Chapter 68: Exchanging Friendship Tokens with Su Yue

Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Exchanging Friendship Tokens with Su Yue

Yun Zhen understood most of it. It was essentially applying what one had learned in school to the real world. Learning through practice? So that was what an internship meant! She had thought Su Yue was going to have some joyous occasion.

Yun Zhen asked curiously, "What are you studying? What do you have to do during your internship?"

"I’m a math major," Su Yue replied. "I’m interning as a math teacher at the city’s Third High School. My grades are average, so I’m hoping I can secure a permanent position there. Otherwise, I’ll have to worry about job hunting later."

"Teaching?" Yun Zhen asked, uncertain.

Su Yue nodded. "Yes, being a teacher."

Yun Zhen realized it was just like Mr. Gao. In her world, they were called misters or scholars! That was incredibly impressive! To be a teacher meant Su Yue possessed profound knowledge.

Yun Zhen cheered her on. "You’ll definitely be able to stay!"

Su Yue said earnestly, "I’ll try my best. Otherwise, I’ll have to go back to my small county town to look for a job. Not only is the salary low, but jobs are even harder to find there than in the city."

She then added with a grin, "If I can stay in the city, I’ll be able to see you often!"

She only had a superficial relationship with her roommates. Frankly, they weren’t very close and would go their separate ways upon graduation. Interacting with Yun Zhen felt a bit more comfortable than being with them. Perhaps it was because distance created beauty, whereas constant proximity bred friction. Living together constantly inevitably led to some clashes. If she could stay in the city, being friends with Yun Zhen would be wonderful.

Yun Zhen smiled radiantly, feeling as though she had just made a good friend. "Then I wish you success in getting exactly what you want."

"I hope so too!" Su Yue said happily. She then asked Yun Zhen, "I’m thinking of taking a stroll down the snack street. What would you like to eat? I can bring something back for you."

Yun Zhen shook her head. "No need. Once I finish selling these crocheted dolls, I have to go to work. I probably won’t be here by the time you get back, so buying too much would just be a waste of money."

"Where are you going to work?" Su Yue asked in confusion.

"Not far from here. There’s a wet market just ahead. I help out at one of the stalls sorting vegetables," Yun Zhen said, pointing behind her.

Su Yue nodded thoughtfully. Perhaps the girl had no other choice. To think she still had to go work at a wet market after selling crocheted dolls. Sorting vegetables was tedious, low-paying work. It was surprising that a teenage girl could endure it.

Su Yue left, and Yun Zhen continued to promote her crocheted dolls.

"These were all handmade from purchased material kits! The designs are beautiful. The price is a bit higher, but they are absolutely worth it! Come take a look, everyone!"

Energetic youths loved delicate and exquisite things. Even if they didn’t plan to buy anything, they would stop to admire them. Seeing that the actual products matched the seller’s descriptions perfectly, many were more than happy to pull out their wallets.

Before long, Yun Zhen was down to her very last doll—an "Angel Girl." As the name suggested, the Angel Girl was a chubby little figure with large wings on her back, a halo over her head, and a colorful cloud beneath her feet. Her hands were cupped together, holding a single pearl in her palms. Because most people preferred anime-style dolls, the Angel Girl—which Yun Zhen personally considered the prettiest—was the only one left.

"Yun Zhen! Are you sold out yet?"

Su Yue reappeared. She was carrying bags of all sizes and was entirely enveloped in the aroma of various foods.

Yun Zhen nodded. "Just about. Are you done shopping?"

Su Yue twirled around to show off. "I ate my way from one end of the street to the other! Can you tell I’ve gotten a whole size rounder?" She was clearly in a fantastic mood.

Infected by her joy, Yun Zhen couldn’t help but smile. "Your belly is bulging a bit, but you haven’t gotten fat anywhere else."

Su Yue said proudly, "I’m a total foodie. I eat my three meals a day right on the dot, plus loads of snacks and fruits, and I drink extra-large cups of milk tea. I’ve maintained this eating habit ever since I started college, and I haven’t gained a single pound.

"My classmates are all so jealous of me!"

Yun Zhen casually remarked, "If you get fat, you won’t be cold in the winter."

