Jiang Cheng successfully secured her meals for the next day and left the machinery factory feeling satisfied.

At the entrance of the factory, Principal Wang and Manager Guo took a detour to ensure Jiang Cheng’s safe return to the courtyard house.

On the way, Manager Guo couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Comrade Jiang, how long have you been studying foreign languages?”

“Hmm—it’s been a while—let me think—”

Manager Guo nodded deeply, convinced. “Your level of skill makes it clear you’ve been studying for a long time.”

“One month and eight days.”

They spoke simultaneously, and Manager Guo instinctively turned to look at Jiang Cheng, forgetting to watch the road.

“Watch out!”

Jiang Cheng grabbed the handlebars of Manager Guo’s bicycle, and he managed to steady himself by planting one foot on the ground. The bike wobbled but didn’t fall.

Right in front of them was a pitch-black utility pole with a patch of white paint. They had come dangerously close to crashing into it.

“Are you okay?”

Principal Wang hurried over with a flashlight.

“Good thing the bike’s fine. It’s expensive, and it would’ve been a shame if it got damaged.”

Manager Guo, now standing steadily, wasn’t sure what to complain about first.

“Exactly! Not only would the bike have been damaged, but we’d also have to pay for the utility pole,” Jiang Cheng chimed in.

Principal Wang suddenly realized, “You’re absolutely right! The tires would’ve been ruined too!”

Manager Guo rolled his eyes several times in the darkness, but unfortunately, no one saw.

“Hey, you two, I’m a living person standing right here! By the way, I’m fine!!”

On either side of him, Jiang Cheng and Principal Wang, who had been bent over inspecting the bike, looked up at the same time, their tone matter-of-fact and unapologetic.

“I know you’re fine!”

“Of course, I knew you were fine, which is why I went to check the bike.”

Manager Guo couldn’t help but laugh at the two of them.

“My bike is lucky to have you two!”

Jiang Cheng and Principal Wang chuckled and helped Manager Guo push his bike back to the middle of the road.

“Did you just say you’ve been studying for one month and eight days?”

Jiang Cheng, about to mount her bike, replied, “Yes! If it’s past midnight, it’ll be one month and nine days.”

With that, she stepped on the pedal, pushed off a couple of times, swung her leg over the seat, and rode off.

Manager Guo’s mind kept replaying the words “one month and eight days.”

Is that even possible??

“Let’s go. If we don’t head home soon, it’ll be dawn.”

Principal Wang pushed his bike over and added, “Don’t try to understand Jiang Cheng with normal logic. She’s a once-in-a-generation talent!”

Principal Wang suddenly felt that these four words were tailor-made for Jiang Cheng.

*

Jiang Cheng arrived home safely and thanked Principal Wang and Manager Guo before they left.

The courtyard house was quiet, with all the households asleep, except for the Shen family, where a dim light was still on.

With a creak, the Shen family’s door opened.

Grandma Shen held an oil lamp, illuminating a small area. When she saw Jiang Cheng, her worried expression finally relaxed.

“Why are you so late today?”

Jiang Cheng pushed her bike over, and Grandma Shen placed a wooden board on the steps.

Jiang Cheng wheeled the bike inside and whispered, “I got held up at the machinery factory, but I landed a big job.”

The two of them entered the house one after the other. Grandma Shen put away the board and closed the door.

Shen Xing and Shen Yue were already asleep. Jiang Cheng peeked in and then quietly stepped back.

On the table in the main room, she noticed a small pile of shelled sunflower seeds with a note beside it.

The note, written in crooked handwriting, read: “Sister, Yueyue peeled these for you.”

Jiang Cheng smiled silently, picked up the seeds, and began eating them.

Just then, Grandma Shen tiptoed over with a bowl of thick rice porridge, a salted duck egg, and a plate of garlic eggplant.

Jiang Cheng reached out to take them, but Grandma Shen stopped her with a look, whispering, “I can still carry this much, old as I am.”

“Of course! My Grandma Shen is as strong as ever!”

Jiang Cheng started eating her late-night snack while Grandma Shen sat beside her.

The two of them, one old and one young, shared stories from their day, creating a warm, gossip-filled atmosphere.

As Jiang Cheng was finishing her meal, Grandma Shen said, “We don’t need to always eat refined grains. You shouldn’t go to the black market too often. It’s not safe to go alone.”

Jiang Cheng had actually only been to the black market once.

The rice they were eating now came from her space.

“I know. I don’t go often.”

After agreeing, Jiang Cheng continued, “Don’t be stingy with the food. Yesterday, I earned eighty yuan from translating a book, and today I landed a big job at the machinery factory. They haven’t said how much yet, but it’s definitely a lot. We can afford to eat well!”

Grandma Shen reminded her, “But that money didn’t just fall from the sky!”

“Also, don’t tell people exactly how much you earn. Say less. Earning thirty or forty yuan a month is already very good. Earning more will make people jealous.”

“Don’t think that everyone in this courtyard seems nice now. It’s because everyone’s living conditions are about the same!”

“If one person stands out, trouble will come one after another!”

Grandma Shen was earnestly sharing her life experience, and Jiang Cheng listened attentively.

“I only tell you. I don’t tell others.”

Grandma Shen thought for a moment and said, “True, you’re not one to be easily fooled by others!”

“You’re always praising me. I might get too proud.”

Grandma Shen sighed, “Oh, please! Do you even need others to praise you to feel proud?”

Jiang Cheng smiled faintly.

“But you’re not just ‘others’ to me!”

Her words made Grandma Shen both happy and a little embarrassed.

“Enough talking! Finish your food!”

Jiang Cheng lowered her head and continued eating.

After finishing, Jiang Cheng urged Grandma Shen to rest while she washed the dishes and freshened up.

She didn’t study or read that night and went to bed around eleven.

The next morning, Jiang Cheng woke up to her biological clock, read a book, and practiced some martial arts in her room.

When it was time, she came out and had breakfast with Shen Xing and Shen Yue.

As soon as Shen Yue saw Jiang Cheng, she became as cheerful as a little sparrow, chirping around her and sharing stories from school.

“Sister, did you eat the sunflower seeds I peeled for you?”

“Of course, I did! They were especially fragrant and delicious.”

Jiang Cheng responded with exaggerated praise, making Shen Yue beam with joy. The little girl eagerly offered, “Then I’ll peel more for you today!”

“Great!”

“I’ll get my brother to help too!”

“Sure!”

The two of them completely ignored Shen Xing, who was now reluctantly roped into the task, and happily made their agreement.

Shen Xing remained calm. He was used to it.

After breakfast, Jiang Cheng, Shen Xing, and Shen Yue walked out of the courtyard together.

“Shen Xing, has anyone been giving you trouble lately?”

Shen Xing shook his head.

“No, Zhu Pengcheng has been behaving since that incident. He’s even been doing good deeds! It’s like he’s a different person!”

“That’s good.”

As she spoke, Jiang Cheng pulled out four pieces of White Rabbit milk candy.

“Two for each of you.”

Shen Xing and Shen Yue no longer treated Jiang Cheng as an outsider and happily accepted the candy.

The three of them said their goodbyes, and Jiang Cheng watched the two kids for a few seconds before riding her bike toward the machinery factory.

Coincidentally, He Dan came out of the courtyard and saw Jiang Cheng’s retreating figure.

He Dan frowned.

Why is Jiang Cheng heading that way?

The recycling station isn’t in that direction, is it?