As Lin Anning ate one piece of braised pork and fish after another, it was clear she was thoroughly enjoying her meal.
Zhao Hua's eyebrows uncontrollably twitched as she pushed the plates of braised pork and fish towards Su Jiaojiao.
"Jiaojiao, you are still growing, eat more."
Lin Jianguo's face darkened as he glanced at Lin Anning.
"Anning, you are not well, eat less greasy food."
Lin Anning couldn't help but laugh, as if her body were so weak that she couldn't eat much anyway.
She had only eaten three pieces of braised pork and one piece of fish, and this was already too much for them? She was determined to eat more.
"The doctor said I need nutrition because I'm not well," she retorted.
"From now on, I also want a bowl of that meat pie soup. What if I faint again and have to go to the hospital? It would be embarrassing if people thought our family couldn't even afford a proper meal, wouldn't it?" she added, picking up two more pieces of braised pork and downing a bowl of egg soup.
Zhao Hua clenched her teeth. How had this wretched girl changed so much after just one trip to the hospital?
She used to be so meek that she couldn't even fart when smacked three times, but now she was outmaneuvering others!
Remembering the important issues at hand, Zhao Hua swallowed her anger and proactively served Lin Anning a fish tail.
"Anning, eat more. Mom knows you think I play favorites. It was just your anger speaking yesterday when you accused me of slander, I don't blame you."
"The palm and back of the hand are all fleshy; both you and Jiaojiao are my darlings, how could I not love you?"
"Isn't it Jiaojiao's birthday the day after tomorrow? There will definitely be a lot of guests at home, and you're quiet by nature and dislike the noise. I'll let them know, so you can rest in your room and don't have to come out to greet anyone. I'm worried you might get tired..."
The Huo Family would surely send someone for the occasion, presenting the perfect opportunity to introduce Jiaojiao.
If she didn't step up her efforts, the marriage arrangement might truly fall on Lin Anning's head.
Disdainfully, Lin Anning tossed the fish tail, which had nothing but bones left, onto the table and set down her chopsticks.
"If guests come to our house, should I hide away? Am I an embarrassment? Besides, isn't my birthday also on the same day as Su Jiaojiao's? If I'm such a nuisance, why not just kick me out outright?"
"You..."
Lin Jianguo slammed the table in anger, pushed back his chair, and went to grab Lin Anning.
"What kind of attitude is that? Do you know anything other than shaming us? From today on, you'll stay locked up in your room; you're not allowed out for anything."
Before he could reach Lin Anning, someone knocked on the door from outside.
"Is this Lin Jianguo's home? I'm the street director Wang Cuihua, looking for Anning over some matter, please open the door."
Zhao Hua and Lin Jianguo exchanged a glance. Lin Anning had stayed in most of the time since her return; how did she know Wang Cuihua?
They couldn't afford to offend her; the family's selection for the Five Good Families award depended on Wang Cuihua.
Zhao Hua hurried to open the door with a smile, inviting Wang Cuihua in.
"You're here, Director Wang, what can I do for you?" asked Zhao Hua as she let Wang Cuihua inside.
Upon entering, Wang Cuihua immediately spotted Lin Anning standing by the table, her eyes red with distress.
Lin Jianguo's face was an ashen color, and his hand was still raised.
Su Jiaojiao, on the other hand, seemed unaffected and continued to eat her meal with a smile.
"Director Wang, have you eaten yet? Have some food with us? My mom's braised pork is especially delicious," she offered.
Ignoring Su Jiaojiao, Wang Cuihua frowned.
"The most important criterion in the selection of the Five Good Families is family harmony. As parents, you should treat your children fairly. Comrade Lin Anning is so hungry she's skin and bones, while the other healthy one gobbles up food greasily. Are you raising a pig?"
"Are you so intent on displaying your favoritism that you'd wear it on your behind for everyone to see?" she chided.
Su Jiaojiao, who was called out, suddenly found the food in her bowl unappetizing.
"No, that's not it, Director Wang. My sister just doesn't love..." she started to explain.
Wang Cuihua stepped forward and placed a bottle of Mairujing in Lin Anning's hands.
"Yesterday, I left in a hurry and didn't get the chance to properly thank you," she said.
"Here, keep this for yourself to drink slowly. I'll be visiting your home often, so if you need any help, you can talk to your auntie... "
With those words, she was giving Lin Jianguo and Zhao Hua a subtle warning, and their faces turned a bit sour.
