Chapter 30: The Meal Ticket Storm

  Like He Ansheng, in the Qing Shu's home, Liu Jiawei returns to his hometown from the county town every month. Qing Lan pulls Liu Jiawei's sleeve and asks about Lin Xi's news.

  After Liu Jiawei went to the county town to study, he came back once a month. Whenever there was a holiday on weekends, Qinglan would also be on holiday at home. She would hold Liu Jiawei's hand and keep asking him about things in the city. Every time she had to ask specially: "Brother, have you seen Sister Lin?"

  "No." Liu Jiawei didn't care about this matter, so his answer was always casual.

  "How come you've never seen Sister Lin even once?" Qing Lan pouted, somewhat disbelieving Liu Jiawei's words. Since young, Liu Jiawei had been in the habit of brushing off Qing Lan's questions, and Qing Lan knew it.

  Liu Jiawei looked at Qing Lan with a scornful gaze, "Do you think the county town is just as small as our Liujiavillage? As soon as you step out of the door, everyone in the whole village knows each other. The county town is huge, I don't even know where she lives, how can I see her?"

  "Oh." Qing Lan released Liu Jiawei's hand, somewhat disappointed.

  Just then, Liu Xiu Zhen walked in from outside. Liu Jia Wei blocked her way and said: "Mother, look at this silly girl, every time I come back on holiday, she only knows to pull me to ask about Lin Xi, never asking if her brother is doing well outside. Lin Xi has been a city person for years, hasn't returned to Liu Jia Village for many years, maybe she's already forgotten about her, but she still misses her."

  Liu Xiuzhen took a glance at Qinglan and said to Liu Jiawei, "This shows that our Lanlan is a sincere person. If Lin Xi forgets her, then it's Lin Xi's fault."

  Finally, Liu Xiu Zhen didn't defend her brother this time. Qing Lan smugly stuck out her tongue at Liu Jia Wei and made a silly face, "Heh heh, how's that?"

  Looking at Qing Lan's mischievous and lovely face, Liu Jiawei shook his head helplessly and gently tapped on Qing Lan's smooth forehead. "You silly girl, you're too honest with people, you'll definitely get taken advantage of in the future."

  Qing Lan pouted and pursed her lips in discontent.

  "But fortunately, I have an older brother like me. In the future, if anyone bullies you, my brother will definitely avenge you. That little brat An Shaojie, one day, I'll deal with him." Liu Jiawei patted his chest and said to Qinglan.

  Qing Lan snorted in her nose, "You dare to accept him!" She glared at Liu Jiawei with dissatisfaction, turned around and left, no longer paying attention to him.

  Not long after the start of the second semester, autumn arrived.

  One evening, the moonlight was clear and bright, there wasn't a single star in the sky, and a cool breeze blew occasionally over the hill at the back of the campus.

  On the way back to the dormitory after self-study in the evening, Qinglan went to the toilet and came out to find that her classmates and roommates had already returned to the dormitory.

  Qing Lan walked alone on a dark forest path.

  Suddenly, a black shadow jumped out from under the flower bed on the side.

  Qing Lan was startled and took several steps back, "Who?"

  The black shadow didn't move, nor did it make a sound.

  Under the dim light, Qing Lan took a closer look and found that the person standing in front of her was actually the tall and thin An Shaojie.

  "Shao Jie Ge." Seeing that it was An Shao Jie, Qing Lan involuntarily took a few steps forward and called out happily.

  An Shaojie held several books in his arms, still with a calm expression on his face, his eyes fixed intently on Qing Lan.

  "What's wrong, Shao Jie?" Qing Lan saw his expression and felt a little scared. She knew him too well, every time he had this look, staring at her with dead eyes, something was about to erupt.

  Qing Lan's mind quickly searched through the events of the past period of time to see if there was anything related to him.

  No! Qing Lan thought for a long time, the expression on her face changed from fear to contemplation, to confusion, and back to fear again.

  An Shaojie still stared at her tightly.

  Calm is often before the storm.

  Qing Lan was stared at by Shao Jie, making her feel a bit flustered. "Shao Jie ge, y...you want something?" Qing Lan's voice trembled slightly as she licked her lips.

  Suddenly, An Shaojie raised his hand, Qing Lan thought he was going to hit her again, and hastily used her hands to block, lowering her head to protect her face.

  Little did he know, it was just some paper-like things scattered on Qing Lan's head and face.

  Qing Lan put down her hand and stared at An Shaojie in a daze.

  "What's this? Little Jie." Looking at the paper pieces scattered all over the ground, Qing Lan was somewhat perplexed.

