Yan Runzhi organized the eggs and grains, picking up a handful of corn and admiring, “This is the best grain, even better than the grain turned in to the government.”

It must have been intercepted for Ma Kaihua to eat.

She said to Jiang Lin, “I’ll make steamed corn cakes for you today.”

Da Bao and Xiao Bao clapped and laughed, “Yay, more delicious food!”

“Huangmi Gao doesn’t need a millstone; instead, it’s steamed with fatty pork and sugar, then mashed in a basin until sticky and smooth.

Red dates, walnuts, sesame seeds, peanuts, and more are added and shaped into molds.

After another round of steaming, it cools into a firm block.

When you want to eat it, you can slice it, steam it again, fry it in oil, or dry it on a pan, dipping it in sugar for a fragrant and sweet treat.

This was all from Yan Runzhi’s family recipe.

During past New Year celebrations, they would steam both yellow and white rice cakes, known as ‘Golden and Silver Longevity Cakes.’

As she described it, Jiang Lin’s mouth watered.

She knew she had to earn money well to buy meat and various delicious items so Grandma could cook for them!

After breakfast, Jiang Lin went to inspect some roofs in other people’s homes.

She found that the living conditions of rural members were extremely poor!

Shuihuai Village was a large village, with an estimate of about four hundred households.

Less than a quarter of them were pure brick and tile houses, while another part were brick and tile wall bases with rammed earth or adobe walls, and their roofs may not even be covered with tiles.

Over half of them were mud walls with thatched roofs.

Despite this, there was still a hierarchy of contempt, because in Jiang Lin’s eyes, some houses were unsafe, with walls on the brink of collapse, beams cracked and separating, and some were even riddled with termite holes.

Jiang Lin felt sorry for them.

There was a real need to improve housing conditions, presenting a significant business opportunity!

Although industrialization could damage living environments, basic living security was still necessary.

Eating well, dressing warmly, and living safely were basic needs for people.

Everyone should strive to meet these basic needs for their families.

As Jiang Lin checked and repaired roofs, she instilled this idea: “Buy bricks and tiles, even if you don’t build a house, start by roofing!”

In this way, Jiang Lin received many orders.

She calculated that three cartloads of tiles wouldn’t be enough; she probably needed ten cartloads.

The demand was considerable. Of course, pulling these ten cartloads would take a long time.

After all, Master Duan still had to do work for the commune; only spare time would suffice.

At noon, Jiang Lin returned home and found Yan Runzhi pounding rice cakes, while Da Bao and Xiao Bao helped tear dates and peel peanuts.

When working, Da Bao pursed his lips and worked diligently, while Xiao Bao stuffed food into Da Bao’s mouth and his own mouth at the same time.

Jiang Lin and Yan Runzhi discussed, “The educated youth helped out, and everyone is happy. I’ll bring some things to thank them.”

Although she didn’t owe them any favors for creating such opportunities for educated youth, she still wanted to improve her relationship with Sun Qinghui and other righteous educated youth.

They could be valuable contacts in the future when they returned to the city.

Yan Runzhi was naturally happy, “Huangmi Gao is so delicious! I made so much, we can’t finish it all. I was planning to give some to the Women’s Director and Secretary Shang’s family.”

Jiang Lin washed her hands and offered to help Yan Runzhi.

Yan Runzhi said, “Bao’ers Mother, today I’m going to the big locust tree to embroider flowers. Meng Zhiqing came to see me about something.”

Jiang Lin asked, “Her? I haven’t had time to settle the score with her yet. What did she want with you?”

Yan Runzhi replied, “Oh, nothing much, just gossiping. She mentioned that maybe because she’s been overly protective of you, Da Bao and Xiao Bao have misunderstood her.

She asked me to help explain things to Da Bao.

She also mentioned that your temper can be a bit fiery and asked me, as a future mother-in-law, to be patient.”

Jiang Lin was astonished, “She said that?”

How audacious of her! She had made her feelings quite clear.

