The class monitor said, “…Alright then.”

He thought he’d take better care of Lin Hairui in return and bring some food next time if his own mom made something good.

However, the class monitor didn’t expect the dinner would be so abundant.

Meanwhile, Yibao, Sanbao, and Yuchengci returned to the compound an hour later.

It was a lively weekend in the compound. Groups of people were basking in the sun and chatting.

The Lin family was particularly busy.

It turned out that a few mothers of the kids from the compound were visiting the Lin family.

Their children had eaten two meals at the Lin house, so they came to socialize.

They hadn’t visited earlier because the family had just moved in and was busy.

Not only did the mothers come, but their children did too.

Although Yibao and the others were not there, with Ning Shu offering snacks, the children were still playing at the Lin house.

When they saw Yibao and the others return, they quickly called out, “Lin Hairzhi, you’re finally back!”

“Mom, we’re back.”

“Mom, we’re back.” Yu Chengci, seeing his own mother still present, joined them in the Lin family’s yard. “Mom, I saw the middle school dormitory of Lin Hairui’s school today. It’s really lively with many people in the dorm. I want to stay at school when I’m in middle school too.” He was excited about the prospect of no one monitoring him.

Li Yue laughed and said, “If you stay at school, you’ll need to do your own laundry and socks. Can you manage that?”

Yuchengci responded nonchalantly, “It’s okay, I can take them home to wash. Lin Hairui said that the students in their dormitory don’t change their socks for several days. Even when they do, they just pile them up and let their moms wash them when they go home.” Despite disliking the smell of others’ socks, he didn’t want to wash his own.

Li Yue: “…… This is an ungrateful child.”

Yi Bao: “But he also said that the dorm smells bad because of all the stinky socks. Do you like the smell of stinky socks?”

Pffft…

Li Yue laughed out loud; Yi Bao was her mouthpiece.

Yu Chengci said, “I also don’t like the smell of stinky socks, but if I had to choose between that and doing laundry, I’d choose the stinky socks.”

Yi Bao: “……”

Sanbao: “…..”

Everyone: “……”

……

At the Sports School

Ding ling ling…

With the ringing of the bell, the afternoon sports exercises finally came to an end.

As soon as the teacher announced that class was over, the students dispersed like the wind.

Er Bao: “Class monitor, you go get the lunch boxes, and I’ll go get the food.”

Many students pair up this way, with one going to get the lunch boxes and the other going to get the food.

This arrangement speeds things up—otherwise, getting the lunch boxes first and then getting food could mean waiting in long lines, or getting food first and then picking up the boxes would result in the food getting cold outside.

Class Monitor: “Got it.”

There are many students who steam rice at the school.

When students go to steam rice, they place their lunch boxes in a steel frame with numbers.

When it’s time to collect the boxes, they can find their own by number, which is very convenient.

Of course, some students end up taking the wrong lunch boxes.

Some return the incorrect ones, while others keep them by mistake.

Therefore, many students mark their lunch boxes.

The class monitor picked up the two lunch boxes and went to sit at the table for Class 1 of Junior High.

At that table, some students had already gotten their lunch boxes and were seated.

When they saw the class monitor arrive, one of the students asked, “Class monitor, aren’t you going to get the food?”

The class monitor, somewhat embarrassed, replied, “Lin Haizhi prepared the food, so I’m eating with him.”

“If Lin Haizhi is getting the food, it must have meat. He has meat in every meal.” A student said enviously.

They couldn’t afford to eat meat every meal, and at most, they had it every other day.

The class monitor smiled and said nothing.

It was obvious to everyone that Lin Haizhi’s family was well-off from what he ate and wore.

Seeing that the class monitor didn’t say more, the other students didn’t press further.

They were all first-year junior high students, still innocent and straightforward.

Er Bao was quick in getting the food.

When he came back, he noticed that not many people were seated at their table yet; many were still in line.

