing this, Zhang Fangfang stepped forward and grabbed Ji Ningzhi's wrist to ease the tension: "Ningzhi, come here, didn't you want to buy a meter stick? Here's a smaller one, 15 centimeters." A meter stick is the kind of ruler used in school.
Ji Ningzhi was pulled aside, still angry.
Wen Liang and Wen Peng were puzzled as to why Ji Ningzhi had suddenly shouted.
Wen Peng turned to look at Zhang Fangfang and Ji Ningzhi.
Wen Liang recognized the name "Ning Zhi." It seemed that Ji Yanjun had a younger sister named Ji Ning Zhi. He turned to look at Zhang Fangfang and Ji Ning Zhi. The two were about the same age as Wen Qing and dressed much more fashionably than the girls in Shuiwan Village. He secretly confirmed that the girl named Ning Zhi in front of him was indeed Ji Yanjun's younger sister, Ji Ning Zhi. Wen Liang immediately frowned and said, "Sister, let's go."
Wen Qing glanced at Wen Liang, and thinking of her two younger brothers, she nodded: "Okay."
Wen Peng was still young and didn't understand the situation, so he said again, "Big sister, let's buy stickers."
"I'm not buying it!" Wen Liang said unhappily.
Wen Qing, Wen Liang, and Wen Peng had just turned around when they heard a voice behind them say, "Boss, I want ten 'Journey to the West' stickers."
Wen Peng was stunned. Ten cards? That's incredible.
Wen Liang frowned even more deeply.
Wen Qing ignored Ji Ningzhi.
"Okay, do you want all ten of them to be 'Journey to the West'?" the shopkeeper asked.
"I want them all!" Ji Ningzhi raised her chin and said to Wen Qing, "If you don't have money, don't go to the stationery store. What are you pretending for? You're really shameless."
Wen Peng was completely bewildered. Who was this girl saying was broke? Anyway, his older sister was always rich.
Wen Liang's expression had already revealed his true feelings.
Wen Qing sighed inwardly. This Ji Ningzhi was really... She turned her head and looked straight at Ji Ningzhi with a calm gaze that made Ji Ningzhi's heart flutter.
Wen Qing immediately turned her gaze and asked calmly, "Boss, do you have stickers of 'Sanmao the Vagabond' and 'Railway Guerrillas'?"
The boss quickly replied, "Yes, yes, yes!"
Wen Qing: "Alright, five stickers each of 'Journey to the West,' 'Sanmao the Vagabond,' and 'Railway Guerrilla.'" Then, looking at Ji Ningzhi's hand, he struck a pose even higher than Ji Ningzhi and asked, "Boss, do you still have the meter stick this young lady is holding? Do you have a one-meter one or a fifty-centimeter one?"
"Yes, yes, yes," the boss said.
Wen Qing said without blinking, "Alright, five 15cm ones, five 50cm ones, and five 1m ones."
Ji Ningzhi immediately became unhappy. How could Wen Qing, from such a poor rural area, want the things she was holding?
Wen Liang, Wen Peng, and the stationery store owner were dumbfounded. Buying so much?
Zhang Fangfang was also surprised; did Wen Qing have the money to buy it?
Wen Qing turned to look at the pencils in the store and said, "Boss, give me a dozen of these pencils, a box of erasers, a box of pencil sharpeners, and two of these double-layered tin pencil cases."
"Sister." Wen Liang, unaware of what Wen Qing was doing, spoke up to stop her.
Wen Qing took a Xin Nongcun brand fountain pen and a bottle of Xin Nongcun brand ink and said, "These are the most expensive, give me one of each."
Wen Qing slapped Ji Ningzhi in the face with her actions. Didn't she say she didn't have money? She'll buy it for you and see who's really broke and who's pretending to be rich! Ji Ningzhi's face turned red with anger. Zhang Fangfang pulled her and said, "Ningzhi, forget it, don't argue with her."
Ji Ningzhi was not one to give up so easily. When her temper flared up, she pointed at the "most expensive fountain pen and ink" that Wen Qing had mentioned and said, "I want ten of what she has, and double the rest of what she wants!"
After saying that, Ji Ningzhi felt she had won the round, her face full of smugness as she looked at Wen Qing, as if to say, "Do you dare to buy more than me? Do you have the money?"
The stationery store owner was taken aback.
Zhang Fangfang was also stunned.
Wen Liang and Wen Peng looked at Ji Ningzhi as if she were a fool.
