"Sis, you've successfully woke me up from a deep sleep again."
"I'm just worried about you."
"Yes, yes, I know it's all for my own good."
"You never used to say anything before, now you're so cheeky?"
"I've grown up; I have to face life on my own."
"Alright, no more talking about this, hurry up and freshen up, let's go eat."
When they got to the cafeteria, there was no shortage of people paying attention to her.
When it was Jiang Xinyu's turn to get her meal, Tian Shulan noticed a watch hanging loosely on the thin wrist that handed her the bowl.
"Xinyu, is that a watch?" Tian Shulan's voice made everyone in the cafeteria look at Jiang Xinyu.
"Aunty, wasn't it Kong Mengjie who gave me money the day before yesterday? I bought a watch yesterday when I went to the city," Jiang Xinyu said, shaking her thin arm with smugness. As she lifted her hand, the watch slid down almost to her elbow.
"Xinyu, how much was that watch?"
"Over three hundred. Luckily, I took all the money Kong Mengjie gave me yesterday; otherwise, I really couldn't afford this watch."
"Do you have a receipt for the watch?" Tian Shulan now understood Jiang Xinyu's intentions. She regretted helping her stir things up.
"Aunty, this watch didn't need a receipt. It's personal. The owner was short on money, so they sold it through the office building."
At this point, Tian Shulan thought, no matter what, she had to continue this, let Jiang Xinyu's reputation be ruined.
"Now Xinyu is also someone with a watch."
Jiang Xinyu squinted slightly. Although she achieved her goal, she couldn't tolerate this tone.
"Isn't that right? I used to still be employed! If it wasn't for Kong Mengjie coming to me to buy the job, I wouldn't have the money to buy a watch? Aunty, the four hundred you gave me yesterday is almost spent in the city; things are expensive."
The naive villagers cursed Jiang Xinyu for being wasteful; the cunning ones thought, isn't the village chief's family wealthy, being able to fork out so much money at once?
Tian Shulan listened to Jiang Xinyu's words, a pang in her heart, "Xinyu, you promised not to tell, you even wrote a guarantee."
Jiang Xinyu nodded, "Yes, I wrote a guarantee, but I said I wouldn't talk about it outside, didn't say it couldn't be mentioned in the village, right? We live in the same village, what can be hidden? Aunty, you're too cautious; since you're unwilling, I won't speak of it in the future."
Tian Shulan looked at the foolish Jiang Xinyu, maybe she was mistaken earlier; how could this fool be calculating?
Jiang Xinyu held her porridge, walked over to stand by Wang Ailing, who was waiting for her on the side; neither spoke, they left with their breakfast.
"Xinyu, did you really spend all the money?"
"Mm, Sis, I also bought some plastic sheeting, let's go to my place for a meal, after eating, I'll cut out two pieces for your home to cover the windows with plastic sheeting, so it's not cold in winter."
"What are you going to do in the future?"
"There's a cafeteria; I won't starve."
"My dad says the cafeteria's about to close."
"Closing? What's going on?"
"My dad didn't explain clearly, but our village still has grain, whereas places severely affected by disasters elsewhere have no food."
"Then, it means we'll have to fend for ourselves in the future?"
"Sort of, you spent all your money, what will you do later?"
"It's alright, the country won't let me starve," Jiang Xinyu spoke nonchalantly, but felt uneasy inside, deceiving her friend, perhaps?
"You're carefree, alright, no point in talking now, what time is it?"
"Eight thirty-six."
"Let's go; we should collect firewood, or how will you get through the winter?"
They arrived home, hadn't even sat down for a meal when they heard noise in the yard.
Jiang Xinyu stood up puzzled and went out, seeing more than ten people entering, led by a small-footed old lady.
This was Grandpa's brother's family, not blood brothers, just paternal cousins.
"Second Aunt, why have you come over?"
"If I didn't come, would you let this house be wasted?"
Jiang Xinyu frowned, "The house is small, can't fit everyone, anything to say can be said in the yard."
"You dead girl, hurry up and get out, this house belongs to the Jiang Family; women have no right to live here."
The old lady glared with triangular eyes, speaking viciously.
"Haha, I didn't know I couldn't live in this house? Then fine, get the village chief over, if he says the same, I'll set fire to the house and die outside, how about that? Let's go ask together."
The dozen people were startled by Jiang Xinyu's words, especially seeing her fierce expression.
The Jiang Family hated Jiang Xinyu to death, this job was given by the county head; they couldn't do anything, it was enough to make them envious, unexpectedly this girl sold the job?
It's fine the job won't fall into their hands; the money from its sale will be easy to talk about.
So yesterday, the family came angrily, but the place was locked all day. Thought coming in the morning today, who knew this girl spent all the money, now the old lady couldn't hold back, leading to this incident.
After hearing her words, the plan wasn't feasible.
They couldn't find the village chief; after all, their relationship was too distant, the old lady just wanted to scare Jiang Xinyu.
Seeing this, the old lady immediately sat on the ground. Hitting her thigh, crying, "This heartless thing, my poor nephew, the nephew's wife just left, this little X actually wants to ruin the family.
To me, the elder, no respect at all, brutal killer."
Wang Ailing then came out; she didn't want to interfere in family affairs, but couldn't help it, something was wrong the more she listened.
Jiang Xinyu chuckled at Wang Ailing, "Sis, bring my breakfast out; I'm hungry."
Wang Ailing was surprised at Jiang Xinyu; had she gone mad? But seeing her serious expression, obediently brought out her bowl of porridge.
Jiang Xinyu didn't find a seat, stood holding the bowl, smiling while sipping porridge.
Nearby residents came over because of the commotion.
Seeing the scene in the yard, everyone was stunned. This Xinyu's heart must be big; the old lady sat crying, yet she's sipping porridge?
The old lady saw more people in the yard, got even more fired up, slap her thigh incessantly.
Jiang Xinyu finished her porridge, scraped the bowl clean with chopsticks, then turned to bring it back indoors, washed the bowl clean. Then carried out a small stool, sitting on the side, watching the old lady make a fuss with amusement.