The three of them worked very quickly together. Song Wei’s dough was stretchy and perfect for dumplings. Li Juan quickly rolled out dumpling wrappers, then began teaching Song Wei and Heidan how to wrap them.

“No, you’re putting too much filling! The wrapper’s bursting!” Li Juan exclaimed.

“Song Wei, be gentler. You can’t pinch the wrapper like that!”

“What is this shape? Is that even a dumpling?”

What seemed easy to Li Juan was a real struggle for Song Wei. She held a misshapen “dumpling” in her hand, looking embarrassed. Most of the ugliest, broken dumplings on the table were her handiwork.

Li Juan couldn’t hold back a laugh. Song Wei’s gentle looks didn’t match her clumsy dumplings at all. But seeing her looking a bit flustered, Li Juan found herself smiling.

“Maybe it’s best if Heidan and I do this,” Li Juan suggested. “Look, Heidan’s dumplings looks good!”

Heidan beamed and held up a neat dumpling. “Don’t worry, Sister Song, you can eat the ones I make.”

What a sweet little angel. Song Wei felt embarrassed for only a moment before her usual confidence returned.

“I’ll leave the wrapping to you then,” she said cheerfully. “I’ll go prepare the rabbit.”

As Song Wei headed out to clean the rabbit, the other educated youths, who were also cooking, stared at the rabbit with wide eyes.

“A rabbit!” Xu Laidi’s gaze was fixed on it as she shrieked.

Song Wei ignored her, but Xu Laidi, as shameless as ever, came up to her with a flattering smile. “Wow, Song Wei! Where’d you get that rabbit? You’re incredible! First a snake, then fish, and now a rabbit. How lucky can you get!”

Xu Laidi could barely contain her envy. Why does this girl have all the luck?

Preparing a rabbit could be a bit messy, but that didn’t stop everyone from drooling at the sight of the meat. Xu Laidi tried to win her over, but Liu Linlin, feeling bitter, muttered something under her breath, her voice low and resentful.

Song Wei didn’t have to hear to know she was cursing her. But Liu Linlin didn’t dare insult her openly.

High-energy Zhao Su and Gao Le approached with hopeful smiles.

“Sister, can Zhao Su and I join you and Li Juan for this meal? We even have two pounds of pork to contribute.”

Though useless in most ways, Gao Le and Zhao Su never freeloaded—they always bartered fairly.

“Ask Li Juan,” Song Wei replied. “She’s doing the cooking.”

She’d already finished cleaning the rabbit and was heading back to Li Juan when Xu Laidi hurried up to Gao Le and Zhao Su with a bright smile.

“Hey, why not cook with me? I’m a great cook!” she offered, trying her best to charm them.

Having overheard Gao Le and Zhao Su’s conversation with Song Wei, Liu Linlin rushed over, clearly also eager to share in the meal. “You two could cook with me, too! I’m really good with pork dishes,” she said, her voice going high-pitched and trying to sound sweet.

Both Zhao Su and Gao Le looked startled, almost like innocent villagers being harassed by bandits.

But before they could respond, Xu Laidi and Liu Linlin started bickering.

Hands on her hips, Xu Laidi glared at Liu Linlin. “What’s your problem? I invited them first! Can’t you let others have a turn? Always with your pathetic, fawning ways!”

Liu Linlin glared back. “It’s their business how they choose it has nothing to do with you. If anyone’s shameless, it’s you. You hear the word ‘food’ and run faster than anyone else. Everyone in the dormitory knows you’re the worst when it comes to mooching. If they really eat with you, most of the meat will be gone before they even start.”

Hearing the argument start, Song Wei paused, moved to the side to ensure that she would not be affected by the “battlefield”, and then watched with relish.

When women start arguing, reason tends to fly out the window. Xu Laidi and Liu Linlin went from arguing over meat to airing each other’s dirty laundry.

Xu Laidi spat, “Don’t think I don’t know you’re after Luo Yecheng. Pathetic! He’s already getting married, and you’re still chasing him like a stray dog. All that throwing yourself at him, and Luo Zhiqing still doesn’t agree to marry you.”

Wow…!

Everyone’s attention was now on Luo Yecheng, he looked embarrassed and proud. Though slightly annoyed, he secretly enjoyed the attention. So many women admiring him—it only confirmed his appeal.

Feeling smug, he glanced toward Song Wei, expecting regret in her gaze, but all he saw was her happily holding rabbit meat and eating sunflower seeds.

Luo Yecheng’s smile faded, his expression turning dark.

Then, Song Wei casually mouthed something at him.

“Idiot,” he realized. She’d mouthed “idiot.”

By now, Gao Le and Zhao Su had drifted over to watch alongside her, with several other curious educated youths now also eavesdropping.

Gao Le asked, “Wait, Liu Linlin likes Luo Yecheng?”

Zhao Su gave a mocking click of his tongue. “Oh, our Luo Yecheng has serious charm. I’m actually jealous.”

Song Wei looked at him, amused. What’s there to be jealous of? You’re single by choice, aren’t you?

Gao Le gave him a scandalized look. “You actually want admirers?”

Zhao Su shrugged, “That’s not the case. I’m just jealous that Luo Yecheng has so many women who want to support him. I heard that the Jiang family is trying to find him an easy job.”

This is what he envied the most.

Song Wei: …………

Meanwhile, Liu Linlin’s anger flared from being exposed in front of everyone, but she instinctively looked toward Luo Yecheng, hoping he’d defend her. Yet Luo didn’t even glance her way, let alone come to her aid.

Disappointment flooded Liu Linlin, and she turned her fury back on Xu Laidi.

“And who are you to talk? Your own family didn’t want you, yet you keep sending gifts back like a fool. Your family probably laughs behind your back, calling you a gullible idiot. You waste your own money on them, then turn around and mooch off us. Do you think we’re as stupid as you are?”

Xu Laidi shrieked in rage, her face flushed red, and lunged at Liu Linlin. “Liar! My parents love me!”

Suddenly, they were wrestling on the ground, clawing and pulling each other’s hair, shouting insults and yanking at clothes.