Teacher Ning was in his forties. His wife was from the village and was somewhat related to the Chu family. There were two children in the family: a son who was just over ten years old and a girl who was about seven or eight years old.

Teacher Ning’s wife was cooking at the moment. When she saw Chu Wan, she thought she was looking for Su Yanjing, so she casually said, “I saw Teacher Su was at home just now.”

Chu Wan said, “Sister-in-law, I came to see your Teacher Ning today to ask for something.”

“Ah? What’s wrong?”

Chu Wan then explained her purpose of coming, “I’ve been free lately and thinking about applying to university, but as you know, my level isn’t up to par. In high school, I was also inconsistent, and it’s going to be hard to pick myself up again. I need someone to guide me, and I was thinking about whether Teacher Ning, a former high school teacher, could teach me.”

Teacher Ning’s wife was surprised. “Why do you suddenly want to study?”

She knew Chu Wan; she was devoted to learning a craft from her great-grandfather. It was said that she was sent out to gain experience and had travelled around a lot during those years. In contrast, it was her cousin Chen Lei who was determined to get into university and make a big breakthrough.

Chu Wan sighed, “I still have to have some real skills, otherwise it would be meaningless to just muddle along like this for the rest of my life. I’m nineteen now, and I think about things more than before. I know I need to make progress.”

When Teacher Ning’s wife heard this, she understood. “It’s different now that you’re older. If you want to take the college entrance examination, that’s fine. If there’s anything I can help you with, just let me know.”

“That’s great. I’ve already taken out my high school textbooks today. Some of them I can understand, but some I can’t. If I have any questions later, I’ll write them down. I can do nothing but bother Teacher Ning. Sister-in-law, please don’t think I’m annoying.”

Teacher Ning’s wife casually took the rag and wiped the table, “Look at you, who are you talking to!”

Chu Wan opened the basket and took out the jar. “Sister-in-law, this is the braised pork with chestnuts I made. Give it to the children as a snack.”

Teacher Ning’s wife saw it and said, “Hey, Wanwan, you’re being polite to me. What the braised pork? Do I still care about this? Take it back!”

Chu Wan insisted on giving it to her. After all, she would feel embarrassed to always disturb others. Teacher Ning’s family was having a hard time, and the two children at home rarely saw meat all year round, so they must have missed this.

As they were talking, Teacher Ning came back. He had gone to the cellar behind the house and brought back a large cabbage with ice chips still on it. When he saw Chu Wan, he was naturally surprised.

Teacher Ning’s wife told the situation to Teacher Ning, who was very happy. “That’s definitely no problem. If you want to make progress, just ask me any questions! I don’t have anything else, but I have plenty of teaching skills!”

So it was settled right then and there. Chu Wan took the opportunity to ask a few questions about the order of learning. Teacher Ning answered them for her, and she said goodbye with satisfaction.

She thought to herself that since there was no hope for her family’s land, and it was not time for spring plowing yet, she would just study hard at home and go to the city when she had time to look for some opportunity and trade around. That would at least let her earn a little to supplement the family income.

As for finding a man—

Let’s talk about it later.

When she came out of Teacher Ning’s house, she saw Su Yanjing. He was sitting under a persimmon tree, holding a book in his hand and reading with his head down.

Although winter has passed, the weather was still cold. The Ming Tombs Mountains were desolate and cold, with withered grass and trees. A few persimmon trees grew at the entrance of the mountain village, standing there silently.

The branches and leaves were clearly withered, but among the dead branches, there were actually a few bright red and sweet persimmons hanging sparsely.

Because of this, the air was filled with the sweet fragrance of fruit trees.

And right under the red persimmon tree was Su Yanjing, wearing a blue coat and reading.

What a beautiful rural scenery.

Chu Wan felt somewhat relieved. She thought that when she had dated Su Yanjing in her previous life, part of the reason was that she was greedy for that little bit of false warmth, but it seemed that part of the reason was that she was fascinated by his decent appearance. After all, Su Yanjing was really pleasing to the eye sometimes.

The money she gave him in her previous life should be regarded as buying herself a beautiful scenery and a few sweet words.

At least I heard good sounds.

She ignored Su Yanjing and continued walking forward with the basket.

Su Yanjing stopped her, “Wanwan.”

Chu Wan stopped and said calmly, “I’m telling you, Chu Wan, Chu Wan, Chu Wan. Please remember, call me Chu Wan next time.”

Su Yanjing was startled. “What happened? Why are you so angry?”

He didn’t react at all just now.

He didn’t understand what happened. That braised pork should have been cooked for him, right? Wanwan was the best to him, giving him all her delicious food. Why did she go to Teacher Ning’s house for no reason?

Su Yanjing felt extremely uncomfortable and awkward. He really couldn’t figure it out.

If he had known that Wanwan would not give him the braised pork, he would definitely have accepted Sanxi’s tofu. Didn’t he give up the tofu just for Wanwan’s braised pork?

But he could already smell the braised pork, and Wanwan actually went straight to Teacher Ning’s house. He just couldn’t understand it!

Chu Wan glanced at Su Yanjing and said, “Nothing, I just don’t want to date you anymore. I want to draw a clear line between us.”

Su Yanjing frowned. “What’s wrong? Why are you… angry?”

“I suddenly feel that you are incompetent and not good-looking. No matter how I look at you, you look ugly. I am not happy to see you. I really can’t continue dating you.”