Wen Qing turned to look at Ji Ningzhi, then smiled brightly and gently said, "Alright, boss, don't bother me. Serve the big customer. I can handle it myself. The stickers, ruler, pencils, erasers, pencil sharpener, and pencil case will cost six yuan and eighty cents in total. Prices have gone up recently in Xin Nongcun, so pens and ink will cost one yuan and twenty-five cents. That's eight yuan and five cents in total. Boss, do you think my calculation is correct?" Without hesitation, Wen Qing took a wallet from Wen Peng's schoolbag and gave the stationery store owner a ten-yuan note.
Ji Ningzhi's expression changed. Wen Qing wasn't going to compete anymore? Wasn't Wen Qing always the one who loved competing with her? Why wasn't she buying anything now?
"Yes, yes, you're right, young lady." The stationery store owner politely gave her two yuan in change, saying, "Five cents is fine, consider it a discount." After all, she was encouraging other customers to buy double.
Wen Qing took the money, pulled Wen Liang and Wen Peng a few steps, and then turned around and said, "By the way, boss, the things that pretty girl bought totaled twenty-six dollars and ten cents." Wen Qing then turned to Ji Ningzhi and smiled, "Ningzhi, I know you have money. Twenty-six dollars and ten cents, not a penny less. You can't be like a poor person like me."
After saying that, Wen Qing pulled Wen Liang and Wen Peng away.
Ji Ningzhi was so angry she almost vomited blood. She didn't expect Wen Qing to stop competing with her and just pay the bill and leave, leaving her with a mess.
“Ning Zhi…” Zhang Fangfang turned and called out.
"Wen Qing!" Ji Ningzhi shouted, but Wen Qing didn't turn around. Ji Ningzhi stomped her feet and yelled angrily, attracting the attention of passersby.
"Ning Zhi," Zhang Fangfang said, "Everyone's watching."
Ji Ningzhi calmed down, her eyes red with anger. Twenty-six yuan and ten cents! She had originally planned to spend one yuan on stationery, but now... She desperately wanted to say she wouldn't buy it, but all the customers in the store were staring at her. If she bought it and went home, she would definitely be scolded to death. But she couldn't not buy it either.
"Little girl, do you still want it?" the stationery store owner asked.
As soon as Ji Ningzhi looked up, she was met with many suspicious gazes. Ji Ningzhi panicked, turned her head, and asked with a wronged expression, "Sister Fangfang, did you bring enough money?"
Zhang Fangfang was taken aback, and said with difficulty, "I..."
“When my brother comes back from Dongzhou, I’ll have him pay you back,” Ji Ningzhi said reluctantly.
Zhang Fangfang had no choice but to say, "I only have fifteen yuan on me."
“Give it to me, I have eleven yuan,” Ji Ningzhi said.
Zhang Fangfang took out some money and handed it to Ji Ningzhi. She looked up at the stationery store and saw that Wen Qing and her two siblings were nowhere to be seen. Zhang Fangfang thought to herself, "This Wen Qing is not the same Wen Qing as before. The old Wen Qing would only confront and fight head-on. The current Wen Qing can trick Ji Ningzhi without any effort or words, and even implicate herself. It seems that I have to be careful of this Wen Qing in the future."
After all, Wen Qing used to be so arrogant, and even Ji Yanjun... So why is Wen Qing like this now... Zhang Fangfang didn't dare to think any further.
Wen Qing had already gone far out of the stationery street.
Wen Liang said unhappily, "If you're going to be angry, then be angry. Why buy all this stuff? It's a waste of money!"
Wen Qing said, "I wasn't acting out of spite."
Wen Liang looked at her, indicating his disbelief.
Wen Qing explained, “Two pencil cases, one for you and one for Pengpeng. Ten pencils, five pencil sharpeners, and five rulers each. Besides what you, I, and Pengpeng use, Aunt Xiao’s tailor shop keeps at least two sets for making clothes, and we keep one set at home for making clothes as well. I’m taking one set to school to make clothes and do homework at the same time. I still think it’s not enough.”
After Wen Qing explained, Wen Liang immediately understood that Wen Qing had planned everything: "What about Ji Ningzhi?"
It turned out that Wen Liang had guessed that she was Ji Ningzhi. Wen Qing smiled and said, "It doesn't matter. She can use it until she graduates from university."
Wen Peng said seriously, "Big sister, ten bottles of ink will go bad before I even graduate from university."
"You're so good at talking," Wen Liang said seriously.
Wen Qing smiled and patted Wen Peng's head.
Ji Ningzhi and Zhang Fangfang, who were at the stationery store, came out carrying a large pile of things, both of them looking somewhat annoyed.
Zhang Fangfang was even a little angry with Ji Ningzhi for being so easily provoked by Wen Qing.
