Chapter 44 So... are you still going to play with me...?
Before the teacher could speak, Wu Yaoxuan shouted, "We can't change the number! The teacher already said whoever is drawn gets to be the number!"
Judging from this statement alone, he seems very obedient and law-abiding. Who would have thought that he was the little tyrant in the class, a source of endless headaches for the homeroom teacher?
The little boy standing next to Song Yu pouted and said, "Don't you hate Song Yu the most? Why don't you switch numbers with me? I'm in a group with Fang Xiaohao."
Fang Xiaohao is Wu Yaoxuan's deskmate. The two sometimes have conflicts and fights, but they never tell the teacher. They are like-minded.
Fang Xiaohao stood next to Wu Yaoxuan and excitedly urged, "Wu Yaoxuan, why don't you switch with him? Let's play together and be invincible, haha!"
Wu Yaoxuan said with a straight face, "I won't change! The teacher said we can't change!"
The teacher was inwardly amazed, but smiled and said, "Wu Yaoxuan is right. I know that all of you want to team up with your best friends, but our Class 1 is a big family. Being paired up is a matter of fate. So whoever is drawn is whoever we are."
Wu Yaoxuan glanced deliberately at the child who wanted to exchange numbers with him, feeling extremely smug.
Fang Xiaohao exclaimed "Ah!" and looked very sad: "Wu Yaoxuan, aren't I your good friend?"
Wu Yaoxuan said, "Yes."
He was only close to his deskmate in class; they even went to the bathroom together, so they were considered good friends.
"Then why don't you want to be with me and instead choose to be in a group with Song Yu? Do you want to be Song Yu's good friend?"
Wu Yaoxuan immediately got angry: "I didn't! I was just listening to the teacher! You're not listening at all, you're not good."
Then Dongdong ran to the side, glanced at Song Yu, and gestured for him to come over quickly. Teammates should stand together.
The teacher was surprised to see this scene. Had the sun risen in the west today? Wu Yaoxuan was actually saying he would listen to the teacher and was even criticizing other students?
"It seems that calling the parents has been useful," the teacher thought with satisfaction.
The class was divided into 18 teams. There were five baskets for balls and one hundred small pom-poms. The teacher then divided the 18 teams into four groups. Each time, five teams would play a game of throwing balls for three minutes.
After one round, the players who throw the ball and the players who hold the basket are switched, and the game continues for 3 minutes. In the end, the teacher counts the number of times each team makes a shot, selects the first place team, and awards a mystery gift.
Song Yu and Wu Yaoxuan were in the third group. They could watch how the students in the first two groups threw the ball and then discuss strategies to make it easier to hit the target.
Watching the students from the five teams take to the game stage, Song Yu observed attentively and applauded and cheered them on.
He was suddenly poked in the arm, and turned his head to look at Wu Yaoxuan with a puzzled expression.
Wu Yaoxuan raised his chin, gave a soft snort, and deliberately turned his head to the side.
Song Yu didn't say anything and continued to watch the competition venue. As soon as the teacher gave the order, the game started and the venue immediately became lively. Whether it was the children playing the game or those cheering them on from the sidelines, everyone participated enthusiastically, creating a bustling atmosphere.
"Go! Go! Go! XX!"
"Hey, shoot more accurately! We haven't made a single shot! We're going to lose!"
The teacher reminded them from the side: "You can cheer for your classmates, but don't blame anyone. All the children are trying their best to play the game seriously. Let's applaud them."
Song Yu thought the teacher was right, because he used to carry a basket of corn to his aunt's house. On the way back, he accidentally fell and the corn fell all over the ground. He was very sad when his uncle scolded him.
He clapped his hands happily, sincerely hoping that the children would make several successful shots.
Just as he was engrossed in watching, his arm was poked again. Song Yu turned to look at Wu Yaoxuan, who snorted heavily but didn't say anything or even look at him.
Song Yu felt a little confused. Suddenly, a ball fell to his feet. Song Yu quickly picked it up and handed it to the classmate who was closest to him who was throwing the ball.
Because each team only has twenty balls, if they run out of three minutes, they have to pick up the missed balls and keep shooting. Song Yu knew that time was precious, so he helped out.
But just as he passed the ball, his arm was poked again. He turned around, his voice a little soft: "Wu Yaoxuan, what are you doing?"
"Why did you pick up the ball for him?" Wu Yaoxuan said. "He threw it himself, so he should have picked it up himself. Besides, he didn't even say thank you!"
Song Yu blinked: "Because we're all one big family. He was too busy to say thank you, so I'm not angry."
Wu Yaoxuan puffed up his cheeks, realizing he was getting angry: "Why won't you talk to me?"
Song Yu was a little confused, and pointed to himself, asking, "Me?"
Wu Yaoxuan got even angrier: "Who else is there besides you? We're the team!"
