Chapter 65: Pushing the Limits

Su Liang simply couldn’t understand it—was he somehow at odds with this place? Ever since he’d arrived at the Youth Courtyard, he’d taken a spill every now and then, as if cursed. It was almost uncanny.

“Brother Liang, what are we going to do?” Qin Fang clung pitifully to his arm. “Are we going to starve to death here?”

“No, if it comes to it, I’ll learn to cook,” Su Liang replied through gritted teeth.

Imagine it: the proud young master of the Su family, reduced to learning how to cook. If word got back to the Su household, those people would be furious.

Xu Lin listened, her lips curled in a sneer. Such a lovesick fool—she wondered if he’d really do as he claimed and learn to cook. Hopefully, it wasn’t just empty talk.

Despite what he’d said, Su Liang was unwilling to give up. Rubbing his sore backside, he went to seek out Fu Yaqin again.

They all lived in row houses, so Fu Yaqin had overheard what happened at Qian Li’s door. Before Su Liang and Qin Fang could say a word, she cut them off:

“Comrade Su, Comrade Qin, I’m sorry, but I don’t like eating with others. You’d better ask someone else.”

“Don’t be so quick to refuse; at least hear my offer first,” Su Liang said, raising a hand to stop her from closing the door.

“Comrade Su, people who live in private rooms—how many of them are short of money?” Fu Yaqin countered.

That stumped Su Liang. She was right; those who could afford a private room weren’t exactly strapped for cash. If they weren’t short of money, why would they put themselves out for a little extra grain?

Once he figured it out, Su Liang’s face flushed with embarrassment. He’d been far too presumptuous. Still, he wasn’t ready to give up.

“What if I trade you a spot for returning to the city?” he offered.

Fu Yaqin laughed. “A spot to return to the city is indeed precious, but as long as you’re still out in the countryside, would you really give it to me? Besides, if I spend a year or two here, do you think my family won’t be able to secure me a spot to return?”

Her words cut straight to the heart of the matter, leaving Su Liang at a loss for a retort.

Just as Qian Li had said, plenty of well-connected youths had been assigned to Wangzhuang Brigade. These city youths would be back home in a year or two. Those living in private rooms were neither short of money nor connections. Why would they inconvenience themselves for others?

Su Liang couldn’t find a reason to persuade Fu Yaqin to act as their housekeeper and left, cheeks burning.

Before they left, Qin Fang shot Fu Yaqin several resentful looks, but Fu Yaqin just rolled her eyes. What a joke—a spy’s daughter wanting her to wait on them. They must be dreaming.

Su Liang and Qin Fang ended up thoroughly embarrassed at the Youth Courtyard, and still couldn’t find anyone to share meals with. With no other option, the two had to cook for themselves.

But they hadn’t bought a pot, so they had to wait until the others in the shared dorm had finished cooking before they could start, which left them both disgruntled.

Su Liang went to Zhao Qing and Zhao Nan, who were cooking, and argued that since it was just the two of them, they’d be quick and should cook first. Only once they’d finished would the others in the dorm have their turn.

The nerve of that request nearly made Zhao Qing and her sister’s eyes pop out. Zhao Qing, restraining her angry sister, turned around and told the other youths, who found the whole thing hilarious.

Unbelievable—after all, it was their money that had bought the pots and stove. Why should they, as the owners, have to wait their turn behind someone else? If they allowed the two to use their things, that was generosity; they couldn’t let the two take it for granted.

A few of the youths mocked Su Liang and Qin Fang outright, making it clear they could use the pot if they paid a rental fee—otherwise, they shouldn’t touch private property.

Xu Lin, sitting at the door, nearly died laughing. She’d never realized how hopelessly foolish Su Liang and Qin Fang were. Where did they get the nerve to make such an unreasonable demand? Did they really think the Youth Courtyard was their private backyard, where everything revolved around them?

In the end, Su Liang and Qin Fang didn’t get any benefit at all. Instead, they managed to make themselves universally disliked. Furious, they skipped dinner and sulked in their room.

Xu Lin finished brewing her medicine, slipped it into her space, and planned to make it into pills later.

She hadn’t rested long before Granny Erwa arrived at the Youth Courtyard, beaming as she carried a dozen eggs. She’d come not only to deliver a gift but also to invite Xu Lin to her home for dinner. After all, Xu Lin had done the family a great kindness. If it weren’t for the cold weather making the hens reluctant to lay, she would have brought even more eggs.

“Comrade Xu, hello!” Granny Erwa greeted her with a smile. “I’m here to invite you to dinner at my house.”

“Hello, Auntie. Come in and have a seat,” Xu Lin welcomed her in. “You didn’t have to bring a gift.”

“This is a small token of thanks—you mustn’t refuse.” Granny Erwa placed the basket on the table. “There’s nothing fancy in the countryside, just a dozen eggs. I hope you don’t mind.”

“Eggs are a treasure—sometimes you can’t buy them even if you have money.” Xu Lin poured her a cup of tea and handed it to her, but Granny Erwa hastily shook her head.

“I’m just an old woman; I can’t use such a pretty cup and risk dirtying it.”

“Comrade Xu, you really don’t need to be so polite. I’m not thirsty.” Granny Erwa sniffed. “Are you unwell, Comrade Xu?”

“No, I just brewed some medicine to strengthen my body.”

As Xu Lin spoke, she accepted the eggs, then put half a pound of brown sugar and a packet of pastries into the basket in return.

Granny Erwa was aghast—she had come to give thanks, not to take advantage. Half a pound of brown sugar was worth a lot, and highly sought after—even with ration tickets, it wasn’t easy to buy.

Soon, the house was filled with the sounds of gentle arguing—one insisting on returning the favor, the other refusing. Xu Lin was no stranger to this; back in the capital, whenever the Xu family had visitors, Old Madam Xu would go through the same motions, ending up keeping the guest’s gift.

But unlike Old Madam Xu’s polite pretense, Xu Lin genuinely meant both her acceptance and her return of gifts.

Before long, Xu Lin had ushered Granny Erwa outside, locked the door, and ran ahead with the basket. Granny Erwa, panting with exhaustion, couldn’t believe that as an expert in such exchanges, she had been outmatched by Comrade Xu. Who would have thought that someone so small and delicate could be so strong?

But now she felt awkward—her attempt at gratitude had ended up looking like she was there to take advantage.

Watching Xu Lin being so well received, Qin Fang’s eyes turned red with envy and hatred. It was all that little wretch’s fault that she had been sent to the countryside, made a laughingstock in the capital, and nearly lost all her privileges.

But as much as she hated, there was nothing Qin Fang could do for now. She knew Xu Lin was a formidable fighter; she’d have to find a way to deal with her.

The Erwa family was truly sincere—they killed a chicken, cooked half a wild rabbit, and made a dish of scrambled eggs. Just those three dishes showed their genuine gratitude.

During the meal, the family repeatedly told Xu Lin that if she ever had any hard or dirty work, she should call on them. They urged her not to work tomorrow, just to show her face in the fields and leave—the little work assigned to her would be finished in minutes.

Goodness, yet another family eager to help Xu Lin. She was all smiles at their enthusiasm.

The next day, Xu Lin found Wang Facai and asked for a day off to go into town.

Xu Lin rode her bicycle into town, and the sight of her bike drew envious looks from everyone.