Ji Ningzhi was also somewhat dissatisfied with Zhang Fangfang, who said she would take her shopping, but only brought fifteen yuan. Together, the two of them had twenty-six yuan, and they were still short one cent from the stationery store owner.
The stationery store owner was all smiles, planning to give Wen Qing a discount next time she came to buy stationery. He'd made quite a bit of money today because of those few words from the girl.
Meanwhile, Wen Qing, Wen Liang, and Wen Peng had already gone to Aunt Xiao's tailor shop, leaving two sets of rulers, pencils, erasers, and pencil sharpeners at the shop. Then, they took Wen Liang and Wen Peng to the market to buy fresh meat, planning to make dumplings together as a family before heading off to school.
After everything was finished, the three siblings walked along the dirt road, chatting happily.
Wen Peng clutched the sticker tightly, feeling secretly delighted.
"Look how happy you are." Wen Liang deliberately rolled his eyes at Wen Peng.
Wen Qing said, "Pengpeng, study hard."
"Okay," Wen Peng replied.
After returning home, the family ate some pork and celery dumplings and then began discussing Wenqing's schooling.
High schools in this era were different from those in later years. Except for textbooks, everything else had to be brought by the students themselves: blankets, sheets, food, white porcelain jars for serving meals, and clothes. There were no school uniforms, although there were, but no one could afford them. So, only a few wealthy students wore school uniforms.
Two days in advance, Yao Shiling found the best quilt in the house, the one with the fewest patches. The newest quilt was actually made two years ago. She tied it up tightly and kept saying, "Wen Qing, when you get to school, don't be so strong-willed. If someone says something to you, just bear with it and don't cause trouble, okay?"
Wen Qing tidied up her books and nodded, "Okay."
"Don't speak impulsively, or you'll upset people and your classmates will ostracize you."
"good."
"Eat more when you eat, don't starve yourself."
"Okay, I understand."
"When you're not in class, stay at school and don't wander around. There are a lot of bad people around, and you're a girl."
"Um."
"Don't get too close to boys, it's not a good influence. Wait until you're in college before you start dating, okay?"
"Mom, I understand."
Yao Shiling gave instructions one by one, and looking at the packed quilt, she said, "Wen Qing, is this quilt thin? It's almost September, and it will get cold after a rain. Won't you be cold?" Yao Shiling became worried.
Wen Qing smiled and said, "Mom, don't bring the blankets, they're too heavy. I'll buy new ones there."
“Buying a new one is too expensive. This is a quilt made from cotton from home, it’s really warm. The ones you buy are all fake.” Yao Shiling said, turning around to get a canning jar.
Wen Qing asked curiously, "Mom, what is this?"
“Soybean paste,” Yao Shiling said. “I heard from your Aunt Wang today that the students are all living in poverty. There’s a boy from Shanwan Village who goes to a vocational school. He walks home every week saying that the food in the canteen is not good. As soon as he gets home, he takes half a bag of coarse flour cakes and a bottle of soybean paste to school to eat.”
Wen Qing smiled, saying that life was hard, but it was also because they were poor and couldn't afford to eat in the cafeteria.
“I mixed shredded meat into this bean paste. If the food in the cafeteria isn’t good, you can eat this with it.” Yao Shiling said, then picked up a white porcelain jar and said, “And this, this is fried beans mixed with flour, you can eat it as a snack.”
"Mom, I'll definitely come back once a month, so don't make me move the whole house. I'll keep this soybean paste, but you can leave the rest for Liangliang and Pengpeng," Wen Qing said with a smile.
“They can eat anything at home, so bring them everything.”
Wen Qing was at a loss. After packing everything, the things she had to carry were heavier than she was. In the end, she had to persuade Yao Shiling to reduce the weight by half. But Yao Shiling was still worried and stuffed some more things into Wen Qing's bag.
The night before I left.
Wen Qing gave Wen Liang twenty yuan and Wen Peng ten yuan, telling them to pay their tuition tomorrow and keep the rest for themselves. She also gave Yao Shiling one hundred yuan, telling her not to be stingy, to eat and drink well, as Wen Liang and Wen Peng were still growing.
Yao Shiling responded with red eyes.
Wen Peng burst into tears: "Big sister, when are you coming back?"
Wen Qing smiled and touched Wen Peng's chubby, dark face: "I haven't left yet."
"I don't want you to leave," Wen Peng said.
“I come back at least once a month.”
"Then I'll pick you up in the county town."
"good."
The next morning, Wen Liang and Wen Peng put on new clothes and shoes, carried new schoolbags, and said a reluctant goodbye to Wen Qing before heading to their school to register.
Yao Shiling then used an oxcart to carry Wen Qing's luggage and took Wen Qing to the county town.
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