The Reborn Sidekick Rejected The Male Lead

Chapter 29: Chapter 29: A Different Xia Lin Chapter 29: Chapter 29: A Different Xia Lin So she could only take a risk and ask Zhuang Yan for help. She knew of Zhuang Yan’s feelings for her, and based on her experiences in her previous life, she had also caught Zhuang Yan in a compromising position, so now he dared not take liberties with her.

Besides, it wasn’t like she was asking him to work for free.

She hadn’t planned on working with him for long anyway. Now that she had some money, she wouldn’t be afraid once she got to West City in a few months.

Zhuang Yan saw her attitude and let out a scornful laugh, his movements becoming frivolous as he directly lifted Xia Lin’s chin, “A few days ago, you were talking about making big money with me, and now just after getting married, you’ve changed your mind because you’re bewitched by Gao Shu that pretty boy?”

Listening to his sarcastic words, Xia Lin felt disgusted and coldly shook off the hand that touched her, “He is my man, watch your language. If you have complaints, then let’s not work together anymore.” With that, she walked away.

Zhuang Yan wasn’t really the slacker the village talked about, and quickly changed his expression, “How can we not collaborate on such a money-making job? Let’s do it, you just go ahead and make them, and I’ll sell them, but let’s be clear, next time I want to sell before paying you.”

Xia Lin frowned, “That won’t do.” She was going to leave Ten-miles Village in a few months, and if he stockpiled the goods and didn’t pay her, once she left, Zhuang Yan would definitely default on his debt.

“If you don’t agree, then sell them yourself. I don’t have that much money to invest upfront.”

Xia Lin thought for a moment and said, “How about this, I’ll lower the price by two yuan per garment, you help me sell them, that should work, right?”

“Lower by two yuan, what difference does it make compared to before? Your clothes are expensive.”

Xia Lin retorted, “But you still make a lot, after selling one garment, you earn enough to buy a bicycle.”

It was a fact, and Zhuang Yan had no counterargument, but the coats were too expensive. Even those in the city couldn’t afford many, “How about this, make fewer coats, make some shirts and pants that sell for one or two yuan each, those I can sell.”

“That doesn’t make money, does it?”

“Then buy them yourself.”

That sentence hit Xia Lin’s weak spot, and Zhuang Yan got it just right, having her under his thumb.

So she had no choice but to make the cheaper clothes, feeling they wouldn’t sell for much, but she didn’t realize that expensive clothes were in less demand.

All things considered, cheap clothes might be more profitable.

After parting with Zhuang Yan, Xia Lin went straight home. Having not seen Gao Shu for a long time, she went out to look for him. On the way, she heard some Kid Maos mimicking adults.

“A fancy car came to the Educated Youth Spot, Sister Jingqiu even gave us candy.”

“It was White Rabbit Creamy Candy, that candy is rare.”

“The Lu Family has always been generous. But why did they come back with a car this time?”

“Sister Jingqiu calls them mom and dad.”

Xia Lin’s brow furrowed in thought. A couple of days ago, Brother Shen Mu had delivered a letter from Lu Jingqiu, speaking of a leave of absence for a family visit. Xia Lin knew what that meant.

In her previous life, Lu Jingqiu’s mother had passed away in this month. Shouldn’t she be seriously ill and bedridden at this time? Why would she come here?

Could it be because of Gao Shu?

The more Xia Lin thought about it, the more restless she became, picking up her pace towards the Educated Youth Spot.

By this time, the Educated Youth Spot was filled with laughter and chatter, a group of people surrounding tables in the yard, drinking tea, and eating fruits and snacks, chatting about who knows what?

Xia Lin looked at a middle-aged couple, the woman presumably was Lu Jingqiu’s mother. Xia Lin had never seen her in her previous life. From a distance, she couldn’t see any signs of sickness.

Could it be that her rebirth had caused a deviation?

Watching Gao Shu contently chatting and laughing with the people of the Lu Family, and then looking at Lu Jingqiu’s eyes, which were bright, like peach blossoms, they were charming and tender. Yet with a gentle smile, her eyebrows and eyes curved up, warm and lovable.

That must be the version of Lu Jingqiu that Gao Shu liked, right?

