Chapter 131

Chapter 131

His words were harsh, and Wu Xiuyue was stunned. It was the first time she had been frightened by He Xiang, but in the next second, after regaining her composure, she immediately became furious. In her eyes, He Xiang was nothing more than a harbinger of misfortune.

How dare this harbinger of misfortune threaten her!?

Wu Xiuyue gritted her teeth. If it weren't for her fear of Xie Junli being there, she would have slapped him right then and there.

How could this harbinger of misfortune be protected by such a fearsome guardian? Wu Xiuyue thought resentfully.

Her gaze toward He Xiang was venomous. "You dare?"

The words squeezed out between her clenched teeth, but as soon as she said them, Xie Junli looked over. His cold eyes fixed on Wu Xiuyue, "Don't let me find out you're coming to see He Xiang again."

With the money in hand, Xie Junli didn't want to waste any more time here. He Xiang, still stunned after his bold threats, simply clutched the money without moving.

Wu Xiuyue, upon hearing Xie Junli's words, turned and ran back, slamming the door shut.

The once bustling corridor fell silent in an instant. Everyone had gone back inside, and Xie Junli grabbed He Xiang, "Let's go back."

Without waiting for He Xiang to get ready, he dragged him along, heading down to the courtyard and dismissing the children who had gathered to watch. Xie Junli unlocked the car, "Get in."

On the way back, silence reigned. Xie Junli kept his mouth shut, and He Xiang remained quiet as well.

It wasn't until they saw the Military District that He Xiang finally spoke. His voice was hoarse from the long silence. From behind Xie Junli, he couldn't help but tear up, "I thought you wouldn't care about me after getting married."

In the past, although he was busy, he would always manage to visit once every one and a half months.

But since his marriage, he hadn't come at all; only Uncle Yu had visited once.

He had secretly watched him, seeing how he revolved around his wife every day. He Xiang felt empty, thinking he had lost the last person who cared about him.

Today, he couldn't bear it anymore and wanted an explanation. He was also hungry, so he stole some dumplings.

He planned to eat the dumplings and then drown himself, going to find his father, believing that with his father, someone would care for him.

As he was lost in his thoughts, Xie Junli, driving ahead, spoke calmly, "Didn't I tell you to sign up for military service?"

"He Xiang, you're almost 14. You can join the army now. Your father always wanted you to serve your country. When you join the army, you'll understand why he insisted on taking part in those missions."

Xie Junli spoke gravely.

Years ago, during a critical flood control mission, He Xiang's father, He Di, wasn't required to participate, but it was a flood control mission. Every additional person meant saving more lives.

The entire Military District was mobilized, and everyone rushed to board the trains heading to the flood area.

During that mission, He Di made the ultimate sacrifice, but before dying, he saved 36 lives, including 16 children.

These children ranged from infants to eight-year-olds.

At the time, Xie Junli was just a soldier following orders, but he distinguished himself during that mission, leading to future opportunities.

Xie Junli knew He Di would never regret his decision, though he might pity his son. Looking at the now taller He Xiang, Xie Junli found it difficult to speak to him.

He had grown up.

He couldn't scold him like before.

"He Xiang, join the army. You enjoy it, and your physical fitness is not an issue. I can take care of you, and your father's comrades will support you. I believe in you."

He turned to look at He Xiang seriously.

The car stopped, and Xie Junli couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope. Looking at He Xiang, he felt a twinge of disappointment when he saw no reaction. He seemed unwilling.

He also refused to go to school, but he couldn't do nothing. Xie Junli steeled himself, about to speak, when He Xiang suddenly said, "Okay."

"Okay," Xie Junli stared intently at He Xiang, "What did you say!?"

He asked anxiously.

He Xiang showed no emotion. For a moment, they looked alike. He opened his mouth and spoke firmly, "I said okay. I'll join the army, and I'll surpass you someday."

With that, he jumped out of the car and ran off, still wearing Xie Junli's military coat. From a distance, he still looked like a child.

Xie Junli stood there for a while, eventually coming back to his senses and smiling briefly.

Back home, Xu Yuqing had already woken up and was knitting by the stove, working on Xie Junli's sweater. She struggled with the task, often making mistakes and having to undo her work.

Why did she take on this task? Xu Yuqing thought regretfully.

Xie Junli walked in, and Xu Yuqing looked up, "Where's He Xiang? Is he outside?"

