As the sun set in the west, the day’s heat finally began to fade. A gentle breeze brought a touch of coolness.

In the compound, wisps of smoke rose from chimneys, and the aroma of home-cooked meals wafted from many households.

But the fragrance of the Su family’s liangpi had already surpassed the usual scents of dinner. Everyone gazed at the thin, silky noodles.

They were as soft as silk yet delightfully chewy, with a rich, enticing aroma.

The deliciousness was like the QQ candies children loved, paired with fresh vegetables, leaving an unforgettable aftertaste.

Su’s mother was busy seasoning, Second Brother Gu was in charge of mixing, and Su’s father washed the bowls.

Gu Jiaojiao’s clear voice called for everyone to line up, while Su Shuoci, with a paper box on his lap, handled the money—collecting and giving change.

At first, he felt a bit embarrassed, but seeing his wife standing bravely in the crowd, he quickly became at ease.

The business was booming. The hardworking crowd was focused on getting their liangpi, and no one recognized the Su family.

Those who had tasted the liangpi were so satisfied that they talked about its deliciousness on their way home.

This attracted a wave of students. One sharp-eyed classmate spotted Gu Jiaojiao.

“Hey, isn’t that Gu Jiaojiao selling liangpi? Did she drop out of school?”

“Haven’t you heard? The Sheng family publicly disowned her. Without the Sheng family, she’s so poor she has to set up a stall to survive.”

“Ha, what’s a fake daughter doing studying? I heard she married a cripple. Can’t even afford food now, huh?”

“Serves her right. She used to look down on us. Now let’s see how she explains herself.”

“Come on, let’s go check it out.” One student led the way, and the group pushed past the line to the front.

“Hey, you guys need to go to the back of the line. We don’t allow cutting,” Gu Jiaojiao said, not recognizing her former classmates.

“Oh, Gu Jiaojiao, pretending you don’t know us? Are you embarrassed we caught you running a stall?”

A girl around seventeen or eighteen sneered, clearly enjoying Gu Jiaojiao’s predicament.

“We’re not stealing or robbing anyone. What’s there to be embarrassed about? Do you live by the sea? Why do you care so much?”

Gu Jiaojiao genuinely didn’t recognize her former classmates. She was too busy enjoying the day’s booming business. Seeing someone causing trouble, she fired back without hesitation.

“Who wants to care about you? I just can’t stand how someone so high and mighty like you has fallen to setting up a street stall.”

“What does it matter to you if I set up a stall? Don’t you know all jobs are equal?”

“You—you’re impossible! You’ve fallen so low and still talk back. Hurry up and give us each a bowl of liangpi.”

Su Shuoci, with his sharp hearing, caught every word. He quietly reminded Gu Jiaojiao that these were her classmates.

Gu Jiaojiao was momentarily embarrassed. “Even classmates have to line up. Don’t talk nonsense. I don’t like people who try to cut in line.”

“Exactly! Just because you’re classmates doesn’t mean you’re special. Go to the back of the line!” a middle-aged woman shouted.

She had already eaten a bowl earlier and had brought a bowl from home to buy another for her kids.

Being just seventeen or eighteen, the girls were too embarrassed to argue and left, but not before shooting Gu Jiaojiao a mocking glare.

Gu Jiaojiao rolled her eyes at the classmates who mocked her.

Once again, she lamented how terrible her predecessor’s popularity had been. It seemed everyone wanted to step on her.

The female classmates, unwilling to let it go, went to the school gate to spread the news that Gu Jiaojiao had fallen so low as to set up a stall.

The students who heard this were shocked. The girls were gleeful, while the boys felt pity.

After all, Gu Jiaojiao had been their “white moonlight”!

Sheng Xinglian had been intimate with Song Zijin in the woods during lunch and lost track of time, causing her to be late for class.

She was kept after school for half an hour and was in a bad mood when she heard the shocking news.

She grabbed a female classmate and asked, “Where did you see her setting up a stall? That’s speculation and profiteering. You could report her.”

These foolish classmates only knew how to talk. They were clueless locals, and she had to remind them.

“What do you mean? Gu Jiaojiao lived with your family for eighteen years. Even a cat or dog would have formed some bond, right?
Your family married her off to a cripple. Hmph, my family would never do something like that.”

A male classmate who liked Gu Jiaojiao spoke angrily.

“That’s right. I heard Gu Jiaojiao risked her life to save your mother yesterday, and now you want to ruin her business?”

“Gu Jiaojiao is already so pitiful. Can’t you just show some mercy?”

“If you think she’s so pitiful, why don’t you take her in and support her?” a female classmate who liked the boy snapped back.

“You’re insane!” the boy shouted before riding off on his bike.

The male classmates, seeing how heartless Sheng Xinglian was, glared at her before leaving.

The other female classmates were also dragged away by their friends, unwilling to stay.

Left alone, Sheng Xinglian glared at their retreating backs. She wanted to run to Gu Jiaojiao’s stall and berate her.

But she hadn’t gone home for lunch, and if she didn’t return for dinner, her mother would worry.

Dealing with Gu Jiaojiao could wait. That male classmate already had a grudge against her.

Her persona was that of a kind and gentle girl. She couldn’t afford to make more waves. So she turned to her lackey and said,

“Xiao Yu, I really didn’t mean anything by it. I’m just worried Jiaojiao might cause trouble that could implicate my father.”

Xiao Yu wanted to say, “You’ve already cut ties with her. How could she implicate your father?”

But her parents favored boys over girls, and she often went hungry. She wanted to curry favor with Sheng Xinglian.

“Lian’er, don’t worry. Your father is so far-sighted. He’s already cut ties with Gu Jiaojiao. No matter what trouble she causes, it won’t affect your father.”

Sheng Xinglian: …

Talking to an idiot is exhausting!

“Xiao Yu, you don’t understand my heart. I’m really worried about Jiaojiao. If she gets caught, how can she take the college entrance exam?”

“Lian’er, you’re too kind. It’s better if she doesn’t get into college.”

Xiao Yu didn’t understand Sheng Xinglian’s intentions, so she didn’t dare say more.

One spoke until she was exhausted without achieving her goal, while the other answered cautiously. The two parted on bad terms.

As night fell, the Su family had sold out of liangpi. Su’s mother had originally planned to eat any leftovers for dinner.

Everyone was excited, but no one spoke on the way home, hurrying back in silence.

As soon as they entered the Su household, they found the Gu family already up and sitting in the living room. Second Brother Gu couldn’t hold back.

“Grandpa, Mom, Dad, we sold over two hundred bowls this afternoon. At three mao per bowl, that’s sixty yuan!”

“Did you really sell that much?” Gu’s mother asked uncertainly.

“Mom, it’s close to that. My second brother is amazing. Even with how busy it was, he still managed to count!”

“Jiaojiao, let’s count the money together and see,” Su Shuoci said, dumping the paper box onto the table.

A pile of small bills piled up like a small mountain.

“Hehe, in-laws, take your time counting. My Wife and I will make dinner,” Su’s father said with a smile.

“Dad, Aunt Gu and I have already cooked,” Su Qinchun said.

“Then let’s eat first and count the money later. Haha…”