Chapter 15: Shall We Study Together?

“Sorry, boss. My little sister just forgot to pay. How much is a bun? We’ll take ten more.”

Ning Ning’s voice was clear and bright. She looked at the stall owner with sincere eyes. Seeing the money in her hand, his tone immediately softened.

“Two buns for ten cents, or six cents each if you buy one.”

“Alright, I’ll take eleven, plus the one in my sister’s hand—that’s twelve in total.”

Ning Ning readily handed over sixty cents. The stall owner’s face instantly brightened.

“Good! Come again next time. My buns are the best—big, round, and filling!”

Ding.

Mission Two progress +5. Total progress: 5.

Hearing the chime, Ning Ning realized this task was just like a favorability meter—treat someone kindly, gain points.

“Eat up. We’re all hungry, me included. See if there’s a stall nearby selling soup or something to drink. We’ll buy some to go with the buns.”

She calmly gave instructions, handing Lin Xiao two buns, slipping one to Chen Momo, and taking one for herself. She bit into it neatly yet elegantly. Lin Xiao, knowing Ning Ning had earned money, didn’t refuse. She took the buns naturally and ate as well.

She looked around, then pointed softly at a stall off to the side.

“That one looks like it’s selling tofu.”

“Let’s go have some tofu. Momo, you come too.”

Hands full, Ning Ning couldn’t pull her along, so she walked ahead first. Lin Xiao followed close behind. Chen Momo glanced at the bun in her hand, then at their backs, and finally quickened her pace to catch up.

“Boss, three bowls of tofu, please.”

“Alright, right away.”

Three bowls? … One of them was for her?

Ding.
Mission Three progress +5. Total progress: 10.

Ning Ning paid one yuan and smoothly advanced Mission Three.

After eating their fill, Chen Momo finally whispered, “Thank you.”

“I’ll accept your thanks. But since I helped you, how about you help us too?”

Ning Ning smiled warmly. Chen Momo turned her face aside, uncomfortable. Why did it feel like Ning Ning was treating her like a child? They were the same age—she was even a few months older. Lin Xiao was the youngest of the three.

“What kind of help?”

“I’m tutoring Xiao. Next year we’ll take the college entrance exam. But studying alone makes her lose motivation. If you join her, maybe both of you will feel less pressure—like you’re in it together.”

…

Lin Xiao felt a metaphorical arrow pierce her knee. Still, she admitted Ning Ning was right. If someone else was as bad as she was, she’d feel comforted. Though she knew Ning Ning had only said it that way to encourage her.

“I don’t have money to buy books or pens.”

Chen Momo longed to study. Only by studying and passing exams could she escape her life. But thanks to Chen Xinxin’s interference, she had failed the high school entrance exam and was stuck at home.

“That’s fine. You can share with Xiao. She doesn’t mind, do you, Xiao?”

“Not at all, Momo. I can’t even make use of the books. I’m too stupid—Ning Ning had to start teaching me from elementary school again. You went to junior high, you’re smarter than me, you’ll definitely learn faster.”

Lin Xiao nodded earnestly.

“Then… do you have high school textbooks?”

“Of course. I borrowed a lot from Brother Yue Chi—anything you need, we have.”

Ning Ning promised. Seeing this, Chen Momo hesitated no longer. If there was even a sliver of hope to change her fate, she would cling to it, thick-skinned or not. At worst, she could even teach Ning Ning and Lin Xiao some knowledge.

“Alright. I’ll join you!”

At this time, Chen Momo still didn’t know Ning Ning’s true ability. In her mind, Ning Ning was just the silly girl who failed exams and chased after Xing Yuan. That’s why later, being “crushed” by Ning Ning academically would hit her so hard.

Ding.
Mission Three progress +5. Total progress: 15.

In just one morning, Ning Ning earned twenty-three yuan and gained sixteen points. Truly worth the trip. Satisfied, she went shopping again—this time buying alcohol.

“What are you buying that for, Ning Ning? Do you drink?”

Lin Xiao was puzzled.

“No. You can’t drink alcohol—it’s not the same as liquor. Drinking it harms your body. I have another use for it.”

Ning Ning raised an eyebrow mysteriously.

“Alright…”

Lin Xiao nodded blankly. If it wasn’t for drinking, what could alcohol be used for?

Of course—for making mosquito repellent. This was 100% pure alcohol, not the 75% kind she really wanted, but that didn’t matter. She could dilute it herself.

It was simple: mix 75% alcohol with mint, seal for a week, and it became mosquito repellent that could be diluted tenfold. Add some extracts or essential oils, and it would also serve as perfume.

Pour it into small bottles, and it could sell for one yuan each—an absolute profit-maker.

“Don’t worry. I won’t let you two starve while I make money.”

Ning Ning playfully flicked both their foreheads. She really was the legendary rich bestie who could take her friends straight to the top.

At home, her mother had thought Ning Ning was just fooling around. Though she’d felt distressed about the five yuan investment, she only hoped Ning Ning could sell enough clips to at least recover half the cost. But when she saw the earnings, she was stunned—this wasn’t money, it was like gold.

She spat on her hand, counted again in disbelief.

“Really fifteen yuan? Ning Ning, you didn’t rob someone, did you? We’re good girls—we can’t do such things!”

“Mom, look at me and Xiao—we’re both so scrawny. Do we look like people who could rob anyone? We’d be lucky not to be robbed ourselves. Don’t worry, this money came from selling hairpins. Street stalls are profitable now. Think about it—if someone was selling pork for 1.5 yuan a jin, no coupons needed, would you buy?”

“Of course! The co-op charges 1 yuan a jin, but you can’t even get any without meat coupons. If you could buy it outside, even at a higher price, it would be worth it.”

Her mother answered without hesitation.

“Exactly. Hairpins are the same as pork. I charge a bit more, but you can’t buy them anywhere else in town. The department store sells similar ones, but more expensive. Compared side by side, mine are the better deal. That’s why they sell.”

“Mom, the policies have changed. People can do business now. Why don’t you and Dad stop farming? It’s exhausting and barely makes money. Why not try a small business in town?”

Ning Ning tentatively suggested.

But her mother immediately refused.

“No way. Business isn’t proper work. You might make money once, but who says it’ll work every time? Farming is steady. With food, you’ll never starve. Don’t worry about us. Your father and I can work just fine—it’s not tiring. Back when we earned work points, we always got full marks. So now it’ll be even easier.”