Aunt Gu wasn't working that Sunday.
No.4 Middle School's Final Exam was tomorrow. Having let Tongtong run wild for an entire semester, she planned to cook a few good dishes and reward her daughter and Jiang Ning in advance.
Normally, she would have had to get up at dawn and rush to the market on her bike to buy the freshest meat and vegetables.
But now, Hua Fengmei handled part of Evergreen Liquid Company's purchasing. She knew all the major markets, and with just a word from her, they would set aside the best ingredients in advance.
And they would offer the lowest prices, not daring to cut corners in the slightest.
That morning, Xue Yuantong dawdled until eight before getting up. She had overworked herself at the roller skating rink yesterday, and her legs were terribly sore. Her calves trembled when she walked.
Aunt Gu gave her a couple of extra looks.
Only after her daughter explained why she had gone roller skating did she remind her, "Don't just eat and play games all day. Get some exercise. Don't we have badminton rackets at home? Go play with Jiang Ning."
Aunt Gu made breakfast and invited Hua Fengmei and her daughter over as well. Since she was preparing a big lunch, breakfast was simple: just soybean milk, stir-fried potatoes with green peppers, and some fermented beans.
After breakfast, Xue Chuchu exercised strict self-discipline. She declined Tongtong's invitation to play Fight the Landlord and went home alone to study.
Xue Yuantong, meanwhile, wandered into Jiang Ning's room, claimed her exclusive throne, and began another campaign in the Rift.
As for the little conflict she had had with Jiang Ning yesterday, she had long forgotten it.
All that had become "old scores," to be dug up again when she needed them