  "Put away those trashy things, they can't buy my heart and I won't like you. And let me warn you, in the girls' dormitory, it's best if you don't talk nonsense about me again, I don't even know you. If I hear someone say that you're talking nonsense about me in the dormitory again, I won't be polite." An Shaojie held a book in his arms, his voice was not loud, but it was cold enough to make people feel like they were in a cold winter night, Qing Lan couldn't help but shiver.

  That night, the stars were all over the sky. Although it was still a bit sultry in the southern town on the first night of September, Qing Lan felt as if she was standing in the icy and snowy land at the North Pole.

  Qing Lan hugged herself and slowly squatted down, picking up the meal tickets on the ground one by one.

  An Shaojie stood high on the upper ground, looking at Qing Lan, as if she was the one who had been pitied.

  "And from now on, don't call me Shao Jie Ge, your brother is that Liu Jiawei who didn't get into high school." After saying that, An Shaojie disappeared into the darkness.

  Qing Lan picked up the meal tickets on the ground, sandwiched them between her books, and stood up. Suddenly, a line of tears flowed down from Qing Lan's eyes.

  Qing Lan hugged the book, a thin deep blue background, a white embroidered short skirt fluttered in the gentle breeze, with crispy pieces hanging under the hem like metal shining brightly, making a soft rustling sound in the wind.

  Back in the dormitory, the dormitory was noisy and lively. Qing Lan walked to her bed and sat down.

  "What's wrong, Qing Lan?" Her roommate on the upper bunk leaned over the bed railing, lowering her head to prepare for sleep, and suddenly found that Qing Lan's emotions were not right, asking in surprise.

  Qing Lan shook her head.

  Qing Lan didn't make a sound, and her roommate felt that something was off, so she gave up on her plan, bowed down, and stuck her head into Qing Lan's bed.

  "Oh no, it can't be! Our Happy Fruit seems to have cried, and there are tear stains on its face!" she exclaimed suddenly.

  This roommate is also a chatterbox like Qing Lan, usually once she opens her mouth, it never ends, and can chat with Qing Lan for several hours.

  However, Qing Lan didn't want to talk tonight.

  She hastily pushed her away, got up and picked up the basin to pour water, ready to wash her face.

  Jian Qinglan wasn't interested in chatting with her, so that roommate also went to sleep listlessly.

  At this time, Xiang Yuqiu, who had been quietly observing from the side, hummed softly with her nose.

  It was Monday morning again, when Qing Sheng handed over the exchanged meal tickets to Qing Lan, Qing Lan did not pull out a few meal tickets and put them in Qing Sheng's hand. Like An Shaojie, every month when Liu Jiawei returned home from the county town on holiday, Qing Lan would grab Liu Jiawei's sleeve and ask about Lin Xi's news.

  After Liu Jiawei went to the county town to study, he came back once a month. Whenever there was a holiday on weekends, Qinglan would also be on holiday at home. She would hold Liu Jiawei's hand and keep asking him about things in the city. Every time she had to ask specially: "Brother, have you seen Sister Lin?"

  "No." Liu Jiawei didn't care about this matter, so his answer was always casual.

  "How come you've never seen Sister Lin even once?" Qing Lan pouted, somewhat disbelieving Liu Jiawei's words. Since young, Liu Jiawei had been in the habit of brushing off Qing Lan's questions, and Qing Lan knew it.

  Liu Jiawei looked at Qing Lan with a scornful gaze, "Do you think the county town is just as small as our Liu Family Village? As soon as you step out of the door, everyone in the whole village knows each other. The county town is huge, I don't even know where she lives, how can I see her?"

  "Oh." Qing Lan let go of Liu Jiawei's hand, somewhat disappointed.

  Just then, Liu Xiu Zhen walked in from outside. Liu Jia Wei blocked her way and said: "Mother, look at Lanlan this silly girl. Every time I come back for a holiday, she only knows how to pull me to ask about Lin Xi, but never asks if her brother is doing well outside. Lin Xi has been living in the county town for years, and hasn't returned to Liu Jia Village for many years. Who knows if she's already forgotten about Lanlan, but Lanlan still misses her so much."

  Liu Xiuzhen took a glance at Qinglan and said to Liu Jiawei, "This shows that our family's Lanlan is a sincere person. If Lin Xie forgets her, then it's Lin Xie's fault."

  Finally, Liu Xiu Zhen didn't defend her brother this time. Qing Lan triumphantly stuck out her tongue at Liu Jia Wei and made a silly face, "Hehe, how's that?"

  Looking at Qing Lan's mischievous and lovely face, Liu Jiawei shook his head helplessly and gently tapped on Qing Lan's smooth forehead. "You silly girl, you're too honest with people, you'll definitely get taken advantage of in the future."

  Qing Lan pouted and pursed her lips in discontent.

