"Then I'll have to trouble you, Young Lin..."
Gu Nanxun listened to Lin Qing's eloquent explanation and couldn't help but feel filled with anticipation.
"No trouble at all, it's nothing..." Lin Qing said with a smile.
"By the way, Comrade Gu, I went to the state-run restaurant today. I brought you some food, and it's still warm."
After saying that, Lin Qing turned around and took out a portion of braised pork, a portion of stewed meatballs, and a bowl of rice from her basket, and then helped Gu Nanxun put them on the kang table.
Lin Qing didn't dare to give Gu Nanxun too much food, after all, he had suffered heavy losses recently, and two dishes and a bowl of rice were not a small amount.
"Comrade Gu, please make do with this for now! You've suffered heavy losses lately, so I don't dare give you too much to eat; it's not good for your health."
"Little Lin, have you eaten?"
Gu Nanxun blinked his reddened eyes when he saw the food Lin Qing had laid out on the bed, and then asked.
"I've already eaten, this is for you..."
"Comrade Gu, please continue eating. I'll head back now. Just leave the lunchbox on the ground; I'll come back for it in a bit."
After saying that, Lin Qing put a flashlight, the daily necessities she bought for Gu Nanxun, and some candy, sponge cake, and biscuits into a basin.
Then, carrying the basket on his back and the thermos that had been delivered that morning, he went back.
Back at the educated youth settlement, the older educated youth had all finished work.
In the kitchen, the older educated youth were cooking. The cooks were Wang Xiangnan and another educated youth named Zhang Ju.
Lin Qing walked into the kitchen and said to the educated youths who were cooking, "Wang, Zhang, this is the braised pork I bought at the state-run restaurant today. Please add some dishes for everyone later."
“I built a stove at the foot of the mountain. It needs to dry for two or three days. Then we’ll need to use the kitchen at our educated youth settlement.”
"Lin Zhiqing, you're too kind. The kitchen is a public space, anyone can use it."
Wang Xiangnan swallowed hard and said apologetically.
This morning, Lin Qing told both the new and old educated youth that she would be eating alone from now on. She is repeating it now to make it clear that she will be cooking for Gu Nanxun later.
Back in the dormitory, Lin Qing talked to the other educated youth about her plan to build a house.
After that, she mentioned going to Gu Nanxun's place to cook. Lin Qing explained that it was because it was closer to where she was building her house, and it would be more convenient to set up the stove there.
"Qingqing, isn't it a bit unsafe for you to live there by yourself? Why don't you build a house near the educated youth settlement? At least you'll have someone to take care of you."
Lu Xianghong said worriedly.
It's not absolutely safe in the countryside, especially for a rich and beautiful girl like Qingqing, who is even more likely to be targeted.
In her previous life, Lu Xianghong was framed, which led to her living a miserable life.
I must avoid such misfortune from happening again in this life, and Qingqing is my good friend, so I must protect her.
"Don't worry, I'll take good care of myself. I chose that piece of land because it's spacious and close to the foot of the mountain, making it convenient for me to go up. Once the house is built, I'll find a puppy to keep. If anyone dares to mess with me, I'll unleash the dog to bite them."
"Then build the courtyard wall higher, and find a strong little dog."
Seeing that Qingqing was unwilling to change her mind, Lu Xianghong could only offer suggestions.
"Okay, thank you, Sister Xiang Hong. I'll be careful, don't worry."
"Where did you get this braised pork?!"
"I saw the braised pork on the table!" a male educated youth exclaimed. As he spoke, he quickly reached for the braised pork with his chopsticks.
Looking at the others, apart from a few educated youths from Beijing, everyone was busy picking up meat, and no one had time to pay attention to him.
Having been working in the countryside for several years, the chances of eating meat are now very clear. When I see braised pork now, who cares where it came from? I'll eat it first.
There were many people at the educated youth settlement, so they were divided into men and women at separate tables for meals.
When Wang Xiangnan was cooking, she also stewed potatoes in the braised pork, so the braised pork was divided into two large portions.
Soon the braised pork and potatoes were gone, and even the broth was eaten clean by the educated youth using cornbread as a dip. Now there was no need to wash the bowls.
"Comrade Lin Qing bought these for everyone! We thank Comrade Lin Qing."
After finishing the braised pork, Wang Xiangnan addressed the educated youth.
The educated youth thanked Lin Qing one after another, and couldn't help but think that it would be great if Lin Qing could have a meal with them.
And after learning that Lin Qing was going to build a house, they all said they would go and help.
At this moment, Lin Qing's spiritual spring water was also ready.
Lin Qing took a pot of boiled spiritual spring water and a can of malted milk powder, and headed towards Gu Nanxun's house.
"What do you think she'd be doing taking malted milk powder to that shabby little house so late at night?"
After Lin Qing left, Chen Zhaodi secretly followed her to the front gate, craning her neck to look in the direction Lin Qing had gone.
"Which shabby little house is it?"
An older former educated youth asked curiously.
"It's that little dilapidated house not far from the educated youth settlement, near the foot of the mountain."
Chen Zhaodi said.
"Oh! There she is, a cripple who has lost both legs. What is she doing there?"
Another former educated youth said, puzzled.
"Could she be having an affair with that cripple?" Chen Zhaodi said with a gossipy look on her face, as if she had discovered some secret.
"Bullshit, Chen Zhaodi, did you see that? You're just talking nonsense. You just ate Qingqing's flesh, and now you're spreading rumors about Qingqing..."
Lu Xianghong, who was usually honest and quiet, suddenly went berserk and started cursing Chen Zhaodi.
"Lu Xianghong, have you eaten too much salt and have nothing better to do? I was talking about Lin Qing, not you. Why are you meddling in other people's business?"
"What? You dare to say it but are afraid of what others will say? I just can't stand your kind of ungrateful and despicable behavior that ruins other people's reputations."
"Lu Xianghong, do you even know you're standing up for them? All they gave you were a couple of bites of meat, and you're already acting like their dog? Why are you so eager to protect your master? Did I just hit the nail on the head?"
“Chen Zhaodi, say it again…”
Lu Xianghong stood up. Lin Qing was the only person who had been kind to her all these years, and they were good friends.
She couldn't let Chen Zhaodi ruin Lin Qing's reputation like this. Although Lu Xianghong didn't cause trouble, it didn't mean she was afraid of trouble.
When Wang Xiangnan saw that the two women were about to fight, he and the other educated youth quickly pulled them apart.
When Lin Qing arrived at Gu Nanxun's house, she saw the brigade leader's son, Comrade Xiao Liu, helping Gu Nanxun make his bed.
"Comrade Gu, I've boiled a kettle of water for you. This is malted milk powder. If you get hungry tonight, you can ask Comrade Liu to make some for you."
As she spoke, she took out some of the sponge cake, candy, and biscuits from the wooden basin and placed them on the kang table for Gu Nanxun to eat.
"Comrade Xiao Liu, I'll trouble you to take care of Comrade Gu tonight. If Comrade Gu develops a fever, please come to the educated youth settlement to find me."
"Okay, don't worry, I will definitely take good care of Brother Gu."
Comrade Xiao Liu patted his chest and assured him.
"It's getting late, so I'll be going now. You guys keep on with your work..."
"Take care, Xiao Lin. You've had a hard day. Go back and get some rest. Don't worry about me. Xiao Liu is here with me."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
