Huo Xiaoyan was one year younger than Su Xiaoruan, but she was very short and had a sallow complexion, looking like someone who had suffered from long-term malnutrition.
Su Xiaoruan stood among the crowd, beginning to recall some things about Huo Xiaoyan.
She seemed to remember that Huo Xiaoyan’s grades were quite good, but her family’s life was difficult, and they almost never had enough to eat year-round.
The Huo Family wasn't exactly poor, they were just quite unlucky, and they also had two very unreasonable Grandpa and Grandma above them.
The Huo Family had not undergone Family Division. Huo Xiaoyan’s mother passed away early. Huo Xiaoyan’s father, Huo Changhe, was the second son in the family. He had an older brother and a younger brother, making him the type who took all the abuse, unloved by his father and mother.
Although Huo Changhe earned quite a few Work Points, it seemed that none of the good Things in the house ever reached them, the father and son.
Huo Xiaoyan’s brother, Huo Yunting, seemed to have consistently bad Luck. When they were children gathering Mushrooms on the mountain together, he always gathered the smallest and fewest.
Later, when he grew up a bit and went hunting on the mountain with others, nine out of ten times he returned empty-handed.
Because of this, he suffered quite a bit of disdain from his family members.
Over time, the people in the Village started calling him Unlucky Egg, and some people even gave him the nickname Huo Meixing directly.
Huo Yunting joined the army and left when he was fifteen. Two years have passed, and this time he has returned on a visit leave, so he came back to look around, and coincidentally, this is when he encountered Su Xiaoruan falling into the water.
Huo Xiaoyan was different from Su Xiaoruan. Although Su Xiaoruan was also thin, at least her complexion wasn't bad.
But Huo Xiaoyan’s face was yellow to an almost abnormal degree.
Teacher Sun came over and had someone help Huo Xiaoyan into the Office, then sent a few children to notify the Huo Family.
Su Xiaoruan thought that since she was the sister of her Benefactor, she couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
“Teacher Sun, I think she might just be hungry. I have two White Rabbit Milk Candies here; let her eat one first.”
Su Xiaoruan took out two Milk Candies from her trouser pocket; they were actually taken from her Space.
The packaging for these White Rabbit Milk Candies hadn't changed much, so you couldn't tell unless you looked closely.
Su Xiaoruan directly unwrapped one and put it into Huo Xiaoyan’s mouth.
Perhaps stimulated by the milky fragrance and sweetness, Huo Xiaoyan woke up quickly.
Feeling the Thing in her mouth, Huo Xiaoyan’s eyes widened.
“Don’t panic, slowly chew and eat the candy first, and then you will have strength.”
Huo Xiaoyan’s face showed both embarrassment and gratitude.
Su Xiaoruan didn't have the mind to observe too much; she only thought that she had repaid a favor to Huo Yunting.
Huo Xiaoyan felt that she finally had strength, and Su Xiaoruan put another Milk Candy into her hand.
“Hide it well, don't let anyone snatch it away.”
Huo Xiaoyan nodded gratefully, then her eyes widened again: “No, I can’t take your Things.”
“Take it. Your brother saved me the day before yesterday.”
Only then did Huo Xiaoyan carefully put the Milk Candy into her pocket.
Just as she Put away, Huo Yunting arrived.
Seeing Su Xiaoruan, Huo Yunting only paused slightly, then frowned slightly, before carrying Huo Xiaoyan away on his back.
Su Xiaoruan looked indignant; this person was too aloof!
He didn't even say a word of thanks!
After she left the school, she suddenly realized that she should have thanked him first; he had saved her life, so why was she waiting for him to come and thank her?
She slapped her forehead, thinking she was truly foolish!
Su Xiaoruan quickly found an excuse for herself: it was all because Huo Yunting was too handsome, so she was momentarily stunned and forgot to thank him. Therefore, it wasn't her fault; the blame should be placed on beauty misleading people!
When she returned home, it was still early.
Su Xiaoruan simply helped Grandma Su prepare Lunch.
There was no meat or eggs for Lunch today, only Vegetable dishes.
However, Grandma Su was in a good mood, and she knew their family wasn't short of Grain now, so she was generous with oil and seasonings while Stir-frying.
Just a few plates of Vegetable dishes were made fragrant by her Stir-frying.
“Grandma’s cooking is so good; it smells delicious just by smelling it!”
Grandma Su chuckled: “Alas, it’s not good enough now; there are too few seasonings. Otherwise, I could make it even tastier.”
Su Xiaoruan believed those words.
After all, Grandma came from a prominent family; her insight was different from ordinary Village women, especially when it came to mere food.
It was past seven in the Evening, and it was already dark, when Su Xiaoruan’s several Brothers returned.
Eldest Brother Su Xiangdong entered the door first. At eighteen this year, he was already quite tall, just too thin, standing there like a stick.
“Grandma, we’re back.”
Behind him, the Twins Su Xiangnan and Su Xiangbei also entered.
“You’re back, you must be hungry? Quick, Yingzi, go make Noodles for them, and add a Poached egg for each.”
“Got it.”
Zhao Yingzi took the Dried Noodles to the Kitchen, and Zhao Hongmei went to the Backyard with the Kerosene Lamp to pluck a couple of bunches of Green vegetables.
Su Xiangdong looked in the direction Zhao Yingzi had just walked and asked curiously: “Grandma, was that Dried Noodles Yingzi was carrying?”
Grandma Su smiled.
Su Jianye replied: “That was sent over by your Eldest Uncle through someone.”
“Oh, I was wondering. How long has it been since our family ate Fine Grains?”
In order to save money to build a House, the whole family hadn't eaten Fine Grains for a long time.
Dried Noodles cook quickly. In a short while, Zhao Yingzi came back carrying two bowls of Noodles, and Zhao Hongmei followed behind with one bowl in her hands.
“You three eat quickly, then wash up properly. Tomorrow, those who should go to school will go to school, and those who should Go to work will Go to work.”
“We know, Grandma.”
Su Xiangdong was one year older than Yu Zhansong, but Su Xiangdong had graduated from High School last year. Since he couldn't take the university entrance exam, many graduates nowadays weren't attending classes much anymore; they were either going back to the Village to Earn work points or running around looking for a Job.
Su Xiangdong’s grades were very good, but no matter how good his grades were, if he didn't have connections, he shouldn't expect a good Job.
So, after graduating last year, Su Xiangdong had been Earning work points in the Village.
All the Children of the Su Family were attending school.
It was precisely because of this that even with the subsidies from Su Jianguo and Su Jianjun, their life was still tight.
Initially, Su Jianye had suggested that the younger Children stop attending school, but Grandma Su chased him around the Courtyard with a stick.
The Old Lady had received an education, so she naturally knew the importance of studying.
Su Xiaoruan thought that her two Brothers were one year younger than Yu Zhansong, yet they were both in the first year of High School, but they clearly didn't look as energetic as Yu Zhansong.
Thinking about the supplies in her Space, Su Xiaoruan pondered whether she should make a trip to the County town.
The next morning, Grandma Su said she was taking Su Xiaoruan to Second Aunt’s House in the County town to deliver some Things.
Su Xiaoruan’s mind immediately became active.
This Opportunity has arrived!