Song Yu didn't know why he was speaking so loudly. Maybe it was too noisy around him, and he was afraid he wouldn't be able to hear him, so he raised his voice a little: "What do you want to say?"
Wu Yaoxuan's eyes widened: "It's not me who wants to say it! It's you who wants to tell me!"
Following his words, Song Yu asked, "Then what should I tell you?"
Wu Yaoxuan is so angry!
"Don't you know what you're trying to say?"
Song Yu was a little confused; he didn't know.
"Don't you usually talk to Xu Shuyuan all the time?" Wu Yaoxuan almost shouted.
Song Yu said "Oh," realizing that Wu Yaoxuan wanted to know what he had said to Yuanyuan...
He thought for a moment and said, "Let's not talk anymore. Game class is still class. Let's cheer for the students who are going to play."
The things he said to Yuanyuan most often in class were similar to this.
Wu Yaoxuan's eyes widened in surprise.
Song Yu said softly, "Don't speak so loudly, I can hear you."
Wu Yaoxuan felt like he was going to die of anger. He turned his head away and vowed never to say another word to Song Yu.
The second group of students went up, including Yuanyuan and Zhang Xiaoda. Song Yu held his hands in front of his mouth like a megaphone and shouted: "Go Yuanyuan and Xiaoda!"
Upon hearing his voice, the two waved happily at him, and Song Yu smiled with his eyes crinkling.
When the game started, Song Yu felt a little nervous. He stared intently at Yuan Yuan and Zhang Xiaoda's team, and when they missed, he got anxious: "Come on, you can do it!"
Wu Yaoxuan pursed his lips, but couldn't help but say, "Why are you cheering for them? There can only be one first place, and they are our competitors too!"
“You’re on my team, not theirs.”
"Don't cry if you don't get first place later, hmph!"
He speaks very fast, like a machine gun.
Song Yu said earnestly, "We are all one big family in Class 1. I will cheer for all my classmates. Even if I don't get first place, I won't cry."
He looked at Wu Yaoxuan: "Will you cry?"
If Wu Yaoxuan is going to cry, then he needs to work even harder and try his best to get them first place.
Wu Yaoxuan's face immediately turned red: "I won't cry!"
Song Yu nodded, his expression inexplicably serious: "Then you are a brave child."
Wu Yaoxuan's face suddenly turned even redder, whether from embarrassment or anger, he didn't know. He felt something was wrong. He was about the same age as Song Yu, so why was Song Yu praising him like a teacher?
In the final second group of throws, Yuanyuan and Zhang Xiaoda made seven shots, making them the first place in the second group.
As they were leaving the stage, Yuanyuan went up to Song Yu and said, "Song Yu, you have to do your best too!"
He deliberately avoided speaking to Wu Yaoxuan and turned away.
Zhang Xiaoda ran over with a grin and shook Song Yu's hand: "I'm passing on my good luck to you, you have to get first place too!"
Song Yu nodded happily with a smile.
Finally, it was his turn to go on stage. Song Yu clenched his little fists to cheer himself on and looked at Wu Yaoxuan: "Let's cheer each other on!"
Wu Yaoxuan glanced at him and snorted softly, "I know."
Song Yu was a little confused, wondering why Wu Yaoxuan always hummed. Was it because he had a cold and his nose was stuffy?
The two walked onto the competition field together. Wu Yaoxuan was the one holding the basket, and Song Yu was the pitcher. He had just been selected by the teacher to demonstrate and his performance was quite good. Now that he was on the field, he attracted the attention of many students.
"Go Song Yu!" It was Yuanyuan's voice, crisp and clear.
The other children in the class also cheered happily, "Go, Song Yu!"
Song Yu held a small ball in each hand, his gaze particularly focused, as the teacher said "Start!"
Song Yu threw the first ball, which bounced off the rim and fell out.
Wu Yaoxuan looked a little anxious and glanced to the side. Fortunately, no one in their group had made a shot.
If he had moved a little to the left, the ball would have gone in. Wu Yaoxuan thought to himself, so when Song Yu shot, he took a small step to the left, and the ball flew straight at him, just missing the right side of the basket.
"Yay! We won!" A cheer came from the side. Wu Yaoxuan turned his head and saw that there was a small ball in the other person's basket.
He became even more anxious, watching Song Yu bend down to pick up the ball, and felt that his movements seemed slow.
No, he needs to try harder. The team that scored the basket had their players reach out from behind the rim to catch it, which is allowed as long as they don't cross the line.
A ball was thrown over, and Wu Yaoxuan tried to catch it by mimicking his classmate's left and right movements, but the ball just grazed the sideline and went out again.
He was getting a little anxious; why couldn't he keep making the shots?
