Chapter 340: Chapter 340: Lamenting Misfortune and Coveting More

Hearing what the Little Red Carp said, Wang Yuan beamed. She reached out, picked the child up, and laughed, "Oh my, Little Red Carp, you’ve gotten so tall and so big."

"Mhm, I’m almost five years old," the Little Red Carp said with a laugh. She took a bite of her candied hawthorn, then turned and winked at her big sister, letting her know she could have some too.

"Wang Yuan, when you visit in the future, just come. You really don’t have to bring gifts. It makes me feel a bit awkward," Zhao Nuanyue said politely. Wang Yuan had brought rice cakes last time, which she hadn’t eaten, and now she’d brought candied hawthorns.

Even though Zhao Nuanyue didn’t want them or plan to eat them, Wang Yuan had still spent money, which made Nuanyue feel a little guilty.

"Don’t be so formal. It barely cost anything," Wang Yuan laughed. "Besides, I have a job now with decent pay and good benefits. Even if you don’t eat them, I had to get some for the Little Red Carp!"

Zhao Nuanyue had already gone to the kitchen to brew some tea, and she poured a cup for Wang Yuan.

"Sis, you two go ahead and chat. I’m going to the store to buy some groceries so we can have Wang Yuan stay for dinner," Zhao Nuan Yang said, emerging from the kitchen with a basket. He had brought along ration tickets and money.

"Okay, go ahead," Zhao Nuanyue said with a smile. "Try to be back soon!"

"I know," Zhao Nuan Yang laughed. "Wang Yuan, make yourself at home. I’ll be back in a bit."

Just as he spoke, a mail carrier arrived at the door with a delivery.

Zhao Nuanyue went out to get the mail and was surprised to see a letter from Li Qiong.

Wang Yuan quickly asked the mail carrier, "Do you have a letter for me? My name is Wang Yuan, and I live in Wu Family Alley."

The mail carrier smiled. "Wu Family Alley is in the southern part of the city. That’s not my delivery route."

"Oh, I see," Wang Yuan said with a small smile. "Sorry to have bothered you."

Zhao Nuanyue had already opened the envelope. A look of happy surprise crossed her face as she said, "Wow, Li Qiong is getting married?"

"Is it with Li Jianjun?" Wang Yuan asked, excited as well. "Li Qiong wrote to me before and mentioned him. She seemed to have feelings for him, but he never said anything, which left her pretty confused."

"Wow, it really is Li Jianjun," Zhao Nuanyue laughed. "You guessed it, Wang Yuan."

Wang Yuan smiled at the news. "Even though Li Jianjun is a bit introverted and doesn’t say much, he’s a good person. Besides, Director Li’s family is considered well-off in Nianqiao Village, and they’re decent, respectable people. It’s actually a great match for Li Qiong to marry him."

"Yeah, I actually noticed that Li Jianjun had a crush on Li Qiong." As they spoke about their mutual friend, Zhao Nuanyue grew more talkative. "You came back to the city before I did, so you don’t know how it all started. One time, Li Qiong went with us to Cai Mountain Treasure. She was a bit impatient, got separated from the group, and fell into a trap. Li Jianjun was passing through the area, heard her calling for help, and rescued her. Her leg was broken, so he carried her all the way down the mountain on his back. That very night, he arranged for a doctor and even brought her eggs. Afterwards, while she was recovering, that Jianjun was bringing wild chickens and rabbits to the Dragon King Temple every other day. You have no idea how attentive he was. Plus, they were both studying for exams at the Dragon King Temple, so over time, feelings just developed between them."

"Heh, that sounds so wonderful," Wang Yuan said with a sigh of admiration. "It must have been fate for Li Qiong. It’s such a shame for studious people like her and Li Jianjun to be stuck in the countryside. I wonder when the college entrance exams will be held!"

"It probably won’t be too much longer," Zhao Nuanyue said with a smile. "I hear they’re starting to gradually reinstate the professors and teachers, so it probably won’t be long before the universities start classes again."

"Perhaps. By the way, Nuanyue, are you still studying?" Wang Yuan asked. "After all, you have a job now. I assume you’re not going to put yourself through all that trouble."

Zhao Nuanyue shook her head. "I’m still going to take the exam. For one thing, I value the degree. For another, I can study to become a National Doctor under my master, while at university I can study Yanwai Medicine. The future of medicine will surely be an integration of both fields. It’s always beneficial to learn more."

"Huh?" Wang Yuan was stunned. "Nuanyue, I really admire you. You have a great job and don’t need to suffer through the college entrance exams. Plus, you have a wonderful future family-in-law and a great fiancé. Your life is so much better than mine."

’After this bit of catching up, Wang Yuan will probably start complaining about her own misfortunes.’

’Wang Yuan did have her share of misfortune, but if she could just let things go, her life could be so much better. But she can’t. She’s always imagining what it’s like to live someone else’s life. She’s never satisfied with what she has, and it’s causing her to gradually lose her way.’

’That’s why when Guo Dongmei finds her, even if she hesitates, Wang Yuan will ultimately agree to work with her.’

Zhao Nuanyue paused, then smiled. "Actually, you’re doing pretty well yourself. You have a stable job, your parents are close by... even if life has some small disappointments, they’ll eventually pass. While you’re envying me, I’m actually envying you!"

The Little Red Carp quietly ate her candied hawthorn, listening to her sister and Wang Yuan chat.

"Sigh, I can’t compare to you," Wang Yuan lamented. "I’m not good at studying; I’m not as smart as you or Li Qiong. My health isn’t great either, so I can’t do heavy labor. I thought that once I returned to the city, I could find a man, get married, and settle down, but I just haven’t found anyone suitable. My brother and sister are both married with their own families now. They’re still nice to me, but it’s not the same. My parents’ attention has shifted to my nieces and nephews, and they don’t worry about me as much. I’m starting to understand a little of what Li Qiong must have felt before."

’That’s perfectly normal. As the family grows and the grown-up children become independent, of course the focus will shift to the younger generation.’

’Wang Yuan was probably the favorite at home before, so now that the attention isn’t on her anymore, she feels lost.’

"You’re an adult now, Wang Yuan. You should be building your own life, just like your brother and sister," Zhao Nuanyue gently advised. "You can take care of yourself, but your niece and nephew are still small and need more looking after. That’s why your parents’ focus has shifted a bit."

"Yeah, that’s how I try to comfort myself," Wang Yuan said with a wry smile. "It’s why I want a family of my own, too. Especially now... Li Qiong is getting married, and she found love on her own terms. You’re engaged. I’m the only one left."

"Heh, you’re not the very last one," Zhao Nuanyue said with a sigh. "Yang Guanghui is a very devoted person, and he’s probably still not over his childhood sweetheart, Qingmei. He’s studying so hard. I hope he can find his own happiness soon."

"He will," Wang Yuan said. "Yang is a good and honest man. It’s Qingmei’s loss for not choosing him. When he gets into university, lands a respectable job, and comes back home successful, she’ll definitely regret it."

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