Feeling the paper slipped under the bottle, Lin Anning nodded with understanding.
"Thank you, Aunt Wang. I got it," she said appreciatively.
After Wang Cuihua left, Su Jiaojiao, who didn't even want to finish her meal now, sidled up to Lin Anning.
"Sister, when did you become so close to Director Wang? And she even brought you Mairujing specifically? Talk to her, will you? Ask her to consider our family for the Five Good Families award at the end of the year. It would really help dad to become the Production Department Head," she pleaded.
Lin Jianguo watched Su Jiaojiao with satisfaction, nodding happily.
"Our Jiaojiao is always thinking ahead, it hasn't been in vain that dad spoils you!" he praised.
He then looked at Lin Anning, his brows furrowing with the frustration of iron not turning into steel.
"If you were even half as sensible as Jiaojiao, I wouldn't have locked you up."
Su Jiaojiao, eager to please and trying to charm them, quickly shot Lin Anning a look.
"Sister, quick, make a cup of Mairujing for both Mom and Dad to help them cool off."
To be so brazenly generous with someone else's belongings and favors, it could only be Su Jiaojiao.
Lin Anning pursed her lips and looked up toward the door.
"Auntie Wang, this Mairujing..."
Zhao Hua, afraid of calling Wang Cuihua back, quickly waved his hands.
"Alright, alright, you take it back to your room, we won't touch your things."
Lin Anning took the Mairujing upstairs, and behind her came the sound of Lin Jianguo stomping his feet in anger.
"Look at this, I said we shouldn't have brought her back, but you wouldn't listen. This is nothing but trouble!"
"Old Lin, calm down, let's wait until Jiaojiao has had her birthday before we discuss this..."
Lin Anning returned to her room, shutting the voices outside her door.
Just as she put away the Mairujing, Su Jiaojiao pushed the door open.
She stood in the doorway, nervously twisting the hem of her clothes.
"Sister, I know you didn't want to take me back. Please don't get mad at Mom and Dad; it's not good for their health. If you don't like me, I'll leave. From now on, you should just have a good life with them."
As she spoke, she lowered her head and wiped away tears.
Lin Anning had other things to do and didn't want to argue with her, so she turned to leave.
Just then, the voluntary downshifting certificate given by Wang Cuihua was swept to the floor. As Lin Anning bent to pick it up, Su Jiaojiao beat her to it.
Only managing to catch a glimpse of the words "downshifting certificate," Lin Anning snatched it back.
"Give it back!"
"Sister, are you going down to the countryside? Is it because of me? I won't tell Mom and Dad, please don't leave, okay?"
Su Jiaojiao pouted, on the verge of tears.
Lin Anning, unable to bear it anymore, pushed her out of the door.
"It has nothing to do with you."
She locked her door, shoved the certificate into her pocket, and hurriedly went downstairs.
Since the downshifting certificate did not have an address, she wasn't worried about Su Jiaojiao tattling.
As she left the house, she could still hear Lin Jianguo's loud scolding.
"Coming and going without even calling us Mom and Dad,... Do we even exist in her eyes? Raising a dog would be better than her..."
Lin Anning first stopped by the Youth League office and submitted the certificate; perhaps Director Wang's words had an effect since the Youth League office really arranged for her to go to Hongqigou.
Afterward, she went to the train station and spent twelve yuan on a train ticket to Hongqigou for the night of Su Jiaojiao's birthday.
When she got back home, it was already dark.
The house was pitch black, and the three of them were out again doing who knows what.
Since she had decided to leave, there were some things that needed to be sorted out.
Lin Anning wrote a letter and went to the small building, intending to at least tell her correspondent, whom she had never met, that she was leaving for the countryside.
By this time, everyone had finished dinner and gone to the factory to watch TV.
The alley was deserted, and just as she arrived at the entrance of the small building, someone came out from inside.
It was a woman in her forties; Lin Anning quickly approached her.
"Hello, comrade, I'm looking for that young male comrade. Is he your son?"
The woman looked at Lin Anning in surprise, stammering and gesturing with her hands.
It turned out she was mute. Lin Anning couldn't fully understand her gestures.
"So, he's not your son?"
The woman nodded and started gesturing again.
Lin Anning, somewhat helpless, scratched her head and handed over the letter.
"He may not be your son, but you know him, right? Could you please pass this letter to him for me?"
The woman nodded, took the letter, gestured a bit, and went back inside.
By the time she came out with a phone number, there was no one outside.