Did Meng Yiyi still think they were on good terms with her and her family?

Yan Runzhi continued, “Bao’ers Mothrr, I feel like she’s trying to test me or something, asking if I’ve noticed any changes in you. I told her, of course people change, who doesn’t? A woman undergoes a lot of changes by eighteen.”

After chatting for about ten minutes, Meng Yiyi summed up Yan Runzhi’s mother-in-law’s feelings.

Jiang Lin sneered inwardly, “Strike while the iron is hot. Today is perfect to confront Meng Yiyi!”

After finishing her work, Jiang Lin didn’t eat, but first used a meal basket, lined with clean corn husks, to pack the yellow corn cakes, and then carried them to Zhiqing’s place.

When Da Bao and Xiao Bao saw she was going to Zhiqing’s place, they wanted to go along.

There were many educated youth who could return to the city, and some men might lure women, and some women might entice men.

Everyone needed to be on guard.

Jiang Lin thought they were just being playful, so she took her two little protectors, Da Bao and Xiao Bao, with her to the educated youth gathering place.

The educated youth gathering place was at the southeast corner of the village, a bit of a distance away.

Along the way, the fragrance of the yellow corn cakes filled the air, making the children on the road crave them.

Even the mischievous kids were biting their fingers with drooling mouths, envying Da Bao and Xiao Bao.

Da Bao and Xiao Bao were like two little generals, proudly puffing out their chests.

They wouldn’t insult others anymore.

They had that kind of smug expression, knowing others were jealous of them, which was quite vivid.

Jiang Lin: “…”

Passing by the self-sustained vegetable gardens near the educated youth gathering place, the leaves were bitten by insects into something resembling spider webs, but no one seemed to care.

Cheng Da Bao looked down upon this and mocked them harshly.

Jiang Lin understood that collective labor was like this – everyone comparing who worked more and who got more benefits.

Even brothers who were married into the same family competed with each other, let alone a group of people unrelated by blood.

When they arrived at the educated youth gathering place, people were cooking.

The courtyard gate was open.

Jiang Lin called out as she entered the yard, scanning around but not seeing Meng Yiyi.

Upon hearing her voice, Sun Qinghui and others rushed out, delighted: “Jiang Lin, why did you come?”

Jiang Lin smiled and said, “We brought some freshly steamed yellow corn cakes made from our grandma’s best corn. Here, have a taste.”

At that moment, Meng Yiyi heard and rushed out from inside the house, joyfully saying, “Linyin, are you here to see me?”

She reached out to take the meal basket from Jiang Lin, saying, “You came all this way, why bring something? I would have come over to eat anyway.”

Previously, whenever Jiang Lin brought something, it was always for Meng Yiyi alone, never shared with other educated youth.

Bringing so much today seemed like she wanted others to benefit too, right?

But Jiang Lin unexpectedly handed the meal basket to Sun Qinghui, saying, “Sun Qinghui, thank you all so much.”

Meng Yiyi froze as if slapped in the face.

Jiang Lin had publicly embarrassed her!

Her eyes immediately reddened. “Linyin, you?”

Cheng Da Bao tightened his little face and snorted coldly, “Stop instigating my mom!”

Cheng Xiao Bao smiled proudly, “My mom doesn’t love you anymore. She loves me now.”

Not just Meng Yiyi was stunned, even the other educated youth didn’t understand what was going on.

They knew Jiang Lin and Meng Yiyi were close like sisters, always together.

When did things go sour?

Jin Lei couldn’t stand it, accusing Jiang Lin, “Jiang Lin, yesterday Yiyi went to help you, not only did you not appreciate it, but now you let your children treat her like this? Look at what you’ve caused, how hurtful.”

Cheng Xiao Bao said defiantly, “She deserved it!”

Meng Yiyi choked with tears, “Linyin, you…”

Jiang Lin stood tall with a cold expression, “Meng Yiyi, why did you sneak off to Zhao’s house?”

