That evening, Su Ruyi and Wang Huiting stayed overnight at the Zhang residence. They slept in the same room, or more precisely, within the same courtyard.
The courtyard had more than one room, but the two didn't want to be separated, so they shared one.
"Wow, Sister Ruyi, this place is so spacious and luxurious! Just this courtyard alone could comfortably fit my entire family."
Wang Huiting had been holding back all day and could finally unleash her true nature to express her amazement.
To avoid embarrassing Su Ruyi, she had stubbornly refrained from letting out any unsophisticated exclamations of wonder, nearly bursting with the effort.
She didn't know how long she'd be able to boast about this after returning home, worried that no one would believe her and would call her a liar.
Su Ruyi also thought the place was wonderful, feeling as if she were a young lady from an ancient wealthy family.
She had stayed in similar houses before while traveling, but those were modern reconstructions, lacking a certain charm and not as exquisite as this one.
The room had been renovated to include modern bathroom facilities and even had a telephone installed.
Wang Huiting emerged from the bathroom feeling utterly blissful.
"I wonder when I'll get to live in such a nice house. It doesn't even have to be this grand—just having a toilet like this would be enough."
Today was Wang Huiting's first time using a flush toilet, and she was completely astonished—how could such a marvelous thing exist?
The bathroom didn't smell at all, and if things weren't moving smoothly, at least her legs wouldn't go numb from squatting.
Having suffered from public toilets since childhood—once nearly falling into a pit while using one at night—Wang Huiting adored this bathroom the most.
"Let's work hard, and we'll definitely achieve it too."
Becoming wealthy might be uncertain, but getting a house with a proper toilet shouldn't be a problem.
"Sister, I'm going to study seriously when I get back!"
Su Ruyi raised an eyebrow. "What inspired you today?"
Wang Huiting never used to care much about academic qualifications. Not having been beaten down by society, she hadn't fully grasped how much education could impact ordinary people.
Many around her hadn't attended high school and were still living perfectly fine lives.
"I was chatting with Qingyun today, and university sounds so different. I want to see what it's like too."
Zhang Qingyun had just been admitted to university this year—the best in the province—and participated in many activities.
Zhang Qingyun's older brother had been accepted into a top-tier national university in the capital, and through her descriptions, Wang Huiting felt the vibrant diversity of campus life even more.
But that wasn't the main reason. During the gathering, Wang Huiting sensed a subtle shift when everyone learned that Su Ruyi hadn't passed the college entrance exam.
Even though everyone spoke politely, that indescribable undertone was unmistakable.
Wang Huiting felt uncomfortable, as if they were being ranked into hierarchies.
In their small county, college students were rare, and Wang Huiting thought it was normal if she couldn't get into university.
But here, a college education seemed like the baseline—if you didn't have one, you were considered abnormal.
"Keep it up. You still have a year left. No matter what, don't leave yourself with regrets," Su Ruyi encouraged.
She didn't care about university because she had already attended and experienced it, but Wang Huiting was different.
Many who never went to college regretted missing that experience, and Su Ruyi hoped she wouldn't have such regrets.
This path is also the most reliable route for ordinary people to advance. It may not lead to wealth, and after graduation, one might still have to toil like an ox or horse, but it at least guarantees a baseline.
"Sis, do you really think I can do it?"
"How would you know if you don't try?"
Wang Huiting clenched her fist: "After school starts, I'll definitely work hard and persevere, tying my hair to the beam and pricking my thigh with an awl to stay awake!"
"Why not start during the vacation?"
"Ah, it's the holidays now, so we should rest properly. Otherwise, how will we have the energy to work hard?"
Well, Su Ruyi felt that her pep talk was probably in vain, despite her genuine effort earlier.
Wang Huiting didn't mind this and pulled Su Ruyi's arm, her smile suggestive:
"Sis, who caught your eye today?"
Su Ruyi pulled her arm back: "I'm not here for a matchmaking event."
Wang Huiting winked at her, wearing an expression that said, "Don't try to fool me."
"Sis, just tell me. Qingyun told me a lot about their family, and the worker aunties and uncles also shared quite a bit with me. I observed carefully today and gathered a lot of information."
Su Ruyi was extremely surprised. She knew that Wang Huiting and Zhang Qingyun were on good terms now, and the two girls chatted well.
Zhang Qingyun had even invited Wang Huiting to sleep with her tonight, but Wang Huiting preferred to stay with Su Ruyi and declined.
But when did Wang Huiting start talking to those helpers?
Su Ruyi had met too many people today and felt dizzy, barely remembering a few, and had little impression of the helpers.
"Hehe, we just started chatting, that's all."
Su Ruyi was quite impressed. When they first arrived, Wang Huiting's legs were practically weak, but in such a short time, she was already socializing here.
A true social butterfly!
"What did you find out?"
"Hehe, mainly about the situations of several young men in the Zhang family."
Su Ruyi: "Who left a better impression on you?"
"They're all quite good, each handsomer than the last. I don't know how this family does it—they're all so good-looking."
Wang Huiting cupped her face, her eyes sparkling.
"Did you take a liking to anyone?" Su Ruyi probed.
Wang Huiting's face turned serious as she said earnestly, "Sis, this has nothing to do with me. I'm not in the same world as them."