"No, I sent him back," Xie Junli explained. After riding for a while, his emotions had been turbulent, and he drank a glass of water to calm down, unbuttoning his shirt, "Next time you see him, don't bother with him. He's joining the army soon."

To prevent him from doing something rash if he suddenly felt bad.

He didn't want Xu Yuqing to be hurt. However, Xu Yuqing took offense, sitting up straight, "Hey, Comrade Xie, I think what you said isn't quite right. We've known each other, and given your relationship with him, he's practically my junior. Not greeting him would be improper."

Xu Yuqing said, frustrated. This was the first time she noticed Xie Junli's social awkwardness.

Xie Junli opened his mouth to defend himself, "No, He Xiang has a temper. I'm afraid he might hurt you if he gets angry. He's done it before."

He explained.

But Xu Yuqing frowned deeper, "But he didn't seem temperamental to me. I learned a bit about his situation and felt sorry for him. Growing up like this, he's done remarkably well."

Losing his father and having a mother who doesn't care—it's not much different from her own situation.

"Besides, he's at an age where he's very sensitive and delicate. He hides his vulnerability, trying to appear strong. You men don't treat him like this, do you?"

Xie Junli looked at Xu Yuqing in confusion.

Xu Yuqing looked up to the sky, speechless. She couldn't believe she had solved the case. To keep everyone away from him and prevent them from getting hurt—that was their way of handling it. It was truly remarkable that He Xiang had grown up this way.

"I just observed He Xiang. Although he always seems fierce, there's some warmth in him. You need to treat him like an adult, like a normal person, not like a three-year-old child, where you hide things because they might be bad for him or try to prevent anything bad from happening to him."

Xu Yuqing said earnestly.

Although she wasn't very skilled at educating teenagers, she was certainly better than these men.

Thinking about it, she felt relieved that both she and Xie Junli had agreed not to have children. Their situation made having children impossible.

Picking up her knitting needles, Xu Yuqing ignored Xie Junli, "Are we going to ask the child over for dinner tonight? What’s this about him joining the military?"

Xu Yuqing asked curiously.

From their brief interaction, she knew He Xiang had been at home all along. Why did he suddenly decide to join the military?

Xie Junli snapped out of his thoughts and replied, "His father always wanted him to join the military, and so did we, but he never wanted to. He suddenly changed his mind today."

"When is he leaving?"

Xie Junli thought for a moment, "New recruits won’t be enlisted right away. I plan to send him to Suzhou Military District after the New Year. There’s an old comrade of mine there who can look after him."

Xu Yuqing nodded, seeing that his arrangements were reasonable, and continued knitting. However, she couldn't help but nag, "If you have time, go see He Xiang. He needs someone to care for him. You can invite him over for dinner tonight, but don’t force it if he doesn’t want to come."

Xie Junli sat down by the bed, amused by her chattering. Thinking about tomorrow, he felt a pang of reluctance, "Tomorrow. Just the two of us tonight."

He planned to bring He Xiang over tomorrow and train him under his supervision before sending him off after the New Year.

Seeing his plans, Xu Yuqing didn't argue further. Frustrated with her knitting, she threw it aside and lay on Xie Junli, "I’m exhausted! Knit your own sweater!"

Xie Junli accepted her frustration innocently, feeling a bit regretful for not helping earlier, "I don’t know how."

"Learn! There’s nothing you can’t learn!" She sat up, took his large hands, and looked at them seriously, then nodded, "Yes! Your hands are perfect for knitting. Don’t waste them. Come, let me teach you."

Xie Junli hesitated slightly but couldn’t resist Xu Yuqing’s insistence. Seeing no other choice, he pulled her into his arms, "Alright, teach me."

Xu Yuqing became excited. She held his hands, "Hold the needle like this, yes, thread it through here, just like that, ten stitches."

She watched as Xie Junli’s movements became more proficient, causing her to become restless. His focused gaze drifted, and he gently lifted her, "I’ll finish the sweater later; first, you need to compensate me."

Before Xu Yuqing could react, he leaned down, silencing her protests and taking her breath away.

The room heated up, and Xie Junli’s excitement grew. Xu Yuqing struggled beneath him, trying to escape, "Hey! It’s daytime!"

Xie Junli leaned close to her shoulder, "Tonight, you say you have work tomorrow." His voice carried a hint of disappointment.

