After Jiang Ning chased away Shen Qing’e, he had just arrived at his doorstep when Tongtong caught him; she was specially waiting for him there.

Tongtong was wearing a baby-blue hoodie, the hem covering her small behind, making her look even more adorable, though her little mouth was still blabbering away: "Jiang Ning, if you don’t want to come home for lunch next time, you should tell me in advance!"

"Don’t always leave me hanging, making me ask you every day!"

Jiang Ning responded coldly, "I won’t be eating at home tomorrow."

Tongtong: "I don’t believe you!"

"Haha." Jiang Ning took the fruit off the hook of his electric scooter.

Tongtong immediately called Chuchu over to join the fun.

She sat on a small stool, eating cherry tomatoes with plum, and pointed at the mess of parts on the ground, saying, "Jiang Ning, I’m planning to modify a remote-controlled car so it can drive from our house to the school, and I can view the footage through its perspective on my phone!"

Jiang Ning thought for a moment and said, "Isn’t that really difficult?"

He gave examples: "Camera, battery, communication module, drive... you’d also need to develop a separate mobile app."

Tongtong determinedly replied, "Where there’s a will, there’s a way!"

Jiang Ning: "Even if that’s the case, due to network latency and road conditions, isn’t the remote-controlled car hard to operate?"

Tongtong confidently said, "Do my driving skills need to be questioned?"

Jiang Ning indeed trusted her micro-control skills.

Immediately, Tongtong put on her cute face and requested, "But there’s another problem, I don’t have money; Jiang Ning, can you help me?"

Jiang Ning was quite supportive of her hobbies; it was better than her sleeping all day.

He laughed, "Money isn’t an issue; the money from selling fried fish these two days, I’ll give it all to you."

Tongtong chirped excitedly, almost jumping up, "Great, Jiang Ning, I knew I chose the right person!"

Jiang Ning suddenly said, "By the way, once the remote-controlled car is built, what do you plan to use it for?"

He estimated that Tongtong would drive it around for fun, maybe even walk dogs with it.

Tongtong glanced at him and said snappily, "Next time you run out the door, I’ll make it follow you."

Jiang Ning: "??"

He had a thought: ’Shen Qing’e, you don’t need to send fish anymore, I’m afraid Tongtong might turn bad.’

Chuchu quietly ate cherry tomatoes beside them.

Then, Jiang Ning gave her a disdainful glance, which made her stop immediately.

"Chuchu, would you like to help me?" Tongtong asked.

Her financial power was in Jiang Ning’s grasp, and she knew how despicable Jiang Ning could be.

Xue Chuchu, sharing a common enemy, said, "I’m willing to support you."

Jiang Ning thought of a way, he must confiscate Chuchu’s money too.

Suddenly, the phone rang, Jiang Ning answered, and soon, an electric tricycle pulled up to the door.

Jiang Ning received a half-price reward of a hundred pounds of big bluefish from the rich Shen Qing’e.

He clapped his hands, saying, "After eating, come help me kill the fish."

Slaughtering, chopping, marinating, after a busy session, it was already four in the afternoon.

The sun was setting in the west.

Jiang Ning drove the modified tricycle, together with Tongtong and Chuchu, to set up a stall by the river dam.

Today was Saturday, the dam was quite lively, even the stall selling delicious chicken soup tofu pudding was there.

However, because Jiang Ning arrived late, he could only occupy the corner space.

Next to him was still the uncle selling oysters, yesterday he was closest, couldn’t resist, and bought two large portions of fried fish, only to go home and find his stall actually lost money!

Today, he repented and vowed never to consume again.

Jiang Ning’s stall had just been set up, and immediately a crowd of customers surrounded it, eagerly waiting.

Tongtong directly fried 5 pounds of fish pieces.

...

Also at the dam.

A few boys and girls were strolling, Zhong Huai exclaimed, "Such a remote place, yet it’s so lively!"

"Yeah, our town also has a dam, but it’s deserted."

They chatted, only one girl with shabby clothes and a frail figure was looking around.

They were students participating in a fixed-point support program, coming from Hu Temple Middle School, today they settled in the dormitory at Fourth Middle School and went out together to familiarize themselves with the environment.

"Too bad we didn’t see Xue Yuantong." Zhong Huai said regretfully.

At that remote town middle school, Xue Yuantong was a dream in the hearts of countless students, unforgettable.

Someone said, "I saw students from other schools who came and met up with their old city friends for meals, we don’t have that privilege."

"This morning when we gathered, there was a student named Dong Qingfeng who even gave free tours to classmates!"

"In comparison, our school students who came to the city before..."

Zhong Huai smiled and suggested, "No problem, how about tonight we have grilled fish? Boys pay, girls free!"

These days, boys generally give way to girls, plus it’s the high school period where hormones are most rampant, so everyone happily agreed, with no opposition.

This was part of Zhong Huai’s plan.

Han Wen Nuan’s eyes lit up, "Really?"

Zhong Huai said, "Of course, if Xue Yuantong didn’t want to organize it, then I’ll do it!"

He spoke with great pride but clearly discontented with Xue Yuantong’s inactivity.

Someone straightforwardly said, "She’s probably already a city person, in a different world from us."

"How easily hearts change!"

At this moment, Zhong Huai said, "Alright, maybe she has something going on."

"What could possibly be more important?" someone said irritably.

Zhong Huai looked at the emotions being stirred among his classmates, secretly proud, he seemed born with the ability to sway hearts.

As a rural person who came to the city for school, Zhong Huai wasn’t lost, Hu Temple Middle School was too small, too small to contain him.

This time, he had already made plans, once in the new class, his first small goal was to become the class president!

Is it difficult? No, with his innate skills, it’s a breeze.

