Chapter 158: Mu Furong

The state-run restaurant was as quiet as a grave. Even the anxious Mu Furong stared dumbfounded at the person who had just been thrown out.

Lin Jingyue withdrew her foot and looked coldly at the other man. "Still not leaving?"

The man swallowed hard, edged along the wall, then dragged the person on the ground up and bolted.

Such lowlifes were actually quite good at reading the situation.

Lin Jingyue chuckled softly and sat down.

The others awkwardly withdrew their gazes, their movements while eating becoming unnatural.

Damn, this girl cannot be judged by her appearance.

Not even these hooligans dared to mess with her.

"Sorry for bringing trouble to you all," Mu Furong said, closing her mouth and trying to calm the shock inside.

Those two had targeted her at first.

"It's alright," Lin Jingyue waved her hand.

People like that wouldn't behave properly even if encountered on the road.

"By the way, my name is Mu Furong. May I ask how you two comrades are called?" Mu Furong smiled, feeling a spontaneous fondness for Lin Jingyue.

Her family said people in the countryside were no good, but she found this place quite interesting.

People here were interesting; life was not stagnant.

Lin Jingyue met Mu Furong’s clear eyes and felt a stir in her heart. Her own eyes brightened—such a beauty, she liked her.

"Just call me Lin Jingyue," she said with a slight smile, radiant. Mu Furong was struck by her beauty.

Zhou Mingxue smiled and said, "I’m Zhou Mingxue. You can just call me by my name, Mu comrade."

Seeing that both were straightforward and cheerful, Mu Furong was even happier, her smile more genuine.

Sometimes, friendships among girls were just that simple. The three chatted more and more, gradually hitting it off, and when they parted, there was some reluctance.

After seeing Zhou Mingxue back to the post office, Lin Jingyue went to the cattle cart gathering spot. Everyone had basically arrived.

"Jingyue, come here quickly, I’ve saved you a seat," Feng Wanqia called out when she saw Lin Jingyue.

Lin Jingyue didn’t know what pretentiousness was, took a few strides, and plopped down.

Old Mr. Li smiled at her action.

Whipping the cattle to move forward, the trailing old women could only glare and pout.

"Jingyue, here," Zhang Shuting opened a paper-wrapped package, revealing golden-yellow sponge cakes, eyes fixed on Lin Jingyue.

She completely ignored the hungry glances of others.

Lin Jingyue smiled lightly, "Thank you," and took a piece without hesitation. "This is enough."

Seeing her really eat, Zhang Shuting’s eyes glowed with a smile. She shared a piece with Feng Wanqia and took one for herself.

After coming to the countryside, she suddenly realized sponge cake was quite delicious.

Several old women looked on longingly but said nothing. Had it been others, they might have asked for some. But since these girls were from the educated youth camp, they were cautious.

These girls were not to be trifled with.

Chen Cuitui swallowed her saliva, fished out half a piece of malt candy from her bundle, and popped it in her mouth, eyes narrowing slightly as sweetness filled her heart.

As the daughter-in-law of the team leader’s family, life was comfortable enough, and they occasionally had treats, which was already quite good.

Lin Jingyue’s cattle cart was always very quiet.

When they arrived at the educated youth camp, she gave the brown sugar to Xia Nan. Hearing that Jiang Xun had gone fishing in the river, she went to find Sun Lanlan.

"Life’s not bad," Lin Jingyue smiled when she caught Sun Lanlan eating brown sugar sponge cake.

Sun Lanlan was startled and glared, "Lin Jingyue, do you think I can’t beat you?"

Lin Jingyue replied, "Yes."

Sun Lanlan ground her teeth, "Hmph, I won’t argue with you. What do you want?"

Damn, she really didn’t dare to fight.

One time was enough to teach her a lesson.

"Here, I made you a new batch of medicine," Lin Jingyue said with a smile, tossing the medicine pack directly onto the kang bed.

It was time for Sun Lanlan to switch medicines, and her complexion had improved recently.

"Haha, that’s my friend for you!" Sun Lanlan immediately became sycophantic.

Lin Jingyue rolled her eyes inwardly, thinking that if she hadn’t swallowed the whole egg, she might have believed that.

Sun Lanlan chuckled twice, quickly got up, opened the kang cabinet, and took out sunflower seeds, peanuts, and sponge cake, pushing them toward Lin Jingyue. "Eat, don’t be polite."

"Then I won’t be," Lin Jingyue raised an eyebrow.

After that, Sun Lanlan’s eyes grew wider and wider.

Half an hour later, Lin Jingyue, having devoured everything, left Sun Lanlan’s home stifling a laugh.

Outside the courtyard gate, she couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

...

A few days later, the most anticipated teacher selection exam for Kaoshan and Qingshan brigades began.

To ensure fairness, the exam was held at the commune.

Early in the morning, Lin Jingyue changed into an almost-new outfit, braided her hair in a simple plait, looking spirited yet more subdued than usual, without special adornment.

Opening the door, she saw everyone ready to depart in the yard, and they all froze for a moment.

Everyone else had put on their best clothes, but Lin Jingyue seemed unchanged.

Jiang Xun smirked, one long leg resting on his bicycle. "I’ll take you there."

"Okay."

Watching their backs, Chen Chunlan and the others curled their lips, quickly boarding the cattle cart themselves. Missing the exam meant instant elimination.

The exam was held at the commune elementary school—just a few tiled houses, with a playground of leveled dirt. The desks were nothing like those in later generations; schooling conditions at that time were truly harsh.

Only five spots were available, yet around fifty to sixty candidates participated, most of them educated youth.

The two brigades eyed each other fiercely.

People from Qingshan brigade despised Kaoshan brigade, and vice versa.

They formed two camps, left and right.

When Lin Jingyue arrived, she immediately spotted acquaintances—the educated youths who had come down together—and nodded to them. She walked over to Xu Qingqing, ignoring all kinds of glances. "You came too."

"Though I’m not confident, I have to try," Xu Qingqing said. After the earlier conflict, Kaoshan brigade people didn’t like her.

But so what? She didn’t care.

Jiang Xun locked his bike and approached, not seeing Xie Yunzhen, he shook his head silently.

"Lin, the exam’s about to start. Why aren’t you coming?" Li Cuihua, Zhao Hua, and Chen Chunlan had come together, probably taking the cattle cart. Seeing Lin Jingyue on Kaoshan brigade’s side, Li Cuihua frowned.

Her shout drew everyone’s eyes to Lin Jingyue.

Many male comrades looked at her with admiration, but seeing the equally dazzling Jiang Xun beside her, they quickly restrained themselves.

Lin Jingyue curled the corner of her mouth. "What business is it of yours where I am?"

"You’re from Qingshan brigade, why are you over there?" Li Cuihua felt uneasy, regretting her earlier outburst. She was in a dilemma now.

She hoped Lin Jingyue would know her limits.

But was Lin Jingyue that kind of person? She laughed coldly, "Comrade Li Cuihua, are you trying to sow discord among comrades? Causing division?"

Damn—