Xu Yuqing sighed, knowing she would indeed say that. She dodged his head, "Then use protection!"

Xie Junli took a deep breath, respecting her wishes, and complied. The sounds of their passion continued until long after nightfall.

At nine o'clock that evening, Xu Yuqing was still asleep. Xie Junli got dressed and sat up.

The eggplant was still in the kitchen, but the cook was too tired to prepare it. Feeling guilty, Xie Junli fetched frozen dumplings from the storage room and boiled water to cook them.

After leaving them out all afternoon, the dumplings were frozen solid. Xie Junli carefully waited for the water to boil before adding the dumplings. While cooking, he brought out the knitting basket and awkwardly held the knitting needles, struggling to knit.

Accustomed to handling knives and guns, he found it difficult to manage the small needles. Even after the dumplings floated, signaling they were cooked, he hadn’t managed to complete ten stitches.

Xu Yuqing slowly opened her eyes, finding herself alone in the dimly lit room. Her waist ached, but she managed to sit up and feel better.

Putting on her cotton shoes and coat, she heard faint noises outside and went to investigate.

The main room was dark, but the kitchen was lit. Xu Yuqing walked over slowly.

There, she saw Xie Junli frowning, looking at the knitting needles with determination. His right hand, without realizing it, had formed a delicate gesture.

Unable to hold back, Xu Yuqing burst out laughing. Xie Junli immediately put down the basket and looked at her, blushing slightly. He handed the basket to Xu Yuqing, "Eat the dumplings."

"Okay." Xu Yuqing chuckled, placing the basket aside and returning to the kitchen, "Should we eat the eggplant?"

Xu Yuqing worriedly eyed the eggplant left in the kitchen all day. Though it wouldn’t spoil in the cold, she was concerned about the garlic sauce. And she was leaving early tomorrow, leaving Xie Junli to cook.

Forget it; she feared the kitchen might not survive.

Xie Junli looked at the eggplant, "I’ll do it. Tell me what to do."

He set down the plate, brought a wooden chair over, and had her sit down. He picked up the eggplant and was about to cut it.

"Wait! Hold the eggplant!"

Xu Yuqing rushed over and stopped his hand.

Xie Junli looked at her, puzzled, "Not cutting it?"

"Cut it, but not yet." Xu Yuqing smiled sheepishly, actually capable of preparing the eggplant.

Pushing Xie Junli aside, Xu Yuqing skillfully poured in the oil and then placed the whole eggplant in the pan, softening it over low heat. She then made incisions in the eggplant with a knife and poured in the garlic sauce that she had prepared earlier.

After pouring it in, there’s no need to stir; the garlic sauce has its own juices. With a slightly higher flame, the aroma quickly fills the air, and the eggplant cooks through.

Xie Junli brought over a plate, and Xu Yuqing quickly scooped out the eggplant with a spatula. Her movements were swift, accurate, and forceful, ensuring not a bit of the garlic sauce was lost, leaving Xie Junli in awe.

A beautiful baked eggplant dish came out of the oven. Although it wasn't as fragrant as grilled eggplant, anything prepared by Xu Yuqing is sure to be exquisite.

Placed on the table, each of them had a bowl, and they both reached for the eggplants first.

"Hmm!"

Xu Yuqing's eyes lit up; it was this taste, the familiar garlic flavor!

Two eggplants, by default, one for each of them. Xie Junli ate his eggplant with dumplings, while Xu Yuqing ate hers plain. After finishing her portion, she eyed the remaining eggplant in Xie Junli's plate with keen interest.

"Can you still eat more?" Xu Yuqing asked tentatively.

Xie Junli paused mid-bite with a dumpling, put down his chopsticks, looked at Xu Yuqing, then at the eggplant, and couldn't help but smile, "I can eat more, but if you want some, you can have it too."

Xu Yuqing felt indignant, "I made it!"

"I cooked it," Xie Junli replied calmly.

Xu Yuqing gritted her teeth, men! Hmph!

Seeing that she was about to get angry, Xie Junli stopped teasing her, "Tomorrow morning, I'll take you to the canning factory."

"If you take me, you'll be late," Xu Yuqing frowned, puzzled.

Xie Junli persisted stubbornly, "The snow makes the roads slippery, and there are so few people around. If you fall, no one will be there to help you." He said seriously.

