After getting off the train, even the air smelled much fresher.
Li Mingyu was cheerful.“Su-Su, we can only walk home. The bus won’t allow this much luggage.”
Su Fu didn’t mind.“Just lead the way. I’m fine.”
Li Mingyu looked down at herself, then took a small mirror from Su Fu’s pocket.
Her complexion wasn’t great, her hair messy, and she smelled a bit.
“Su-Su, should we find a guesthouse, clean up, and then go home?”
Su Fu said,“I think going back directly is better. That way your family will know you really worked after going to the countryside.”
In simpler terms — sell a bit of hardship.Her family would feel more sympathy.
And when talking about breaking the engagement, they’d think more carefully.
Li Mingyu was proud; if told bluntly to “act pitiful,” she wouldn’t agree.But phrased differently…
Her eyes lit up and her chin lifted slightly.
“My parents always said someone like me — who never touched chores — would only cause trouble in the countryside.
Today I’ll show them even farm work can be done well by me. I didn’t drag the village down.”
She even had a commendation letter from the brigade leader in her bag — full confidence.
From Shanghai railway station to home took about two hours on foot.
Li Mingyu wasn’t very tired — she worried about Su Fu instead.
Su Fu was only hot; otherwise fine.
Passing famous spots, Li Mingyu introduced them.
“Su-Su look — the biggest and prettiest buildings were the old foreign concession area. Next to it is the Grand Theatre.”
Su Fu strained her neck to look. Time had left marks on the walls, yet wealth still showed through.
She longed for it — people living there probably had beds that didn’t creak.
“Really beautiful.”
Li Mingyu kept chatting about good food around Shanghai while Su Fu listened, carrying bags.
Not far away, outside a state restaurant, a burly middle-aged man patted a sickly young man’s shoulder.
“Xiao Wu, is that your fiancée?”
The sickly man lazily glanced over.All he saw was a huge moving sack full of things.
Judging by the shoes, the sack carrier was a girl.
“My fiancée wouldn’t be walking the streets carrying sacks.”
They weren’t familiar, but he wouldn’t slander her.
The burly man: “…”
The sickly man yawned.“Second Brother, I’m tired.”
“Then let’s go home. Don’t let Mom know I took you to a restaurant or I’ll get punished.”
…
After more than two hours, Su Fu’s clothes were soaked.
Li Mingyu was fine — she’d rested on the train.
Su Fu barely slept; dark circles showed under her eyes.
Li Mingyu unlocked the door.“Su-Su, just put the luggage in the yard.”
After unloading, Su Fu sighed in relief and wiped sweat.
“Next time I take a job like yours, I’m definitely charging extra.”
Li Mingyu pulled her inside and turned on the fan.“Cool off first. I’ll get you water.”
Su Fu nodded and looked around the house.
She’d seen fans before — but not three on just the first floor.
The chandelier wasn’t flashy but elegant.
Sofa, coffee table, decorations, television, radio — even tiled floors shining brightly.
Su Fu swallowed.Could she reach this life after ten years of effort?
The life she dreamed of — Li Mingyu was born with it.And double.
Envious tears almost fell from her mouth.
Li Mingyu came out from the kitchen.“Su-Su, what’s wrong?”
Su Fu gulped the water.“Nothing. I’m just a bit jealous of you.”
Li Mingyu understood.“That’s normal. Rest up — I’ll show you the rooms.”
Su Fu raised her hand.“Teacher Mingyu, I’m rested.”
There were four rooms on the second floor — only Li Mingyu’s parents lived there now.
The third floor had two rooms. She opened one.
“This one stores clothes. The opposite one is the bedroom.”
Poverty truly limited imagination.
Su Fu had never imagined a room connected to a terrace garden.
In midsummer the flowers bloomed brilliantly in the sun — dazzling colors everywhere.
Li Mingyu handed her clothes and a bath towel.“Take a shower first.”
After explaining shampoo and body fragrance, she left.
“Left side hot water, right side cold — be careful.”
Su Fu nodded. After closing the door she was stunned.
Even the bathroom of city families smelled nice.
She realized the good life she once imagined was trivial.
Soap wasn’t the best option, and water could become hot without boiling.
She didn’t feel inferior — she absorbed everything like a sponge.
After bathing she wrapped her hair in the huge towel.
Li Mingyu asked,“How does it feel?”
Su Fu answered honestly,“I feel like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden.”
Li Mingyu laughed.“Nonsense — at least you’re Lin Daiyu entering the Jia mansion. Su-Su, you’re a very, very good person. Trust my judgment.”
She didn’t want to lose this friend.
Su Fu was confident.“Don’t worry. I won’t belittle myself.”
She just lacked experience — more exposure would fix that.
Reading ten thousand books truly wasn’t equal to traveling ten thousand miles.
Li Mingyu believed her.“Then let’s go eat.”
Su Fu asked,“Your parents won’t come home at noon?”
Such a big house yet spotless — she was curious.
“They eat at their work units and come home around six.”
“Then shouldn’t you shower too? It’s almost four.”
“My dirt is proof of hard work — I can’t wash yet.”
Covered in grime, Li Mingyu insisted on not going out.
Su Fu went downstairs, found noodles, meat, tomatoes, and greens.
She rolled up her sleeves, minced meat, blanched tomatoes and diced them, prepared scallions, and started stir-frying the topping.
The aroma spread — Li Mingyu’s eyes lit up.
“Su-Su, you’re amazing!”
Su Fu smiled.“I have a bit of cooking talent.”
She truly did — even casual cooking tasted great.
Li Mingyu envied her.“I don’t. My brother says even dogs won’t eat my cooking.”
Watching the pot eagerly, she kept talking.
“Besides good luck, I have no advantages.
My life comes from elders’ sacrifices.
My grandmother was a frontline medic, my grandfather a frontline soldier.
My paternal grandparents passed away years ago — they served under major leaders.
My dad has been hospitalized many times from injuries, and my mom is a surgeon who saved countless lives.”