A few words from Jiang Cheng and He Dan's expression changed dramatically, looking extremely unpleasant.
Lin Mother felt somewhat moved by what she heard but was concerned that the six hundred yuan came from He Dan, finding it difficult to make any decision at that moment.
Thinking of this, Lin Mother immediately grabbed He Dan's hand.
"Jiang Cheng, stop sowing discord. He Dan is just like my daughter!"
Jiang Cheng couldn't hold back and laughed, her voice clear and strong.
"Your daughter title is cheap indeed."
With Jiang Cheng's reminder, everyone recalled that Lin Mother also said this to Jiang Cheng yesterday.
"Mom, I trust you; we are a family."
He Dan wasn't foolish and offered Lin Mother a way out with a single phrase.
Lin Mother immediately regained her confidence and said, "That's right, we are indeed a family!"
Jiang Cheng ignored the passive-aggressive Lin Mother, turned around, waved her hand casually, and hummed a little tune.
"Fish finds fish, shrimp finds shrimp, tortoise finds green beans, truly a family! Thanks to you, happiness to the whole family, just waiting for the right time to repay."
As Jiang Cheng entered the Shen Family house, the door closed, blocking outside views.
Lin Mother was livid, feeling as though Jiang Cheng was cursing and subtly mocking her, yet she couldn't lose her temper.
Lin Chengyuan mentioned yesterday to keep quiet lately, as any mishap at work wouldn't be worth it.
Lin Mother had a belly full of grievances and could only vent her anger at the stunned Lin Jiaojiao.
"What are you staring at? Trying to find a bloom? All day long doing nothing, just ready to eat with an open mouth! Today you're cooking!"
Lin Jiaojiao was yelled at by Lin Mother, finally snapping out of her dazed state.
"Mom—Jiang Cheng she—"
"Stop bringing her up with me!"
Lin Mother was dissatisfied with Lin Jiaojiao's stupidity, wishing she could suppress Jiang Cheng, but without the capability, leaving herself embarrassed.
Lin Jiaojiao pouted.
"Mom, I don't know how to cook?"
"Not knowing doesn't mean you can't learn!"
Lin Mother shouted irritably, leading to another round of arguments over who should cook.
Ultimately, Lin Mother cooked with He Dan, and Lin Jiaojiao couldn't escape from it.
Jiang Cheng paid no attention to this.
The Lin Family always had never-ending arguments!
At this moment, in Shen Family across the door, Jiang Cheng took out eight fruit candies, giving Shen Xing, Shen Yue, and Granny Shen two each, and put one in her own mouth.
"Sweet mouth."
Shen Xing and Shen Yue looked at Granny Shen.
Granny Shen wanted to refuse.
"Grandma Shen, you helped speak for me earlier. Now, eating my thank you candy, surely you're not refusing out of disdain for its small quantity?"
Granny Shen was speechless.
She wasn't particularly familiar with Jiang Cheng, but she felt this girl had quite the knack for talking.
"All right, all right, eat then."
Granny Shen agreed, and Shen Xing and Shen Yue thanked her, taking the fruit candies, opening the packaging yet not tossing them, instead cherishingly placed them in their books.
The citrus scent wafted around the small dining table, sweet and filling the heart with sweetness.
Dinner was millet cakes, cabbage soup, plus mustard nādādā salted vegetable strips.
After dinner, Granny Shen went to wash the dishes, and Jiang Cheng, seeing this, casually watched the two little ones do their homework.
Shen Xing was in second grade, Shen Yue in preschool; she'd start first grade in September.
Seeing Shen Xing's math mistake, Jiang Cheng pointed it out, then nodded after he corrected it, indicating correctness.
"Sister Jiang Cheng, they say you haven't been to school; why do you know these things?"
Jiang Cheng held an elementary school's Chinese textbook, flipping a page with her index finger, speaking in the calmest tone:
"Because I'm exceptionally gifted and cannot bear wasting that."
Shen Xing's eyes widened; his little mind was struck by a massive shock; people can self-praise like this?
"Isn't it supposed to be impeccable beauty, unwilling to go wasted?"
Jiang Cheng put down the book in her hand, seriously facing Shen Xing: "Shen Xing, let sister tell you something; there'll always be some special people in this world."