Cheers erupted around him one after another. Wu Yaoxuan turned his head and saw that the basket already had three balls in it, and only their group hadn't made a single one yet!
"Song Yu, be more accurate!" Wu Yaoxuan was extremely anxious.
Yuanyuan had been staring at them, and she was already furious, but since the teacher had said not to criticize her classmates, she kept quiet.
But... but Wu Yaoxuan dared to mention Song Yu first?!
"It was clearly you who kept moving around, otherwise Song Yu would have already thrown it in!" Yuan Yuan said angrily.
Wu Yaoxuan was also deeply angry: "I was just going to catch the ball, I didn't move around!"
Song Yu quickly said, "Stop arguing, I'm going to shoot!"
The teacher was also drawn to their minor conflict. She strode over and stood beside them, watching. Only then did the children shut up.
Wu Yaoxuan, holding the basket, thought angrily, "I will never again take the initiative to catch the ball while holding the basket!" Did they think it was easy to run back and forth while holding a basket?
He was clearly doing this for their team, yet Song Yu didn't stand up for him?
Although Yuanyuan is his good friend, he is his teammate!
He held a basket, cosplaying as a wooden figure, and vowed never to move again!
But a soft "thump" was heard, and the basket moved slightly. Wu Yaoxuan's cosplay instantly failed. He stiffly lowered his head and found that there was actually a ball in the basket!
His pupils dilated suddenly, and joy overwhelmed him. He happily raised his head, wanting to tell Song Yu that they had made the shot!
But upon seeing Yuanyuan and Zhang Xiaoda standing next to Song Yu, he immediately shut his mouth and stopped talking.
After that first goal, there was a second, a third, a fourth...
The teacher blew a whistle, and everyone stopped. The number of balls in each basket was immediately clear.
The team next to them came in first place with a total of 8 shots, while Song Yu's team scored 5 shots, placing them third.
The bad news is that there are only four teams in this group.
Yuan Yuan was furious and wanted to confront Wu Yaoxuan. It was clearly his own messing around that caused Song Yu to be unable to make the shot, so how could he blame Song Yu first!
But Song Yu stopped him, saying, "The teacher is still here!"
Yuanyuan puffed up her cheeks in anger and whispered to Song Yu, "No wonder nobody wants to play with Wu Yaoxuan, he's so awful!"
Song Yu didn't say anything. He was also a little sad. He felt that he could have made more shots, but he had wasted too much time in the beginning. Even if he tried hard in the end, he couldn't catch up with the other teams.
Wu Yaoxuan was standing there in a daze. He put the basket down and handed it to the next group of students.
He glanced at Song Yu, then pursed his lips, hesitated for a moment, and finally squatted down to pick up the scattered balls from the ground.
Song Yu was also picking up small balls, and the two eventually got together, making Wu Yaoxuan's heart jump.
Just like the last time he was watching TV at home during a thunderstorm, a bolt of lightning struck and destroyed the TV. The TV wouldn't show anything, and Wu Yaoxuan was extremely nervous. Of course, the most nervous person was when his father came home and was about to turn on the TV…
That's exactly how he felt right now. He clenched his fists silently, his mouth moved as if he was about to say something, when Yuanyuan ran over: "Song Yu, let's go get some water. We have to go on the field later. I'll throw the ball!"
"Okay." Song Yu stood up and walked away with Yuan Yuan.
Wu Yaoxuan glanced up at the two of them, then shut his mouth in resentment. Song Yu definitely didn't need his apology; he and Yuanyuan were so close.
But he really didn't move the basket on purpose to prevent the ball from going in. He wanted them to win, but it seems like he was the one who made the mistake...
Because after he stopped moving the basket, Song Yu made many shots.
This realization made Wu Yaoxuan feel uneasy and restless. He used to apologize only when forced by his teachers, and there were never any voluntary apologies. But this time he felt that he had done something wrong and should apologize, but he found it hard to say it.
Just when he finally mustered the courage, Song Yu left again.
Wu Yaoxuan felt a dull ache in his heart. He thought that when he went on stage for the second time, he would definitely not move around recklessly.
But on their second appearance, their positions were reversed, and Song Yu became the one carrying the basket. Wu Yaoxuan carefully looked at him several times: "Are you angry?"
Song Yu asked, "Why am I angry?"
Wu Yaoxuan's mouth moved, and after several seconds he managed to squeeze out a sentence: "You can move around freely later, I will definitely make sure to put all the balls in."
Song Yu's eyes crinkled with laughter: "You're so amazing!"
Wu Yaoxuan was secretly pleased, but things were different when he actually got on the field.
Wu Yaoxuan felt that it was so difficult to make the shot. He was clearly looking towards the basket when he threw the ball, but it always ended up to the side.
Song Yu shouted, "Wu Yaoxuan, don't rush, take your time with your shot."
