Deng Ying was momentarily taken aback by the comment, but Cheng Chuan found it rather agreeable. He chuckled,
"Well said. It's no big deal to endure a bit of hardship when you're young. Your Aunt Deng and I went through tough times too, but look where we are now."
Deng Ying shot him an annoyed glare. She was still figuring out how to ensure this child could eat better. The girl was already seventeen or eighteen, yet she looked so frail, like a gust of wind could knock her over. She probably didn't even weigh eighty pounds.
Jiang Luxi wasn't particularly short, but she was alarmingly thin.
Besides, the times they had grown up in were entirely different from now. Their parents' generation had endured actual starvation. Life back then was harsh, much harsher than today.
It had been a decade since those dark days. Even in rural areas, no one should be going hungry anymore.
After Cheng Chuan's comment, Deng Ying was at a loss for words. She wasn't about to handle this on her own, though—there was still Cheng Xing. She immediately shifted the responsibility onto him.
She walked over and said sternly,
"I'll let it slide this time. But if I find out Xiaoxi is still eating that kind of food when she comes over for tutoring, you'll have me to answer to."
"Mom, I really don't have a good solution. How about you give me some advice?" Cheng Xing sighed, clearly at a loss.
He truly didn't know what to do. Jiang Luxi appeared fragile but had a core of steel. She was more stubborn than anyone he had ever met.
"Aren't you the big shot at school?" Deng Ying challenged. "Last time, your teacher called and said no one dares mess with you. What now? You can't handle something this simple?"
"This is between you young folks," she continued. "We can't interfere. You're classmates. If she's that stubborn, you'll need to figure it out."
If Cheng Xing didn't behave, Deng Ying could always resort to threats—with a broom if necessary. After all, hadn't she disciplined him that way when he was a little troublemaker?
But Jiang Luxi? She couldn't bear to scold her, let alone use a broom.
"Alright, I understand," Cheng Xing muttered.
His parents had already eaten at the company, so Cheng Xing grabbed a bowl of noodles outside for lunch.
In the afternoon, with his parents not at work, Jiang Luxi resumed tutoring him.
With the addition of a small blackboard, Jiang Luxi's teaching became much easier, and Cheng Xing found it easier to focus. She wrote key points from the textbook on the blackboard, making it clear even from a distance.
Cheng Chuan and Deng Ying watched them for about twenty minutes, pleasantly surprised to see Cheng Xing genuinely paying attention. At first, they suspected it was because they were nearby, but even after stepping away to watch TV, Cheng Chuan popped back out unexpectedly and found Cheng Xing still focused.
Satisfied, they left the two alone.
However, Cheng Xing noticed something else—Jiang Luxi seemed a bit unwell.
Despite her best efforts, she couldn't resist her fatigue. She managed to stay alert while standing, but whenever she sat down to drink water, her head drooped, nearly colliding with her cup.
Jiang Luxi, aware of her struggle, chose to stand while teaching, even while drinking water, not daring to sit.
Cheng Xing sighed, shaking his head. Regular teachers taught three or four classes a day, maybe one or two at higher levels. Yet here she was, teaching for eight hours straight.
But there was no other option. He had fallen too far behind, and without intense tutoring, a year wouldn't be enough to catch up.
What troubled him most was how little she earned for such exhausting work. From 100 yuan down to 20 yuan. How honest—and foolish—was she to accept that?
By evening, Cheng Chuan and Deng Ying, exhausted from a busy week, had gone to bed early.
"All right, it's almost five. Let's stop here for today," Cheng Xing said.
Jiang Luxi glanced at the clock on the wall. Five minutes remained until the session officially ended.
Using those five minutes, she assigned homework. "Finish this and bring it to me tomorrow morning. I'll correct it for you."
Cheng Xing nodded. "Be safe on your way home. Don't stay up late. You have school tomorrow, so get some rest."
Jiang Luxi didn't respond. She walked out to the yard, pushed her bike outside, then returned to close the door behind her.
After securing the door, she got on her bike and rode off.
On her way home, she passed the Sha County Snack Shop she had visited the previous day. She stopped, remembering how much her grandmother had enjoyed the steamed dumplings she had brought home.
Her grandmother had praised them endlessly. Jiang Luxi had tried two herself. The mysterious sauce had made them incredibly delicious, even cold.
Freshly bought, hot dumplings would be even better.
Parking her bike, Jiang Luxi walked into the shop.
She had exactly two yuan, given to her by her grandmother that morning. Initially, she thought she wouldn't need it since she had brought sweet potatoes, but her grandmother insisted she eat something better in town. Unable to refuse, she took the money.
"Hello! What would you like?" The shop owner's wife greeted her warmly.
"A basket of steamed dumplings, please," Jiang Luxi replied.
"Sure, one moment," the woman said, heading to the kitchen. "Sesame sauce or chili?"
"Sesame sauce," Jiang Luxi answered, recognizing it as the delicious sauce from yesterday.
"Coming right up," the woman said, reaching for a container.
"How much is a basket of dumplings?" Jiang Luxi asked suddenly.
"Three yuan," the woman answered with a smile.
"Isn't it two yuan?" Jiang Luxi questioned, stunned.
"It's always been three. Never sold them for two," the shop owner's wife replied.
Jiang Luxi froze. After a moment, she said, "I'm sorry, I won't be needing them."
She bowed, apologizing sincerely. "I'm really sorry for the trouble."
The shop owner's wife was initially annoyed, but Jiang Luxi's politeness softened her.
"If you're short on money, I can treat you to a basket," she offered kindly. "It's no big deal."
"Thank you, but that won't be necessary," Jiang Luxi said, shaking her head. "I've already caused enough trouble."
She bowed again, feeling deeply apologetic. She had come intending to buy but left empty-handed after the dumplings were almost ready.
"It's okay," the woman said, waving her off.
After bowing once more, Jiang Luxi left the shop, pedaling away into the dimming light.