Chapter 11

On the way back.

Su Xiaoqi received a phone call from her mom.

The voice was very loud.

Like yelling.

She could imagine her parents yelling while making the call from Granny Liu's house.

They rarely made calls, worried it wouldn't be loud enough.

Gumu Village was such an extremely, extremely backward place.

The outside world had turned upside down, but the village seemed to never change.

Ancient, tiny.

"I found a tutoring job, the parents are very satisfied. I'll start working tomorrow, I'll come home in a couple days." She held the phone, quickly saying what she needed to say.

Otherwise her parents would feel bad for making the call too long at Granny Liu's house.

"Okay, did you eat? It's hot outside, don't run around, be careful of getting sick, eat on time. Your dad and I are fine, we have everything at home, don't waste money buying stuff for us." Mom Su yelled loudly.

"Gotta go, bye when you're done, that's all I gotta say. Bye, Xiaoqi call if anything comes up, Granny Liu is calling us to eat." Dad Su grabbed the phone and said before immediately hanging up.

Mom Su wore new slippers, so did Dad Su. Mom Su didn't dare wear the clothes, the fabric was too nice, Xiaoqi must have underreported the price, fabric this nice cost at least 100 yuan per yard.

But the two pairs of slippers were enough to make the couple very happy.

After making the call and chatting for a bit, they didn't leave until they were satisfied with showing off the slippers Xiaoqi bought.

After they left, Granny Liu's daughter-in-law muttered: "That girl Xiaoqi, she's crafty, buying two pairs of plastic slippers to make the lame Su couple so happy. They're bending over backwards to pay for her college."

"Woman, watch your mouth. At least Xiaoqi got into college, your daughter can't even get into high school." Granny Liu's son scolded.

Xiaoqi got back late again. She walked all the way to the dorms where Auntie stayed. Auntie already ate and went upstairs to work.

She not only cleaned the floors, she also helped look after patients at night sometimes.

Xiaoqi first went to the wards to let Auntie know she was back, before going back to her room.

On her way back, she was stuffed a bunch of bananas, given by a patient's relatives.

After hearing that Xiaoqi was a student at No. 1 High School, they praised her nonstop. Xiaoqi fled.

Auntie left food heating in the rice cooker for her to eat by herself.

Dinner was fried rice, made with leftovers from lunch, plus eggs, and a seaweed soup.

Xiaoqi walked all day, looking at her step count already over 20,000, she was exhausted. She didn't usually exercise this much, so she was starving. She took out the food and ate right away.

She was eating happily when Lin Min came in.

Lin Min's hair was damp, he wore a tank top and shorts, carrying a bucket. He must've come back from showering in the ward.

She had a mouth full of rice and wanted to greet him, but couldn't open her mouth.

She saw Lin Min wave at her as he walked by. Only after he passed did she swallow her food.

Then drinking soup, she choked again, coughing nonstop.

Lin Min didn't expect to see Xiaoqi when he came back after his shower. Seeing her with new glasses, most of her face exposed, much prettier than usual. A little wolfing down food, seeming extremely hungry, cheeks bulging on both sides, it made people want to laugh when they saw her.

Xiaoqi coughed violently. Seeing him go into his room, she finally relaxed.

Scared her.

She hurriedly finished eating and washed her dishes, then flopped onto her bed spread eagle, even hearing her waist crack.

Auntie was out overnight caring for patients, she'd just sleep in the ward directly. Xiaoqi wanted to shower before bed, but as soon as she laid down, she fell asleep.

By the time she opened her eyes again, it was light out already.

She rubbed her legs, they were sore and painful, she was exhausted, simply didn't want to get up.

Thinking of being lazy a little longer, but her mind clearly recalled the English article she read yesterday, If I Could Return to Childhood.

Maybe because of the interview, she remembered this article exceptionally clearly.

The first point mentioned was to cultivate perseverance, don't give up just because something is difficult or troublesome.

She decided yesterday to go to the library, so she should get up and head out. Laying in bed half the day would be wasted. She still had to tutor in the afternoon.

Thinking this, she briskly got out of bed, not lingering.

"Host has successfully overcome laziness, this is a good beginning of progress, rewarding Graceful Demeanor buff for ten days."

Xiaoqi didn't expect to get a reward just for getting out of bed in the morning.

Simply couldn't be more wonderful.

She energetically grabbed a change of clothes and went out to find Auntie upstairs.

The basement dorms only had a communal washroom. To shower, she could only go up to the wards and use theirs. Some of the higher-end rooms had private bathrooms she could use.

She quickly showered and changed into a grey t-shirt and knee-length khaki shorts.

She also washed the clothes she wore while she was there. Going back downstairs, Auntie already bought breakfast for her.

Auntie was busier in the mornings, so breakfast was just buns and side dishes from the hospital entrance snack shop, congee she cooked herself. "Auntie, I'm going to the library in the morning, probably won't be back for lunch. I'm tutoring in the afternoon. I'll be back at night."

"I don't know how, you put your number in for me." Auntie handed her phone over.

Xiaoqi saw that Auntie's phone was a super old smartphone she never changed. The contacts were very messy.

There was her daughter Feifei's number, she had helped set a speed dial before, just press 1 to call her.

And grandma's number, Auntie's mom's number, press 2 to call her.

She also set a speed dial for her own number, press 3 to call.

She had Auntie test it.

Auntie pressed 3 and her phone rang as expected.

"This is convenient. When you're at college later I can call you too." Auntie laughed.

Her daughter was 3 years younger than Xiaoqi, at a rebellious age. Other than asking for money, she normally ignored Auntie entirely.

"Okay Auntie, call me whenever you miss me." Xiaoqi finished her congee before replying.

Auntie looked at her niece and suddenly said: "Xiaoqi, you seem a little different today, like you grew up. If only Feifei could be like you."

Xiaoqi didn't feel any change in herself. But it seemed like she had the Graceful Demeanor buff on her, forcing her to pay attention. Like when you have food in your mouth, don't try to talk at the same time.

Her posture sitting seemed straighter too.

She never paid attention to these details before. She was young after all, still looked nice being ungraceful.

But after focusing on demeanor, there was an obvious difference.

Auntie hadn't finished eating when her phone rang. A nurse from the first floor called her down to work. She hurriedly grabbed a bun and left,

Auntie was heavyset, it seemed the whole hallway shook when she ran.

Xiaoqi kept eating. She wanted to hurry too, wolf down a few bites and be done. But her body inexplicably had this mood forcing her to eat slowly and properly, posture elegant.

She finally finished eating with great difficulty. Looking up, she didn't know when Lin Qingqing sat down across from her.

She didn't talk to Lin Min much, but was quite familiar with Qingqing. Qingqing went to No. 7 High School, grades mediocre. She admired the legendary Xiaoqi from No. 1 High School.

"Sis Xiaoqi, were you out with my brother yesterday? Where did he go? Does he have a girlfriend he's dating? Is she pretty?"

The little girl threw out several questions in one breath. Xiaoqi hadn't reacted yet.

Then Lin Min appeared. Face slightly red, he nodded at Xiaoqi, then grabbed his sister by the collar and dragged her away.

Then came the sounds of chaos from the next room.

Xiaoqi smiled. Carrying her bookbag and a thermos of hot water, she headed out.

The municipal library was quite far. Of course she chose to walk.

Seeing the interface showed she already had over 3000 yuan, she walked with great motivation. Go girl, keep it up, progress girl Xiaoqi!