Su Yanjing was surprised, blushing a little, and stammered, “Wanwan, how could you say such a thing? Did someone say something to you?”

“Who would say something to me?”

Su Yanjing was helpless, “What did Chen Lei say to you? Don’t listen to her!”

“Chen Lei?”

She looked at Su Yanjing and thought, Could it be that Chen Lei and Su Yanjing have been flirting with each other?

Su Yanjing quickly explained, “She came to talk to me last time, but I ignored her and didn’t ask for anything from her. Am I that kind of person? She might have instigated you to go against me in a fit of rage. Don’t let her fool you!”

Chu Wan laughed. “So you think I must have fallen for her trick? Su Yanjing, do you think it’s that easy to date me? I, Chu Wan, want someone with a clean background and no involvement with any woman, and he must also be capable. Someone like you, just stand aside!”

After saying that, she left.

Su Yanjing stared blankly at Chu Wan’s back, feeling a little bewildered for a moment. He wondered why she was so different today when she was fine yesterday. This Chu Wan really had a childish temper. He just couldn’t figure her out.

She probably learned this from her great-grandfather, whose temper was so weird.

At this moment, he suddenly heard children’s voices cheering from Teacher Ning’s house next door, “Braised pork, chestnut braised pork!”

Then came the scolding of Teacher Ning’s wife, so the children lowered their voices, but one could still hear the surprised joy in it. After that, he smelled the soft and glutinous fragrance of chestnuts and the tempting meaty aroma of braised pork.

He swallowed dryly, wondering what had happened today. It was clearly my braised pork, so why was it given to Teacher Ning? Did Chu Wan make a mistake?

… … translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

Chu Wan thought about Su Yanjing’s foolish look of being greedy for meat, but then remembered Lu Jianshi’s foolish look of being greedy for women and money for investment. She sighed and felt again that she had poor taste in choosing men.

When she got home, she rummaged through the drawers and cabinets to see if there was any money at home.

She had to study and prepare for the college entrance examination, but this was not something that could be done in a day or two. For example, she had no hope of passing the college entrance examination this summer based on the schedule. It was impossible for her to pass it in just half a year, so she could only hope for next year.

After preparing for a year and a half, maybe she could try to get into an ordinary university.

During this year and a half, she couldn’t just sit here and learn stupidly. She had to prepare and make money—and to make money she needed capital.

She searched the whole house and finally found some money stuffed in a pair of old shoes, including one yuan, a few jiao, and some coins. After counting them, there was a total of nine yuan and six jiao.

Nine yuan and six jiao¹?

She looked at the nine yuan and six jiao, feeling somewhat helpless, but she still carefully put it away, thinking that she would go to the city in a couple of days, and she would have to depend on these nine yuan and six jiao.

Don’t be afraid of having little capital—take small steps. The snowball would only grow bigger and bigger.

At this time, Great-grandfather came back on his cane. Seeing her looking at the money, he raised his long white eyebrows and asked, “Wanwan, what are you doing?”

“Great-grandpa, I’m counting our family’s money.”

“Have you counted it? How much money do we have left?”

“Only nine yuan and six jiao.”

“How can we have so much money?”

Chu Wan: “…”

She looked at her great-grandfather helplessly and said, “Great-grandpa, I want to go to the city in a few days.”

“You’re going to the city? Go to the Lu family and say hello to your Grandpa Lu.”

Chu Wan didn’t really want to go to the Lu family, mainly because she hadn’t made up her mind yet. After hearing this, she said, “I can’t always go to their house. Every time I go to the Lu family, Grandpa Lu gives me this and that. If I go, it will seem like I’m asking for things.”

When Great-grandfather heard this, his long white eyebrows twisted.

“Grandpa, you also think it’s inappropriate to keep doing this, right?”

But her great-grandfather shook his head, looking disappointed. “What’s wrong with asking for things? I didn’t say you can’t ask for them. Just ask for whatever you want. What I’m afraid of is that you wouldn’t ask for it!”

Chu Wan: “…”

Great-grandfather put his hands behind his back and began to talk to Chu Wan one sentence at a time. “As a person, you can’t be too thin-skinned. Look at you, counting those nine yuan and six jiao here, why are you wasting your energy! Go find your grandfather Lu, and he will buy you some delicious food and some new clothes so that you can dress stylishly. Go quickly, and just say it was me who told you to do it.”

He added, “And my great-grandson-in-law. You don’t like that Su Yanjing, so hurry up and go to their house and pick a great-grandson-in-law for me. I want to see you get married as soon as possible!”

After saying this, Great Grandfather clutched his cane, put his hands behind his back, and walked out with his back hunched.

Chu Wan was silent for a long time, thinking that Great-grandfather had lived to this age, and that he had really lived enough. He could let go of everything and think clearly.

Pearls and Jade Beside Me in the ’80s translated by Maela @ whitemoonlighttranslations.com

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Chapter 6.1 — He Gave Her Pocket Money
Chapter 6.2 — He Gave Her Pocket Money
Chapter 6.3 — He Gave Her Pocket Money
Chapter 7.1 — There Must be Compatibility Between Husband and Wife
Chapter 7.2 — There Must be Compatibility Between Husband and Wife
Chapter 8 — The Beauty of Line Carving
Chapter 9 — In My Eyes, This Is 200 Yuan

1. 1 yuan is 10 jiao; 1 jiao is 10 fen. ↩︎