Chapter 58: A Letter

This time, they used a lot of wheat and glutinous rice to make malt sugar. Since malt sugar was only a children’s snack, no one else wanted it except Lin Xiangnan, who took two jars.

When she got her hands on it, she already had a plan for how to share it. If Lin Xiangxi did well on his test papers today, she would give him one jar.

But as soon as she got home, she saw Lin Xiangxi sneaking out of her little cousin’s room, and every few steps, he couldn’t help but grimace, as if he had hurt himself somewhere.

When he saw Lin Xiangnan, Lin Xiangxi pretended to be calm, with a nonchalant expression. He grinned and came over, saying, “Sister, I finished my test papers. Do you want to check them?”

“Okay, bring them here.” Lin Xiangnan reached out for them.

There were only two test papers, but there were five or six different handwriting styles on them. It was obvious that he had gotten help.

“Who helped you write them?”

“Just… just my brothers.” Lin Xiangxi scratched his head and asked nervously, “Sister, how did you know?”

“I could tell at a glance.” Lin Xiangnan rolled her eyes, “It’s fine that you got someone to help you write your homework, but at least find someone who knows what they’re doing. Half of the math problems on this paper are wrong.”

It was fine when he was in the steel factory’s affiliated elementary school. They were all children of the factory workers, and the teachers dared to discipline them.

But the teachers in the outside middle schools were not so bold, and they didn’t dare to discipline the students at all. Even if there were strict teachers, after the fierce incidents of the past two years, they were discouraged.

Teenagers, at the age of fourteen or fifteen, are at their most rebellious. If you discipline them too strictly, the next day they will put up big-character posters on the wall, cursing the teacher as a “stinking old ninth.”

Intellectuals are now the lowest social class, and teachers also protect themselves. They only teach those who are willing to learn. As for Lin Xiangxi, who was naughty and didn’t want to learn, the teacher wouldn’t bother.

As for Hu Meili, she wouldn’t bother either. She worked during the day and had no time to discipline her children. She didn’t force them to study. If they wanted to study, they could. If they didn’t, then they didn’t.

Lin Xiangxi knew he was wrong and didn’t dare to refute when Lin Xiangnan scolded him. He looked honest and meek.

Seeing his attitude of readily admitting his mistake but not truly repenting, Lin Xiangnan was annoyed and couldn’t help but kick him lightly.

“Ah~” Lin Xiangxi’s face crumpled in pain, and he fell to his knees with a “thump.”

Lin Xiangnan took a step back, “It’s not even New Year’s yet?”

Lin Xiangxi was annoyed for a second, then quickly gritted his teeth and stood up, pretending that nothing had happened. He explained casually, “I just lost my balance.”

“Should I kick you again?”

Lin Xiangnan guessed that he had been fighting outside today, and she didn’t bother to beat around the bush. She asked directly, “Who did you fight with today? Why did you start fighting?”

“It’s about the scrap steel yesterday. Those guys with buzz cuts from the next street snitched. We were angry, so we fought today.”

Lin Xiangnan was a little helpless when she heard this.

No wonder the country was mobilizing people to go to the countryside. These energetic teenagers, who didn’t study or work, were street urchins all day long. If there were too many of them, it was no wonder that public security would be a problem.

Lin Xiangnan now wanted to send Lin Xiangxi to the countryside, let him suffer a bit, and temper his overly exuberant energy.

That’s what she thought, but she still asked with concern, “Did you win?”

“No.”

Now Lin Xiangnan was even more speechless, “You started the fight, and you didn’t even win. Isn’t that embarrassing?”

“They had more people.” Lin Xiangxi also felt embarrassed, and he said angrily, “We’ve already made a plan. Tomorrow, we’ll bring more people and get our revenge.”

If Lin Xiangxi had won today, Lin Xiangnan would definitely have advised him to study hard from now on and not fight at the slightest provocation.

But he lost today, so Lin Xiangnan advised him, “Be careful when you fight tomorrow, don’t get hurt. Just finish this fight, don’t keep fighting endlessly.”

“Got it.”

Lin Xiangnan threw the jar of malt sugar to him and instructed, “When you have free time tomorrow, carve me a bunch of small wooden sticks. I’ll use them to eat candy.”

“Alright~ I’ll make sure it’s clean and free of burrs. After I’m done, I’ll boil it in water to disinfect it.”

With candy to eat, Lin Xiangxi was happy to do anything. His voice was eight octaves sweeter.

As soon as Hu Meili entered the yard, she saw Lin Xiangxi’s flattering demeanor and said with disdain, “Such a little flatterer. Xiaonan, are you working on Sunday?”

“Yes, I’m off on Monday.” Lin Xiangnan asked, “What’s wrong? Is there something you need?”

Service industries like restaurants and supply and marketing cooperatives, and some factories where machines can’t stop, couldn’t take a day off on Sunday. They had four days off a month, and they took turns based on the schedule.

“Your aunt introduced a guy to your sister Taohua. If you’re working, go to your restaurant to meet and have dinner, and you can order more dishes for her.”

It was a good thing to take advantage of public resources. It was natural to go to a familiar place when having dinner.

It wasn’t a big deal, so Lin Xiangnan readily agreed. More or fewer dishes were just a matter of the chef waving his hand.

When Zhang Dapang cooked, whenever he felt like he had done a good job, he would taste the saltiness and then nod in satisfaction.

If it wasn’t for the sake of appearances, he wouldn’t even need to eat lunch. He could just taste the dishes and be full.

But to be fair, Zhang Dapang’s cooking skills were really good. The dishes he cooked were far better than those made by a food processor.

Chinese stir-fries require wok hei and a smoky flavor, which makes them taste delicious.

The next day, Lin Xiangnan took two pounds of chicken wings and went to the backyard to ask Zhang Dapang to cook her a special meal.

“You’re still the one with connections.” Zhang Dapang saw the chicken wings, his eyes narrowed into a smile, and he happily said, “We’ll eat together today. We won’t eat with Zhang Yong and the others.”

Zhang Dapang provided the main dishes, side dishes, and cooking skills, while Lin Xiangnan provided the ingredients. They were a perfect match. Before eleven o’clock, they were already enjoying tender and juicy honey-glazed chicken wings.

Lin Xiangnan ate and praised, and she also decided on the dishes for tomorrow, “I also reserved some river prawns. How about we eat sweet and sour shrimp balls tomorrow?”

Even though he had the skills, Zhang Dapang was embarrassed to take too much advantage, so he followed, “Then I’ll make you a steamed egg tomorrow. Is there anything else you want to eat?”

“Dry-fried string beans?” This dish was oily, and they never made it at home.

“Okay. That’s settled. If it wasn’t for the fact that there are only two of us, I’d have to give you four dishes and a soup.”

Lin Xiangnan picked up a chicken wing and praised, “As long as the food is delicious, one dish is enough.”

What a great dining partner.

Since meeting Zhang Dapang, Lin Xiangnan felt that her happiness index was skyrocketing.

The restaurant opened at eleven, so they finished eating before eleven, cleaned up the dishes, and went to work in front.

Zhang Dapang was in a good mood after eating well, and during his afternoon break, he fried a pot of five-spice peanuts. Lin Xiangnan also took a bag when she went back.

Her shift ended late, but when she got back, Hu Meili and Lin Xiangxi weren’t home.

Lin Xiangnan didn’t go looking for them. She stood in the yard and shouted loudly, “Grandma, where’s my mom?”

“Xiaoxi got hit on the head, and Meili went to find the other parent to argue. The postman also delivered a letter for you today, written by Gu Zhenhua. It’s on the table in my room, go get it yourself.”