Bai Jiaojiao made some fish, as well as some home-style dishes that are not available in the cafeteria, such as four-happiness meatballs and braised pig's trotters. Most importantly, in addition to making some shrimp dumplings for Xu Yue, she also made some three-delicacy dumplings with wood ear fungus, eggs, chives, and shrimp.
Shu Manling couldn't help but swallow hard: "Jiaojiao, this meal of yours is really expensive."
"Since I've invited you all over for dinner, I can't be stingy. You've always taken good care of me, so come on, don't be shy, finish all these dishes and dumplings today!"
Perhaps because of her rebirth, Bai Jiaojiao had little interest in interacting with some of her classmates who seemed to be her age but were actually just children to her. Only Shu Manling was someone she could get along with, and the distance between them made Bai Jiaojiao feel comfortable.
As Shu Manling finished eating, she started wiping away tears. Xu Yue initially teased her, saying, "Shu Manling, people say that when you're full, you don't miss home. Why are you crying?"
Shu Manling choked up and said, "These dumplings really taste just like the ones my mom makes. I haven't had dumplings made by my mom for so many years."
"Stop crying, eat more if you like it," Bai Jiaojiao said. She never expected that a simple three-delicacy dumpling could be so heartbreaking. Unlike Xu Yue's carefree personality, Shu Manling felt more sadness than happiness when she ate food from home.
“Actually, I’m not from Lanzhou,” Shu Manling said, her emotions perhaps reaching their peak, as she began to speak her mind. “In 1969, my parents sent me to the countryside so that my brother could stay with them. I was only seventeen at the time. I haven’t been home since the day I left.”
Shu Manling finished speaking and tears streamed down her face. Bai Jiaojiao and Xu Yue were both surprised to learn that she had such a sad past.
Shu Manling covered her face: "Although my family used to live in a small city, my parents weren't formally employed, and they didn't have a good life. They sent me to the countryside and even tried to save food from me to feed them. They even wanted me to help with my brother's wedding. When I couldn't, they told me never to go back to that home again..."
Xu Yue read it and said with great empathy, "That's just how the world is. At home, my brother is more precious than my sister. But my parents are just a little biased at most. They would never say they don't want me because of my brother."
Even someone as cheerful and optimistic as Xu Yue still suffers at home because she's a girl, which makes Bai Jiaojiao feel even luckier.
When she was in the Ding family, she was an only child, so there was no question of favoritism. After returning to Shili Village, in that backward little village, she was still fortunate to have such a good father and older brother.
Shu Manling held Xu Yue's hand: "So after that, I was completely heartbroken and never contacted them again. Some people in our team said I was heartless. Ha, isn't it just because they're afraid their daughters will see this and learn from me and suffer their torment?"
"You did the right thing! Now you have your own new family, so we don't need it! If we have a daughter in the future, we definitely won't be biased!"
Xu Yue was able to empathize with Shu Manling and felt indignant.
Upon hearing Xu Yue's words, Shu Manling's expression became even more sorrowful, her lips trembling, but she ultimately remained silent.
Bai Jiaojiao interrupted, "Shu Manling, we are now students of Yanda University, with a bright future ahead of us. What's there to be sad about? They are the ones who should be sad. Kowtowing to the north won't help! Come on, eat more. If you want to eat in the future, just come here. We sisters are together, why would we need to miss home?"
Xu Yue immediately said, "That's right! Our families don't value us, but we can't stand it when we prove ourselves. From now on, they'll look down on us and think we're bending over at the wrong angle!"
Hearing their words, Shu Manling burst into laughter through her tears, wiping them away: "You're right, that's what I thought too when I received my acceptance letter. I, Shu Manling, have finally made it in my life."
The three of them had another lively meal. After the meal, Shu Manling and Xu Yue insisted on washing Bai Jiaojiao's dishes. Shu Manling wiped the dining table until it shone brightly; if it weren't for the high quality of the paint, she would have scraped off a layer of it.
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