Lin Xiangdong took a deep breath, "Enough, stop throwing a tantrum. Ultimately, you brought this upon yourself. You knew that jade pendant belonged to Xia Xi, so why did you flaunt it in front of her?"
"I wasn't showing off! I just found her annoying and wanted to say a few words. Who knew her savage eldest sister-in-law would hit me directly.
The jade pendant then slipped from my neck."
Xu Shanshan said aggrievedly.
Lin Xiangdong thought of the fifty yuan Xia Xi had mentioned, "Xia Xi said this spot is a bit troublesome to arrange and requires fifty yuan.
Do you have any, give me some."
Xu Shanshan looked at Lin Xiangdong in shock, "Xia Xi already has a salary, she gets eight yuan a month, she must have at least fifty yuan.
Why should she pay? Why should I?"
"She's angry because of the jade pendant incident! She's unwilling to pay this money! Ultimately, it's all your fault!"
Lin Xiangdong was a bit irritated.
Xu Shanshan felt even more angry, "Lin Xiangdong, you bastard! I've sacrificed so much for you, why are you talking to me like this?"
Lin Xiangdong pushed Xu Shanshan away, "If it weren't for your reckless actions, I could have borrowed some money from Hu Lili. Now look, everything's ruined."
Xu Shanshan stomped her foot, "It's just fifty yuan, I'll go find it for you! Lin Xiangdong, I only allow you to have me in your heart, not other women!"
Hearing this, Lin Xiangdong immediately turned and pulled her into his embrace, hugging her and saying, "My heart has always only had you. You are the breeze, and I am the bright moon; we are always together, neither can leave the other."
Xu Shanshan was instantly coaxed, "Xiangdong... is that true? Do you really only like me?"
"Of course. Whether it's Xia Xi or Hu Lili, they are both stumbling blocks for us."
Lin Xiangdong lightly kissed Xu Shanshan's cheek.
Xu Shanshan's face immediately turned as red as an apple.
..
Before sleeping at night.
Xia Xi immediately opened the malted milk can, made a cup for each of her parents, and personally took them to their room.
Old Father Xia smelled the fragrance and sat up from the bed, "Little Xi, what are you holding? Why does it smell so good?"
Xia Xi handed him the enamel mug, "Drink up!"
Old Father Xia smelled the aroma and exclaimed, "Is this malted milk?"
Xiang Cuihua took the other cup from Xia Xi's hand, "Malted milk, let me smell! Oh, it really is malted milk, Xi Yatou, did you buy this?"
"Yes! I bought it to show filial respect to my parents! It wasn't easy for my parents to raise me, so I should honor them."
Xia Xi said while fanning Xiang Cuihua.
Xiang Cuihua was delighted for a moment, "After so many years, I'm finally seeing some return."
Old Father Xia, however, put on a stern face, "You have so little money, and you're buying these things, wasting it!"
Xia Xi shook her head, "It's not a waste of money to give it to my parents. I've put the can in your room. Drink a cup before bed tonight; it's good for your health and will help you sleep soundly."
After speaking, Xia Xi returned to her own room.
Old Father Xia looked at Xia Xi's retreating figure, his eyes reddening, "My daughter has grown up."
Xiang Cuihua savored the taste of the malted milk with delight, "She's sensible now. Since she wants us to enjoy blessings, let's accept it."
Old Father Xia then asked, "Are you really letting her get married so soon? I'm a bit reluctant."
Xiang Cuihua, however, said, "She's marrying the neighbor. What's there to be reluctant about? With that bastard Lin Xiangdong still around, aren't you afraid she'll be tempted by him again someday?"
Old Father Xia sighed deeply, "I remember when she was born, such a tiny thing, we almost couldn't save her. I carried her for dozens of miles to find a skilled doctor who saved her...
Now, alas! She's grown up and is about to get married. Before, I was afraid she'd be deceived by Educated Youth Lin, afraid she'd go down the wrong path. Now that we know him well, I'm still reluctant."
Xiang Cuihua knew clearly that among these children, the old man loved his youngest daughter the most.
If they held on for a few more days, he might actually agree.
Fortunately, she suddenly came to her senses; it was truly a blessing from heaven.
The old couple whispered for a long time before slowly drifting off to dreamland.
Upon returning to her room, Xia Xi entered her space.
She looked around, digging here and there with a hoe, discovering that only the small courtyard area could be tilled, but other places could not.
The fish in the small pond were very lively, and there were many more of them.
Xia Xi couldn't help but wonder if the growth rate inside was much faster than outside.
Looking at the lively fish, she couldn't possibly eat them all even if she ate fish every day, and she'd easily get tired of it.
When she has free time, she needs to visit the county town a couple of times.
She can't take the cubs with her; she'll go alone and quietly process the fish.
While Xia Xi was busy with her own little schemes, she ignored Lin Xiangdong.
Meanwhile, the production brigade had a new plan for the allocation of Worker-Peasant-Soldier University spots.
A round of exams had already taken place.
Two female and three male educated youths from the educated youth point, along with Xia Xi from the brigade, and three male comrades had all passed the exam.
There were only two spots for the Worker-Peasant-Soldier University, but nine people had passed the exam.
If they were ranked by score.
Many of the village youths would be at a disadvantage.
They had also considered giving one spot to the educated youths and one to the village youths.
But some people were unwilling, fearing that someone might cheat during the exam.
In the end, they decided to use a lottery system, with two boxes: one for the educated youths and one for the villagers.
The drawing would take place on the brigade's drying ground, in front of all the brigade members.
The lottery was scheduled for July 16th.
In the next two days, the chili peppers in the field needed to be picked; they were all ripe.
After picking, the stems would need to be trimmed and handed over to the commune.
The chili peppers from Tianxing Brigade were famously fragrant, and it was thanks to this that Tianxing Brigade could feed its members.
Nothing was more important than picking chili peppers.
The biggest fear was a heavy rainstorm, which would cause all the chili peppers to rot in the soil, rendering the year's work in vain.
On her way to the county town by bicycle, Xia Xi saw rows upon rows of lush green chili plants laden with bright red chili peppers.
The faces of those picking chili peppers were filled with joy, the happiness of harvest.
Xia Xi knew that Tianxing Brigade's chili peppers were directly supplied to the state-owned sauce factory for making doubanjiang, and almost all the doubanjiang in Sichuan Province came from this factory.
This doubanjiang was also indispensable for Sichuan Province's traditional twice-cooked pork.
Her family never inquired about what Xia Xi did.
She didn't need to earn work points for the family.
So, she only informed her second sister-in-law, Yao Zhi, before going out to town.
Today was Eldest Sister-in-law's work day, so Second Sister-in-law was at home cooking, washing, and doing household chores.
Lin Xiangdong, picking chili peppers in the field, watched Xia Xi's retreating figure, his heart burning as if on fire.
He was still two yuan short.
Xu Shanshan was trying to find a way, and he was also trying to find a way.
He thought that after a few days, Xia Xi's anger would subside, and she would proactively come to him.
He was waiting for her to come up with a solution for these few yuan.
To his surprise, after waiting for several days, Xia Xi never came to find him.
Now, seeing her, her complexion was excellent, as if she were a person with no worries, riding her bicycle out.
With the chili peppers ripening in the fields these past few days, almost everyone in the brigade was picking them, yet Xia Xi didn't have to.
Lin Xiangdong truly detested picking chili peppers; the smell was pungent, and after picking them, his hands would be stained, and the chili would sting, leaving a burning sensation at night, making it difficult to sleep.
He wanted to ask for leave.
The team leader wouldn't allow it, and neither would the accountant!
He wanted to leave here! He wanted to go to university!
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