Xu Yuqing couldn't argue with him, so she sighed, "Alright!"

Then she quickly took the plate in front of Xie Junli and happily started eating.

The next morning, Xie Junli woke up early to prepare breakfast and woke Xu Yuqing up. Before leaving, he suddenly broke his usual stoic demeanor and started nagging like an old mother hen.

"Remember to buy a handkerchief at the supply store; you only have one that's dry."

"Got it."

Xu Yuqing replied helplessly.

He packed things into the bag: clothes, undergarments, socks, face cream, and everything else she hadn't brought last week.

Xu Yuqing was exasperated, "I know all these things, and I don't need to bring so many clothes. They provide protective gear there, and the clothes are clean. There's also a bathhouse, so don't worry."

Xie Junli continued packing as if he didn't hear her, tying the bag shut, "Let's have breakfast."

"Okay."

Xu Yuqing softly agreed and followed Xie Junli out to eat breakfast. Opening the lunchbox, she found familiar porridge and boiled eggs.

She moved the pickles onto the lid, and Xie Junli brought out a bowl. They sat down to start their meal.

"Eat the egg first." He placed the peeled egg in her bowl before starting to eat himself.

Xu Yuqing ate the egg, reminiscing about the bean buns from before, "The bean buns we had last time were delicious. Why do they make them so rarely?"

It must be difficult, though she had never made the red bean paste herself, always buying it ready-made.

Next time, she could try making it herself. Red bean paste could be used in many desserts, especially since the New Year was approaching.

They finished their breakfast leisurely. Xie Junli took the bowls inside and came back out, "Let's go. I'll take you there."

Xie Junli said firmly.

Seeing that she couldn't change his mind, Xu Yuqing gave in, picked up the bag, and hung it on the front of the bike, where the basket held it securely. "Get on."

The seat cushion was soft, and Xu Yuqing noticed the difference as soon as she sat down. The thick cushion was made of pure white cotton fabric, the same material she had bought earlier, which matched the new shirts Xie Junli kept in the cabinet.

"When did you make this? Did you ask someone to do it?"

Xu Yuqing asked curiously, noticing that the edges weren't sewn very neatly but were quite sturdy, similar to how Yan Lan sewed clothes.

"Last night," came a muffled reply from the front. Xu Yuqing's eyes brightened, "Did you sew it yourself?" she asked, intrigued.

Xie Junli couldn't avoid answering; her hand was playfully threatening his waist, so he nodded reluctantly.

Fortunately, he hadn't intended to hide it when making it.

They chatted casually along the way and soon arrived at the canning factory.

Seeing the factory gates, Xu Yuqing understood why Xie Junli insisted on taking her. She suddenly felt reluctant to leave him.

"Ride the bike back, really? Are you sure?"

Xu Yuqing worriedly tried to stop him from locking the bike.

Xie Junli paused, then gently stroked her head, "Don't worry, the distance isn't much. When the weather improves, you can come home anytime or call the Military District, and I'll come pick you up."

He reassured her.

Eating well, sleeping well, and talking more than usual, the usually quiet man seemed to have transformed into someone who talked incessantly. Xu Yuqing, who had initially been annoyed at home, now almost cried thinking about the poor sleeping conditions at the dormitory.

She regretted it.

Why did it have to snow? If it hadn't, she could go home every day. They didn't dare get too close, but Xie Junli noticed her sad expression. With people coming and going through the gate, he sighed, squatted down to lock the bike, and led her behind a tree before giving her a hug.

"I'm leaving. The switchboard operator will forward any calls to me."

He said finally.

Xu Yuqing reined in her sensitive thoughts, knowing that the man in front of her was also unhappy, "Okay, remember to buy something tasty if you see anything good at the supply store. It's almost the New Year."

"Okay."

The two finally parted ways. Xie Junli turned and ran back along the road without looking back.

In the cold wind, leaves occasionally fell. As Xie Junli's figure disappeared, Xu Yuqing's heart felt increasingly empty. She couldn't help but sigh and turned around.

Putting the bicycle key in her pocket, Xu Yuqing slowly walked inside. No one had arrived at the experimental factory yet. Today, to prevent Xie Junli from being late, she insisted on leaving early.

But he had to run back.

This would probably make him late too.

A dignified regiment commander being late every day—Xu Yuqing couldn't help but cover her face in frustration.