Meng Yiyi’s face turned pale from red. “Linyin, you… you don’t think I betrayed you, do you?”

Jiang Lin replied firmly, “Betray me? The news about Dache Store was brought back by you.

I didn’t know much about it.

I met Zhao’s couple when I took the children to the county town, so why did you confirm something at Zhao’s house?

To confirm why I didn’t follow your instructions to sell my son?

Did you instruct Zhao’s couple to follow your arrangement, saying I didn’t sell my son because I thought the money was too little?

I never intended to sell my son!

When I joked about asking for ten thousand, did you really take it seriously to trap me?”

Ah?

Sun Qinghui and others exclaimed in shock, “What’s going on?”

Jiang Lin stared at Meng Yiyi and her voice grew colder, “Meng Yiyi, I know I was naive before, cut off from my family and relying on you, manipulated like a puppet.

You found me a husband to improve your job, saying I was too tired from labor.

Now you’re telling me Bian Haitao still likes me and wants me to go back to him!

You told me Zhao’s family want to bought a son, calling our two sons a burden and should sell them!

You told me Qianbo can help us Bian Haitao go back together! Why did you do all this?”

She approached step by step, while Meng Yiyi retreated in fear, looking at Jiang Lin in shock.

She never expected Jiang Lin to publicly voice these accusations.

Was she shameless or just not afraid of Cheng Rushan finding out?

“Linyin, you misunderstood, I was only doing it for your own good, I…”

“For my own good?” Jiang Lin interrupted her bluntly, not giving her a chance to explain. “Let me expose your motives. You had ulterior motives behind everything you did.”

Jiang Lin stared at her with cold eyes. “Meng Yiyi, during school, you always told me how good and sincere Bian Haitao was to me, like he was one of a kind.

I was foolish to have some feelings for him because I considered you my best friend.

But when he betrayed me by living off another woman, I lost all respect for him long ago!

Now you’re eyeing Cheng Rushan, using him as an excuse to bring me back to the city to find him. Do you think I’m stupid?”

Jiang Lin glanced at Meng Yiyi with disdain.

Most women were naturally suspicious and jealous, and she was no exception.

Initially, she hadn’t suspected Meng Yiyi’s interest in Cheng Rushan, but once the doubt arose, even if she couldn’t confirm it was true, she took it seriously.

Especially knowing that Meng Yiyi went behind her back to Zhao’s house at Dache Store, and now saying such things to Yan Runzhi, if she didn’t get angry, she’d truly be a saint.

Since she had decided to confront Meng Yiyi head-on, she was prepared, knowing the truth about Bian Haitao couldn’t remain hidden.

As long as Meng Yiyi thought she could use it against her, Jiang Lin would expose it proactively, making it no longer a fresh piece of leverage.

Moreover, Cheng Rushan already knew about Bian Haitao’s existence, so there was no need for secrecy.

Being open about it would only show her honesty.

Sun Qinghui and the others couldn’t believe it. “Meng Yiyi, you… you’re too shameless! To covet Jiang Lin’s husband!”

Jin Lei was frantic. “It’s all Jiang Lin’s words. We can’t just trust one side.”

Meng Yiyi stammered in defense, “I didn’t, I didn’t!”

Tears streamed down her face, looking like she was unfairly accused and deeply hurt.

Someone pointed out, “The news about Dache Store was brought back by you.”

“Jiang Lin married Cheng Rushan and got a teaching job, but she gave it to Meng Yiyi.

She was even afraid of the workload and didn’t want to be a teacher herself, just to be good to Meng Yiyi.

If Meng Yiyi is plotting against Jiang Lin like this, it’s really shameless!”

Meng Yiyi covered her face, crying bitterly. “Jiang Lin, I’ve cared for you since we were little, and you slander me like this!”

Jiang Lin coldly retorted, “Is it slander? Aren’t you shameless? Since you don’t think you’ve schemed against me, then give up the teaching job. You should be shoveling dung and working in the fields where you belong.”