Taking the class president position, becoming a leader, then the sea is vast for the fish to leap!

Just thinking about it, Zhong Huai couldn’t help but look forward to a bright future.

A few people walked and stopped, someone sniffed: "It smells so good, which street food vendor is that?"

In front of the food cart.

Someone was holding an electronic scale, arguing: "Your large portion should be one jin, why did you only give me nine liang?"

Xue Yuantong heard and glanced at him, she had grabbed exactly one jin by feel just now, yet the electronic scale showed nine liang, definitely a fake scale!

So despicable!

With that thought, she picked up the tongs and grabbed two pieces of fish from the box: "Now it’s only seven liang."

Jiang Ning nudged Chuchu, wanting her to back him up.

Chuchu couldn’t act like a sidekick, remaining silent.

It was up to Tongtong to continue speaking: "I can give as much as I want, are you buying or not?"

The customers behind began to urge: "You’re not buying, right? This portion is mine then!"

The customer arguing about the fake scale was very angry, but the fierce gray-backed hunting dog beside them made him calm down, walking away silently.

The pot of fish was sold out quickly.

Han Wen Nuan squeezed over in time, surprised: "You’re Xue Yuantong, and Xue Chuchu!"

Xue Yuantong paused, then instantly recognized the old classmate: "You’re Han Wen Nuan, still as skinny as before."

"You too, still as short as before." Han Wen Nuan greeted happily.

Now it was Xue Yuantong’s turn to be unhappy.

Xue Chuchu remained as chilly as ever: "Hello."

Along with her voice, other classmates from Hu Miao Town also recognized her.

Zhong Huai was stunned, never thought he’d see the girl he once admired now selling at a stall.

There’s a sense of magic about it.

It’s like the goddess he once admired now riding the bus with a big belly, stirring myriad feelings in the heart.

Although work has no high or low, some classmates still looked on with more scrutiny.

Zhong Huai previously thought that Xue Chuchu was unattainable.

Guys, facing beautiful girls, always grow self-conscious.

However, now seeing Xue Chuchu busy making a living, Zhong Huai’s courage increased, teasing: "Called you out for lunch, why did you decline?"

Xue Chuchu replied: "Sorry, a bit busy."

Zhong Huai smiled, casually asked: "Is selling at a stall very profitable?"

He thought, definitely not much profit.

Tongtong: "Netting over a thousand a day."

Zhong Huai internally made a "?" sound.

Han Wen Nuan was first shocked, then seized the opportunity: "Are you looking for part-timers? I think I could help."

Tongtong shook her head: "No apprentices accepted."

Han Wen Nuan felt regret.

Xue Chuchu wasn’t bothered by their attitudes; she privately nudged Tongtong and Jiang Ning, and after receiving their approval, gently said: "Let me treat you to some fried fish, it’s really tasty."

She packed a box of sweet and sour fried fish and handed it to Han Wen Nuan.

Han Wen Nuan shared it among his friends.

Soon, the front of the cart was crowded with customers again, leaving no room for old classmates from Hu Miao Town.

They walked a bit farther, Han Wen Nuan bit the crunchy fish bone: "So delicious, no wonder their business is so good."

Zhong Huai and others tried it too, equally astounded.

Someone said: "Earlier, we saw their sign, selling one portion for thirty bucks. No wonder they’re making money." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

After a couple of bites of fried fish, Zhong Huai chatted: "Although earning over a thousand, after all, it’s still a street stall. Plus, they’re three people, and deducting rainy days, the income isn’t really high."

"Study hard; that’s the righteous path. No need to go for petty profits and miss the big picture." His voice was powerful and resonant.

Other classmates deeply agreed, the youthful classmates, who would look favorably on selling at a stall?

Only Han Wen Nuan’s eyes showed longing: ’If only I could earn that much money.’

If it weren’t for Fourth Middle School’s plan for small dining tables, she wouldn’t even participate in targeted support plans, because urban consumption is much higher than in the countryside.

’Money, money!’ Han Wen Nuan thought to herself.

She felt a bit bitter: ’Surely the classmates in the new class aren’t like me?’

...

Evening.

In the urban area, the living room was brightly lit.

Chen Siyu: "Sis, do you want revenge?"

Sister Chen Siqing was silent.

Chen Siyu’s tone was deep: "After being repeatedly humiliated by Geng Lu, how could I not want revenge?"

Then, her words turned resentful: "Sis, let’s get revenge tonight!"

Chen Siyu played two roles alone, her tone turned deep again: "Sis, let’s do it!"

Chen Siqing looked at her bizarre sister, sometimes really wanting to call the police.

The still charming Mrs. Chen came out from the kitchen, puzzled: "Siyu, what’s gotten into you?"

Chen Siyu said firmly: "Mom, I’m experiencing an unprecedented crisis."

Mrs. Chen was confused: "I must be getting old, can’t understand young people’s lingo anymore."

Rational Chen Siqing said: "Mom, my sister plans to hang out with our class’s top Xue Yuantong and second Jiang Ning tonight."

Chen Siyu thought: ’That’s not supposed to be said!’

Last time staying over at Jiang Ning’s was because of the noble Bai Yuxia; this time, there’s none.

But unexpectedly, Mrs. Chen’s face blossomed into a smile, more radiant than the wedding photo on the bedside, she urged quickly: "Then hurry up, go!"

"Mom will help you plan!"

Chen Siyu was dumbfounded: "Is this reasonable?"

Sister Chen Siqing: "Mom, we haven’t even talked to Jiang Ning yet, hesitating on how to say it..."

"Useless bunch!" Mrs. Chen’s face turned stern, reaching out her hand: "Hurry and give me your phone!"