Chapter 43: The Crunchy Side Dish

Ever since Yang Tianxing intervened and completed the application for the financial aid for impoverished students, He Yulin had also gained some inspiration from it, and she was now willing to listen to Yang Tianxing's opinions on matters of external relations.

"Then what do you suggest we buy?" He Yulin asked.

Yang Tianxing thought for a moment: "Since it's being gifted to the School Youth League Committee in the name of the class, it cannot be too expensive or too vulgar, otherwise Sun Nan will not accept it."

"When I was cleaning his filing cabinet today, I felt his office lacked tools for organization and filing; He Yulin, you go to Hejiaying and buy some high-quality folders."

He Yulin nodded; folders were not expensive, and the gesture itself was positive, so Sun Nan should not refuse.

Yang Tianxing turned his head again, looked at Liu Jiaoyue, and said: "The folders are being gifted in the name of the class; you should also express something personally."

"Then what should I buy?"

Liu Jiaoyue asked in a low voice; she was completely clueless about handling these kinds of relationships, so she would do whatever Yang Tianxing said.

"You cannot spend money to buy anything, otherwise the meaning of the financial aid for impoverished students would change. What is a specialty from your hometown?"

"A specialty?"

Liu Jiaoyue raised her head in confusion, looking at Yang Tianxing without understanding.

"It's just those things you often eat at home," Yang Tianxing explained patiently.

"Things I often eat... spicy, does chili count?" Liu Jiaoyue said softly.

Yang Tianxing was somewhat surprised: "You can actually eat spicy food?!"

Liu Jiaoyue nodded shyly, and He Yulin added from the side: "You might not believe it, but Jiaoyue kept a bag of dried chilies in the dormitory. I tasted one, and oh my, it almost killed me with the spiciness."

Even now, He Yulin's expression was still grimacing at the memory.

"But Jiaoyue is amazing; her dinner is often just a steamed bun with small chilies. She even found a patch of wild mustard greens in the garden under the dormitory building and often picks some to mix with chili..."

He Yulin rambled on and on, all about things Liu Jiaoyue did in the dormitory. The person in question was so embarrassed that her neck turned a deep shade of red, while Yang Tianxing listened with great interest.

As she was talking, He Yulin suddenly stopped, and Yang Tianxing urged her: "Why did you stop? Keep going."

"I think I've gone off-topic," He Yulin said blankly.

Yang Tianxing thought to himself that this was clearly the main point, so how could it be off-topic? However, he said aloud: "Mustard greens mixed with chili are good. Liu Jiaoyue, find a clean jar, fill it up, and give it to Secretary Sun. This thing isn't worth much, but it happens to express sincerity."

"Oh."

Liu Jiaoyue nodded obediently.

"I don't know what chili mustard greens taste like; I bet many people in the class haven't tasted them either. You can make a bit more." Before returning to his seat, Yang Tianxing cracked a joke.

……………

Two days later, during the first period of the morning, the "Latecomers Team" from Dormitory 312, except for Qian Jiale, walked into the classroom unhurriedly and bumped into He Yulin at the door.

Yang Tianxing said with a cheeky grin: "Is little He waiting for Yi Min here?"

Surprisingly, He Yulin didn't bicker with Yang Tianxing today; she shook her head and said: "Jiaoyue cried just now."

Yang Tianxing's expression darkened, and he put away his smile: "What happened?"

"You told her to bring some chili mustard greens for the classmates to taste that day. I could tell you were joking, but she took it seriously."

"To pick the mustard greens, her arms got bitten by bugs and covered in welts."

"Jiaoyue was worried the smell of the chili would bother us, so she carried the chili to the dormitory balcony at night to pickle it alone."

"This morning, she finally brought the result to the classroom."

Yang Tianxing's expression was as calm as water: "And then?"

He Yulin said with some indignation: "No one ate it, and some people even complained that the smell was too strong."

He Yulin pointed to a red plastic bag on the classroom podium. The bag was already open; the fresh mustard greens were emerald green, coated in bright red chili oil, and actually looked quite appetizing.