Checking the time, it was almost half past eight. The others should be arriving soon. Xu Yuqing composed herself, washed and wiped down everything, then sat down.

Last week, when she mentioned the luncheon meat recipe, Little He and the others were going to show her Lanlin Canned Food Factory's luncheon meat formula, but Xu Yuqing was eager to go home and didn't look at it.

However, thinking about their complaints regarding the loose texture of the meat and the differences in pig breeds, she had a rough idea.

It was ice.

Canned food factories usually have high production volumes. Typically, after the meat is delivered, it is processed directly.

But at room temperature, the meat is hard to bind together into a cohesive mass.

Especially with machines; heating by machine makes it even more difficult.

Xu Yuqing wrote down the recipe she remembered, planning to experiment with it later. Then she filled a small enamel basin with water and placed it outside the window to freeze.

While she was busy here,

Xie Junli also had no leisure time at the Military District.

When he reached the military district, he was drenched in sweat, although not exhausted, his clothes were too thick.

Entering his office, Xie Junli immediately sensed something was off.

Things had changed.

Walking in, he saw the chair facing away. Seeing that figure, Xie Junli couldn't help but laugh in exasperation. "Get up."

He Xiang, who was dozing off, quickly raised his head upon hearing the voice, trying to gather his spirits. "No! You're late! Everyone is already training!"

He Xiang said excitedly. This was the first time he had caught him off guard and intended to make the most of it.

Seeing his reaction, Xie Junli didn't bother responding. He took off his military coat and hung it on the wall. The office was small and very simple, with just a desk, two chairs, and some paper and pens.

Xie Junli pulled out a handkerchief from the drawer and wiped the sweat from his hair. Only then did He Xiang notice how soaked Xie Junli was.

"What did you go do?" He Xiang asked curiously. This was the first time he had seen Xie Junli like this; usually, he was always calm and collected.

Xie Junli glanced at the troublemaker, remembering Xu Yuqing's words to be gentler with him.

If he really treated him gently, this kid would get out of control.

"Taking your aunt to work," he said irritably.

Aunt... He Xiang closed his mouth, his expression strange.

He didn't want to admit she was his aunt, but recalling her gentle demeanor, he looked at Xie Junli again.

Fine, aunt it is. Anyway, he wouldn't see her again, so there would be no need to call her anything.

While He Xiang was still pondering, Xie Junli, having dried his sweat and taken off his sweater, grabbed him and dragged him out. "Take off your clothes and go train."

Saying this, he kicked He Xiang's thigh. Fortunately, He Xiang was prepared and dodged. "What are you doing?!"

"Go!"

He Xiang gritted his teeth, taking off his old cotton jacket. His cotton pants and shirt were patched with new patches over holes.

Xie Junli's expression darkened momentarily, his mood sinking.

Meanwhile, He Xiang was gradually getting back on track. On the other side, Xu Yuqing was experimenting with her luncheon meat recipe with Little He and the others.

They had shown her their recipe, which was nearly identical except for the added chemical components.

The problem seemed to lie here.

Without saying much, Xu Yuqing started the experiment.

She took a piece of clean hind leg meat, removed the skin, added seasonings, and brought in the enamel basin from the window. Although it had been less than an hour, the thin layer of water had already frozen.

She put the meat in and started grinding. Soon, it became minced meat. Adding starch and pouring in the ice water, the meat visibly gained strength, tightly adhering to the blades instead of just spinning around.

A ball of meat paste appeared before Little He and the others, who looked at Xu Yuqing in amazement. "What did you add?"

"What did I add?" Xu Yuqing looked at the enamel basin and said calmly, "A secret."

Her mysteriousness left them scratching their heads, watching her every move closely, afraid of missing anything.

Yet, even after Xu Yuqing finished the experiment, they still had no clue.

Strange, truly strange. They followed the same steps, and she didn't add anything special.

Their eyes all turned to the basin, feeling the secret must be there, but it was just an ordinary basin.

The canned luncheon meat needed to cool to room temperature before opening. It was lunchtime, so Xu Yuqing happily went to find Liu Ruan, leaving the puzzled trio behind.

Not having seen her for two days, I wonder if the young girl has missed me.

Holding the lunch box happily, I walked to a tree, and as the cold wind blew, leaving the warmth of the house, Xu Yuqing couldn't help but shiver.

