Chapter 33: A fickle scum!

This fickle scoundrel! In the dim light, Xie Yu’s deep eyes flashed with a hint of gloom. He still remembered that the young girl had said before that she didn’t want to marry Xie Jianguo. His black eyes narrowed slightly, “Xie Jianguo has also agreed to this exchange of betrothals. You find a way to let Chang Meili know.” If he recalled correctly, that Chang Meili seemed to care a lot about his nephew. If she found out that Xie Jianguo had agreed to the exchange, she would definitely try to sabotage the match. But this was not a temporary measure. That woman already held resentment toward Chang Suixi and wanted to scheme against her. If Xie Jianguo wasn’t persuaded by her, she might strike at Chang Suixi again.

A complex expression flashed across Xie Yu’s eyes. Then he whispered a few words into Qian Weimin’s ear, “Next, you go first to…” Since he had promised the young girl, he had to keep his word. She was now under his protection and should be well cared for.

Qian Weimin’s eyes widened upon hearing Xie Yu’s instructions, then he nodded repeatedly, “Don’t worry, Brother Xie. Leave this matter to me—there’s no mission I can’t complete!” Thinking of the tasks Xie Yu just gave him, he was brimming with excitement.

Xie Yu raised a brow slightly, “When you act, be careful to hide your identity and don’t make any mistakes…”

“Got it! I guarantee the mission will be accomplished!” Qian Weimin smiled at Xie Yu, then as if recalling something, quietly asked, “What about Chang Suixi’s side…?”

Upon hearing that name, Xie Yu’s expression softened noticeably, “She’ll come to treat my leg tomorrow night. I’ll inform her then, so she won’t be unprepared.” He recalled that Chang Suixi already knew about the betrothal exchange and suddenly felt uneasy. Her cousin was entangled with her fiancé, actively seeking to exchange betrothals, then got involved with her other “fiancé” too. This was quite a blow for the young girl. She must be having a hard time alone.

Xie Yu frowned slightly; his chest ached a little. This time, no matter what, he would protect this delicate young educated youth!

The next day, early morning. Since it was Chang Suixi’s turn to make breakfast, she got up an hour earlier than usual. The sky was still dim, with a bit of moisture in the air.

Originally, the person paired with Chang Suixi to cook was Chang Meili. Although she and Zhao Hang lived in the cowshed, they still ate at the educated youth compound. After all, even if living in the cowshed, they were still educated youths. The village chief wouldn’t cut off their food just because they made mistakes. But since she was now in the cowshed and doing dung-carrying work, naturally, no one wanted to eat the food she cooked.

“Chang Zhiying, let me help you start the fire?” Just as Chang Suixi was carrying a pile of firewood to the stove, Li Chunhua came over to help voluntarily. She had returned late to the youth compound last night and hadn’t dared to find Chang Suixi.

After waking up in the hospital, Li Chunhua had heard that Chang Suixi was the one who saved her, while her good friend Chang Meili delayed treatment. She deeply regretted listening to Chang Meili’s harsh words toward Chang Suixi before. But just apologizing with words felt insincere, so she found herself some work to do.

Seeing Li Chunhua’s proactive attitude, Chang Suixi didn’t refuse; after all, having someone help with chores was very welcome. Since it wasn’t harvest season, farm work was light, so breakfast was simple.

Chang Suixi thought about the wild vegetable cornbread she’d eaten a few days ago. Although she hadn’t eaten much, it still felt stuck in her throat. She glanced quietly at the washed wild vegetables by the stove, resignedly took them to chop finely, mixed in some bean flour, then shaped the mixture into vegetable patties and put them in the steamer.

Next, she took two potatoes, sliced them thinly and finely as if measured with a ruler, rinsed them in water, and then placed them on the small stove next to the boiling water.

Li Chunhua noticed Chang Suixi’s skillful movements and recalled how Chang Meili had complained openly and secretly that Chang Suixi was lazy and liked to eat well… Her brow furrowed; it really seemed like Chang Meili had lied! With that knife work, each potato strip was uniformly thin and fine. Could such precision come from someone lazy?

Li Chunhua looked up at Chang Suixi and seriously said, “Chang Zhiying, right…”

“Chunhua, thank you! I didn’t expect you to help my cousin cook as soon as you returned to the compound. Really, thank you!” Before Li Chunhua could say her apology, an annoying voice came from nearby.

Chang Meili appeared, arriving fashionably late, standing by the kitchen.

Li Chunhua frowned and looked at Chang Meili with clear disdain, “I’m helping Chang Zhiying, not you.”

Chang Meili seemed not to understand and immediately grabbed Li Chunhua’s arm, saying, “I know, I know. My cousin didn’t make things difficult for you, right? She’s never done this before, so her mood is unstable, that’s normal…”

Li Chunhua hadn’t minded Chang Meili’s words before, but since being hit by Chang Suixi last time, her mind had cleared a lot. Now when listening to Chang Meili, she felt the sarcasm.

Her brow tightened, and she stared at Chang Meili, “All these dishes were made by Chang Zhiying, and her temper is good—she didn’t lose it at all.”

Chang Meili’s eyes widened in surprise. She had prepared the stage for Chang Suixi, yet was completely ignored? Shouldn’t Li Chunhua have sided with her and scolded Chang Suixi? At least, she shouldn’t show kindness to Chang Suixi! How could she change after only two days?

Chang Suixi glanced at Chang Meili but kept cooking quietly. Her potatoes had been blanched and now it was time to prepare the soul sauce for the morning salad!

She thought this while pouring seasonings into a small bowl.

Suddenly, Chang Meili screamed sharply, “Ah! Chang Suixi, why did you use so much oil?! It’s just one meal, you’re wasting way too much!”

Startled by Chang Meili’s scream, Chang Suixi almost dropped the seasoning bottle. She took a deep breath, put the bottle back on the table, and was about to get up when Li Chunhua pressed her shoulder.

“I’ll do it! I’ll do it! I’ll do it!” Before Chang Suixi could react to what Li Chunhua meant, she heard crisp slaps by her ear.

“Smack!”
“Smack!”
“Smack!”

And they were rhythmical.

Afterward, Li Chunhua looked at Chang Suixi with a look like “I helped hit her for you, so you can’t hit me now.”