In the evening, the sky was filled with red clouds, and a gentle breeze blew. The courtyard of the quadrangle was particularly lively

“Chengyuan is really impressive. He just started working a few days ago and already bought a bicycle.”

“That’s great! Those big wheels are much faster than walking!”

“If you ask me, Chengyuan is definitely the most outstanding young man in our Courtyard. Who else could get into the machinery factory right after coming back? That’s the biggest factory around here.”

“You’re absolutely right.”

A group of men, women, and children gathered around a semi-new, not-too-old 28-inch bicycle, examining it closely.

Some curious children wanted to touch it but were quickly pulled back by their parents.

What if they broke it!

Lin Chengyuan, who was being praised, wore a humble expression on his face, but his back unconsciously straightened, and he tried to suppress a smile, feeling secretly pleased with himself.

He Dan, who had a white bandage wrapped around her forehead, also stretched her neck, beaming with pride. Praising Lin Chengyuan was like praising her.

All the frustration she had felt over the past few days vanished in an instant.

He Dan raised an eyebrow and glanced toward the Shen family’s door.

Being popular at night school was one thing, but not everyone could afford a bicycle.

Lin Chengyuan’s mother, father, and grandmother were much the same.

They were particularly addicted to this kind of false flattery, feeling superior to others.

“It’s not a big deal. Chengyuan just knows how to make friends. Everyone, please don’t praise him so much!”

Lin’s father pretended to be modest, and Lin’s mother immediately chimed in, “That’s right, it’s just a bicycle. We’ve been wanting to buy one for a while, but with the old and the young in the family, no one knew how to ride it.”

“Chengyuan works far away at the machinery factory, so having a bicycle makes commuting easier.”

The Lin family members took turns speaking, their words conveying one message: We’re not short of money. We can buy a bicycle whenever we want.

He Dan, with the injury on her forehead, looked slightly displeased.

Even though it was second-hand, it still cost 120 yuan, and it didn’t require a coupon.

She had contributed 80 yuan! The Lin family, with so many members, had only managed to scrape together 40 yuan.

Thinking about the Lin family’s stinginess, He Dan’s pride diminished slightly.

“Why is it so lively today?”

Jiang Cheng had returned.

She was pushing a brand-new bicycle.

“Wow—this shiny new one, whose is it?”

Jiang Cheng pushed her newly bought 28-inch bicycle into the courtyard, making a grand entrance.

“It’s mine! Just bought it today!”

Jiang Cheng naturally noticed the other bicycle in the courtyard. She immediately patted the seat of her bicycle and said, “Bought it brand new today!”

If she was going to show off, she might as well aim to infuriate the other party.

Jiang Cheng didn’t think that being humble would make the Lin family dislike her any less.

Since it was the same either way, she might as well do what made her happy.

So Jiang Cheng began.

“The coupon? I asked Sister Wang from the recycling station to help me find one. Her husband works at the local police station.”

“I happened to have some money saved up, so I just bought it.”

“I picked this one out myself from the warehouse. It’s the newest one!”

“I even added a bell to it. You can hear it from two miles away. It’s really loud!”

“Look at this chain—no rust at all. It’s brand new and works great. Saves a lot of effort!”

After Jiang Cheng’s display, the Lin family’s expressions grew increasingly sour. Lin Jiaojiao was the most visibly upset.

“Jiang Cheng, our family bought a bicycle, and now you buy one too. You’re doing this on purpose!”

Jiang Cheng, who had been showing off, stood up and looked at Lin Jiaojiao. “If I were doing it on purpose, I would have bought a second-hand one.”

With that, Lin Chengyuan couldn’t hold back.

Was she mocking him?

“Jiang Cheng, don’t go too far.”

“Lin Chengyuan, who do you think you are? Your family is everywhere.”

“Are you the ancestor of bicycles? Do I need your family’s permission to buy one? If you don’t know how big your face is, go look in a mirror!”

“I’m too busy to care about what you guys are doing. People like you aren’t worth my time to deliberately annoy.”