"HAHAHA!" Su Yue laughed so hard she nearly doubled over. She hadn’t expected Yun Zhen to respond like that.

After catching her breath, she said, "Being fat isn’t healthy either. Staying exactly as I am is best." From her massive haul of snack bags, she pulled out a cup of milk tea. "I bought you an extra-large Mango Pomelo Sago. It’s way better than the dual-topping milk tea from last time. Hurry and give it a try!"

Surprised, Yun Zhen waved her hands in polite refusal. "Why did you buy one for me too?"

Su Yue straightforwardly shoved it into her arms. "Just take it! We’ve been getting along like friends these past few days. Isn’t it normal for friends to treat each other to snacks?"

"But I can’t keep taking things from you," Yun Zhen murmured softly.

"Don’t feel embarrassed," Su Yue coaxed. "Like I said, we’re friends now."

"This..." Constantly accepting her gifts made Yun Zhen feel uneasy. She took out her last remaining crocheted doll. "Let me give you this Angel Doll. You give me milk tea to drink, and I give you the Angel Doll. Consider it a token of our friendship."

Su Yue was generous and straightforward. She had bought her an expensive dual-topping milk tea right when they first met, proving she was definitely a friend worth making. Besides, Yun Zhen had already earned two thousand yuan from her crocheted dolls today anyway.

Now it was Su Yue’s turn to feel embarrassed. She shook her head. "It must have taken you a long time to make this doll. It sells for a hundred yuan! That’s enough to buy ten extra-large cups of Mango Pomelo Sago. I can’t possibly accept it."

Yun Zhen’s attitude was resolute. "Su Yue, with my crafting skills, I can always make more dolls to sell and earn money. You are my very first friend. You treated me to delicious grilled sausages and sweet milk tea. I don’t have anything better to give you; I only have this crocheted doll. Please don’t refuse."

Since she had put it that way, Su Yue felt that refusing would only hurt the girl’s feelings. So, she reached out and took the crocheted doll. "Alright. Thank you, Yun Zhen."

Clutching the warm milk tea, Yun Zhen smiled blissfully. "I should be thanking you. If it weren’t for you, I never would have known such delicious tea existed in this world."

Hearing those words, Su Yue felt a sudden, inexplicable pang of sorrow. The girl standing before her must have suffered a great deal.

A bright glint flashed in her eyes as she said to Yun Zhen, "Since we’re friends now, you shouldn’t refuse if I give you a bag of White Rabbit creamy candies, right?"

She pulled out a massive bag of White Rabbit candies. There were a hundred and fifty pieces inside! White Rabbit creamy candies were much more expensive than regular sweets, and they were her absolute favorite. By giving her favorite candy to Yun Zhen, she felt they had truly become friends.

Yun Zhen paused for a moment before offering a gracious smile, accepting the gift. "Thank you. I need to head back to the wet market to work now."

Su Yue smiled. "And I’m heading back to the dorm. Bye-bye," she said, waving.

Yun Zhen mimicked her. "Bye... bye."

Having gifted her final crocheted doll to Su Yue, Yun Zhen took the extra-large Mango Pomelo Sago milk tea and the massive bag of White Rabbit candies, then returned to Sister-in-law Liu’s vegetable stall at the wet market to work.

She stored the milk tea inside the Blessed Land in her mind. She planned to bring it back and share it with Xiaobao and her parents so their family of four could drink it together.

She tore open the bag of White Rabbit candies Su Yue had given her and handed one each to Sister-in-law Liu and Li Mei. She popped one into her own mouth as well. The milky flavor was rich and the sweetness was perfectly balanced. She decided to take the rest back to her village for the villagers to enjoy. Sucking on the candy, she narrowed her eyes in pure enjoyment. It was so sweet.

Holding the candy, Li Mei asked with a smile, "Yun Zhen, did you buy some candy?"

Yun Zhen told the truth. "I made a new friend and she gave it to me! She studies at the University City College of Arts and Sciences. She’s a very knowledgeable young woman who’s going to be a teacher in the future!"

Hearing that her new friend was a cheerful college student attending the College of Arts and Sciences, Sister-in-law Liu and Li Mei felt reassured. Yun Zhen hadn’t been taken advantage of.