Wu Yaoxuan thought to himself, how could he not be anxious? Several people from the teams next to him had already made it in!
He threw the ball again, his eyes following its trajectory. He took a step to the side, and the ball went into the basket smoothly.
"I got it!" he exclaimed happily.
With Song and Yu working together so well, their team eventually scored 6 goals.
This result was clearly not good enough to get first place. Wu Yaoxuan was extremely sad. He felt as if his heart had been shattered into pieces. He finally realized that his pitching skills were not good at all.
The teacher was tallying the scores for each team, and the children in the class formed their own teams and stood together with their friends to talk.
Fang Xiaohao stood next to Wu Yaoxuan and complained to him, "If Niu Liang hadn't run around, I could definitely have made eight shots. Now I only made six, which is why I didn't get first place."
Although the teacher said not to blame their classmates, it's inevitable that children will talk, and they all try their best to absolve themselves of responsibility and shift the blame onto their classmates.
Wu Yaoxuan remained silent because he knew very well that he was the culprit and could not shift the blame to Song Yu.
He pursed his lips, stood stiffly upright, glanced at Song Yu, saw that he was playing by himself, and quietly slipped away.
Fang Xiaohao was talking when he turned around and saw that Wu Yaoxuan was gone. The boy scratched his head, looking a little puzzled.
Wu Yaoxuan moved closer to Song Yu and called out to him in a very soft voice, "Song Yu."
"What's wrong?" Song Yu's voice was childish and her tone was calm, showing no sign of anger.
But Wu Yaoxuan still asked, "Are you angry?"
Song Yu was still puzzled: "What's wrong with being angry?"
"It's just...it's just..." he said a little shyly, "I didn't run around on purpose, I just wanted to, just wanted to score a few more goals, didn't you want to be number one? I, I wanted to too..."
From Wu Yaoxuan's words, Song Yu finally managed to deduce his meaning: Wu Yaoxuan was apologizing to him, even though he didn't say sorry.
Song Yu was very understanding: "It's okay, I know you didn't mean it. The teacher said that every student is working very hard, so let's not blame each other."
Wu Yaoxuan nodded; he was indeed very serious and tried his best to pitch.
Song Yu said, "Don't be sad. There's an activity class next week, so you can get first place again."
Wu Yaoxuan felt a strange yet warm feeling in his heart. When he and Fang Xiaohao lost a game, everyone would say a few words, although they would make up quickly.
This time he knew it was his fault, but Song Yu didn't say anything to him and even comforted him.
He hummed in agreement, then asked hesitantly, "So... will you still play with me?"
They can team up again next week and try to win first place together.
Song Yu thought he meant they could play together in class from now on, so he nodded and said in a childish and clear voice, "Sure."
"Song Yu!" Yuan Yuan's voice rang out from not far away.
Wu Yaoxuan looked up and saw Yuanyuan running towards him. He immediately stood up and ran away.
Yuanyuan rushed over and asked, "Did Wu Yaoxuan just scold you? He's so unreasonable! He was the one who played badly, but he still blamed you!"
Song Yu shook his head: "No, he said we'll still play together in the future."
Yuan Yuan looked bewildered and pointed at herself: "Us?"
She emphasized the word "们".
Song Yu nodded.
Yuanyuan pouted, unable to bring herself to drive Wu Yaoxuan away, and could only say, "Okay, if he doesn't bully people in the future, that's fine."
Wu Yaoxuan also ran back to his place, in a very good mood.
The teacher then announced the winning team, which was neither Yuanyuan nor Fang Xiaohao, and the students whose names were called cheered!
The mystery prize is two lollipops.
The teacher added that everyone played very seriously today, and each student would be rewarded with a small red flower sticker.
A cheer erupted.
At this moment, Fang Xiaohao came over and complained to Wu Yaoxuan, "The first place team only has three more balls than us. If Niu Liang hadn't run around so much, we would definitely be in first place..."
"Stop talking," Wu Yaoxuan said righteously. "The teacher said we can't criticize classmates!"
Fang Xiaohao blinked, completely bewildered. When did Wu Yaoxuan become so obedient to the teacher?
*
Teacher An feels that the children in Class 1 have been very well-behaved recently. There have been fewer conflicts in the class, Wu Yaoxuan is no longer late or causing trouble, and Yuanyuan's talking in class has also improved a lot...
All of this seems to have started to change slowly after Song Yu came to Class 1.
Teacher An felt this showed that Song Yu's personality was very compatible with that of Class 1.
That day, Teacher An suddenly received a phone call from Wu Yaoxuan's father.
Previously, Teacher An thought Wu Yaoxuan's father spoiled his child too much. Although the family was wealthy and had connections, children need to be properly educated from a young age. However, since Wu Yaoxuan's father came to the kindergarten and disciplined his son on the spot, Wu Yaoxuan has changed a lot, and Teacher An has changed her opinion somewhat.
