Yang Xue was stunned. She lowered her head and thought for a long time.
She was wearing a pair of ragged cloth shoes, the uppers were full of patches, and the soles were rotten many times. This kind of shoes is not warm at all, and she quickly retracted her toes that were exposed at the toe of the shoe.
"There are... three or four." Yang Xue said shyly.
Su Ye touched Yang Xue's head and said, "The teacher is going to visit your home today and talk to your parents about the poverty subsidy policy. Let's go."
Yang Xue and Su Ye returned home together. After walking through the deep alley, Su Ye came to Yang Xue's home, and she understood why the little girl stood in line at the door of the supply and marketing cooperative in the cold weather to earn money and why she dropped out of school.
The room is more than 20 square meters and dimly lit, but three generations of people live here. Yang Xue's parents, grandparents, a younger brother and a younger sister are all crowded here.
When Yang Xue's parents learned that the teacher had come, they politely but enthusiastically treated her with a corn cake. Yang's mother, who was disabled in both legs, supplemented the family income by doing sewing and washing clothes for neighbors. The responsibility of paying for the tuition of the three siblings and the food for the whole family fell on Yang's father, who worked in an edible oil factory.
Su Yewan refused the corn cake, "Dad Yang Xue, I'll make it short this time. Yang Xue is an excellent student, works hard in school, and is the monitor of the class. I'm sure she has a very high chance of getting into a technical secondary school. There are subsidies for studying in a technical secondary school. If you grit your teeth and pay for one more semester, you can get through it."
"If she drops out of school now, it will delay her."
Yang Xue, who was squatting in the alley washing clothes, heard this and her eyes became red with tears.
That's the truth. The couple's weathered faces showed a trace of embarrassment. "Teacher, you have seen our family's situation. The edible oil factory's performance this year is not good, and the salary has been adjusted several times. Liu Liu is nine years old this year and should go to elementary school. We can't delay her.
My sister studied until junior high school, she studied enough. It was her fate that she could not go to technical secondary school. We are useless, we delayed the baby’s development.”
The Changyou Cooking Oil Factory where Yang's father worked was the largest oil factory in City C. When the factory was at its peak, the employees were so busy that they couldn't keep up with the work in three shifts. Last year, the grain harvest was poor, and the employees had nothing to do all day, so their wages were cut a lot. The Yang family's financial situation was stretched to the limit. Not only could they not afford to send their children to school, but even food was a problem.
There are always connections between things. Su Ye remembered that he could never buy oil before the Chinese New Year. Wasn’t it because the Changyou Cooking Oil Factory was about to go bankrupt
Su Ye coughed and said, "This is the purpose of my home visit. Yang Xue's parents, No. 1 Middle School is discussing a subsidy for poor students. I can help Yang Xue get a place, but—"
She lowered her voice and said, "How to assess the degree of poverty is a difficult problem. I think Yang Xue's situation is quite difficult, but there are many families with more difficult circumstances than Yang Xue's."
Yang Xue's mother suddenly patted her disabled legs excitedly, "Who else could be in such a difficult situation as ours! Our whole family depends on Yang Xue's father to make money—"
Su Ye whispered, "Aunt, don't get excited. I know you're having a hard time. Aren't we planning to help Yang Xue apply for a subsidy? But none of you can tell anyone about this. What if someone reports it and Yang Xue loses her place? Don't you think this makes sense?"
Su Ye was not afraid of being reported and exposed for not having a quota, because she had the final say on how many quotas there were. She just wanted to keep a low profile, and she also didn't want Yang Xue to know that it was the teacher who sponsored her.
What is worrying is not the lack of wealth but the inequality of wealth. There are too many people who are having a hard time these days. Yang Xue's parents understood and nodded suddenly. In silence, they looked at Su Ye with red eyes, already full of gratitude.
"Yes! Teacher Su, you are such a good person!"
After Su Ye finished his conversation, he pretended to check the Yang family's grain books and salary slips, and left the Yang family with satisfaction.
…
Military district compound.
Coincidentally, Su Ye and Gu Xiangqian were spotted by a military wife while they were at a department store buying luxury watches yesterday.
At that time, Su Ye picked out the most expensive Plum brand watch in the store and insisted that Gu Xiangqian buy it for her. This matter became a hot topic among the neighbors in the blink of an eye.