Er Bao placed the small basket on the ground and took out four lunch boxes.

The class monitor was surprised: “So many?”

Er Bao: “Yes, my mom always makes this much. The food she makes is delicious.”

As Er Bao spoke and took out the lunch boxes, several students at the same table looked at his lunch boxes with curiosity, wondering what kind of food Er Bao had brought.

Then, under their curious eyes, Er Bao opened the first lunch box to reveal cold, shredded lettuce.

Most people knew lettuce, and although the preparation was different from what they were used to, it was not an unusual dish.

Next, Er Bao opened the second lunch box to reveal cold, pickled cucumber.

That was even less surprising.

The students felt a bit disappointed, expecting something more exciting.

Then, amid their disappointment, Er Bao opened the third lunch box to reveal mushrooms stir-fried with eggs.

This got the students’ attention.

Eggs were a good thing, nourishing for the body.

Even though the first two dishes were ordinary, the eggs were exciting, and everyone was pleased to see them.

Even though the food wasn’t meant for them, they were still happy.

“Wow…” Er Bao was thrilled, “Class monitor, the ribs my mom makes are very tender, the kind you can suck the bones clean. Try them.”

As he spoke, Er Bao had already sat down and opened his own lunch box.

He picked up a piece of rib and ate it, even though it was cold, he still thought it tasted good.

The classmates looked at him, saliva forming in their mouths, but they swallowed it down.

Even though it was just bones, it looked very appetizing.

So, they averted their eyes, feeling too embarrassed to look further, as it might spoil their own appetite.

The class monitor also opened his lunch box and began eating.

However, instead of going for the eggs and taro ribs first, he tried the shredded lettuce.

Then…The class monitor was stunned: “Lin Haizhi, this lettuce is really good.”

He had never had such delicious lettuce before.

Even though it was just lettuce, why was it so much better than what his family made?

“My mom makes everything delicious,” Er Bao boasted, “This cucumber is also good, it’s sweet and sour.”

Ning Shu’s cold cucumber salad was sweet and sour, made with sugar, vinegar, and soy sauce mixed in certain proportions and poured over crushed cucumber.

It was very refreshing.

“Cucumber can be sweet and sour? What does that taste like?” The class monitor, who had never had anything sweet and sour, was curious and even ate a piece with a skeptical attitude.

Then…

The class monitor’s eyes lit up: “Mm, this is really good too.”

“Right? I told you it was good.” Er Bao grinned, happy to praise his mother’s cooking. “Try the eggs and ribs too; they’re all delicious.”

“Then I’ll have a bite.” Unable to resist the temptation, the class monitor tried a piece of egg and then a piece of rib. “The food your mom makes is really good, just as good as the chefs in state-run restaurants.”

“The chefs in state-run restaurants aren’t as good as my mom. Plus, the state-run restaurants don’t serve as much food as my mom does.” Having eaten at state-run restaurants a few times, Er Bao felt he was qualified to make this comparison.

The others at the table listened to their conversation and thought they were exaggerating.

Was the lettuce and cucumber really that good?

Unfortunately, Er Bao didn’t know their thoughts.

If he did, he would have wanted them to try it as well.

After eating for a while, Er Bao noticed that the class monitor hadn’t eaten any more eggs or ribs, so he asked, “Class monitor, do you like to save the best for last?”

The class monitor was puzzled: “Why do you ask?”

Er Bao: “You’ve only eaten one rib, but there are five left. I’ve already eaten two.”

“Ah?” The class monitor was even more confused. “Why are there five ribs left?”

Er Bao explained, “I counted earlier; there were twelve ribs in total, so we each get six. You’ve only eaten one, so there should be five left.”

The class monitor hurriedly said, “No, no, you eat them. One rib is enough for me.”

“That won’t do,” Er Bao insisted. “My mom said that we can’t take more than our share. It should be divided equally among everyone. At home, my dad, mom, brother, and I each get an equal share.”