During the phone call, Wu Yaoxuan's father first asked how Wu Yaoxuan had been behaving lately, and then said that he was currently attending a meeting out of town and had not been able to supervise his child properly, so he asked Teacher An for help.
Mr. Wu spoke very politely, and Teacher An answered all his questions, praising Wu Yaoxuan's changes without reservation. The conversation went very smoothly.
After something was said on the phone, Teacher An's expression suddenly froze, and her tone was somewhat incredulous: "Mr. Wu, you mean you want to change Wu Yaoxuan's deskmate...?"
*
There was an outdoor activity class in the afternoon, and the students in Class 1 used up a lot of energy, so they felt hungry as soon as school was over.
Yuanyuan walked beside Song Yu: "I'll go home with you and we'll eat chicken feet."
Song Yu said, "You should talk to your mother."
Yuanyuan didn't really want to say it. She knew her mother wouldn't allow it if she did. She found it strange that Aunt Song's food was so delicious and Aunt Song was so welcoming to her, so why couldn't she go?
However, if she sneaks away, her mother will definitely be worried.
So Yuanyuan decided to ask Song Yu to go with her, and Song Yu waited for her downstairs.
Yuanyuan knocked on the door, stood in the doorway, and quickly said, "Mom, I want to go to Song Yu's house to play!"
He ran away as soon as he finished speaking, so fast that he was practically a blur.
Before Kang Zhilan could react, she could no longer see her daughter. She frowned, wondering what Yuanyuan had said. She hadn't heard her clearly because Yuanyuan had spoken too quickly.
It seems they were talking about going to Song Yu's house to play...
Wait, is this a game? Looking like he's up to no good, he definitely wants to go to Song Yu's house for a meal!
Kang Zhilan rubbed her forehead, wondering who Yuanyuan inherited her gluttony from.
Downstairs, Song Yu watched Yuanyuan run out and asked, "Did you tell your mother?"
Yuanyuan nodded quickly, grabbed Song Yu's arm, and ran outside, saying, "I'm so hungry!"
Song Yu felt a little hungry too: "Then let's go to the entrance of No. 3 Middle School first, tell my mom, and then go home to eat."
Song Xinran naturally agreed.
Song Yu took Yuanyuan home, opened the cupboard, and found not only chicken feet, but also chicken wings and chicken legs!
He touched the plate; it was still warm. He quickly brought it out and ate it with Yuanyuan.
As soon as Yuanyuan smelled the aroma, she felt her mouth watering. She quickly wiped her hands, ran into the kitchen to wash them, and the first thing she did when she came out was to gnaw on a chicken leg!
Yuanyuan was speechless after taking her first bite. She took a big bite and pointed at the chicken leg, saying, "Mmmmmmmmm!"
Song Yu understood what she meant, and he nodded: "I know, it's delicious, eat up."
He only used three short words, and he also felt that talking was a waste of time eating meat.
The chicken skin is soft and tender, almost melting in your mouth. The chicken thigh meat is also stewed until very tender, requiring no effort to tear or bite; it's so easy to chew. The flavor is absolutely amazing, with a perfect balance of tastes and a hint of spiciness.
The two children quickly finished a chicken leg each and then reached for the duck wings.
The three-section duck wings that Song Xinran bought had very little duck meat in the very tip section, but the braised skin was incredibly flavorful. When you put it in your mouth and suck on it, it was so tender that the meat fell right off the bone, and you could just spit out the bones. All that was left in your mouth was the essence.
The middle section of the duck wing has both meat and skin, making it perfect for holding with both hands and gnawing on. In the end, only two bones are left.
The innermost section is the most delicious, with slightly fatty and tender skin and meat, but that bit of fat is stewed until it becomes shiny and translucent.
Pick it up, bend down, and take a bite. Your mouth is filled with the flavorful braised meat, salty, savory, and delicious. With each bite, the meat, soaked in the broth, bursts with juice. The warm braising liquid is like a collection of all the world's delicacies, filling your mouth with pure satisfaction.
Song Yu ate so much that he couldn't help but swing his two short legs. It was so delicious! Today's braised pork was even better than yesterday's!
I wish I could eat braised pork every day from now on.
The braised meat was so delicious that it was impossible to stop eating once you started. However, Song Yu had learned her lesson and knew that eating too much would make her stomach uncomfortable, so she quickly called out to Yuan Yuan, "Don't eat anymore, we've already eaten a lot, or our stomachs will hurt."
Yuanyuan mumbled, "I won't, I can eat a lot."
"Why don't you stand up and try?"
With a chicken wing still in her mouth, Yuan Yuan jumped off the stool and immediately felt that her belly seemed a little big.
Song Yu said seriously, "Eating too much will make your stomach burst, and then everything will spill out."
