After Zhang Yunxi bought the meat, she began to ponder her grand dish—Braised Pork with Preserved Vegetables!

First, she blanched the meat to remove the gamey smell. She then vigorously poked the skin with bamboo skewers to remove excess fat, ensuring the meat would be more tender. As she poured oil into the wok for frying, Zhang Yunxi smiled at Deng Damei and said, “Damei, do you have anything else to do? You being here makes me nervous.”

Her hands were trembling as she poured the oil.

The oil she was using wasn’t lard but peanut oil, which she had exchanged for work points with the production team.

Every extra drop of oil she used felt like a knife pressed against her neck.

“What are you going to do with the leftover oil?” Deng Damei asked.

“I’ll handle it properly!” Zhang Yunxi declared confidently.

Deng Damei snorted, “Do you really think I believe you?”

“Maybe…” Zhang Yunxi’s confidence wavered.

Deng Damei gave her a disapproving look and said, “I’m going to chop firewood. Don’t mess things up.”

“Got it, got it.” Zhang Yunxi ushered her out the door as if seeing off a deity, then hurried back to prepare the Braised Pork with Preserved Vegetables.

One pound of pork belly wasn’t enough to make a large portion of Braised Pork with Preserved Vegetables, especially when shared among five people. She was well aware of how expensive oil was, so she tried to save as much as possible.

It was tough.

She didn’t spend much because she earned so little!

Zhang Yunxi decided to take advantage of her free time to write a new draft, especially since Zhao Rencheng was also going out to deliver goods.

She arranged the pieces of meat in a bowl, skin-side down, pressing them tightly into the gaps. Then she added the preserved vegetables and placed the bowl in the steamer.

Zhang Yunxi watched over her Braised Pork with Preserved Vegetables, enjoying the quiet and peaceful moment.

Next door, however, the atmosphere was entirely different.

Wu Donglin arrived like an emperor, looking down at everyone with a haughty gaze.

He showed off ten ten-yuan bills!

“My parents couldn’t find me a new job for now, so they sent me a hundred yuan! Plus two preserved ducks and five preserved fish. Take a look.”

The male educated youths were astonished. They had thought his claims about his family’s wealth were just boasting.

But it turned out to be true!

They were genuinely envious.

Most of them had been sent to the countryside because they weren’t particularly favored by their families. But Wu Donglin was different—his family was truly well-off. They could send him a hundred yuan, something many of them had never even seen, let alone possessed.

“I heard the neighbors are having Braised Pork with Preserved Vegetables. I’ll treat you all to preserved duck. How’s that for generosity?!”

“Brother Wu, you’re the best!”

“Yeah, you’re a true brother.”

“Brother Wu, just let us know if you need anything in the future!”

…

They were quick to flatter him, especially when meat was involved.

A few sweet words were nothing to them.

Wu Donglin watched as they busied themselves with the preserved duck, feeling immensely pleased.

Did Zhang Yunxi really think she could compete with him?

Dream on.

Next, he opened Zhang Yujie’s letter. As he read its contents and compared it to his parents’ letter, his mood gradually soured.

Yes.

His job had been given to his nephew.

All he got was a hundred yuan, and after that, only five yuan a month!

Compared to a stable job, what was this?

He was suffering in the countryside while his nephew enjoyed life in the city.

After receiving the hundred yuan, it would be even harder for him to return to the city. The little benefits he had in the countryside were nothing compared to the prestige of city life.

Utterly worthless!

Wu Donglin, who had initially been somewhat satisfied with his parents’ arrangement, suddenly felt resentful. He picked up a pen and wrote a scathing letter, accusing his parents of favoritism. Then, his thoughts turned to Zhang Yunxi.

Zhang Yujie had mentioned that Zhang Yunxi was madly in love with him but had become bitter and extreme because her feelings were unrequited.

Wu Donglin believed this without question.

He had always been irresistibly charming, adored by women.

But he hadn’t expected Zhang Yunxi to take the house deed.

Her family’s property deed was worth a fortune.

It wasn’t what Zhang Yujie had claimed—worth only a hundred yuan. Did that fool really think he was stupid? If Zhang Yunxi loved him so much, why not take her property deed and return to the city? With a three-bedroom apartment under his name, his family would have to curry favor with him. He could even offer one room to a relative in exchange for a job!

Wu Donglin smirked wickedly.

He could even marry Zhang Yunxi later.

She was decent-looking now and could earn money. She could work hard to support him.

This was already a great favor to her, considering how many women adored him. After putting away Zhang Yujie’s letter, Wu Donglin felt a bit of disdain for her. She was just a poor girl. If it weren’t for her sweet talk, he would never have been interested in someone like her.

Wu Donglin took out a mirror, combed his hair, and admired his handsome reflection with great satisfaction.

As he stepped out, he held his head high, as if he wished to become a three-meter-tall giant, looking down on the ignorant peasants.

“Brother Wu…” Zhao Erhua called out shyly and timidly.

“What do you want?” Wu Donglin frowned.

This country girl—allowing her to speak to him was already a favor. Who would have thought her mother would scheme against him?

Damn woman.

“I saw you received several letters and a big package today. Were they from your family?” Zhao Erhua asked.

Wu Donglin snorted heavily, “Of course! What did you think? My family is among the elite in the city. My parents sent me a hundred yuan to spend as I please, plus five preserved fish and three preserved ducks!”

Zhao Erhua’s heart raced at the mention of a hundred yuan, five preserved fish, and three preserved ducks.

What kind of family was this?

Her mother had warned her not to fall for Wu Donglin, but look at how well-off his family was! She had always known Brother Wu was different from the others—he was an exceptional man.

Zhao Erhua gazed at Wu Donglin with longing. She had been stealing sweet potatoes for him lately. What would he give her in return?

Wu Donglin, sensing her greedy gaze, felt even more disgusted. “Do you know what my city girlfriend gave me?”

Zhao Erhua’s face turned pale.

His city girlfriend—Zhang Yunxi’s cousin!

“What… what did she give you?”

“Something you’ve never even seen,” Wu Donglin sneered.

Zhao Erhua’s face burned with shame. Were the things she gave Brother Wu too vulgar?

A wave of inferiority washed over her, and her eyes reddened. “I’ll go home now.”

“Mm,” Wu Donglin tossed his head, his gaze shifting to the neighboring house. He went back inside, grabbed a preserved duck, and headed to the female educated youths’ dormitory, calling out, “Zhang Yunxi!”

Zhang Yunxi was too engrossed in admiring her perfectly marbled braised pork to pay him any attention. She snapped at him, “What do you want? Are you crazy?”

Wu Donglin was initially shocked by her reaction.

But humans are strange creatures.

The more you’re mistreated, the more you get used to it.

Wu Donglin didn’t even feel anger rising this time. “I need to talk to you. Come out for a moment.”

“What is it?” Zhang Yunxi stepped out and saw him holding a preserved duck. She raised an eyebrow, “What’s this? Giving me something? A weasel paying a New Year’s visit to a chicken—what are you up to?”

Wu Donglin felt a bit annoyed. Although he was after her house and her salary, he was willing to give her a preserved duck—something he hadn’t offered to anyone else!

And she still wasn’t satisfied? So hard to please.

But thinking of the house and the money, Wu Donglin held back his temper. “Do you want it or not?”