My Taoist nun girlfriend is from the Republic of China era, 1942.

Chapter 161 An Ordinary College Student
"Don't stand, come sit down, the food is all ready."

Lu Yuan pointed to the dining table, where a hot pot with two broths was already set out, bubbling and steaming.

"Oh... okay, okay."

Tang Wen stiffly moved to the dining table and sat down.

Chen Xiaomiao put down the vegetables and brought out two plates of sliced ​​mutton from the kitchen, warmly inviting, "Wenwen, don't be shy, try it, this mutton is very fresh!"

Aunt Wang and Sister Zhang have tactfully stepped aside, leaving the space to the three young people.

The atmosphere at the dinner table became somewhat tense for a moment.

Tang Wen sat upright, holding chopsticks, but didn't know where to put them.

Should I pick up the corn from the clear broth pot, or should I go to the spicy broth pot to scoop out the tripe?

Lu Yuan was the first to pick up the serving chopsticks, took a slice of fatty beef roll, dipped it in the red soup, and then put it into Chen Xiaomiao's bowl.

He picked up another piece of food with his chopsticks, then looked at Tang Wen and casually started chatting: "I heard from Xiao Miao that you were the first classmate in her class to talk to her?"

"Ah, yes...yes." Tang Wen nodded quickly.

"Thanks. She's... a slow-paced person and not very good at socializing. I'm so grateful for your help at school," Lu Yuan said politely.

"No, no, Xiao Miao is a very nice person, we all like her very much."

Tang Wen quickly waved her hand, picked up the piece of tofu closest to her, and put it into the clear soup pot.

Seeing her reserved demeanor, Lu Yuan continued to try to find topics to talk about.

"You've just started university, are you getting used to it? Was military training particularly tiring?"

"I'm exhausted! Our instructors make us stand at attention every day, and I feel like my legs don't even belong to me anymore."

“It’s all the same.” Lu Yuan smiled. “My freshman year instructors were even tougher. Anyone who was a minute late for military training would be punished by running a lap around the track. In the end, one girl was so exhausted that she collapsed, but he was the one who got criticized.”

With a common target for their complaints, the atmosphere instantly became much more relaxed.

Tang Wen gradually relaxed and dared to use her chopsticks to pick up the dishes she wanted to eat.

"real or fake?"

"That's right." Lu Yuan poured her another glass of juice. "I heard from Xiao Miao that your counselor is quite handsome, and many girls in the class have a crush on him?"

"He's alright, not as handsome as you, and he looks a bit fierce." Tang Wen completely relaxed and started to complain: "But he's alright, just a lot of trouble. He sends out notifications in the group every day, it's so annoying."

As they chatted, Lu Yuan suddenly changed the subject.

"You didn't go home for National Day; you were doing a part-time job outside?"

Tang Wen was chewing on tripe.

"Yes, I work as a holiday receptionist in a nearby office building, earning 150 yuan a day."

But I didn't do it today. That job was inhuman. I had to stand from morning till night, and my heels were all blistered.

I earned over 800 yuan in five days, that's enough.

"A freshman can already have a part-time job, that's impressive!"

Lu Yuan sincerely praised him.

Upon receiving the praise, Tang Wen became somewhat smug, her words carrying a hint of feigned maturity: "There's nothing I can do. My family is just an ordinary working-class family, and frankly, the diplomas from our school have virtually no value. I need to make plans early."

Chen Xiaomiao was taken aback: "They're already in college, and it's still not okay?"

Tang Wen shook her head: "I've already made up my mind. Undergraduate studies are just a stepping stone. I have to get into a top university for graduate studies no matter what, otherwise I won't be able to find a job in the future."

"There are still four years... don't rush me," Chen Xiaomiao muttered softly.

"The stupid bird should fly first!"

Tang Wen encouraged herself, speaking with great enthusiasm, as if a bright future was beckoning to her.

Lu Yuan nodded after listening, without making any comment.

Back when he was a freshman, Wang Pangzi, who slept in the bunk below him, would beat his chest and stomp his feet every day, saying that he had written the solution to the last big math problem in the college entrance exam wrong, otherwise he would be in a university in the capital right now.

Back then, he was also full of enthusiasm and bragged to his roommates that he would either get a guaranteed admission to graduate school or take the entrance exam for Tsinghua or Peking University.

