CHAPTER 224: 224 EXAM

"Xinyu, why are you up so early?"

"This is sugar water boiled sour pear; I thought you’d definitely like it. You can’t ride a bike holding a pot, so I had to walk here early.

Alright, hurry up, I still have to deliver a pot to She Xiaoyun, time is tight."

"I was just craving something sour. Perfect timing."

She Xiaoyun, even more so, lifted the white cloth directly and grabbed one to eat.

"Yes, that’s the taste. Xinyu, there are two more baskets, I brought back dozens of pounds today too, I’ll cook it myself."

"I have to go to work first, I’ll find you at noon and tell you how to cook it."

At the Chen Family’s, "Ailing, could you find a chance to talk to Director Jiang? My friend has quite good conditions." Chen Guoliang said with a smile.

"I think Xinyu won’t agree, but I’ll ask her today. She seems like she hasn’t realized yet."

At noon, Wang Ailing pulled Jiang Xinyu aside and asked her secretly, "Xinyu, a colleague of Chen Guoliang wants to date you."

"Oh. Sis, I haven’t thought about it."

"I told him you wouldn’t agree. But he insisted I tell you. That guy is pretty good, looks nice, and has a decent family."

"Sis, I’m not in a hurry. I haven’t thought about such things yet."

"Alright, I got it, I’ll go back and tell Chen Guoliang."

Monday evening, Jiang Xinyu steamed thirty buns, set off at five the next morning, it was torture, the day was too cold, not much snow on the road, otherwise, I’d be late today.

Got to the school at seven-thirty, went straight into the classroom, really exhausted.

By then, the boarding students had already arrived for morning self-study.

She took out a book too, read for a while, and only then felt cold.

Quietly got up, walked to the stove, poured herself a cup of hot water.

Two subjects in the morning. After the exams, she was called by Qiao Jingyi.

"Xinyu, come on, let’s go eat."

"I’m not going, I’ll go book a room at the inn first, eat outside, I brought you guys the buns." Jiang Xinyu gave each one of them five buns.

"Oh. Smells so good."

Jiang Xinyu booked a room. Went straight in, fell onto the bed, lay there for a while, took a few sips of water, then found a meat and three-flavor bun.

After the afternoon exam, she went back, fetched a few pots of water, rinsed off and felt comfortable. But it was really cold.

Found a sponge mat, laid it out, covered with her quilt, and had a sweet night’s sleep.

After the exam the next day, she went straight home. She had to work the next day, and would leave directly from the city on the 25th.

Back home, she enjoyed a bath, ate a bowl of yam porridge, and sighed that home was still the most comfortable.

The evening of the 24th, after work, she went to a restaurant; She Xiaoyun wasn’t coming today. Lv Beiguang still brought two kids.

"Jiang Xinyu, where are you planning to go?"

"Not sure yet, might go check out Shanxi."

"Shanxi? What’s there to attract you?"

"Wutai Mountain."

"In this heavy snow, you want to go hiking?" Hao Shichao teased her with a smile.

"I didn’t say I would be hiking, did I? You asked what attracted me to Shanxi."

"I really envy you." Cao Xuelian sighed.

"What’s there to envy?"

Everyone looked at her, pretending she was bragging.

"Aunt Jiang, will you be gone for a long time?"

"Yes, I should be back after your school starts."

"I thought I could visit you during the holidays."

"Aunt is going out to have fun too." Jiang Xinyu said, making the two kids envy even more.

Lv Beiguang just smiled, but he knew he couldn’t fulfill their wish.

After dinner, Jiang Cong slipped Jiang Xinyu over ten tea eggs.

"Keep them for the train."

"Thank you, Brother Jiang." Everyone saw her as a kid; actually, they were. Among them, only She Xiaoyun was six years older than her, while the others were about ten years older.

After bathing at home, tidied up the house; had to leave early the next day, and couldn’t be late to get her scores.

Before leaving, checked everything again to be sure. Locked the gate and cycled away. This bike had to be tucked away where no one was around.

No snow on the road this time, so arrived half an hour earlier than on exam day.

"Xinyu, you walked over here?"

"Yeah, why are you so early?"

"Waiting for you."

"What’s up?"

"Inviting you to my house for a meal."

"Not going, I’m heading to the train station to get my tickets. I’ll bring you something tasty when I get back."

Jiang Xinyu’s performance was okay—average. About the same as Qiao Jingyi and Zhou Qingying.

Bid farewell to two classmates, then walked directly to the train station. Carrying two big bags, packed her new books inside her space.

Asked the ticket seller; there were three trains to the provincial capital, one at eleven, another at three in the afternoon, and one more at eight in the evening.

"Comrade, is there a sleeper ticket to the provincial capital?"

"Yes."

"Thank you very much." Jiang Xinyu quickly took out the money.

With only an hour left before boarding, she strolled outside the train station, went to a noodle shop nearby, and ordered a bowl of noodles.

To be honest, the taste was really mediocre, but it was warm after eating.

After boarding, she realized she was alone in the compartment, which was nice, so she quickly pulled out a bed sheet and quilt. Having gotten up early, she fell asleep shortly after.

She slept for a long time, woke up two hours later feeling a bit hungry, found a sugar bun, ate it, then began reading.

In the evening, finally welcomed a young girl.

Since they were about the same age, they quickly started chatting.

"Really? You’re working already?"

"Yeah, how about you? Where are you going?"

"Going to my grandma’s; we’re on break, going there for the new year."

The young girl, once settled, invited Jiang Xinyu to the dining car for a meal.

"Sure, I wonder if there’s anything good to eat?"

Both carried lunch boxes to the dining car; it wasn’t too crowded, Jiang Xinyu looked around and just ordered half a bowl of sticky millet porridge and a chopstick-full of pickles, didn’t want the cornbread or steamed bun.

"Jiang Xinyu, you are only eating that? Oh! If it’s not enough, I have more here."

"This is enough for me." Jiang Xinyu declined, looking at the oil-less cabbage, she was sure it wouldn’t taste good.

"Jiang Xinyu, no need to be polite." Liu Tingting thought Jiang Xinyu was being shy.

"I’m not being polite, I don’t want the cornbread or steamed buns, I’ll give you something tasty later."

"What is it?"

"Bread."

"What’s bread?"

"You’ll know once you try it later."

Just because of a piece of bread, Jiang Xinyu gained the young girl’s friendship. Their chatter was quite interesting; she was also a sophomore, so they could discuss questions together.

"Jiang Xinyu, you’re already working, why still want to study?"

"Applying for college."

"Where do you want to apply?"

"I don’t know yet; I haven’t thought about it. How about you?"