Yuanyuan's eyes widened, and she nervously covered her stomach: "I don't want it to spill out, I ate it all myself!"
Song Yu said, "Then you shouldn't eat it."
Yuanyuan nodded, still a little reluctant: "Then I'll finish this chicken wing."
When Song Xinran returned from her stall, the two children had already finished a plate. Yuanyuan's voice was clear and bright: "Auntie, your braised chicken wings are so delicious! They're the best chicken wings I've ever eaten!"
Song Yu added from the side, "The chicken drumsticks are delicious too, Mom is amazing!"
"Auntie is amazing! Are you a goddess?" Yuan Yuan's eyes were filled with admiration. Before she met Song Yu and Aunt Song, she had never eaten anything so delicious.
Song Xinran couldn't help but laugh: "Did you learn your compliments from Teacher An? Yuanyuan hasn't come to our house to play in a long time either."
Yuanyuan didn't hesitate to betray her mother: "My mother wouldn't let me come."
Song Yu was shocked: "Why? I always go to your house to play."
Yuanyuan said, "My mom says I always want to eat, so she won't let me eat."
Song Yu looked at her sympathetically, remembering when she couldn't eat braised pork before, and looked up at Song Xinran: "Mom, let's pack some braised pork for Yuanyuan to take home."
Song Xinran thought so too, and asked Yuanyuan to take some home for Xu's parents to try. She took out a takeout box and let Yuanyuan choose what she liked.
This stumped Yuanyuan. She liked everything, whether it was chicken legs, duck legs, or wings, so she took a little of everything and filled the takeout box to the brim.
Yuanyuan, carrying her things, waved to Song Yu and Song Xinran: "Goodbye, Song Yu and Aunt Song, I'll come back to play again tomorrow."
As soon as Yuanyuan got home, her parents saw the box she was carrying. Her mother sighed and said, "I knew Yuanyuan would pack things to bring back."
Yuanyuan ran happily into the house: "Mom and Dad, I'm not eating dinner today. I ate at Song Yu's house. Aunt Song even told me to bring some braised meat home for you to try."
Xu's mother was powerless and had nothing more to say to persuade her. She had told Yuanyuan many times not to pack leftovers when eating at other people's houses.
Mr. Xu's expression suddenly changed, clearly he had smelled something: "It's braised food, it smells so good!"
Yuanyuan came over carrying a takeout box and said in her childish voice, "Aunt Song wants you to try some too."
Mr. and Mrs. Xu exchanged a glance and looked at the braised meat at the same time. The only warm braised meat was an enticing glossy amber color. The food was arranged casually, but the aroma of the braised meat kept coming, indicating that the taste was not random.
Xu's parents washed their hands at the same time, and then took out chicken/duck wings and started eating them.
Needless to say, the taste was amazing; the two of them ate until their mouths were glistening with oil, unable to stop.
Mr. Xu exclaimed, "Song Yu's mother's cooking is amazing! Everything she makes tastes so delicious! Last time she made braised pork with preserved mustard greens, my mother even packed up the dried preserved mustard greens to take home."
While gnawing on a chicken wing, Xu's mother sighed, "Who did Yuanyuan inherit her genes from? She always loves to go to Song Yu's house and is so greedy."
*
Song Yu said to Song Xinran, "Mom, I want to eat braised pork again tomorrow."
He pointed to the duck wings on the plate and said, "It's delicious, Mom will eat some too."
This was the first time Song Yu had ever asked Song Xinran what she wanted to eat, so how could she refuse? "Okay, Mom will make it again tomorrow, but there's still quite a bit left. Would you like some more, Xiao Yu?"
Song Yu touched her stomach, her gaze lingering on the braised chicken wings: "No more, my stomach will hurt if I eat any more."
"Mommy, we had an outdoor games class today? Do you know who I was in a group with?" The little boy looked at her expectantly.
Song Xinran hummed in agreement: "It shouldn't be Yuanyuan and Xiaoda."
Song Yu nodded.
Song Xinran: "Is it Wu Yaoxuan?"
Song Yu's eyes widened instantly: "Mom, you're so smart! It's him!"
Song Xinran chuckled twice. Song Yu only mentioned a few names frequently, so if he specifically asked her to guess them, they definitely weren't her usual close friends. Song Xinran just guessed casually, and unexpectedly, she guessed right.
Song Yu was so surprised she couldn't close her mouth, and kept asking her how she knew. Song Xinran just smiled and didn't answer: "What game did Xiao Yu play with him?"
Song Yu's attention was quickly diverted: "It's a ball-throwing game."
He told Song Xinran what had happened that day, and concluded by saying, "Wu Yaoxuan isn't a bad kid. He even apologized to me. If he contacts me again, I'll play with him."