"Yuqing Jiejie!!" A sweet voice called out from afar. Xu Yuqing followed the sound and saw Liu Ruan, unable to stop herself from smiling. She waved, "Slow down!"

The young girl excitedly ran over, this time wearing a light blue cotton jacket, which looked quite nice. "Wearing new clothes?" Xu Yuqing asked with a smile.

Liu Ruan shyly touched her face, "Hehe, my mom just bought this fabric. She said we don't need to wait until the New Year."

The two chatted as they walked towards the canteen.

The food in the canning factory's canteen was still mediocre. Xu Yuqing ate sparingly but managed to finish most of it, leaving only some fatty meat she couldn't stomach.

There was no place to dispose of waste in the canteen, so everyone tried to eat everything. Xu Yuqing told Liu Ruan to wait while she went to the door to discard the leftovers. Just as she was about to leave, someone stopped her.

Xu Yuqing looked at the person blocking her way and frowned in confusion, "Do you need something?"

Song Jiajia sneered, looking at Xu Yuqing as if holding a weapon, and loudly said, "Comrade Xu, where are you going?"

"What? It's obvious, isn't it?" Xu Yuqing looked at the plate in her hand, speechless.

Song Jiajia felt a mix of malice and nervousness, but seeing Xu Yuqing fall into her trap so quickly, she couldn't hide her glee, "Are you planning to throw away the meat?"

She deliberately exaggerated her expression and voice, drawing attention from everyone in the canteen, both familiar and unfamiliar faces.

Song Jiajia expected Xu Yuqing to panic, but instead, Xu Yuqing remained calm, her cold expression unchanged, not even raising an eyebrow.

"Comrade Song Jiajia, right? I've already told the chef that I don't like fatty meat and can't eat it. My digestion is poor. Should I force myself to eat it and get sick? Who would be responsible then?"

Her words were firm and unyielding, showing no fear.

Initially, people had gathered to watch the drama, but upon hearing Xu Yuqing's response, they all agreed.

"That's true; health is more important than saving a bit of food."

"Next time, just don't take it."

"Exactly, it's not a big deal, especially since there are only a couple of pieces of fatty meat. The chef can't cater to everyone's preferences."

Despite the recent famine, this was a canning factory, and everyone had stable jobs. Over time, they had grown indifferent to a few pieces of fatty meat.

Everyone chattered on, dismissing the incident. Xu Yuqing shrugged and, seeing Song Jiajia's darkened face, smiled slightly before brushing past her.

She discarded the fatty meat in the slop bucket and returned to find Liu Ruan washing the lunch box. "Let's go back and rest," she yawned, feeling sleepy.

Liu Ruan nodded. Although she couldn't sleep during the day, resting a bit would help.

"Okay, but what happened earlier? It seemed noisy," Liu Ruan asked curiously, having heard commotion when she came to the sink.

Seeing Xu Yuqing return, she eagerly asked for details.

However, Xu Yuqing simply patted her head playfully, "I won't tell you!"

Liu Ruan quickly protected her hair, "My mom said not to touch my head; it stops me from growing taller!"

She wasn't twenty yet and could still grow taller.

Liu Ruan cherished her head, and Xu Yuqing laughed, letting go. Seeing her like this made her want to tease her even more.

They returned to their dormitory, where most people were already there, lying or sitting on the wooden beds. Xu Yuqing's first glance met Song Jiajia's eyes.

Their gazes intertwined, sparking tension in the air. Liu Ruan looked at Xu Yuqing, puzzled, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, let's go wash up and sleep."

Xu Yuqing shifted her gaze, ignoring Song Jiajia, and started washing up.

Lying down, she wrapped herself tightly and sighed contentedly, relaxing completely.

Soon, the room filled with the sounds of breathing. Song Jiajia opened her eyes, sat up quietly, and looked at Xu Yuqing with growing resentment.

She pulled out a bamboo tube from under her bed, tightly packed with paper balls. She forcefully removed the paper, revealing a black mass inside, silent and motionless.

With a malicious grin, she approached Xu Yuqing's bed, turned the bamboo tube upside down, and shook it hard. A small, smooth black snake fell onto the blanket, lying motionless due to the cold.

Song Jiajia, harboring ill intent, reached for the snake, intending to put it in Xu Yuqing's bed.

