Chapter 101: Educated Youth Who Abandoned His Wife and Child – 32

As soon as Su Mingyue saw him return, she excitedly grabbed his hand and said, “Her name is Zhang Chunfang, she’s also going to register at Q University. Isn’t that a coincidence? Oh right, she said she’s scared to travel alone and wants to come with us.”

Zhang Chunfang looked over expectantly.

Shen Xiuyan gave her a calm nod. “Hello, I’m Shen Xiuyan. If you’re afraid, feel free to come with us.”

There was a shrewdness hidden in her eyes—it was obvious she wasn’t someone worth getting close to. Only his silly wife couldn’t see that.

And what was so coincidental about this anyway…

This train went straight to City B, and with the timing, if you shouted on board, half the people were headed to schools in B City. Why was she the only one scared?

But he didn’t say that out loud. He figured his wife was just doing a good deed for the day—might as well chalk it up as some karmic merit.

Shen Xiuyan ignored Zhang Chunfang after that and handed Su Mingyue a pair of chopsticks.

“Eat first. I just bought this.”

Then he pushed over the dishes and enamel mug. “I’m going to the front to see if Director Li wants to eat something too.”

“Okay, go ahead,” Su Mingyue waved him off, clearly used to it.

The casual motion looked as though they had done this a thousand times. Zhang Chunfang’s eyes filled with envy.

Su Mingyue had already started eating. The aroma of the food made Zhang Chunfang sniff involuntarily—so fragrant.

To think they could eat hot food on a train. Must’ve cost a fair bit.

She couldn’t afford it…

A glint flashed in her eyes. After swallowing her saliva, she said, “Aren’t you going to wait for your man to eat together? Isn’t that a bit… improper?”

Su Mingyue chuckled. “You don’t get it—if I don’t eat first, he actually gets upset.”

Though they’d only been married for a year, Su Mingyue felt she was being pampered like a Little Ancestor.

Seeing how exaggeratedly Zhang Chunfang was gulping down her saliva, Su Mingyue figured she must be hungry, and said offhandedly, “Are you hungry? Want me to share some with you?”

“But Brother Shen hasn’t eaten yet, that’s not very polite…” Zhang Chunfang said modestly, but her eyes betrayed her hunger.

Su Mingyue instantly regretted it. First, Shen Xiuyan hadn’t eaten yet, and second, food on the train definitely wasn’t cheap.

Even if they were fellow students, they were strangers who had just met—why be so generous?

Ugh, her mouth was always faster than her brain. When would she ever learn?

But Zhang Chunfang’s gaze was so intense. She was saying it wasn’t appropriate, yet stared hungrily at the food like it was hers.

If she didn’t offer, it would look like she was just teasing her.

So Su Mingyue scooped out a portion of the food onto the lid. “Let’s eat this much—the rest is for Brother Xiuyan.”

Zhang Chunfang, having achieved her goal, immediately pulled out her own bowl and chopsticks from her bundle and started eating with Su Mingyue.

She ate with such speed that Su Mingyue barely managed a few bites before most of the food was gone. She didn’t act like a guest at all.

A girl sitting nearby was dumbfounded by the sight.

The world was really full of all sorts. How could she be so shameless?

Su Mingyue was just being polite, and this girl actually took it seriously???

And she ate so much—like she had paid for the food herself.

When Shen Xiuyan returned, what he saw was Zhang Chunfang chomping down on a pancake Liu Yanyun had prepared, eating the food he had bought, clearly enjoying it.

Meanwhile, his wife sat off to the side awkwardly holding her pancake, wearing a sheepish smile.

Zhang Chunfang, oblivious, even called out cheerfully, “Mingyue, eat! Why aren’t you eating?”

Shen Xiuyan frowned deeply.

“Mingyue?”

“Brother Shen, you’re back! Where’s Director Li?”

Su Mingyue breathed a sigh of relief when she saw him, like she’d just found her savior.

“He’s not hungry. Said he’ll go to the dining car later when he is.”

“Alright, then hurry and eat now. Otherwise, the food will get cold.” She pushed the food she’d saved for him over.

Shen Xiuyan sat down. “You’re done eating? Why is this comrade eating your food?”

Su Mingyue gave an embarrassed smile. “No, I saw Chunfang was hungry, so I invited her to eat with me.”

Shen Xiuyan: “……”

You invited her… and she really just went ahead and ate it?

They had just met for the first time, and she was that bold?

Food was precious these days. Did she not understand the value? Or was she just that thick-skinned?

Shen Xiuyan said, “It’s normal to be courteous to fellow students. The dining car is far, and it’s not convenient for a girl to go alone. But eating our dishes is one thing—how did the pancake end up with her too? Don’t we not have enough as it is? Comrade Zhang didn’t bring food of her own?”

Hearing this, Zhang Chunfang finally stopped eating. Shen Xiuyan’s words were far too blunt.

She said sheepishly, “I did bring some… Mingyue handed it over and I forgot to take mine out.”

In truth, she hadn’t forgotten—she just didn’t want to. Her family favored boys over girls and had only given her a little over ten yuan for college. If not for the waived tuition, she wouldn’t have made it here at all.

So, her mindset was: save wherever she could. When she came across someone kindhearted, she took full advantage.

What she hadn’t expected was that this seemingly soft Su Mingyue had such a sharp-eyed partner.

Zhang Chunfang, used to sizing up others, immediately stood and said, “I’ll take out my dry rations—we can all share.”

Shen Xiuyan waved a hand. “No need. I was just making a point. No need to be so polite now.”

He was being courteous first, then drawing the line.

Helping her was a favor—not helping was perfectly fair. He didn’t want this oddball mooching endlessly.

He had cooked that food especially for his wife, and from the looks of it, she hadn’t eaten much at all—most of it had gone into Zhang Chunfang’s stomach.

And his wife was sitting there looking like a pitiful little thing.

Could she please realize her place?