Chapter 530: Full of Resentment – Daily Gossip in the Sickly Aunt’s Compound

Chapter 530: A Face Full of Resentment—The Sickly Young Aunt’s Drama-Filled Days in the Compound

Father Lin and Mother Lin instantly drew a flood of envious looks, with Mother Li and Mother Sui’s gazes all fixed on them.

Father Lin and Mother Lin stood tall and straight, grinning from ear to ear.

“Do they hand out prizes for advanced study?” Mother Gu glanced at her son, Gu Hang, who frowned slightly.

Mother Jiang also turned to Jiang Yang, “Son, did you get anything?”

“Mom…” Jiang Yang fell silent.

Gu Hang and Jiang Yang looked at Yu Liang, who was on the propaganda team. Like Lin Qing, he was office staff—surely he must have received something similar?

Unexpectedly, Yu Liang shook his head, “We didn’t have any exams, nor any rewards.”

Father Lin and Mother Lin grinned even wider—hah, only their daughter had gotten them.

“What kind of nonsense is this? You all went for advanced study—why does she get rewards while you don’t?” Mother Gu complained unhappily.

“Damn right!” Mother Jiang also frowned in agreement.

It wasn’t that everyone coveted those items—ceramic mugs and soap could be bought with cash and ration tickets. What they truly valued was the honor. There was a world of difference between buying something yourself and receiving it as an official reward awarded by the higher-ups! It’s not the same thing!

Mother Lin wasn’t pleased, “My daughter won top honors—she came in first! How can you compare? Besides these, she also got a fountain pen!”

The crowd buzzed again.

Ceramic mugs and soap were ordinary enough, but fountain pens were rare. A good one could cost tens of yuan, and even a poor-quality one would set you back several yuan. By that calculation, Lin Qing had brought back rewards worth at least over ten yuan from her advanced study?

Everyone’s eyes immediately turned to Gu Hang, Jiang Yang, and Yu Liang: Was it really that they got nothing, or were they just total losers?

The three exchanged helpless glances, their eyes full of resentment—how could this be blamed on them?

They really hadn’t gotten anything!

If they had, wouldn’t they have fought for the honor too?

By now, Lin Qing had retreated from the window back into the house. Her parents were stirring up a bit too much envy—best not to let others see her.

Mother Gu and Mother Jiang questioned their sons repeatedly, and only after Gu Hang and Jiang Yang kept insisting they got nothing were they finally let off the hook.

Zhang Mengyun seethed with resentment, glaring at the courtyard, especially when she heard Father Lin and Mother Lin boasting—her heart burned with hatred.

Hmph! she muttered under her breath. If that scheming little wretch Lin Qing hadn’t stolen her Brother Jianhua’s opportunity, these rewards would surely have gone to him!

If Lin Qing knew Zhang Mengyun’s naive thoughts, she’d probably laugh herself to death. So, you’re acting like no one else from other factories even counts, huh?

With Jin Jianhua’s amateur-hour skills, who could he possibly beat? He couldn’t even outperform the others in their own office!

Before long, it was the end of the workday in the afternoon. Lin Qing kept glancing outside—she missed Cen Xi.

It had been over half a month since they’d last seen each other. Even during her busy days, she often thought of him, wondering if he, like the other comrades in the research institute pushing for progress, was working around the clock, all to move the country ahead.

Cen Xi hurried back—he knew Lin Qing had returned today, and he was racing home to her!

The moment Lin Qing spotted him through the window, she immediately stood up. Cen Xi quickened his pace and burst into the house.

“Qing Qing, you’re back!” Cen Xi took Lin Qing’s hand.

"Hey, Brother Nan, I'm home!" Lin Qing returned his grasp.

They just stood there smiling at each other.

Next door.

"Is Xiao Cen back?" Mother Lin glanced outside.

Father Lin peeked out the door before pulling his head back in. "Yeah, he's back."

"Then let's not disturb them. Let the lovebirds have their moment!"

"Mhm. Let's make dinner."

...

Lin Qing and Cen Xi had already gone into the inner room. Leaving the front door and windows open wasn’t exactly private.

"God, I missed you!" Cen Xi pulled Lin Qing into his arms.

Lin Qing wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest. "I missed you too."

They stayed quiet, just soaking in the moment.

After a while, Lin Qing began filling him in on what she’d been up to.

"Brother Nan, guess what? But you can’t share it with anyone—you gotta keep it under wraps!" Lin Qing trusted that Cen Xi, with his strong sense of confidentiality, would keep his word.

"Alright, go ahead."

"Okay, so..." Lin Qing whispered into Cen Xi’s ear about her time assisting at the research institute.

Cen Xi bolted upright. "You're serious?"

"Mhm."

"Man, they really went through hoops." Going through all that trouble...

As he spoke, Cen Xi couldn’t help but sigh. Guess talent’s in short supply these days.

"Qing Qing, keep this to yourself. Don’t mention it to anyone else."

"Mhm. I was just so excited—I was bursting to tell someone—who else but you?"

"Right. If there’s anything else you can’t share with others, just come back and tell me." Cen Xi ran a hand through her hair, adding.

"Okay!" Lin Qing lit up.

"With all those books Old Liu dumped on you to study, if there’s anything you don’t understand, you can always ask me."

"Mhm. Old Liu also said I could write to him if I had any questions."

"Old Liu’s swamped. I’m right here, aren’t I?" Cen Xi’s brow furrowed.

Lin Qing side-eyed him. Cen Xi cleared his throat, backtracking. "I just meant that mailing Old Liu could take ages. Asking me would be faster."

Lin Qing nodded. "Fair point." "Alright! Then if I don’t understand something, I’ll ask you."

"Mhm." Cen Xi smirked, pleased.

The young couple chatted and laughed as they shared their recent updates, and time passed quickly.

"Food's ready!" Mom Lin's voice came from outside.

"Coming!" Lin Qing responded loudly.

Cen Xi and Lin Qing got up and headed to the next room.

"Here, Nuan'nuan, this is the plain wheat noodles I made for you."

Lin Qing glanced at the others' bowls. "Mom, why are yours different?"

"Oh, they're pretty much the same!" Mom Lin was delighted by her daughter's concern. "Dig in!"

Cen Xi also urged, "Qing Qing, go ahead and eat!"

Seeing their reactions, Lin Qing wanted to give them some from her portion, but they refused.

Father Lin quickly grabbed his bowl. "Nuan'nuan, it's fine. We've got some white flour mixed in ours too, just not as much. Go on, eat!"

Mom Lin and Cen Xi also raised their bowls.

Lin Qing had no choice but to go along with them.

...