  "But fortunately, I have an older brother like me. In the future, if anyone bullies you, my brother will definitely avenge you. That little brat An Shaojie, one day, I'll deal with him." Liu Jiawei patted his chest and said to Qinglan.

  Qing Lan snorted in her nose, "You dare to accept him!" She glared at Liu Jiawei with dissatisfaction, turned around and left, no longer paying attention to him.

  Not long after the start of the second semester, autumn arrived.

  One evening, the moonlight was clear and bright, there wasn't a single star in the sky, and a cool breeze occasionally blew over the hill behind the campus.

  On the way back to the dormitory after self-study in the evening, Qinglan went to the toilet and came out to find that her classmates and roommates had already returned to the dormitory.

  Qing Lan walked alone on a dark forest path.

  Suddenly, a black shadow jumped out from under the flower bed on the side.

  Qing Lan was startled and retreated several steps, "Who?"

  The black shadow didn't move or make a sound.

  Under the dim light, Qing Lan took a closer look and found that the person standing in front of her was actually the tall and thin An Shaojie.

  "Shao Jie Ge." Seeing that it was An Shao Jie, Qing Lan involuntarily took a few steps forward and called out happily.

  An Shaojie held several books in his arms, still with a calm expression on his face, his eyes fixed intently on Qing Lan.

  "What's wrong, Shao Jie?" Qing Lan saw his expression and felt a little scared. She knew him too well, every time he had this look, staring at her with dead eyes, something was about to erupt.

  Qing Lan's mind quickly searched through the events that had occurred recently, wondering if there was anything related to him.

  No! Qing Lan thought for a long time, the expression on her face changed from fear to contemplation, to confusion, and back to fear.

  An Shaojie still stared at her tightly.

  Calm is often before the storm.

  Qing Lan was stared at by Shao Jie, making her feel a bit flustered. "Shao Jie ge, y...you want something?" Qing Lan's voice trembled slightly as she licked her lips.

  Suddenly, An Shaojie raised his hand, Qing Lan thought he was going to hit her again, and hastily used her hands to block, lowering her head to protect her face.

  Little did he know, it was just some paper-like things scattered on Qing Lan's head and face.

  Qing Lan put down her hand and stared at An Shaojie in a daze.

  "What's this? Little Jie." Looking at the paper pieces scattered all over the ground, Qing Lan was somewhat perplexed.

  "Put away those trashy things, they can't buy my heart and I won't like you. And let me warn you, in the girls' dormitory, it's best if you don't talk nonsense about me again, I don't even know you. If I hear someone say that you're talking nonsense about me in the dormitory again, I won't be polite." An Shaojie held a book in his arms, his voice was not loud, but it was cold enough to make people feel like they were in a cold winter night, Qing Lan couldn't help but shiver.

  That night, the stars were all over the sky. Although it was still a bit sultry in the southern town on the first night of September, Qing Lan felt as if she was standing in the icy and snowy land at the North Pole.

  Qing Lan hugged herself and slowly squatted down, picking up the meal tickets on the ground one by one.

  An Shaojie stood high on the upper ground, looking at Qing Lan, as if she was the one who had been pitied.

  "And from now on, don't call me Shao Jie Ge, your 'ge' is that Liu Jiawei who didn't get into high school." After saying that, An Shaojie disappeared into the darkness.

  Qing Lan picked up the meal tickets on the ground, sandwiched them between her books, and stood up. Suddenly, a line of tears flowed down from Qing Lan's eyes.

  Qing Lan hugged the book, a thin deep blue background, a white embroidered short skirt fluttered in the gentle breeze, with crispy pieces hanging under the hem like metal shining brightly, making a faint rustling sound in the wind.

  Back in the dormitory, the dormitory was noisy and lively. Qing Lan walked to her bed and sat down.

  "What's wrong, Qing Lan?" Her roommate on the upper bunk leaned over the bed railing, lowering her head to prepare for sleep, and suddenly found that Qing Lan's emotions were not right, asking in surprise.

  Qing Lan shook her head.

  Qing Lan remained silent, and her roommate felt that something was off. She gave up on her original plan, bowed down, and stuck her head into Qing Lan's bed.

  "Oh no, it can't be! Our Happy Fruit seems to have cried, and there are tear stains on its face!" she exclaimed suddenly.

  This roommate is also a chatterbox like Qing Lan, usually once she opens her mouth, it never ends, and can chat with Qing Lan for several hours.

  However, Qing Lan didn't want to talk tonight.

  She hastily pushed her away, got up and picked up the basin to pour water, ready to wash her face.

  Jian Qinglan wasn't interested in chatting with her, so that roommate also went to sleep listlessly.

  At this time, Xiang Yuanqiu, who had been quietly observing from the side, hummed softly with his nose.