"Mom, kindergarten is so much fun!" His eyes lit up.
*
The next day, when Chen Jingfang came, she also told Song Xinran, "My husband loved the braised food I brought back yesterday. He said that with your skills, no one can beat you when it comes to selling braised food!"
Yesterday, Song Xinran braised a lot of chicken feet and wings, and also asked Chen Jingfang to take some back to try.
Song Xinran laughed and said, "Is your sales pitch the same? You all want me to sell braised food."
Chen Jingfang said, "This shows that everyone thinks the same way."
Song Xinran actually had such an idea in her mind. She had braised vegetables twice in the past two days and had also learned about the price of lettuce suitable for braising.
There are many braised food stalls in Lingde Town, which mainly sell pig's head meat with a little bit of braised bean curd. Pig's head meat can be further divided into walnut meat, pig's ears, pig's snout, etc. The prices are not much different, and the braised ones are basically sold for eight yuan per catty.
After you buy the braised meat, the vendor will slice it, mix it with the seasonings, and serve it to you.
A large pig's head weighs about 10 to 20 pounds. If you buy a lot, it will cost about 41. After cleaning and disassembling the pig's head, the meat will shrink in the end. The profit is about 30% to 40%.
Song Xinran did the math that day when she made braised pig's head, and realized that it wasn't worth it to sell braised pig's head.
Later, she bought raw meat such as chicken feet, duck feet, and chicken wings.
Judging from the chicken feet alone, she bought retail frozen chicken feet at the market for 2.5 yuan per pound. A pound of chicken feet usually contains about twelve or thirteen pieces. But if she braised them and sold them, each braised chicken foot would cost 0.5 yuan. This profit is almost ten times higher than that of braised pig's head.
This puzzled Song Xinran. There were quite a few braised food stalls in the town. Since everyone knew that selling chicken feet and the like was more profitable, why wasn't there a single stall that specialized in selling duck necks and chicken feet?
In the past, ready-to-eat foods like X-flavored duck necks were also very popular.
She shared her doubts with Chen Jingfang.
Chen Jingfang was surprised: "You want to sell chicken feet and duck necks? Not many people buy these kinds of braised foods; they're mostly snacks for kids. Xinran, if you really plan to sell braised meat, it's more cost-effective to sell pig's head meat. Every household will buy it; you can take it home and make a dish—it's so convenient."
Song Xinran asked, "How did your family feel about the food I asked you to take home yesterday?"
Chen Jingfang said matter-of-factly, "Of course they said it was delicious! But... if I were to buy it, I would definitely prefer to buy pig's head meat."
Song Xinran seemed to be deep in thought. She thought to herself, "Then I'll try selling braised chicken feet and braised duck feet on market day, but I'll have to prepare a smaller quantity."
As for braised pig's head, it's fine to make it if family members want to eat it, but selling it would be too much of a waste of labor value.
When I set up my stall in the afternoon, I ran into an acquaintance again.
As if she had been waiting for her, Tian Hong greeted Song Xinran as soon as she saw her: "Xinran, why are you so late setting up your stall?"
Her gaze shifted, passing the insulated containers on the vehicle, and she spotted Chen Jingfang standing nearby. Tian Hong's mouth dropped open in surprise: "Chen Jingfang! What are you doing here?!"
Instead of asking, Chen Jingfang replied, "What are you doing here?"
Tian Hong, however, seemed to have a sudden realization. She looked Chen Jingfang up and down, noticing that she was still wearing an apron and knew she wasn't just there to help out occasionally. Suddenly, she exclaimed in surprise, "You've come to help Song Xinran with her work?"
They used to be in the same class. Chen Jingfang and Xu Sha haven't come for a few days. Wang Ling acted like someone owed her a million dollars, saying that the two of them had quit and they shouldn't expect their wages!
Tian Hong was still thinking that the two of them hadn't told anyone about their resignations. They must have found other jobs. Chen Jingfang wasn't stupid.
And here I am today, running into Chen Jingfang. Is this the right next partner?
Tian Hong scanned the entire oden truck, trying to find where Song Xinran had kept the money.
Song Xinran asked Tian Hong, "What brings you here today?"
Tian Hong's eyes darted around and she said, "A few of us who are close friends at the factory found out where the factory manager lives. We said we'd go to his house together to try and get our wages back. But there can't be too many of us, otherwise the factory manager won't pay. I was thinking you're in town too, and we used to be in the same class. Why don't you come with me?"
Chen Jingfang looked at Tian Hong with some suspicion. This sounded like a good thing, but she hadn't forgotten that Tian Hong had started gossiping as soon as she met Song Xinran at the factory last time. She wasn't a good person.
Song Xinran refused outright: "I don't have time, you guys go ahead."
