Time Travel: Female Cannon Fodder of the Republic of China

Shen Jiaxing kept smiling gently and listened to her patiently before saying, "She's only one year younger than you. You'll have friends in the future. You can go out to the movies and eat together."

But Ai Shutong said, "How is that possible? She is so young, I don't want to go shopping with her."

Shen Jiaxing asked in confusion, "Aren't you only twelve years old? Why do you think so?"

Ai Shutong corrected him, "I'm going to be thirteen soon. My birthday is in two days."

Shen Jiaxing shook his head helplessly, "Okay, you will be thirteen soon. You are an adult. It is impossible for you to go out and play with an eleven-year-old."

He just thought Ai Shutong was acting like a child again, but he didn't know that Ai Shutong's mental age was already twenty years old, and she really couldn't play with the eleven-year-old Li Huilan.

As they chatted, Ai Shutong talked about her birthday again, "I want to give myself a gift."

Shen Jiaxing asked excitedly: "What do you want?"

Ai Shutong: "A clock. It's so hard for me to tell time without a clock."

Seeing her look like a lady who was trying to express her sorrow in order to compose a new poem, Shen Jiaxing shook his head and said, "Watches can be considered as precious items. Most people can't afford them. Even in college, there are many people who don't have watches. Why is it so difficult?"

Ai Shutong: "It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but it is difficult to go from luxury to frugality. I used to have a watch, and I always used it to arrange my work and rest time."

"Suddenly there was no watch, so I was asked to look at the sun. I tried my best but couldn't arrange it properly."

Shen Jiaxing nodded in understanding. He had been down and out for a while before, and he knew how painful it was to go from luxury to frugality. "Then I'll take some time to go with you to pick one?"

Ai Shutong was waiting for him to say this. Nowadays, they are all pocket watches, which she doesn't understand at all. She is also afraid of being fooled. It is better to take a reliable person to buy it.

"Okay, it's settled. When are you free these two days?"

Shen Jiaxing: "Tomorrow afternoon, I don't have classes."

After the two of them discussed it, they started today's class.

Shen Jiaxing listened to Ai Shutong finish reading the last short story.

"Tomorrow, I will bring you two other books. I won't take these two away. You can read them more when you have time. Don't forget them."

The next day, Shen Jiaxing came to the East Courtyard at dinner time. When Mother Lin saw him, she rolled her eyes secretly.

Humph! You haven't even started class yet, yet you come here to eat. How dare you be so arrogant?

After a while, Ai Shutong's "hahaha" laughter was heard from the main room.

Mother Lin quickly put down the plate in her hand, wiped her hands, and walked over.

I saw Ai Shutong holding a pen and smiling from ear to ear.

Mother Lin deliberately stepped heavily when she walked, attracting the attention of the two people in the room.

"Mother Lin, look, my teacher gave me a Mont Blanc pen."

Ai Shutong happily shared it with Lin's mother.

Mother Lin was confused, "What's wrong with the Montblanc pen?"

Ai Shutong leaned over and whispered in her ear, "This pen costs several dozen yuan."

Mother Lin's eyes widened, and Ai Shutong could see surprise in them.

He couldn't help but nod at her affirmatively.

Mother Lin said in a loud voice: "The food at lunch today was too plain. Miss, last time you said that the newly opened roast duck tasted good. Should I go buy another one?"

Ai Shutong: "Okay, that one is really good."

After Lin's mother left, Shen Jiaxing said to Ai Shutong, "Didn't I tell you that this was an old one I used before. I recently bought a new one, so I'll give this one to you."

Ai Shutong looked at the brand new pen in her hand and ignored what he said. She said happily, "Oh! I have to try it out to see if it works well."

He turned around, sucked up the ink from the pen, and drew a few lines on the paper. The tip of the pen was smooth and flowing, not bad!

Just then, Li Huilan came over with a plate of date cakes and saw Ai Shutong trying out the fountain pen, so she also came over.

"Hey, Sister Shutong, this pen is really useful, much better than mine."

Ai Shutong took the pen from her and put the cap on it. "Xiao Huilan, last time I heard your mother say that you came to Beijing for your studies. Have you found a school?"

Li Huilan nodded. "I went to Muzhen Girls' High School to take the exam a few days ago. I've passed it and will go to school tomorrow. There's also an As Church next to it. I'll take Mother Lin there during the holidays."

"By the way, Sister Shutong, this is the date cake my mother made. Try it and see if it tastes good. She planned to sell date cake on the street after I go to school."

Ai Shutong picked up a piece and took a bite. A strong aroma of dates and brown sugar hit her taste buds, but it felt a little cold.

“Is this steamed?”

Li Huilan nodded.

Ai Shutong: "Go back and tell your mother that it might taste better if it is roasted."

Li Huilan continued to nod, "My mother used to use an oven, but there is no oven here, so she spent several days researching and finally figured out the steaming method."

Ai Shutong stroked her chin and thought for a while. "The front yard is big enough. You can find a place that is not in the way and build a barbecue oven with mud and stones."

Li Huilan's eyes lit up, "Is it okay?"

"This yard is so beautiful. If we build a barbecue, won't it ruin the scenery of the yard?"

Seeing that she was so young but still considerate of others, Ai Shutong smiled and patted her head, "That's why I asked you to find a secluded place where you won't get in the way."

Li Huilan's eyes curved into crescents with joy, and she nodded in agreement, "Yes, yes, yes, we must find a place where we won't get in the way."

"Sister Shutong, if you want to eat date cake in the future, don't go out to buy it. Just tell me and I'll bring it to you."

Ai Shutong smiled and said, "Okay, then I'll thank Xiao Huilan in advance."

Li Huilan touched her pigtails sheepishly and said, "We should be the ones to thank Sister Shutong."

After Li Huilan jumped away.

Ai Shutong turned around and saw Shen Jiaxing looking at her with a smile.

"what happened?"

Shen Jiaxing: "You really can't play with Xiao Huilan. When you two are together, it's like the elder and the younger. You seem particularly kind."

Ai Shutong was speechless. "What do you mean by kind? Isn't that used to describe old ladies? Am I that old?"

Shen Jiaxing: "You let them build a barbecue in the yard, and you're not kind?"

Ai Shutong looked outside like a thief, and seeing no one, she turned around and said to Shen Jiaxing, "It's good for others and good for yourself. I think Xiao Huilan and her mother escaped from the mansion."

Shen Jiaxing raised his eyebrows, "How do you know?"

Ai Shutong touched her nose in embarrassment, "Mother Lin said that Mrs. Li's behavior doesn't seem like that of a lady from a rich family, but more like that of a concubine."

"When the mother and daughter first arrived, they looked very special in their attire, but Mrs. Li was not good at taking care of her daily life and only loved dancing and dressing up."

"As soon as Xiao Huilan found the school, she thought about her livelihood. I guess they didn't bring much money when they escaped."