Capítulo 1376: Chapter 1377: The Little Widow of the Courtyard 104 These past few years have been better, mostly because the planned supply has been restored. The Xue family has some good food, but the first to eat are Xue Fan and his father, Xue Zhan. Once they finish, it’s Wang Xia’s turn to eat, and finally Xue Li, who basically gets only some leftovers and what’s called the most nutritious leftover soup. Xue Li knows the Zhao family has no shortage of fish, so she thinks of Zhao Hong, that sucker, and starts to play with her, wanting to act as a caring elder sister. This method works for Zhao Hong, who, apart from Zhao Lei, had no playmates in her childhood. But for Zhao Hong now, who has quite a few friends, she hates it when someone plays the elder sister role in front of her and talks nonsense. Zhao Hong doesn’t snap back at her, which is already magnanimous. How could she ever be a friend, let alone follow Xue Li’s ideas? Xue Li sees the fish and lamb Wang Xia brought back, and understands that such things aren’t meant for her. Being able to have some soup is already good. Wang Xia sees Xue Li stupidly standing by the side and is very unhappy, “Why are you standing there foolishly? Get back to work.” Upon hearing this, Xue Li immediately takes the things from her hands and busies herself at the sink. Actually, it’s a peak time for water use, with many people busy cleaning fish. Of course, the New Year’s Eve meal must include fish—may every year have fish. As for the lamb, some keep it back, and today they’re having dumplings with meat inside. Xue Li looks at her own hands, and then at the hands of a thirty-something sister-in-law next to her, feeling that their hands are equally coarse. But the problem is she’s a woman, and Xue Li is a girl. Last time she saw Zhao Hong’s hands, they seemed so delicate, even without touching them; she knew they must feel nice. If she was a boy, she would definitely choose Zhao Hong. They’re both girls, and Zhao Hong doesn’t even have a father, yet she is attending high school, while Xue Li could only graduate and find work after middle school. In recent years, finding work with a middle school diploma is difficult, unless you have connections in the family or inherit someone’s job; otherwise, it’s just temporary work. It’s even worse for Xue Li; she couldn’t find even temporary work, as connections are essential now. Updates are released by NoveI~Fire.net Without connections, her parents wouldn’t give her money either, so now she just finds odd jobs; with work, there’s money, and only when she brings money home do her parents’ faces look slightly decent. If there’s no work someday, if it lasts a few days without work, without taking money home, immediately she can only eat one meal a day, and it’s a thin porridge at that. She thought about keeping some income for herself, not wanting to give it all to her family, wondering why she has better grades than Xue Zhan, yet she has to drop out and go home while that idiot gets to go to high school. He obviously doesn’t like studying; is it just because he’s a boy? Xue Li is very unwilling, her mood is bad, and her expression is droopy. The neighbors washing vegetables nearby see Xue Li’s expression and either roll their eyes or directly ignore her. They know Xue Li thinks highly of herself, always comparing with Zhao Hong, believing she is the better one, whereas in everyone’s eyes, Zhao Hong is always smiling, much better than Xue Li’s deflated look. Everyone just doesn’t say it, not wanting to cause trouble with the Xue family. Who doesn’t know Xue Fan won’t act decently, and if they have an issue with you, they will definitely find a way to retaliate during meal distribution. It’s not that they are afraid of Xue Fan; if he goes too far, there would be a big commotion that he couldn’t handle. Zhao Hong is different. Although she’s often not at home, leaving early and returning late, each time she’s always smiling. When they need fish, they inform Zhang Yu ahead of time, and after catching fish, they make a deal with him, as for how much, it’s entirely up to them. Everyone also knows it’s a fair trade; if it’s too unreasonable, there won’t be a next time. Seeing Zhao Hong come out to freeze fish, “Xiao Hong, what’s for dinner at your house tonight?” “Sour fish soup and dumplings.” “We’re having hotpot tonight, lamb rolls.” Zhao Hong didn’t misspeak; this is their New Year’s Eve meal, though there’s a variety of dumplings. Everyone hears about Zhao Hong’s New Year’s Eve meal and thinks it’s simple, “Doesn’t your family have chicken and duck, why not eat them?” “Keeping them for later.” Tonight’s meal is already abundant; there’s no need for chicken and duck. “Makes sense.” Such a New Year’s Eve meal is really already quite nice. Zhao Hong then asks about their respective New Year’s Eve meals, and everyone happily discusses their own meals. If Zhao’s New Year’s Eve meal is too lavish, they would be shy to talk about theirs, but now that Zhao’s meal isn’t overwhelmingly grand, they certainly can talk. Xue Li hears about Zhao Hong’s family’s New Year’s Eve meal and is really surprised. If it’s a regular meal, she would think it’s normal. But this is a New Year’s Eve meal; for the Zhao family, it’s really simple, so simple it makes her feel there’s something wrong. “Zhao Hong, your New Year’s Eve meal is so simple.” Xue Li quickly realizes she spoke out of turn, covers her mouth, “I just find it strange.” “Your usual meals are about the same.” Xue Li says just a few simple words, but actually implies Zhao Hong is speaking nonsense. “Yes, my usual meals are sour fish soup or a fish dish with a vegetable.” Zhao Hong looks at her hesitating expression and can’t help but recall Zhang Hong’s comment on Xue Li, truly the epitome of phony. “We usually don’t eat dumplings either, unless there’s a big occasion.” Trying to cause a misunderstanding? Making people think she’s misleading others? “As for the hotpot, there’s frozen tofu, cabbage, and of course fish slices, plus lamb.” “This hotpot, we rarely eat even once, and of course, we dip fish, not lamb.” “Everyone can come to my house to see then.” Zhao Hong smoothly invites; she directly ignores Xue Li. With Zhao Hong saying that, those wondering how extravagant Zhao’s New Year’s Eve meal would be now all shut their mouths. If there were issues, why invite them over? Seeing Zhao Hong with no hint of unease in her expression, it’s clear she’s being honest. “We could really come over then.” Everyone says. “Sure.” Zhao Hong generously invites everyone. Xue Li watches everyone enthusiastically chatting with Zhao Hong, directly ignoring her, and feels very unhappy. She thinks the neighbors really are snobs treating Zhao Hong nicely just because they think her family is better off. Someday, she will definitely be richer than Zhao Hong; she knows the Zhao family’s secret underground. Recalling that day when she was too hungry to sleep, overhearing her parents’ conversation, Xue Li feels very excited. Though she doesn’t know how much stuff there is, anything that makes her parents so excited and scheming for so long must be something good. Unfortunately, Zhang Yu renovated the house; now her family wants to take over the house, which is quite difficult. The house is Zhao’s property, not a unit-allocated house, thus they have no claim, nor can they use Zhao Hong’s identity as factory workers to drive them out of the courtyard. As for swapping houses, ask who would give up a three-room house after renovation with its independent kitchen and bathroom, and the attic upstairs, a comfortable place to live. Who would want to swap it?