The Reborn Sidekick Rejected The Male Lead
Chapter 194 - 188: The Occasional Capriciousness Comes Online

Chapter 194: Chapter 188: The Occasional Capriciousness Comes Online

Zhou Lanqin entered Lu Jingqiu’s courtyard and, just like everyone else, fell in love with the place.

She had previously disapproved of the young couple renovating the rented yard, but now she thought the renovations were well done.

It was a pity that the house had been unoccupied for months.

Now the furniture was all in place, and Carpenter Uncle had built her flower beds on the third-floor rooftop and along the walls in the first-floor courtyard using scrap wood.

Zhou Lanqin said the flower beds were a nice touch. After they had put away their things, they hurried home, and on the way they ran into a countryman from the suburbs selling cured meat. Zhou Lanqin thought the cured meat looked good.

"Young man, how much for this cured meat?"

"Auntie, two yuan per pound."

"Oh, that’s not cheap."

The man showed off a broad, white smile and said, "Auntie, it doesn’t require meat coupons, and the weight is exact."

Zhou Lanqin, seeing that the young man was honest, bought two pounds.

Lu Jingqiu also bought two pounds.

"I know how to make this cured meat too, but every time we barely have enough meat at home, it’s gone after one meal—how could I bear to turn it into cured meat."

Lu Jingqiu smiled and said, "Don’t worry, Auntie, life will get better and better."

"I hope so."

That evening, Zhou Lanqin made stir-fried goosefoot with the cured meat and also steamed some white rice.

Nowadays, they were able to enjoy a few meals with white rice—life was indeed getting better.

The next day, Lu Jingqiu visited the construction site. The house was already topped out, and these days, while the weather wasn’t too cold, they hurried to apply the cement coating. She settled this week’s wages.

Before long, it was the end of the semester, and everyone was nervously reviewing.

If it weren’t for the two cats at home, Lu Jingqiu would certainly be reviewing at school like Luo Xinyue.

Today, Shen Mu suddenly came over, bringing her a gift—a radio.

Lu Jingqiu stared at the radio in astonishment and asked, "What is this? Did you buy it?"

Shen Mu laughed, "I don’t have that much money right now. This is something my mom asked me to buy for you guys. She said it’s part of the wedding gift for you two. A few days ago, my second brother called home and mentioned the wedding ceremony during New Year’s..."

Lu Jingqiu poured him a glass of water and said, "That’s his job, and there’s nothing we can do about it. It’s not too late to have the wedding when he returns. It only worries the elders a bit."

Shen Mu smiled and said, "They’re all doing well and say you are being put upon. Initially, for the three furniture gifts, my mother wanted to prepare them, but Old Master Jiang didn’t let her. He said to ask my brother first what he had prepared, afraid of not coordinating and ending up with duplicates."

"Didn’t we already discuss this with Grandpa? Just the two of us should prepare everything. Why is Aunt going through this expense again?"

"My dad acquired some tickets and sent them to me so I could buy a radio for you guys. My mom hasn’t really taken much care of my second brother over the years, so she wants to contribute to the wedding as much as she can. She just didn’t expect my brother would settle down in West City. She feels helpless not being able to do much from Capital City, left to merely watch."

Lu Jingqiu could understand Aunt Yang’s feelings, "Shen Mu, when you go home for the break, tell Aunt not to worry about us. We’ve already prepared everything here, and we’re not lacking anything."

"I know."

"When does your school break for the holiday?"

"We break next Wednesday."

"Do you have a lot to carry? I want to prepare some things for Aunt and Grandpa Jiang."

"Not much, just some clothes to change into."

"Alright, I’ll come to your school to see you on Wednesday."

"No need, I’ll come over to the house to get it."

"I’ll bring it directly to the school. We have an exam on Wednesday afternoon. After it’s over, I’ll come to find you."

"Okay."

Lu Jingqiu had Shen Mu stay for a meal at her home, making a dish of chive and pork rice noodles.

Having lived here for almost a year, Shen Mu had gotten used to the local flavors.

He found the rice noodles prepared by Jingqiu much tastier than those made in their school canteen.

While eating, Jingqiu finally asked Shen Mu about his recent situation.

"I’ve learned a lot from studying with Classmate Shang, and recently, the government has been discussing planning new cities. It’s the first time Shang Ze and I are dealing with such things, and there’s a lot we’re confused about, so we’re just helping out under the secretaries of the leaders."

"Planning cities is an imperative step, and I suppose it won’t be long before policies are issued on that."

"I don’t know about that." He was just going there for two days on Sundays now.

After sending Shen Mu off, Lu Jingqiu fetched a military duffel bag from upstairs.

Planning to go to the farmers’ market tomorrow to see if there was any cured meat for sale, she intended to buy several pounds.

She also prepared two cans of malted milk, a milk powder, for Grandpa Jiang.

Early the next day, Lu Jingqiu went to the farmers’ market, where there were vendors outside selling vegetables.

She also encountered a seller of white sugar cake and bought two pieces for herself.

In the farmers’ market, she found a vendor selling cured meat. She brought out her meat coupons and bought four pounds, also stumbling upon a vendor selling red dates. She purchased two pounds of red dates, as well as several pounds of dried bamboo shoots and pickled vegetables.

After returning home, she packed the goods for Aunt Yang and Grandpa Jiang, planning to take them to school the next day.

Today, Xue Jianian had come to her house to say that there was news from his grandfather’s side; someone was urgently selling a house: "We have our exam next Wednesday. Your school’s is next Thursday, right? I heard from my godfather."

"Right, are you going back to Yangcheng City?"

"Yeah, to visit my grandparents and spend this year’s festival with them."

"Then how about we book the train tickets for Friday? I’ll book them tomorrow."

Xue Jianian knew it was easier for her to book tickets, so he didn’t argue. However, he wasn’t aware that she had used her uncle’s convenience to book two express train tickets costing over forty each.

When Lu Jingqiu arrived at the dormitory with a large bag of items, all three roommates could smell the meat. Luo Xinyue laughed and said, "You didn’t bring meat from home for us, did you?"

Lu Jingqiu gave her a sidelong glance and said, "Keep dreaming, this is for the elders."

He Yu said, "With all the stress these days, you’re not planning to ask for leave, are you?"

Chen Qingru, now never parting with her paintbrush, was the most diligent in the dormitory. Even while speaking, she was head down, hard at work: "Our teacher said that for this year’s final creation, we must produce a New Year’s painting. You have no idea how stressed everyone in our class has been lately. Jingqiu, I heard from Xinyue that your final creation is supposed to be an illustration, but I haven’t seen you start on it recently."

Lu Jingqiu smiled and said, "Don’t worry, don’t worry, I’ve already thought it out. I’ll start tonight. This stuff is meant for the elders in Capital City. You all know, originally this Spring Festival, my partner and I were supposed to have our wedding, but... it didn’t work out. My dad won’t be home, but I can’t forget the proper etiquette. My partner’s brother is at Politics and Law University, and I’ll find time to deliver these to him in the next couple of days."

Luo Xinyue quickly said, "I know, I’ve heard Shang Ze mention it."

He Yu, lying on the bed, seemed excited: "Finally, the holiday is coming. I have to book train tickets in the next few days. I don’t know if anyone is heading in the same direction. It would be nice to have some company. I’m so envious of you three, living so close."

Chen Qingru laughed: "Why don’t you spend the New Year at my place?"

That was out of the question; she too was homesick, having been away for a semester, she must go home and spend the New Year with her parents.

On Wednesday afternoon, after finishing her exam, Lu Jingqiu hurried back to her dorm to grab the parcels and took the bus to Politics and Law University.