Chapter 79: I’m Done Putting Up with This

With the identity of an apprentice, Old Huo’s conversations became more like lessons. Lin Jingyue didn’t find them tedious; after all, if she hadn’t been interested, she wouldn’t have studied medicine in her past life.

But interest and work were two entirely different matters, and she always kept them separate in her mind.

When she left the scrap recycling station, Lin Jingyue’s satchel held an ancient medical book wrapped in old newspaper. She sighed, feeling that perhaps she had been too idle in her previous life, and now was compelled to find something to occupy herself.

This time, Lin Jingyue didn’t go to the black market. It was the season of autumn harvest, so the black market likely had plenty of supplies. She decided not to draw attention to herself.

After buying two pounds of White Rabbit milk candy, two cans of malted milk, and several cans of preserved food at the supply and marketing cooperative, she cycled back to the brigade. As she neared her destination, she took out three pounds of meat and two pounds of ribs from her storage space.

As for grain, it would be distributed after the autumn harvest. Jiang Xun and Zhou Yan both had full work points, and though she herself worked in fits and starts, her points shouldn’t be too low. She’d get a share of the grain.

When people saw her return from town with her bicycle piled high with goods, envy simmered everywhere. But there was nothing they could do—she had the skills to earn money.

She was back early, so Lin Jingyue started cooking, then retired to her room to rest and read. Her textbooks were already worn thin; now she was reading medical books.

Anything gifted by Old Huo was extraordinary.

Lin Jingyue had been thoroughly impressed by the golden needles in her storage space.

“Sister, please sit for a moment.”

She didn’t know how much time had passed, but as she was absorbed in her reading, Lin Jingyue heard movement. She squinted her eyes and opened the door a crack to look outside.

Lin Xinrou and Lin Xinjian.

Lin Xinrou’s face was sallow, a conspicuous scar on her chin. Her gaze was numb, yet tinged with coldness.

She glanced into Lin Jingyue’s room, her gloomy eyes abruptly meeting a pair of clear, bright ones.

For some reason, seeing Lin Jingyue’s gaze made Lin Xinrou’s pupils unconsciously contract, and she quickly looked away.

Lin Jingyue sneered and shut the door.

“Sister, do you have nothing to eat? Why did you faint in the fields?” Lin Xinjian produced some food—an already cold roasted sweet potato.

Lin Xinrou silently cradled it and ate, not even peeling the skin. Lin Xinjian felt uncomfortable watching her.

“Sister…”

“I’m fine.” Lin Xinrou cut him off, her voice calm but weighed down with a sense of repression. “I’m just pregnant.”

Lin Xinjian’s throat tightened, his eyes reddened. “Sister…”

Ever since they were sent to the countryside, his sister had suffered so much, all because of Lin Jingyue, that wretched woman. If she hadn’t secretly signed up, they wouldn’t be here. His sister wouldn’t have ended up like this.

“Sister, I’ll call Mom and ask her to send you some money.” Their money had long been spent. At first, unable to adapt to brigade life, they had been extravagant; now, they were scraping by.

“She’s not doing well herself. Forget it,” Lin Xinrou said, lowering her gaze.

“Then your health… Has the Sun family said anything?” He meant Sun Tiezhu’s parents.

“They don’t know yet.”

She had only just found out herself. This child… came at the worst possible time. She could barely protect herself, let alone a child.

With her reputation, the child would be tainted as well.

But when she thought of Sun Tiezhu in prison, she hesitated. To be honest, Sun Tiezhu was, apart from Lin Xinjian, the only warmth she had felt here.

She… was reluctant to let go.

Seeing Lin Xinrou lost in thought, Lin Xinjian wanted to speak but ultimately said nothing.

Not only did Lin Jingyue overhear their conversation, but Wang Xueping in her room did as well.

She touched her own abdomen, torn by conflicting feelings.

Lin Xinrou had already received her retribution; her vengeance was served. From now on…

Wang Xueping sighed. As long as Lin Xinrou didn’t provoke her, she would live peacefully with Yang Ming. If Lin Xinrou refused to change, she wouldn’t hold back.

By the time the other members of the educated youth point returned, Lin Xinrou had already left.

Lin Jingyue looked at Jiang Xun and Zhou Yan. “Wash your hands and eat.”

She had cooked rice, stewed turnip and rib soup, blanched some fresh greens—a meal ready.

The rich aroma of rib soup awakened everyone’s appetite.

The three began to eat, while Wang Xueping told Yang Ming, who had just returned, to wash up. She brought out their food—second-grade rice, steamed sausages, and a dish of garlic-dressed cabbage.

Meanwhile, Sun Liangdong looked discontentedly at Chen Chunlan, who hurried to wash up and cook. “Working myself to death, not even a hot meal. Useless.”

His voice wasn’t loud, but everyone heard it.

Chen Chunlan, sweating from the day’s work, froze. She took a deep breath. “I worked all day too.”

“Are you cooking or not?” Sun Liangdong hadn’t expected her to talk back. Sensing everyone’s subtle glances, he became flustered and angry.

Chen Chunlan’s expression darkened.

The autumn harvest was exhausting, and seeing how Lin Jingyue and Wang Xueping lived—what kind of life was that? What kind of life was she living?

She refused to put up with it anymore. She slammed the spatula down. “I’m done! If you want to eat, cook for yourself. I’m not doing it anymore!”

With that, she returned to her room and shut the door, leaving Sun Liangdong with a face shifting from green to white.

Du Jianguo sneered and buried his head in his porridge.

Before the autumn harvest—after Du Jianguo was thoroughly beaten by Lin Jingyue—the original group had split up their meals. Luo Jianhua and Xie Wenjuan ate separately, Lin Xinjian and Zhao Hua didn’t want to eat with Du Jianguo, so everyone cooked for themselves.

Du Jianguo cooked alone.

With the division, the vegetable patch at the educated youth point was parceled out, each person getting a small plot.

But meal quarrels became much less frequent.

Lin Jingyue watched the commotion for a while, quickly finished her meal, and seeing Zhou Yan washing the dishes, went inside to give him two pounds of candy.

Zhou Yan smiled back. “Just give me one pound. The rest is for you.”

“Alright,” Lin Jingyue handed him a pound of candy and two cans of preserved food.

The three of them shared their food.

“Jiang Xun, here’s a parcel from your family,” Lin Jingyue said, producing a package.

It wasn’t large, but it was quite heavy.

Jiang Xun opened it, revealing a bundle of goods—about five or six pounds of preserved meat, four sausages, two boxes of chocolate, two boxes of imported biscuits, a pound of beef jerky, two cans of malted milk, and two pounds of White Rabbit milk candy.

“My mom prepared this for you,” he said, carrying it into Lin Jingyue’s room. “Girls like snacks. Eat them, and if you run out, I’ll find more.”

Lin Jingyue…

She was at a loss for words. His mother? Jiang Xun’s mother? Preparing snacks for her?

[Author’s note] Don’t worry, this isn’t a case of mistaken identity or switched daughters—it’s more complicated. Let’s keep reading. There’s melodrama, but not too much, rest assured. I’ve seen your comments, but no one has guessed it yet.