The moment she thought of this, tension rose within her instantly. But then, as if thinking of something, she became composed again.

Stepping forward, her face now wore a hint of a playful smile, “Ah Shu, I’ve been looking for you for ages. So you were here.”

When Gao Shu saw Xia Lin approaching, he promptly got up to greet her, “Linlin, let me introduce you. These two are Jingqiu’s parents, Uncle Lu and Aunt Zhou. They’re here for a visit for a couple of days.”

Xia Lin said, “Uncle Lu, Aunt Zhou.”

“Uncle, Auntie, this is my fiancée, Comrade Xia Lin.”

Lu Xianrun gave her a nod of acknowledgment. Zhou Lanping looked at Xia Lin with approving eyes and smiled, “No wonder, Comrade Xia is quite extraordinary, beautiful. Ah Shu has good taste.”

Xia Lin always felt like this was a compliment to her, yet not quite, but she still shyly hid behind Gao Shu. She glanced at Lu Jingqiu, who hadn’t spoken, and said, “The day before yesterday, Comrade Shen’s older brother brought a leave request letter from Comrade Lu to my father. We thought Comrade Lu wouldn’t come. It’s a pity you missed our wedding. It was a lively occasion; every household in the village was there, and Li Yinger was even my bridesmaid.”

Lu Jingqiu felt that Xia Lin’s casual inquiry about her leave was just a setup for her to talk about her wedding, which was the main point. She didn’t want to play into her hands and vaguely commented with calm, “Letting Comrade Jiang deliver the letter for me was just a coincidence. After all, my vacation was over, and indeed… it’s quite regrettable that I missed your wedding.”

After finishing, Lu Jingqiu met her probing and amused gaze. Jingqiu could see the ripple of surprise in Xia Lin’s eyes upon hearing her words.

Surprise? Absent were the expected anger, frustration, or complaints she had anticipated. Quite surprising, isn’t it?

It seemed that Xia Lin was still not giving up and, with a smiling face, asked again, “Why did you come back then?”

Lu Jingqiu looked at her with a somewhat reproachful expression, “As Gao Shu said, for a visit.”

Xia Lin, pleased with the outcome she desired, assumed a wronged demeanor and whispered to Gao Shu, “I didn’t hear clearly just now.”

Gao Shu, fearing that the two of them might start arguing again, quickly turned to Lu Xianrun, “Uncle, Auntie, I’ll go back and prepare a few dishes. How about we have dinner at my father-in-law’s house tonight?”

Lu Xianrun promptly stood up, waving it off, “No need to trouble the village chief. We’ll just eat here at the Educated Youth Spot. Please convey to the village chief that we’ll visit after dinner.”

Before Gao Shu could reply, Xia Lin had already laughed and taken the opportunity to say, “Okay, Uncle Lu and Aunt Zhou are welcome at my home.”

Seeing the situation, Gao Shu didn’t linger any longer and left with Xia Lin.

Going to dine at the Educated Youth Spot, how could they do so empty-handed? At the Black Market in North City, they bought three pounds of meat, fruits, millet, and of course, she was too reluctant to part with the millet, so they bought several pounds of flour at the town’s supply and marketing cooperative.

Yun Yuzhi and Zhang Yumin were busy cooking, while Lu Jingqiu took her parents for a walk in the woods behind.

When Zhou Lanping spotted many mushrooms on the mountain, she was like a child; no view could match the mushrooms in catching her eye.

Had it not been for fatigue, she would not have been willing to come back.

Lu Jingqiu arranged for her mother to rest in their room, while she herself entered the kitchen carrying nearly a basket full of mushrooms and saw Yun Yuzhi rolling out the dough. She smiled and asked, “Are you making noodles?”

Li Yinger, who was washing the vegetables, said, “The string beans in the back are about to finish producing, so we thought of making a dish of bean and shredded pork noodles. Jingqiu, do your parents like noodles?”

Lu Jingqiu nodded, “They do. Add some of these mushrooms too; that will surely improve the flavor.”

Zhang Yumin agreed with a laugh, instructing her and Li Yinger to rinse the mushrooms outside.

Li Yinger waited until Uncle Lu, Li Qing, and Shen Mu were out of the courtyard before whispering, “Are you not planning to come back this time you leave?”