Chapter 351: Chapter 352 Thick-skinned Chapter 351: Chapter 352 Thick-skinned Xu Ying listened to the murmurs of strangers with pride, her head held high. Her man was strong–this little bit of stuff was nothing to him; even a few hundred more pounds wouldn’t be a problem.

Huo Chen carried the stuff and led Xu Ying to the dormitory. When they arrived, there wasn’t a single person there yet.

Xu Ying quickly claimed a bed by the window, next to the balcony. She chose the bottom bunk because climbing up and down to the top bunk was too much of a hassle.

After choosing their beds, the couple brought water to start cleaning the bunk. The beds in the school hadn’t been used in a long time and were all covered in dust.

They wiped for half an hour before finally getting it clean.

After spreading out the bedding, Xu Ying found a rope and tied it to both ends of the bed, fashioning two curtains that could be drawn apart.

It perfectly shielded the inside of the bed.

No sooner had Xu Ying tidied up her bed and arranged her things on the table than other students started arriving one after another.

“You’re already settled in. I thought I came early enough, but you got here even earlier,” a crisp-looking girl said as she entered, dragging a burlap bag into the room.

A plainly dressed man followed her; he looked honest and straightforward, trailing behind the woman into the dorm.

“Hello, my name is Xu Ying,” Xu Ying said with a smile. They were going to be roommates for the next few years, so she couldn’t just avoid making friends. Sometimes people’s instincts are spot on, and Xu Ying felt this girl seemed like a nice person at first glance.

Lin Hongxia extended her hand boldly, “Hello Xu Ying, I’m Lin Hongxia. This is my man. He’s from the countryside, but we’re very happy together.”

There were quite a few ‘educated youths’ who had gotten into university this time, both men and women. To get back to the city, many of them abandoned their spouses and children.

Seeing the man standing next to Xu Ying, although his features were striking, his skin was the color of wheat, clearly someone who labored in the fields.

Glancing at Xu Ying’s clothes, she felt that this person might be like herself, a ‘re-educated youth’ from the city.

“My man,” Xu Ying introduced casually.

Lin Hongxia felt an even greater liking for her and started speaking frankly, “I’m a ‘re-educated youth’ who went to the countryside. I don’t know if there are women in your area who leave their husbands upon getting into university.

But several of the girls from my batch, they all found men in the village, and now, in order to return to the city, they’re finding ways to divorce their husbands and abandon their children.”

Xu Ying didn’t know what to say about this, she just smiled and remained silent.

Lin Hongxia kept chatting away, not noticing that some more classmates had come in behind her.

“How can they be so heartless? The children are so young; what will they do without their mothers?” Lin Hongxia turned around while speaking and saw another female student had arrived. She shuddered and patted her chest.

“Are you also in this dorm? You should’ve said something when you came in, you gave me quite a scare.”

Bai Yushui smiled and said, “I saw you were having a good chat, so I didn’t want to interrupt.

Hello, my name is Bai Yushui.” After introducing herself, she saw Xu Ying pulling a small suitcase and wearing clothes that seemed expensive. Her eyes twinkled with curiosity, “Miss, are you from Beijing?”

Xu Ying shook her head, “No, I’m from a village in Yu County.”

Bai Yushui nodded upon hearing this and remained silent.

That’s when Lin Hongxia exclaimed in surprise, “No wonder your accent sounded familiar to me; we’re not far from each other–I’m from Zheng City.”

A flicker of surprise passed through Bai Yushui’s eyes but quickly disappeared.

Having finished setting up her bed, Xu Ying dragged Huo Chen out to get some lunch.

The couple walked hand in hand, an attractive sight that caught the attention of many students who had come to the school.

Now that they were in Beijing, of course, they wanted to try some of the local specialties. Huo Chen took her straight to a famous roast duck restaurant.

They directly ordered a serving of roast duck, which was made from high-quality Beijing duck and roasted over fruitwood charcoal fires. The beautifully roasted duck had a reddish color with fat but not greasy meat, lean but not tough, crispy on the outside and tender inside, absolutely delicious.

The roast duck was a court dish during the Ming Dynasty and was invented by the Han people. It has now become a signature dish in Beijing.

Slices of duck wrapped in the crispy, roasted skin served with the unique dipping sauce, pancakes, along with strips of cucumber and spring onion, all rolled together — the taste was simply sublime.

While the two of them were dining, Lin Hongxia and Bai Yushui also came out to eat and happened to see Xu Ying and her companion.

Seeing Xu Ying enjoying the roast duck and fried sauce noodles, Bai Yushui walked over with envy on her face, “Xu’s meals are really good.

Are all you country folks this well-off? Or is it that your family are officials?”

Her words were dripping with naked provocation; how could rural people be so rich? If it wasn’t given by her man, then it must be an official’s family embezzling.

Xu Ying couldn’t help but find it a bit funny, “My dad indeed is an official, but I also work, and my second brother is a teacher, my third brother works in a transport team.

With more people working in the family, life has gotten a bit better.

Could it be that Bai’s family is very poor? But you don’t seem to dress that way,” she said with feigned surprise.

Struck by vanity, Bai Yushui immediately shook her head in denial, “Our family is just average; my parents both work, and my siblings also have jobs.”

“Oh,” Xu Ying drew out the word, “Then would you like to try this Beijing roast duck? I’ve long heard that Beijing Roast Duck is famous, and having tried it today, it is indeed true.”

Bai Yushui’s eyes lit up at this, and she excitedly asked Xu Ying, “Can I really?”

“Of course, you can. Don’t tell me you can’t afford roast duck?” Xu Ying’s eyes were all innocence.

Bai Yushui, upon realizing this, her face flushed red; she knew this woman wouldn’t kindly offer her a meal, what a penny-pincher.

Annoyed, she glared at Xu Ying and turned to leave in a huff.

Lin Hongxia actually wanted to try the roast duck and, after steeling herself, she dragged her man into the restaurant.

Seeing her enter, Bai Yushui kindly reminded her, “She won’t treat you to it.”

Lin Hongxia was bewildered, “I’m buying it for myself.”

She must be crazy, it’s meat after all, how could she have the cheek to expect someone else to treat her.

Bai Yushui’s face turned shades of green and white, and she left in a huff.

Lin Hongxia didn’t dare to buy a whole duck, so she bought a half portion of roast duck and sat down at the table next to Xu Ying, her and her man enjoying the dishes.

Lin Hongxia and her man, each taking a bite, looked blissfully happy together.

“Keep your distance from that girl we met earlier; I don’t like the look of her intentions,” Huo Chen cautioned.

Xu Ying nodded in agreement, indeed her intentions were far from pure.

Roast duck, such an expensive item, cost several yuan a serving; these days people only earn a few tens a month, and yet she had the gall to expect others to treat her.

They hardly knew each other, no clue where she got the face for it.

After lunch, Huo Chen took her for a stroll around the Department Store. In fact, she had everything in her space, but she couldn’t refuse the kindness of a man.

They walked all around and bought towels, toothbrushes, washbasins, footbaths…

Before parting, Huo Chen held her tightly, seemingly reluctant to let go, “Can you stay with me a bit longer tonight?”