"One hundred and thirty-eight yuan! Su Ye dares to ask for it!" The women were immediately envious and jealous of Su Ye.
It would be fine if Su Ye was a woman from a well-off family, but she came from the countryside and came to the army naked to marry Gu Xiangqian, and she also wanted this and that. Wasn't it obvious that he was taking advantage of the most beautiful girl in the compound
This successfully aroused everyone's jealous anger. 138 yuan, even if the perilla leaves were sold, it would not be worth this price.
"Xiang Qian was an honest man. He always saved his salary without eating or drinking. She tricked him into spending all his money."
"I also heard that Xiang Qian had to do housework at home! She took advantage of Xiang Qian's injury and couldn't do anything to her. It's a pity that a patient had to be dragged out to stroll on the street in the middle of winter."
Fang Xiulian was very unhappy when she heard this and stopped the rumors. "What are you talking about? Is it worth your pity for someone as smart as Xiang Qian?"
She felt that she had lost all her face because of Su Ye, as Li Maogang and Gu Xiangqian were sworn brothers, and she and Su Ye were sisters-in-law.
Fang Xiulian privately said to her husband: "What kind of person did Xiang Qian marry... Who would marry someone like this? He might as well have chosen Yao Chunyu!"
Her tone inevitably revealed some pride and contempt. Although Fang Xiulian had a bad temper, she was recognized as a good daughter-in-law in the compound. She had a good job, good conditions, and good looks. Her reputation was worlds apart from Su Ye's.
She thought she despised Su Ye, a bad daughter-in-law, enough.
Li Maogang frowned when he heard this, "Why are you talking about Yao Chunyu? Don't make Su Ye unhappy."
The Yao Chunyu they were talking about was the lesbian who was suspected to have had an affair with Gu Xiangqian. Few people knew about this. The two were very close during that time, but somehow Yao Chunyu was sent abroad for study, and the matter was left unresolved.
After comparing the two, the couple had to admit that Yao Chunyu was indeed better than Su Ye.
"Tomorrow is New Year's Eve. Invite Xiang Qian and his wife to our house for dinner, and then we'll observe them!" Li Maogang said thoughtfully.
On New Year's Eve, Li Maogang came to inform Gu Xiangqian to have the New Year's Eve dinner together.
Su Ye was planning to cook all the remaining pound of spare ribs and bacon. When she heard the invitation, she said to Gu Xiangqian, "No, it's nothing to go to someone else's house for dinner during the New Year."
Su Ye had no interest in spending New Year's Eve with people he didn't know well. How tiring it would be to act during the New Year!
Gu Xiangqian replied to Li Maogang, "I feel bad for eating with you two every New Year's Eve. This year, I will spend it with Su Ye."
Li Maogang was choked. Is this a food problem? Since Gu Xiangqian was unwilling to come to the Li family, they took the initiative to come to the Gu family. Li Maogang left with this thought.
Su Ye originally wanted to let Gu Xiangqian cook, but considering his cooking skills and feeling sorry for the ribs and bacon being wasted, Su Ye pushed him aside.
She skillfully prepared braised spareribs and steamed rice with bacon and mixed vegetables, and even took out the last bit of rice cake and placed it on the table.
Just as Su Ye and Gu Xiangqian were preparing to eat, there was a knock on the door.
Su Ye opened the door and saw that it was Li Maogang and his wife. They were holding a piece of pork belly and a pound of rice and standing outside the door with a smile on their faces.
Li Maogang was stunned for a moment after walking into the house. "Brother Xiangqian, you're already eating? I was thinking about having dinner with you guys."
It was a pity that both the bacon rice and the braised spareribs were made precisely for two people, without any extra food. Gu Xiangqian had a big appetite, so he had a bowl of rice in front of him. Su Ye had a smaller appetite, so he also had two bowls of rice.
The air was filled with the delicious smell of meat, and the sumptuous food on the table was mouth-watering.
Fang Xiulian took the braised pork and rice and handed them all to Su Ye naturally, "Thank you for your help, sister-in-law."
Su Ye took the meat and rice without even looking at them and called out to Gu Xiangqian.
Under the surprised gazes of the two people, Su Ye handed him the things in his hand and said, "Go and make some braised pork and rice for the guests."
Su Ye's tone was so natural that it made people frown.