After her usual performance, Jiang Cheng pushed her bicycle into the house.

Grandma Shen and Shen Yue helped her.

Lin’s mother was furious and blurted out, “Taking it inside? Who are you guarding it against?”

“Against you!”

Jiang Cheng turned back and continued, “You have a big heart, so why don’t you leave yours outside to weather the elements? I can’t compare to your family. I can’t bear to do that!”

The Lin family was left in an awkward position. Now, they couldn’t decide whether to take their bicycle inside or leave it outside.

Jiang Cheng returned to her room feeling refreshed, while the Lin family reluctantly placed their bicycle under the eaves. The people inside the house occasionally pretended to glance at it.

They were clearly worried but too proud to admit it.

The people in the courtyard dispersed after watching the fun, though no one knew what they gossiped about at home.

In the evening, Jiang Cheng had dinner with Grandma Shen and the others.

Today, she had rescheduled Teacher Lü’s class to the afternoon, which was why she could return at this time.

After dinner, Jiang Cheng still went to night school.

Rain or shine, under the stars and moon.

Seven or eight days passed like this. Shen Xing’s ankle had mostly healed, and he could finally return to school. At the same time, he received a letter from his eldest brother, Shen Que.

At night, Jiang Cheng returned from night school.

Shen Xing was waiting for her at the Shen family’s door.

“You miss me so much? I’m a little embarrassed.”

“Sister—you should hide your smile before saying that.”

Jiang Cheng put on a stern face and said disapprovingly, “Stop being jealous of how good-looking I am.”

Shen Xing: He would never be able to keep up with his sister’s train of thought.

“Sister, this is for you.”

After parking her bicycle, Jiang Cheng took the item from Shen Xing’s hand.

A watch ticket.

Jiang Cheng was momentarily at a loss for words. These two kids, along with Grandma Shen, kept giving her coupons.

“Shen Xing, you don’t understand. Someone as outstanding as me has my own sense of time. Time is in my heart, and it’s never wrong!”

Jiang Cheng’s way of refusing was refreshing, and Shen Xing was used to it by now.

“Sister, this is also for you.”

Jiang Cheng looked at the letter in Shen Xing’s hand.

A letter?

“My eldest brother wrote it for you.”

Jiang Cheng was genuinely surprised. Why would Shen Que write her a letter?

Regardless, Jiang Cheng took the letter and unfolded it.

There were only three lines.

‘Hello, I am Shen Que.’

‘Thank you, Comrade Jiang, for taking care of my younger siblings.’

‘Shen Que, July 5th.’

After reading it, Jiang Cheng looked at Shen Xing and asked, “So this is a thank-you gift?”

Shen Xing nodded repeatedly.

“Yes!”

Jiang Cheng asked suspiciously, “Did you mention me in your letter?”

Shen Xing nodded.

“Did you praise me?”

The phrase “not much” in Shen Xing’s mind came to an abrupt halt.

“Yes!”

Jiang Cheng nodded in satisfaction and patted Shen Xing’s shoulder. “Xingxing, this is called being truthful. Keep it up.”

Jiang Cheng decided to accept it for now. Whether she would use it was another matter.

Shen Xing’s little nerves were once again tempered by Jiang Cheng, and he slept soundly that night.

The next day, Jiang Cheng got up a little earlier. She took some food out of her space and placed it in the kitchen before riding her bicycle to Old Xu’s house.

Strangely, Uncle Zhong wasn’t there today. Only Old Xu was present.

Jiang Cheng didn’t ask any questions and focused on her lesson.

After the lesson, Old Xu said, “I’m leaving.”

“So soon?”

Jiang Cheng’s reluctant expression warmed Old Xu’s heart.

He left her an address and phone number, telling her to contact him if she needed anything.

“After I return to Beijing, I’ll send you some study materials. You must not stop studying, understand?”

“Don’t worry, I definitely won’t.”

Old Xu nodded at Jiang Cheng’s serious assurance and waved her off. “Go on. You don’t need to come tomorrow.”