Su Ruyi was somewhat surprised, not expecting Wang Huiting to be so clear-headed.
Girls at this age are usually naive and full of romantic fantasies about love. Moreover, the current trend encourages breaking barriers to be together, regardless of the other's status or whether they're a suitable match.
The Zhang family members are outstanding. Not to mention a young girl like Wang Huiting, even Su Ruyi found them pleasing to the eye. If not for her reservations, having a sweet, no-strings-attached romance would be quite nice.
"I'm just a temporary guest here, and I don't feel settled. If I were to join this family, how anxious would I be?"
Wang Huiting didn't like this feeling. Her childhood experiences made her yearn more for a stable family.
"Ah, don't talk about me, Sis. Quickly tell me what you think."
"I don't have any thoughts. Just like you, I think no matter how good this place is, it's not ours."
"But Zhang Laoyezi treats you differently. He likes you so much. Qingyun said he doesn't treat any of them the way he treats you."
Wang Huiting was clear-headed because she knew she was just an add-on; otherwise, others wouldn't even glance her way.
Even now, she could feel the disdain.
Feeling somewhat displeased was inevitable, but since she had prepared herself, it didn't seem like a big deal.
After all, she truly had no connection to the Zhang family. Being able to experience such a grand world and enjoy so many delicious foods was already enough to make her happy.
"Zhang Laoyezi treats me well, but I can't take everything as my own," Su Ruyi shook her head and laughed.
"Relying on others is always unreliable. Besides, I'm still so young, just out of school, and everything is just beginning. Thinking about these things now is way too early."
Wang Huiting thought it made a lot of sense: "But, sis, isn't there anyone who made your heart flutter?"
This question had Wang Huiting extremely curious. Worried that Su Ruyi might brush it off, she first shared her own secret.
"I think Zhang Qingyang, the eldest son of Aunt Yunyun's third uncle, is quite nice. He seems very sunny and is a student at Beijing University."
Su Ruyi's mind worked for a while before she matched the person.
"Is that the older brother of that brat Zhang Qingyu?"
Su Ruyi always remembered the troublemakers but had trouble recalling the handsome ones. Her friends had often teased her about this, no wonder she rarely encountered good-looking guys.
"Yes, that's him. His second brother is also nice, but I think he's still a bit immature. Yunyun said that although this cousin of hers is still in school, he's already managing a company and doing quite well. Sometimes he organizes outings for the younger generation and always pays the bill with his own money."
Su Ruyi didn't have strong feelings about him since she hadn't interacted much with him today.
During the meal, Su Ruyi was seated at the main table beside Zhang Laoyezi, so she spent more time with the elders.
Unlike Wang Huiting who sat with Zhang Qingyun at the grandchildren's table, getting a clear look at everyone.
"Not much feeling, they all seem pretty similar to me."
It wasn't that Su Ruyi was being dismissive – the Zhang brothers really did look somewhat alike and weren't far apart in age.
However, this Zhang Qingyang seemed to be one of the strong contenders for the male lead.
"Sis, they're clearly very different!" Wang Huiting was astonished.
Su Ruyi blinked innocently.
"Yunyun's own brother, the one who looks really dull, you know?"
Su Ruyi racked her brains: "Is there someone who's particularly wooden?"
Wang Huiting threw herself onto the bed and lay flat: "Sis, I have no thoughts in my heart now."
She really regretted not bringing Zhang Yao along – the two of them could have talked all night!
Seeing so many high-quality handsome guys at once but being unable to analyze and share with anyone made Wang Huiting feel terribly stifled.
Wang Huiting rolled around on the bed in frustration.
Su Ruyi didn't know whether to laugh or cry – she had trouble remembering people she didn't care about.
After thinking for a moment, she asked: "What do you think of Zhang Qingfeng?"
Wang Huiting sat up abruptly, "Sis, you're not serious, are you? You actually have your eye on that old man."
But considering Wang Huiting's age and how Zhang Qingfeng liked to act mature, Wang Huiting would indeed call him uncle if she met him on the street.
"I don't have my eye on anyone, I just want to verify some things."
"That's good." Wang Huiting breathed a sigh of relief and didn't ask what things.
"You don't like him?"
"It's not that, it's just that he seems a bit scary."
"Scary?" Su Ruyi became more curious. Zhang Qingfeng had always behaved politely in the Zhang family, showing the demeanor of an elder brother.
"I'm probably a bit intimidated by that type of adult—they seem too serious. Even when he smiles, I feel it's not that simple, just like our homeroom teacher who's ready to hand out test papers any minute."
Su Ruyi laughed even harder. This description was truly so sexually repressive—even if there were a bit of fantasy, it could instantly wipe it all out.
Speaking of which, Zhang Qingfeng didn't stand out much today. When there were fewer people earlier, he truly stood out from the crowd like a crane among chickens.
But when all the younger generation had arrived, Su Ruyi could hardly notice him anymore—only a faint image of an elder brother remained.
Each of the Zhang family's grandchildren had their own merits; regardless of gender, they were all outstanding.
Even the notorious second-generation heir, Zhang Qingfeng's younger brother Zhang Qingyuan, appeared like a model youth.
So how did she, in the original story's world, set her sights on Zhang Qingfeng and scheme relentlessly to marry him?