Back to 1984: Earning Money, Raising Kids, and Keeping the Household Busy

Liu Ling curled her lip, "What good children can Ma Cuihua raise? Just look at Liu Yongguo and Liu Yongming, one is lazy, cunning, and afraid of his wife. He has no ability and can only wait for his younger siblings to become successful and give him a hand."

Not to mention Liu Yongming, he's a venomous snake. My grandma said that we should stay far away from him and not say a word to him. Do you know how disgusting he is?
He used to be so arrogant, and hadn't visited my home in years. But when he found out I got into college, he brought a bag of snacks to my house, said a lot of nice things to my grandma, and told me to ask him if I had any questions.

I felt like throwing up when I heard it. You know my grandma, she's always been kind, but that day she couldn't even manage a fake smile. After everyone left, she even cursed at them, and it was so awful!

Liu Li is Ma Cuihua's darling, she has to be 'specially cultivated'! I've never gotten along with her since I was a child, she's so fake. If my sister hadn't made such a scene at school and exposed her hypocrisy, I don't know how many people would still be fooled by her. She deserves what she has today!

But I heard Liu Li married a rich man, and now Liu Yongming is thriving thanks to her. You tell me, he's really lucky!

Other girls who went through the same ordeal as Liu Li would probably have died several times over, but Liu Li is lucky enough to have married into a wealthy family!

Lin Qin gave a noncommittal smirk, "Who cares about her? Just focus on your studies, get a good job after graduation, and you'll be able to find a decent man. What's there to envy?"

"I don't envy her at all!" Liu Ling said with a grin, and then talked about many things that her family had made her bring with her, making her seem like a girl who was pampered by her family.

Lin Qin would always imagine what Ya Ya would be like when she grew up and went out into the world, and unconsciously she would dote on her and take care of her more.

The bus departs and arrives at Anshi Teachers' College in about twenty minutes.

The two talked for a while and then arrived at their destination.

When they arrived at the school gate with their large and small bags, they found that there was already a reception point for new students.

Lin Qin majored in Chinese Language and Literature, while Liu Ling majored in English.

The two separated at the school gate.

Lin Qin found a major in Chinese Language and Literature. A senior student helped her with her level exams, and a senior student helped her with her luggage. Both of them looked younger than her and appeared unassuming.

Lin Qin said proactively, "I can carry my own things. Just tell me where the dormitory is, and I'll go there myself."

The two hesitated for a moment, but Lin Qin insisted, so they had no choice but to point her in a direction.

You have to walk a bit from the school gate to the dormitory. These days there are no sightseeing buses on campus; you have to rely on your own two feet or a bicycle.

Lin Qin gritted her teeth and made up her mind that she would definitely bring her bicycle back next time she went back.

When she finally found her dormitory, she discovered it was empty, with not a soul in sight.

These days, college dormitories are often converted from four-room to six-room or eight-room dormitories. Their dormitory building isn't very big; it's a four-room to six-room conversion.

Two lower bunks and four upper bunks. After thinking for a moment, Lin Qin chose an upper bunk without a lower bunk.

She took out the rag she had brought, filled a bucket with water, and carefully wiped the bed clean. She didn't have a straw mat and didn't plan to live in the dormitory. She simply arranged her personal belongings and put the woven bag on the bed.

I went back to the school and bought a straw mat, a bed sheet, and a mosquito net.

By the time she finished packing, it was past noon.

Just then, Liu Ling came over, and Lin Qin quickly locked her locker and went out with her. "I plan to go home in a bit and come back on the first day of school. What about you?"

Liu Ling thought for a moment and nodded, "Then I'll go back with you. We can set up our stall for another two days and earn some more money."

Having tasted the sweetness of making money, Liu Ling didn't want to waste any time. So the two of them took a walk around the school together and then went back.

The next day, a new student arrived at dormitory 301, where Lin Qin lived.

A middle-aged man with a dark complexion stood at the entrance of dormitory 301, carrying large and small bags on his back, looking somewhat helpless when he saw the tightly closed door.

The girl behind him looked expectantly at the senior who was leading them, "Is this the place? Why are all the other dorm rooms open, but this one is closed?"

Wang Xinyuan explained gently, "Your roommate checked in yesterday. If no one is inside, the door will definitely be closed. Here is the key."

Wang Xinyuan opened the dormitory door, glanced around, and saw that there was no one inside. Only one upper bunk near the back door was tidied up. He turned to the girl and said, "Du Juanhua, that bed is taken. You can choose another bed. There are corresponding cabinets by the door. Except for this one that is locked, you can choose any of the others."

Du Juanhua nodded repeatedly, blushing as she thanked Wang Xinyuan.

"If there's nothing else, I'll leave first."

Seeing Wang Xinyuan leave so decisively, Du Juanhua felt inexplicably lost. She spoke to her father in her hometown dialect, "Dad, just leave your things wherever you like. I'll pack them myself. Where are you staying tonight? How about we find a guesthouse?"

Without even thinking, Mr. Du shook his head. “Why stay in a guesthouse? It’s a waste of money! It’s so hot, and your school has so many lawns. Just find somewhere to eat tonight. See if you need anything else. We’ll have to check out the cafeteria later. I wonder how expensive it is to eat at university.”

The Du family was not well-off, and supporting a college student was a great struggle, so Mr. Du had to be very careful with his money.

Du Juanhua nodded quickly, glanced around, and decided to follow Lin Qin's example. She chose an upper bunk without a lower bunk and secretly compared it with the one across from her while tidying up. She found that Lin Qin's things were all new, while her straw mat was an old one that had been used at home for a long time and had been repaired.

The sheets were the same, and also, she didn't bring a mosquito net.
Mr. Du also noticed the things on Lin Qin's bed and slapped his forehead in annoyance, "I forgot to bring a mosquito net! I don't know if there will be mosquitoes at such a high place."

Du Juanhua breathed a sigh of relief. "That's true, it's so high up, there shouldn't be many mosquitoes."

The father and daughter continued tidying up.

A moment later, Wang Xinyuan pushed open the door and entered. Du Juanhua's eyes lit up as she saw a girl with a ponytail appear behind Wang Xinyuan.

Bai Junjun waved enthusiastically to the azaleas on the bed, "Hello, my name is Bai Junjun, nice to meet you."

"Hello!" the azalea hurriedly replied, appearing shy and awkward.

Bai Junjun glanced at the two already occupied spots, weighed her options, and chose the upper bunk on the same side as Lin Qin. "Dad! I'll sleep in this bed."

Bai Junsheng felt helpless looking at his daughter's hurried manner. He greeted Mr. Du and quickly pulled his daughter's suitcase in to help her pack.

Everyone was busy with their own things and didn't really talk to each other.

However, Mr. Du noticed that Bai Junjun's bed had a mattress and a straw mat on top, and like the bed opposite hers, it had a mosquito net.

This made Mr. Du restless, and he silently left the dormitory.

After Du Juanhua finished packing her things, Du's father returned with a new mosquito net.

Azalea's eyes reddened at that moment, but she didn't say anything in front of her roommates. (End of Chapter)