Tian Hong smiled and said, "Now that you can earn money, you don't care about those few months' salary anymore, right? But this is what you deserve. Don't worry, when I go to ask for it, I'll also ask around for you. It would be even better if you could get it back."
Chen Jingfang was even more puzzled when she heard this. When did Tian Hong become so kind?
Tian Hong changed the subject, lowering her voice, and said, "Did you know that the day before yesterday, the boss's wife came to the factory and made a huge scene with the boss? I heard it's because the boss had an affair and the boss's wife found out!"
Seeing Tian Hong's mysterious look, Chen Jingfang rolled her eyes inwardly; they already knew about this.
Tian Hong said that it caused quite a stir.
Tian Hong loved watching a good show. When she heard that the boss and his wife were fighting, she rushed over to see what was going on. When she got there, she found that a lot of people had already gathered in the factory manager's office.
The proprietress's voice was shrill: "Dong Qiang, is this how you treat me? You're using my money to support your mistress! Bring that mistress out here, I'll skin her alive today!"
Factory Director Dong, who was usually very imposing in front of his factory employees, lowered his voice and pleaded, "Wife, you've misunderstood. I didn't have an affair. I was just checking in on the work. You know the factory hasn't been doing well lately, and I'm hoping the sales department can bring in more big bosses."
"A misunderstanding?" The proprietress's voice was filled with extreme anger. "I ran into her and you call it a misunderstanding? If someone hadn't told me, I would have been kept in the dark by you my whole life!"
The factory manager's tone was quite serious: "Who told you that? This person is trying to ruin our marriage. Right now, the factory is doing well. Who has ill intentions and is eyeing the glass factory?"
The proprietress cursed, "What's so great about your lousy glass factory? It's about to go bankrupt because it can't even pay wages, and yet someone still cares about it? If I hadn't funded your factory back then, would you be where you are today? Don't even think about swindling a single penny out of me!"
The proprietress was aggressive and domineering. The boss held back for a few moments, but finally couldn't help but retort: "I am where I am today because of my own hard work! Gu Yunhua, stop saying I rely on your family. What have I relied on from you?"
...
Tian Hong had no interest in listening to the argument that followed; her mind was entirely focused on the boss's wife's words, "We're going to go bankrupt if we can't pay wages." Was the glass factory really going to collapse?
This news isn't particularly surprising. So many months of unpaid wages, supposedly due at the end of December, and now it's already the beginning of January. Everyone has had this thought in their minds, but no one wants to think about it; they just avoid it.
There's no escaping it now.
The factory manager and the boss's wife had a fight and he didn't come to the factory for two days. The old people in the factory all knew that the factory manager had a rich wife. Even if the factory manager didn't give money, the factory manager's wife would. Now that hope is gone.
The factory workers secretly gathered together and prepared to go to the factory manager's house to demand their wages.
After listening to Tian Hong's story, Song Xinran was quite amused. She said that there are no secrets that stay hidden forever, and the boss's wife still found out about the factory manager's affair.
She looked at Tian Hong, not quite understanding why Tian Hong had come today. Was she just telling her some funny stories from the factory to try and get closer to her?
Song Xinran felt that Tian Hong's actions were a way to build rapport, and the quickest way to do that was to gossip and spread rumors about people you already knew.
Tian Hong said, "Just take this as a joke. The factory manager brought it on himself. I really hope the boss's wife divorces him!"
Song Xinran didn't reply and started tidying up the cart. Tian Hong said enthusiastically, "Hey, do you want to take this thermos down? Let me help you."
Chen Jingfang pushed her hand away: "No need, I can manage on my own."
Tian Hong wasn't angry at being rejected. Instead, she smiled and said, "Xinran, your pushcart looks really nice. You've only been out of work for a few months, and your business is already thriving. Quitting your job was definitely the right decision!"
“Back when we were in the same shift at the glass factory, I knew you were no ordinary person. You were so efficient and hardworking, no wonder you’re doing so well now.”
Song Xinran: ?
How novel! Last time you came you were saying sarcastic things, how come you're being so sweet-talking today?
She smiled and said, "It's just a small business, nothing to mention."
Tian Hong: "You're just too modest."
Song Xinran flattered him, saying, "What's with my modesty? Back in the factory, I thought you were the one who was quick and efficient."
Tian Hong's eyes immediately crinkled with laughter: "I've always done things that way since I was little. My relatives used to run a barbecue stall, and I even helped out there!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Jingfang keenly sensed that something was amiss.
Tian Hong continued, "I have some experience helping out. We worked together for several years. You know me; I'm straightforward but have no ill intentions! Do you need help with your stall? My home is right next to Lingde Town, just a few minutes' walk away. It's very convenient! I'll make sure you get everything done perfectly!"
Chen Jingfang's gaze suddenly sharpened.
In broad daylight, under the clear sky, someone actually dared to steal someone's job right in front of them!
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