Chapter 52: She Has Truly Changed

Twenty minutes later, the two of them sat in a state-run restaurant. Zhou Mingxue watched as Lin Jingyue unabashedly ordered braised lamb, pork and cabbage stewed with noodles, and rice as her staple, causing Zhou Mingxue’s lips to twitch. Judging by Lin Jingyue’s attire, it was clear she was accustomed to such choices.

While waiting for their food, they chatted casually, growing more familiar with each other. As they ate and talked, Zhou Mingxue ended up linking arms with Lin Jingyue, declaring her a good friend.

“If you come next time and don’t see me, you can come to my house. I’ll take you somewhere special,” Zhou Mingxue said.

Not only was Lin Jingyue someone Jiang Xun liked, but she herself found her likable.

“What kind of place?”

“Don’t ask now—you’ll see when the time comes. Here, this is my home address.” She pulled out a small notebook, quickly scribbled the address, tore the page, and handed it to Lin Jingyue.

“It’s getting late, you’d better head back,” Zhou Mingxue urged, knowing the roads would soon be unsafe.

Lin Jingyue nodded. “Alright, see you next time.”

She rode off on her bicycle, pondering Zhou Mingxue. Her eyes were clear, her manner straightforward and generous—a girl who easily won favor.

The address… If Lin Jingyue remembered correctly, that area was home to people from government agencies. And as Jiang Xun’s father’s comrade, Zhou Mingxue’s family was likely no ordinary household.

After saying goodbye, Lin Jingyue visited the scrap collection station, delivering an old pheasant, a wild rabbit, and ten apples to Old Huo. Then, she disguised herself and headed to the black market.

She wandered around, sold five chickens, four ducks, two wild rabbits, and several fish, and was about to leave when she unexpectedly ran into a familiar face.

“Brother, you’re hard to find!” Tian Yang greeted her with a cheerful smile.

This man was slippery—hard to pin down.

“What’s up?” Lin Jingyue replied with a roguish grin, fully expecting to be approached.

“I’ve taken a fancy to your goods. How about a deal?” Tian Yang said.

He didn’t act superior; after all, the person before him often showed up with a fair amount of meat, suggesting she had her ways. Such people were ideal for business—he could hardly turn away from profit.

“If you deliver your goods directly to me, I’ll give you a fair price, sparing you the risk every time.”

Lin Jingyue pretended to consider, though she’d already decided—coming here repeatedly was tiresome. Having a middleman was convenient.

“That depends on whether your price satisfies me.”

“Come this way, brother, let’s discuss the details.” Tian Yang’s smile brightened.

He led Lin Jingyue to the same courtyard where she’d bought a pot last time. Someone poured her a cup of tea, and Tian Yang got straight to the point. “You mostly sell meat and fruit. I’ll buy them at the same price as the black market, but deduct ten cents per pound.”

Meat, you say! Lin Jingyue cursed Tian Yang in her heart but was surprised by the deduction—it was exactly what she’d expected. Soon she realized Tian Yang likely sold in the city, where prices were higher.

“So, what do you think?” Tian Yang asked.

Lin Jingyue didn’t hesitate, nodding. “You’re sincere. In that case, I’ll do business with you. But I can’t guarantee when I’ll have goods.”

“No problem. Just bring them over when you do,” Tian Yang replied, not believing her but saying nothing more.

Lin Jingyue appreciated his candor. They discussed a few more details before she excused herself—any longer and she’d be late.

She refused Tian Yang’s invitation to stay for dinner, slipped out of the courtyard, made several turns to reach a deserted spot, entered her space to change back into her usual clothes, retrieved her bicycle, and left.

By the time she returned to the brigade, it was already past six, nearly seven, though dusk hadn’t yet fallen.

“Waiting for me?” Lin Jingyue stopped her bike when she saw Jiang Xun at the village entrance.

“Yes, it’s getting dark and you still weren’t back. If you’d been any later, I’d have gone to find you,” he said.

Lin Jingyue curled her lips. “I’m fine. With my combat skills, ordinary folks are no match for me.”

“You really are impressive.” Jiang Xun pushed her bicycle as Lin Jingyue walked beside him.

“How about teaching me a few more moves? I’ll be even tougher,” Lin Jingyue suddenly proposed.

She knew Jiang Xun’s skills were remarkable—he must have trained systematically.

“Alright.” A light flickered in Jiang Xun’s eyes. “Wake up an hour earlier every morning?”

For a moment, Lin Jingyue wanted to back out. Getting up at five every day was brutal.

“…Fine.” But she gritted her teeth and agreed.

She would go all out for her skills.

As they passed through the brigade, neither noticed the hostile glare from the team leader’s house.

Li Cuihua didn’t understand herself. She knew it was wrong to resent Lin Jingyue, but she couldn’t help it. She’d liked Jiang Xun from the first time she met him. They’d met him first—so why?

“Cuihua!” Aunt Chun also saw Lin Jingyue and Jiang Xun’s figures, glanced at her daughter’s expression, and was startled.

When had her daughter become like this?

“Mother…” Li Cuihua’s face stiffened.

“I told you not to set your heart on a knowledge youth, but you… ” Aunt Chun scolded, disappointed.

“That Jiang Xun obviously didn’t come from an ordinary family. You’re a village girl—even city girls might not catch his eye. What makes you think you could?”

Her daughter was on the verge of ruin. If she didn’t lay it out, she’d never turn back.

“He’s been here for over a year. His eating, dressing, manners—everyone’s noticed. Even in the county, you’ve seen many people, but who compares? Take Cai Jinzhou…”

“You mean even Cai Jinzhou wouldn’t want me, let alone Jiang Xun?” Li Cuihua interrupted in a low voice.

Aunt Chun looked at her daughter’s reddened eyes and felt uneasy. “Cuihua, I’m saying this for your own good.”

She spoke earnestly.

Li Cuihua lowered her eyes. “I understand, Mother. Don’t worry, I won’t act foolishly.”

Though Aunt Chun still doubted her, she knew change wouldn’t come overnight. She sighed and let it go.

At the knowledge youth station, Lin Jingyue was already enjoying a meal cooked by Jiang Xun.

Knowing she liked rice, he’d steamed a bowl just for her, stir-fried garlic shoots with cured pork, and made a loofah and egg soup—it was nearly complete.

He and Zhou Yan had already eaten.

Lin Jingyue sat by the stove and ate, while Jiang Xun brewed her a cup of malted milk.

As the aroma wafted through the room, the others subconsciously swallowed.

Zhao Hua gazed at Lin Jingyue deeply—she truly had changed.

She still spoke bluntly and acted decisively, but unlike before. Previously, her eyes burned with impatience and her brows with aggression. Now, she exuded calm, her gaze lively and clear.

[Aside] I’m genuinely exasperated. The already sparse comments and section reviews disappear with every refresh—did the system automatically delete them? Heartbroken.