'Now, let's see if you're scared.'

Imagining Xu Yuqing screaming, Song Jiajia smirked. She knew the snake was harmless, a baby from a nearby farmer's catch.

Just as she lifted the blanket, Xu Yuqing sensed the movement and rolled over, securing the blanket tightly. Song Jiajia froze, quickly stepping back, watching the snake fall onto the mattress behind her.

She steadied her heart, gritted her teeth, and decided to ignore it. As she turned to leave, Xu Yuqing suddenly sat up, her drowsy eyes opening, "Did you think I wouldn't wake up?"

She looked at Song Jiajia as if she were an idiot. She had sensed her presence and waited to see what she would do, but never imagined she would dump a snake on her.

Xu Yuqing looked at Song Jiajia skeptically. Was this person really that stupid?

Giving someone a snake in this weather? Xu Yuqing guessed Song Jiajia's intentions and picked up the snake, which looked lifeless and unlovable.

"If this snake weren't harmless and small, I'd make you feel the consequences of your actions." With that, she threw the snake at Song Jiajia's face.

"Ahhh!!!!!" The sudden shock made Song Jiajia scream like a frightened bird.

Her screams echoed throughout the building, and Xu Yuqing covered her ears irritably, "You're too loud."

Dare to take it and yet still be afraid?

Hearing Xu Yuqing's ridicule, Song Jiajia felt both anxious and furious. She slapped her face frantically, trying to erase the sensation from earlier. On the floor, the little snake that had been hit several times curled up in pain.

On the other beds, everyone had already sat up, looking at Song Jiajia angrily. "Song Jiajia! What are you doing? It’s noon; can’t you let people rest?"

The one shouting was an older woman who was usually very quiet. According to Liu Ruan, she had originally been a sent-down youth in the countryside but somehow returned and found a job at a canning factory.

However, she did not live at home.

Throughout the year, she stayed in the dormitory.

Liu Ruan said she desperately wanted a house allocated by the canning factory and worked especially hard, taking on all the dirty and tiring jobs.

In the factory, she was known for her relentless efforts. Xu Yuqing looked at her, noticing the obvious anger on her face, which made her seem more alive compared to her usual lethargic demeanor.

Song Jiajia's heart was still pounding. Seeing herself being blamed, she wasn't about to back down and yelled, "What’s wrong with you, Jiang Chunhua! What does this have to do with me? She threw the snake on my face!"

Saying this, she pointed at Xu Yuqing.

Xu Yuqing looked at her hand speechlessly, wondering what kind of brain she had. The other two were also stunned upon hearing about the snake. Liu Ruan jumped out of bed anxiously, ran barefoot to Xu Yuqing, and asked, "Where did the snake come from? Are you okay, Sister Yuqing?"

She said worriedly.

Xu Yuqing comforted her by patting her head. "I’m fine, don’t worry. But where did this snake come from?"

Xu Yuqing said calmly, her clear eyes teasingly looking at Song Jiajia.

The other two also turned their gazes toward Song Jiajia. Everyone was smart enough to figure out what had happened. Jiang Chunhua couldn’t help but curl her lips into a mocking smile and said, "I’ve seen many foolish people, but never one as stupid as you."

With that, she laughed coldly, lay back down, and ignored Song Jiajia.

Feeling humiliated, Song Jiajia was about to lash out when Liu Ruan slowly walked back, giving her a glance with her round eyes as she passed by. "If you keep making a scene, everyone will know."

After saying this, she went back to sleep.

Xu Yuqing also ignored her, patted her own mattress, lay down, and closed her eyes.

Standing in the middle of the room, Song Jiajia was ignored by everyone. The snake at her feet curled up again, her face turning red and then pale. She clenched her teeth in anger but dared not shout. Frustrated, she put the snake back in the bamboo tube and threw it out the window.

In the afternoon, the first thing Xu Yuqing did after waking up was to go find Director Xu. This time, she had slept lightly, being on guard, but what if it happened at night? If there was a first time, there would surely be a second!

She wore a stern expression, determined to change dormitories. She could not share a room with someone who harbored ill intentions toward her.

Arriving at the director’s office, Xu Yuqing knocked on the door forcefully, clearly in a bad mood.

"Who is it? Come in."

Director Xu’s voice sounded, and Xu Yuqing pushed the door open.

"Director Xu, I want to change dormitories."