But four years passed in the blink of an eye, and my ideals were completely worn away by various games, club activities, and sleeping in.

By senior year, the only goal became successfully obtaining a graduation certificate.

Patience and perseverance are ultimately luxuries that only a few can possess.

Lu Yuan didn't know if Tang Wen could do it.

But judging from the fact that she can't even stick to a seven-day part-time job, the path she's planned for herself is probably very risky.

Like most ordinary college students, Tang Wen is a little clever and a little vain. She tries hard to prove her worth, but lacks perseverance.

Chen Xiaomiao smiled and agreed, seemingly understanding but not quite. She couldn't comprehend that anxiety at all, nor could she empathize with that emotion.

Suddenly, Lu Yang made a wailing sound.

Chen Xiaomiao almost reflexively put down her chopsticks: "I'm going to check on Yangyang!"

She ran happily to the cradle, carefully picked up her son, expertly checked his diaper, and then carried him to the sofa to give him water. Tang Wen watched this scene, her expression thoughtful.

She turned to look at Lu Yuan, her curiosity finally overcoming her nervousness.

"Brother Lu... how long have you and Xiao Miao been together?"

Lu Yuan thought for a moment, starting from the day Chen Xiaomiao transmigrated...

"It's been more than two years."

"Oh……"

Tang Wen did the math in her head, and realized that was when Chen Xiaomiao was eighteen years old.
She had a senior from high school who was quite pretty, but her grades weren't great. Not long after starting junior college, she got engaged to a man from outside the school, and I heard they already have a two-year-old child.

In her opinion, Chen Xiaomiao was probably in the same situation.

Lu Yuan smiled calmly: "My situation with Xiao Miao is rather special."

"understand……"

Tang Wen didn't dare to ask any more questions.

She actually had a million questions swirling in her mind.

For example, how did you two meet? What does your family do? Why did Xiaomiao marry you?
Although the man in front of her looked gentle, his aura made her swallow all the gossip.

"Tang Wen, what are your plans for the two days after National Day?" Lu Yuan changed the subject.

"I should... be studying in my dorm room," Tang Wen replied guiltily.

“If you feel bored staying in the dorm, why don’t you come over every day and take Xiaomiao out for a walk, see a movie or something? She’s probably bored staying at home with the kids all day.”

"what?"

"Of course, I won't let you work for nothing. All your expenses for going out will be on me."

Tang Wen was completely stunned.

What does it mean?
Spending money to buy a friend for your wife?

While she was thinking, Chen Xiaomiao came back with her son, whom she had just soothed, and handed him to Lu Yuan. She then picked up her chopsticks again and said, "Hold your son for a while. I'm not full yet."

The topic naturally veered off course and returned to the children.

After the hot pot meal ended, Tang Wen got up to say goodbye.

"I'll drive you back to school."

"No, no, no need for that. I can take the subway home by myself!"

"Don't be shy, I'm going out for some fresh air too."

In the end, Tang Wen couldn't persuade Chen Xiaomiao otherwise.

The car drove smoothly through the night.

Tang Wen tried to speak several times, but swallowed her words back.

She couldn't resist asking indirectly, "Xiao Miao, how...how did you and your man meet?"

"Me..." Chen Xiaomiao gripped the steering wheel, looking straight ahead, and mumbled, "We just... met like that."

Seeing that the other party didn't want to say more, Tang Wen wisely kept quiet.

The car arrived at the school gate quickly.

"Thank you, Xiao Miao. I'm going back to my dorm now."

Tang Wen unbuckled her seatbelt, pushed open the door, and got out of the car.

"Okay, slow down."

Chen Xiaomiao waved to her, turned the car around, and rejoined the traffic.

Tang Wen stood by the roadside, watching the car's taillights disappear into the darkness of the night, remaining motionless for a long time.

The evening breeze cleared her feverish mind somewhat.

She took out her phone, the cold light from the screen illuminating her complex expression.

She scrolled through her contacts, and finally, her fingertip stopped on a contact named "Manager Zhao," where she edited a message and sent it.

[Tang Wen]: Manager Zhao, I'm sorry, I acted impulsively today. May I ask, can I still come to work tomorrow and the day after?

After sending the message, she stared nervously at the screen.

About a minute later, the phone dinged.

The other side only replied with one word.

Manager Zhao: Okay.

Upon seeing that word, Tang Wen let out a long breath, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders.

(End of this chapter)