Help others? It's better to help yourself - Chapter 14

The train swayed back and forth along the way. After exiting the train station, they took a bus back to the school. The teachers then allowed the students to go home.

Xu Jing’an glanced at the time—4:10 PM. Zhao Xiaofang had been distracted all afternoon, frequently checking the main entrance.

As soon as Xu Jing’an and the others entered the school gate, Zhao Xiaofang knew.

Zhao Xiaofang quickly asked the homeroom teacher for sick leave, then quietly followed Xu Jing’an to the steel mill. They found Factory Director Guo and got the list of accepted candidates. Xu Jing’an’s name was prominently listed on the “Finance Department Recruitment List.”

Only then did Zhao Xiaofang feel truly relieved.

After finalizing the work arrangements and thanking Factory Director Guo once more, Zhao Xiaofang left.

Tomorrow, the names on the recruitment notice will show Zhao Xiaofang’s name, with no connection to Xu Jing’an.

“Ding—” A sound echoed in her mind, and the space expanded to 10 meters by 10 meters by 3 meters.

As Xu Jing’an had guessed correctly, altering events related to herself in the book led to a reward.

Xu Jing’an placed the graduation certificate Zhao Xiaofang had given her into her backpack and smuggled it into the space. She then followed Zhao Xiaofang to her neighborhood.

“Jing’an, look, my home is just at the entrance of the second floor,” Zhao Xiaofang pointed out, indicating the apartment building right next to the west wall.

“At 7 PM tonight, there’s a movie showing at the steel mill. Most people in the building will go.”

“I’ll tell them to wait for you to come later. You can come around 7 to move the things.”

Xu Jing’an nodded, “Got it. I’ll head home first and come back after dinner.”

After Xu Jing’an left, Zhao Xiaofang also walked home with a lighter step.

…………………………………………………………………

As soon as Xu Jing’an entered the residential compound, people greeted her.

“Jing’an, you’re back?”

“How did you do?”

“What’s different about the provincial city compared to here?”

“Was it fun there?”

……

Xu Jing’an’s mouth was nonstop: responding to “Auntie,” “Sister-in-law,” and others.

In this era, there is no privacy. Whenever something happens in any family, it quickly spreads everywhere.

When Xu Jing’an returned home, Xu’s mother had just entered the house. She was overjoyed with the things Xu Jing’an had brought back.

The colorful floral fabric was clearly different from what was available in the city’s department stores.

Some snacks were inconvenient to purchase locally and some daily necessities, were all obviously bought from outside the area!

Xu’s mother was thrilled—now they had something to show off!

Xu Jing’an took over the kitchen duties and quickly started cooking. She hadn’t finished yet when Xu’s mother kept urging her to return the receipts and remaining money for the items she bought.

During dinner, Xu Jianguo and Xu Jingping were clearly in a good mood. It seemed that the items bought from the provincial city were very much to their liking.

“My classmate said the steel mill is showing a movie at 7 PM today,” Xu Jing’an said after taking a bite of pickles. “If you want to watch, you should go early.”

“I’ll go, I’ll go!”

As soon as she finished speaking, Xu Jianshe, the fourth child, immediately responded and began drinking his porridge in large gulps.

The rest of the family also sped up, seemingly eager to go. With no other entertainment options, a movie that played regularly was a rare treat.

Before 7 PM, everyone had left. Outside, people were shouting and calling to each other, forming groups as they headed towards the steel mill.

Xu Jing’an stayed behind as usual to tidy up the house.

Around 7 PM, Xu Jing’an locked the door and leisurely made her way to Zhao Xiaofang’s place.

At the entrance, Zhao Xiaofang was already waiting.

She asked in surprise, “You came alone?” There was a lot of stuff, and it was quite heavy. There were many pieces of furniture and even a sewing machine.

How long would it take for one girl to move all this? The commotion would make it widely known.

Although Zhao Xiaofang wasn’t afraid, it was better to avoid any trouble or gossip that might make things difficult for her.

Xu Jing’an quickly replied, “Others are coming. They’re behind us. We came separately to avoid attracting too much attention.”

Zhao Xiaofang felt reassured and was less nervous.

As soon as they entered the house, Zhao Xiaofang immediately closed the door and pulled out a key from around her neck to unlock the door to the dowry room.

When the door opened, Xu Jing’an noticed a lot of dust falling from the doorframe.

The room itself was small, and with so many things piled up, almost touching the ceiling, it felt completely full.

“You start moving things in. I need to make an appearance in front of my stepmother; otherwise, she’ll definitely come back to find me.”

Xu Jing’an said, “Okay, hurry back. I’ll be quick here too.”

Zhao Xiaofang took over an hour to go and return, and she was sweating by the time she got back.

Xu Jing’an had already moved everything into the space. It contained a 1.8×2 meter bed, a wardrobe with four doors, four large camphor wood boxes, a vanity, a basin rack, an eight-immortal table, five chairs, a desk, a high stool, and six small low stools. The sewing machine still had its original packaging.

The wardrobe, boxes, and bed were all packed with items: large items like four eight-pound thick quilts, two five-pound quilts, and two four-pound mattresses; two pink towel quilts, two-bed sheets, a mosquito net, and various cotton fabrics in a dozen colors. There were also big and small jars for storing food and pickles, one set inside another; and small items such as a large iron pot for cooking, a steamer, a frying pan, two kitchen knives, a kettle, ten bowls, plates of various sizes, two thermal flasks, a military water bottle, and two cans of brown sugar.

Feng Chun’cao had prepared everything she could think of and bought for her daughter.

Xu Jing’an also discovered a small wooden box inside one of the jars. The box was divided into two layers: the first layer contained a pair of purple jade bangles with excellent water quality, while the second layer had a pair of glassy Imperial Green bangles. She took the two pairs of bangles out and tapped them; the sound was crisp and pleasant.

Inside the kettle, there were two pairs of gold bangles wrapped in red cloth.

Xu Jing’an’s initial shock and excitement gave way to a lingering sense of discomfort. “If you need any help, just let me know.”

Zhao Xiaofang, holding back tears, said, “Thank you, Jing’an.”

Xu Jing’an comfortingly patted her on the back. “I think we’re friends now, aren’t we?”

“Yes, we are friends,” Zhao Xiaofang said firmly, wiping her tears.

Once all the paperwork for the household registration and job were settled, it wouldn’t be too late to move into this room. It would avoid arousing suspicion and give her stepmother a chance to be cautious.

At that point, Zhao Xiaofang would open a savings account, depositing her monthly salary, and carrying it with her. Living and eating at home would be so convenient!

After some time, when her stepmother realized her schemes had come to nothing, she would have to face the truth, whether she accepted it or not.

Just thinking about her stepmother’s face made Zhao Xiaofang feel incredibly relieved.

After Xu Jing’an left, Zhao Xiaofang cleaned the room thoroughly. The only things left were a bicycle and a watch. She locked the door and went downstairs to find her neighbor, Grandma Luo.

She remembered Grandma Luo had two houses and wondered if her granddaughter, who was still unemployed, might have any updates.

Xu Jing’an, after leaving the factory, quickened her pace back home.

She wanted to take advantage of the fact that no one was home to carefully consider how to make better use of the space. She wondered if she could divide it into different rooms, such as a kitchen and bedroom.