Fang Xiulian couldn't help but stand up for Gu Xiangqian, "How can you let Xiangqian cook, Su Ye, and you just sit there like this?"
"Why can't I sit down?" Su Ye asked curiously.
Su Ye cooked the New Year's Eve dinner, and in Su Ye's eyes, it was a very reasonable division of labor to let Gu Xiangqian cook for these two people. However, in the eyes of these two people, this action seemed like she was not a good wife.
Su Ye sat very comfortably. Not only that, she also ate the only wick cake on the table one by one with relish. She did not stop eating until she had almost finished all the cakes on the plate, and she had no intention of leaving any for Gu Xiangqian at all.
Gu Xiangqian was busy in the kitchen, washing rice, lighting fire, cutting meat and stewing, while Su Ye was eating alone, which Fang Xiulian could hardly bear to see.
Li Maogang hurried to help Gu Xiangqian. With his participation, the meal was quickly ready.
"Xiang Qian likes sweet things. What will he eat after you finish eating them all?" Fang Xiu Lian asked gritting her teeth.
Su Ye knew that this man was very dissatisfied with her. She swallowed the sweet cake and said lazily: "He won't eat it."
Just at this moment, Gu Xiangqian brought out a pot of rice from the kitchen. Su Ye asked casually, "Gu Xiangqian, would you like some cakes?"
Su Ye had long ago stressed to Gu Xiangqian that he should not think about her snacks. Gu Xiangqian just thought she was childish, but he would not fight with her for snacks.
He glanced at Su Ye and shook his head: "No, keep it for yourself."
Gu Xiangqian gave all the ownership of the cakes to Su Ye with just one sentence, not even Li Maogang and Fang Xiulian had any share, and they were bought specifically for Su Ye to eat. This made Li Maogang and his wife think that Gu Xiangqian was like someone who had drunk a drug.
It turned out that there was more than just a little bit of rumor. What they saw in just a short while was shocking enough.
Gu Xiangqian said to everyone, "What are you all standing there for? Come and eat."
Everyone sat down to eat the New Year's Eve dinner. Gu Xiangqian hadn't touched his meal yet. He gave some of the meat in his bowl to Li Maogang and Fang Xiulian, and then took a few pieces of braised pork for Su Ye. However, Su Ye lowered his head and only cared about eating the meat himself, and didn't even want to share some meat with Gu Xiangqian.
Li Maogang watched his actions and shook his head in his heart.
He took a bite of the meat in the bowl, and all his distracting thoughts disappeared immediately.
The bacon was fat but not greasy and delicious. He tried another piece of spareribs, which had a rich and delicious sauce and a hint of garlic, making it so delicious that he wanted to swallow it.
He took another look at Gu Xiangqian and Su Ye's bowls. Their bowls were filled with meat and vegetables. Every grain of rice was covered with the bacon oil and pork ribs sauce. It was hard to imagine how delicious it was.
Comparing it with the braised pork in his own bowl, it suddenly didn't taste good. Li Maogang hated himself for being too proactive and not letting Gu Xiangqian make the braised pork.
"This meat is so delicious." Li Maogang exclaimed.
Gu Xiangqian nodded in agreement. He also thought that the meat cooked by Su Ye was delicious. Although the New Year's Eve was very dull, Gu Xiangqian felt the warmth and satisfaction that he had not felt for a long time.
"Brother Xiangqian's cooking skills are really good." After eating the meat, Fang Xiu Lian sincerely praised Gu Xiangqian.
Su Ye really fell into a lucky nest. She had accumulated virtue for eight lifetimes and was lucky enough to marry Gu Xiangqian.
As soon as Gu Xiangqian heard this, he knew they had misunderstood him. He was about to explain, but unexpectedly Su Ye stepped on him hard.
Su Ye smiled and said, "Yes, his cooking skills are really good! I have asked him to cook these past few days. He bought the cakes (I paid for them with his money), he took care of the housework, and he also bought the meat. I am really useless and can't do anything."
After hearing this, Fang Xiulian looked at Su Ye with fiery eyes.
Li Maogang frowned. He originally wanted to be a peacemaker and persuade Su Ye to improve, but now he had completely given up the idea. He just wanted to persuade Gu Xiangqian to leave this kind of woman as soon as possible.