"Like me, looking good and being ridiculously talented. Sometimes I wonder, making life hard for others, why grow me when you have everyone else?"
Shen Xing offered a fake smile.
He was mistaken.
People can not only praise themselves like this but can even be more exaggerated.
"Sister looks the best!"
Little Shen Yue devoid of many thoughts, she simply liked Jiang Cheng's face, making her feel better seeing it.
Jiang Cheng shifted her gaze to Shen Yue, pointing her index finger at her little nose saying: "Good eye, promising future!"
Shen Yue was amused by Jiang Cheng, grinning and revealing her gap-absent front teeth, covering her mouth instantly with both hands, utterly adorable.
The three laughed and chatted, Granny Shen returning from washing dishes felt tears welling.
How long had it been since these two kids were this happy?
Jiang Cheng looked up, rising to face Granny Shen.
"Grandma Shen, I need to go enroll at night school."
"Oh? Great! Here's a flashlight; take it, come back early, and walk the main road."
"Okay, I'll go and return quickly."
Jiang Cheng took the silver flashlight, carrying a green single-shoulder bag, leaving the courtyard heading to night school.
Jiang Cheng never thought of holding back her skills—not only holding back but creating an image as a language genius.
Getting into translation sooner, she can contribute with her efforts sooner.
Reportedly, translators were scarce during that era; many critical documents required translation.
She asked directions along the way, and under the warm guidance of friendly locals, Jiang Cheng arrived at the night school entrance.
Night schools were established to improve public cultural levels, divided into literacy classes and advanced classes.
Literacy is self-explanatory; advanced classes were usually recommended by major factories for study, returning with job changes, and recommendations were free of charge.
Like Jiang Cheng who found them on her own, she needed to pay for tuition and ensure the night school had space left.
Engaging in casual conversation with Uncle Wang at the gate and having a warm chat, Jiang Cheng smoothly found the office to enroll.
Enrollment was handled by a woman who swept Jiang Cheng up and down with her gaze.
Another one hoping to find a mate with their looks!
Night school had quite a few potential talents pursuing further studies, and some young girls attended looking for them; utterly shameless.
The woman, not wanting to "assist evil," said, "No spots available."
Jiang Cheng seemed genuinely surprised, puzzled as she muttered, "Uncle Wang said there're two spots left."
Gatekeeper Uncle Wang: When was I demoted in status?
Enrollment worker Zhao Na's heart skipped, Wang?
Night school principal surnamed Wang.
Also indeed two spots available.
"Wait here!"
Zhao Na pretended to shuffle through some paperwork, putting on an immensely generous expression as she asked, "What education level?"
"No formal education."
Jiang Cheng's answer caused the woman's mouth to downturn, exuding an aura of utter distress, randomly tossing over a sheet.
"Literacy class, one semester, seven yuan eight; fill the form yourself."
"Oh dear, forgot you can't read."
The woman's schadenfreude and superiority were slipping from the corners of her mouth.
"I only said I had no formal education, never said I can't read."
Jiang Cheng, looking at the form for a moment, said, "I don't need the literacy class; I'm enrolling in advanced class."
"Bang!"
"Do what you're told, never had one day of school, what advanced class!"
The woman coldly snapped, displaying considerable impatience.
Jiang Cheng remained calm and unangered.
"I'm enrolling and explaining why I don't need to attend the literacy class; may I ask on what grounds you stop me from signing up for the advanced class?"
"You said there were no spots, now there are; is night school under your sole control?"
"I'm studying to serve the motherland, helping in the country's construction, yet you obstruct me in a hundred ways; why?"
Jiang Cheng's words hit hard, with people already peeking inside, Zhao Na felt uncomfortable.
How did she get to obstructing the motherland's construction???
The metaphor was too heavy, leaving her gasping.
Ten seconds of silence passed.
Jiang Cheng gently placed the enrollment form on the desk, calmly saying, "Surely you made a mistake, kindly exchange it."
Zhao Na clenched her teeth to force a smile, moving past the setback.
Jiang Cheng successfully enrolled, nodding and smiling at the woman, saying, "See you tomorrow, we're comrades in progress from now on."