Reborn as a Rich Woman in the Eighties
Chapter 145 - 144: Overthinking

Chapter 145: Chapter 144: Overthinking

Lin Xia moved deftly and didn’t need any help, she simply asked them to chat in the house.

She made braised pork, shredded cabbage salad, scrambled eggs, also prepared some sweet and sour shredded potatoes, and steamed some frozen buns from earlier.

Lin Xia’s cooking skills were quite good. Jiang Mingqing originally had no expectations; when she entered the house and saw how shabby it was, she figured they must not have much money.

Who would have thought that the dishes prepared for the guests were quite substantial?

It was just that their family only cooked meat dishes during the New Year, and it was usually steamed or stir-fried meat. They had never made braised pork before, had they?

However, once she took a bite, the taste was truly delicious.

She watched this person named Lin Xia cook, and her skills were actually better than both her mother’s and her sister-in-law’s.

After Jiang Mingyuan and his sister finished eating, Lin Xia and Lin Dong saw them to the front gate.

Once they had walked some distance away, Jiang Mingqing spoke up, "Second brother! Although that girl is quite pretty and her cooking skills are also pretty good, let me tell you the truth, you really don’t match well with her!

You know what her family situation is like, and what kind of people they are!"

She had just started her vacation and arrived home, only to hear her mother constantly talking about Xiaolin and the people and matters of his family. It all made her feel sick to her stomach.

What infuriated her even more was that they actually wanted her to tutor Xiaolin’s younger brother. She was busy and had her own things to do. Why should she tutor someone else?

Later, if it wasn’t for her second brother promising to give her ten yuan afterward, she really wouldn’t have been willing to do it.

Jiang Mingyuan stopped walking, turned around to look at her, "Xiaoqing! You’re really overthinking it! Xiaolin and I are just friends!"

He indeed had a good impression of Lin Xia, but for now, he only thought of her as a little sister.

Jiang Mingqing obviously didn’t believe him, "Friends? Second brother..." she changed her tune under Jiang Mingyuan’s sharp gaze, "Alright! Maybe I am overthinking it!"

She didn’t want to upset her second brother. In their family, he was the one with the most money, and she was still hoping that he would buy things for her.

Jiang Mingyuan said nothing, and the two continued to walk in silence.

After a while, Jiang Mingqing said, "Second brother! You mustn’t forget to bring me some extra fake collars when you go to Shanghai after the New Year!

My classmate Lu Qing has many different colored ones, and they were all bought by her aunt on Nera Road in Shanghai. Those resin collars look so stiff and nice when worn!"

Jiang Mingyuan took the opportunity to set conditions, "Xiaoqing! I’m telling you, if you behave well and don’t make mom angry, I’ll definitely buy them for you when I get there!

But, if you disappoint me, you can’t expect any fake collars from Shanghai!"

Jiang Mingqing coaxed him, "Oh, second brother! Can’t I perform well? It’s not like I intentionally make mom angry! Besides, I’m also tutoring Lin Dong now, aren’t I?"

Jiang Mingyuan, unable to stand it, shook his arm free, "Alright! You’re so grown up yet you still play these games with me! Hurry up and go home!"

In comparison, his sister really wasn’t as sensible as Lin Xia.

Jiang Mingqing wouldn’t leave, "Second brother! Go home? Didn’t you say you were going to take me shopping when you were at Xiaolin’s house?"

"Did you take that excuse seriously? It’s so late; definitely not today. Some other day!"

Jiang Mingqing pressed her advantage, "Then how about tomorrow?"

Jiang Mingyuan flatly refused, "Tomorrow won’t work. A few of us from high school are getting together!"

Jiang Mingqing’s eyes lit up instantly, "Is Sheng Da brother going to be there? What’s he doing now?"

"Yes! Ma Hao said he has been assigned to the city bureau of industry and commerce now!"

"Then I want to go with you too!"

Jiang Mingyuan, unmoved, reminded her, "Have you already forgotten what we talked about just now?"

Jiang Mingqing, reluctantly, "Alright then! Please say hello to Brother Sheng for me!"

Meanwhile, Lin Xia and Lin Dong finished cleaning up the dishes and sat down for a chat.

"Dongzi, did you understand everything that Sister Xiaoqing taught you?"

Lin Dong nodded enthusiastically, "I understood! Big sister! Sister Xiaoqing really lives up to being a college student, I got everything as soon as she explained it!"

Lin Xia, smiling happily, "That’s great! Such opportunities are rare, you must cherish them!"

She envied her second brother’s sister for being able to attend college. She too had a dream of going to university, but due to her family’s circumstances, Lin Aiguo and the others wouldn’t even let her attend high school, instead, she went to work at a youth position in the mountains after graduating from junior high.

She thought, if she ever got the chance, perhaps she could attend night school or something like that, to keep her mind from going idle with the acquisition of more knowledge.

"I definitely will, big sister! When can they come again?" Lin Dong eagerly anticipated the next visit.

"In a few days, perhaps! It’s almost the New Year, and they are surely going to be busy with their own things!"

Lin Xia instructed him, "You should focus on solving practice problems over the next few days, and identify everything you don’t understand, so when Sister Xiaoqing comes next time, she can explain them to you!"

"I got it, big sister!"

With the New Year approaching, Lin Xia began to prepare food, supplies, and gifts to give to several households.

Xiaoqiu’s master, Aunt Tao, though they had paid apprenticeship fees to learn a craft there, definitely deserved some New Year’s presents as well.

There was also Teacher Hao, who had helped them find their apartment. Despite being too occupied to tutor Lin Dong owing to family matters, Teacher Hao patiently explained any questions Lin Dong had whenever he visited their home; and with the most crucial semester ahead, gifting was a must.

The heaviest gift would belong to Aunt Zhao’s family. They had been exceptionally kind to her and her brother, and she definitely wanted to prepare something better for them.

But after what had happened last time, it wouldn’t be good for her to go back, especially since Aiguo would surely return from the mountains for the New Year. If they ran into him, it might spoil their entire holiday.

So, buying some practical items and having her second brother deliver them directly when they came would be better.

Calculating the cost, the money in Lin Xia’s pocket was dwindling, but luckily, things weren’t too expensive at that time, and she was buying within her means; hence it was still manageable.

Because of concerns about Lin Aiguo and his family, she and Lin Dong rarely went out for walks, even when they had no particular reason, fearing they might be seen by someone.

As for Lin Qiu, that was less of an issue. She would leave for her master’s house in the mornings and only return home when it was fully dark. Who could she possibly run into?

Lin Xia’s guess was spot on; Lin Aiguo had indeed come down from the mountains.

Since the incident with Lin Qiang hitting him on the back of the head, followed by a rest and return to work, he felt his health had never been the same.

Therefore, his workplace accommodated him, letting him off earlier for the holiday and advising him to take an extended rest at home during the New Year period.

He thought it would be the perfect opportunity to search for Lin Xia and the other kids.

When he heard that Lin Xia and the others might be in the city, he nearly scoured the city daily, hoping to bump into them.

He had wanted to look for them at school, but now that winter break had started, he found himself with nowhere even to ask questions.

Lin Aiguo was frustrated. He frequently regretted not having disciplined Lin Xia and the others when he had the chance, letting them all become more and more defiant.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.