CHAPTER 39: CHAPTER 39: GOOD FRIENDS

Gu Xiaoqing handed the money to Li Xuemei and said, "Mom, keep this money well, but take out the money from the first day as the capital; at least we still need to buy things like ground meat. Why not discuss with Uncle Butcher Feng about our daily needs, since the amount is large, and ask him to deliver it to us at night? This way, you won’t have to run around, and it won’t attract attention."

Li Xuemei kept the money safe, thought for a moment, and agreed. One or two days were fine, but in the long run, there would be comments.

This was a good idea.

Counting the money, it came to forty-six yuan in two days, with a cost of eighteen yuan, making a pure profit of thirty yuan.

Added to the previous twenty-seven yuan, it made fifty-seven yuan. With the sixty expected back, it would be a total of one hundred and seventeen yuan.

This was the most money they had in hand at one time, the first in so many years.

Thinking about it, Gu Xiaoqing was starting school tomorrow, so she prepared two yuan, as the tuition had to be ready.

Finally, Li Xuemei took out three yuan and gave it to Gu Xiaoqing, with an additional one yuan for Gu Xiaoqing to buy stationery, as books and pencils were a must.

Li Xuemei didn’t want to wrong her daughter. Such a big transformation at home was all due to Xiaoqing’s ability. Without Xiaoqing’s persistence, she would have been softened by the hardships over the years and wouldn’t have toughened up so quickly.

In just a few days, Li Xuemei had already recognized in her heart that Gu Xiaoqing was capable.

She didn’t want her child to suffer those hardships again.

Being looked down upon by others didn’t feel good either.

Gu Xiaoqing accepted it with a smile.

After all, it was necessary; some supplies still needed to be bought. In her past life, she didn’t go to school, but in this life, Gu Xiaoqing planned to study hard, to at least be worthy of her second chance.

Gu Xiaoqing remembered working for many years in society. At first, she knew nothing—neither did she have a degree nor any skills—she could only take on the lowest, undesirable, hard, and exhausting jobs, which paid the least.

She even worked as a nanny for a family whose child was a university student, about the same age as her, but the gap in their worlds was vast.

This girl taught her many things, even encouraged her to break free from her current difficult life and helped her attend night school, often returning home to tutor her. However, that period didn’t last long because, after only six months, Fu Guoqiang disliked her earning so little and forced her to return home.

But that short period was the most beautiful time Gu Xiaoqing could recall, and that girl was a cherished memory, as lovely as a flower.

This time, Gu Xiaoqing told herself she must study hard and change the fate of her life.

The next day, Gu Xiaoqing got up at dawn, prepared breakfast for the family, ate a bowl of gruel and a black bread bun, and set off.

Though it was the neighboring village, it would take two hours back and forth.

Between villages, although it sounded close, the actual distance was sometimes quite far.

Some families already owned bicycles for their children to commute to school, but it was impossible for Gu Xiaoqing’s family. Besides, it wasn’t the right time yet.

Gu Xiaoqing had to set out early.

To reach school by seven, she had to leave by six, or she would definitely be late.

She put two black bread buns and a piece of dark salted pickled vegetable into her patched school bag and quickly set off.

Just out of the door, she bumped into Gu Juying.

"Xiaoqing, hurry up! Why are you dawdling? I’ve been waiting for you forever."

Gu Juying complained to Gu Xiaoqing while pushing her bicycle and hopped on. With a few pedaling kicks, the bike started to glide smoothly.

"Hop on. I’ll give you a ride."

Gu Xiaoqing smiled. Since reincarnating back, she had been too busy fighting with her grandparents and her second uncle, almost forgetting her best friend.

Well, this Gu Juying was Gu Xiaoqing’s best friend in her previous life. They grew up together.

However, Gu Juying and Gu Xiaoqing were different. Gu Juying’s father was in the army, reportedly an officer, so her family was a military family, well taken care of in the village.

Gu Juying had three older brothers and was the only girl. Her eldest brother, Gu Yingguo, and her second brother, Gu Yingxiong, both followed their father’s footsteps and joined the army. They were recognized as prospects for officer training.

Only Gu Juying’s mother, her third brother Gu Yingjie, and Gu Juying lived in the village, but they led the best life.

Not to mention the monthly remittances from the three men of the army branch, which was a source of income that made the villagers envious.

At that time, army benefits were decent, with a monthly pay of sixty to seventy yuan. After some pocket money, the men sent back over a hundred yuan each month.

This was indeed a wealthy family in the village.

During holidays, the government provided additional assistance and grain supplies, making Gu Juying’s household one of the best in the village.

So Gu Juying had never suffered hardships since childhood. Her mother, disliking the distance to school, arranged for bicycle tickets for her.

In the village, no one dared to bully the Gu Juying family.

Gu Xiaoqing had been good friends with Gu Juying since childhood. Primarily, it was Gu Juying’s innate sense of justice and courage, perhaps from her father and brothers.

The village kids bullied Gu Xiaoqing a lot, and Gu Juying naturally assumed the role of a heroic helper.

Over time, Gu Xiaoqing came to appreciate Gu Juying’s temperament, and they got along well, becoming good friends.

Gu Xiaoqing took two quick steps, leapt lightly, and sat steadily on the rear seat of Gu Juying’s bicycle, holding firmly onto her waist.

"Juying, why didn’t you call me? I only left after cooking for my family."

Gu Xiaoqing was very grateful to this childhood friend. After all, at that time, Gu Juying had stubbornly encouraged her not to listen to her parents about getting married, even investigating Fu Guoqiang’s character and advising her to run away.

She even took out her savings, but back then, Gu Xiaoqing didn’t have the courage or gut to do something so extraordinary and refused Gu Juying’s help.

Later, she married Fu Guoqiang as arranged by her family and lost contact with Gu Juying.

This was indeed the only good friend from both her lifetimes combined.