Chapter 14: Politely Declined

Lin Xiangnan was confused and watched from the doorway for a while, not daring to go in. She just wanted to wait for Zhao Qi to leave before going home.

Two minutes later, her younger brother Lin Xiangxi came out of the house and looked around at the courtyard entrance. When he saw Lin Xiangnan waving to him, his eyes lit up instantly.

“Sis, what are you doing? Why don’t you go back?” Lin Xiangxi complained, “You’ve been coming back later and later these days. Mom even urged me to come out and find you.”

“What can I do? She’s been nagging me to death these days, so of course I have to hide.”

Lin Xiangnan skillfully pulled out two peach cakes from her bag and stuffed them into Lin Xiangxi’s hand.

“A classmate gave them to me for helping with homework. Eat them outside before going home. What’s with that Zhao Qi at home? What’s he doing here?”

“Thanks, sis.” Lin Xiangxi happily took the peach cakes, eating them while saying, “He came to see you.”

“Why would he come to see me?”

“I just came back a little earlier than you, so I didn’t hear much. But from what I heard, that Zhao guy wants to get to know you better.”

“What?” Lin Xiangnan widened her eyes in shock, “Are you kidding me? This Zhao guy is crazy. He’s here to get scolded, right?”

“Mom and Big Sister were so welcoming to him. As soon as he arrived, they poured him some sweet soup and asked about his health.” Lin Xiangxi said with a sigh, “I haven’t seen Mom smile this happily in days.”

“She’s happy. I’m not.”

Lin Xiangnan looked disgusted, “This Zhao Qi isn’t a good guy either. He must be after my beauty. He goes after any pretty girl he sees, regardless of whether it’s appropriate or not.”

“Cough cough~” Lin Xiangxi was embarrassed by her self-promotion and said softly, “Second Sister, you should be more humble.”

“This is called being self-aware.” Lin Xiangnan snorted, “Someone like that Zhao guy has no self-awareness at all. He can still find his way to our house after being scolded.”

Lin Xiangxi already knew that his second sister wasn’t interested in the guy, so he suggested, “Let’s just play outside. He’ll definitely leave when it’s time for dinner. He came empty-handed, how could he possibly stay for a meal?”

Every family’s food rations were limited, and there wasn’t any extra to entertain guests. Those who were self-aware would leave when it was time for dinner.

Lin Xiangnan thought this was a good idea and went out with Lin Xiangxi to wander around.

“Second Sister, aren’t there any suitable male classmates in your class?” Lin Xiangxi curiously inquired.

Lin Xiangnan sighed, “Most of the classmates in my class are going to the countryside. The few who have jobs are not even twenty years old, some are even younger than me. It’s useless.”

Did she not want a male partner? It was because she wasn’t worthy.

Now, five years of elementary school, two years of middle school, she was only 18 when she graduated from high school because the school closed during the turbulent times, and she was also in poor health, so she took a two-year break from school. Most high school graduates were too young to get married, and most couldn’t find jobs, so they could only go to the countryside.

Because the school was in chaos before, the students didn’t have the heart to study. People like Lin Xiangxi, who were his age, didn’t have a very good education level.

Lin Xiangnan had a talent for reading and was able to stay in the city for two more years after passing the high school entrance exam. Lin Xiangxi wouldn’t be able to do the same. His education level was not even as good as an elementary school student in later generations.

Lin Xiangnan could laugh at other children being bad students, but when her own brother, who was good to her, was a bad student, she could only worry about it.

“Little brother, you have to study hard. If you can get into high school, I’ll have two more years to choose. It’s not like now, where time is tight and the task is heavy. Good men are hard to find.”

Lin Xiangnan said earnestly, “I have a lot of test papers. I’ll arrange them for you when we get back.”

Hearing her say this, Lin Xiangxi suddenly felt that the peach cakes in his hand didn’t taste as good anymore.

But he didn’t dare to argue, after all, his sister’s happiness was very important.

Lin Xiangxi gritted his teeth, “Okay, I’ll study hard when I get back.”

“Good little brother, I didn’t feed you in vain.” Lin Xiangnan patted his shoulder with satisfaction and arranged, “You go to high school first. Maybe you’ll even have a chance to go to university in the future. Your future will be bright then.”

“The quota for workers, peasants, and soldiers university won’t be available to me.” Lin Xiangxi whispered, “I’d rather my second sister get married quickly than go to university. Then I wouldn’t even have to take the high school entrance exam.”

He had been a bad student for so many years, and studying was really difficult for him!

Lin Xiangnan glared, “You stupid brother, you don’t know what’s good for you. If you don’t get into high school, you’ll see.”

She was still speaking nicely just now, but she turned around and threatened him. But Lin Xiangxi didn’t dare to argue, he just fiercely chewed on two peach cakes.

The two of them wandered around outside, filling themselves halfway. When they saw that it was almost time for dinner, they went back home.

As soon as they got home, Lin Xiangnan was stunned. Zhao Qi was still there.

“Where have you been, kid? Why are you back so late? Comrade Zhao has been waiting for you for so long.”

Hu Meili smiled with her teeth not showing, gently pulling her and saying, “Zhao Comrade came to borrow books from you. His cousin wants to see the high school textbooks. Go find them for Zhao Comrade.”

This amiable look is completely different from the way he cursed at people at home a few days ago.

Lin Xiangnan couldn’t turn his face away from Hu Meili, so he could only say to Zhao Qi expressionlessly, “All my freshman textbooks have been borrowed. You can borrow from someone else.”

“Xiao Nan! How could you do this?” Liu Hongying gave her a condemning look. “I’ve checked. All your freshman textbooks are piled under your desk. Aren’t you making Comrade Zhao go for nothing?”

Everyone knew that Zhao Qi’s intentions were not pure, and they also knew that Lin Xiangnan’s words were just an excuse. But with Liu Hongying saying this, the atmosphere suddenly became awkward.

Lin Xiangnan couldn’t help but roll her eyes and said directly, “Did Zhao Comrade understand? My sister is right, I’m deliberately not lending them. Sister, you really, couldn’t you have just politely declined? Why do you have to be so hurtful?”

“I didn’t mean that.” Liu Hongying quickly explained.

“I don’t care what you mean.” Lin Xiangnan didn’t even bother to look at her, and directly drove Zhao Qi away, “It’s already dinner time. You’re not leaving, are you planning to stay for dinner? We don’t have any extra food.”

Zhao Qi’s face turned red and white, he didn’t even say a polite word, and got up to leave.

After driving Zhao Qi away, Lin Xiangnan immediately smirked, “What a piece of trash, are you worthy of my sister?”

Hu Meili’s face was black, she restrained herself until Zhao Qi left before turning around to get the feather duster, grumbling, “I really gave you face.”

“Ugh~ you have such a bad temper.”

Lin Xiangnan turned around and ran away.