Chapter 59: Helping Out

Lin Xiangnan was surprised to receive another letter from Gu Zhenhua. She went to her grandmother’s room to get the letter, took it to her own room, and carefully read it.

“Hello, I miss you very much. I have received your photo…”

She had sent him a few letters already, but Gu Zhenhua couldn’t receive them promptly. This letter was a reply to her second-to-last letter.

There were some minor border skirmishes this year. Although the problem wasn’t serious, Gu Zhenhua and his unit were still deployed to guard the border. They would have to stay there for a while before returning to their original station. Gu Zhenhua didn’t mention the specific time in the letter, but he had applied for leave to get married. He would be able to come back for a while soon.

Lin Xiangnan was quite excited to hear this news.

It wasn’t because she wanted his eight-pack abs, but because she wanted to finalize their engagement.

Just being engaged wasn’t safe enough. She didn’t even want to work, let alone go to the countryside.

Her previous experience chasing pigs and harvesting wheat in the countryside completely shattered her idyllic fantasy.

She couldn’t even imagine how difficult it must have been for her brother, Lin Xiangdong, to spend those six years in the countryside.

The heavy farm work was bad enough, but his family wasn’t there, and there was no hope of returning to the city. He couldn’t see his future at all.

This kind of double torture, both physically and mentally, was unbearable for most people.

But thankfully, her brother was there to bear the brunt of it. Otherwise, according to the policy, Lin Xiangnan wouldn’t have been able to escape going to the countryside.

So, when Hu Meili tried to get him back, Lin Xiangnan was willing to support her.

As soon as Hu Meili got home, Lin Xiangnan asked, “Did you get a letter from my brother? Gu Zhenhua will be coming back on leave to marry me soon. If things are good for him, I might go with him. Who will you find to fill this job position then?”

She had already asked Gu Zhenhua, and they had newly built buildings at their station. He could apply for a three-bedroom apartment, and there were also older detached houses.

Either way, it was better than the single room she was living in now.

Lin Xiangnan had spent a lot of time and money to get this single room. If she could live more comfortably without any effort, she wouldn’t hesitate to go.

“I asked the postman on our street today, and your brother’s letter hasn’t arrived yet.” Hu Meili was anxious too, and she would ask every day.

“I should have mentioned it in the letter and asked my brother to send a telegram.” Lin Xiangnan was grumbling, and then she turned around and saw that Lin Xiangxi seemed to have a bump on his forehead. She was shocked and asked, “How did you get hit on the head? Did you go to the hospital?”

Lin Xiangxi replied nonchalantly, “It’s nothing, my head doesn’t hurt.”

“You got hit on the head, no wonder Mom went to argue for you.” Lin Xiangnan asked, “So, did you win or lose the fight today?”

“Lost.”

“Lost again?” Lin Xiangnan didn’t know what to say.

Although Lin Xiangxi lost again, he was still in a good mood. He said smugly, “Although we lost, the guy with the buzz cut who fought me today was beaten even worse by his mom. He cried so hard that his nose was running. I didn’t lose.”

He only had a bump on his head. He could easily make up an excuse, saying he bumped it himself.

But he had already suffered twice, and the anger in his heart couldn’t be swallowed. So, he went to complain to Hu Meili and took her to get revenge for him.

“You even went to complain to his parents?” Lin Xiangnan commented, “You’re really not playing fair.”

“Who cares? As long as I can vent my anger, why bother with face?”

Lin Xiangxi was quite open-minded. If he couldn’t fight, it was natural to call for help.

But there was a price to pay for doing this.

Hu Meili knew that he had not only stolen scrap steel, but had also fought twice. She was even more worried about him.

“Before, during summer and winter vacations, your sister was watching over you, and you didn’t cause any major trouble. This year, your sister just started working, and you’re already causing trouble.” Hu Meili arranged, “Don’t stay at home and write test papers tomorrow. Go to your sister’s place, and let her watch you write.”

Lin Xiangxi was already a grown man, and Lin Xiangnan not only didn’t need to take care of him, but he could also help her. So Lin Xiangnan said indifferently, “I have no objections.”

Lin Xiangxi had objections, but he could only hold them back.

The next day, Lin Xiangxi took his test papers and pen and sat on the back of Lin Xiangnan’s bicycle.

When they passed a small alley, Lin Xiangnan stopped the bicycle and asked Lin Xiangxi to wait outside.

After a while, Lin Xiangxi saw Lin Xiangnan carrying a small bucket, walking out of the alley.

“Carry it. Don’t spill water on my clothes.”

“River prawns! And fish!”

“Yeah, we’ll have river prawns and fish soup for lunch today.”

Just the two of them, three dishes were enough Lin Xiangnan carrying a small bucket, walking out of the alley.

“Carry it. Don’t spill water on my clothes.”

“River prawns! And fish!”

“Yeah, we’ll have river prawns and fish soup for lunch today.”

Just the two of them, three dishes were enough. If they added Lin Xiangxi, a fish soup would be perfect.

Lin Xiangxi asked tentatively, “How many ration tickets did Mom give you today?”

“Not many, just three ounces of ration tickets and twenty cents. I’ll pay for the rest.”

After Lin Xiangnan decided to eat at the restaurant, Hu Meili had already given her her ration tickets. Today, Hu Meili only gave Lin Xiangxi his own ration, and she was very strict with it. There was no extra.

After buying the job, Hu Meili’s private money had decreased significantly, and she was very stingy with spending.

The enamel mug she usually used was broken and tattered, but she was reluctant to throw it away, so she patched it up and continued to use it.

Lin Xiangxi knew that they would be having a better meal today, so he wasn’t frowning anymore. As soon as they arrived at the restaurant, he happily helped Lin Xiangnan with the work.

“You don’t need to help me. Just finish your test papers.”

Lin Xiangnan herself wasn’t very ambitious, but she loved watching others study.

For their generation, the words “encouraging learning” were etched into their bones. Their attitude towards learning was much more sincere than Hu Meili’s.

But Lin Xiangxi was willing to do anything to avoid writing homework!

First, he helped Lin Xiangnan chop the vegetables, then he swept the floor, and then he took the stools from the table and wiped the table with a cloth.

He had already done all of Lin Xiangnan’s work, so what else could she do? She could only sit and watch.

Zhang Dapang leaned against the door, peeling peanuts. After peeling them, he gave two to Lin Xiangnan, “Is he really your brother? He’s completely different from you. What a hardworking young man.”