Yi Min took a look, shook his head, and said: "If it were me, I wouldn't want to eat it either. Everyone has already had breakfast, and besides, who knows if it's clean."

After listening, Yang Tianxing glanced at Yi Min. He didn't mean to blame Yi Min; this was likely the thought of most classmates. Liu Jiaoyue had never been very sociable, so their skepticism was understandable, but it had failed the heart of this honest and simple girl.

Some people are just not sociable by nature, but they have always been very loving toward the world.

Liu Jiaoyue was still sitting in the corner of the classroom against the wall, her arms folded neatly on the desk, sitting like a primary school student, though the cuffs of her thin, old school uniform were damp.

Sensing Yang Tianxing walking over, she looked up. Her originally crystal-clear peach-blossom eyes were red and swollen, and a teardrop still hung from her rounded chin. Discovering there were others behind Yang Tianxing, she lowered her head again as she had before.

Yi Min was standing right behind Yang Tianxing and suddenly whispered: "Damn, was I blind before? Compared to her, Deng Yidi is far behind???"

At this moment, the teacher for "Organizational Behavior," Zhu Chengqin, happened to walk in. Seeing the bag on the desk, he was also a bit puzzled. Yang Tianxing spoke up: "Teacher Zhu, could I bother you for a moment?"

Zhu Chengqin knew Yang Tianxing was the class monitor and nodded in agreement.

Yang Tianxing walked up to the podium, and the class slowly quieted down. He scanned everyone in the class, then picked up a piece of mustard green and chili and put it into his mouth in front of everyone. "Crunch, crunch"—the crisp chewing sound echoed in the classroom.

After finishing, Yang Tianxing didn't explain; he gave Fu Yiming a look.

Fu Yiming understood immediately: "Hey, hey, hey, don't hog it all, Old Yang, let me have a taste."

He was about to go up without a second thought, but unexpectedly, Yi Min suddenly rushed ahead of him.

"Such delicious side dishes, I'm really worried Old Fu won't be able to help himself and eat it all. I'll eat two pieces first."

Yi Min had just caught a glimpse of Liu Jiaoyue's appearance by chance and realized that a fairy was hidden in the class; even when crying, she was prettier than the so-called "number one beauty," Deng Yidi.

"Before anyone else discovers this secret, I'll quietly win over the most charming girl in Public Administration Class 2, or rather, the Humanities and Social Sciences Department, or even the entire Finance Institute!"

Yi Min decided to leave a profound and heroic image in Liu Jiaoyue's heart through this incident. He picked up the mustard greens and roared in his heart: "Liu Jiaoyue, you are mine!"

"Cough, cough, cough."

However, reality was cruel. Student Yi couldn't handle spicy food very well. Amidst snot and coughing, he was directly spiced to tears, and even earned a taunt from Fu Yiming: "Old Six, is there anything you don't snatch besides shit?"

Fu Yiming was decent at eating spicy food; he pinched a piece of mustard green, smacked his lips, and ate it.

"Old Song."

Yang Tianxing called out.

"Little Qian."

"Ai Nan."

"Liu Lei."

Yang Tianxing used this method to let every boy in the class have a taste, while He Yulin stood to the side explaining the situation to the teacher.

After all the boys had finished eating, Yang Tianxing looked toward the girls: "If no female classmates want to eat, then we will graciously accept the rest."

He Yulin took one without hesitation and ate it, and unexpectedly, Deng Yidi was the second.

"The class monitor's face must be given."

Deng Yidi smiled at Yang Tianxing.

With Yang Tianxing presiding and He Yulin taking the lead, the girls all tasted a bit of this bag of side dishes from a girl from Sichuan and Chongqing; regardless of how much they ate, the significance and purpose had already been achieved.

Yang Tianxing looked down and saw the very last piece of mustard green lying lonely in the chili sauce; just as he prepared to eat it to finish off the rest, Zhu Chengqin walked over with a beaming smile.

"I was moved by what I saw, so let me also taste the flavor."