Chapter 38: So Poor

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

When Xiao Bai heard Sister Lan’s words, he did not care about Xu Yunjie’s silent embarrassment or Li Xiumei’s questioning.

Instead, he silently remembered Sister Lan’s words. ‘The expenses when dating isn’t small.’

Although Xiao Bai was not in a relationship, after hearing this, he suddenly wanted to earn money.

He wanted to earn a lot of money!

Li Xiumei could no longer be bothered to argue with Lan Shu. What she was more concerned about was that the man she chose was actually in debt!

Li Xiumei suddenly felt that she was a little blind!

Xu Yunjie, who had graduated from school, had become an unreliable man in just a year…

“Xu Yunjie, how many more things are you hiding from me?!”

Li Xiumei’s trust in Xu Yunjie was in danger!

The two people who had originally reconciled and came to eat happily started arguing loudly in the hall of the restaurant, attracting the attention of the other customers in the restaurant!

Lan Shu was here for lunch today. She wasn’t in the mood to continue watching Xu Yunjie’s nonsense. Hence, she brought Xiao Bai to the private room in the backyard of the restaurant.

Zhang Yunjing treated the three of them to four dishes and a soup. All of them were meat dishes.

After eating and drinking their fill, they left the restaurant reluctantly.

Lan Shu had nothing much to do in the afternoon. She wanted to go back and rest before exercising.

Recently, she had only been paying attention to her diet and had not done much exercise. Her progress in losing weight had slowed down a lot.

Zhang Yunjing still had to withdraw money and send it to Factory Manager Zhu, so the two sides parted ways at the entrance of the restaurant.

Xiao Bai got on the bicycle while Lan Shu sat in the back seat. She waved goodbye to Zhang Yunjing.

As Zhang Yunjing watched the young man leave with Sister Lan Shu behind him, she suddenly had a feeling that the two of them were harmonious, comfortable, and peaceful together.

“They’re quite compatible. It’s just that there’s a bit of an age gap between them.”s

Zhang Yunjing sighed and left.

…

Lan Shu and Xiao Bai spent the weekend reading books.

On Monday morning, Xiao Bai rode his bicycle and drove Lan Shu to the paper mill.

Zhang Yunjing had come up with the 6,000 yuan needed. Lan Shu asked Factory Manager Zhu about the purchase of the machine.

Knowing that the machine to produce sanitary pads would be transported to the workshop next Wednesday or so and that the situation in the workshop would be able to progress smoothly, Lan Shu was relieved.

Lan Shu and Xiao Bai had a class at night. They ate early and arrived at the night school earlier than usual.

The results of their exam last Friday night should be out today.

In the evening, Teacher Song stood at the entrance of the night school and watched as the sky gradually darkened.

Song Jimin was 42 years old this year and had been teaching for many years. He had been teaching at the night school for four to five years and had seen countless students.

However, it was Song Jimin’s first time seeing a student with the ability to take the graduation exam just a few days after enrolling.

Moreover, there were two of them!

Last Friday, Song Jimin gave Lan Shu and Xiao Bai two mock exam papers with the intention of making things difficult for them.

He didn’t want to be the one in a difficult position when the final test results were out—

Lan Shu scored 97 and 95 respectively for humanities and sciences.

As for Xiao Bai’s paper, Song Jimin carefully went through it twice but did not find a single mistake!

Seeing Xiao Bai get full marks, Song Jimin fell silent…

Were there really students who could finish a two-year course in just a few days?

Song Jimin felt that Xiao Bai was just toying with him!

These two students definitely had some learning foundation in the past!

However, when Song Jimin used his connections to check Lan Shu’s educational background, he realized that Lan Shu had only graduated from primary school and had not even finished junior high school.

As for Xiao Bai’s situation, there was no information on him at all!

Therefore, Song Jimin’s attitude toward the two of them immediately changed.

One had only graduated from primary school and the other had never gone to school. He did not know how much effort the two of them had put in before applying for night school and how long they had studied at home to achieve their current results!

Song Jimin was very pleased that they were able to reach their current level of learning while self-studying.

He agreed to let the two of them take the graduation exam this year!

Even if it was against the rules.

Even if he had to find someone to pull some strings, he had to keep his word and let the two of them take the exam successfully!

Hence, when Lan Shu and Xiao Bai arrived at the night school, they saw Teacher Song standing downstairs, waiting for them with a kind smile.

“Lan Shu, Xiao Bai, you don’t have to come to night classes for the time being. Go back and prepare well. Work hard for the exam at the beginning of next month!”

Lan Shu was stunned when she heard Teacher Song’s words.

Although she knew that her mock exam results shouldn’t be too bad, she didn’t know what her score was.

Even if Teacher Song agreed to let them take the exam, he should at least tell them about their exam results!

As for Xiao Bai, his calm expression clearly showed that he had expected the current situation.

Just like that, the two of them were completely exempted from attending classes.

Just as quickly as they came today, they left.

…

The next morning, Lan Shu opened her eyes when she smelled something delicious.

In the past, when they were in the village, Xiao Bai took on the responsibility of cooking. After coming to the county, Lan Shu would occasionally cook when she was in the mood. Most of the time, it was still Xiao Bai who cooked.

The morning sun shone diagonally on the young man’s fair face.

His long eyelashes were slightly raised, and they were covered in a layer of golden light.

This was what Lan Shu saw when she walked out of the room.

His light blue shirt was tucked into the waistband of his black pants, showing off his broad shoulders and narrow waist.

What a beautiful sight!

Everyone loved beautiful things. With a good-looking person by their side, they would be in a good mood every day.

But as she was watching, she suddenly sneezed from the cool breeze outside.

The temperature had dropped!

However, she was still wearing a shirt and jeans. Xiao Bai was the same. He was wearing thin clothes.

Two weeks ago, when they came to the county, they did not bring any thick clothes. Now that the temperature had dropped, it was time to buy new clothes.

However, they faced a huge problem.

They had no money!

It wasn’t that they didn’t have any money at all. Lan Shu only had about 20 yuan on hand now. Six yuan and 80 cents were from Zhang Yunjing’s royalties.

They were so poor!

Lan Shu sighed and went to the sink at the side of the courtyard to wash her face. Then, she came back and sat at the table.

Even though Xiao Bai had scooped the rice and placed it in front of her, she did not have much of an appetite.

If she was poor, so be it. However, it was a tragedy to let a beautiful young man like Xiao Bai suffer with her.

It was still too early to wait for the workshop at the paper mill to produce sanitary pads and get dividends.

Before earning those dividends, Lan Shu had to think carefully. What should she do to earn money to support Xiao Bai?

Xiao Bai did not know what Sister Lan was thinking. At this moment, his thoughts were exactly the same as Lan Shu.

It was getting cold, and it was time to get thicker clothes. How was he going to earn money to buy clothes for Sister Lan?

Sister Lan even sneezed from the cold just now…

Hence, after the meal, Lan Shu and Xiao Bai said that they wanted to walk around the vicinity. Then, they went out and parted ways.

Xiao Bai did not follow Lan Shu this time. He was planning to find a place to earn money.