Ever since Chen Han Sheng took charge of the poverty student scholarship application and successfully completed it, Hu Lin Yu had gained some insight and started to be more receptive to his advice when it came to handling external relations.
"What should we buy?" Hu Lin Yu asked.
Chen Han Sheng thought for a moment. "Since it's a gift from the class to the Student Union, it can't be too expensive or too tacky, or else Yu Yue Ping won't accept it."
"I noticed when I was cleaning at the Student Union that his office lacks organizing tools. How about you buy some good-quality file folders in Yiwu?" he suggested.
Hu Lin Yu nodded. File folders weren't expensive and held a positive connotation, so Yu Yue Ping should have no objections.
Chen Han Sheng then turned to Shen You Chu. "The folders are from the class, but you still need to express something personal."
"What should I buy?" Shen You Chu asked in a low voice. She was clueless about such social matters, so she just followed whatever Chen Han Sheng said.
"You can't spend money on it, or the meaning of the scholarship would be lost. What are the specialties from your hometown?"
"Specialties?" Shen You Chu looked up, confused.
"Like the things you often eat," Chen Han Sheng patiently explained.
"Things I eat often... spicy stuff. Does chili count?"
Shen You Chu said shyly.
Chen Han Sheng was surprised. "You can eat spicy food?"
Shen You Chu nodded shyly, and Hu Lin Yu chimed in, "You wouldn't believe it, but You Chu keeps a packet of dried chilies in the dorm. I tried some, and wow, it was so spicy!"
Hu Lin Yu went on, sharing all the quirky details about Shen You Chu in the dormitory. Shen You Chu's face flushed red with embarrassment, while Chen Han Sheng listened with great interest.
After a while, Hu Lin Yu stopped. Chen Han Sheng urged, "Why stop?"
"I think I got off track," Hu Lin Yu said, bewildered.
Chen Han Sheng smiled inwardly but replied, "The mustard greens with chili sound great. Shen You Chu, find a clean bottle and fill it up as a gift to Secretary Yu. It's not expensive, but it shows your intentions."
"Okay," Shen You Chu nodded obediently.
"Maybe the class hasn't tasted mustard and chili, so make extra next time," Chen Han Sheng joked before heading to class.
---
Two days later, in the morning, the "Latecomers Club" of dorm 602, minus Li Zhen Nan, casually made their way to class. They ran into Hu Lin Yu at the entrance.
Chen Han Sheng grinned, "Waiting for Jin Yang Ming?"
Hu Lin Yu shook her head, "You Chu cried just now."
Chen Han Sheng froze, "Why?"
"That day you asked her to bring some chili mustard for the class, I could tell you were joking, but she took it seriously," Hu Lin Yu said. "She got several bites from insects while picking mustard greens, and she was worried the smell of chili would bother us. So, she went to marinate it on the balcony last night."
"This morning, she finally brought it to class."
---
"Then what happened?" Chen Han Sheng asked.
"No one ate it, and some complained it smelled too strong," Hu Lin Yu pointed to a red plastic bag on the desk. The bag was open, and the mustard greens looked fresh and dripping with chili oil, which actually looked appetizing.
Jin Yang Ming glanced over but shook his head. "I wouldn't eat it either. I've already had breakfast, and besides, I don't know if it's clean."
Chen Han Sheng said nothing. This was probably what the other students were thinking too. Shen You Chu had always been somewhat of an outsider, and while they doubted her, they could understand. It was just unfortunate that Shen You Chu's sincere effort was wasted.
Some people just aren't good at socializing, but they still have love for the world.
Shen You Chu was still sitting by the wall in the classroom, her arms neatly folded on the desk. Her posture was childlike, but her worn-out school uniform sleeves were damp. When she noticed Chen Han Sheng walking over, she looked up, revealing her red, tear-filled peach blossom eyes. Her soft chin had a tear hanging from it, but as soon as she saw the others behind him, she lowered her head again.
Behind Chen Han Sheng, Jin Yang Ming whispered, "Damn, was I blind before? Compared to her, Shen Yan Yan isn't even worthy of holding her shoes."
At that moment, their Organizational Behavior class teacher, Tao Li Song, entered. He noticed the bag on the desk and looked puzzled. Chen Han Sheng spoke up, "Professor Tao, may I take a moment of your time?"
Tao Li Song, knowing that Chen Han Sheng was the class president, nodded in agreement.
Chen Han Sheng walked to the podium, and the class quieted down. He scanned the room and then picked up a mustard chili from the bag, biting into it with a loud "crunch." The crisp sound of him chewing echoed in the classroom.
After finishing, Chen Han Sheng immediately began taking attendance, "Lao Yang, you should come up and try."
"Sure," Yang Shi Chao said, ready to join.
But Jin Yang Ming, seeing the mustard, quickly stepped forward.
"This is too good, I'm worried Lao Yang might eat it all. Let me have a couple first."
Having just seen Shen You Chu's real face, Jin Yang Ming realized she was truly beautiful. When she cried, she even looked prettier than the so-called "first beauty" Shen Yan Yan.
Thinking he could make a lasting impression on Shen You Chu, Jin Yang Ming grabbed some mustard and yelled, "Shen You Chu, this is for you!"
"Cough, cough, cough..."
However, reality was harsh. Jin Yang Ming couldn't handle the spice, and he started coughing and crying while wiping his nose. Yang Shi Chao mocked, "Lao Liu, is there anything you don't snatch?"
Yang Shi Chao, however, managed to endure the spice and grabbed another piece, eating it without issue.
"Few can stand it," Chen Han Sheng called out.
"Lao Nan," "Lao Dai," "Zhu Cheng Long"... He made every boy try a piece, forcing them to taste the dish.
Hu Lin Yu explained the situation to the teacher, and once all the boys had tasted the mustard chili, Chen Han Sheng turned to the girls: "Any girls willing to try?"
Without hesitation, Hu Lin Yu picked one up and took a bite, followed by Shen Yan Yan, who smiled and said, "I'll do it for the class president."
With Chen Han Sheng in charge and Hu Lin Yu leading the way, the girls all tasted the mustard chili, no matter how much or how little, achieving the goal.
Chen Han Sheng looked down at the remaining piece of chili mustard, about to wrap up the "ceremony," when Tao Li Song approached with a smile.
"I'm really touched. Let me try a bite too."
And so, the day continued.